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Coach Reina: “I close the door in 30 seconds. Anyone not here at that time gets released, effective immediately.”

Surveying the room, Pio noted Shooter was running down the hall full speed. He got in just before the door slammed shut.

Trenton Tovar: “Sorry I was running late, Coach.”

Coach Reina: “If you get back on defense like that, you don’t have to apologize.”

Tovar thought to himself this was going to be a painful meeting.

Coach Reina: “Gentlemen, you all know our GM. He’s the guy that brought you here. That means he saw something in you that he believed we wanted or needed around here. If he decides to move on from you, you've failed to live up to what was expected. Staying here is all up to you. Sir, the floor is yours."

GM: “Thanks, Coach. I’ll be brief. We were going to have our in house legend, Coach, come in to speak with you. He declined. Said while he was sure he could help you, you don’t seem to want to help yourselves. He said he’ll be in to speak with you guys if you ever get serious. In all the years, I’ve known Coach, he’s never turned a player down. Technically, he still hasn’t because you didn’t make the request. However, his reasoning speaks volumes. You’d do well to think about that. Coach, I’m off to the other room now.”

Coach Reina: “Shooter, your defense needs work. A lot of work. You might find that your defense will actually increase your scoring opportunities. You might even get more minutes if you work on your passing; we could use a true combo guard. For that to happen, your defense has to improve. Get it done. Any questions?”

Tovar: “No, sir.”

Coach Reina: “Datler, keep grinding. Your board work picked up yesterday. Great job. We need you to keep that up, be strong defensively, and do the little things. Keep working and improving. Reese, we’ll work on your offense, but you’re in for your defense. You’re raw. You have a lot to improve on, but your defense is already solid enough to play. Just keep grinding. You’ll get better; just keep grinding. Paulie, you know what we want to see, your marching orders haven’t really changed since last season. Shooter, Reese, both of you would do well to follow Paulie’s lead. Paulie hasn’t had a single turnover so far this season in ANY game. That’s taking care of the basketball. Paulie, we’re gonna see about getting you work in the post; your rebounding can be better. We need help there and you can help on the boards. Nick, I want you to work on your passing, perimeter defense, and rebounding. There’s still more in the tank and I want to see it. Brownie, we’re still working on that jumper, eh?”

Brown: “Yes Coach.”

Coach Reina: “We have to tighten your handle and passing up, get you to be a better rebounder, and post defender. Reese, Brownie is another one for you to shadow. Rolland, you’re on the same program with Reese. Gentlemen, I demand results. Let me be clear about something. Out of the lot of you, only Nick, Paul, and Datler are guaranteed playing time. If we go with a short rotation, you don’t play. You want to guarantee playing time? Get better. Make yourselves indispensable. Brownie here is a prime example; he’s one of the best all around defenders on the team, can get to the rim and finish, has the range to be a threat when his jumper is on, and is the best free throw shooter on the team. Good bench piece to have, and when inserted into the starting lineup, he’s dependable. He finds ways to contribute. Oh, and Shooter, Brownie here, when he gets hot from outside, he gets red hot. You’d do well to learn.”

The GM opens the door and sticks his head in. “Coach, you might want to talk to the starters when you’re done here.”

Coach Reina: “Oh, I have words for them. Gentlemen, we are done hear. I want you on the pratice floor immediately. Paul and Nick, lead the workout. Brownie, back them up. I’ll see you on the floor later. I’m going to extract another pound of flesh.

Last edited by Speedtraps at 2/19/2023 9:33:59 PM

Coach Guy: "Now that we have all sobered up from our post-game mud wrestling party with the cheerleaders and few select fans, I want to give a shout out to Tison. Dude, the day after I bought you I regretted that rum and edibles decision. But...dropping 24 points and 8 assists and a 9.5 rating in 36 minutes on a Hustlas team with strong guard play is sick considering you still suck and need a ton of training. However, I overpaid a stupid price because I remember through the haze of drinks and that hybrid kicking in that I knew you could become a gunner. Keep it up Tison."

