Tag: Power Rankings

Spr ’19 Mid-Season Power Rankings (Sun)

2ND DIVISION


THE BEST

1) THE LIZARDS (3-0): The perennial D1 contenders made some roster adjustments to move down to D2, but they’re probably still more a D1.5 team right now. This is going to be a really tough team to beat.

2) NYC GRITTY COMMITTEE (3-0): The veterans Gritty make a return to Sundays with former MVP (F) Chris Youn at the helm (avg nearly a triple double!). NGC always carries a short roster, but with Youn carefully plotting the tempo, they will always be a contender come playoff time.

3) RAINING SPLAPPA (2-1): Explosive scorer (G) Daren Seto is on a record-setting pace right now, scoring 44 ppg. No one can predict how long he can keep it up, but if he does, this team can beat anyone.

4) THANK U, NEXT (2-2): Defending champs lost (G) David Chu this season, but (G) Kurt Samuel has stepped up with 18.8 ppg. The scoring is a bit more balanced with (F) Enoch Han joining the team and the defense looks more fluid this season. That should help defend their title when the time comes.

THE REST

5) MAKE IT REIGN MAN (2-2): They’re still in the mix with (F) Young Yu putting up one of his most efficient seasons ever, contributing all across the board. The Reign Men are an interesting dark horse candidate with plenty of veteran talent.

6) KEEP THAT SAME ENERGY (1-2): They have better scoring this season and (G) Jeremy Klappe is picking up right where he left off last winter. He and (G) Travis Gardner might be the most potent guard scoring duo in D2. But the lack of depth may be an issue come playoff time.

7) UNITED NATIONS (1-3): UNN have more balanced scoring this season with (F) Isaac Radnitzer lights out at 59% FGs and (F/C) Omer Khan stepping up on both sides of the ball. But for some reason that hasn’t translated to many wins. Other teams have improved, but the difference isn’t this much.

8) NYC HUSTLERS (1-3): The relatively new Hustlers have some really great pieces on the roster, but for whatever reason, it just hasn’t clicked yet this season. Like UNN,’s case the comp has been very steep, but on paper, HUS should be right there.

9) GILET JAUNES (1-3): The newbie franchise has the biggest front-line in D2 and they have shown signs this season that they could make the jump. Since all teams make playoffs this spring, there would be no better timing than to have it happen in the post-season.

3RD DIVISION


THE BEST

1) OMB (3-0): This team is stacked and on the verge of being bumped to D2, but until then, they’re still looking for their first D3 championship. This is the most imposing front-line in the division and (F) Seung Lim and (F/C) Nick Liveris are both having throwback seasons.

2) 50 SHADES OF KLAY (3-0): Also returning with a stacked roster this spring, it was baffling that they didn’t win it last season. They will contend again to win their 3rd D3 title. (G) “Fast Eddie” Tsao is looking more like his old self this season, so that’s yet another big scoring option to watch out for.

3) THUNDER (2-1): It’s a testament to their staying power that with all these teams stacking their roster, the Thunder are still right their in title contention with the usual suspects. The numbers for (G) Leuis Ng are down, but don’t be surprised if he’s just laying low, waiting for the post-season to turn up.

THE REST

4) NO FLY ZONE OG (2-2): Their wins have looked solid, but their losses have not been pretty. This is a veteran team led by one of TDL’s all-time most prolific scorers in (G) Kash Miah, but the defense may be a little suspect.

5) BALL IS LIFE (2-2): BIL (F) Harry Chiel has made a huge and very obvious difference, avg almost 20 & 10 and shooting at a blistering 65% clip. They have great defensive pieces around him with solid scoring from the wings. It would not be shocking if BIL made a run at the title this season.

6) SWISH CHEESE (1-3): Tough first half for the defending champs, but luckily this season, every team will make the playoffs. So even if they have climb their way back to the top from the very bottom, they have the balance, personnel and pedigree to do it.

7) TAP NY (1-3): After one of their best seasons last winter, TAP has somehow taken a step back this season. Back-to-back D3 MVP (G) Will Chu‘s numbers are way down, which explains it, but what does that mean for TAP’s playoff hopes this season after consecutive trips to the title game?

