#8 Tupac Back vs. #1 Washed Up
Commissioners Comments:
#1 Washed Up should easily take care of Tupac Back, especially when they have been off for nearly 3 weeks and get to début their new uniform for the playoffs. WU have been off for nearly 3 weeks, they’re old… they need the rest.
Nate’s Notes:
The typical 1 vs. 8 match-up will be just that 1 versus. 8. With both teams being very well rested, look for them to come out a tad bit rusty due to lack of “game speed play” after the bye week, Washed up is coming off consecutive bye weeks, however I don’t think that will affect their play for long.
MVP Candidate Johnny Earl leads Washed Up into this game, Earl averaged 25.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.8 apg. through the teams 6 regular games. Earl is instant offense, as well as a threat from anywhere on the court, he is a proficient shooter, shooting 41% from three-point range. The other Earl, Michael is the teams second leading scorer and demands a lot of attention, the 6’6 Center is averaging 17.7 ppg and pulling in 8.7 rpg. Michael Earl is not the teams only threat in the low post. André Lyons is a bully in the paint averaging 14.3 ppg, and 8.3 rpg. with Earl and Lyons in the post this team is unbeatable and their 6-0 record is proof.
Tupac Back on the other hand is coming off a first round win over #9 Knicee and all of their players are oozing with confidence and letting it be known that Tupac is indeed Back. (pun intended). The man in the middle Jordan Block leads the way for this team, he entered the playoffs averaging 22.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg but finished with a strong 15 point, 13 rebounds performance in Tupac Backs first round game. Jeff Allen was the teams unsung hero in the first round, in the regular season Allen averaged 9.8 ppg and 1.8 rpg, but in the teams first playoff game with Knicee. Allen led the team in scoring with 23 points and 9 rebounds a near double-double. Paul King finished the season as the teams third leading scorer with 11.8 ppg, and 5.8 rpg but just like his teammate Jeff Allen he came up huge in the first round. King was the teams second leading scorer with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
At the end of the day, Washed-Up is just the better team, they’ll come away with the victory and advance to the semi finals, and take on the winner of the #4 Play Makerz and #5 Morningwood game.
#7 The Pack vs. #2 I Ball
Commissioners Comments :
#2 I BALL and The Pack will be a closer game than the seeding presents. The two teams stack up pretty well, especially since both teams can shoot from behind the arc. But I would give a slight edge to I BALL with their overwhelming team size over The Pack. BUT you can throw that all out if only 3-4 of their players show up.
Nate’s Notes:
Who would have thought at the start of the season that IBall would be the divisions #2 seed at the end of the regular season? Or better yet The Pack advancing to the second round after a 3-4 regular season, with one of their bright spots being their Week 6 victory over the #4 seeded heavily favored Play Makerz. I knew I didn’t I see this coming. Both teams have different styles of play with The Pack favoring the three-point shot while IBall prefers to pound it in on the inside and bully you in the post.
The Pack was led into the playoffs by their leading scorer Tyler who entered the playoffs averaging 11.8 ppg and 7.8 rpg, Tyler however didn’t show up in the first round, not that he needed to. However his 6 point, 2 rebound performance was mediocre at best and I expect him to put his stamp on this second round game. Luke, who is the teams second leading scorer, averaged 11.3 ppg and 2.3 rpg in the regular season but had a huge game in the first round. He shot the lights out and was really the spark that lit The Pack and helped them get out to a big lead. Luke finished the game with 21 points, shooting 5’11 from downtown. Lonnie Rivera, the teams third leading scorer entered the playoffs averaging 11.0 ppg and 8.2 rpg, really had his finger prints all over the teams first round victory with his 25 points and 9 rebounds. If Rivera and Luke can play that way every week, there is no reason The Pack can’t make it deep into the playoffs.
IBall has a very potent and balanced offense led into this match-up by their big man Mauricio who is averaging a near double-double with 19.5 ppg, and 9.3 rpg. Behind Mauricio is Justin with 13.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg and 2.5 apg. Wilson Fiallos and Les are the teams third leading scorers entering the playoffs with both players averaging 13.0 ppg, Fiallos is averaging a little over 5rpg (5.3) while Les is averaging close to 6 rpg (5.8). James is the teams 4th double-digit scorer entering the playoffs averaging 12.0 ppg and 6.3 rpg. This team is filled with quick guards that attack the basket.
This should be a very intense game, with The Pack coming out on top and shocking the Division. The winner of this game with take on the winner of the game below.
#6 West Coast Pros. vs. #3 The Dynasty
Commissioners Comments :
#3 Dynasty and #6 West Coast Pros will be another close game. Once again, it all depends on who shows up this week. If both teams are at full strength… I would pick WCP to get the upset, they are a lot better than their #6 ranking because of roster issues throughout the regular season.