Guillaume Tison: "Thank you coach, I couldn't have done it without Segovia unselfishly setting me up. I mean, 10 assists, what a pro moving from scoring guard for so long to play the point during this transition. I'm gonna continue to work hard, especially now that you have lifted the ban on the team dating cheerleaders...well, accept for those two you like so much."

Coach Guy: "Muižys and Almeida, you are young guards as well, but let Tison serve as an example of what hard work gets you. Pick of the hottest cheerleaders, only top shelf drinks for players who perform, and of course the finest selection of edibles and flower this league has to offer."

Coach Guy: "Team, all of you played your hearts out and took a great team to double overtime. Imagine what we could do the Hustlas when we meet towards the end of the season."

Bret: I’m the legend Bret Rodriguez filling in Hunt Mosley, and you’re on the Coach Stephenson Show on your Warrior Network. Here with me is the man himself, Coach. Needless to say that last game vs Rebels. That had to hurt

Coach: (sighs) Yeah hmm. I mean lately the problem has been us playing 2 halves of basketball, well that game pretty much was us playing no half of basketball. Now yes you can say, hey they went full throttle, while you guys were doing load management. Yeah yeah yeah. But ok we lose by 10 to 12 then okay you can feel good about yourself be like ok next time with a bit of tweaks here and there ok y’all ours next time.

Bret: Kinda different when you lose by 20

Coach: Right lose by 20, it is what is. The reality is Coach Merollin brought her team on that court to play and they did. The crowd had high basketball IQ. When we had it, they were just going ballistic! However soon as there was a change of possession and the Rebels had it, quiet as a pindrop until they had a reason to yell. Hell I was half expecting at the game's end for The Miz's theme to pop. They dang sure earned the right to play it. I don’t know who her crowd management guy is but he earned his dough that game.

Bret: Do you think it might have been different had this been a home game

Coach: Probably! There are times when you can’t say in words the power of home court. But no point in speculating on that. We get them at home later in the season but I can assure you Daisy and I are gonna want our teams to be completely different than the two that took the court Saturday.

Bret: Now you know as a former player, and a good friend. I gotta ask. What the heck was up with Gordo and the end of that game.

Coach: You know Gordo, Gordon Long when he played was a Charles Barkley, Charles Oakley hybrid. This guy isn’t taking any mess. He thought at the game that there was some … disrespect But if we’re talking honesty, look Gordo took that loss hard, not because we lost but how we lost. We’ve had games where we lost and it was due to ok these guys just had such firepower and our firepower just couldn’t keep up with theirs.

This game we … we basically got San Dominicaded. Things that have become a trademark of our teams defensively was just done to us. I can't think of he last time since when we first got to the league that we’ve been defensively manhandled like we were this game. Again its why I have to give credit to Daisy, she and her team brought the wood. The Rebels just shut us down on the defensive end. Now some of that was us but most of it was the Rebels just went all glove on us and we couldn’t figure a way out of it. Now the good thing this happened early so we can fix it.

Bret: It doesn’t get easier. Next up you got the OTHER Rebels.

Coach: (laughing) The more hated Rebels

Bret: (laughs before continuing) A tough one as always but it seems like this is a different Lions Rebels than what we’ve seen the past few seasons. But we’re talk about that more once we’re back from commercial break.

Last edited by Coach Stephenson at 2/20/2023 10:00:37 PM

Bobby Sparks sits alone in his office, brooding. So far the team is 2-1, but he knows something most do not know. That it is not a good Hustla's team that is being fielded. There's a knock at his door. He clears his throat.
"Come in, come in."

In walks John Walton and Coach Boone. "Hello Gentlemen. Come in, take a seat, and let's talk shop."

John Walton and Coach Boone, both comes in and takes a seat.

"The setup we have going right now, we will keep it like that. So Coach Boone, it looks like we are parting ways as you will be joining the Hustlas II coaching staff."
At least they have a great team, he thinks to himself. "That's a solid team over there. I believe if they were in this league, they would have kept their last two players they just released and would be good enough to win this league. That's an incredible team over there."

