Tag: Spring 2016

TDL Spring 2016 Playoff Preview (Semifinals)

(3) SPLAPPA vs (4) SEX PANTHERS

Eastern Conference Finals – Saturday (6/18) 1:15pm at MLK HS

Team Notes Team Score Team Team Notes
After a disappointing winter season, Splappa finally looked like the kind of strong playoff team their roster made them out to be. (G) Caleb Lui & (F) Derek Lu‘s aggressive defensive attack gives SPL good, early offense, and if that doesn’t go down, they have glass eater (F) Pierre Riddle, D2’s best offensive rebounder. Their role players are solid too with (G) Brian Birnbaum, (F) Khalil Pettus and (C) Jason Cheng making heady plays even if the shots aren’t falling.
SPL
5-3

55-58
SXP
5-3		 This is where the Sex Panthers should have been last season, playing for a chance to go to the chip. But an upset loss knocked them out in the 1st rd. They weren’t as dominant this season, their age showing a little, but their losses prepared them for the grind this playoffs was going to be. They figured out how to find ways to win, and what to avoid to lose. This is a veteran team, and there are plenty of championships to go around on this roster. They know what they need to do, they just have to do it.
Key Player: Derek Lu

When Lu has it going offensively, he is running out on the break, knocking down mid-range jumpers, pull up 3s, and attacking the basket. That’s good enough to make the league’s 2nd leading scorer. But what makes him most dangerous is when he’s also playing aggressively in the passing lanes–he led the league in spg–he creates easy opportunities for SPL.
Pos: G/F
Ht: 5-10
Wt: 165
21.8 ppg
5.7 rpg
3.7 spg
 Pos: G
Ht: 5-10
Wt: 175
22 ppg
5.6 rpg
6.4 apg
 Key Player: David Chu

If Chu is feeling good and hitting the deep ball, the SXP offense is virtually unstoppable. But SPL’s guards have always done a good job of playing Chu physically, something he’s not always fond of. But SXP has other options on offense, it’s the league’s highest scoring, but the trick just might be how much Chu can bring on D as SPL doesn’t have as many weapons.

(1) BALL SO HARD vs (2) SUPREME TEAM

Western Conference Final – Saturday (6/18) 3:15pm at MLK HS

Team Notes Team Score Team Team Notes
The defending champs, Ball So Hard, are still the toughest team in the league with their physical front-court of (F) Sherwin Salar, (C) Joseph Bravo, and scorer (F) David Hsiung leading the way. But their guards are no slouches either, each tough-minded in crunch time, and gritty on defense. (F) Jerry Ho has emerged as a big time clutch shooter for BSH. They don’t always make it look pretty, but their physicality usually wears teams down by the 4th qtr. And somehow, they’ve found ways to gut out wins. BSH
7-1

58-57
SUP
6-2		 Supreme Team has come a long way and now they’re in their first ever conference finals after a big win over NGC that proved a lot for this team. BSH might instill fear in a lot of teams with their size on the front-court, but not SUP. They’re one of only two other teams that can go toe-to-toe with their bigs. And that goes for size and all out heart. Nobody plays harder than the duo of (F) Joseph Choi & (C) Max Choi. And again, like BSH, their guards are tough and scrappy and they’ve finally figured out how to win close games.
Key Player: Sherwin Salar

Salar can be an enigma on offense. There’s no savvier scorer in the paint in D2, and yet he has never really dominated in scoring. He is a great passer as well, but tends to overpass. The one thing he brings to every game is the effort on D. With quick, strong hands and a surprising reach, he can dominate a game on defense alone.

 Pos: F
Ht: 6-0
Wt: 190
14.3 ppg
11.3 rpg
5 apg		 Pos: G
Ht: 5-9
Wt: 165
15.2 ppg
5.6 rpg
3.6 apg
 Key Player: Jeff Syham

Syham has been the leader at PG that SUP has needed for a long time. His ability to control the game and knock down big shots has been key to every win SUP has put up this season. And he doesn’t so quietly it’s easy to overlook him. But be warned, Syham is SUP’s low key MVP.