8) CANNED SWEET CORN (1-2): A new franchise in the mix, CSN has some nice pieces including floor leader (G) Kelvin Duen who does a great job of setting the table for his team. With some time, this team could make move up the ladder.

9) GOON SQUAD (1-3): The Goonies have struggled a bit with attendance this season and they have struggled again with consistent scoring. 6-4 (C) Raghu Vaidyanathan can be a force in the paint when available, but he has missed most of GOO’s games to this point.

Spr ’19 Mid-Season Power Rankings (WN)

PREMIER DIVISION

1) NY DREAM (3-0): Just as last season, the Dream aren’t ushering in a new class of Premier teams so much as they are the new class. No team has ever had a bigger, most talented roster.

2) NYK SPARTANS (3-1): With (G) Josh Hyon (23 ppg, 49% FGs) back in the line-up, the Spartans are playing good ball, easily holding the #2 spot.

3) THE ARENA BK (2-1): Last season’s breakout star (F) Noah Levine is back with (G/F) Adio Ash stepping up this season. Arena has been uneven so far, but they earned a solid win vs DYN.

4) NY DYNASTY (0-3): Deceiving record as Dynasty have only played Top 3 teams. No one has played #1 DRE as well as they have, losing by one possession. This is a deep, veteran roster.

5) GET THE STRAP (1-2): Still not clear whether (C) Anthony Cox and (G) Marquis Johnson will be joining the roster, key members of last season’s tough squad. If not, it’s a long road ahead.

6) WHO’S GOT NEXT? (1-2): Veteran (G) Emery Clark‘s roster is undersized for Premier, even losing an inter-divisional game. But they also netted a win vs #3 ABK, so anything’s possible?

1ST DIVISION

1) CCB (3-1): Only loss came in an inter-divisional game vs NY Dream. They haven’t dominated per se, but there are some studs on this roster led by (G) Austin Cagley (24.3 ppg, 4.7 apg).

2) HONEY BADGERS (2-1): Same as it ever was. The 4-time champions are back with the same core for one last dance with captain (G) Alex Tsay.

3) GAWD SHAM-GAWDS (2-1): Last season’s defensive squad has some new faces, none more welcome perhaps than (G) Jean Joseph who has provided the scoring they needed last season.

4) AGE UP THERE (1-3): How this team is 1-3 is a mystery. They certainly look the part as contenders, but the Age have to finish strong to prove it.

5) FREE AGENTS (1-1): Still not completely certain of who’s on this roster yet, but if it’s what we saw in Week 4, they have a shot to win it all.

6) PREMATURE SHOOTERS (0-3): Captain (G) Dan Kennelly has added a lot of great pieces on paper, but they mostly haven’t made enough games to be the impact he perhaps envisioned.

2ND DIVISION


THE BEST

1) SHAWN KEMP’S KIDS (4-0): With a perfect record and wins over NGC and YOL, SKK have ascended as the team to beat, led by (G) Donovan Walsh (21.8 ppg).

2) BOMB SQUAD (4-1): Bombers took a surprising L to UBC, but bounced back with a decisive win over struggling GMM. Champs haven’t missed a beat in “last dance” season for (G) Alex Tsay.

3) YOLO (2-1): Adding (G/F) Matt Birtwell gives YOLO the kind of effort player that makes everyone better around him. They don’t score well, but they smother you with physical defense.

4) UNCLE BOUGHT A COW (3-1): Just as we were ready to anoint UBC, they took a stunning loss to YOL. This is a very deep D2, but UBC is still right in the mix.

5) NYC GRITTY COMMITTEE (2-2): Knowing Gritty is knowing they won’t be down here long. Notorious slow-starters, this team will contend every season, especially if you sleep on them.

THE REST

6) ANKLE ROULETTE (2-1): Might need another couple of games to confirm, but Roulette looks good. (F/C) Luis Diaz is a beast.

7) UNIBALLERS (1-2): Any team with explosive (G/F) Daren Seto can make a run. Win over #6 ANK has them trending up.

