Tag: featured

TDL Spring 2016 Championship Preview

(1) META WORLD WAR vs (6) GUARD ME MAYBE

Team Analysis Team Score Team Team Analysis
This is where you expected Meta World War to be at this time of the season. By the numbers, they have been every bit as dominant as their first title run, but the difference this season is their lack of depth. This roster really only goes 6 deep. It’s a very good 6, but will GMM’s much longer bench wear out an MWW side that hasn’t always looked in peak physical condition? They didn’t shoot well last night, but (F) Chaz Thomas & (F) Kareem Merrick lifted MWW on their collective shoulders with great defense, and they still won handily. With GMM’s athleticism, they might have another grind on their hands tonight.
MWW
7-1

65-58
GMM
5-3		 If you let Guard Me Maybe hang around, and if you play into their frenetic style, they can beat you. And that’s what DYN found out last night when the Maybes upset them in the semis. This is a team with plenty of talent, they just haven’t always clicked. But oddly enough, despite last night’s ugly game, they did look more cohesive as both an offensive & defensive unit. Everyone played their part and they gutted out a win. If GMM can keep their composure and play with the same kind of team-based attack tonight, they can give themselves a chance to win. The one thing MWW won’t have a marked advantage here is athleticism.
Key Players: (F) Stedford McCleod, (G) Shamel Arasmo

McCleod basically got anywhere he wanted last night, he just couldn’t finish plays. His legs just looked tired and they just might be even more so tonight. Arasmo was the same, FAS defenders couldn’t stay in front, but the help defense was there. GMM’s help D should be even better than FAS, but Arasmo torched them in the reg season.

shamel_arasmo_thumb

thumb_No_Photo_Avail

 Key Players: (G) Jason Crowell, (F) Darnell Cudjoe

Crowell can be a bit erratic at times, generally playing on emotion, but in last night’s semifinal, he was patient and efficient, and that made all the difference. Cudjoe really does play a Draymond Green role for MWW, he’s their toughest 1-on-1 defender, can knock down open shots and create if he has to. If only GMM had a better pick & roll play.

 

TDL Spring 2016 Playoff Results (Semifinals)

(1) Meta World War 63
(5) Free Agents 49
Wed (6/8) 8:45pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Chaz Thomas (MWW) 17 pts, 3 stl

RECAP: The Free Agents put up a hell of a fight, as they are apt to do. They took the finesse right out of this game and forced Meta World War to grind with them, which frustrated the Metas for three quarters. But in the end, FAS’s lack of depth did them in. Meta was no deeper, but in the 4th qtr, when both teams were tired, MWW’s athleticism took over. The game turned into a battle of muscle memory and instinct, and MWW was a step quicker and a thought faster on every play down the stretch to win this one decisively. MWW forced 23 TOs on 15 stls, including 9 in the final quarter. That’s pretty much impossible to overcome, and proved to be the difference here. Meta World War will return to the title game.
(2) NY Dynasty 50
(6) Guard Me Maybe 52
Wed (6/8) 9:45pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: D. Cudjoe (GMM) 15 pts, 10 reb

RECAP: It seemed like at any moment, the NY Dynasty would get over the hump, but they just never did. Both teams had the length and athleticism to make this one a defensive battle, and that’s exactly what they did. But whereas it seemed like Guard Me Maybe didn’t quite play with enough urgency at times, DYN played with too much. Every time DYN started to make a run, they forced a pass in transition or rushed a shot that let GMM off the hook. They just never looked composed in this game, even missing 6-9 FTs in the 4th qtr. GMM, on the other hand, never let up. Led by another Draymond-esque night from (F) Darnell Cudjoe and efficient shooting from (G) Jason Crowell, they got the result and will play for the spring title tonight. 