 

TDL Spring 2016 Playoff Preview (Semifinals)

(1) YUNG NO FLY ZONE vs (3) FINANCIAL VENTURES

Eastern Conference Finals – Saturday (6/18) 2:15pm at MLK HS

Team Notes Team Score Team Team Notes
For the first time in 3 seasons, No Fly Zone has a nearly full roster intact for the playoffs. So anything short of a title for the most dominant team in D1 for the past 2 seasons will be a failure in their eyes. (F) Michael Reding, D1’s top scorer, will lead the charge, but (F) David Farnham has proved to be a very capable 2nd scorer this season. Both have the ability to score from deep and off the dribble. This is primarily a finesse team so they will rely heavily on whether their jumpers are falling. That can be a sucker bet, but this is also the deepest shooting team in the league, with reliable shooters up and down the lineup. 
NFZ
7-1

62-58
FVG
6-2		 Financial Ventures Group has the distinction of being the only team to beaten NFZ through the past two reg seasons. NFZ had won 13 straight until FVG halted their streak, and the reason is their size. FVG’s best offense comes from versatile (F) Kev Chang, made even better when (G) Jason Chin is hitting 3FGs, but their ability to beat up NFZ in the paint on post-ups and on the glass tends to tire out their finesse players. FVG is a brutish, physical defense that grinds games to a halt. If they dictate the pace by slowing the game down, and limiting possessions, they have the veteran presence to close it out.
Key Player: (F) Michael Reding

He is their best scorer, often times their best play-maker, and their best rebounder. Everything starts with what Reding brings to the table for NFZ, but it can be when he tries to do too much that he struggles. Reding doesn’t sit much so fatigue can be a factor, and in this game he’ll have to guard a bigger player as well. But if his jumper is on, there won’t be anyone on the FVG roster who can match-up with him.
Pos: F
Ht: 6-3
Wt: 185
22.3 ppg
14.7 rpg
3.9 apg
 Pos: F
Ht: 6-0
Wt: 175
20.2 ppg
7.8 rpg
2.3 apg
 Key Player: (F) Kev Chang

The same could be said of Chang, he is FVG’s best one-on-one match-up, best defender, and best creator off the dribble. He doesn’t quite have the stroke of Reding or the height, but he is crafty off the dribble, and finishes better than most in the paint. And if his jumper is falling, Chang is even harder to guard. If they can get him in isolation situations, especially in crunch time, Chang is the type of player than carry FVG to a win.

(2) SHAWTY LIKES THE WAY vs (4) SK WAR DOG

Western Conference Final – Saturday (6/18) 4:15pm at MLK HS

Team Notes Team Score Team Team Notes
As mentioned, Shawty Likes the Way I Ball Out is like the D1 version of baseball’s San Francisco Giants. They tend to win every other season they play. That’s because this is a very good team. And though the addition of (C) Marco Viti didn’t pay off with a title last season, it could very well do so this season. Paired with go-to (F) Jack Latta, SHA has a very big frong-line with great defensive length in the paint. The rest really depends on whether their outside shots are falling. If NFZ has the most shooting depth in D1, SHA is right there, especially with new add (G) Deric Kung. SHA
6-2

68-67
SKW
7-2		 After a couple of seasons as the WC powerhouse, SK War Dog slowed just a little this season as age caught up with (G) Dave Wong. He hasn’t been as consistent a scorer as in the past, but (G) Kash Miah & (G) Pat Youreneff have had no fall off. (F) Sean Zhang can still get hot from 3 better than any big man in D1. Age can be a factor, and they don’t always get off to good starts, but they have  a front-line that has no fear of tussling with bigger guys, and their guards are as mentally tough as they come, staging a 20-pt comeback vs LMA last round to get here. This should be one helluva game. 
Key Player: Jack Latta

Latta is what they call a load in the paint, much heavier and stronger than he looks. He is smart and versatile on both sides of the ball. He can have sluggish games where the offense just isn’t there, but he will contribute in a meaningful way even if it isn’t on the scoreboard. His size alone makes teams have to adjust their strategy.