"Yes, it is," said Coach Boone. "And I will enjoy coaching that team as the lead assistant under Augustus Spears. But I'll help here were I can. And from what I can see, we need to blow it up. This team will not exceed this season. The players are too old. Your bigs are fine, but they are also aging. But your guards, except one, is just old. The new starting guard is below average for this league but has good defense. But this team, as constructed, will not do well this season."

"I concur," said John Walton. "But we just don't have the capital, not yet anyway. We are close, And hopefully by all-star break we can make some moves and are not too far out of the hunt for the playoffs. Let's just hope we can stay above water until we get that capital."

Bobby Sparks stands up and stretches. Afterwards, he looks at both men. "We are Hustlas. We will continue to thrive, or die trying. Look at our last game. We survived a serious onslaught from a great team in Beer Bellys. who has beaten us the last couple games, including private league. We did use more enthusiam. We wanted it more. And we got it. But we cannot maintain this level for too much longer. Three to 4 weeks from now I hope to have some capital to do something. It may take a bit longer than that, more like 7 to 8 weeks. But hopefully, I can work some miracles and find some better players."

“Gentlemen”, Coach Reina began, “I was raised to know if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. I have a lot of bad things to say to you, but I will say something positive first.”

“Coach”, Bobbie Coenen spoke, “we know we played like a pile of crap. There’s absolutely nothing you can take from that.”

“Bobbie, shut up and listen. There’s being the point guard who is an extension of the coach, and then there’s being a suck up trying to curry favor by saying all the right things. Nobody likes that last guy. Don’t be that guy.” Coach Reina’s gaze made Coenen sink into his chair; his words hit like a gut punch.

Coach continued. “The good was 7 assists and no turnovers for you Bobbie. It was 5 of 9 on three-balls, Kyle. It was a 27 point, 5 rebound, 6 assist game with no turnovers from Kamp.”

“Hey Coach, what about my double double?” Harrison Mann was not adept at reading rooms.

“You mean the one where you got a total of 1 offensive rebound in 34 minutes? Clarify which one you’re talking about, Harrison, because I don’t care about a double double in a scrimmage. Are you talking about the one against the Lion Rebels where Mr. Singh beat you like a cheap drum? The way he cooked you out there we have to put respect on his name. You talking about our 1st BBM game? Good freaking job for 1 game. Which one are you talking about, Harrison?” Harrison shriveled from that response.

“Well, as Harrison just noted, I’m all out of positive. I am also keenly aware that I have said nothing positive about my starting power forward or center. Excuse me; my former starting power forward and center. You are two of the three best interior defenders we have and you got absolutely shredded. I imagine our GM is looking for another option. I’m not happy at all with you guys. Let me make this really clear to the lot of you. Play better, get better, or get out. We can’t play the game fast, or pretty, or with style., or with flair. You got to be willing to get in the mud and dirt. You got to be able to bang and fight. You have to punish opponents and impose you will. I don’t see it in you. I don’t know where it went, but you better find it or you’re out of here. I’d rather have a team of no talent scrappers and fighters than a team of talented bums who are lazy. Go to work or go home. You all know what I want, expect, and demand. No one told you it would be easy. Give me those things and I promise the wins will come. If you don’t give me those things? We have other players to train up, but at least they’ll know they have to fight.”

Pio’s cellphone interrupted him.

“Hello, No Happy, it’s not a bad time. I was supposed to be meeting with my players but the starters no showed again. Let’s talk about it on the show. I’ll see you shortly..."

Last edited by Speedtraps at 2/20/2023 4:42:43 PM

“Happy Ourer with Marshall Richards back for another season on Linndale basketball, and if you didn’t tune in to the broadcast of tonight’s game, you missed seeing Coach Pio Reina lose his mind in the first quarter! I’m almost certain there were a few expletives yelled!”

“Happy, I can guarantee it. Coach Reina was pissed, and he made sure everyone in the arena, and some of the fans at home, knew it!”

“Well Marshall we happen to have Coach Reina live with us on the postgame show! Welcome Coach! It’s good to see you! I gotta start with the elephant in the room! What did you tell the guys between the first and second quarters?”