8) FALCONS 2.0 (2-1): Team is a complete wild card, but they have two solid wins.

9) THE STREET (1-2): The one thing you can count on here is relentless effort. If Street can develop cohesion offensively, you never know.

10) THE ROCK STARS (1-3): Great back court has yet to play together. ROC are a veteran team who can make a push, but it’s now or never.

11) THE UNIT (1-3): Unit has competed well in every game this season, but they need to turn that effort into wins asap.

12) GUARD ME MAYBE (0-3): A major need at PG may be met next season, but until then, the Maybes are struggling.

3RD DIVISION


WESTERN CONFERENCE

1) OMB (4-0): A potent offense with veteran (G/F) Jerry Ho playing perhaps the best basketball of his career has OMB dominating this season.

2) SPAGHETTI RAMEN (3-1): The long-running Ramen dynasty lost (F) Mike Ha but picked up (G) Will Chu. That is a potent guard lineup, the best in D3.

3) NYC GRITTY COMMITTEE (3-1): A perennial contender, (G/F) Mark Lee is out but (G/F) Steve Chung is ably filling in. (G) David Chu (21.3 ppg, 5.3 3pg) still leading the way.

4) 30-FOR-30 (2-1): This veteran group has been quiet, but right in the mix. It’s always a deep West, but 30F is as good a contender as any if they can get hot into the post-season.

5) PAW PATROL (2-1): This is still a team built around (G) Tony Cuadrado but now captain (F/C) Jason Chan is finally playing like Jason Chan again, and adding (G/F) Jaquan Mullins has had a PJ Tucker-like affect.

6) SMASH N BOUNCE (1-3): After dominating the East for consecutive seasons, SNB has found that there is far less room for error in the West. They still have a shot to make the playoffs, but it won’t be easy.

7) TEAM SKY (0-3): Sky debuted well in D3 Sun last season, but hasn’t won yet on weeknights, despite solid efforts. There are plenty of pieces here, however, led by veteran (F) Young Yu playing solid all-around ball.

8) NO FLY ZONE ULTRA (1-3): Another team struggling with the jump to the West. New adds (G/F) Phillip Moon and (F/C) David Liu should have helped the transition, but NFZ has struggled with cohesion.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1) MANY SAINTS OF E-WOOD (3-0): You might not be able to tell just by looking at them, this is a pretty stacked squad. No team can say they play harder, and few teams can put up these kinds of numbers and get wins too.

2) WOLFPACK (3-1): WLF fields an insanely huge front-court led by (F/C) John Simmons and (C) Norbert Allen. There might not be a team in the East that can beat them this season.

3) PNEST1 (2-1): Adding (F) Kyle Wilson to an already potent offense has PS1 in a position to be a dark horse coming out of the East. Wilson has been huge for PS1 on both sides of the ball.

4) WOLVERINES (2-2): The veteran Wolverines were relegated to the East and they have improved, but so has the East. This is a team with plenty of playoff experience, however, and if they get there, they can make a run.

5) SWISHING & DISHING (1-3): Despite the record, the Swishers have looked pretty solid, challenging the top teams in the East. If they can find a way to make the playoffs, they could make some noise.

6) #69 CHICKEN & BROCCOLI (1-3): CNB looks much more cohesive after a full season together, but they left a couple of attainable wins on the table. They’re still in it, but they need wins now.

7) THE RENEGADES (1-2): Renegades (F/C) Kyle O’Reilly is putting up great numbers but REN have struggled against the East’s upper tier. Perimeter offense has been tough to come by.

8) NY BRICKS (0-4): The Bricks play every game to improve as a team. Week 4 presented their best chance yet at getting their first franchise win, but they fell just short. They will no doubt try again next week.

Win ’19 Week 4 Power Rankings (Sundays)



2ND DIVISION


THE BEST

⬆️ 1) United Nations (3-0): Balanced veteran team is looking like the aspirational standard right now. Joseph Bassey 💪💪💪.


THE REST

🔁 2) Thank U, Next (2-1): Strong guard play will pace the U. They should move up to contender status soon.