 Pos: F
Ht: 6-4
Wt: 195
17 ppg
8 rpg
1.3 bpg		 Pos: G
Ht: 5-10
Wt: 175
19.5 ppg
4.3 3pg
6.3 rpg
 Key Player: Kash Miah

If there’s any team well suited to playing vs size, it’s SKW. That’s because Miah is a 3-pt shooting dynamo. It doesn’t matter if he misses his first 10, he might make his next 10, and he just won’t stop shooting. Both he and Youreneff are crafty enough to live at the FT line as well.. When Miah is on, the whole team’s offense opens up.

 

TDL Spring 2016 Playoffs Week 1 Player Awards

2nd Division Player of the Week

(G) KEVIN LEE (SPLAPPA)

27 points (career-high), 4 3FGs, 1 rebound, 1 block
 Runner-up: David Hsiung (BSH) 26 points, 4 3FGs, 4 rebounds, 3 assists

Wat Misaka Defensive Player of the Week

(C) MAX CHOI (SUPREME TEAM)

9 rebounds, 2 steals, 5 blocks
 Runner-up: Caleb Lui (SPL) 1 rebound, 7 steals

The Sam Lo Hustle Award

(C) JOSEPH BRAVO (BALL SO HARD)

3 points, 15 rebounds, 1 steal
 Runner-up: Pierre Riddle (SPL) 12 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block

Spot Dessert Bar Most Outstanding Rookie

(G) JEFF SYHAM (SUPREME TEAM)

21 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals
 Runner-up: Max Choi (SUP) 5 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, 5 blocks

The High-5 Club

(F) Joseph Choi (SUP) 14-11-1-2-1
(C) Max Choi (SUP) 5-9-1-2-5
(G) Brent Morita (NGC) 3-2-1-2-1
(F) Kevin Quach (FLY) 10-6-4-2-1
(F) Pierre Riddle (SPL) 6-12-2-1-1
(C) Greg Sadowski (DRK) 8-4-1-1-1

Weekly League Leaders 

PTS: Kevin Lee (SPL) 27, David Hsiung (BSH) 26

3FG: David Chu (SXP) 5, [4 players] 4

REB: Joseph Bravo (BSH) 15, Sherwin Salar (BSH) 13

AST: Eric Kim (DRK) 8, Sherwin Salar (BSH) 7

STL: Caleb Lui (SPL) 7, Greg Loeffert (SXP) 4

BLK: Max Choi (SUP) 5, Karl Ngok (FLY) 2

TDL Spring 2016 Playoffs Week 1 Player Awards

1st Division Player of the Week

(G) KASH MIAH (SK WAR DOG)

19 ppg, 4 3pg, 4 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2.5 spg
 Runner-up: Sal Nasser (JAY) 16 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 4.5 spg

Wat Misaka Defensive Player of the Week

(C) RICH CHANG (FINANCIAL VENTURES)

10 rebounds, 1 steal, 3 blocks
 Runner-up: (G) Sal Nasser (JAY) 6.5 rpg, 4.5 spg

The Sam Lo Hustle Award

(G) SAL NASSER (JAY’S ANGELS)

16 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 4.5 spg
 Runner-up: (F) Ted Hao (SKW) 10.5 rpg, 1 spg, 1 bpg

Spot Dessert Bar Most Outstanding Rookie

(G) SAL NASSER (JAY’S ANGELS)

16 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 4.5 spg
 Runner-up: (F) Johnny Spillane (JAY) 10 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 4.5 apg

The High-5 Club

Rich Chang (FVG) 14-10-2-1-3
David Chu (FAS) 13-5-7-2-1
Will Cheung (ASN) 5-8-1-2-2
Jason Fulford (JAM) 20-7-6-1-1
Allen Granowski (FAS) 12-8-1-2-1
Jack Latta (SHA) 14-9-1-2-1
Sam Lu (SHA) 6-3-2-1-1
Zach Moretti (HON) 9-8-2-2-1
Grant Prandal (JAY) 2-5-2-2-1
Mark Promax (LMA) 7-6-1-1-1