“Happy, I can’t repeat that on air, but what I can tell you is I reminded the guys who started the game why they were starting, I reminded the guys on the bench why they were on the bench, and I told everybody getting rid of them is a very distinct possibility if they didn’t show up to play.”
“Coach, Marshall Richards here. Trenton Tovar looked pretty solid in the starting lineup tonight. Harrison Mann and Art Reese looked solid as well off the bench. Is this something to watch?”

“No. Tovar only did ok. He’s got to be better defensively. Reese has the ability to be a solid piece while still developing, so I’d keep an eye on him for the future. Mann has to show me more, but tonight was a decent first step.”

“Coach, Happy again. Was Kyle Knowles sending you a message?”

“Actually, Happy, every time he got a stop he was yelling at Tovar “That’s how you do it, kid!”, and when he drained a three ball, he was yelling at me reminding me why he’s the starter and not the kid. I gotta admit, that’s the kind of fire I want to see. I think I told Kyle I hadn’t made up my mind about him starting Saturday, but I think he knows he is.”

"Coach, Marshall. What about the idea that Carolina just didn't take the team seriously?"

"I can't blame Carolina. I don't take us seriously. What I do take seriously is Kyle off the bench a perfect 5 of 5 from deep. I saw Mann with 6 points and 6 boards in 12 minutes. I saw Kamp with his 20 and 8. I also take seriously 14 turnovers, half of which came off the bench. We have to cleanup the turnovers or we're dead in the water. We don't rebound well enough to give away free possessions. We don't cause enough turnovers to give away free possessions. Did we win a single 50-50 ball tonight? I don't think so. Marshall, right now as we are showing ourselves to be, we are not worthy of being taken seriously."

"Coach, finally Happy with the last question. What do you say to rumors you're excessively hard on Trenton Tovar?"

"I am. If Shooter doesn't like it, my door is always open to discuss things. If I didn't think he could be great, I wouldn't push him so hard. Look we know what kind of shooter Kyle Knowles is. Shooter has the potential to be even better. Imagine Lutz on one wing and Kamp on another, Coenen leading the break, Garcaa running the middle of the floor, and Shooter trailing as the spot up guy. I don't want to imagine that. I want to see it, but if he can't get his defense up to where we need it to be, that's not going to happen."

"Coach, that's all the time we have. Congrats on the win, and we'll see you Saturday night!"

Thanks Happy, thanks Marshall; let's just hope the boys decide to show up in Philly. If they don't it's going to get ugly fast."

Day 4 (Tuesday 21 February 2023) : Performances by (https://www.buzzer-manager.com)
Oof - that Rebels San Dom game was UGLY.

Night results
209’s MostWanted 120 - Fondy Cardinals 110
Flamin' Flamingos 88 - Philly Dribble 113
Lion Rebels 50 - San Dominica Warriors 66
Carolina Rebels 77 - Linndale 98
Tasty Tardsicles 98 - The Beer Bellys 82
Hustlas 67 - Miami Cleo 92
STG on MCU 46 - The White Walkers 88
Żubr Białystok 106 - Cincinnati Slammers 86

Best collective performance of the evening
Points : 120 : 209’s MostWanted
Rebounds : 64 : Miami Cleo
Assists : 28 : Miami Cleo
Steals : 11 : Linndale, The White Walkers, Fondy Cardinals
Block Shots : 10 : San Dominica Warriors

Personal best performances of the evening
Points : 41 : H. Quindós (Żubr Białystok)
Rebounds : 21 : A. Gallucci (Miami Cleo)
Assists : 14 : M. Maurin (Miami Cleo)
Steals : 6 : M. Maurin (Miami Cleo)
Block Shots : 4 : C. Anaya (The White Walkers)

Top 5 of the evening
Point Guard : J. Muñoz (Fondy Cardinals) (23 Points, 3 Rebounds, 3 Assists, 4 Steals, 0 Block Shots) : Efficiency : 25
Shooting Guard : A. Ziółkowski (209’s MostWanted) (31 Points, 2 Rebounds, 5 Assists, 0 Steals, 0 Block Shots) : Efficiency : 26
Small Forward : D. Rivas (Flamin' Flamingos) (30 Points, 3 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 2 Steals, 1 Block Shots) : Efficiency : 33
Power Forward : I. Homs (The Beer Bellys) (27 Points, 10 Rebounds, 2 Assists, 0 Steals, 3 Block Shots) : Efficiency : 31
Center : R. Raich (209’s MostWanted) (18 Points, 15 Rebounds, 3 Assists, 0 Steals, 1 Block Shots) : Efficiency : 32

