BuzzerBeater Forums

BIG 8: Midseason Madness

1. New York Nugs (11–2)
The Nugs didn’t just arrive in II.4—they kicked down the door, rewired the breakers, and started measuring the walls for their NBBA drapes. They’ve outscored opponents by nearly 300 points and lead the league in scoring with a smooth, inside-out attack that still bombs away at 43% from deep. They’ve beaten every major Big 8 challenger (Tards, Bees, Innovatus) and haven’t shown any signs of cooling off. Right now, the Nugs are the clubhouse favorite—but games are played on the court.

2. Meridian Hill McMornings (10–3)
If the Nugs are the sports car, Meridian Hill is the Dodge Caravan with 300k miles, goldfish crumbs in the seats, and an engine that keeps chugging. They’re elite at the unsexy stuff: 28.3 apg, league-best 7.2 turnovers, and solid shooting at all levels. Curley and Pollock are walking double-doubles (and occasionally triple-doubles), anchoring a team that rarely beats itself. The question is whether clean basketball is enough to take out the Nugs—or if they’re destined to be an elite No. 2 seed.

3. Tasty Tardsicles (10–3)
At times, Tasty looks like Meridian Hill in a different jersey—smart guards, wings who can incinerate a defense, and a quietly stingy roster. But the résumé has one big problem: they haven’t solved the top tier. Losses to the Nugs, MHM, and Worker Bees have them slotted firmly in the “very good, not yet terrifying” category. But with their shooting volatility, they’re one nuclear night away from blowing up someone’s postseason.

4. Worker Bees (8–5)
The Bees arrived billed as gritty grinders—and then turned into a pack of caffeinated hornets. They’re near the top of the league in rebounds and blocks and have a stealth MVP candidate anchoring the paint. But the offense? Yikes. Fourth-lowest scoring, some of the worst shooting numbers in II.4, and stretches where they look allergic to the rim. The question is whether their defense can carry them across the playoff finish line…or whether the offense swarms off at the wrong time.

5. Innovatus (8–5)
Innovatus is the league’s ultimate swing team: good enough to scare the elite, shaky enough to lose to anyone on a cold night. They boast the second-best offense in II.4 and steady rebounding, but turnovers and streaky (that’s being generous) three-point shooting have cost them key games. If the outside shooting stabilizes, they could make a serious push for home court. If not? They’re someone’s first-round snack.

6. Beware of Dogs (2–11)
The name says pedigree. The record says pound. The Dogs have become a walking “get-right game,” with a defense that gives and an offense that refuses to take. The bones are here for a real team—but not this season. They’re not fighting for a playoff berth; they’re fighting relegation.

7. The Reductions (1–12)
The Reductions have reduced everything—salary, expectations, and wins. A rebuild after a long run in II.4 was inevitable, and this is textbook Year One Pain. The silver lining: they won’t be auto-relegated. Which is kinda like your parents saying, “you don’t have to kiss your sister…but you do need to clean your room..." Brighter days (and bigger budgets) are coming.

8. US Daggers (0–13)
This is more than a “culture reset”—it’s a full, unapologetic rebuild. The good news? They’re about to have the best odds at landing their own Wemby. The bad? Opponents have been treating their games like open-gym scrimmages. It’s going to take time, talent, and patience…mostly patience.

Last edited by stillhere at 12/1/2025 4:38:49 PM

GREAT 8: Midseason Madness

1. Delta 9 (11–2)
Delta 9 opened as early favorites, and they haven’t taken that for granted. They’re pounding teams with the league’s most balanced profile: 100.2 ppg, elite rim protection (7.9 bpg, top-3), and a salty +20.2 margin. They force mistakes, rarely give them back, and their wings + bigs have posted some wild lines. They’ve handled every Great 8 opponent, and as the standings widen, so does the delta between Delta and everyone else. Home court is theirs to lose.

2. Wellington Warthogs (9–4)
Wellington is the “your spreadsheet says no, your eyes say yes” team. Middle-of-the-pack shooting and a modest differential…yet they keep knocking off contenders. The secret? They rebound like they’re getting paid per board—52.1 rpg, second in the league. Cisneros and Delmás offer takeover juice, and the Warthogs own one of the season’s best wins: a home W over the Nugs. Nothing flashy—just solid as bedrock.

3. Kiwi Sheep Pimps (8–5)
The Pimps are exactly what you expect: big pimpin' in hoop form. They score a ton, shoot well (45.5% FG, 41.6% 3PT), rebound well, and defend…when the vibes are right. Their games feel like elite pickup runs—deep threes, wild swings, and heat checks at questionable moments. Defensively, the red flags are glaring: they force fewer turnovers than almost anyone (which is saying something in our league), putting pressure on their offense to save them. They can beat Wasco, Innovatus, Ferth…or lose to Wellington or Anchorage. A playoff enigma.

4. Llama of Wall Street (7–6)
Llama’s season has been a masterclass in identity: mid-tier offense, quietly tough defense, clean ball movement, and a roster of guys who each bring a real skill. Their +12.5 differential is one of the league’s sneakiest, and they own the Great 8’s lowest turnover rate. When they win, they win BIG. But the ceiling is capped until they find a consistent wing scorer to pair with Lawson and Pollock. Find that guy, and they’re a playoff lock.

5. Wasco Tigers (6–7)
Someone had to be the league’s “6–7,” and of course it’s the Tigers—because nothing says Wasco basketball like perfectly embodying the record of teenage uncertainty. They’ve got one of II.4’s dominant bigs (Pisano), legit scoring punch (104.9 ppg), and a perimeter defense that can tilt a night sideways. The issue? They give up nearly as much as they score, polishing a humble +5.7 differential. Rebounding is fine—not great—in a bruiser division. Dangerous but volatile. A team you dread on the wrong night…or give a good 'ole "6-7 shrug" at on the right one.

6. Myopic Marauders (5–8)
The Marauders embody their name: heart for days, tunnel vision for weeks. Their win over the Worker Bees was one of the strangest box scores all season (115 points were scored...in total). Statistically, they’re bottom-third in almost everything with a negative differential to match. They defend decently, rebound alright, and shoot just poorly enough to make every game a grind. Too competent to relegate, unlikely to crack the top four.

7. Anchorage Allstars (4–9)
Anchorage is the Great 8’s fever dream: they lead the league in rebounding (55.0 rpg), block shots like a volleyball squad, pass well, and defend admirably. And yet…they’re 4–9. Why? Offense. They shoot a brutal 39.7%, which sinks them night after night. The upside is obvious—they can punch up—but when the shots don’t fall, everything collapses. Maybe they’re just one real scorer away.

8. Ferth Ozone (4–9)
Ferth is the Great 8’s lovable, bewildering mess. They score well (103 ppg), shoot well, rebound decently, and even made a respectable Cup run. But the defense is…let’s call it “participatory.” Opponents drop 106.2 ppg, and they sit bottom-three in field-goal defense. Fun, frisky, and capable of an upset on any given night—but not a threat t

Never have truer words been spoken.

Combine Ferth and i, we would have a hell of a team.

Last edited by ehoosier at 12/1/2025 5:55:22 PM