⬇️ 3) Long Twos (2-1): After a shocking loss to TUN, the Twos have to drop to 3. But they’ve looked good otherwise.

⬆️ 4) Shawn Kemp’s Kids (2-2): Walsh and Hecht are as good as a scoring 1-2 punch as you’ll find, but defense here is lacking.

⬆️ 5) Make It Reign Man (2-2): Strong defensive team anchored by Def MVP candidate Manu Menon, but scoring has been inconsistent.

⬇️ 6) Teal Curtain (2-2): They’ve had a tough schedule, but have looked good in spurts. Could move up very easily.

⬇️ 7) Raining Rosebuds (0-3): Darren Seto is still putting up MVP-type numbers, but this 0-3 start is still shocking.

🔁 8) League of Ex-Senators (0-2): They lost a decent debut effort, and then forfeited in Week 4. Still too soon to tell anything here.


3RD DIVISION


THE BEST

⬆️ 1) Swish Cheese (3-0): The Sunday edition of Smash N Bounce is looking unbeatable right now.

⬇️ 2) 50 Shades of Klay (2-1): Sometimes you can have too many cooks in the kitchen. This might be one of those times.

⬆️ 3) TAP NY (2-1): When Will Chu and Kyle Wilson are making 3FGs, this team is an offensive juggernaut.


THE REST

⬇️ 4) No Fly Zone OG (2-1): DNPs reared their ugly heads again in Week 4, but even at full strength, NFZ might not have beat SWC.

🔁 5) Thunder (1-2): Two losses mean they don’t move up yet, but a win vs defending champion 50S means they’re trending that way.

⬆️ 6) Team Sky (3-0): A two-slot bump for a 3-0 record might be too little, but one quality W vs the Top 5 and they’re contenders.

⬆️ 7) Baby Whales (1-3): More balanced scoring this season is good, the Whales should be able to clinch a playoff spot this season.

⬇️ 8) OMB (1-3): This is back-to-back 30+ point losses for a former contender. It’s baffling considering the talent on the roster.

⬆️ 9) Goon Squad (1-2): Raghu Vaidyanathan has been a force in the defensive paint, but will that mean a playoff spot this season?

⬇️ 10) Ball Is Life (0-3): Two winnable games early on, and the back court has been balling, but playoffs are a tough climb now.

Win ’19 Week 2 Power Rankings (Weeknights)

1ST DIVISION

THE BEST

1) Honey Badgers (2-0): B2B champs add Sid Menon & Kareem Merrick? Lordamerce.

2) Shut ‘Em Down (2-0): Bostick (10.5 apg) and Tabron (21.5 ppg) got everyone on skates. 

3) Sticky’s Finger Joint: Haven’t played and still #3, get ready for Fun & Gun II.

4) NYK Spartans (1-1): Former MVP Young Song leads a stacked front court. 

 

THE REST

5) Age Up There (1-1): Also a veteran team, led by a former MVP Joe Vines. 

6) PWC Vino (1-1): With Dain Scheibel at full strength, will Vino make a run?

7) Who’s Got Next? (1-1): Impressive scoring, defense remains to be seen.

8) Gawd Sham-Gawds (1-0): Big, physical team looked good in debut.

9) Free Agents (0-1): Tough loss in opener, but solid core should trend up.

10) Premature Shooters (0-2): New faces will take time, but great pieces. 

11) Cookies & Kareem (0-2): Tough match-ups for the newbie franchise so far.

 

2ND DIVISION

THE BEST

1) NYC Gritty Committee (1-0): 47 from D-Chu? That’s what you call a strong start.

2) Bomb Squad (1-0): Sun champs throw their hat in the ring, all about that life. 

3) Uncle Bought a Cow (2-0): David Levy is magma rn. UBC ready for a title run? 

4) G7 (2-0): Peter Moon and Sooin Lee dropping 37.5 ppg. G7 back!

 

THE REST

5) YOLO (1-0): Big, physical team with a focus on defense. 

6) Guard Me Maybe (0-1): Pointless until Brian Law returns to the lineup.