MVP of the evening
D. Rivas (Flamin' Flamingos) (30 Points, 3 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 2 Steals, 1 Block Shots) : Efficiency : 33

The bad performance of the evening
K. Brown (Lion Rebels) (13 Points, 1 Rebounds, 1 Assists, 2 Steals, 0 Block Shots) : Efficiency : -8

All kinds of statistics
The player who forgot to remove his mittens : A. San Miguel (STG on MCU), S. Klin (Hustlas) : 7 Turnovers

Player targeted by the referees : D. Conaghan (Tasty Tardsicles), A. San Miguel (STG on MCU), F. Czuryszkiewicz (STG on MCU), M. Grimm (Żubr Białystok), C. Riggins (Żubr Białystok), D. Freire (The White Walkers), R. Dargels (The White Walkers), S. Klin (Hustlas), J. Segovia (The Beer Bellys), Y. Georgoulis (The Beer Bellys), M. Milo (Fondy Cardinals) : 5 Personnal Fouls

The iron-man : A. Gallucci (Miami Cleo), L. Arevalo (Carolina Rebels), S. Hollins (Lion Rebels), H. Quindós (Żubr Białystok), P. Stevens (Cincinnati Slammers) : 48 Minutes

The shooter : K. Knowles (Linndale), H. Quindós (Żubr Białystok), G. Kostezer (Fondy Cardinals) : 5 Three points

The best performer : K. Knowles (Linndale), V. Papageorgiou (The White Walkers) : Rating : 17.5

The worst performer : T. Lang (Fondy Cardinals) : Rating : 3.5

Week Two Power Rankings
Week 2 Observations
In my power rankings, Week 2 typically shows the most drastic movement in the rankings because the differences in opponent capabilities changes drastically. You could have started out terrible because of more difficult opponents (see Tasty Tards below) last week and then jump an immense amount because the second week you played easier opponents. Tasty, for example, started 1-1 with a nice win over Miami for an EFF rating of 104 and OPP EFF rating of 78. Not bad. But then they got torched by White Walkers giving up OPP EFF of 141 and their own EFF only hitting 38 with three players scoring negatively. That made their average EFF rank 16th while their OPP EFF ranked 9th, which averaged together left them in 15th, one point behind Flamin' Flamingos and two points ahead of Fondy Cardinals. This week, however, they hosted Cincinnati whom they took out back behind the woodshed (EFF of 158 and OPP EFF of 12) and then had a nice victory on the road vs. The Beer Bellys with EFF of 118 and OPP EFF of 83 and their efficiency rating difference led them to a much higher ranking this week than last.

While it is definitely not entirely accurate it makes the season a bit more interesting to have these power rankings differ a bit from what we see in the standings. They'll be up and down and around as teams find their groove (or slip and fall on their faces). For those of you who are new, we'll see them pretty much solidify and not see much movement about a week or two after the all-star break.

More movement on the transfer list with two purchases (BIG ONES) and five players moving out. As a league that brings us to having spent $5.75 million more than we've made on selling players since the beginning of the season. CHEEZUS. Those purchases also combine for a total of $587k in salary (on 18 players) for an average of $32k in salary.

It's looking like the Big 8 is going to be a punch drunk slugfest throughout, with even Fondy looking to be a player, even though they're still winless. On the opposite sides, we might be starting to see some separation into tiers, but it's a bit too early to tell. Anyway, on to the rankings! This week's rankings will show last week's rankings in parenthesis behind the team name.

