SPRING SEASON, SEASON 16
PLAYOFF PREVIEW
PLATINUM DIVISION
“ANYONE WANT TO PLAY US?”
PLATINUM DIVISION
(1) Flava 4 Life vs. (8) Bell City Stars
GM of the Season Mario Thompson leads the defending Champions over 1-7 Bell City Stars. With Bell City Stars climbing up the standings after several teams were removed from the league, can Bell City Stars capitalize on the opportunity?
John Wright averaged a team-high 14.7 ppg while Paul Anderson averaged 10.5 ppg, 1.7 apg. GM Matt Mosley led the team with 16 three-pointers and he averaged 1.6 apg, a team-high. LeShawn Miller dominated in Gold Division all season but his Platinum Division play has been disappointing. He averaged 4.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg in Platinum but for Brotherhood, he averaged 14.8 ppg, 13.6 rpg. Is Platinum Division really that tough?
The defending Champions finished an undefeated season with a 8-0 record but won’t have an MVP coming out of their team. Kenneth Ubom averaged 16.4 ppg while Dwayne Gaines averaged a team-high 18.2 ppg. Both former Finals MVPs played in just 5 games this season and weren’t eligible for End of the Season Awards. Expect them to be fired up for the Playoffs.
Which team will take this one? We can already hear the whispers coming out of the Flava camp.
”How come no one got MVP from Flava? We were undefeated?”
In order for you to be eligible, you have to have played 6 games. Both Gaines and Ubom played in 5 games apiece. Expect Flava to use that as firepower and take it out on Bell City Stars.
(2) Relics vs. (7) Infamous
MVP Cisco Acevado averaged a division-high 31.1 ppg and his 54 three-pointers ranks 1st in the Platinum Division. Will Cisco’s hot shooting streak continue in the Playoffs?
Terrence Martin averaged a division-high 6.2 apg while Cisco Acevado ranked 3rd in steals with 13 this season. The former Champions finished with a 7-1 record and they are expected to be in the Finals with Flava 4 Life. Anything less is a failure and Relics knows this. GM Andrew Knox (10.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg) has done a stellar job in bringing in new players and Gary Beaird (11.0 ppg) and Bobby Kovach (26.3 ppg, 2.3 apg) have worked out quite nicely for Relics. The addition of new players hasn’t affected their team chemistry and the transition was so smooth, Relics founder Ernest Pablo would have approved of GM Knox’s move.
Infamous C Ron Atmore led the division with 8 blocks but can he block Relics from advancing to the next round? Mike Mehana averaged a team-high 20.0 ppg while Calvin Smith III averaged 14.4 ppg. Troy Beverly averaged 7.7 rpg while Moy Ulloa averaged 8.0 ppg.
Which team will take this one? Terrence Martin will be difficult to contain for Infamous and he should go off for Relics on both ends of the floor. Relics eliminated Infamous from qualifying for the Playoffs last season and Infamous needs to remember how close that game was on Week 8 (Winter 2010).
(3) Team Nazo vs. (6) Primetime
The Former Champions take on the reigning Gold Division Champions, Primetime. Which former Championship team will advance to the next round?
Nazo finished the season with a 6-2 record as Damian Jones led the way with 17.8 ppg in 4 games. Willie Allen averaged 14.0 ppg while GM Jesse Romero scored 9.8 ppg in 4 games. The team is holding back for the Playoffs and with the exception of Romero, the team has been reluctant on playing in any other division. There’s no doubt they’re focused more than ever and if they get past Primetime, Relics/Infamous should be waiting for them in the Semis.
Primetime needs to run the floor and they need to push the tempo now more than ever. Nazo excels on the half court and Primetime is at a disadvantage since Nazo has the size advantage. Rashad Martin earned MVP honors with his stellar play and he averaged 19.0 ppg, 9.9 rpg. His 24 three-pointers and 9 blocks were all team-highs. Former Finals MVP Mark Davison averaged 14.9 ppg while Donald Colford averaged 19.8 ppg.
Who will take this one? With a full roster, Primetime has the size to compete with Nazo but it’s rare the team plays with all 10 players. Nazo likes to talk and get in their opponent’s heads. If Primetime can block that out and just focus on the game, Primetime should advance to the next round. League analysts feel Nazo is too physical and the veteran team should be able to control the tempo. Nazo, in a close game.
(4) F1RSTCLASS vs. (5) Gunnaz
Both teams are a spin-off of Gold Division team, D-League. In a fitting Father’s Day match-up, both 5-3 teams, F1RSTCLASS and Gunnaz meet in the 1st Round.
There was a time when GM Daniel Villanueva and Jeb Busbin (6.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg) played for D-League several seasons ago. When the duo returned in Gold Division, many expected the team to flop. Acquiring several role players, F1RSTCLASS soared above Gold Division and they have been a force in Platinum Division in their first season. Victor Mitchell averaged 16.0 ppg while Daniel Corrales averaged 16.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg. David Marquez scored 13.0 ppg while Chris Thomas led the team with 11 steals and 4 blocks.
Gunnaz has also surpassed expectations and former Gold Division MVP Jordan Ramos is in the midst of it all. The acquisition of the -_- PG was a surprise but it has worked out well for GM Kassah Kantiok (13.4 ppg, 2.1 apg, 10.7 rpg). Ramos averaged 18.6 ppg, 3.7 apg (2nd in division) in his first season with Gunnaz. Osasu Oronsaye, the Cal Poly Pomona Intramural 3-pont Champion, averaged 15.4 ppg and his 25 three-pointers is a team-high. Riko Henderson only played in 3 games but averaged a team-high 20.0 ppg.
Which team will take this one? There’s plenty of offense between both teams and this one is all out war. This 4 vs 5 match-up will go to OT and we’re going with the safe pick – the team that was a spin-off from D-League will win the game. =)
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+ Game Previews, recaps and write-ups are articles written by Superstar Basketball League Analysts.
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