Everyone has played everyone in their conference once, so it's time to do some power rankings:
1. Baker Street Irregulars - 6-1
They lost to Walnut Streets, but the Irregulars are off to a good start. I like their team makeup, they have a good balance offensively and defensively, and a great bench suggests they'll be consistently a tough out, regardless of the night you catch them on. That includes the cup as well, as I'm sure is part of the plan at Baker Street. A nice deep run gives more money to pay that ungodly salary they're doling out every week.
2. West Side Tigers - 6-1
Their only loss is to the Philadelphia Phantasm. They've exceeded expectation thus far this season, beating both the tri-lambs and d2 demotee Marshland. Gybels and Bois. Need I say more? They're both having MVP caliber seasons, and carry the team to having the potential of beating anybody in the league. There's a lot of season left, and this league has quite a lot of parity, so things can change, but a damn good start and worthy of the 2 spot.
3. Marshland Mammals - 5-2
Yeah, I know they just got beat by the tri-lambs, but I still put them at 3, because I think they're 1 of the 2 scariest teams in the league. Byers hasn't disappointed, but hasn't thrilled us yet either. He was awfully quiet in that loss against Lambda. Martinazzi bodied him. I'm still trying to wrap my head around... just how do you lose shooting 13-22 from 3? Their achilles heel is rebounding, they just get worked on the glass. And yet, Burt and Byers are enough for me to put them at 3.
4. BucsBlue Lob City - 4-3
So this will be a little bit of a controversial ranking, I know. Let me justify myself. BucsBlue has beaten its last 3 games by an average of 41.6 ppg. These aren't scrub teams they've bullied, this was Walnut Street, Warhawks, and North Carolina. UNC hasn't had a good go of it thus far this season, but Lob City is playing so well right now, how do I not rank them in my top 5? I think it's pretty much consensus around the league that they're on the short list of legit championship contenders, yes? They deserve the 4 spot.
5. LambdaLambdaLambda - 5-2
They've played great. Their minutes are expertly managed, and their game-planning has been second to none this season. It always makes me hesitant to put older teams so far up the ranking list due to deterioration, but it's hard to deny Lambda the 5 spot. It was hard not to rank them higher, in fact. We'll see if they can keep this going and make a move for the top overall seed in the great 8. Very nice start.
6. Walnut Streets - 5-2
I've said it before, and never has it been more true than this early season, this is the best managed team in this league. They make the most out of what they have. Everyone is game-planning focused on stopping Tremol, and they're succeeding in that endeavor, but the other pieces are making the most of the relaxed defenses they're seeing because of it. It's hard to imagine they don't have a large cash reserve, and weekly income to burn. Still not ready to call them contenders, but they're riding the line.
7. Philadelphia Phantasm - 4-3
With losses to Frosty, Crosstown and Marshland, Philly has also beaten West Side and Lambda. This team might seem a bit schizophrenic, but they had an injury to Zarzecki that was difficult for them to overcome. He's back and healthy now, so look out III.7, West Side might be just the beginning of a huge tear Philly goes on. That's one thing about them though, they're still super thin, but it sounds like they're currently looking to address that issue. If they do add a couple bench players, I'm ready to call them contenders, but it has hurt them so far this season. I think they deserve 7 because of the teams they've beaten, and because I think the great 8 is still a fair amount better than the big 8. I'd be receptive to you calling me biased in that regard.
Last edited by FrostyMc at 2/15/2015 12:07:51 PM