SWAT vs Strong Island

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Friday, 27 March 2009

VS. ITS PLAYOFF TIME BABY!!!!! Coming into this year, SWAT had a lot of questions marks. With almost their whole team leaving or not playing at all, Solyman had to find some talent to fill his roster and he certainly did by adding Tarek Yasin, Ahmad, Arif and Sijo to name a few. To solidify their inside presence, Stanley and his brother Steve were added mid season to give them the toughness and tenacity they were lacking. With all the different players and different strengths, Solyman has had to juggle the lineups to find players who played well together, prompting the creation of complete line changes. When SWAT is fully armed and loaded they are a deep team with big men that can wreck havoc inside. These teams have played each other twice with the new SWAT team facing Strong Island and losing 65-77, but in that game Tarek went off for 35pts and 20 rebounds. The second time they played, both teams were virtually at full strength with most of the stars playing in that game. It was a close game that came down to the end, but SWAT was able to pull it out by pounding the ball inside with Stanley and Tarek. SWAT has been known to deploy a press which lead to easy points but Solyman has backed off of that in the recent weeks. Will Solyman try to challenge the ball handing and decision making of the SI guards by employing his press? SWAT has had poor attendance which has hurt their chemistry and they haven’t help the situation with continued poor attendance leading into the playoffs. Does SWAT have the talent to win a title, I don’t see why not, but do they have the chemistry and cohesiveness to win a title, that remains to be seen. SWAT's Keys to Victory: 1. Establish the inside game with Stanley and Tarek 2. Stay out of foul trouble 3. Control the glass Strong Island’s season is a tale of 3 parts. Early on, Strong Island looked like an early favorite to contend for a title by smoking their competition and starting off with a 6-0 record. With some inconsistent play and Neil getting injured, they dropped their next 7 games, going to 6-7 and fading fast. Back from injury came Simran (who is hurt again) but more importantly Shaun Ramani who has provided a spark, swagger and toughness to this team that they were severely lacking. It came just in time as Mark announced that he could not play for the rest of the season(serving our country). With Richard Reyes doing his thing on the glass and scoring, and with Franciso’s shooting, Shaun’s defensive intensity SI was able to win 3 out of their last 5 games. They also have barely played with a full squad this whole season so it will be interesting to see how they all play together. Franciso, Richard, Neil and Raman have been staples all season and they have been getting contributions from other players such as Shahin. In this game, they will need to be able to crack the defense of SWAT and try to get Tarek and Stanley in foul trouble to give them an easier time on the defensive end. Strong Island certainly has the players to win this game as well as future rounds but these teams are very evenly matched so it’s going to come down to the nitty gritty plays which may determine this game. Strong Island's Keys to Victory: 1. Ball Movement – get Richard, Shaun, Neil, Shahin enough shots 2. Get SWAT in foul trouble, 3. Don’t settle for the three point shot

 

HUMANS vs HitMen

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Friday, 27 March 2009

VS. ITS PLAYOFF TIME BABY!!!!! The HUMANS which was overhauled during the off-season has been infused with a massive amount of talent which has resulted in the deepest and most versatile team in the league. Farhan has done a great job of preaching defense as they are by far the best defensive team in the league with excellent team defensive as well as leading the league in blocks and steals. The primary scorers are Muneeb and Mohammed(aka The Scientist) who have the ability to break anyone off the dribble, finish plays for themselves or set up their teammates. With the HUMANS incredible depth and versatility, they are able to adjust defenses and exploit certain match ups on offense as well. However, the HUMANS are prone to have a drop off when Muneeb and/or Mohammed sub out. They have lapses of bad turnovers and stagnant offense which has gotten them into trouble at times during the year. Also, the HUMANS are not known as a team that shots a lot of 3’s, which could potentially be a problem if they find themselves behind or can’t hit open shots after breaking down a zone. With such a deep team, Muneeb has not been asked to carry the team on his back like last season, but everyone is aware (especially ppl from SABL season 2) that he is as clutch as they come and can deliver in crunch time if need be. The last time the HUMANS played Hitmen, it came down to the very end as the HUMANS won on a tip in by Mehdi with seconds left on the clock. The HUMANS have to keep Triggy contained who went off on them in the second half. They also must not allow Maaz to get hot as he dropped 50 points this season during a game. The HUMANS have a clear advantage inside which they must exploit on the glass as well as on the offensive end. They say “defense wins championships”, now is the time for the HUMANS to prove that montra correct. HUMANS' Keys to Victory: 1) Make sure Triggy doesn’t take over the game for Hitmen 2) Exploit the size advantage and dominate the paint 3) Limit the silly turnovers and stagnant offensive possessions The Hitmen came into this year with its star players of last year moving to different teams or not playing this year. In came Triggy, who from week 1, has shown to be one of the best players in the league. Although he is small in stature, he is a tough as they come, and wills his team to victory. With the midseason acquision of Maaz, Triggy was able to do more as the pressure wasn’t solely on him. Sonu rounds out the big 3 on this team with his good toughness on the interior against bigger opponents and his ability to hit some big 3’s has helped his team eminsely. Although the Hitmen are devoid of a plethora of bigmen, Prince and Sinu have done an adimirable job of holding the interior down. They are almost dead last in rebounding, but they got scrappers and hustle players whom have provided the Hitmen with the spark and energy they need. Hitmen have shown the potential to light it up from the field with Triggy pulling up and draining 3’s or Maaz and Sinu draining 3’s as well. In this game the Hitmen must come out with a lot of energy and not be intimidated by the Humans, which they did a good job of last time they played them despite losing at the very end. Hitmen need Triggy to get “Triggy with it(patent pending)” and take over by scoring and setting up his teammates and getting the HUMANS in foul trouble. The Hitmen have a tall task here, but if they get hot from the field and don’t get dominated inside, they got a shot at pulling this one out. Hitmen's Keys to Victory 1) Let Triggy do his thing, and get his other two primary scorers the ball in places where they can do damage 2) Try to contain the bigmen of HUMANS and not let them go off inside 3) Capitalize on bad/silly turnovers of the HUMANS and turn them into points