Weekly League Leaders 

PTS: Kash Miah (SKW) 25, Sean Zhang (SKW) 22

3FG: Kash Miah (SKW) 7, Ori Damari (JAY) 5

REB: Ted Hao (SKW) 15, Marco Viti (SHA) 12

AST: K. Chang (FVG) 7, D. Chu (FAS) 7, J. Fulford (JAM) 6

STL: Sal Nasser (JAY) 6, Matthew Joshy (LMA) 4

BLK: Rich Chang (FVG) 3, [6 players] 2

TDL Spring 2016 Playoff Results (First Round)

(4) Jay’s Angels 62
(5) Free Agents 56
Sat (6/11) 1:30pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Sal Nasser (JAY) 21 pts, 5 reb

RECAP: The Free Agents were short-handed, and had to pick up a sub just to make five. This has kind of been the sad story of FAS all season. When they’ve had guys, and were focused, they competed in every game. That didn’t happen on Saturday and Jay’s Angels took full advantage with (G) Sal Nasser making it his personal playground. 
(4) SK War Dog 56
(5) Space Jam 49
Sat (6/11) 2:30pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Sean Zhang (SKW) 22 pts, 5 reb

RECAP: For once it was SK War Dog that got out to the early lead, but then let up to allow Space Jam get within 37-34 going into the 4th qtr. In the final period, it got interesting as War Dog got into a back and forth 3-pt battle with the Jams. (G) Jason Fulford‘s clutch shooting kept JAM right in the mix but they couldn’t stop SKW from answering each shot to keep just a enough cushion to secure the win.
(2) Asphalt Ninjas 39
(3) Financial Ventures Group 51
Sun (6/12) 11am at Graphics HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Rich Chang (FVG) 14 pts, 10 reb

RECAP: This wasn’t a pretty game for either team, but Financial Ventures tends to do that to their opposition. It’s never pretty, but they find a way to win. And surprisingly, they did it this time with (F) Kev Chang posting a quite but effective all-around game. FVG (C) Rich Chang put up his best game of the season at just the right time to help carry the load along with key 3FGs from (G) Jason Chin. The Asphalt Ninjas, for their part, shot well from 3-pt range, but could not get much inside the arc. For a game in which possessions were limited, ASN’s 21 rebounds as a team didn’t give them many second chances.
(1) Lace’O My Aso 50
(4) SK War Dog 63
Sun (6/12) 12pm at Graphics HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Kash Miah (SKW) 25 pts, 7 3FGs

RECAP: This was one of those legendary, if baffling, games. It’s no secret that these two teams aren’t the best of friends. It’s a rivalry in the brewing in that sense alone (for now), Lace’O My Aso has never beaten SK War Dog. But at halftime, they were up 20 points and poised to finally break through that barrier. But they got their only to see SKW (G) Kash Miah black out and drop 3FGs like he was shooting in tongues. Six straight 3FGS brought back a struggling SKW team on the brink of another disappointing early playoff elimination to a relatively comfortable 13-pt win. This was vintage Miah, and SKW needed every bit of it.
(1) Yung No Fly Zone 53
(4) Jay’s Angels 45
Sun (6/12) 2pm at Graphics HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: D. Farnham (NFZ) 18 pts, 6 reb

RECAP: For two seasons in a row now, Yung No Fly Zone has faced their 1st rd opponent without two-time MVP (F) Michael Reding in the lineup. And Jay’s Angels started strong, playing their style, namely a frenetic defense, forcing a whopping 17 TOs. But late in the 2nd qtr, NFZ settled in and started to control the ball, using JAY’s aggressive D against them with patient offense and backdoor cuts. JAY fought to the end, but tough makes from (F) David Farnham and (G) Emmett Van Slyke down the stretch, along with stout defense from NFZ as a unit, helped close this one out.
(2) Shawty Likes the Way 45
(3) Honey Badgers 41
Sun (6/12) 5pm at Graphics HS Boxscore
Player of the Game:Jack Latta (SHA) 14 pts, 9 reb

RECAP: Shawty Likes the Way I Ball Out has had an inconsistent roster, but anytime they get both (F) Jack Latta and (C) Marco Viti on the floor, they’re one of the toughest defensive teams in D1 with their size. But the Honey Badgers are also one of the league’s toughest defenses, making up their height with tenacity and motor. Fittingly, this was an ugly defensive battle. SHA played slow and steady, but never put HON away, missing 10 out of 18 FTs. But HON couldn’t get over the hump. They out-rebounded SHA and out-shot them by 20 FGAs. And every time it looked like they’d make a winning run, it just didn’t happen. It wasn’t pretty, but SHA will take any kind of win to get a chance at a return trip to the title game.

