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Any takers for a playoff preview for all the Div.2 leagues?

League II.4

Not to hurt any feelings but this boils down to a first round match-up.
My Headless Gunners (33296) vs krazysilly's Clodhoppers (24964).

Don't let 21-1 vs 13-9 fool you,
this will be a very tight affair.

The Hoppers have been around, 8th season in the league and a finals participant once.
They took the wait until the end of the season and buy 2 big players approach.
First SG Pietro Pintore (8082690) and than 34 year old C Pere Cisquell (5140325).

My Gunners grabbed the SG Patricio Casado (9633101) a month earlier for Cup run that took this Div II team to the final and upgraded our big man by selling off the handy Jim Meilink and grabbing Cisquell's teamate from the same Spanish Div I team Bratislav Canovich (75406).
Though it would seem that the Hoppers have a slight advantage in both these positions.

At SF, mirror images in 24 year old Raul Barra and the Hoppers 26 year old Paul Mejias.
Seemingly a slight PF advantage for HTG and a PG edge pointing to the CH's.
Both benches with a pair of talented players.

All that's left is to find out:
Which youngsters have been trained up to be better than they appear on the surface.
Which team has handled enthusiasm and game shape better,
and how much home court advantage will help.

Last edited by Headless T Gunner at 08/05/2012 09:27:16

I'm going to go with Clodhoppers - he's been waiting forever, but we'll see what home court does.

I think HTG still has the Clods with Homecourt advantage but it looks really close.

You called it, looks like HCA made the difference in a really close match up. He can breathe a lot easier for the rest of the playoffs.

DII final previews:

II.1
The Syndicate (#16 in Canada) vs Ottawa Lightning (#21)

This is one very close finals to call. This is the 4th season in D2 for The Syndicate who used to go by MIB (and several other names over the years). They were the top team in the regular season at 20-2 and eked out a 4 pt semi final win over The Sherbrookers. Ottawa is a season 18 Naismith team that dropped back down to D2 to retool for 2 seasons and now look to promote once again. They finished in a 3 way tie at 17-5 in regular season then won a huge OT game in the QF's before cruising through an easy road win over the 1st place Keyes Kops to make it to the finals.

Both teams added key players just before the playoffs and the payrolls are similar with $415.0 for Syndicate and $469 for Ottawa and The Syndicate won the regular season battle at home over Ottawa by 18 pts using less effort and have the home advantage here.

This is tough to call but there seems to be something about this team Ottawa has put together that is suddenly crushing teams in the playoffs. I'll go with Ottawa in this one but it's close.

Last edited by Beener not Beanerz at 08/14/2012 20:05:48

II.2

Crystal Lake Executioners (#23) vs TAKE YOU DOWN (#22)

CLE is looking to return to Naismith after a 1 season absence. He has put together a huge $643 million payroll to meet that goal. A 19-3 regular season record and a close 9 pt win in the semi-final against the 2nd place Montreal Aces puts him in this final.

TYD (15-7) has a $434 payroll but don't let that fool you, they have been training a couple of Canadian bigs that play much better than their salaries including future NT player, 23 year old Terrell Lachance who is the best player in this series. He also cruised so an easy 15 pt regular season win over CLE playing TIE vs Crunch although I don't think either team put their best lineup on the floor for that one. He also conserved enthusiasm in his 10 point semi final win which puts him in good shape.

Again, this is too close to call but I'll once again go for the road team here. TYD to promote.



Last edited by Beener not Beanerz at 08/14/2012 20:07:32

II.3

O-Rod Rockin Rockets (#20) vs SG United (#7)

In recent history, this has been by far the toughest of the D2 leagues in Canada. O-Rod has been toiling away in this division for 11 seasons now and always puts a strong team on the floor only to get beat by somebody better. After an 18-4 season and sporting a $416 million payroll, they were able to upset the 1st place, #19 ranked and former Naismith mainstay Molson Canadians 83-77 in the semi-finals to get here. But I think things just got tougher.

SG United is probably the best team in D2. The $548 payroll and 21-1 regular season aside, they disposed of a tough former Naismith team and #11 ranked Brotherhood in the semi finals. They also won the regular season battle over O-Rod by 15 points playing on the road.

I just don't see anything stopping SG United from returning to Naismith after a 4 season absence.

Last edited by Beener not Beanerz at 08/14/2012 20:54:31

II.4

Headless Thompson Gunners (#9) vs Grant Raptor (#42)

HTG is coming off an amazing run. 21-1 in league play and an extremely rare trip for a D2 team to the Cup finals in only his 3rd season in D2. He has also amassed a huge $639 million payroll with some late season moves while trying to withstand the $766 million payroll that the 4th place Clodhoppers had put together late for a run at Naismith. HTG pulled that game out by 10.

Grant Raptor has made the most of their 3rd trip to D2 with a 2nd place regular season finish and a huge 97-84 semi final upset over the #25 Belt Buckles. But with a small $262 million payroll, unfortunately they're completely outclassed in this match-up.

If he can avoid 6-7 players going down with injuries the first game, HTG will promote to Naismith in the most lopsided of the 4 series.


Last edited by Beener not Beanerz at 08/14/2012 20:46:25

Great write-up, I enjoyed reading them. Goodluck all in the finals.