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MVP
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Re: Created Basketball league..
Pre-season Power Rankings
The Cupcakes
30. Passers
While the whole entire East improved, the Passers lost their leading scorer in Greg Paul to the 'Pack. Their guards are solid in Lacey and Spaulding, and Sanderson was a fantastic rookie last year, but they have no production inside. Expect them to be in the Eastern Conference Cellar.
29. Tornados
Yes, this team made the playoffs last year. Yes, they have an all-star in Ray Mickens. That's basically it though. They lost a very good scorer in Derek Lenn, and Mickens has almost no help. Kevin Sanders was a big dissapointment last year. With the depth of the West, the Tornados don't look too good.
28. Shamrocks
This team was the worst team I had ever seen last year. No defense, No offense, and almost no wins. Then they signed Derek Lenn, and got a 7'3 monster in Taurence Massago in the first pick. Still, this team just isn't that good. Massago is a great shot blocker, but other than him their defense is terrible. There won't be too much luck this year, expect another lottery pick.
The Not-Quite-There Teams
27. Lions
They had an amazing run to get in the playoffs last year. But don't expect a repeat performance. They have 3 good scoring threats with Roads, Robertson, and Ortega. Their defense is miserable though, with teams scoring in the paint at will. No big men=No chance.
26. Buckeyes
This team is full of up-and-comers. Fitzy, Robinson, and Nicholez are talented young players who can fill up the stat sheet. They finally got a big man in the 7'0 Bronson, and a rookie point guard. They will score, score, score, and then give up 100 also. Should be fun to watch, but expect their to be a lot of check marks in the loss column.
25. Hornets
Brandon Kidd and Chris Martin are dynamic scorer. Heck, Kidd can play every single position on the court, and Martin can hit from almost every spot on the court. But look past them, and you'll see a lot of weaknesses. Their biggest challenge; replacing the gap 7'6 Caleb Ray has left in the middle.
24. Tigers
It all comes down to the rookie PG Neil Stevenson. He has plenty of scorers in Lloyd, Bennett, and Gonzalez. He needs to keep them all happy, and try and run an offense. Tough task. And even bigger task; winning without an inside presence.
23. Airplanes
The 'Planes are getting at an altitude they've never been at before. They are the laughing stock of the league, but are talented this year. They got a fantastic duo in the paint, Azevedo and Shimokawa. And now a run and gun point guard in Darryl Ebi. Still though, their big men are undersized, and they don't have enough talent at the wings. This plane could go high this year, but we're expecting a crash.
The Outside Teams Looking In
22. Airballs
The run and gun '40 minutes of hell' experiment will be attempted this year with the Airballs. They don't have enough talent, to be a playoff team, so they hope they can make up for it with hustle. Pressing all game and running until the clock hits zero is a cool idea, but you still need some scorers to win.
21. Thunder
What an offseason for the Thunder. With the No.2 pick they traded for D.J. Reid, a powerhouse inside. They now have 2 players who can fill the stat sheet, Reid and Atkins, and some up-and-comers. Soto had a decent rookie year, but they need more from him this year if they want to be more competitive. Witherspoon is a decent point guard, and Rickey can't do much else other than shoot. The Thunder could make a splash in the West, but don't expect them to be there in late March.
20. Chambers
They've made the playoffs the last 5 years, but this year seems it will be different. This team is stuck in deciding if they want to be a contender or in a rebuilding stage. The Chambers are decent, but not enough to be a contender, but good enough to make the playoffs so they refuse to rebuild. Stefanov and Forte look to be future stars, but this team is getting old. Should be dissapointment in store, for the Chambers.
19. Bearpack
A brilliant free agency means the Pack are in business. Picking up vets Paul and Tracy will help this team tremendously. Still to crack the Western playoffs, you need a good point guard and a good center. This team has neither, with a rookie center and 2nd year PG.
18. Dogs
Last year, the big man in the middle, Wesley Lue was suppose to provide a dominant inside game for the Dogs. He didn't do so, and the Dogs still lived by their motto, 'Make 3's or Die'. Any team that lives by that motto can win and lose every game. Unless they get Lue some more touches, they are too risky of a team.
17. Robbers
In my opinion, one of the most talented teams in the league. However, talent doesn't give you wins. The Robbers can run, hit 3s, and have a very good inside game. So how do they lose games? Some claim this team doesn't try during the little games and only show up in the big games. In this league, that doesn't work out too good. The loss of Joey Sapp pushes this team out of championship contention.
16. Evergreens
Manny Hazle finally has help. Another guard who can put up points, and an freakishly athletic swingman. Sapp and Moss can help this team win, but the Evergreens have no help from their bigs. They need the high school rookie Lonny Forrester to produce right away, or they can kiss their playoff hopes good-bye.