TDL Spring 2016 Playoff Results (First Round)

(1) Dirk Digglers 51
(4) Sex Panthers 60
Sun (6/12) 1pm at Graphics HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: David Chu (SXP) 20 pts, 5 3FGs

RECAP: Dirk Digglers had dominated the Sex Panthers in the regular season, but going into the 2nd half of their 1st round match-up with SXP, they were clinging onto a 30-29 lead. And the Panthers dominated the 3rd quarter 18-8 to take control. The Digglers seemed to lose their composure, settling for early 3FGs rather than going inside out, the offense looked hurried and lacking composure. Nevertheless, DRK made a run late in the 4th qtr, but the Panthers were able to close this one out by showing the kind of composure you’d expect from a veteran team.
(2) Supreme Team 57
(3) NYC Gritty Committee 42
Sun (6/12) 3pm at Graphics HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Jeff Syham (SUP) 21 pts, 7 reb

RECAP: Supreme Team has made some big improvements including at the PG position, but the playoffs is where names are made and (G) Jeff Syham is one you better remember. NYC Gritty, however, never looked really invested in this game, shooting just 26% from the field and giving up 7-8 FGs to SUP (F) Joseph Choi from mid-range. The defense was sluggish and the offense wasn’t much better. If not for a few late 3FGs, the game wouldn’t have been even this close. Syham helped SUP control it from beginning to end in a dominant performance.
(1) Ball So Hard 55
(4) TX Thunder 49
Sun (6/12) 4pm at Graphics HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: David Hsiung (BSH) 26 pts, 4 reb

RECAP: This was an odd sort of game, the kind in which neither team really looked like they wanted or deserved to win. If not for (F) David Hsiung‘s red hot shooting, Ball So Hard might have gotten blown out here, except that the TX Thunder never looked in peak form either. (G) Leuis Ng never got into rhythm, and if not for the efforts of (G) John Lee, the blowout would have been to BSH. Instead, it was a close, middling kind of game, until (F) Jerry Ho seemed to put it away with some big 2nd half 3FGs. But then, BSH couldn’t close, missing FTs and giving the ball away late. But even still then, THU couldn’t capitalize. Ng missed more FTs and gave the ball right back. One team had to win, and that was BSH, but in no way was it impressive for either team.
(2) Flying Fairies 39
(3) Splappa 44
Sun (6/12) 6pm at Graphics HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Kevin Lee (SPL) 27 pts, 4 3FGs

RECAP: Just last week it took four overtimes to decide a winner between these two teams. They would only need regulation this time, and it would be Splappa to pull off the upset over the Flying Fairies. (F) Kevin Quach just wasn’t as dominant as he was in the first match-up, so FLY had to find offense from elsewhere. It just didn’t manifest. SPL had to play without their leading scorer (F) Derek Lu, so somebody had to step up for them as well. They got a career performance from (G) Kevin Lee to carry them home. Lee is certainly one of the more polished players in the league, he just hadn’t really found his shot since joining SPL, but he certainly had it going in this one, putting up a career-high 27 pts, or 61% of SPL’s points, helping to advance his team to the semis.

