IBL | Season 10 | Division 3 | Mid-Season Report Card

We are now a little over the halfway point of IBL Season 10. Through the first 6-7 weeks of the season, teams have jockeyed for playoff positioning. All 8 teams will make the post season but we merely play the games for positioning.

1.California Raisins (5-0) A familiar staple at #1 in the rankings are the California Raisins. This is nothing new for this team. They’ve been together for 7 seasons and now in their 3^rd season in Division 3. They look to make a run to the playoffs after this hot start. PG Jordan Ramos is usually praised when this team is performing well. However this season it has been a team effort.  Early in the season Ramos had a string of bad games but the team carried its own weight and won games. If the raisins can continue this stellar play into late January, a division title that eluded them for the past 7 seasons, is all but inevitable.

 Grade: B-

Reason:  The Raisins get a B- grade because they shouldn’t be 5-0. They’ve gotten lucky on several occasions, where they’ve been outplayed the entire game but manage to do one thing right in the final seconds. With that being said, this team finds a way to win, but who’s to say if things didn’t go their way, that they’d be where they are at this moment.

 

2.AM/PM Too Much Good Stuff (5-2) With a name that long, you should be a noteworthy team. AM/Pm Too Much Good Stuff sits at 5-2 through 7 games. They have clinched a top 5 spot for post season play, and their play of late has been great. Elbert Chen has really been the bright spot for the team this season. “Chensanity” is leading his team in the scoring column with 18.6 ppg. This team can score with the best of them, and they really enjoy playing with each other. If they can finish the season the same way they started it, then a championship is a real possibility

 Grade: A+

Reason:  3 games over the .500 mark with 1 game left on their schedule. AM/PM has played stellar so far this season, with energy and chemistry they are getting it done on both ends.

 

3.A.D.A.N (4-1) GM Chris Johns has been in IBL since Season 4, he has been on average teams, and when he finally decided to take the role of GM in Season 8 his teams did fairly decent. However after 2 seasons of missing the playoffs. Johns has put together a unit capable of postseason contention. With a 4-1 record heading into Week 7 the only way A.D.A.N would miss the post season would be if they flopped the rest of the season which seems very unlikely. This team is one of the surprise teams in the division.

 Grade: A-

Reason:   A.D.A.N has gotten it done this season; they have big time wins over the MadVillians, HiiiPower and most notably the team right above them in the standings AM/PM.  This team is the real deal.

4.A$AP (4-2) Slowly and silently team A$AP is making their ascent to #1 at 4-2 through their first 6 games, this team has played very well this season, the team is a hybrid of  former season 7 champions Wonton Soup and the Dirty Homies. One time foes have joined forces and have played well so far.

Grade: B

Reason:  The experiment has worked out so far, but this team should be better than 4-2.  If everyone on your team has won an IBL championship at one point or another, there should be no reason, that you’ve lost a game.

 

5.HiiiPower (3-3) At 3-3 HiiiPower is at the same point this season that they were in last season. Personally, I thought this season was a lost cause with their dynamic tandem of Chris Fowler and Sango Niang out for their college seasons. However Fowler decided to forego this season of college play (personal reasons) and has returned to HiiiPower in the IBL.

 Grade: C

Reason:  Chris Fowler is doing his best holding the team down, but let’s face it, this is the best this team is going to be. Sango Niang isn’t walking through that door anytime soon.

6.California Swag Bears (2-2) The Swag Bears are 2-2, the only team in the entire league, all 3 divisions that have played less than 5 games. The team this season is really looking for an identity after adding several new faces to fill the roles of players that have departed since last season. The Swag Bears are in prime position to make a legitimate shot at the #1 or #2 spot in the standings before the season comes to an end, but they will have to beat the next 4 teams they face.

 

 7.MadVillains (3-4) Last season the Mad Villains caught fire around this time of the season, and finished with the division’s best record at (7-1) this season through their first 7 games, they are (3-4) and have no control of where they end up when the season is all said and done.