TDL Spring 2016 Playoff Results (Semifinals)

(2) Spaghetti Ramen OT 50
(6) NYC Gritty Committee 45
Wed (6/8) 6:45pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Mark Lee (NGC) 32 pts, 5 reb

RECAP: It’s rare that a player from the losing team gets Player of the Game, but that’s how good NYC Gritty (G) Mark Lee was, scoring 32 of his team’s 45 points. But as good as he was individually, Spaghetti Ramen was the better team. SPR weathered the sudden runs NGC needed to stay in this game and force OT. They did it by working the ball and staying patient. Key late-game play-making from (G) Leuis Ng and tough in-traffic finishes from (F) Teddy Lo helped SPR advance back to the championship game to defend their title in what now has to be considered a commonplace team effort for this veteran squad.
(1) Guard Me Maybe 41
(4) NY Dynasty 40
Wed (6/8) 7:45pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Kento Kato (GMM) 20 pts, 5 3FGs

RECAP: NY Dynasty had a game-plan for the much younger, deeper Guard Me Maybe side: slow it down, control the ball, and close in crunch time. They had ran it to a tee with a 34-26 lead going into the 4th, but GMM showed great resilience. (G) Kento Kato‘s big time shooting kept them in it all game, and (F) Jin Bae Kim turned it on in crunch time to make up the deficit, giving GMM the lead. DYN, carrying 3 players over 38 yo on the roster just ran out of gas. But even still, they made key stops in the final minute and had the last shot with a chance to win at the buzzer. (G) Ren Hsieh‘s well-contested scoop in the paint just rimmed out as GMM survives to play in their first title game.

TDL Spring 2016 Playoff Preview (Semifinals)

(2) SPAGHETTI RAMEN vs (6) NYC GRITTY COMMITTEE

Comments Team Score Team Comments
Spaghetti Ramen is one of those teams that to look at them, you wouldn’t think they had won multiple franchise titles. Not until you play them do you realize how good they are. They are committed to initiating their attack on D with (F) Mark Hahn playing an insane Draymond Green meets Ron Artest style defense. Then the offense is carefully orchestrated by veteran SPR (G) Leuis Ng who can do it all. They play small ball, but they have a lot of versatile pieces that work together well. This is a veteran unit.
SPR
4-3

56-54
NGC
3-5		 Whenever NYC Gritty Committee can sneak into the playoffs, they become a threat to challenge for the title due to veteran savvy alone. This team is no exception. This iteration will have the benefit of the biggest player in the league (C) Victor Chia. If they get him going early, SPR may have to make adjustments they don’t like. Which will open things up for NGC (G) Mark Lee. One of the best scorers in the league this season, he has a tough match-up with Hahn, but if SPR needs to go to zone, Lee will have room to work.
Key Player: (F) Mark Hahn
Ng is a constant, but Hahn is a wild card on offense. The dominant defensive effort is always there, but if Hahn can get any kind of offense going, it’s a big release valve for Ng. When Hahn is scoring, SPR is very hard to beat, particularly when he can knock down a few 3FGs.
 Key Player: (F) Steve Chung
Chung is the third piece of NGC’s offensive attack, theoretically the shooter that spreads the D. Only his jumper has been erratic this season. But he’s streaky and can knock down multiple 3s at any point of the game. Likewise for NGC, if Chung gets hot, they’re almost unbeatable.

(1) GUARD ME MAYBE vs (4) NY DYNASTY

Comments Team Score Team Comments
Guard Me Maybe‘s three-pronged offensive attack has been D-3’s most potent this season with (G) Kento Kato able to create off the dribble, (G) Tommy Wong stretching defenses thin with his range, and (F) Jin Bae Kim‘s unstoppable slashing ability. Where they’ve had some weakness is on cohesion on D (not lack of effort). This is a young team, but if they play it right, they’re the favorite to win it all.
GMM
5-2

68-65
DYN
5-3		 In many ways, NY Dynasty is the polar opposite to GMM. They are a veteran team with a short roster and limited offense. Granted, their 1-2 punch of (G) Ren Hsieh and (C) Steve Song is about is good as it gets, but they’re not athletic, and not particularly young. This is a team that plays efficiently, limits possessions, and outsmarts opponents in crunch time. This is not an insurmountable match-up for them.
Key Player: (G) Tommy Wong
When Wong is hitting 3FGs, this is a damn near unstoppable offense. His range and quick trigger just opens up the attacking lanes for the very nimble Kato and Kim. Wong is very capable of taking over the game with his shooting.
 Key Player: (C) Steve Song
The versatile center for DYN can sometimes shy away from taking too many shots, but this may be self preservation as late in games, DYN has repeatedly gone to Song, and he has always answered. As much as Hsieh, he’s a late game closer.

