Week #9 Power Rankings
As the regular season comes to a close this week it is literally playoffs for some as the Top 6 teams make it into the playoffs and for some it is positioning. The two top teams get a first round bye.
Looking at this weeks' games, we have Toben vs Say No More in Game #1, Shooting Stars vs GBD in Game #2 and Hong Shing vs TBD in the final game. Shooting Stars is in control of their own destiny. If they win both their games they are in regardless of what Hong Shing does.
If Hong Shing wins and Shooting Stars loses one of its games they are in. If Hong Shing loses and Shooting Stars wins one of its remaining games they are in.
So the playoffs literally start this week for them.. In order for Toben NOT to get a 1st round bye, they have to drop their last 2 games to Say No More and SWAT. If that happens, Say No More finishes off 1st overall.
If Toben wins 1 of their remaining 2 games they finish off first and will play either the 4th or 5th seed team in the playoffs.
If TBD wins they will potentially create a log jam between the 2nd to 5th seed as Say No More, Swat, Desta, and TBD have the potential to all have the same record. This week has BIG implications.
Toben (5-0): Last Week Rank: 1, This Week Rank: 1
Toben is STILL the #1 Ranked team. They keep trekking and trekking. They beat TBD in a close contest that seen them win by 3 points even though they were severely short- handed. This week they take on a stingy Say No More who is currently licking their wounds from getting blown out by 42. Look for this matchup to be fairly close as Terril Murray will be looking to get his team back on track and shutting down Toben's strength which is its transition play. If they don't, it will be another long night like they had in playing the 2nd best transition team in the league Desta.
SWAT (4-2): Last Week Rank: 3, This Week Rank: 2
SWAT moves back up to 2nd place in the Power Rankings with a victory over GBD and Say No More falling to Desta. Swat will be off this week with a bye and will have time off to formulate a game plan for their final game of the season against Toben which can have implications on whether they get a bye or not in the first round of the playoffs.
Say No More (4-2) Last Week Rank: 2, This Week Rank: 3
Say No More has a very tough match up ahead as they are playing the high flying defending champion Toben. They will have to come up with a strategy to stop the tandem of Jaylen Pennie and Dinjiyl Walker. These 2 are the ones who make Toben go and both have the ability to put their team on their back. Say No More will have to slow down the game and force it into a half court match up if they want to have a chance of winning the game. 3 Safeties is a MUST! Say No More has earned respect in the league but pulling this upset off will solidify that they are for real.
Desta (3-3): Last Week Rank: 5, This Week Rank: 4
Desta moves up 2 spots in the rankings and is looking to establish itself in the playoff picture as a high seed. They can still get as high as 2nd place as they hold victories over both the 2nd & 3rd ranked teams. They will be off this week and get back in action next week against Shooting Stars.
TBD (3-3): Last Week Rank: 4, This Week Rank: 5
TBD comes off a loss to Toben and drops one spot in the ranking. This week they take on Hong Shing who started off strong and has been free falling ever since. Last time they played TBD was victorious 94-89. TBD will have to pay special attention to Jerron Rhodes who torched them for 33 points. Andrew Dawkins most likely will be assigned to slowing him down. TBD is looking to establish its playoff seeding from anywhere between a 4th to 6th seed as TBD has lost to both SWAT and Say No More.
Hong Shing (2-4): Last Week Rank: 5, This Week Rank: 6
Hong Shing has dropped 4 games in a row and literally start their playoffs this week as a loss now can knock them out of playoff contention. Attendance has been their downfall as their "regular core" hardly is ever at the games in its entirety. They have a tough game against TBD who is .500 on the season and looking to establish its playoff seeding. Hong Shing will have to look to keep Girbran Smith in check who is a Hong Shing killer. He has his highest PPG avg against them and last time out he scored 32 points leading his team to victory.
Shooting Stars (1-4): Last Week Rank: 8, This Week Rank: 7
Shooting Stars will be playing for their playoff lives and hold their own destiny in their own hands. If Shooting Stars win their next 2 games they will be in regardless what happens with Hong Shing. Shooting Stars takes on the last place GBD team that has under achieved with the names on their roster but have not given up. Shooting Stars will have to pay special attention to Shaq Dover who has been putting up solid numbers this season, and Abdullah Hashi. If Shooting Stars can turn this game into a track meet where they are best, they shouldn't have no problem putting GBD away.
GBD (1-5): Last Week Rank: 6, This Week Rank: 8
GBD will be looking to close out their season with a victory against Shooting Stars and play spoiler to their championship aspirations. GBD should look to turn this game into a half court affair if they want to beat their opponent. They need to have safeties and defend the 3 point line in transition as Shooting Stars like to push the pace and do most of their damage in the open court. GBD will have to make sure they shut down Jayden Cooke who is an absolute nightmare match up for any team he faces. Keeping him off the boards is what GBD should focus on and finding out where he is at in transition as he likes to get out ahead of the pack and do his damage.
