Category: 1st Division

Fall ’17 Playoff Previews (All Sunday Divisions)

(2) LACE’O MY ASO

  

VS

  

(4) YUNG NO FLY ZONE
SCOUTING REPORT

In a rematch of the last D1 Sunday final in the SPR ’17 season, LMA looks to replicate a dominant win over NFZ with aggressive perimeter defense and a similarly attacking offense. LMA’s strength can often be NFZ’s weakness. Their ability to pressure guards players defensively with (G) Chung Lee, (G) Mat Joshy and (F) Matt Birtwell can frustrate a Flyers team that likes to operate with space. On offense, LMA bigs (F) Mark Promax and (F) Kyle Jose are versatile, stretch players who can make NFZ’s often slow-footed defense pay from behind the 3-point arc. As match-ups go, this is a pretty favorable one for Lace’O.
LMA
6-2		 D1 SUN
CHIP
MLK HS
Sun, Dec 3
1:30pm
NFZ
5-3		 SCOUTING REPORT

NFZ could hardly have forgotten how they were humiliated in their last finals match-up vs LMA. But this is a Flyers team sorting out new personnel. Half their back court is gone, and though (G) Alex Tsay is a strong pick-up, he has been mostly sidelined with injuries. New add (F) Kieran Brennan has fit right in. He has helped to diversify NFZ’s offense. The Flyers can score, but their defense has been a slow starter, which has made every game a struggle. At full strength, NFZ has just as much depth as LMA, and more overall size, if not quite the speed. If they can dictate the tempo and control the ball, they can win this game.
Player Spotlight: Matt Birtwell

Birtwell is as tenacious as they come, and his defense and hustle is a catalyst for everything LMA does. His effort on that end can sometimes mean his jumper can get streaky, but he’ll keep attacking the basket as relentlessly as he does on D, keeping the pressure on opposing defenses.
Pos: F
14 ppg
5 rpg
5 spg
Pos: F
22.5 ppg
10 rpg
1.5 apg		 Player Spotlight: Michael Reding

With more balanced scoring this season, Reding hasn’t had to carry so much of the offensive load. Which is good for the Flyers, because he’s also the team’s most versatile defender, often has to defend the opposing team’s best offensive player. He’ll be put to the test here on both sides of the ball.

(1) TAIWAN NO. 1

  

VS

  

(4) RISE AGAIN
SCOUTING REPORT

Out of nowhere, Taiwan No. 1 has lived up to their moniker all season. They have simply found ways to win, and it’s not always pretty. But it’s the semifinals now, and every team left is a contender, and they’re now facing, as a newbie team, the most storied franchise in D3. They will come in with D3’s most balanced scoring attack. Nine players score between 4.8 to 8.7 ppg. And any one of them can get hot, as (G) Tim Yu did for 21 pts in the 1st rd. 
TW1
6-1		 D3 SUN
SEMIS
MLK HS
Sun, Dec 3
2:30pm
RIS
5-2		 SCOUTING REPORT

It’s always the same story with Rise Again. In many ways, they’re the most predictable team in the league. They come at you with the same guys, same strategy, season after season. And yet, you can’t really stop them. And this isn’t a team that overwhelms their opponents on either side of the ball. They can do that if they get hot from three. But typically, they just dissect you piece by piece until you don’t even realize it’s all over and they’ve won it.
Player Spotlight: Henry Lin

Lin is TW1’s most versatile player. He’s a big, physical forward who can handle the rock, find the open man, and shoot. With a roster full of attacking guards, he is often the point forward, setting up the offense. TW1 is a big team for D3, and Lin’s all-around skills make them seem even bigger.

 Pos: F
15 ppg
12 rpg
2 apg
Pos: G
20 ppg
3 rpg
3 apg		 Player Spotlight: Leuis Ng

What else is there to write? Multi-time reg season MVPs, championship MVPs, Ng does it all. Inside, outside, off the dribble, on the break, he dictates everything for RIS. Ng is the one guy you have to stop on this team, and if you have a strategy to do it, you’d be the first.