 Grade: D-

Reason:  With the same core from last season. That held the distinction of best team in the regular season. This team has regressed.

8.Slaughterhouse (2-3) at 2-3 Slaughterhouse is another team added to the list of teams whose seasons can go either way. If they win 2 or more games there playoffs chances are stronger than ever, but if they falter in the upcoming weeks their season will end while 8 other teams continue theirs.

 Grade: C

Reason: Slaughterhouse leaves it all on the court every Sunday. 

 

9.Burger Kings (2-3) Season 9 runners-up sit at #8 in the standings through their first 5 games. Not really a shock nor is it expected. Mike Criscione and his crew simply do not care about the regular season. The group they have assembled has already shown they are more than capable of being a championship contending team.

 Grade: B

Reason:  Having played two full games with 4 players, I have to give it up to the Burger Kings. David Aguilera broke the Division 3 scoring record earlier this season with a 54 point outburst, the reason he had 54 was the fact that he only had 3 other teammates to pass the ball to for a 32 min stretch.

 

10.Those Guys (2-5) After securing a playoff berth last season “Those Guys” formerly “demDoe” have regressed quite a bit this season. Through 7 games the team is 2-5.  3 games below the .500 mark, this team has failed to win close games, they’ve dropped 3 games that could have been won with better execution down the stretch.

 Grade: D-

Reason:  If you make the playoffs as a low seed in your first season. Statistics say you should be fairly better the following season. At 2-5 Those Guys have been a flop this season, after making the post season in Season 9.

11.X-Men (0-5) The X-Men hold the distinction as the lone winless team so far this season. The playoffs are out the question, as these last 3 games of their season they will use to play spoiler for opposing teams.  The X-Men are one of those teams that have played many seasons in IBL; they haven’t really gotten it together.

 Grade: F

Reason:  0-5. I mean things can’t get much worse….right?

IBL | Season 10 | Division 2 | Mid-Season Report Card

 

 

We are now a little over the halfway point of IBL Season 10. Through the first 6-7 weeks of the season, teams have jockeyed for playoff positioning

1. Tha Dream (5-1) after a struggling season in D1 in Season 8, and a hiatus in Season 9, Tha Dream has returned in season 10, in a lower division. With hopes to capture their first IBL championship, Damon Armstrong and Gary McNellys have linked up once again. With a 5-1 record entering the second half of the season, Tha Dream is the early season favorite to win it all.

 Grade:  A+

Reason: Damon Armstrong has finally put together a team worthy of praise. After seasons of struggling with the P.A.H.U and a D1 stint with the original “Tha Dream” team. Armstrong has surrounded himself with the personnel to potentially win a division championship.

 

2. American Deficit (4-2 The reigning 2x division champions Quiksilver, now known as American Deficit, have been very quiet this season, they sit at 4-2 through the first 6 games. This team doesn’t really care about regular season success; they usually kick things into full gear when the playoffs get underway. Having won 2 of the 3 championship games they have been featured in, American Deficit is on a quest to be the first back to back champions in the division since Wonton Soup accomplished the feat five seasons ago. The team seems to be clicking lately and the sky is indeed the limit for them. Any time you have a tandem of Johnny Earl and Jaime Villalobos, with complementary shooters in (M.Criscione, D. Aguilera and R.Hak) championships are the only expectations.

 Grade:  A+

Reason: The champs are on the right track to possibly repeat. So far they’ve played basically “under the radar” and with a 4-2 record entering the second half of the season. A legitimate shot at the #1 seed is still attainable.

 

 

3.PRIMETIME (3-2)   the champions from Season 7 are still making a little noise 3 seasons later. At 3-2 they currently hold the #3 seed if the playoffs were to start today. With 3 more games left on their schedule this team can easily finish in the top 5 and I have a feeling they will do that. In week 6 they pulled out an 85-84 win over Dipset. The win was special because Primetime was without the services of Mark Davison and GM Yung Dang.

Grade:  C-

Reason:  Primetime earned a C- grade through 5 games, simply for their stellar play in wins and losses so far this season.