The Playoff-Worthy Teams
15. Knights
A team that oozes with potential. Two young big men that will provide problems for any team, in Foote and Russell. Two guards that can hold their own, and the supposed sensational rookie Tyrone Samuel, out of LSU. They look like they could be a suprise team this year on paper, but paper doesn't mean much in this league. This team can be a hit or a miss. Our guess is a hit.
14. Venom
After missing the playoffs last year the Venom made some changes. The big one; the head coaching job. The league's greatest player ever Stitch Appleman will take over. He promises to give Hemlock more touches and play inside-out. This team isn't the greatest but with Hemlock, I think they'll hold their own against the elite.
13. Eagles
Ray Rice alone, will get you in the playoff group. But with pass-first point guard J.R. Stewart and some very good young guards in Rivers and Puckett this team has a shot at going all the way. Still we don't think they'll pull off a deep run due to the fact they having a glaring weakness in the big man department.
12. Wildcats
Jason Finch has lead this team from worst team to playoff team in one year. He posted a historic rookie season and won ROY. Who knows what he'll do in his encore. He has better players around him this year, in Jerry Blake, Jerrah Fizer, and rookie Lawrence Nash. And don't forget about their leading scorer last year Alexander Micha. This team isn't in the elite category, but can certainly compete with the best.
11. Alligators
With a duo of Walt Jarvis and J.J. Ramirez this team shouldn't be this high, right? Not so fast, Ramirez is getting up there in age, and even with Jarvis dominating last year they had an early exit in the playoffs. The bottom line is this team will make the playoffs, but not go very far in it.
10. Cliffs
Okay, so Buckley and Willie Straws can put a lot of points on the board. They still have no post game. The addition of Jamison is very welcome, but he can't do jack on the offensive end. This team did well last year, and should do well this year, but teams will be able to pick them apart inside. How can they hope to compete with the titans of the West with nobody who can stop Brady, Townes, and the Yellow Jacket's towers?
The Dark Horses
9. Dynamite
Stevie Johnson guarantees playoffs this year. He is maybe the most talented player in the league, and never produces. If this team can't make the playoffs this year, everyone in the organization should be fired. With a lightning quick PG in D.C. Lite, and a 6'11 Peter Barrett who can stretch the defense with his sweet stroke, they are among the West's best teams. Add if the two rookie big men Stanley Clarke and Robert Copeland do good, this could be a special season.
8. Death
Hype surrounded this team last year. They were suppose to be great. Yet, they didn't even make the playoffs. Throw last year out the window. They lost Jerry Blake, but now have Chandler Lue for a whole entire year. Do-it-all PG Omar Bell vows to perform better this year. To be a top team in the West though, they need Jamar Call to become an all-star caliber player.
The Elite
7. Americans
Any team with Louis Brady is an elite team, in my mind. He has the best post game I've ever seen. Abdul, Manu, and Houston are just icing on the cake. This team is a great team, but can't get it right in the playoffs. 3 straight years of losing in the first round. Can they finally right the ship this year with a deep playoff run?
6. Spirit
Two straight years with the best record in the league, two straight playoff failures. The Spirit have an amazing point guard in St. John and a defensive powerhouse in Zion. The key this year is 3rd year man Edwin Claudino. The 6'10 power forward has a killer jump shot, but they need him to be better defensively if they want to bring home the finals.
5. Comets
Last years runner-up looks to one up last year's performance. With the 7'3 monster Javier and Deisel bullying teams inside, they are a force to be reckoned with. Jacques is a fantastic scorer, but with Sings getting up there in age, and questions about how good Detrick is, we don't see them as a team as the same quality of the Yellow Jackets.
The Championship Contenders
4. Ice
The run and gun style of play is back! Phloris, Wayne, and Glarten will fastbreak it and gun it every oppurtunity they have. And boy are they good at it. The Ice's biggest strength though is the solid defense and rebounding of Williams and Bolton. These guys shut down big men and out rebound other teams all day. Still the Ice's perimeter defense is shaky and the run and gun style is always risky, and the reason they won't be cracking the top 3.
3. Snakes
Marques Townes, Mr. Fundamental, is back for another crack at the Finals. Townes is an automatic 20 and 10, and he has plenty of talent around him. Gardner is possibly the best 3 point shooter in the league, and Jennings is a shut down defender. The question mark is Julian Black though. Is he good enough at point to lead them past the Jackets and into the Finals? We don't think so.
2. Badgers
Dee Bogger is the best player in the league. No doubt about that. He can single handedly win games. Around him, he has his twin towers, Hughes and Hanson. They dominate on defense and the glass. Wilkinson is the best defending guard in the league, and a solid offensive threat. These guys are good, but we're not sure if Bogger has a good enough supporting cast to lift this year's trophy.
The Defending Champs
1. Yellow Jackets
They are the defending champs. They are the team to beat. Simple as that.
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I will always, always be a Jets fan. But trust me it hurts.
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10-04-2009, 07:18 AM
