(2) SK WAR DOG vs (6) SHAWN KEMP’S KIDS
D1 Sun Playoffs (Semifinals) – Sunday, March 26, 1:30pm at MLK HS
| Team Notes | Team | Score | Team | Team Notes |
| At this point, just getting into the playoffs is enough for SK WAR DOG, the seeding isn’t. Their Big 3 back court is back, though not as efficient from the FT line as in some seasons past. Which may or may not come into the play this post-season. But this is a multi-time former champ with a roster full of veterans. Playoffs are their playground. |  SKW 5-2 |
61-56 |
SKK 3-4 |
SHAWN KEMP’S KIDS was able to dictate the tempo vs ADG and advance. But an uptempo style might do worse for them here as SKW invites it, and is better at it. But aggressive perimeter D can frustrate the aging SKW backcourt, which can mean forced shots, or an even more focused effort. It’s a gamble, but why not make them work for it. |
| Key Player: Kash Miah
The veteran gunner isn’t 100% yet, but he’s still the most dangerous player on the floor. You just can’t leave him by himself. He will never stop shooting, and if you let him get hot, you will lose the game. |
 Pos: G17.8 ppg 4.0 3pg 4.8 rpg |
 Pos: G/F 12.0 ppg 7.0 rpg 4.0 apg |
Key Player: Dan Linnane
Linnane was relatively quiet during the regular season, but in SKK’s 1st rd win over ADG, he showed his versatility off the wing. Able to score inside/out and setup his teammates, they’ll need plenty of that here. |
(2) NO FLY ZONE OG vs (7) TAP NY
D2 Sun Playoffs (1st Round) – Sunday, March 26, 2:30pm at MLK HS
| Team Notes | Team | Score | Team | Team Notes |
| It’s no secret, NO FLY ZONE OG was terrible before rookie (F) Phil Thomas joined as a free agent. He has lifted them to contender status, by not only putting up solid #s, but making every one of his teammates better. That should seal his MVP prospects this season. This is now a veteran team with plenty of guard play, shooting, defense, and a rare athlete in Thomas. |  NFZ 5-2 |
62-58 |
TAP 3-4 |
This is actually the deepest TAP NY team they’ve ever fielded. Having (F) Jin Bae Kim and (F) Dave Liu in the front court is the most formidable they have ever been at those positions. There just might not be enough basketball to keep everyone happy offensively. (G) Will Chu has given them a chance in every game, but they just haven’t closed as well this season as in the past. |
| Key Player: Phil Thomas
Thomas might be the most athletic player in D2 this season, and he is plenty versatile as well, leading his team in PPG, RPG, second in APG, and BPG. He is the hero that NFZ had been looking for. |
 Pos: F18.4 ppg 10.6 rpg 3.2 apg |
 Pos: G 20.6 ppg 4.4 3pg 4.4 apg |
Key Player: Will Chu
Should be no surprise, but Chu is carrying TAP offensively. And his 3.1 spg is his highest in years. If no one else steps up, they’ll need another big one from Chu to keep pace with NFZ’s fire power. |
(3) SEX PANTHERS vs (6) WOLVERINES
D2 Sun Playoffs (1st Round) – Sunday, March 26, 2:30pm at Fashion HS
| Team Notes | Team | Score | Team | Team Notes |
| With the most dangerous back court in D2, along with an MVP candidate in the front court in (F) Chris Di, the SEX PANTHERS are fully loaded for a title run. No team gets more scoring from their Top 3, which also means attendance can be an issue. But this is a multi-time former champ that can go down big and still comeback to win. |  SXP 5-2 |
62-56 |
 WOL 4-3 |
The WOLVERINES offense has transitioned to (G) Nick Abrapour this season, which is fine. He’s the most capable scorer in the back court, but roster inconsistency has made this season a head-scratcher despite solid 3-pt shooting (which WOL needed). This is a defensive minded team that will be physical, but a lot hinges on Abrapour now. |
| Key Player: David Chu
Chu is not only a dangerous shooter that is capable of going for 30 in any game, the Panthers also work to get him as many touches as possible to get there. His shooting can wear even the toughest defenses thin. |
 Pos: G24.1 ppg 4.7 3pg 4.6 rpg |
Pos: G 14.4 ppg 9 rpg 3.2 spg |
Key Player: Nick Abrapour
He’ll be the best athlete in this game, which means he can get any shot he wants. But he has stay disciplined on both sides of the ball. TOs, missed assignments and bad shot selection are his downfall. |
(4) GRITTY FOB CITY vs (5) NY BRICKS
D2 Sun Playoffs (1st Round) – Sunday, March 26, 3:30pm at Fashion HS
| Team Notes | Team | Score | Team | Team Notes |
| It should no surprise that GRITTY FOB CITY is a contender again with (F) Chris Youn on the floor. Having him almost always means FOB is winning the chip. But they’re all a little older, and haven’t been quite as convincing this season. But if anyone can pick them up and carrying them, it’s Youn. |  FOB 5-2 |
55-54 |
BRI 4-3 |
Speed and aggressive transition is FOB’s weakness, and NY BRICKS have plenty of that. They don’t really have to worry about efficiency as much as keeping the attack going in waves. Eventually, FOB will tire. If the Bricks are hitting from the perimeter, and turning TOs into points, they can win this game. |