(1) NY ROCKITS

  

VS

  

(5) WOLVERINES
SCOUTING REPORT

Speed, speed & more speed. The Rockits come at you in waves, overwhelming you with guard after guard attacking, creating, and making layups or 3FGs. Every player on this roster is looking to make the extra pass, or the opportunistic defensive play. But TOs can be an issue. The Rockits have to make sure, especially against a bigger WOL team, that if the shots aren’t falling, they control the ball. Playoff games run much tighter, less margin for error.
ROC
5-1		 D2 SUN
SEMIS
MLK HS
Sun, Dec 3
3:30pm
WOL
3-4		 SCOUTING REPORT

More than anything, the Wolverines MUST dictate the pace in this game. The Rockits are younger and much faster overall. Which to the Wolverines possible advantage, also means ROC tends to play fast and loose with the ball. WOL cannot afford to do the same. If they control tempo, control the ball, keep their composure, and finish in the paint–all big IFs–they can steal this from a less experienced, smaller Rockits team by overwhelming them physically.
Player Spotlight: Ian Yu

The veteran Yu is the Rockit’s most senior player, and he orchestrates much of theor offense. He has shot well from the 3-pt line (38%) this season, but not so much from the FT line (39%). But with plenty of ROC players who can get to the stripe, the pressure isn’t on Yu to make many.
Pos: G
14.3 ppg
7.3 rpg
5 apg
Pos: F
23 ppg
9 rpg
3 apg		 Player Spotlight: Nick Liveris

Liveris and (C) Mike Meng can put together a solid two-man game against a zone D, but they have to be patient and let it develop. If ROC goes man, both players must punish them in the paint and finish layups. Missed layups give ROC a chance to beat WOL back in transition.

(2) LET IT FLY

  

VS

  

(3) NO FLY ZONE OG
SCOUTING REPORT

Let It Fly looked like the shoe-in #1 seed until a surprising loss to RIS exposed some of their weaknesses. But they didn’t have (C) Ola Oni in that game, and against a short-handed NFZ in the reg season, he simply man-handled the opposition. This is a very athletic team for this division, which gives them extra chances via the offensive glass and opportunistic defense, but the key for LIF, still very much a contender, will be execution down the stretch and finishing strong whether they have the lead or not.
LIF
6-1		 D3 SUN
SEMIS
MLK HS
Sun, Dec 3
4:30pm
NFZ
5-2		 SCOUTING REPORT

No Fly Zone won the D3 title in the spring, and looked poised to repeat in the summer until they somehow forfeited their semifinal game to the eventual champions. They were bodied in the paint in their reg season match-up, but that was without (F) Saleem Ahmed, arguably the league’s best shot blocker. His length will be key to patch up a weak interior defense with (C) Kevin Wong failing to qualify for the post-season. On offense, they have reliable veteran options in (F) Young Wang and (G) Ren Hsieh.
Player Spotlight: Daniel Mosley

Mosley was not available in LIF’s 1st rd win over BIL, which is a testament to the Flyers depth, but Mosley is their best option on the offensive end. Undersized, but crafty and physical in the paint, Mosley is a problem from point blank range to 15′ vs NFZ’s less physical lineup.

 Pos: F
16 ppg
7.8 rpg
1.2 spg
Pos: F
22 ppg
7 rpg
4 bpg		 Player Spotlight: Saleem Ahmed

The veteran paint protector is a stretch 4-5 on offense, and he’s about as streaky as they come in D3. In the 1st rd, he gave JPU a taste of what i’s like when he gets hot. His 6 1st half 3FGs set the tone in a blowout win. LIF cannot afford to let Ahmed get hot in the early going here.

(2) RAINING ROSEBUDS

  

VS

  

(3) BOMB SQUAD
SCOUTING REPORT

The Rosebuds have been holding strong as a contender all season, losing only to top seed ROC. They have a far more focused attack on offense this fall, led by speedy (G) Anthony Williams, and solid all-around play from up and down the roster. New adds have had a huge part. (G) Caleb Lui is as good a defender and set up man as you can find in D2, and (F) Burke Wise has low key been maybe the best big man in D2 this season. It’s their opponent, however, that has been where they’d like to be. BOM is an experienced former champ that will test everything RAR has.
RAR
6-1		 D2 SUN
SEMIS
MLK HS
Sun, Dec 3
5:30pm
BOM
5-2		 SCOUTING REPORT

