Week 7 Preview

The Run to the Playoffs is upon us! Some argue it as the most exciting part of the season. In the North, the situation is a 3 headed race. The Margays hold the line at #7 looking for their 1st division title in 12 seasons. The Midwest has a slim chance of being a 4 team battle, but one will be cut off in the RTP Flex btw GRE/INT. It is an absolute toss up who truly is the best team in that division. Look for an automatic spot for the North champions, 3 spots for Midwest teams and probably a play-in. In the West, the Pharoahs and Gold are off the to the races preparing for a virtual division title game in week 9. The Diamonds are very much alive for the post-season but the division ship has sailed. The Cat's and Skylarks are battling for the top  South spot, pretty much both are certain to enter the post season. The biggest thing for the South-West division is avoiding the inevitable play-in game, that will be a dangerous game, any combination of the 5 teams probably going to the post season would be quite a showdown.

Flex Game of the Week 7

#4 (5-1) @ (3-3) #8

The 2 phenoms meet again in Diamond City. That is ROOKIE league leader in points Charlie (PHA) and 2011 Rookie of the year Sebastian (DIA). First time out it was all Charlie as he got the game MVP and Sebastian had one poor throw all game. It was a swift 2 set victory for the Phactory. This time out, the Diamonds are fighting for their post-season lives especially with the Cat's in the South now establishing themselves as clear post season material. The Diamonds are looking like a clear #5 in the South-West hanging on for a play-in game. They need to win here to change that. The Pharoahs had a close call last game, but they seem to be a legit team, this game could be another Western classic just like last flex.
Prediction: PHA
All Time: PHA- 14 DIA- 11

(0-6) @ (3-3) #7

The Silverbacks came close last game, but couldn't get it done at home. Now they have to travel to Minnesota to snag their first win. The Margays are re-energized from their big divisional crown win over the Empire. Can this be the year they win their first piece of hardware EVER?! Beating the lowly Silverbacks would be a nice way to get closer to that. Narrow Streets (MAR) seems to be getting it together, plus Pasquel and Irwin are playing strong, the Margays are just doin' it right now, while the Silverbacks are seriously melting down.
Prediction: MAR
All Time: SB- 2 MAR- 2

#1 (5-1) @ (2-4)

The Scarlet ember ride into the nations capital #1, but most people aren't fearing them.Sure they have slayed all of their Midwestern counterparts, but they still lack pure talent, it is all chemistry with them. The Dizzy Devils are quite the opposite, they have some talented peeps, but they cannot put together significant wins. I'm feeling like the #1 spot will be fleeting for SE and the Dizzy Devils will put their best foot forward in the quest for the North title.
Prediction: DD
All Time: SE- 4 DD- 5

#3 (5-1) @ (1-5)

This game should not take long. The Gold will not behave the same way as the Reapers and get caught sleeping. They are the true #1 in my opinion, they have played so strong in the face of their Western rivals. They have a complete team with a balance of experience and skill. The Seadogs might make things interesting however, just using the energy from last game. 

Prediction: GOLD

All Time: GOLD- 0 SEA- 1

(3-3) @ (4-2) #6

The Reapers continue their North swing at home hosting the Empire. Watch this game turn out to be quite a battle. The Empire can really get going especially behind the arm of Aleksandr who is proving to be worth the investment. I think the Reapers have turned into playoff mode though, that super embarrassing loss to the Seadogs has lit a fire under them never to be taken lightly again. Expect a 3-setter in the Okie wheat. 

Prediction: REP

All Time: EMP- 3 REP- 3

#5 (4-2) @ (0-6)

The Cat's are literally the same team from last year, and that will show in Florida. They win, well. And it will be no different here. Ausonio and Jared are going off, plus Joseph is really coming into his own (long gone are the days of immense pressure of a whole organization on his shoulders [REP] his rookie year). The Dragonfish however many losses they have can still be dangerous. Jacoby and Paolo are having solid seasons. But the Cat's confidence has to be through the roof now that they beat the all-mighty Skylarks. 

Prediction: CATS

All Time: CATS- 8 DF- 15

(2-4) @ (5-1) #2

Upset of the week alert! The Skylarks will be caught sleeping here at home. The Toros are hungry for victory, Rayquan is tired of losing and he is definitely talented enough to will victories. The Skylarks are extraordinarily talented but they have become lax, they no they will get into the playoffs so why worry? They need to worry because getting caught in the play-in game could be a huge trap!

Prediction: TOR

All Time: TOR- 11 SKY- 11

RTP Flex Week 7

(3-3) @ (3-3)

The heads start to roll. The hallmark of the Run to the Playoffs. We descend onto St. Louis in a situation many here would not have imagined at the beginning of the year, fighting for their playoff lives. The battle for the Midwest will be realistically cut down to 3 after the bout, except if the North continues its horrible record against out of division opponents. The Gremlins came to prominence after beating this team in a close one in week 4, but since has been downhill. 6 straight division games can wear a team out, and they are smack dab in the middle. The Interceptors saved their season last week, and will keep on winning. We need Salem back to his old form!