7) NEW YORK (0-2): A past contender, but star guard Jason Gu hasn’t played yet.

8) THE UNIT (0-2): Scoring is still a need, but they’re looking improved this season.

9) WOLFPACK (0-1): Lost to defending champs in opener, but a huge front court.

10) BOOGIE KNIGHTS (0-1): Tyler Eure could be a big time scorer. 

 

 

3RD DIVISION

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1) NYK Red Devils (2-0): The former champs get older, but keep getting better.

2) Paw Patrol (2-0): To be fair, they had 2 gms in East until bumped up but dammm. 

3) Spaghetti Ramen (1-0): MIKE HA IS BACK LADIES & GENTLEMEN.

4) 30-for-30 (1-1): West is stacked but 30F is our dark horse (Joseph Han back!).

5) Supreme Team (1-0): Veteran team that plays tough D may have a scorer now. 

6) Wolverines (1-1): Veteran team with a great front-line should make some noise.

7) OMB (0-2): Revamped roster is better than 0-2 but faced tough early opponents.

8) Yieldmo (0-2): Tough ride with no Max Paynter but this Miller kid can get you buckets.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1) Smash N Bounce (1-0): With Eric Chen back full time, Smash can win it all.

2) No Fly Zone Ultra (1-0): Cinderella defending champs try again with no Ren Hsieh.

3) Pnest1 (1-0): Two 40-year-olds on this roster will put buckets on your head.

4) Three 6 Latvia (0-2): Competed well vs two solid teams. Should make playoffs.

5) The Renegades (1-0): Lot of new faces, too early to tell if this will hold. 

6) #69 Chicken & Broccoli (0-1): Short-handed in opener, should challenge for playoffs.

7) Lakeshow (0-1): Newbie franchise has solid rebounding, need a consistent scorer.

8) Wildcats (0-2): Also new to the fold, they need some scoring.

Fall ’18 Week 7 Power Rankings (Premier)

PREMIER DIVISION

1) [=] NY DREAM (5-0)

SCOUTING REPORT: Still the deepest, most talented team in the Premier Division. It’s just a matter of who they get playoff eligible at this point. This team is a behemoth and it would be a real upset if they don’t take the chip this season. 

 

2) [=] WE HAD GAME (5-1)

SCOUTING REPORT: DRE is in a tier of their own, but the best of the rest is led by WHG. (G) Michael Springer, (G) Richard Shea and (G/F) Tim Bayus have been a potent perimeter scoring trio this season, and their front-line is as savvy and reliable as ever. 

 

3) [+2] GET THE STRAP (3-2)

SCOUTING REPORT: GTS has a win vs WHG, but they had 6-9 (C) Anthony Cox for that game. It’s the only game in which he’s played. They’ll need to get him playoff eligible to really challenge for the title. Rookie (G) Marquis Johnson has emerged as one of the league’s top scoring guards.

 

4) [=] FREE AGENTS (3-3)

SCOUTING REPORT: FAS bolstered their line-up with (F) Luke Apfeld and (G) Nate Karnovsky. They add depth to an already solid Agents team and Apfeld is a top-end, versatile scorer at 6-7 with a NCAA D-I pedigree. FAS may be contenders now.

5) [-2] NYK SPARTANS (2-3)

SCOUTING REPORT: The core has been solid for the Spartans, but they’ve missed out on a couple of very winnable opportunities. Like PNL just below them, they have to win to guarantee their playoff spot, but both their remaining opponents are in the Top 3. 

 

6) [=] PEACE & LOVE (2-3): PNL controls their own fate. Win out and they’re in. No easy feat, but a path of less resistance than SPA.

7) [=] GAME 7 (2-4): GA7 (C) Noah Levine has been balling out, but Game 7 have just one more chance to clinch playoffs, a must win vs PNL.

8) [=] PACIFIC (0-6): The Premier first-timers will likely finish the season win-less. Tough season with inconsistent attendance.