TDL Spring 2016 Playoff Preview (Semifinals)

(1) META WORLD WAR vs (5) FREE AGENTS

Comments Team Score Team Comments
Meta World War won a chip and took a season off, but they haven’t missed a beat. The champs are the prohibitive favorite to win it all again this season. They’ll have to do it with less depth than the first time, but (F) Nick Pelletier has been a great fit with his heady all-around game. (G) Shamel Arasmo is shooting well late into the season, always a good sign for MWW, but the key to MWW’s dominance is the reliable defensive play of (F) Chaz Thomas. 
MWW
6-1

68-60
FAS
4-3		 They may be called the Free Agents but this team has played two full seasons together now, some players have been on the roster for three. With their veteran scoring, and all out hustle play, this is as good a team as any to sneak in and upset MWW. Especially if they’re missing (F) Stedford McCleod, the only glaring mismatch here. FAS can otherwise keep pace with MWW’s offense, the key will be getting the stops when they need them, which hasn’t been easy this season.
Key Player: (F) Stedford McCleod
MWW knows what to expect from its players, and they usually get it, but McCleod has the biggest advantage vs an FAS team that plays small ball. They have no obvious match-up here, and if they’re forced to double, the entire offense will open up for MWW.
 Key Player: (G) Morgan Blakely
Blakely has been playing MVP level ball all season. He is what you call a power guard, bigger than many of the league’s forwards, but he’s as good a shooter and playmaker as anyone in the league. When he gets it going offensively, FAS becomes a very difficult team to stop.

(2) NY DYNASTY vs (6) GUARD ME MAYBE

Comments Team Score Team Comments
The veteran NY Dynasty are slow and steady wins the race pretty much every season, finding a way to get back in the mix. This season, it’s been the return of (F) George O’Garro and the addition of (F) Fred Simpson. Buth give DYN the kind of length on defense that few teams have. For an offense that tends to get stagnant at times, it’s their defense that gives this team a chance to win any game.
DYN
5-2

72-68
GMM
4-3		 This is Guard Me Maybe’s m.o.: they’re a wild card. They have a deep roster, but they never know who’s going to show up, metaphorically speaking, because they’re always rding 8-10 deep. Will it be (G) Landon Glover, (F) Askia Davis or (F) Jason Crowell carrying the load? Maybe they don’t even know, but there’s enough talent on this team to beat anyone if they start clicking.
Key Player: (F) Fred Simpson
With O’Garro on the back line, Simpson can completely take over a game with his defense alone, and much of it is because of how much a surprise it is. He is an assuming player, who often looks injured getting up and down the court, but he’ll sneak up on you every time.
 Key Player: (G) Ian Yu
Yu is the key player for this team, not because of his team-high 20 pts with 5 3FGs last week. He is the de facto PG of this team. When he keeps his TOs down and makes good decisions, his team plays well. When he doesn’t, not so much. It’s been about 50/50 this season.

TDL Spring 2016 Week 9 Results

Teal Curtain (4-3) 35
TX Thunder (3-3) 51
Sun (6/5) 12pm at Graphics HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Kenneth Van (THU) 13 pts, 9 reb

RECAP: N/A
Dirk Digglers (7-0) 52
Raptors (2-5) 41
Sun (6/5) 1pm at Graphics HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Andrew Tu (DRK) 15 pts, 8 reb

RECAP: N/A
TAP NY (1-5) 52
TX Thunder (4-3) 66
Sun (6/5) 2pm at Graphics HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Leuis Ng (THU) 18 pts, 9 reb

RECAP: N/A
Ball So Hard (6-1) 57
Supreme Team (5-2) 35
Sun (6/5) 3pm at Graphics HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: S. Salar (BSH) 10 pts, 8 reb

RECAP: N/A
Goat Herders (0-7) 58
Gritty FOB City (3-4) 71
Sun (6/5) 3:30pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: David Ri (FOB) 27 pts, 5 3FGs

RECAP: N/A
Flying Fairies (4-2) 54
TAP NY (1-6) 37
Sun (6/5) 4pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Kevin Quach (FLY) 23 pts, 11 reb

