My favorite to win the Division 1 championship this season is Washed Up, the team sits in the #1 spot through 5 games with a (5-0) record and they’ve found ways to win close games. Also Now that they’ve gotten rid of the pesky injury bug, the former Division 1 Champions are on the “road to redemption” looking to reclaim the throne after they were dethroned by the eventual runner-up Mile High in last seasons semi finals. The only setback for this team would have to be their big man André Lyons, who just can’t seem to control his emotions, he’s leads the division in technical fouls and was ejected from a game earlier this season before his second technical was rescinded. When Lyon’s is playing and NOT complaining about a “bad” call or lack of a call, Washed Up is pretty hard to beat, but when Lyons ride’s the officials he makes it hard on himself and his team. I commend GM Mike Criscione for having a team full of characters but making it work week in and week out.
A team on the rise in the division is Squad Up, they sit at 5-0 going into the bye week, and have potentially clinched a playoff berth. The team is led by Shawn Sawyer who is on his 3rd team in 3 season’s but this season looks really promising for him. He is averaging 25.4 ppg, which is good for 3rd in the division. Sawyer is on of the more versatile players in the league and week in a week out he shows you why.
Heading into the memorial day bye week, Respect the Struggle sits in the #3 spot with a (4-1) record. My evaluation of this team is that they are very athletic. If this team is having a bad offensive game, they have the ability to slow you down with their gritty defense. The teams help defense is the best I’ve seen in some time and if the team can sustain their level of play coming out of the memorial day bye week, they can hold on to the #3 spot and have a good shot of making a decent playoff run. Of course that’s all hypothetically speaking, looking at the box scores, this team doesn’t really blow you away with their numbers. Their 4 wins have been to teams that are on the outside looking in with their 1 loss coming at the hands of Washed Up. Johnny Bell (18.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.3 apg) must continue to play at a high level in order for his team to have any shot of succeeding,
After starting their season 3-0, the Dynasty has fallen off quite a bit in the past 2 weeks of play. They’ve lost their last two games. Their week 4 loss came at the hands of the reigning champs Dino’s Finest, which isn’t really a shocker, because both teams are evenly match, but Dino came away with the 1 point win. Their Week 5 loss to The Pack is more alarming than anything, The Pack executed their game plan perfectly and in the process cause problems on the defensive end for the Dynasty to get into their offensive groove. I believe Dynasty can rebound from these minor setbacks in the coming weeks; finish the season strong and end up with a decent seed entering the postseason which in only 2 weeks away.
Mile High (3-2) is another team that is in contention for a Division 1 Championship, they’ve kept last season’s team intact (Barkely, Creswell,Giordano, Jurado) and with the addition of Jon Kaker aka Baby Tyler Hansbrough (in regards to his resemblance to the Indiana Pacers forward) , the team seems poised for a playoff berth. The team chemistry is always on point, this team has already shown they are capable of hanging with the division’s elite.
The reigning Champs from “The Dino” have had a roller-coaster type of season, much like last season; this season has been filled with ups & downs. I think this team is really waiting for the playoffs to “flip the switch” and run through the teams like they did in season 7. However they have to pay attention to the regular season. Aside from all the other things, you must put into consideration that the scheduling gods haven’t been all that nice to Dino’s Finest, they’ve played quality teams leading up to this point. They’ve basically played 4 playoff bound teams, and a team that’s not been able to find that much success this season Blackout. I think Larry Dew, will rally his troops and get them ready for a late season run, and get them focused for their upcoming playoff run to potentially repeat.
Knicee is 2-2 through 5 weeks, meaning they have 3 games remaining in their season and their in the #7 spot. This team has a limited roster and with Kenneth Ubom’s play declining as the weeks go on, I see this team falling out of the playoff race as the season winds down. If they do make the playoffs I see them getting bounced in the first round. The team is not deep, and they’ll be exposed in an up-n-down game.
Led by former USC guard Donte Smith, Tha Dream hasn’t really had the type of season many expected. The re-branded “P.A.H.U.” team hasn’t improved nor have they gotten worse. Last season they were in the same position at this point in the season. If this team can hold onto this seed or possibly move up in the upcoming weeks, the possibility remains of them upsetting a higher seeded team in the first round.
Teams outside looking in
The Pack is in great position to climb out of the #9 spot and into the playoffs in the upcoming weeks. Their season has been “lackluster” to say the least but their Week 5 win over Dynasty may have potentially put the team in good spirits to possibly turn around their season.
The Rebels sit at 2-4, and with so much talent on their roster, you have to wonder what is going on with this team, they must win their next game to even have a shot at making the postseason.
IDK has the divisions leading scorer Terrance Clark (26.0 ppg) the divisions leading rebounder Tre Fairman (13.0 rpg) and someone in the top 5 in assists Weldon Howlett (3.5 apg). You would think with these division leaders on their roster that, some wins would be the primary outcomes of their games. The team is 1-3 through 5 weeks and are tied for the second worse record in the division. They’ve played the least game through 5 weeks and control their own destiny with 3 games left in their season.
O-What!- A team with a lot of promise, if they win out they have a shot of creeping into the post season, with a little help from the scheduling gods.
The only win less team in the division, Blackout is basically eliminated from playoff contention, but in the upcoming weeks they can play spoiler to the teams that still have a shot at making the postseason.
IBL Full Court Press 