Fall ’18 Week 7 Power Rankings (D1 WN)

1ST DIVISION WEEKNIGHTS

1) STICKY’S FINGER JOINT (3-1)

SCOUTING REPORT: Sticky’s is undersized to be sure, but they are faster than you and come at you at full speed. (G/F) Aliou Cisse is D1’s leading scorer at 26.3 ppg, and both (G) Jon Harary and (G) Stephen Turner are Top 5 in steals per game. SFJ frustrates you on both sides of the ball.

 

2) SHUT ‘EM DOWN (4-1)

SCOUTING REPORT: SED took a narrow loss to SFJ since the last rankings, but they still have a top end scorer in (G) Courteney Tabron and a balanced all-around line-up. Shut ‘Em Down plays an aggressive style defense that wears you down over the course of four quarters. 

 

3) [=] PREMATURE SHOOTERS (3-2)

SCOUTING REPORT: Shooters will hold their #3 spot despite a loss to VIN last week. They didn’t have their starting back court which has been averaging 43.2 ppg combined this season. If they have all their pieces on the floor, this team is still a contender.

 

4) [+2] PWC VINO (3-2)

SCOUTING REPORT: Three consecutive wins is impressive, but if they can put up a good showing against SFJ and close out with a win over DDD, we’ll be ready to consider VIN a dark horse. VIN have found balanced scoring, and getting play-maker (G) Dain Scheibel back is already paying off.

 

5) [=] HONEY BADGERS (2-3)

SCOUTING REPORT: It almost doesn’t matter what their regular season record is, the defending champs can beat any team, any time. But they can also lose any time as well, just not often in the playoffs. Much of that depends on (F) Michael Reding, which has seemed to get on track lately.

 

6) [-3] THE OLD GUYS (3-3): Tepid finish, but should be good for playoffs where they’ll be tough.
7) [+1] TRIPLE D (1-4): Not mathematically out of it, but need wins and a little luck. Pieces are there.
8) [-1] YOLO (1-4): Same as above, but YOL has struggled to find consistent offense this season.

Fall ’18 Week 7 Power Rankings (D2 WN)

2ND DIVISION WEEKNIGHTS

1) [=] SWISH KEBABS (4-1)

SCOUTING REPORT: The Kebabs took a short-handed loss playing with subs last week so we’ll give them a pass on that one. The key to finishing out their regular season will be getting key players like (G/F) Stefan Cheplick and (F) Brian Law playoff eligible. 

 

2) [=] UNITED NATIONS (4-1)

SCOUTING REPORT: Nations bounced back from a loss to UBC with a win over a short-handed FAS team. Regardless, new pieces have given UNN signs of life. (G) Anish Baweja gives them a creator and quickness at the point they haven’t had in past seasons. 

 

3) [=] NYC GRITTY COMMITTEE (4-1)

SCOUTING REPORT: Still no clue who is actually on this roster, but they’ll get to play UNN this week to vie for the #2 spot. Unless SWK loses again, they’ve pretty much locked up #1. Gritty will be contending for a championship regardless of where they finish here.

 

4) [=] BIG BOOKIE BRAND (4-2)

SCOUTING REPORT: Bookie bounced back from a couple of tough, unexpected performances to beat UBC last night. That should keep them in the Top 4 for the regular season. The post-season will be a challenge, but they have D2’s most explosive scorer in (G) Sammy Merkin.

5) [=] UNCLE BOUGHT A COW (3-3)

SCOUTING REPORT: No movement in the Top 5 for D2 with the Uncles staying at .500. They have four double-digit scorers, which is great, but nobody particularly explosive. And the defense hasn’t been as strong as past UBC teams. Hard to say how UBC will fare in the post-season.

 

6) [=] HB TRIBE (2-3): Tribe needs to finish strong and the add of (F) Sherwin Salar should help.
7) [=] FREE AGENTS (2-3): This is a huge front-line, but attendance has made them inconsistent.
8) [=] SPACE JAM (2-3): Tough season for the veteran squad, attendance an issue here, too.
9) [=] SUPREME TEAM (1-4): They got a must-win over SWK, they gotta keep it going now.
10) [=] THE UNIT (0-5): If UNT wins out, they might have a chance if we get some 3- or 4-way ties.

