Sunday Time Change

Friday, 14 March 2008

For this upcoming Sunday, the Spartans vs. Titans game will be held at 5:00 PM while the Triple Threat vs. Basketballers game will be held at 6:00 PM. The schedule page has been updated to reflect this. Thank you.

 

Power Rankings: TT Stays on Top

Wednesday, 12 March 2008

#1 Triple Threat (9-2): The most dominant team in the SABL has shown an uncanny ability to win close games with clutch play. Will they be able to hold on against the #2 Ballers in match-up week? #2 Basketballers (9-2): One of the best SABL teams ever and the only team to have beat Triple Threat this season. 'Ballers have more weapons than TT, but fewer go-to guys in the clutch. #3 Spartans (8-3): Eight and one in their last nine games. The best defense in the league and the best pure PG in the league. T-Rex is making a strong case for best big-man in the league. #4 HUMANS (7-4): Came up 1-point shy of beating Triple Threat and thoroughly outplayed them in the 2nd half. Humans can beat anyone and they know it. #5 Titans (8-3): Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The Titans looked invincible just a few weeks ago, but now they look like mere mortals. Is this 3-game losing streak just the beginning of the end? #6 Money Crew (7-4): Barely beat a Lamba-less Hitmen, but have been playing more confident as of late. Feel they should be ranked higher, but they're gonna have to prove it on the hardwood first. #7 Hitmen (5-6): May be without Lamba the rest of the way, but there's plenty of hidden talent on this squad to get into the playoffs and put up a fight. But without the big fella, thoughts of repeating as SABL champs go up in smoke. #8 Dream Team (4-7): Finally, this squad played like a "Dream" together in their route of the Titans this past sunday. Their talent is starting to shine through and they could sneak into the playoffs if the chips fall into place. #9 SWAT (4-7): Followed an impressive win against Dream Team with a stinker against Spartans. Is this team mentally tough enough to even hold onto the 8th playoff spot? They talk a big game, but where's the follow through? #10 Dynasty (3-8): Still not mathematically eliminated, though their future looks bleak. With Bavindh having suffered a season-ending injury and Kunal away, Dynasty needs some sort of miracle to move up. #11 Force (2-9): As the only team to be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, Force is faced with the stark reality of a season that has passed them by. Rebuilding for next season starts in earnest.

 

Match-up Week!

Monday, 10 March 2008

The season has been building up each week and this next series of games promises to be the most intense yet. Not only is each match-up set up to be competitive, but each game has major playoff seeding implications and, in some cases, teams' playoff hopes are on the line. SABL: We Know Drama™. You've got the top two teams in the 'Ballers and Triple Threat going head-to-head and you know TT wants revenge for their only true loss of the season. 'Ballers want the #1 seed badly. Titans can right the ship again with a win over the Spartans. Humans want revenge over the early-season dagger Muneeb and Money Crew handed them. SWAT and Hitmen are fighting for their playoff lives and for the 7th seed. The schedule page will be updated shortly. [Friday Night] 7:00 SWAT(8) v Hitmen (7) 8:00 Dynasty (10) v Dream Team (9) 9:00 HUMANS (6) v Money Crew (5) [Sunday Night] 5:00 Triple Threat (2) v Basketballers (1) 6:00 Spartans (4) v Titans (3)

 

Weekend Results!

Sunday, 09 March 2008

SWAT vs. Spartans SWAT jumped out to an early 16-8 lead over the hesitant Spartans, but that lead quickly evaporated as the Spartans stormed back with tenacious D and crisp passing. The second half was all Spartans as they dominated the timid-looking SWAT bunch. T-Rex and gang feasted in the paint time and again. Spartans 53, Swat 35. Money Crew vs. Hitmen The Hitmen without injured C Lamba gave a great effort against the well-rested Money Crew squad, despite coming up short in the end 67-64. It was an extremely high scoring affair with 3's raining from both sides. It seems both teams went to small ball, as the absence of Lamba opened up the paint for the perimeter players of both sides. Dynasty vs. Basketballers It was just another day at the office for the Basketballers who easily took care of business against a battered and shaken Dynasty squad. It was as close to a must-win as you can get for a Dynasty squad whose playoff chances are quickly dwindling. Dynasty was short-handed and suffered a key injury to all-star Bavindh who is likely out for the remainder of the season. Dream Team vs. Titans The Dream Team defeated a shorthanded Titans squad in convincing fashion (62-50). It was one of Dream Team's best games to date as contributions came from all directions and the team seemed to be cohesive on both ends. The Titans continue their fall from grace as, it seems, the league has more than caught up to them. The Titans used to be compared to the dominant Patriots squads of past years, but now they're looking more like the post-Shaq Suns. Humans vs. Triple Threat The game of the week did not disappoint as both squads gave it everything they had and it went down to the wire. Triple Threat jumped out to a 22-10 lead and looked like they would cruise to an easy victory, but the Humans re-focused in the 2nd half and came storming back to actually take a 46-42 lead in the winding minutes. Abdullah and Joe of TT hit huge baskets down the stretch to take a 1-point lead. With 8 seconds left, the Humans tried to advance the ball and call time-out but were unable and instead had to settle for an open three that rimmed out at the buzzer. TT and half the crowd celebrated like it was the super bowl. TT 47, Humans 46.

 

Game of the Week !

