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Ventola(89684)
Last seasons achievement: season 17 vice champion, losing the final in 2 games to Vottem Cowboys
salary: 795 974$ for 14 players
Information:
They surprized everyone with their results last season. nobody was expecting them to beat Phoenix suns in their own stadium in the PO's (it most certainly must have been the largest surprize of season 17. people where so shocked, that the BBBL forum remained quite for several day's!). However if you have 4 NT players in your team, of which 3 belgians ( PG Waelput, SG De Piano and C Lahure) then you know that you've got a strong team. Futhermore, Maltan international Frank Terribile still is arround aswell, and he's one hell of a player. Add to those 4 players Chilian C Irarrázaval and you've got one heck of a team. Ventola also has some depth in their team, so an injury on a key player isn't a huge problem, provided that the player isn't injured for too long. Watch out for Ventola, because after 7 lost II.3 Finals and another loss in the finals against Vottem Cowboys, you can be sure that those Raging bulls extremely hungry for a BBBL championship. Ventola could prove to be the team to beat in the BBBL, allong side with4 title BBBL and reigning champ Vottem Cowboys.
prognosis 1st seed in Big 8 conference, closely followed by the Suns. Should have a shot at claiming HCA for the entire PO run this season.



and now, the Great 8 conference

Antwerp Giants(89868)
Last seasons achievement: 5th spot
salary: 674 229$ for 15 players
Information: Giants got rid of some salary last season, buy selling off some players. This should give them some revenue, but ofcourse means that their team has less depth that last season. They missed out on the PO's last season due to their long cup run, where they lost in the finals to a strong Mizu Basket team. Never the less, the Giants still have a very strong team with a considerable depth, that should be able to make the PO's this season, provided that they don't go after the cup again while sacrificing one leaguegame a week once things get serious in the cup.
prognosis One of the 4 teams that will be battling for the 3rd and 4th PO spot. If they go for the league, they should be able to end as high as 3rd in the Great 8 division. If they once again go for the cup, then they might end up on the 6th spot. Timop is the only one who knows where his team will end up, but presuming that he'll go for the league, then he should end on the 3rd spot.



Last edited by AthrunZala at 11/8/2011 1:13:23 PM

Basket Mizu Arlon(89902)
Last seasons achievement: 2nd spot with another conference final exit against Vottem Cowboys
salary: 815 038$ for 15 players
Information: Surprizingly enough, Mizu Arlon have the highest payrole in the BBBL. However, their team isn't one to be taken lightely. With Belgian NT Guard Tijl Deseure, joined by a Iranian NT Guard who listens to the name Sepehr Asli, Mizu Arlon arguable have the best outside offense of the BBBL. Once you add PF Oriol to that mix, then you'll understand why Mizu Arlon always end up high in the division. But we all know the saying: Offense wins games, and defense wins championships ( Not that Mizu Arlons players are defensif slackers, far from it! But in comparison with VC's defense, Mizu Arlon still have a way to go...) Despite having such a beautifull strong team, Mizu remains to have one weakness: They still need a player to fill up the SF spot! However, considering the strength of the current team, they should be aiming for the Great 8 top seed. And with rumors going on about VC selling of Lequellec or Chorev, Mizu might just have the team to jump over the 5 time Belgian champ Vottem Cowboys. Never the less Mizu is a very strong team, and alot of people have high expectations of them for their first B3 campaign!
prognosis Battle for the top seed with Vottem Cowboys. Vottem has the better roster, but has announced that Lequellec would be leaving the team and that he wouldn't be replaced. However, Vottem Cowboys have claimed alot in the passed aswell, and somehow, they end up on being champ anyhow... So we'll go with the safe prediction and say that Mizu will end behind VC on teh 2nd seed in the Great 8 conference.


BBC Falco Gent(89651)
Last seasons achievement: promotion from II.3 by beating Dossers in 3 games in the final
salary: 397 587$ for 16 players
Information: This isn't the first time that Coach Steven has brought his boy's to the BBBL. He did it twice before, in season 10 and 12. However, both those seasons ended with a regulation back to II, and for the team being, it seems like he'll be going back to II next season aswell. The unfortunate BBC Falco Gent have ended up in the stronger of the 2 conferences, which would mean that they'd have to fight to avoid direct regulation. Only detail: the other Promovendi is Obira Dragons, who have already reinforced themselves in a very strong way. This would mean that Falco would have to end above another BBBL team, which is something that i can hardly imagen happening. It's a shame for the very friendly coach Steven, but many BBBL managers fear that Falco is facing an impossible task, being avoiding direct regulation. The only way to avoid it, would be the addition of some strong players, but with a stadium that can only hold 15k supporters, one has to wonder, how on earth is he going to get the money to buy some impact players? He might be better off saving cash this season while adding more seats to his arena so that it can hold up to 18k fans, and come back to the BBBL in 2 seasons time, with alot of cash that will allow him to buy the impact players required to stay in the BBBL.
prognosis Most probably 8th spot and direct regulation. Losing a game against Falco will most likely come to haunt you at the end of season, where that one extra victory would have given you a better spot...



