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.

The Full Court Press: Nate’s Notes – Divisional Championship Preview

 

 

After  10 grueling weeks of play, a resolution will finally be seen as we crown two new division champions (Division 1 & 2) and possibly a third in Division 3, that is, if HiiiPower fails to repeat.  In a post season that has seen none of the three divisions Top 2 teams to make it to the championship round, we are left to wonder. “What if”.  Now 6 six teams remain all wanting to stamp their name in the IBL history books, before we approach our decade mark of season 10.

#3 Knicee vs. #4 Dino’s Finest

With the pressure to deliver a championship Larry Dew will try his best to make due on his promise of another division championship, the stars have aligned for this 3 vs. 4 match-up and it will be sure to be a  barn burner.   To many analysts, I would have to agree that Knicee’s time is now, but Dino has been on a run as of late and that run has built this team’s already endless confidence.  Dino has played tough completion so far this post season with victories over a tough Dynasty team and their last win coming at the expense of the #1 seed Cali Raisins. Knicee has struggled to come away with a decisive win in the first two rounds, almost falling to the #6 seeded Rebels in the quarterfinals and giving us an offensive blunder of a game while playing The Pack. If they perform the way they have in the first two rounds, I’d have to believe Larry Dew will be holding the golden ball once more.

Prediction: I see Knicee coming out on top is this heavyweight bout. Dino may be a favorite, but due to the poor performance by Kenneth Ubom so far in these playoffs I’d like to think he’d have a big game in the season’s most important game. Ubom is a primetime performer and no stage is bigger in the IBL than the division championship.  Knicee just has the size, with their 3 interchangeable big men ( Jeron Devine, Dewayne O’Neal, & Odell Howard) and size speaks volumes in the IBL. If Knicee can play the game at their tempo and limit their turnovers then I see Knicee hoisting their first golden ball. However, if Dino gets hot as they did in Week 8 while playing the Rebels, then Knicee should be in for a very long night.

X-Factors:

Knicee: Ray Hong and Reggie Smith

Dino: Paul Miller and John Shields

 

#4 Quiksilver vs. #7 HighLife

This championship matchup is a surprising one to say the least. Well on one side of the bracket at least. As I stated in my earlier notes, HighLife was not even expected to get passed the #2 seed Wonton Soup in the first round, however due a forfeit, HighLife advanced and shocked the #3 seed Special Delivery in the Semi Final round in large part to the play of their Dynamic Duo in the backcourt of Sango Niang and Chris Fowler.

Now looking at their opponents, Quiksilver was a sleeper pick to get to this point. The acquisition of Jaime Villalobos, Johnny Earl, Richard Coombs & Mike Criscione go along with their core group of players as well as their star Jordan Block, this team was an early season favorite to win it all. With Block’s departure for college after Week 4, Quiksilver seemed to become a slight after thought in the championship discussion.  They pulled through and things have come together at the right time, Quik has been on the cusp of a championship as recently as Season 7 when they fell to the eventual champions Primetime.  This seems to be their season of redemption as they’ve defeated the last two division champions (Primetime [Season 7], UNDFTD [Season 8] ) to get to this point.

Prediction:  Although HighLife has made it this far, their luck has ran out, Quiksilver’s front line is just too much to overcome, Niang and Fowler will both have to drop 40 a piece to give their team a chance to compete. On top of that, HighLifehas no one to defend Johnny Earl or Jaime Villalobos. Look for Villalobos to have his way and lead his team to the golden ball, and hoist his 3^rd IBL Championship.

X-Factors:

HighLife:  The supporting cast, everybody but Niang & Fowler will be this teams X-Factor.

Quiksilver:  The play of their big men, if the big men can get easy baskets, it will force the smaller HighLife to double the post which will lead to wide open three-point shots.

 

#7 Burger Kings vs. #8 HiiiPower

 

HiiiPower takes the court to defend their championship by taking on the #7 seed Burger Kings. It’s amazing to see that out of a field of 12, the 7 & 8 seeds make it to the championship round. It goes to show that the division is immensely filled with talent. The Burger Kings have let it be known that this game was supposed to take place last season. After falling to Justice League, which led to JL eventually making it to the championship round and falling to the eventual champs HiiiPower.  The Kings are back and they’ll get to show us that they could indeed win a championship in a division dominated by younger teams.  Looking at the teams, it looks like Men vs. Boys. Don’t take HiiiPower lightly they’re an IBL franchise on the rise, after securing their first championship last season they look to repeat this season as the first team to do so in the division. Their D2 team which comprises of the same players from D3 also clinched a championship berth last season, so I’m going to go out on a limb and say HiiiPower takes home at least the D3 championship. They’re a well oiled machine, the chemistry is great and everyone knows their role. The Burger Kings will give this team a run for their money, but I see them running out of gas if they do not control the tempo.

 

Prediction: HiiiPower is just too young and explosive to let this opportunity slip away. They’re taking on an older team, that’s experienced in many facets of the game.  I see HiiiPower defending their crown and coming out on top, this team’s time is now and they will not relinquish the throne. They’re young, explosive and hungry.  HiiiPower will become the first champion to repeat in the division since its inception in Season 5.

 

X-Factors:

Burger Kings: The Burger Kings X-Factor is not a player, it’s a task, & that task is winning the rebounding battle, more so the offensive rebounding battle, in the semi finals their second chance opportunities, helped them solidify their win, look for them to do the same in this game.

HiiiPower: Storm Venegas andJerry Devora, Fowler and Niang need help, look for these two to provide that spark, these quartet of players are familiar with each other.

 

 

-Nathan Apolonio