| Key Player: Chris Youn
He does it all, score, rebound, pass defend, and he is the only player seemingly in FOB history that can get the most out of this group. The team are underachievers without him, or he’s just that good. |
 Pos: F15.3 ppg 8.5 rpg 5.5 apg |
Pos: G 9.7 ppg 5.1 apg 2.9 spg |
Key Player: Eric Kim
He hasn’t had a great season scoring wise, but Kim is still the catalyst for his team. He hasn’t looked great in his last few games, but he has to pick up his game and the tempo vs FOB. His speed can kill here. |
(1) BOMB SQUAD vs (9) SPAGHETTI RAMEN
D2 Sun Playoffs (1st Round) – Sunday, March 26, 3:30pm at MLK HS
| Team Notes | Team | Score | Team | Team Notes |
| BOMB SQUAD has easily been the most dominant team in D2 this season with the same core leading the way. Key adds in (G) Daniel Wolff & (C) Spencer Bartlebaugh have given them great depth, but this is still a team built on their defense and ability to score off rebounds and turnovers. This is championship caliber. |  BOM 6-1 |
65-52 |
SPR 3-5 |
SPAGHETTI RAMEN pulled of a miracle comeback win over GOA in the play-in game, but it’s a bit much to expect them to do the same here. Then again, in single-elimination, you just never know do you. You can count on one thing, Ramen will fight in every second of this game, and they will not quit. So if BOM is prone to sleep like GOA, look out. |
| Key Player: David Hsiung
The game was essentially a forfeit, but Hsiung scored 37 in it. Which means he is perfectly capable of lighting it up if you don’t pay very close attention to him. He is also their best perimeter defender. |
 Pos: G/F19.2 ppg 5.7 rpg 2.2 apg |
Pos: G/F 16 ppg 8 rpg 7 spg |
Key Player: Matt Auerbach
The versatile Auerbach does a pretty good impression of (G) Leuis Ng in the #s when the latter is out of the lineup. But with a totally different approach. They’ll need another big game from him today. |
(1) YUNG NO FLY ZONE vs (4) THE LIZARDS
D1 Sun Playoffs (Semifinals) – Sunday, March 26, 4:30pm at MLK HS
| Team Notes | Team | Score | Team | Team Notes |
| YUNG NO FLY ZONE hasn’t been as dominant as past regular seasons, but that hasn’t necessarily led to titles either. But as they’ve shown this season, this veteran team finds ways to win. And key additions of (F) Sherwin Salar & (F) Phil Thomas have given them more depth than they’ve ever had. This is the team to beat right now. | NFZ 6-1 |
65-62 |
LIZ 5-3 |
Solid 1st rd win for THE LIZARDS, the game was never in doubt. They got balanced scoring across the board, and moved the ball well, assisting on 17 of their 20 made FGs. They will have to keep up that kind of polished attack vs NFZ, a team that won’t take as many ill-advised shots as STM. The Lizards must dominate the glass to win this game. |
| Key Player: Michael Reding
They run the entire offense through Reding to give him as many chances as possible to see his trademark 3-pt streaks. When he goes off, NFZ gets big leads. And he’s also their most versatile defender. |
 Pos: F18.1 ppg 8.3 rpg 3.0 apg |
 Pos: F 11 ppg 7 rpg 5 apg |
Key Player: Nat Schacht
Add 3 blocks and you have Schacht’s all-around effort in their 1st rd win over STM. A versatile forward with great height & length, Schacht will be a match-up probably for NFZ if they can get him involved early. |
(4) POGI POINTS vs (5) NY FALCONS
D3 Sun Playoffs (1st Round) – Sunday, March 26, 4:30pm at Fashion HS
| Team Notes | Team | Score | Team | Team Notes |
| POGI POINTS won’t beat you with great speed–outside of (F) Jin Bae Kim–but they have great size, and balanced scoring from all over the floor. They proved in their regular season win over NFU that they can win close games against a faster team. Well, they’ll have to do it again here, against that same tea, now with a scouting report. | POG 4-3 |
48-46 |
NFU 4-3 |
Their last loss of the season came to POG, so this will be a revenge game for NY FALCONS U. But keeping composure will be key to that. This team has plenty of youth and speed, but making the right decisions vs a strong team like POG is a whole different thing altogether. Falcons have to keep going hard, but now in crunch time, they have to close. |
| Key Player: Jin Bae Kim
Kim may be the most athletic player in D3, and he has shown it this season by contributing across the board for his team. He is their best slasher, rebounder, passer, and defensive player. And he’ll need to do it all again in this one. |
 Pos: F15.6 ppg 11.8 rpg 4.2 apg |
Pos: G/F 12.6 ppg 4.7 rpg 1.4 spg |
Key Player: Jeff Zheng
Like all the NFU scorers, Zheng is aggressive in attacking the defense whenever he gets the chance. The tricky part has always been staying under control. They have the talent to get the lead, now they have to figure out how to keep it. |