Wednesday, 05 March 2008

Have you logged on to the message board to give your vote for the game of the week? Well here is what you may have missed... FRIDAY GAMES (3/7/2008) 7:00PM SWAT ( 8 ) vs Spartans ( 5 ) 7-1 in their last 8 games, Spartans are one of the hottest teams going yet deflecting attention and praise any chance they get. SWAT having just snapped a 5 game skid are now sky high in confidence ready to challenge any team in matchup weekends and playoffs. They'll have to first back-up the psuedo guarantee for a W by captain Solyman in this Friday's game. The matchup pits the very sound offensive execution of SWAT against the Spartans intense defense which should make for some interesting basketball. SWAT on defense has the taller guards to put on Joe to maybe give him some problems closer to the basket on layups and dish offs but then again he's shown he can lead his team no matter who is guarding him. Naturally as the offense begins with Joe, it ends with T-Rex so Wasiq, Solyman, and Raman will have their hands full. Wasiq's been quiet of late so look for SWAT to get him involved early to maybe get Rex into foul trouble or breathing heavier then he wants to on defense at the very least. The more Rex sits, the better SWAT's chances so look for them to use their depth and run a bit. Key matchup will be Sijo vs Davis. 8:00PM Money Crew ( 6 ) vs Hitmen ( 7 ) Finally, a game where the Hitmen opponent is coming off a 2 week layoff when they aren't (Money Crew actually hasn't played since Feb 15th). According to the injury reports submitted to the league office, Lamba is still expected to be out but don't count the Hitmen out just yet. The guards played well last week despite missing their bigman, displaying composure in a roaring 2nd half comeback against HUMANS. One game separates these two teams so a Lamba-less upset by the Hitmen could shake up the standings. A loss, and they risk falling in the frey of 8,9,10. Big game for Hitmen so they will need to come up with a plan to contain Muneeb and also try to stop the crossover -> jumpshot of Rishi. Hopefully it stays a close game else Hitmen will have to deal with crowd favorite Jeet "Mark Madsen" Bhaidasna. For Money Crew its a pivotal game which will either propell them back into the "top teams" discussion or potentially drop them down further in the middle tier. 9:00PM Dynasty ( 9 ) vs Basketballers ( T1 ) After Dream Team woke the Ballers up from auto-pilot, they responded with a quick dismantelling of Force and now look to oil the remaining gears in preparation for the playoffs. Although, Dynasty is not a team to be looked past, especially with their backs up against the wall and in danger of slipping further from playoff contention. As is the story with most teams with losing records, they need to get on one page and play solid team ball for 40 minutes, not 25. They have the overall "team" size with the likes of Kunal and Harpreet to possibly give Ballers some trouble on the glass but Usman is always up to the challenge willing to guard the oposing team's bigman. Ball handling remains a concern for Dynasty though as they again face quick guards Sajeel, Omair, Nabeel up top who will be taking many chances at swiping the ball. Good ball movement and shot selection will be the key if Dynasty wishes to pull this one out. X Factor: If refs are tight on the traveling calls, chalk up at least 7 travel calls on Omair. Basketballers can really only beat themselves in this matchup so heady PG play should be one of the gears getting oiled. SUNDAY GAMES (3/9/2008> 5:00PM HUMANS ( 4 ) vs Triple Threat ( T1 ) The Hot Humans go up againt the even hotter Triple Threat team. Triple Threat came out with a one legged Abdullah and dismantled a Titans team that took an 8-0 lead. One thing is for sure the Humans with a well balanced attack will be able to rotate defenders like Saad and Waleed on Abdullah and give him different looks. The tri weekly practices that captain Farhan has been scheduling for the HUMANS will have one focus and one focus alone and that is to stop Abdullah from getting the ball. The second Threat on TT is Joe, Joe will have to contend with Special K, Waleed, and Yassine. This should make for an interesting match up. As Triple Threat will surely need another double digit rebounding effort out of Joe to be in this game. But if Abdullah is still hobbling the HUMANS fast paced attack is one that can really an offense that can show the first chink in the TT armor. Generally speaking the team with the best players on the court usually wins. In this case Triple Threat has the Dynamic Duo the scoring leaders Joe and Abdullah you can stop one but can you stop them both? So far only one team has been able to do so and that team has already lost to the HUMANS. Will a hobbled Abdullah and Joe be able to rush back on a HUMANS team that has players take turns cheating on the break? Eventually this may tire out Triple Threat as the HUMANS are going to make the Triple Threat work hard on defense. 6:00PM Dream Team ( 10 ) vs Titans ( T1 ) Like the other 2 teams battling with Dream Team for the #8 spot, they don't get an easy matchup. A Titans team on an 0-2 skid would like nothing more than to take out their frustrations during this game. But will they let emotions get the best of them and let Dream Team slip away with a much needed upset? We'll find out Sunday. Stanley has continued to play well so if he can keep himself in the game and they have Raman back, look for those two to lead the way. Still, the Dream Team is dangerous with the weapons they have in all facets of the game. If Shaun can really carry a team, the time is now; wouldn't hurt if his teamates worked with him rather then what seems to be 1 vs 9 at times on the court. Shahin, Niel, Fransisco, and even the unorthdox 3 and often ill advised 3s Sekander jacks up that somehow find the bottom of the net, will all need to be in working order if Dream Team wishes to get back to winning.