(2) CRAFTY VETS

VS

(7) HOODIE MELOS

The Vets narrowly won their reg season match-up on a game-winner from former MVP (G) Chris Daley. They trailed for most of that game, but in crunch time, you can count on the aptly named former champs to make all the right plays to prevail. (G) Travis Benjamin has been as good as any guard in D1 this season and (C) Rob Sullivan and (F) Daryl Blank have yet to break out so far. They’re due.

Hoodie Melos are limping into the playoffs with key injuries shortening their roster, but this is a veteran squad that knows how to win playoff games. (G) Stephan Hodges has stepped up this season to be their leading perimeter scorer, but (G/F) Kev Chang is more than capable of filling it up as well, scoring 20.2 ppg in his two previous seasons. But HOO’s focal point offensively and defensively will be (F) Joe Vines.

The Melos are undersized at the (G) position compared to CRV, so Daley and Benjamin should get any shot they want. And keep in mind Benjamin was unavailable in the reg season game. Daley struggled early then, but finished strong. If shots fall early in this one, it could be a blowout.

Vines will be the biggest player on the floor in this one, but the Vets have plenty of what we like to call “corn-fed strength.” He won’t be able to play quite as much bully ball as he might be used to, but if the Melos can get it to him around the basket, he’ll get to the FT line and slow this game down.

(8) HANDEL ARCHITECTS

VS

(9) TBT

The Architects are basically feast or famine offensively. In their two wins they’ve won by a combined 48 points. But in their losses, well, let’s focus on the positives. (G/F) Han Lee can score with anyone in D3. They have a solid 3-pt threat is (G) Changhee Park, and (F) Garrett Brignoli fill in nicely as a hustle/utility man. And (F) Luke Lu puts in work on the glass as well. What they need to win is consistent scoring.

It’s been a tough season for TBT. After losing their opener by only two, they have gotten no closer than 15 in any subsequent match up. And the problem mostly has been their offense. (G/F) Bobby Woodworth is their only double-digit scorer at 10.5 ppg. But the great thing about single elimination playoffs is that anything can happen. If TBT can get hot in this game, they have just as much of a chance to win as HAN.

As mentioned, Lee can score. But his low rate of 3FGs (17%) and FTs (41%) can be a little troubling considering he does put up a decent amount of both. If he can get it going early, however, HAN can play ahead, which is what they’re better at. And TBT is not a strong offensive team.

Truth is, we don’t have much of a scouting report on Woodworth. He leads the team in scoring, but is producing just 10.5 ppg on 11.5 shots per game. Nobody on the roster has better scoring efficiency. Woodworth had better be red hot in this one, or they’ll need a number of guys to step up.

(3) MIXED BAG

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(6) NYC GRITTY COMMITTEE

Mixed Bag opened with two losses, but they bounced back to win out and finish 4-2. (G) Effie Klein has been a lights out shooter when available, converting 53% of his 3FGs, but it’s been the improved play of (G) Henry Bell that may be the key to MIX’s second half success. They are as strong a guard duo as you’ll find in D2. And with all-around threat (F) Mark Promax in the mix, this is a tough out for any team.

There’s no other way to put it, this has been a down season for NYC Gritty Committee’s vaunted back court. Maybe it’s age, maybe it’s just waning chemistry, but NGC, the winter league champs, and spring runner-ups, just haven’t been able to get the shots to drop this season. But if there’s any team who can turn it on when they need to most, it’s this Gritty. One win might turn into two, then three. NGC is a wild card here.

Evin with Klein’s efficient scoring, it’s been Bell carrying the load late in the season with Klein out. Bell’s contributions go up and down the stat line, but it will be his defense, especially in forcing TOs, combined with Klein and (G) Chung Lee, that will be key for MIX vs a veteran NGC back court.

The veteran guard has been their spark plug on offense and defense for several seasons now, and maybe it’s wearing down on him. But that’s the reg season, it’s also possible he’s just been pacing himself, as some long time veterans are known to do. If he gets hot, NGC can beat any team.

(2) 30-FOR-30

VS

(7) NY DYNASTY

Two in the loss column is more than we thought 30F would finish with. At times, they look unbeatable, with as tough a defense as there is. Rookie (F) Joseph Han has been a force all season long, but with increasing size in D3 (C) Ezekial Shin hasn’t quite been as efficient a scorer in the paint, though he has been a strong presence on D regardless. This a balanced team with more scoring options than the #s imply.

A team with this much talent on the roster has no business being 2-4. It just hasn’t clicked this season. For the first time, (G) David Chu did not finish as the team’s leading scorer, that went to (F) Tim Chin, who is a versatile threat, but his % is down. As is Chu’s. (G) Ian Yu is the team’s best slasher, but has been miserable at the FT line. It hasn’t been pretty for DYN, and this is their last chance to get it together.

Han is a strong, athletic scorer, and he can be even tougher on D. The truth is, DYN doesn’t really have anyone who can match-up with him one-on-one. He’s too fast for their forwards, too strong for their guards. Their reg season result is pretty much exactly how they want to play this one.

With 30F’s Shin defending the paint, it won’t be easy for an undersized DYN to find much in the paint. Which means Chu will have to get it going from 3. The problem is he has shot 26% this season, a career low. DYN has to find a way to get Chu going, at least in the hopes it will open everything else up.