Last edited by AthrunZala at 11/8/2011 1:17:50 PM

Estrellas Absurdas(89923)
Last seasons achievement: 6th and winner of the regulation series against Pokola
salary: 633 181$ for 17 players
Information: Estrellas Absurdas is one of the few teams in the BBBL to be managed by a girl. This charming lady, who answers to the name Angi, also is part of the U21/NT staff aswell as the BB staff (she's one of those GM's on who the burden falls to watch over this great BB game and weed out the cheaters. a highly unthankfull but necessary job). However, something tells me that i already wrote that the past season... ( damn i'll have to be more creative for the next preview ^^) As for the team Estrellas Absurdas, it probably is the most balanced and deepest team of the BBBL. This means that Angi can compete for both league games, however, it also means that she hasn't got a super starting 5 ( don't misunderstand this statement. She hasn't got a super starting 5, but that doesn't mean that you'll crush them easely!) Estrellas Absurdas strongest point is without dought defence. They will grind you out and make it very hard for you to get any decent views at the basket, and whats worse: their second strings defense is not far behind the starters defense. ES typically will try to grind you out defensifly and score points through their most favorite miss match: PF Joli. This player is a solid inside player, but he's got one very nasty habit of making alot of long range shots (including 3's) because of his great range game. Very few teams have a PF who can defend both outside and inside, and that is why Joli is such a troublesome player. Other than Joli, you still have got the Guard Strankauskas along with former Belgian U21 G Langendries to bring some scoring (and promissing) players to ES. When playing ES, you better be prepared for a low scoring game, because you'r going to have a very hard time getting 100+ points against them. As for their offense, don't underestimate it, or you'll be sorry. It might not be as good and flashy as the offensif of most other BBBL teams, but with such a strong defense, you don't need a super offense to win a bunch of games. And the best part is, Angi is one hell of a person to talk to, before, during or after the match, so be sure to be online when you play her!
prognosis 2nd of a group of 4 to fight for the 2 remaining PO spots. Will most probably end up 6th due to long cupruns. She could move up a few spots without sacrificing the cup, if any of her direct opponents picks up an injury on a key player.



(yes, i needed on post just for Angi... But since she seems to be the only female manager in the BBBL, i guess she does deserve some extra attention ;)

Last edited by AthrunZala at 11/8/2011 12:56:23 PM

Obira Dragons(89740)
Last seasons achievement: Promotion from II.1 after beating The Bekkerzeel Samaeys in a 3 game series
salary: 699 068$ for 17 players
Information: Managers Ppmmp isn't a stranger in the BBBL. 2 seasons ago, he was forced to go down, due to unlucky transfer attempts to get Belgian NT C Steven Ballaert. However, he used his season in II to remodel his team completely, and has come up again to the BBBL with a strong team and ofcourse cash, that allowed him to add 2 impact players to his roster: Italian C Lorenzo Elvis Lupo and a Polish G who goes by the name Michał Kosicki. Obira knows very well what is needed to survive in the BBBL and will be attempt to avoid regulation this season. With his latest 2 additions, Obira now has a pretty strong team that could cause some upsets. Anybody who thinks he's in for an easy win against a promovendi will be seriously mistaken once he/she faces Obira Dragons. However, given the fact that they have joined stronger conference of the BBBL ( lord, why is the strongest promovendi always ending up in the great 8 conference? How are we ever going to balance the power is the stronger guy's just keep joining the Great 8 conference?), manager ppmmp will have his work cut out for him to survive in the BBBL this season. First match against Esterellas Absurdas could prove to be a very important game for Obira is they wish to avoid the 7th spot.
prognosis Just a bitt behind the group of 4 teams competing for the last 2 PO spots. Obira might be able to cause an upset with their team, but if all teams focus on the league, then Obira should end up on the 7th spot in the great 8 conference and play regulation games...


Stonestars(37411)
Last seasons achievement: 3rd and PO first round exit against Mizu Arlon
salary: 692 961$ for 13 players
Information: The former NT players Abu-Hassam and De Neef, commenly referred to as the Stonestar connection by NT staffmembers (also known as the Belgian Boxing duo, for the dirty fauls that they usually make), have both left the franchise. They've been replaced by Loodus and Alija. Where as the Guards (Titeux, Porto and Baron) still seem to be in training, Stonestars should once again be a team that should be considered for PO contension. However, they don't seem to have alot of depth, and could end up anywhere from the 3rd to the 6th spot. Should be interesting to see how Manager NicoNam will proceed to replace again SF Kurt Votava.
prognosis 3rd of the group of 4 fighting for the remaining 2 PO spots. Will most likely end up 4th, provided that their aren't to many injuries during the season.