They’ve been uneven this fall, but Bomb Squad is still a veteran roster with a deeper guard rotation than they’ve ever had. (G) James Han proved that point with 22 pts in BOM’s 1st rd win over NFZ. If the 3FGs are falling–and they will take a lot of them– this suddenly becomes a very difficult team to beat. But it all starts with the match-up problems (F) Sherwin Salar is able to force in and around the paint. Without this balance, BOM becomes far easier to defend. And though their defense is solid, it has shown some holes this season, particularly with an injured (G) Alex Tsay.
Player Spotlight: Anthony Williams

Even in his 30s now, Williams is the fastest guard in D2. His shot selection can be a bit questionable at times, perhaps taking more deep 3FGs than preferred by his team, but when he gets it going he is capable of carrying the RAR offense. And his speed in the passing lane leads to easy FGs.

 Pos: G
18 ppg
4 rpg
2 spg
Pos: F
16 ppg
20 rpg
6 apg		 Player Spotlight: Sherwin Salar

RAR doesn’t have the strongest interior D, so Salar should get plenty of opportunities. But BOM asks a lot of Salar as their only big man, undersized as he is already. So if he has the legs to score, BOM can thrive, but they can count on him to contribute across the board regardless.

Fall ’17 Playoff Previews (All Weeknight Divisions)

(1) D.A.W.

  

VS

  

(4) GUARD ME MAYBE
SCOUTING REPORT

N/A
DAW
6-1		 D2 WN
SEMIS
Fashion HS
Thu, Nov 30
8:00pm
GMM
4-3		 SCOUTING REPORT

At full strength, Guard Me Maybe rivals DPY in overall talent on the roster. This season (F) Stefan Chaplin raised play to a level that suggests GMM may have a Big 3 along with reigning MVP (F) Brian Law and (G) Tommy Wong. They’ve had bad luck in the playoffs with player availability, but if they have all their pieces, they’ll contend for the championship.
Player Spotlight: 

N/A

 N/A
Pos: F
21 ppg
10 rpg
8 apg		 Player Spotlight: Brian Law

Law does it all. Arguably D2’s most athletic player, he is just as capable of dominating on the defensive end, as he is on offense. DAW is a team with good speed and a physicality, so the Maybes will need a strong, sustained performance from Law. 

(3) NYC GRITTY COMMITTEE

  

VS

  

(7) NY DYNASTY
SCOUTING REPORT

As expected, Gritty was tested in their 1st rd match-up vs GA7. They got the W, thriving on the kind of clutch plays down the stretch that they’ll need to keep making here on out. This hasn’t been the most talented roster all season, but they do have the longest tenure together, and as long as they keep the faith they can win it all.
NGC
5-2		 D3 WN
SEMIS
Fashion HS
Thu, Nov 30
9:00pm
DYN
3-4		 SCOUTING REPORT

It wasn’t a pretty regular season for the NY Dynasty, but they pulled of a big upset win over a contender in the 1st rd by blowing out 30F. DYN finally started playing like they’d been expected to play all season. If that was the turnaround moment in their season then it was the perfect time for it, and really bad timing for everyone else.
Player Spotlight: Teddy Oh

Oh hasn’t had a great playoffs so far, but in the regular season, he gave DYN a team-high 18 points as the Dynasty back court struggled so stay in front of him. If he stays aggressive in this match-up, he’ll put NGC in a position to exploit DYN’s slow rotations on defense.

 Pos: G
15.6 ppg
2.4 rpg
2.4 apg
Pos: G
27 ppg
5 3pg
4 spg		 Player Spotlight: David Chu

After a down season, Chu finally broke out in the 1st rd, with 27 points on 11-16 FGs vs 30F. The effort came just when DYN needed it most, and hopefully for Dynasty, he can keep up the hot shooting against an NGC team that isn’t particularly good at closing out on the 3-pt line.

