Yeah, thanks again for the recaps Fella. My own team is hoping we can go on a bit of a run at the end here and pick up a few wins. Eight games out, here are my predictions for the playoffs:
Big 8
1st: Phantoms- Too good, too deep. Unless they get crushed by injuries or forget to set a lineup in the finals or something, I think it's theirs to win this year.
2nd: TDX- Good team stuck behind a dominant D.II demotee in Phantoms, they're going to have two very good guards trained up for next season if they don't sell them off.
3rd: VDs- My early favorite to win next year, they shut things down a bit this season when Phantoms made promotion look difficult, but they'll be going for it all next year as rising salaries make promotion more urgent. Possible U21 player in Lange and likely 'best player in the league' in Ken Wilson. When they buy back the balance/depth they sold off early this year, I think they become the favorites.
4th: Cleveland- Strong inside game and a good team overall, it's probably too much to ask for beating Phantoms on the road in the playoffs, but they should be in the discussion again next year, barring a rebuild of some sort.
Great 8
1st: Michigan-Most balanced team in the Great 8, I think they make up enough ground to get the #1 seed over here and make the finals before falling to Phantoms. Never know with a 3-game series though; assume they can pull off the home win (which is always a possibly) and all they need is to make something happen in one game on the road to pull the shocking finals upset. Definitely in contention again next year too if they keep the team together.
2nd: Soulja Boy- Having a great season, they've also got a good chance to make the finals and try their luck at pulling the upset. It's hard to predict where they'll be next season since it seems likely they'll churn through a whole new roster of players by then, but given their manager's knack for playing the day-trading game, it's probably safe to assume they'll have the talent/money to make some noise again next year.
3rd: PCI-Only maybe two teams in the league have players who can reasonably defend Carmona, but this team lacks juuust enough punch outside of him that they haven't quite been able to get over the hump and promote. I think they probably continue that trend into these playoffs and next season unless E-rock either blows the team up and rebuilds, or goes for broke and adds more salary than he can afford in an all out push for promotion next season.
4th: RC- Dominant inside team last year, they went about a bit of rebuilding and restructuring this season that probably takes them out of the promotion race for this season but helps better position them for promotion next season as the rebuilding continues. I think the odds are better that they move up from 4th next season than that they slip down.
(edit- to put the numbers in next to the teams since these are the positions I think everybody will finish)
RSAS- Assuming we're still here next season, it'll be another year of long-term building and putting the pieces into place.
Last edited by J-Slo at 3/7/2011 9:36:13 AM