 

Dynasty vs Basketballers

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Friday, 27 March 2009

VS. ITS PLAYOFF TIME BABY!!!!! Dynasty whose roster was overhauled during the off-season as well as during the season have had an up and down year. After getting Sedjo(MVP candidate) and Angel to compliment Tim “the undertaker” Crane, Dynasty has been on a roll winning 6 straight games. There last lost was to… you guessed it, the Ballers, who beat them week 12 by the score of 81-79. That game went back and forth until the end where the Ballers were able to make the necessary plays to win. Since that game, Dynasty has rolled thru teams such as the Humans, Hitmen and the Titans by scoring 98.3 ppg during that stretch. With Tim attracting so much attention inside, Sedjo has been posting SICK numbers this season, making a strong case for MVP honors. Angel has played solid defense and has the ability to knock 3’s down as well as well as take it to the rack. When Sonu and Oliver are given a chance to step up, they are doing so, which makes Dynasty a VERY dangerous team. The Ballers with their great defensive intensity and communication were able to slow down Dynasty by focusing on slowing down Sedjo which forced other guys to try to beat them. Sedjo(30.1 ppg, 5.1 apg, 8.6 rpg) has been making teams that play 2-3 pay, by getting the ball at the FT line, and driving it to the hole or pulling up for high % shots. Tim(22.2 ppg, 18.8 rpg, 2.9 bpg, 81.08 ft%) also needs to be a beast inside and intimidate the Ballers when they go inside. The jury is still out there on whether or not Dynasty can defend well enough in tight games to pull out a victory. Dynasty's Keys to Victory: 1) Get Sedjo the ball so he can break down the zone and make plays for his teammates 2) Limit turnovers 3) Avoid getting into foul trouble as after the starting 5, there is a significant drop Its playoff time and that means only one thing… it’s the BALLERS time to shine. The defending champions are coming into the playoffs a little under the radar which is the way they like it. The Ballers are the most cohesive unit in the SABL and it shows. Whenever they take punches, they are able to roll with it and deliver counter punches. They have tremendous balance and with the mid-season pick up of Varun, they have sured up their one apparent weakness. They now have a dominant bigman down low. The Ballers have played in tight games all season and they certainly are battle tested. They will probably employ their 2-3 (like their fellow "Orange" men, Syracuse) which was able to slow down Sedjo last time they played. The Ballers are lead by potential all-star Sajeel da real deal Haque and Talha who is providing the bombs from down town. The Ballers must play good defense in this game to have a chance. With the multiple guards they have with their superior speed they should run whenever they get the chance to get easy baskets. They will need clutch shots and contributions from the likes of Suleman, Ali, Usman, Nabeel and Omair to pull this one out, probably in…. yeah you guessed it, a squeaker. Ballers' Keys to Victory: 1) Contain and slow down Sedjo 2) Take advantage of Dynasty turnovers and run the fast break before Tim can man the paint 3) Keep the game close till the end, and make the clutch plays like they have all year

 