Fall ’18 Week 7 Power Rankings (D3 WN)

3RD DIVISION WEEKNIGHTS

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1) [=] NYC GRITTY COMMITTEE (5-0)

SCOUTING REPORT: Multi-time MVP (G) David Chu has been a good fit with Gritty, and the combination of (G) Peter Moon and (G/F) Steven Chung give the team arguably D3’s best perimeter scoring trio. And their defense has been the West’s best.

 

2) [+4] KLAYTHEISTS (3-2)

SCOUTING REPORT: With their roster set, (G) Jeff Chan has been playing his best ball, carrying the team offensively. They have one of the division’s best three-point attacks, with numerous players capable of getting hot from behind the arc.

 

3) [+4] YIELDMO (3-2)

SCOUTING REPORT: They’ve won their last two games without former MVP (F) Max Paynter on the floor. YIE is figuring out ways to win without Paynter on the floor, which is dangerous for everyone else in the division. When they get him back, watch out. 

 

4) [=] 30-FOR-30 (3-3)

SCOUTING REPORT: They have the pedigree, but their record and modest offensive output doesn’t have us fully convinced they can make a championship run. If they beat YIE to close out the regular season, we’ll revisit their status. 

 

5) [-3] Pnest1 (3-3): Be better if (G) Vegas Dave Wong played as many games as (G) Peter Mei.
6) [-3] OMB (3-3): This line-up is stacked and yet somehow unconvincing.
7) [-2] Missandei’s Melons (2-4): Not mathematically out of it. Need to beat PS1, then wait & see.

 

 

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1) [=] SMASH N BOUNCE (5-1)

SCOUTING REPORT: With the best defense in the division, SNB has dominated the Eastern Conference and look poised to make another championship run. (G) James Dai has been a revelation this season and if they get (F) Eric Chang eligible, they might challenge NGC.

 

2) [+2] INFERNO (4-2)

SCOUTING REPORT: Scoring they got, Inferno have plenty of guys ready to launch. But what makes INF so tough is their work on the offensive glass, able to create 2nd chance possessions. So even if the shots aren’t falling right away, they’ll have plenty of chances to get it going.

 

3) [=] FREE AGENTS (3-2)

SCOUTING REPORT: The Agents will hold this spot for now, but the rest of their schedule is no cake walk. Luckily, they’ve already secured a playoff spot. (G/F) Garry Etienne, Jr. has stepped up as the team’s featured scorer and (F) Jaquan Mullins has been a big help all around. 

 

4) [+1] NO FLY ZONE ULTRA (2-3)

SCOUTING REPORT: At full strength, the Flyers have three bona fide scorers now. The problem is rarely are all three available. Nevertheless, this is a veteran team with many titles under their belt, if they get a groove going, anything’s possible.

 

5) [-3] Bulletproof Tigers (2-3): They’re in the playoffs already, now it’s a matter of seeding.
6) [=] Three 6 Latvia (1-6): Not a bad season despite the record, they had chances. Solid pieces.
7) [=] We Thought We Were Up (0-5): Tough season for the new franchise, but room to improve.

Fall ’18 Week 5 Power Rankings (D3 Sun)

3RD DIVISION SUNDAYS – WESTERN CONFERENCE

1) FORMOSA WARRIORS (3-0)

SCOUTING REPORT: FOR (F) Henry Lin and (C) Gary Chen are dominating again so that means the Warriors are back on top of the D3 Power Rankings. The guards don’t put up gaudy numbers, but it’s this team’s balanced offense (and defense) that makes them so formidable.

 

2) FLAT EARTHERS (2-1)

SCOUTING REPORT: FLA don’t put up crazy offensive numbers, but they have found ways to win with their usual hard-nosed approach. (G) Jonathan Lee has emerged as a viable scoring option and new addition (F) Young Song Kwon is dominating the the glass. This is a tough, physical contender.

 

3) 50 SHADES OF KLAY (3-1)

SCOUTING REPORT: 50S (G) Teddy Xiong is proving to be a reliable scorer for the Klays and (F) Mario Del Cueto is back at full strength, bringing his versatile game. Their top 5 players are as good if not better than any in D3. They have the deepest back court in the division. 