 

4.Secret Agents (3-2) GM Darryial Morris has managed to bring back his team the Secret Agents after a season 9 hiatus. Season 8 runners up have had a subpar season to date.  Reloaded with PG Chris Fowler and SG Joe Joe Williams, the core group of Morris, Eric Tearart, and Teron Mack having been trying to position themselves in the deep field of teams for another possible deep playoff run.

 Grade: C

Reason: the Agents are on the right track to make the post season a 3-2 record through their first 5 games is above average, considering their new additions to the team.

 

 5.UNDFTD (3-2) UNDFTD has had a shaky season of sorts. Through their first 5 games they sit at 3-2 and have not played since the thanksgiving break. The seemed to be the limit for this team when they assembled in Season 8. They won the championship in their first season; however with the same core in Season 9, the team fell short to the eventual champs Quiksilver/ American Deficit. This season’s team is searching for an identity, with the defection of Tray Caples and Max Barkeley to Keith Hatters Dipset team. It’ll take a game or two for the new group of guys to mesh with the old, but the season is in its latter stages and this team cannot afford to lose another game.

Grade:  D

Reason: For a team that nearly had a few division rules made up specifically to stop their success, has faltered in what can be seen as a “redemption” season of sorts.  To turn this grade around UNDFTD must win out to finish the season to move from 5 to 2 in the rankings.

 

6. Han$um Goonz (3-2) The Han$um Goonz are one of the teams in the division that pack a pesky punch.  They leave it all on the court every game and are just a joy to play against. The team hasn’t really had post season success, seeing as that they have not made the playoffs all that often. However with the second half of the season upon us. The Goonz are above the .500 win mark and with a week 7 and 8 win would clinch a post season berth. This could be the season that we see the Goonz make some noise in the playoffs.

Grade: B-

Reason:  The Goonz are on the cusp of a season where they very well might clinch an outright post season berth for the first time. The first half of their season can be summed up with a B- grade despite their 3-2 record.

 

 7.Special Delivery (3-4) this is pretty much a throw away season for Special Delivery, Lester Cole has put his “big boy pants” on and carried this team to 3 wins out of a possible 7. With 1 game left on their schedule, Special Delivery will be one of the clubs that finish either 3-5 or 4-4 and in doing so will more than likely need a point differential tie breaker to determine where they ultimately end up being seeded at.

 Grade:  C

Reason:  If you would have told me a team without 2 of last season’s top 3 scorers would still be in contention to make the playoffs, then I wouldn’t have believed you. Without the services of Sammeon Waller and Alwyn Jordan, Special Delivery is still in the playoff picture and who knows, may surprise an opponent or two if a post season berth were to be attained.

 

 8. MMG (3-4) One of the teams I haven’t had a real look at. MMG sits at #8 and at 3-4 they have one last shot of finishing the season at .500 (4-4). If the playoffs were to start today, they would match up with Tha Dream. However that isn’t the case. The playoffs start in a couple of weeks, and MMG is not promised one of the 8 spots. They must win out and hop other teams below them lose. With one game left on their schedule, MMG must win and depend on others for a post season berth.

 Grade:  P

Reason: This teamwon’t receive a letter grade because I haven’t seen them play. As hard as that is to believe. However they get the “P” grade a passing grade for a decent first of the season.

 

 9. HOOPAHOLICS (2-3) One of the more fundamentally sound “teams” in the division. The HoopaHolics sit a 2-3 in 9^th place entering Week 7. This team is capable of winning a championship, for the simple fact that they play so well as a team. This team lacks a true go to scorer. However one thing that is evident when you play them is that they play as a cohesive unit. To turn their season around the Hoopaholics will have to finish the season with 2 wins in their next 3 games. To have a chance to sneak into the post season.

Grade:  C

Reason: I’m a tad bit lenient with this grade, but the HoopaHolics are the real deal. Their team chemistry is amazing and every player is aware of their role.