Prediction: INT

All Time: GRE- 13 INT- 10

Week 6 Recap

Last week before the Run to the Playoffs, and the teams are ready. Some major developments took place such as the Margays catapulting themselves into the lead of the North with a big win over the Empire in NYC. The Seadogs toppled the #2 Reapers in a rain soaked Seadog Place sending the Midwest into more of a muddled situation. The Cat's prevented the Skylarks from running away with the division title with a win at home. The West has now turned into a 2 horse race between the Pharoahs and Gold after the Diamonds fumbled around in an epic battle on the Flex.

(0-6) @ (2-4)

8-10<

#5 (5-1) @ (0-6)

>14-8

 (3-3) @ (2-4)

>11-11

#4 (5-1) @ (3-3) #8
>10-7

(3-3) @ (3-3) #7
>10-6

#1 (5-1) @ (4-2) #6
>4-10

#2 (4-2) @ (1-5)
9-10<

Flex Game of the Week 6

(3-3) @ (5-1) #3

11-14<

Saturn® Player of the Week

Rayquan #2 Toros

Exp: 3 yrs Uni: Texas Institute
Thrw: 4 Out: 3 Cth: 4
Four big catches prevented the Toros from dropping one to the lowly Dragonfish

Week 6 Preview

Kind of a ho hum week before the Run to the Playoffs. This is always the lull in the season, no teams are certainly in, no teams are certainly out, but there are some exciting story lines never the less. 2 big top of division matchups going down in the South-West. Which, if any, 0-5 team will save some scrap of pride and not be eliminated from any possible competition post season with a loss?

(0-5) @ (1-4)

Last time out, the Toros got the best of the Dragonfish with Martin of all people taking over. Both teams proceeded to lose the next 2 games. Expect the Dragonfish to upend the Toros this game. Jacoby is red hot right now and the Toros seem to be stuck in the same lull they have been in all season even after a victory.
Prediction: DF
All Time: DF- 16 TOR- 11

#5 (4-1) @ (0-5)

The week 2 matchup saw Charlie (PHA) live up to his legend. But it was a 3 set affair without the help of Kenneth (SB). Well, Charlie is still on fire, trying to become not only the best rookie in the league, but easily in the running for league MVP?!?! After the trouncing of the Diamonds last week, it is hard to go against the Phactory. The Silverbacks have not won a set since playing the Pharoahs, nobody has took the reigns on the team.
Prediction: PHA
All Time: PHA- 9 SB- 14

 (2-3) @ (2-3)

Last year this matchup was about who is the best of the best as #2 DD came into #1 INT and handed them their 1st set loss of the year, but still came up with the L. They let many many down by not meeting again in the playoffs. Now, we are to subject ourselves to a B list game about which team can spring board back into  relevance after some shabby losses. The Interceptors have sooooo much talent, but haven't been magic like last year. The Dizzy Devils are also very talented, but Russell has disappeared and they need him. This should actually be a stellar game, but the 2-3 records will under sell it.
Prediction: INT
All Time: INT- 1 DD- 4

#4 (4-1) @ (3-2) #8

The streaking Scarlet Ember come into Chicago trying to nab a win just like their foe REP did last week. People are still puzzled by why they have had so much success, but they have been playing some quiet team ball and is making the wins look effortless. The Gremlins may be a little exhausted by now, a 6 division game swing is daunting. But they fought hard for a W v. INT, got blown away by REP, maybe they have it all sorted out. They need a big game by Casey and I think she will deliver. 

Prediction: GRE

All Time: SE-11 GRE-11

(2-3) @ (3-2) #7

The North is terribly muddled right now. You want to believe in a young Margays team kind of like the NMW equivalent to the Phactory, but the talent is not there, they have the building blocks but not this year. The Empire have been playing their division tough, going 6-0 set wise, they know how to win division games. Aleksandr has fit in seamlessly so far and a win here coupled with a DD loss would shoot these guys easily in the forefront of a very down on its' luck division. 

Prediction: EMP

All Time: MAR- 9 EMP- 16

#1 (5-0) @ (3-2) #6

2 weeks ago they met in the Flex in Atlanta. The game was the Cat's to take. Still afraid of the bright lights apparently, they faltered. The Cat's are still a very potent opponent and the Skylarks really have to be on top of things for a smooth victory. SKY could pretty much wrap up the division with a win here, but a loss would open everything up. Expect Jared to go big this game.

Prediction: CATS

All Time: SKY- 14 CATS- 12

#2 (4-1) @ (0-5)

Years back, this matchup netted the highest capacity crowd in DBL history at the old National Stadium in London. Capacities have changed and the teams have definitely changed. The Seadogs are still looking for a set victory folks. The Reapers are on a tear right now, after that huge Gremlins win, I don't think they will get tripped up here with this almost College level squad. 

Prediction: REP

All Time: REP- 6 SEA- 3

Flex Game of the Week 6

(3-2) @ (4-1) #3

The Flex game takes us back to Golden Gate Arena where we were in week 3 when the Skylarks ascended to #1. The Gold do not plan on letting any more teams ascend to #1. They shut this team down back in week 2 pretty swiftly, very surprisingly. The Diamonds do not have that pomp they once had coming out of the offseason #1, especially after 2 thrashings from division opponents. The Diamonds need to key on Desmond, he has the hot hand, for them to have a shot at taking this thing. Expect this game to be pretty epic. 

Prediction: GOLD

All Time: DIA- 11 GOLD- 17