Vottem Cowboys(37519)
Last seasons achievement: Succesfully defended their champions title for the 4th consecutive time ( 5 consecutive title)
salary: 801 050$ for 13 players
Information: With 4 top notch belgian NT players ( PG Thys, SG Gilmont, SG/SF Vercaigne and SF/PF Mees) joined by Lequellec and Chorev, Vottem is the team to beat in the BBBL. Thing are getting pretty boring in the BBBL. Vottem has won the title 5 times in a row in the BBBL, and you got to wonder, will someone ever beat them any time soon? Vottem has recruted English SF prodigy Connor Marshall and has announced that either Lequellec or Chorev would be sold this season, thus making his team weaker which would open the door for someone else to become the champion... However, at the beginning of each season, Manager JoeMaverick announces that his team won't be first of his division (last season, he said it would be a training season and that he'd be aiming for the 5th spot... guess where he ended... right, you are, first place Great 8 conference and HCA through the entire PO's... and ofcourse, he ended up succesfully defending his title for the 4th consecutive time aswell). It should be interesting to see what Vottem Cowboys can do in the B3 tournament. So far, their best result was taking part in the KO round, where they got eliminated in the first round. Let's hope they can improve on their previous record B3 record. All the good results in the past few seasons have resulted in Vottem begin ranked ammongst the top 10 teams of the entire BB community! Let's see if he can make it to the top 5 ( or maybe top 3?). As for his season, if Chorev or Lequellec end up leaving the club, then that might leave Vottem a bitt vulnerable on the inside, but with PG Thys - SG Gilmont - SF Vercaigne and PF Mees, he still has a NT lvl of defense on all those positions. Maybe that the selling of Chorev/Lequellec might make the BBBL more thrilling again, and less predictable when it comes to predicting who will win at the end of the season...
prognosis Battle with Mizu for the top seed in the conference. expectations: first in the conference and once again, PO finals in a rematch against Ventola Team, altho predicting the winner ( without Chorev/Lequellec) might be a bitt harder this time...


Antwerp Angels(37519)
Last seasons achievement: 4th and PO first round exit against the later champs, Vottem Cowboys.
salary: 673 670$ for 15 players
Information: The Angels have managed to survive in the great 8 conference, altho it wasn't easy. They even managed to make the PO's, altho that preformance put into the right context. The Giants ended up going for the cup, which resulted in them giving up the 4th spot to the Angels. At the trade deadline of season 16, manager Revo ended up adding a bit time Guard to the team, giving them a very strong start 5. It should be very intersting and intriguing to see how the Angels will preform this season. The Angels supporters hope for yet anther PO participation, but with competition in the form of Giants, Esterellas Absurdas and Stonestar, getting hold of one of those remaining 2 PO tickets is going to be very hard. Whats more is that Obira Dragons could cause a considerable ammount of noise, so Manager Revo isn't going to make any promisses, other than the fact that Belgian NT duo Ottevaer-Fleeton will once again do their best to lead the team back to the PO's. Trainee Corman seems to have made the Belgian U21 this season, tho he isn't their as a starter.
prognosis 4th team of the group of 4 that will be hunting for those remaining 2 PO spots. Should end up on the 5th spot altho they might end up higher if the other teams have long cupruns.

Many have waited for it, and i'm sure not everyone agrees with my prediction. However, that is how i see things, and if you don't agree, then prove me wrong! I'm looking forward to another season of BBBL, because here at least, you've got alot of teams who are pretty close to eachother and the match results aren't always something that can be forseen long in advance. If anyone feels offended by a certain part of the preview, let me know and i'll remove it right away. I had ( nor do i currently have or will i ever have) no intension of insulting or offending anyone here. Some people might not agree with the prognosis, but hey, that is what a forum is for, to debate about things in a fun and polite way. In a preview, you are supposed to give your view on things and predict a spot for everyone, meaning someone has to be first, and someone will have to be last (or eigth in this case). I hope you've all enjoyed the preview and i appologize for the delay. And remember, if you like certain parts of the preview, don't forget to ball em ;)

LA-Revo


ps: god, this has taken me a total of 6 freaking hours! you better enjoy it ;)

pps: i ended up leaving out referrals of some of the BB players to NBA players. i'll keep it for the next one ;)

if we would considder such posts as spam, we can as well just kill the community.

nkowing which players enter or leave which teams is probably the most valuable info managers can get here. ;)

Surprizingly enough, Mizu Arlon have the highest payrole in the BBBL

Thanks for this review Revo! Always interesting!

Just want to add my wages are actually much lower than that (you surely got this number when I bought Asli and Mierka was not sold yet)

Nice work, Revo.
Now I know it will be very hard to avoid the 7th spot.
We've lost against Estrella....But it was a close game.
We fear now that all our opponents have to battle the cowboys the game before they meet us.
Damn....because nobody tries to beat those Cowboys.