10.Bromantic (1-4) one of the stranger things I’ve seen is a team moving up a division when they didn’t even make the playoffs the previous season in the lower division. With that said the men of Bromantic are at 1-4 through their first 5 games and are on the outside looking in. In order to have a slight chance of making the post season.

Grade:  F

Reason: leaving a lower division and having the same record in the higher division, leads to an F grade.

11. Dipset (0-5) the (0-5) Dipset are at 0-5 through their first 5 games. They are led by Trobe Bryant aka Tray Caples. Caples accounts for half of the teams scoring. Now that is a gift and a curse. Caples offensive outbursts keep the team competitive. However failing to keep others involved lead more too dazzling numbers for Caples and L’s for this team.

 Grade:  F

Reason: This team doesn’t really have an identity. Their shot of making the season are all but done.

IBL | Season 10 | Division 1 | Mid-season Report Card

We are now a little over the halfway point of IBL Season 10. Through the first 6-7 weeks of the season, teams have jockeyed for playoff positioning. All 8 teams will make the post season but we merely play the games for positioning. With that said here

1. Dynasty (4-0) Heading into the Christmas ever weekend, we have Dynasty at #1, but that’s not a surprise. This team has had tremendous regular season success countless times, but that has yet to translate into the latter rounds of the post season. The past 2 seasons this Dynasty team has failed to reach the Championship game like they did in their first season (Season 6). The surprising addition of PG Jordan Ramos has proved huge dividends over the course of the season. In Ramos; Dynasty acquired a “pass first” guard to distribute the ball between its key players (Buai Tut & Tray Caples). Every season GM Keith Hatter and I have a conversation, where he predicts his team is good enough to win it all, and in the past seasons the teams have played well in the regular season, had the size but have fallen twice. If they can run the table as they finish the season, entering the playoffs this team will have much-needed confidence to win the whole shebang.

Grade: A+

Reason: The only team with no losses proves they are worthy of an A+ grade. 

2. Under Rated (4-2) Surprisingly at #2, we have UnderRated. The mixture of last season’s Mile High and Rebels squad that have joined forces in hopes of capturing and hoisting the “golden ball” for the very first time. After a 1-2 record through the first 3 games of the season, things have turned around drastically for this team. They are riding a 3 game win streak, and show no signs of letting up. The team meshes so well. You would think with combining two teams, you’d have major problems through the first season, but this team has thrown all doubt out the window about contending for a championship. The two games they’ve lost have been by a combined 10 points. Three of the games they won have come down to the final minutes where after failing to capture close games in the past, this team is actually doing so. The team is poised to finish in at least the top 3 seeing as the only team they haven’t played is the (0-5) 8^th seeded Mercenaries.

Grade: B+

Reason: This team has let 2 games slip away from them late, and because of that they sit at 4-2 and a B+ grade.

3. The Pack (4-2) Another surprise in the top 3 would definitely be The Pack.  GM Craig Crampton and his team have gradually crept up the standings each of their IBL seasons. After finishing a few seasons as the 8^th seed, last season we seen the team finish 7^th, and now they seem poised to secure at least a top 4 spot in the post season. The core group (C.Crampton, L.Finalet, T.Hauck, and S.Nogales) has been together for over 5 seasons now, and it shows when you play this team. Their defense is hands down the best in the division. Their modified zone defense has been a problem for all 6 of their opponents this season. Don’t expect to play fast paced and get into a shootout with this team because they thrive off low scoring “grind it out” games. After a Week 5 loss to Under Rated, they rebounded and pulled out a tight game against the WolfPack, a team that is very talented. Both of the team’s losses have come at the hands of the #1 & #2 teams above them in the standings.

Grade: A-

Reason: Most league analyst don’t expect a respectable regular season from the Pack but they are giving us just that. Their performance this season, most notably on the defensive end, is deserving of a A- grade.