TDL Spring 2016 Playoff Preview (First Round)

(2) ASPHALT NINJAS vs (3) FINANCIAL VENTURES

Eastern Conference First Round – Sunday (6/12) 11:00am at Graphics HS

Team Notes Team Score Team Team Notes
The Asphalt Ninjas, with a deep roster, and versatile lineup,  had looked like a contender until a poor showing vs #1 seed, NFZ, late in the season. But, their roster has been somewhat inconsistent in those latter weeks leading up to the NACBA Nationals tournament. It’s hard to say what kind of cohesion they’ll have going into this one, but this is a team with a plenty of guard talent and if (F) Will Cheung is available that will have one of the tougher one-on-one match-ups in the league on the court. 
ASN
5-2

58-57
FVG
5-2		 Conversely, Financial Ventures had looked like a fringe team all season, just barely winning games against seemingly lesser opponents until a decisive win over NFZ in the final week of the season. (F) Kev Chang has not only been putting up MVP numbers all season, he’s taken the reins and dominated like one as well. There are few players in D1 with his combined ability to shoot efficiently (51% FGs, 48% 3FGs), create off the bounce, and defend. His entire team feeds off of him.
Key Player: (G) Ace Watanasuparp
Watanasuparp is high-energy, but also a veteran. If he can get his shot going early on, it changes what the Ninjas can do. When he, (G) Wilson Lew, and (G) Justin Chin can hit 3FGs, it spreads the defense to let ASN’s interior players like Cheung, (F) Chi Ming Pun, (F) Ken Van and (C) Victor Chia go to work.
 Key Player: (G) Jason Chin
Chang is a constant, so the x-factor is the veteran PG Chin. It’s all about his 3-pt shot. When Chin is hitting 3FGs, it makes FVG very difficult to defend. Chin is clever about getting open and has a quick trigger, but he’s also very good at using his shooting to bait defenders and get his teammates open looks as well.

(1) LACE’O MY ASO vs (4) SK WAR DOG

Western Conference First Round – Sunday (6/12) 12:00pm at Graphics HS

Team Notes Team Score Team Team Notes
Last season, Lace’O My Aso made their first playoff appearance to face top-seeded SKW in the 1st rd. The seeds are reversed now, but not necessarily the roles, LMA is the younger team, they got trounced by SKW last season, but Lace’O has come a long way, and they don’t appear to have any desire to back slide. (G) Matthew Joshy has been dynamic since returning to the lineup, instantly lifting LMA to contender status, and new addition (F) Kyle Jose has given them the defender in the paint they’ve needed. This team has all the pieces it needs to make a run, it’s just a matter of getting over this hump. LMA
5-2

62-65
SKW
6-2		 Yesterday’s win wasn’t the most convincing effort for War Dog, but in the playoffs, a win is a win, and a win is all you need. This team’s title chances have always rested on having at least 3 of its 4 key players together (G) Pat Youreneff, (G) Kash Miah, (G) Dave Wong, and (F) Sean Zhang. If they have that, they have enough firepower (and guile) to top any team. It’s this same craftiness that eventually throws younger teams off their game, but SKW has now played LMA many times, none of them have been close, but very rarely have they had to play on back-to-back days. For this aging roster, that might make a difference. 
Key Player: (F) Mark Promax
Promax is a tall, versatile player with a solid handle and scoring ability, but he just hasn’t shown a great deal of consistency this season. If he can get it going on offense, with efficiency, it opens up a lot of things for LMA, particularly in creating mismatches.
 Key Player: (G) Kash Miah
LMA’s weakness vs SKW has been defending the 3. Which is music to Miah’s ears. In the regular season, War Dog put 18 3FGs on LMA’s head with Miah leading the way with 8. If no adjustments are made, Miah can get this one over with early with another bombardment.

(1) YUNG NO FLY ZONE vs (4) JAY’S ANGELS

Eastern Conference First Round – Sunday (6/12) 2:00pm at Graphics HS

Team Notes Team Score Team Team Notes
Yung No Fly Zone has been the juggernaut all season, just running through every team in front of them this season, but they will again have to face this first round of the playoffs without their star (F) Michael Reding and sharp shooting (F) Saleem Ahmed has just begun observance of Ramadan. Luckily for them, (F) David Farnham has emerged this season as a more than capable second option. And the team has added depth with (F) Nick Liveris and (C) Michael Meng to bolster a relatively nonexistent front court.  NFZ
6-1