Titans vs Panthers Preview

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Thursday, 26 March 2009

VS. ITS PLAYOFF TIME BABY!!!!! Titans who look to get back to the title game and a chance at redemption. This time captain Pawan has a different cast, but the Titans still have the talent to get it done. The Titans are the highest scoring team in the league lead by the highest scoring duo in SABL history. The slashing of Lejoe (24.2 ppg) and the sniping of Thomas Job (29.8) lead this potent attack of the Titans. The Titans have been giving up a boatload of points due to the up-tempo style but when they are set on defense, Rex and Matt patrol the middle and with that sheer size can be intimidating for opposing slashers and bigmen. The Titans have a luxury that most teams do not have, they have TWO go to guys who have proven throughout the year that they can carry a team and/or come thru in the clutch.. The Titans have played the Panthers twice and are 0-2, losing 88-92 in OT the 1st time, and more recently 80-91. In the 1st loss to the Panthers, the Titans didn’t have Thomas Job until the second half, and had a key turnover late in the game that decided it. In the second game the titans were without Lejoe and only lost by 11. The question is will a FULL titans squad be able to beat the panthers? If this game is close at the end you would have to believe that the Titans would have a great shot at pulling it out Titans' Keys to Victory: 1) Get back in transition defense to keep the Panthers from running and getting outlet passes leading to fast breaks 2)Get Lejoe and Thomas the ball early and often 3) Role players have to set up with hustle plays, some clutch shots, rebounds etc. The Panthers are a new addition to SABL this year and people did not know what the expect, but they didn’t need long to show the league that they are a legit title contender. This is a team that likes to run whenever they get a defensive rebound. With the depth they have they are able to rotate a healthy 9 players to wear teams out. Lead by Jasjit (23.1 ppg), who has shown he can knock down 3’s with ease as well as displaying excellent touch around the basket which has lead to 5 30+ point games. The panthers have a lot of small guards which certain teams have been able to exploit. Their defense is average and they do have some lapses in certain stretches which could be lethal against the 1-2 punch of Lejoe and Thomas. When in the half court the panthers have the guards to swing the ball around and the shooters to knock the 3’s down. Although the Panthers aren’t loaded with all-stars, they are a solid deep team and have shown some ability to put teams away, but they have lost some close games, so if this gets close, knowing they have made plays late to beat the Titans could help their confidence level. Panthers' Keys to Victory: 1) Contain Lejoe and Thomas from going off on them 2) Clear the defensive glass effectively and start the fast break 3) Use their depth and spread the ball around to the open shooters

 

Final '09 Power Rankings!

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Sunday, 22 March 2009

#1 HUMANS (15-3) Despite a disappointing performance to end the season against the ‘Ballers, the HUMANS have been the most consistently good team this season and much of that has had to do with off-season and off-the-court preparation. Although strategically it made some sense to rest all their starters against the ‘Ballers for the playoffs, some can argue it shows a lack of killer instinct. As a credit to their depth, the HUMANS' "B" team managed to put up a good fight. Let’s see if Hitmen are up to the task. #2 Panthers (12-6) Here’s a team that wasn’t afraid to challenge another quality team with something pretty significant on the line: the #1 seed in the East. Panthers made good on their challenge against SWAT by coming out focused and intense and coming away with a blowout victory. Panthers, like most rookie teams, tend to have inconsistent outings on occasion, but when they are focused, they are one of the hardest teams to beat because of their talent and depth. #3 Dynasty (12-6) What a difference a season and a roster overhaul makes! Dynasty is led by the all-star dynamic duo of Crane and Sejdo, both of whom have led the team to numerous close victories this season against quality opponents. While not the best defensive team in the league, they make up for it with passion and a barrage of offensive weapons. This team has never gotten this far, so it will be interesting to see how they handle themselves against more seasoned opponents. #4 SWAT (11-7) The Titans and SWAT have been two teams ravaged by attendance issues, which partially explains their inconsistencies. But in SWAT’s case, an inability for role players to step up against good opponents when a starter or two is MIA shows how delicate they really are. The team is prone to offensive droughts and many times they seem out of sync. Can they keep it together long enough to advance through the playoffs? #5 Basketballers (11-7) The team’s late-season loss to SWAT knocks them down a peg, but this is almost exactly the spot they were last season when they went on a playoff tear with incredible defense and execution. The ‘Ballers have been known, perhaps more than any other team, to be able to turn it up a few notches when the playoffs roll around, no matter the sport. The defending champs won’t let go of their reign over the SABL without a fight. #6 Strong Island (9-9) Strong Island is a team that has been ravaged by injuries and attendance issues. Chemistry problems have crept up as well, but the team seems to be able to get the job done when their backs are to the wall. Credit that to players who are talented and able to take over games. At one point this team was the last undefeated team in the league with a 6-0 start to the season and they looked like the favorites to run away with it. Can they recover that magic? #7 Titans (9-9) The Titans’s 2nd half collapse has been more epic than Strong Island’s but the team still has two of the league’s best scorers in Lejoe and Thomas and great size. Sometimes playoff games will be decided by which team has more go-to guys late in games where crunch time separates the men from the boys. The Titans are on a 5-game losing streak to close out the regular season and must start defending better if they hope to advance. Defense wins in the playoffs, right? #8 Hitmen (10-8) Many have criticized the Hitmen for picking the Deagles to close out the season, but that was their right as determined by their play so far this season. Despite nearly losing to that same team that was supposed to be a cakewalk for the Hitmen, the fact of the matter is that this team has gotten the job done with scrappy play and a great backcourt tandem. If any team would be labeled a potential “Cindarella” team going into the playoffs, it would be this one. The HUMANS are licking their chops… MKA-NY, Ravens, Desert Eagles, and Assassins: thanks for a great season! Enjoy off-season fishing!