4. Most Hated (3-2) The reigning champions enter the second half of the season in the midst of a 3-2 campaign so far. Their captain Larry Dew has led them in their 3 wins this season.  The team has also dropped 2 games. However the games that this team has lost have been at the hands of the #1 & #2 teams in the standings. Every season this team has new guys that take a while to get incorporated into the thicke of things. This season is no different. With the core group from last season’s championship run still intact, Most Hated will most likely finish the season strong and enter the post season with momentum to possibly capture the teams 3^rd  division championship, and second consecutive. They will be tested in Week 7, when they take on a slumping Wolfpack team that is hungry for a win.

Grade: B-

Reason: The champs have dropped two so far this season but are still in the hunt for a seed as high as #2. The main reason they get such a generous grade is because they are the reigning champs.

5. WolfPack (3-3) After a hot (3-1) start to the season, the Wolfpack has cooled down considerably dropping their last 2 games to the #1 & #3 teams in the division Dynasty and The Pack. This team has tremendous upside. They are very top-heavy as the majority of their points come from 2 of their 5 starters. Gary McNellys (18.0 ppg) and Tyler Poullard (17.5 ppg) carry the load for their team week in and week out. The past couple of weeks, opposing teams have figured out how to slow down the duo and that has resulted in their 2 consecutive losses. At 3-3 this team is in a free fall. In week 7, they will matchup with the reigning champs, Most Hated. This game will serve as a measuring stick to separate the Wolfpack in terms of Contender or Pretender. A loss will more than likely ensure a finish in the bottom 4 of the standings.

Grade: C-

Reason: The wolfpack started the season hot, but have cooled down, a 3-3 record at the halfway mark, if worthy of a C- grade.

6. Knicee (2-3) The runner ups from last season Knicee, have had a pretty swell season so far. Don’t let this team’s record fool you. The team sits a (2-3) but having lost two games to buzzer beaters in consecutive weeks ( 3 & 4) this team has managed to stay afloat while floating around the .500 mark. There is no doubt that this team has the fire power assembled for a late season run into the playoffs. As long as Kenneth Ubom is at the helm, this team is always in contention.

Grade: C

Reason: Knicee should be hungrier than ever after losing in the final seconds of last seasons championship game. This season they’ve lost 2 games to buzzer beaters, that was in their hands. This team gets a C grade because their season could easily be 4-1. 

7. Washed Up (1-4) “Although we’ve come to the End Of The Road Still, I can’t let you go…” Remember the days when teams feared matching up with the seemingly limitless powerhouse in Washed Up. Well despite their best efforts. Those days have slowly come to an end. Washed Up has become just what their name insinuates…they’re “Washed up”. Entering Week 7, this team sits at a mediocre (1-4) with little hope of finishing the season in the top 5. Last season the team was knocked out of the Playoffs in the opening round by their long time adversaries The Pack and if they keep playing this way. There is a chance that a first round exit is upon them.  There isn’t much this team can do to turn this season around. The scoring load has been balanced, the defense has been decent. But they’ve only managed to record 1 win, over the only team below them in the rankings.

Grade: F-

Reason: The once 2x Division 1 Champions. You still have your leading scorer in Johnny Earl, reloaded the team, but this is what you give us? 1-4? Your sole win coming over the Mercenaries? The only winless team in the division? You my friends get an F-. Please retire the Washed Up name before this team disgraces it some more. Former Division 1 powerhouse Morningwood, knew when it was time to call it quits and rebrand, please do the same.  

8. Mercenaries (0-5) At (0-5) the Mercenaries are the Divisions only winless team. However seeing that they are in their 1^st season in the Division it is understandable. They will more than likely finish the season in the #7 or 8 spot, but a Week 7 loss would solidify them as the 8^th seed. The team is decent enough to possibly get a win before the regular season is over but they have their work cut out for them. They take on the #2 seed UnderRated in Week 7. Hopefully they can record a win, with 3 regular season games left.

Grade: D-

Reason: A generous D- grade, because I see potential in this team. Leron Lacey in essence is “LeBron” Lacey as he carries this team, the lefty has a sweat stroke and has the ability to lead this team to at least 1 win this season.