63-58
JAY
4-4		 After a big win yesterday, Jay’s Angels may now be thinking this is a road to redemption. NFZ gave them their biggest loss during the regular season, and they would like nothing more than to get an upset here to advance to the semis. (G) Sal Nasser was huge in that game with 21 pts and (G) Ori Damari found the range, knocking down 5 3FGs for 17 pts.  With NFZ’s Reding out of the lineup, they’ll have less mismatches to contend with, and their personnel is actually fairly evenly matched. The trick may just be to get their bigs more involved.
Key Player: (G) Derik Kumagai
For the past two seasons, Kumagai has been the starting PG but his offensive numbers have actually dipped as the team has relied more heavily on Reding and Farnham. Kumagai has also dealt with nagging injuries this season, but if he’s healthy, he is a major impact in doing all the little things NFZ needs to get playoff wins.
 Key Player: (G) Sal Nasser
Again, Nasser is the catalyst for this game. His energy and athleticism is key to JAY’s whole offensive and defensive approach. He played patiently and scored efficiently in yesterday’s win. If he can put up a repeat performance against NFZ’s smaller guards, JAY just might be able to post a big upset here.

(2) SHAWTY LIKES THE WAY vs (3) HONEY BADGERS

Western Conference First Round – Sunday (6/12) 5:00pm at Graphics HS

Team Notes Team Score Team Team Notes
It seems like every other season or so, Shawty Likes the Way I Ball Out makes a title run. This looks like one of those seasons. They were solid at virtually every pos already so adding another big man (C) Marco Viti last season, and another shooter, (G) Deric Kung has only added to their depth. This is a scrappy, young team with a championship pedigree. And there’s no way to try and stop them. They have a number of weapons and can attack you from every spot on the floor. The question this season has been who is going to be available? SHA
5-2

65-64
HON
5-2		 In contrast, the Honey Badgers are a veteran team that just hasn’t quite gotten over the hump yet to win a chip. But, they are one of the league’s craftiest teams and maybe the toughest defensively. They are led by (G) Alex Tsay aka “The Honey Badger” who can change the entire tenor of a game with his active defense. But the big add this season has been (F) Zach Moretti who is just as feisty on defense, and gives HON the rim protector they’ve needed, even if he is undersized. (F) Sherwin Salar and (F) Young Yu will still provide the offense, but (G) Tommy Wong and new add (G) Will Chu will need to spread the defense from 3. 
Key Player: (C) Jack Latta
Latta is big and versatile, and he has been solid all season on offense despite some past inconsistency. His presence on D will always be felt, but if he can get some easy buckets in the paint early and get HON focused on protecting the paint that will open things up for SHA’s corp of 3-pt shooters.
 Key Player: (F) Zach Moretti
Moretti has emerged as HON’s best help defender, but he is also their best finisher in transition and on dump offs created by Tsay, Salar and Yu. SHA is big in the paint, but Moretti also has a nice mid-range jumper which he will have to rely on here.

TDL Spring 2016 Playoff Preview (Play-In Games)

(4) JAY’S ANGELS vs (5) FREE AGENTS

Eastern Conference Play-In Game – Saturday (6/11) 1:30pm at MLK HS

Comments Team Score Team Comments
Jay’s Angels looked like a solid, well balanced roster, but never really put up the kind of consistent late game play to throw their hat in the ring as a contender. But, somehow they still made it to the playoffs, and this is an all new season now. They have solid play from bigs, (F) Johnny Spillane is a capable scorer, and (G) Sal Nasser has been a force all season. (G) Ori Damari is their primary threat from the perimeter, but JAY needs more consistency from behind the arc, and more consistency of effort on the defensive end as well. 
JAY
3-4

58-57
FAS
3-4		 The Free Agents actually played JAY in the reg season opener. Both teams were essentially playing with new personnel and JAY got the W. But, FAS has come a long way since then, going toe-to-toe to #1 NFZ, and even at times, looking like a viable playoff contender. But their roster is limited, and they’re typically playing under-sized. When they get it going from the 3-pt line, in particular, (G) David Chu, they can be a tough team to put away. On top of that, when they get solid contributions (and efficiency) from their role players, they’re even better.
Key Player: (G) Sal Nasser
Nasser is a indefatigable force in the hustle dept, no guard has ever been a better rebounder, and he is likely the most athletic guard in D-1. His work on the offensive boards is a big asset for JAY. The key is better shooting efficiency, the lightning quick guard can really get any shot he wants. He just has to be patient.
 Key Player: (F) David Chu
If Chu gets hot from the 3-pt line, FAS becomes a different team. It’s as if his teammates’ jumpers feed off of him, too. When this team is hitting from the perimeter it creates so much open space in the paint for finishers like (F) Sekani Thompson and (F) Mike Song. But it doesn’t usually work the other way around.

