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Losing Martinazzi kills any champ hopes. Bummer.

Seems only fitting!!!! As expected BucsBlue & Cheeks will meet for the Big 8 title and right to move on to the championship game. Conventional wisdom would have you believe that the winner of this game will proceed to win the overall league and promote to D2 so to say this is a BIG game is an understatement!!! Here's some info on both teams and what's brought them to this point!

Cheeks has been in this III.7 league for 7 Seasons and has been a playoff MAINSTAY. in his first season he was the 4 seed. and since then he's won the regular season title 4 times without ever winning the BIG overall championship game. He's made the Semi's and the finals on multiple occasions. This year Cheeks and BucsBlue tied for Overall best record in the league. Cheeks has never had the League MVP despite having great overall team Success.

BucsBlue has taken a different route to this point! BucsBlue has only been in III.7 for 2 seasons. In his first season he was 16-6 good enough for the 3rd seed in which he lost to Snake in first round of playoffs. After just 1 season with essentially the same team he improved for a tie of best Record in the League. (Ironic stat... Bucsblue has promoted from D5 without ever WINNING the entire thing. At D5 had great record at D4 went undefeated and got upset in first round of playoffs). BucsBlue has NEVER had a League MVP in any league he was a part of.

Now for the match!!!! The season Series Between these 2 teams is Tied... Cheeks is lead by a very balanced attack and avg about 25 assist per game. He has multiple double digit scorers...Primary player is Marc E (Avg a double double from the PF position!) Cheeks Roster has been ever evolving with just a couple Mainstays. In 22 games this season Cheeks averages 99.9 Points Per game....... As for BucsBlue... the roster has been the same from Start of Season to now. Besides Injury BucsBlue has started or played the same guys all season. Bucsblue is also a very balanced offensive approach All starters Avg Double figure scoring. Hard to label a "BEST player" for BucsBlue as each guy has played a huge role in different games. Bucsblue like Cheeks is also a high assist team avg 22 assist per game. While scoring slightly more than Cheeks at 102 PPG... However Cheeks has proven to be a slightly better defensive team giving up about 4.5 points LESS per game than BucsBlue.

Prediction...... We are in for FIREWORKS! Assuming Both teams will be all in trying to win this game. The game could be decided by picking or not picking the GDP or player game shapes, or enthusiasm.Conventional wisdom says this game comes down to the wire. However the prediction in this writing is Picking Cheeks to win in a game thats close for a while but then gets out of hand late. Cheeks has been waiting for this opportunity 7 years and doesn't plan to let a 2 year D3 team knock him off his post. BucsBlue is young at key spots and will be a Force to get out of the league in the following season.

Enjoy the game!!!!!!

BucsBlue, great write up dude.

I've been in D3 for a long time...although time has flown by...promoted quick from D5 and D4, but like you not winning D5, I didn't win D4. It was a rough start to D3 not having the same promotion cash and attendance bonus like other promotees. It was a tough start, but I survived. Unfortunately, since I'm not good at growing talent, I've had to find other ways to succeed...that's why I buy and sell guys all the time, but it only takes me so far. That's why I need to find the right set of guys.

Throughout the years, I've changed the philosophy/strength of my teams multiple times....from a balanced approach, to a lot of outside shooters, to an inside based team. I've never been able to put together that truly dominant team...and I'm not saying this current team is dominant, but I think I'm starting to figure some things out...not sure if it'll be enough to move to D2 this season.

I know I'm rambling...I just wanted to give you some background on how I got here. It's not always easy, but after 7 season, I feel like I'm closer now than ever. This weekend's game should be fun, and I do wish you the best of luck BucsBlue, but I just hope it's my time to finally move on. 3 seasons for you to promote is nothing compared to 7 seasons, right? haha.

Good luck sir!

Thanks for the insight man. I know a couple people from the D4 league i came from that were in there for YEARS! so i know it gets to be a rough road. Especially cuz if you dont promote your guys age and you end up having to do almost a rebuild at D3 which is BRUTAL on the finances. So i know its a big big big game for you! For me the competitor in me HATES losing. A promotion for me would mean an increase in funds which gives me a chance to get a HUGE player as i search for my next great trainee (Like Tommy & Wilburn... 2 players i've had from day 1 and trained). A loss and my team will have little turn over to the starters and 6th man and maybe 1-2 changes overall and my boys Wilburn & Tommy are still improving (training till age 26) So i will be fine. But I can't say i dont wanna win this one!

Best of luck to you and if you promote keep in touch Buddy!!!!!

Thanks man! and if, by chance, I do end up promoting, I'll deff stay in touch.

Hey can I ask you a couple questions about how you train? What level is your trainer and do you usually just do single position training? Usually every year, I try to pick up at least a new prospect and then start to train him. I'll get a few pops, but then I always get away from it and give up. Compared to a lot of teams, i usually have a pretty young team, but that's because I'm a pretty savvy trader. It never has anything to do with training guys, unfortunately.

The best thing to do is to have a MAIN project trainee that you know you will train for a few seasons (3-4) And then pick a plan for what's going to best for that player... so each season look and say ok this season will be jumpshot and passing, or this season is outside defense and ball handing, etc. I NEVER train jump shot range. then you need to find 1 player to be a compliment to the MAIN trainee. So a SF or a shooting guard that maybe a year or 2 older than your main guy. The plan is on weeks that you have easy wins, or easy cup games single position train. On weeks you have important games 2 position train and make sure that your complimentary guy is getting training then. That way you main trainee ALWAYS trains and your compliment gets training also about 80% of the time. i only have an advanced trainer. its cheaper.

Hmm the 2 guy training thing sounds like a good idea. I never thought about it like that before.

I appreciate the advice. No matter what happens, starting next season, I'm going to have to start taking player development more seriously.

Hey, maybe I'll actually get a decent trainee in the draft...haha, well at least I can dream. In the 10 seasons I've been playing this game, I don't think I've ever gotten a good trainee. Would be nice to get a good one for once though.....

Nice win! congrats best of luck moving forward!!!!! I was unfortunate. I had Wilburn get hurt early (7 mins into the game) and then Paulo Fouled out in first half also.... Thats 2 of my 3 BEST players out before half time. But hey its BB just hoping next year i stay healthy and my team improves and keeps getting after it.

Good luck man

Thanks man. I appreciate it. It was a good game too... my backups made it way too interesting at the end.

I know how you feel though...I just lost one of my better players (Tant) for a week. It's going to be tough winning the league without him. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed that he comes back and can play in game 2.

Awwwwwwwwwe yeeeeeeeeeaaaaa feels good to win that relegation series. I don't expect to see myself in this situation next season. I expect to compete for a playoff spot next year. Might not get one but I should be pretty close. Shooting for 12 wins. Anyway see y'all next season. Good luck to both lambda and cheeks. Congrats to both

If Martinazzi comes back I have a shot... without him, no chance. Still a sizable underdog in this one.

If I don't promote not sure how the finances are going to work going forward, need to figure out how I can afford this team - somehow need the stadium situation to get better. Maybe need to charge more and accept lower % attendance for more money.