RECAP: N/A
Flying Fairies (5-2) 4OT 61
Splappa (4-3) 59
Sun (6/5) 5pm at Graphics HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Kevin Quach (FLY) 27 pts, 6 reb

RECAP: N/A

TDL Spring 2016 Week 9 Results

Lace’O My Aso (5-2) 73
Space Jam (3-4) 60
Sun (6/5) 11am at Graphics HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: M. Joshy (LMA) 25 pts, 5 3FGs

RECAP: Space Jam competed in a high scoring 1st qtr, but Lace’O My Aso (G) Matthew Joshy hit back-to-back 3FGs in the 2nd qtr that swung the momentum to LMA. Joshy would continue his scoring spree with a game-high 25 pts, and (G) Stanley Yee‘s hot shooting helped put away a short-handed JAM team that could have secured a playoff spot with a win. They’ll have to leave it to tie-breakers now. 
Let It Fly (3-4) 57
SK War Dog (5-2) 75
Sun (6/5) 1:30pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: P. Youreneff (SKW) 19 pts, 6 ast

RECAP: Let It Fly went early to (F) Shawn Bailey, easily the biggest player on the floor, and he had success, keeping LIF tied up at 14-14 going into the 2nd qtr. But that’s when SK War Dog went on one of their signature runs, hitting a flurry of seemingly impossible 3FGs. As the game wore on, LIF did a progressively worse job on finding and closing out on shooters. Not a good recipe for playing War Dog.
Jay’s Angels (3-4) 69
Top Stars (0-7) 62
Sun (6/5) 2:30pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Sal Nasser (JAY) 19 pts, 10 reb

RECAP: Game played as forfeit.
Honey Badgers (5-2) 70
L.O.B. (0-7) 57
Sun (6/5) 4:30pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: S. Salar (HON) 19 pts, 9 reb

RECAP: Game played as forfeit.

TDL Spring 2016 Playoffs Results (1st Round)

(3) Skillshare 37
(6) NYC Gritty Committee 48
Thu (6/2) 7:00pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Mark Lee (NGC) 16 pts, 5 ast

RECAP: It didn’t help that Skillshare (G) Michael Hamane only made it for the 2nd half, SKL didn’t get off to the start they would have liked. But NYC Gritty’s defense deserves credit for forcing SKL into shots they didn’t necessarily want to take, which may have been cause for SKL (G) Elliot Curtis‘ uncharacteristically poor shooting (including 0-5 from the FT line). NGC’s physicality in the paint made easy points hard to find late in the game. SKL did an able job of containing NGC (G) Mark Lee for much of the game, but he when his team needed him most, he took over in the low-post.
(4) NY Dynasty 60
(5) Make BDL Great Again 48
Wed (6/2) 9:00pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Steve Song (DYN) 23 pts, 10 reb

RECAP: As they had for all the second half of the season, Make BDL Great Again put on yet another gutsy performance. NY Dynasty put (G) Felix Shen on face guard duty on BDL (G) Tran Truong all game, and it was effective, but BDL (G) Chris Chao stepped up with a huge 19 pts. On the other end, though, despite a monster defensive effort from (C) Dan Tak, BDL could not stop (G) Ren Hsieh and (C) Steve Song‘s two-pronged attack. Though Hsieh tired early in the 4th, his team regrouped down the stretch to find the right spots and make the right plays to close out this win and get DYN into the semis.

TDL Spring 2016 Playoffs Results (1st Round)

(8) Tim Nubina 74
(9) Boomtown 55
Wed (6/1) 6:45pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: D. Stanojevic (TIM) 24 pts, 9 reb

RECAP: The three-point field goal was the main factor of this game. Tim Nubina was making them and Boomtown was not. This one got a little chippy late, but Nubina used their size to effectively in the middle quarters when BOO had to overextend their defense to cover the three.
(3) Sal Team 6 62
(6) Guard Me Maybe 72
Wed (6/1) 7:45pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Ian Yu (GMM) 20 pts, 9 reb

RECAP: Championship hopefuls Sal Team 6 had to play short-handed, and Guard Me Maybe took full advantage. (G) Ian Yu and (F) Askia Davis were aggressive early and making shots. SAL wasn’t ready for GMM’s energy and never really recovered.
(2) NY Dynasty 65
(7) NYK Spartans 53
Wed (6/1) 8:45pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: F. Simpson (DYN) 25 pts, 4 reb