(1) RAW DOGS

  

VS

  

(4) HONEY BADGERS
SCOUTING REPORT

Raw Dogs come in with the most talented roster in D1. The Top 4 of their lineup, (F) Lenny McNeil, (F) Ronnie Bethea, (G) Robert Swift and (G) Sean Corley are all match-up problems. RAW seem to think they’re undersized, and it gives them a chip on the shoulder, but they’re actually middle of the pack in D1. And their overall strength and athleticism makes them seem even bigger, which is a problem for the Badgers who are perpetually undersized.
RAW
7-0		 D1 WN
SEMIS
MLK HS
Thu, Nov 30
8:00pm
HON
4-3		 SCOUTING REPORT

RAW hasn’t faced much defense since moving up to D1, but the Honey Badgers will give them all they could ask for. What the Badgers lack in size and scoring, they make up for with grit and toughness. No team grinds like HON, but they have a tendency to wear themselves out against more athletic teams. RAW isn’t particularly committed to sustained defense, so the Badgers will get shots. They just have to make a higher rate than they have so far this season to keep pace.
Player Spotlight: 

The Badgers struggle with tough, physical and crafty scorers in the paint. And that’s exactly McNeil is, plus he can shoot the 3 as well. With microwave oven shooting around him, McNeil should get plenty of 1-on-1 looks at the rim and he knows what to do with the ball when he gets space. Put it in the dang hole.

 Pos: F
30 ppg
10 rpg
2 spg
Pos: F
29 ppg
9 rpg
3 apg		 Player Spotlight: Adam Powell

You know what you’re gonna get from the Badgers’ core, but Powell is their x-factor. He gives them a strong open court finisher, and an additional 3-pt threat. The latter has been key with shooters (G) Jeff Syham and (G) Mike Bill missing so many games. Powell is an off-ball scorer but moves well to get open, just what HON needs.

(4) PEACE & LOVE

  

VS

  

(6) METTA WORLD WAR
SCOUTING REPORT

Peace & Love put on a clinic in their upset win over Showcase NYC last night. And it was a big upset. At times this fall, SHO looked unbeatable, but PNL dismantled SHO’s gilded defense and lit them up 66-44. They’re still not a great defense, but they’re tougher at every position on D, and they can grind out stops when needed. MWW can score, but they’re hardly the defensive behemoth of seasons past, so PNL will get opportunities. Depth is not a strength for either team, and as such, these are two well-matched teams.
PNL
4-3		 Premier
CHIP
MLK HS
Thu, Nov 30
9:00pm
MWW
3-4		 SCOUTING REPORT

Admittedly, this is not the title match-up we predicted. Metta is a 4-time champion, and should never be discounted, but they had their worst reg season in franchise histor. They’ve had some luck: Their 1st rd opponent forfeited, and last night, DYN played without (G) Shawn Delos Reyes. But never mind that, Metta looked good last night. (G) Pace Shaw finally looked like he fit in. And the 1-2 punch of (F) Nick Pelletier & (C) Stedford McCleod looked pretty much unstoppable. All of a sudden the Mettas look like the team to beat again, ready to hoist a 5th title. 
Player Spotlight: Seamus McKiernan

The veteran McKiernan’s presence in the paint as a scorer and defender has been key to PNL’s success. He is a crafty scorer around the basket, but MWW actually has a strong interior defense McKiernan will have to pick and choose his spots, but he has to stay aggressive.

 Pos: F
15.5 ppg
8.5 rpg
2.5 bpg
Pos: F
19 ppg
7 rpg
1 spg		 Player Spotlight: Nick Pelletier

Pelletier has long been Metta’s utility man and glue guy, making all the little plays that his team needs to win. He can also be their best shooter when called upon, and his 19 pts on 5 3FGs was huge in the win over DYN. In MWW’s current line-up he’ll get plenty of chances for a repeat performance.

Fall ’17 Week 9 Player Awards (All Sunday Divisions)

1ST DIVISION (SUNDAYS)

1st Division (Sun) Player of the Week

(F) KYLE JOSE (LACE’O MY ASO)

17 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Runner-up: (G/F) Jacob Leizman (DOR) 30 points, 4 3FGs, 8 rebounds, 1 steal

Wat Misaka Defensive Player of the Week

(G/F) MATT BIRTWELL (LACE’O MY ASO)

5 rebounds, 5 steals, 1 block
Runner-up: (F) Mark Promax (LMA) 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks

The Sam Lo Hustle Award

(G/F) MATT BIRTWELL (LACE’O MY ASO)

14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, 1 block
Runner-up: (F) Michael Reding (NFZ) 16 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals

Spot Dessert Bar Most Outstanding Rookie

(G) JACOB LEIZMAN (DORIS FROM REGO PARK)