Nate’s Notes:
After having a near full roster in their Week 7 game, the West Coast Pros. entered their playoff match-up in Week 8 with a small roster but still managed to pull out a close game over the #11 seeded P.A.H.U they will now take on the #3 team The Dynasty who is my favorite to take it all. Every time the Dynasty takes the court you should expect an aerial show. However they are more than just athletes this guys can play the game. Both of these teams can “play the game” their styles just differ. WCP relies on their scrappy defense and hustle plays while the Dynasty takes full advantage of their athleticism as well as their 3 point shooting.
The West Coast Pros. were led into the post season by high-flyer Shawn Sawyer who averaged 18.0 ppg and 6.2 RPG in 5 regular season games. Sawyer however had a very disappointing first round game dropping only 8 points and 2 rebounds. Josh, was the teams second leading scorer in the regular season with 15.4 ppg and 8.4 rpg and delivered exactly those numbers in the first round, 15 points and 8 rebounds. Charles Grays was the teams third leading scorer entering the playoffs with 11.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg but thrived in the first round with a 19 points and 7 rebounds performance.
The high-powered offense of The Dynasty is led by Tren 24.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg and 1.3 apg. Behind Tren is Holden who is 1 of 2 players that played in all 7 regular season games this season. Holden is averaging 20.0 ppg, and 8.7 rpg. Buai Tut is the teams third leading scorer entering this match-up. Tut is averaging 18.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg, and 2.3 apg. Walter rounds out the “players to watch” with his 12.0 ppg and 4.3 rpg.
Contrary to the commish’s belief that this game will be close, I would beg to differ, the Dynasty has an offensive attack that in comparable to no other team, they thrive off the fastbreak, and can score by the bunches. The Dynasty leads the Division in scoring with 77.1 ppg while the West Coast Pros. sit at #6 on the list with an average of 58.6 ppg. I see The Dynasty coming out of this match-up unscathed and ready to take on the winner of The Pack and IBall game.
#4 Play Makerz vs. #5 Morningwood
Commissioners Comments :
#4 Play Makerz and #5 Morningwood are two teams that really matchup well. Morningwood look lost a few times in the season and they only added 1 new player this season. I have Play Makerz advancing into the next round, they can score points in every position (Morningwood statistical numbers have declined sharply since they’re now a midpack D1 team).
Nate’s Notes:
These two teams headlined the season opener when they met in Week 1. The Play Makerz came out on top in the “clash of the titans” and seemed unscathed to say the least, after a 80-61 romping of the defending champs. Now seven weeks after their initial match-up these teams will square off with bragging rights and a chance to advance further in the playoffs on the line.
Both teams finished with a (4-3) record and have had their fair shares of ups and downs this season. In pursuit of their unprecedented 5th Division Championship Morningwood enters the game with a mediocre 4-3 record. They do not seem ready to defend their championship.
I’ve had several interviews with several players that claim the team is indeed “in turmoil” (players not fulfilling their roles, arguing amongst the team, and they’ve lost the competitive edge that set them apart from the competition the past couple of seasons) reports also claim this could very well be their last season together as a unit. This season is reminiscent of Season 3 when Morningwood was defeated by Primetime in the Division Semi Finals. That could very well be the scenario in this upcoming match up.
Diahnte “D-Smooth” Pickett led his troops into battle all season and will enter the playoffs as the teams leading scorer, averaging (13.0 PPG, 1.0 SPG). The big man Dewayne O’Neal has had a significant drop off from his MVP season in Season 5, with statistical decreases in points and rebounds. O’Neal enters the playoffs averaging (11.4 PPG, and 7.7 RPG) after entering last seasons playoffs averaging a double-double (15.9 PPG, 14.0 RPG). Below O’Neal on the stat sheet is the other half of the Pickett brothers Derrick Pickett (10.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG) Pickett is also averaging career lows in points and rebounds. Rich Cobarrubias enters the playoffs as the teams fourth leading scorer, but he however is averaging career lows in points (7.2 PPG) and three-point field goal percentage (32%).
The Play Makerz are led into this first round match-up by Johnnie Green (21.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG) Green has been the cornerstone of the Play Makerz offense for the entire season and is 1 of the 2 players on his team to have played in all seven regular season games this season. Behind Green is high-flyer Aesh Dabbas who is averaging (18.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG) Dabbas was a key contributor in their Week 7 match-up with The Alliance, he finished with (20 points and 12 rebounds). Amos Battle will be a key contributor in this game, he finished the season as the teams third leading scorer and will enter the playoffs averaging (16.0 PPG, and 2.0 RPG). This will no doubt be a high scoring affair, the key component for Morningwood would have to be defense, they gave up 80 points (season high) to the Play Makerz in Week 1 which is inexcusable for a championship team they should also limit “highlight plays” such as dunks, things like that seem to fuel a team and give them energy.
The key component for the Play Makerz would have to be to get all players to the game and play the way they played in Week 1. They’ve already defeated this team and are poised to do so for a second time. Retribution is on the mind of Morningwood players, look for this game to be an IBL Classic. With a loss this may very well be the final chapter in Morningwoods IBL book.
The Winner of this game will move on to play the winner of the #1 Washed Up vs. #8 Tupac Back
IBL Full Court Press 