RECAP: NY Dynasty (F) Fred Simpson was just in beast mode all game. He was unyielding, hustling for every ball, red hot from every spot on the floor. It took the entire Spartans team to stop him, and when they did, he just dumped the ball off to open DYN teammates. SPA did their best, but DYN had too many weapons.
(4) That 70s Team 52
(5) Free Agents 64
Wed (6/1) 9:45pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: M. Blakely (FAS) 23 pts, 8 reb

RECAP: For one of Premier’s biggest lineups, That 70s Team sure looked small in this one. 70S struggled offensively and did a lot of walking on defense. The Free Agents were always running, no matter what, trying to find an quick, easy basket. If not for some key shots by 70S (F) Dee Ferguson, this would have been a blowout.
(1) Meta World War 60
(8) Tim Nubina 41
Thu (6/2) 8:00pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: S. Arasmo (MWW) 26 pts, 6 reb

RECAP: Both teams had just 5 available players, but it was Tim Nubina with the obvious size advantage. They used it well in 1st quarter to take an early lead, but eventually, Meta World War took over the tempo and with it, control of this game. TIM could not contain MWW (G) Shamel Arasmo‘s speed. And despite their size, TIM mostly settled for 3FGs, shooting 29 and making just 5. It was a risky formula all season, and it ends with a 1st rd exit. Defending champs MWW move on to the semis.

TDL Spring 2016 Playoff Preview (1st Round)

(3) SKILLSHARE vs (6) NYC GRITTY COMMITTEE

Comments Team Score Team Comments
Skillshare has almost all the pieces to make a deep playoff run: stand out guard play, size, and shooting. The only thing missing is a lot of exp playing together. They do have a full season under their belt now, but not in the playoffs. (G) Elliot Curtis and (G) Michael Hamane will lead the way from the backcourt. (F) Scott Sullivan and (C) Anthony Hull make this as tough a Top 4 as any in D-3.
SKL
4-3

65-62
NGC
2-5		 The tricky part about NYC Gritty Committee is that they are actually a very good team in the playoffs. They just tend to underachieve in the regular season. They too have stand out guard play, size, and shooting. Sometimes. If (F) Steve Chung is hitting from three, they can look unstoppable. (G) Mark Lee will bring the business every game, they’re isn’t a more aggressive scorer in D-3.
KEY PLAYER: (G) ELLIOT CURTIS
Curtis was 2nd in the league in scoring despite being a facilitator first for this team. That means that his shots are selective and efficient. There are lot of weapons on SKL but everything runs through Curtis.		 KEY PLAYER: (G) MARK LEE
The veteran Lee doesn’t have the same athleticism he used to, but it has made him a more patient scorer. He can do it from any spot on the floor: driving, in the post, and if he gets it going from 3, look out.

(4) NY DYNASTY vs (5) MAKE BDL GREAT AGAIN

Comments Team Score Team Comments
The NY Dynasty is a two-pronged attack led by (G) Ren Hsieh from the perimeter and (C) Steve Song in the paint. Hsieh led the league in scoring this season, but Song is no slouch as a playmaker from the pivot. They also have a number of role players who can pick it up offensively, too. But this is still a limited offense, they’re best when they’re focused on defense down the stretch of games.
DYN
4-3

55-48

 franchise_logo_BDL
BDL
3-4		 Somehow Make BDL Great Again has found ways to win just enough all season to get here. They have an indefatigable spirit, even if they aren’t exactly tireless. The offense runs through (G) Tran Truong, if he’s hot from three, they will have chances because he will let it fly all game. The D is anchored by former Wat Misaka winner (C) Dan Tak. Nobody goes harder on the defensive end.
KEY PLAYER: (G) REN HSIEH
Hsieh can create off the bounce and score inside and out, but at 38 yo, he can run out of gas at times. He’s best when his 3FGs are falling.		 thumb_Ren_Hsieh thumb_Dan_Tak KEY PLAYER: (C) DAN TAK
Tak was D-3’s top shot-blocker and 2nd leading rebounder. When he’s on, he can change the tenor of a game by shutting down the paint.