30 points, 4 3FGs, 8 rebounds, 1 steal
Runner-up: N/A

The High-5 Club

Matt Birtwell (LMA) 14-5-3-5-1
Kyle Jose (LMA) 17-11-2-1-1
Mark Promax (LMA) 15-7-1-2-2

 

Weekly League Leaders 

PTS: Jacob Leizman (DOR) 30, Vegas Dave Wong (SKW) 24
3FG: Jacob Leizman (DOR) 4, Vegas Dave Wong (SKW) 3
REB: Rick Louis (SKW) 24, [2 players] 11
AST: David Rivera (LMA) 6, [3 players] 5
STL: Matt Birtwell (LMA) 5, Chung Lee (LMA) 3
BLK: Mark Promax (LMA), A.K. Tewary (SKW) 2

2ND DIVISION (SUNDAYS)

2nd Division (Sun) Player of the Week

(F) SHERWIN SALAR (BOMB SQUAD)

16 points, 20 rebounds, 6 assists
Runner-up: (F) Jeff Meng (WOL) 20 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block

Wat Misaka Defensive Player of the Week

(C) MICHAEL MENG (WOLVERINES)

6 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 blocks
Runner-up: (G) Jon Jackson (NFP) 1 rebound, 2 steals

The Sam Lo Hustle Award

(F) LOUIS KONIG (TAP NY)

8 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks
Runner-up: (F) Sherwin Salar (BOM) 16 points, 20 rebounds, 6 assists

Spot Dessert Bar Most Outstanding Rookie

(F/C) BURKE WISE (RAINING ROSEBUDS)

15 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Runner-up: (F) Enoch Han (ZHU) 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

The High-5 Club

Nick Abrapour (WOL) 10-12-3-1-1
G Beaubrun (WOL) 2-10-8-1-1
Louis Konig (TAP) 8-17-5-1-2
Michael Meng (WOL) 8-6-3-2-3
Burke Wise (RAR) 15-14-4-1-1

Weekly League Leaders 

PTS: Nick Liveris (WOL) 23, James Han (BOM) 22
3FG: Ori Damari (NFP) 6, James Han (BOM) 4
REB: Sherwin Salar (BOM) 20, Louis Konig (TAP) 17
AST: G Beaubrun (WOL) 8, Ren Hsieh (NFP) 7
STL: Stephen Lok (TAP) 3, [8 players] 2
BLK: Michael Meng (WOL) 3, [2 players] 2

3RD DIVISION (SUNDAYS)

3rd Division (Sun) Player of the Week

(G) SEAN HE (BALL IS LIFE)

28 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals
Runner-up: (G) Robert Zhang (GOO) 28 points, 6 3FGs, 3 rebounds, 2 steals

Wat Misaka Defensive Player of the Week

(F) SALEEM AHMED (NO FLY ZONE OG)

7 rebounds, 1 steal, 4 blocks
Runner-up: (G) Dennis Hou (TW1) 2 rebounds, 4 steals, 1 block

The Sam Lo Hustle Award

(F) HENRY LIN (TAIWAN NO. 1)

15 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
Runner-up: (F) Vickram Kulkami (GOO) 4 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists

Spot Dessert Bar Most Outstanding Rookie

(G) TIM YU (TAIWAN NO. 1)

21 points, 5 3FGs, 5 rebounds
Runner-up: (F) Henry Lin (TW1) 15 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block

The High-5 Club

Kojo Achiampong (LAR) 8-6-1-2-1
Marvin Chu (NFZ) 2-8-5-1-1
Mark Hahn (RIS) 10-4-2-2-1
Dennis Hou (TW1) 2-2-4-4-1
Henry Lin (TW1) 15-12-2-2-1
Guannan Liu (CRO) 21-5-1-1-1
Rob Rodkey (LAR) 2-5-1-1-2
Eddie Tsao (LAR) 12-2-1-1-1

Weekly League Leaders 

PTS: Sean He (BIL), Robert Zhang (GOO) 28
3FG: Saleem Ahmed (NFZ), Robert Zhang (GOO) 6
REB: Vikram Kulkami (GOO) 14, Felix Zhang (GOO) 13
AST: Ren Hsieh (NFZ) 7, [7 players] 4
STL: Sean He (BIL), Dennis Hou (TW1) 4
BLK: Saleem Ahmed (NFZ) 4, Rob Rodkey (LAR) 2