 

4) OMB (3-1)

SCOUTING REPORT: This veteran roster is a perennial contender, but they’re dealing with some injuries and spotty attendance this season. And they’re still 3-1. OMB just have to figure out who they want to add to the permanent roster this season. (F) David Hsiung will lead the way as usual. 

 

5) TWO BRIDGES (1-1): Newbies TWO will face some challenges, but they got some talent here.

6) TEAM SKY (0-3): Two different teams combined may require some time to build chemistry.

7) SPAGHETTI RAMEN (0-3): With key players out this fall, will this dynastic team have enough?

 

***

 

 

3RD DIVISION SUNDAYS – EASTERN CONFERENCE

1) NO FLY ZONE OG (2-1)

SCOUTING REPORT: After a last second loss to JPU in their opener, the Flyers have scored 77 ppg in two consecutive wins. The addition of (F) Danny Lee has been a revelation. His all-around offensive game and high ball IQ make him a perfect fit for an NFZ team trying to get back to the chip.

 

2) TAP NY (2-1)

SCOUTING REPORT: No surprise, TAP was a dark horse last season with (G) Will Chu earning MOP honors. Now, with (F) Kyle Wilson and (F) Kenny Liu increasing their output, Chu isn’t shooting as much and playing more efficiently than even last season. TAP looks to contend this fall.

 

3) JAMES ZHU & FRIENDS (2-2)

SCOUTING REPORT: The ZHU is finally starting to look like a team commensurate with the talent on their roster. (G) Derrick Shich and (F) Enoch Han are candidates for the All-TDL team every season. Now with (G) James Zhu and role players picking up their play, they can make some noise.

 

4) GOON SQUAD (1-2)

SCOUTING REPORT: We’re not quite convinced the Goons should be here yet, but they do have D3’s #2 scorer in (G/F) Kory Yeh, and his ability to put up points gives them a chance in any game. Yeh is the only player this season to have scored 40 pts in one game, across all divisions.

 

5) JAPAN UNITED (1-2): JPU (F) Marc Lashly dominated in their one win. They need him back.

6) BALL IS LIFE (1-2): They have a win over ZHU, which is very solid. (G) Jason Sun is balling out.

7) THE WILDCARDS (1-2): WIL (F) Akeil Cange is a monster. Can he lift WIL out of the cellar?

 

***

Fall ’18 Week 5 Power Rankings (D2 Sun)

2ND DIVISION SUNDAYS

1) THE LONG TWOS (3-0)

SCOUTING REPORT: New entry L2S have been a pleasant surprise in D2 play this season. Led by a tough front-line and dynamic play-maker (G) John Chu, the Long Twos have a deep roster and play with the kind of effort that really pays off in the post-season.

 

2) RAINING ROSEBUDS (3-1)

SCOUTING REPORT: RAR (G/F) Darren Seto is arguably the most talented player in D2, but it’s the team’s attention to defense led by (G) Caleb Lui‘s 4.7 spg and (F) Teddy Okechukwu‘s 1.3 bpg, that makes the former champs a contender once again.

 

3) NY FALCONS U. (2-2)

SCOUTING REPORT: The Falcons have won a D2 title before as well, so they know how to get there, but this is a much more perimeter-oriented, 1-on-1 approach now. Accordingly, (F) Stan Lee‘s physical and versatile offensive attack, and the emergence of (G) Jeff Zhang have been fun to watch.   

 

4) GRAND THEFT RONDO (1-2)

SCOUTING REPORT: GTR (G/F) Chazz Higginbotham can also put in a claim to for the most talented player in D2. He can do it all on both sides of the ball, and what separates him from almost everyone else is his motor. This guy goes. It would be fun to watch if it weren’t so tiring.

 

5) BOMB SQUAD (1-2): Vet multi-time champs, they know the directions, but is there enough gas?

6) SEX PANTHERS (1-2): There is very little about this SXP team that resembles the former champs.

7) NY ROCKITS (1-3): ROC have been contenders in past seasons, but something’s missing here.