With 7 weeks of the regular season behind us, the real season begins. The #9 seeded Han$um Goonz and #16 DX will kickoff the divisions first round playoff games this upcoming Sunday. Which will lead us to the match up between the #12 seeded #JETS and the #13 seed the Nut Krackerz. The scene will then shift to the #10 seeded X-Men taking on the #15 seed 5 Guys 1 Cup. The last Preliminary round game of the evening will feature the #11 seeded Warriors taking on the #14 seed Happy Hour.
While these opening round games are taking place, #1 Quiksilver, #2 Double Dribble, #3 Wonton Soup, and #4 Secret Agents will enjoy their first round byes.
- The #5 seeded Cali Raisins will take on the winner of the #JETS vs. Nut Krackerz game.
- The #6 seed UKnow will take the court to battle it out with the winner of the Warriors vs. Happy Hour game.
- The #7 seeded Wet Bandits await the winner of the 5 Guys 1 Cup vs, X-Men game.
- The #8 seed The Revenge will play the winner of the Han$um Goonz vs. DX game.
#9 Han$um Goonz vs. #16 DX
With the #1-#4 Seeds having first round byes , the #9 seeded Han$um Goonz open up the Division 2 playoffs when they take on the #16 seeded team DX. This is the first playoff appearance for both teams, the winner of this game will take on the #8 seed The Revenge in a match-up later in the evening.
Pierce Mayoral leads the team in scoring, he enters the post season as the teams only double-digit performer averaging (10.0 PPG, and 8.6 RPG) . Chris Mayoral is often the teams second offensive option, Mayoral enters the playoffs averaging ( 5.9 PPG and 6.0 RPG). Chris McKeon is the teams third leading scorer entering the playoffs averaging ( 5.3 PPG, and 7.9 RPG). Offense seems hard to come by for this DX team who is averaging 35.0 PPG as a team entering the game, which is a division worst.
The Han$um Goonz enter the post season with Avant Foster (15.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 2.8 SPG) leading the team in the scoring column. Foster is the main catalyst that keeps the Goonz offense steadily flowing. Behind Foster is Odis Wishum who is entering the post season averaging (13.7 PPG and 6.3 RPG). Aaron Bell is the teams third offensive option behind Foster and Wishum, Bell is averaging (11.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.3 APG and 1.6 SPG) a very complete stat line to say the least.
Look for the Goonz to put the game out of reach early as they run their patented full court press. They Goonz are an agile defensive team that have the ability to get on your nerves with their very aggressive defense.
#12 #JETS vs. #13 Nut Krackerz
The #12 seed #JETS are set to host the #13 seeded Nut Krackerz in the opening round of the Division 2 playoffs. This is the first playoff appearance for both teams, the winner of this game will take on the #5 seeded California Raisins in a match-up later in the evening.
The young man with the sweet lefty stroke Joe-Joe Williams will lead the #JETS into this first round match-up. Williams leads the team in scoring with (25.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG and 1.8 APG). Matt is the teams second leading scorer and enters the post season averaging, (10.5 PPG, and 5.5 RPG). The third scoring option behind Williams and Matt is the very under utilized Anthony, Anthony enters this game averaging (8.5 PPG, and 3.2 RPG).
For the Nut Krackerz, they will rely on the play of Matt Delfino (17.0 PPG, 6.6 RPG) to help guide them to a win. Elias Salloum (11.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG), Solin Bit (10.8 PPG, 7.2 RPG and 3.2 APG) and Eric (11.4 PPG and 5.6 RPG) will all have to step their game up and contribute on the offensive end as well as collect multiple boards if the Nut Krackerz want a shot to move on to the Second Round.
Look For Joe-Joe Williams to have a huge offensive outburst, but the length of the Nut Krackerz will ultimately help guide them to the win.
#10 X-Men vs. #15 5 Guys 1 Cup
The #10 seeded X-Men are set to host the #15 seed 5 Guys 1 Cup in the opening round of the Division 2 playoffs. This is the first playoff appearance for the X-Men, and the second for 5 Guys 1 Cup who fell to The Revenge in last seasons playoffs. The winner of this game will take on the #7 seeded Wet Bandits in a match-up later in the evening.
Both these teams have the potential to win a championship, it’s a shame that only one will be remaining after this opening round playoff game. Darren Smith will lead the X-Men into this playoff bout, Smith is averaging (25.0 PPG, 7.8 RPG and 1.5 APG) through 6 games. Deante Smith is second in command on the X-Men, he enters this game averaging (13.0 PPG and 6.7 RPG) Chris Smith will be the X-Factor for the X-Men, he is an athletic swing man who only averages (6.2 PPG) but his 8.3 RPG help his team out tremendously. Oscar Pacheco (43%) from 3-point range is one of the more accurate shooters in the division if he gets hot early look for his teammates to feed off of him.
On the other side of things for the #15 seeded 5 Guys 1 Cup, they weren’t predicted to be in this position. After achieving a playoff berth last season as a #8 seed it seemed that the 5 Guys had finally peaked. The team however has had a rough season recording only one win, but are still a very capable team. 5 Guys 1 Cup manages to get all players involved in the offense so the scoring is very balanced in the stat book. Jhouan will enter the post season as the teams leading scorer averaging (11.6 PPG, and 5.8 RPG) Castro has taken a backseat to Jhouan all season and is averaging slightly less in the points column than he did in past seasons. Castro enters the post season averaging (11.3 PPG, and 8.0 RPG). Alex Fernandez (10.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG) is the teams third leading scorer, and leads the team in free-throw percentage at (71%).
#11 Warriors vs. #14 Happy Hour
The #11 seeded Warriors are set to host the #14 seed Happy Hour in the opening round of the Division 2 playoffs. This is the second playoff appearance for both teams, the winner of this game will take on the #6 seed UKnow in a match-up later in the evening.
The Warriors enter the post season led by Lester Cole (11.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG), Kemoy Mathis (11.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG) and George Gerardo (11.0 PPG, 8.7 RPG) . These 3 players are key factors if the Warriors want any shot at advancing to the next round. They would also need a big game from PG Louis Cole (5.1 PPG, 1.7 APG) and a spark of the bench from Ray Sanchez (5.6 PPG, 2.7 RPG).
Happy Hour has had a sub par season to say least. They’ve recorded 2 wins in 7 tries, they are led into this playoff match-up by Reuben Medina (18.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG), James Reyes (12.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and Pierre Recinto (12.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG). These 3 players are averaging double figures in the scoring column. A Key Factor for Happy Hour will be the performance of Mike Dorn (7.8 PPG, 7.0 RPG) Dorn has had a sluggish season but in Week 7 looked as if he had finally gotten his groove back, this should be a very competitive game.
I see the Warriors holding on and advancing to play UKnow.
IBL Full Court Press 