Week 2 Power Rankings
1. The White Walkers (1)
The Night King has yet to lose a game in any competitive fashion, going undefeated in league games as well as BBM and the Cup so far. Papageorgiou (which I pronounce Papa Georgio), is balling from all over the court, hitting over 50% in FGs (58% from 3!). A tight win on the road against Żubr Białystok who almost completed the fourth quarter comeback, followed by an easy win at home against STG on MCU. Nice to see whitestok give them a run for their money - makes them not seem quite as invincible. Next up, what should be an easy week hosting the drunkard Beer Bellys before traveling to Cincinnati for a TV game. May the Cup gods grant them a difficult matchup to make up for it!

2. Philly Dribble (3)
Shorthanded, Philly took one on the nose last Saturday to the Lion Rebels, but I guarantee you if Huddleston was on the court, it would have been a much different matchup. In nine regular season matchups, Philly's only lost to me twice, so I'm sure they don't feel too terrible about it. They followed the loss with a nice victory over Flamin’ Flamingos. While they gave up 35 points in the fourth quarter, the matchup was well in hand at that point thanks to a 16 point and 15 point deficits in the 1st and 3rd quarters. TV game at Linndale this weekend followed by a trip to Fondy.

3. Miami Cleo (6)
Miami makes the first big jump in these rankings, moving up three spots thanks to two more victories to land them on a nice three-game winning streak. First, they dispatched STG on MCU by 14-points before hosting Hustlas in what turned into a bit of a blowout. Gallucci had a nice night, scoring 15 points to go along with his 21 rebounds. Too bad he only shot 30% from the field. Next comes a home game against Cincinnati before a rivalry matchup at The Keg.

4. Lion Rebels (2)
I can't say enough awful things about Tuesday night's 66-50 loss to San Dominica. Sure the defense was stout, but sheesh. Both teams combined for a putrid 27% shooting night, including only making 7 of 45 from beyond the arc. Kurt Brown was atrocious - I think he missed his first 8 shots on the night and finished 0-8 from three with a -8 efficiency on the night. Some tough matchups loom now, and we'll find out where we're really at with a road game against the revamped 209's before hosting Flamin' next Tuesday.

5. Tasty Tardsicles (15)
Up ten spots in an unprecedented move for these rankings (as far as I can remember). Since I already outlined their first two weeks above, I don't have much to say about them here! They’ve got six players averaging double digits or higher in PPG and their depth...it's thiccc. They've got STG at home followed by whitestok's crew on the road in Week 3.

6. 209's MostWanted (12)
Another YUGE jump in the rankings, up six places comes Alex from the 209, averaging 122 PPG with the ridiculous Ariel Ziółkowski hitting nearly 40 every night. They dismantled Speedtraps group, exposing their defensive inadequacies and then fended off Fondy Cardinals for a 10-point victory on Tuesday. A show down with Lion Rebels looms this weekend before they travel to play the (better) Rebels in Carolina next week.

7. Carolina Rebels (4)
Down a few spots after suffering a second loss, this time to Linndale after taking it to Coach Stephenson's Warriors (Schmwarriors) over the weekend. It was a flip-flopping of effort on both games, with Carolina exerting force over San Dominica before succumbing to Linndale's whims. They travel to Flamin' Texas Center to face the Flamingos on Saturday before hosting 209's in a rivalry matchup.

8. Linndale (9)
Despite being 2nd in PPG, their point differential is 0.2. They went 1-1 again, and in both their losses have given up 128 points, while in both their wins, their defense has held strong. They got torched last weekend by 209's before dominating Carolina on the way to a win. But it's not going to get any easier as a fully healthy Philly Dribble host them next before they turn around and travel to San Dominica.

9. San Dominica Warriors (5)
Speaking of the devil, the Warriors fell a bit, hanging on at .500 with that loss to Carolina before dropping my Rebels in the toilet. Seriously though, only one team in one quarter scored more than 20 points. Just atrocious offense and terrific defense. While the Warriors defense is great, they haven't been scoring that much. That might change with a game against Fondy on the road this weekend followed by a home matchup with Linndale.