(4) SK WAR DOG vs (5) SPACE JAM

Western Conference Play-In Game – Saturday (6/11) 2:30pm at MLK HS

Comments Team Score Team Comments
Just last season, SK War Dog was an offensive juggernaut that was one short-handed roster away from a title. But competition gets better, and SKW dropped a couple of winnable games to fall to #4. Which means they’ll have to play an extra game to get where they want to be. Offensively, they’ll come with the same attack. Every player has the green light to launch 3s. (G) Kash Miah and (G) Vegas Dave Wong will attack all day on offense, looking for any weakness. (G) Pat Youreneff will create off the bounce. Don’t let the 4 seed fool you, at their best, this offense is every bit as unstoppable as last season.
SKW
5-2

68-59
JAM
3-4		 It would almost seem unfair that any team would have to play SKW in a play-in game, they would in most circumstances be the #1 seed. But not Space Jam, this team has been completely unpredictable this season. This could just as easily be a battle as a blowout. JAM has a trio of very capable perimeter scorers in (G) Liam Lee, (G) Jason Fulford, and (F) JL Novosad. But for a team that shoots just 28% from three, they do a shoot a lot of them. That can keep them in some games, and out of others. It probably wouldn’t be the best idea to get into a shootuot with SKW, but then who knows, that might be perfect for JAM.
Key Player: (F) Sean Zhang
Miah and Youreneff give you ~20 each every game, but when SKW is really unstoppable is when Zhang starts hitting 3s. With Zhang’s height and quick release, he’s almost unguardable when he’s on. He will put them up regardless, and if he’s hitting, it’s gonna be a long day.
 Key Player: (G) Jason Fulford
With a deep range, and a ball on a string type handle, Fulford is JAM’s best play-maker and clutch shooter, though he can be streaky. But more than that, he gives them a fierce competitive edge they haven’t had since (F) Michael Roche was on the team. And that team won the title.

Meta World War are Spring 2016 Premier Champions

(1) Meta World War 72
(6) Guard Me Maybe 55
Thursday (6/9) 8:30pm @ The King Boxscore
Player of the Game: Chaz Thomas (MWW) 16 points, 9 rebounds, 6 steals

Metas make it two titles in two seasons, breezing by unprepared Guard Me Maybe

New York, NY — In amateur basketball, scheduling can be the difference between whether a team is at full strength or weakened by a short roster. Guard Me Maybe had only five players to start, with two of their starters missing (F) Darnell Cudjoe and (F) Jason Crowell. Having played a semifinal game the night before, GMM seemed like the rest of the team was never quite tuned in for this one. Cudjoe arrived late into the 1st quarter, and Crowell came in at half time.

But that should be no excuse, Meta World War also won a tough semifinal game the night before, and they’ve been playing this entire post-season with just five players. Here they were again with only five, and well, it’s all they needed. It was a balanced attack all night with each player scoring in double-figures. (F) Stedford McCleod paced the Metas with 18 points, but it was a collective team effort on defense with (F) Chaz Thomas (3 stl, 3 blk) leading the highlight reel. 

It seemed like GMM never got a clean look at the basket. MWW’s defense played athletically, and used it’s speed and length efficiently and effectively. GMM (G) Landon Glover (15 pts) and Cudjoe (13 pts) were able to create some of their own shots, finishing some tough one-on-one attempts, but otherwise, the Maybes struggled to get anything consistent on offense.

Meta World War simply outplayed Guard Me Maybe in every facet, out-rebounding them, out-assisting, out-defending, and committing less turnovers. And, of course, that means they beat them on the scoreboard, too. This was just about as perfect a game as they could play.

2016-06-10_Chaz_Thomas
Player of the Game: MWW (F) Chaz Thomas