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Saturday, February 23rd

GAME OF THE NIGHT

1. lélé @ 2. Hot Boyz (TV)

The TV crowd is welcomed back from the All-Star break and will be in for a treat in what should be a high scoring affair. About the only thing that would make this game more pivotal for either side would be if this is a rivalry game. Hot Boyz got a much better GS update and has HCA, while lélé looks to have the better offense. Enthusiasm will not be much of a factor as both teams should be about the same fresh out of the break. At the end of the day, I think the GS difference and HCA will provide Hot Boyz with just enough defense to slow lélé down. Winner: Hot Boyz

Great 8 vs Big 8

2. Thunderhorse @ 3. Matchstick Men

Both team's GS is in about the same shape, and Thunderhorse's LI will play poorly into Matchstick Men's 2-3 zone. Matchstick Men's LI though will play up against Thunderhorse's weak ID, so even though my gut told me to pick Thunderhorse, the more I think about this, the more I like this matchup for Matchstick Men. Winner: Matchstick Men

3. TicTacShack @ 4. I Volt

Not a great GS update for I Volt and the poor GS might offset any advantage given them by being home for this game. Ratings wise these teams seem pretty similar, but I think this game will come down to extra possessions as I Volt looks to force turnovers and TicTacShack looks to be the better rebounding team. TicTacShack has the 2nd fewest turnovers in the league though and I think they'll win the possession battle and the game. Winner: TicTacShack

4. Ghostface Killas @ 1. The Golden Bricks

Ghostface's continues their run through the top teams in the Great 8 and this game does not seem like it will go any better for them then the other ones. Look for a relatively low scoring game but one that The Golden Bricks wins handily. Winner: The Golden Bricks

4 Games, 4 bot losses (and 1 win)

6. Bluehawks @ 5. brooklyn knicks
5. OpTic Nation @ 6. The Boxers
7. new york celts @ 7. Sinking Ships
8. BuryYourDead @ 8. Dejags

Last edited by Rufus Rugi at 3/2/2018 12:04:27 PM

Season 41 Week 8 Power Rankings

1. The Golden Bricks - 14-1 Previous Ranking: 2

A good week for The Golden Bricks as they beat what was coming into the week their closest competition for HCA. Other than the bankrupt Matchstick Men's defeat of this team, the closest any other team has come to beating this team is Hot Boyz 15 point loss. It is championship or bust for this team.

2. Hot Boyz - 12-3 Previous Ranking: 3

A perplexing week for Hot Boyz as they handily beat lélé but then lost to TicTacShack. I suspect that is because TicTacShack's team is finally overcoming their poor GS doldrums and is not the same team they have been the rest of the season. Perhaps TicTacShack or Thunderhorse are better than this team down the road, but these rankings are only concerned about now.

3. lélé - 12-3 Previous Ranking: 1

Definitely a rough week for lélé as twice their offense was not able to keep up with their porous defense, having given up 138+ points in both games. For now this is still the top team in the Big 8, but Thunderhorse and TicTacShack are within striking distance.

4. Thunderhorse - 11-4 Previous Ranking: 5

Two solid wins this week for Thunderhorse as this team is back to looking like the team that I expected at the beginning of the season. They still are a bit predictable and not actively managed but at some point, having more talented players just wins out.

5. TicTacShack - 10-5 Previous Ranking: 9

This team responded to my low ranking of them with two double digit wins against two of the top 4 Great 8 teams coming into the week. This team looks to be rounding back into form as well and should be a force to deal with over the rest of the season.

6. I Volt - 9-6 Previous Ranking: 4

The next three teams are all tied for what will be two playoffs spots in the Great 8 with Sinking Ships nipping at all three teams' heels. I Volt looks to rebound from their loss to TicTacShack with two games this week against the teams that are chasing them. The Great 8 playoff picture should be alot clearer after this week.

7. brooklyn knicks - 9-6 Previous Ranking: 6

brooklyn knicks holds a tenuous lead on a playoff spot for now, but four of their remaining seven games are home games. With Matchstick Men's bankruptcy, this team is now the highest salaried Great 8 team and look to ride their top shooting FG% into the playoffs.

8. The Boxers - 9-6 Previous Ranking: 7

The Boxers play the top two Great 8 teams this week and managing at least one win without having to CT would go a long way to getting them into the playoffs. The coming weeks will be a good indication of where Simon's priorities are between training and making the playoffs.

9. Sinking Ships - 7-8 Previous Ranking: 8

Sinking Ships pretty much needs to beat all three of brooklyn knicks, The Boxers and I Volt to have any real shot at making the playoffs and play all three on the road. The other chance is if they can steal a game from one of the top two teams. That means with games against Hot Boyz and I Volt this week, they need to win at least one to have a realistic chance at making the playoffs.

10. Ghostface Killas - 7-8 Previous Ranking: 11

Ghostface Killas are still looking to get their first victory since new management took over, and with two bots on the schedule this week they look to get just that.

11. Matchstick Men - 10-5 Previous Ranking: 10

The unsustainable high salary for this team finally caught up to them and they are facing going bot as a result. This team raised less than 400k in it's player sales and do not look like they will end up raising enough money to avoid going bot and need a miracle to survive.

t12. Bluehawks, BuryYourDead, Dejags, new york celts, OpTicNation

Saturday, March 3rd

GAME OF THE NIGHT

6. I Volt (rival) at 4. brooklyn knicks (rival)

The premier game of the night features two rivals both fighting to make the playoffs. Stakes cannot get much higher than that. I Volt has won 5 of the last 6 matchups of these teams including a resounding victory in week 1. The teams look pretty even on paper. I Volt's outside offense should play up against brooklyn knicks 2-3 zone, but brooklyn might have enough flow to break through I Volt's press. In the first matchup of the season I Volt ditched the press and this game might just come down to their defensive tactic. In the end I think brooklyn knicks manage to win a close game at home.

Big 8
3. TicTacShack at 7. Bluehawks
6. BuryYourDead at 2. Thunderhorse
5. OpTic Nation at 4. Ghostface Killas
8. new york celts at 1. lélé

Great 8

1. The Golden Bricks (rival) at 5. The Boxers (TV)

With Matchstick Men's bankruptcy, this becomes the only difficult game this week for The Golden Bricks and really diminishes any chances of The Boxers being overlooked. In the end, The Boxers just don't have enough offense to keep up with The Golden Bricks, though otherwise these teams are pretty similar.

2. Hot Boyz at 7. Sinking Ships

This seems like a dangerous game for Hot Boyz as they are facing an improved Sinking Ships who's last last league game against a live opponent was almost a month ago. This makes it hard to get a read on just how much Sinking Ships has improved exactly. While I think Sinking Ships has a chance, they are not quite on the same level as Hot Boyz. I expect a close game, but for Hot Boyz to win.

8. Dejags at 3. Matchstick Men