10. Żubr Białystok (8)
Just a nailbiter at the end of their one-point loss to White Walkers with four lead changes in the final 1:45 with Żubr coming back from being down 11 at the start of the fourth quarter. They took their final lead with just 17 seconds left, but then Clark Riggins fouled Fornos on a layup and Forno made both free throws to go up by one. Shaun Hatch missed a potential buzzer beater after that to seal the loss. They remedied that with a 20-point victory over the Slammers. Next, they go on the road to the hope to be redeemed Hustlas before taking on the Tards.

11. The Beer Bellys (10)
Fortunately for The Keg goers (and thatguy), Isidre Homs is still quite young (that dude is TEARING it up) as the Bellys drop two more games this week, first in a barn burner against Hustlas (where the Hustlas played Patient but still scored 138?!?!? I don't think I've ever seen that before - I guess double OT helps) where they made 14-37 threes, but still came up short. This was a tight one the entire game with PD quarter by quarter being 1, 4, 3, 0, 0 until the Bellys lost steam in the 2nd OT and only managed 6 points. They turn around and travel Beyond the Wall before heading South to Miami in what will be an extreme in weather differences.

12. Hustlas (7)
A pretty precipitous drop off for Hustlas who improved by 9.5 points on the EFFG but dropped 21 points in OPP EFFG. A two-week injury to their sixth man, Mauro Navarro won't help, but they are holding on at .500 for the time being after that blistering matchup with Bellys followed by a tough loss at Miami. J. Esposito looked good, scoring 57 points in 46 minutes shooting 54% including 7-11 from three. Unfortunately he couldn't replicate that on Tuesday shooting 4-20 from the field including 1-6 as they lost by 25 to Miami Cleo. Żubr Białystok looms next followed by a road trip to STG.

13. Flamin' Flamingos (14)
I still think several of these bottom dwellers will start to move up the ranks as their teams gel. But the Flamingos are going to have to start putting some Defense on the court if they want to really compete. Darnell Rivas is looking good in his age 34 season, averaging 28.3 PPG. They took out the Cardinals by 7 last weekend before losing by a wide margin on the road against Philly. Fun fact, each team they've played this season has played Look Inside against them! Do with that what you will. They too have a very Rebel week, first taking on Carolina at home before traveling to Daylis to try to defeat the Lions.

14. STG on MCU (13)
Our second team sitting at 1-3 so far on the season, STG has had two decent showings in two of their losses. Despite getting blown out of the water on Tuesday against the White Walkers (and being the only team to score less than my sad showing, but only by 4 points), they've at least started making moves to be more competitive this week, bringing in $42k 22-year-old Center Alfredo San Miguel to couple with their other recent purchase, 25-year-old guard/forward combo Matthew Marsh (whose having a nice season, ranking #6 in points and FG made). They lost by 14 points to Miami Cleo, suggesting the gap from the top isn't terrible, as long as they're playing at home, and Miguel might help bridge that gap a little more. They face a stiff test against Tasty this weekend, but I have a feeling we'll get to see where they land in the pecking order of the middle of the Great 8 when they play host to Hustlas next week.

15. Fondy Cardinals (16)
Aside from their first game, Fondy hasn't necessarily been getting blown out in their four losses. Their big transfer, PG Jorge Muñoz has really only played two league games thus far, shooting 50% from the field and making 5-8 from beyond the arc to go along with 12 assists. I imagine as his game shape improves, Fondy will start to see improvements and make those games even more competitive. Collectively, this week, they lost both games by 17 points playing both Flamingos and 209's tightly. This week will be a stiff test, however, as they travel to San Dominica and then play host to #2 ranked Philly Dribble.

16. Cincinnati Slammers (11)
Despite two losses in week one, the Slammers found themselves ranked 11th in these rankings last week, but a demoralizing loss to then 7th seed Tasty deflated them quite rapidly and they followed that loss up with a 20 point loss to Żubr Białystok. Already the 2nd lowest salaried team to start the season, they sold off two players in the last week to drop their total salary to just over $11k under the salary floor. They did make a relatively decent haul ($300k on 20k worth of salary), but unless they've got some serious money banked, I don't think they'll have enough to turn it around and bring more talent in to bring them to a competitive level. And this week doesn't look to be any easier with matchups on the road against Miami before playing host to the hottest looking team in the league, The White Walkers.