Full Court Press: Magic Numbers/Power Rankings (Week 19)

As the stars of Las Vegas stay home nursing injuries, and the star of Weymouth sits on the outside of the playoff picture looking in, two stars of are pushing their teams into the spotlight. Steve Nash (RAK) and Kobe Bryant (BRW) are the main reasons their teams are as dominant as they are.





Are The Stars Lining Up?
By: Max Powers and Alexander Marquez Alejandro; Full Court Press


Just 3 weeks ago the Bridgewater Phenoms sat in 6th place, barely holding onto the final playoff spot in the EHBA standings. They were even written off as being one of the odd men out in a tight race that involved all but 2 teams. Now the Phenoms sit in the number two hole in the standings, at the expense of the Las Vegas Lizards, in control of getting one of the two coveted first round byes in the playoffs, immunity if you will, if just for one week. Dana Barros hasn't been the most active GM in the league, but he's held fast on giving up too early and it's paying off late in the season. He's squashed rumor after rumor that star Kobe Bryant was on the move, one that he started himself during the 2009 draft. The Phenoms now sit that much closer to the top of the standings, thanks in part to Bryant, who, despite being a known rapist*, has carried them this far, and hopes to carry them deep into the playoffs.

At the other end of the playoff picture sits the Rakeville Crows, who were written off back in Week 4, only to be resurrected and then anointed as "the best team in the EHBA" three weeks later. After 18 long weeks they finally hold a playoff spot in the standings, at the expense of the Tijuana Matadors who have been knocked out of the top six after securely holding their own for weeks. Crows GM Tim Legler also squashed rumors of their star, Steve Nash, being traded. The team has been very fickle about their intentions on trading their star in the past, at one point offering up the star for multiple 1st round draft picks, then declining that exact offer shortly after, but though the deadline is only a few days away, there is no indication that Nash will be headed anywhere but the Rakeville bus when the Crows inevitably travel from city to city through the playoffs. They may technically start the playoffs as underdogs, but there's not one team that wants to host them in the first round. Or the second for that matter.



*Yeah, yeah, he was acquitted, fuck you. We all know he raped that chick.


Magic Numbers (Week 19)
By: Max Powers; Full Court Press


1.) Tokyo Vegans
96-62-4 (98.0 pts)
Magic Number - 11.5 (4 wins/week)
Magic Number to clinch first round BYE - 23.0 (7.5 wins/week)
Remaining Schedule: MON/DUB/SC

The Vegans look like they're trying to make the race for the two BYEs more interesting. They've been unable to make a trade for a top point guard, and looks like they'll have to settle on Sergio Rodriguez's new roll to help them in the final weeks. Tokyo fans aren't too worried however. With the final three week opponents being a falling Montreal squad, a young Dublin roster, and a questionable Rebels team, they should easily hold onto one of the BYEs heading into the playoffs.

2.) Bridgewater Weasels
92-66-4 (94.0 pts)
Magic Number - 15.5 (5 wins/week)
Magic Number to clinch first round BYE - 27 (9 wins/week)
Remaining Schedule: COL/MTL/DUB

Out of nowhere the Phenoms have personified their team name in the past few weeks. Kobe, Harrington, and Iguodala have lead the team to the promise of a first round bye after barely holding onto the 6th playoff seed just 3 weeks ago. It just proves that the race is closer than anyone thought, and any team can end up anywhere in the standings. Regardless, Bridgewater is currently in the drivers seat heading into the final three weeks.

3.) Las Vegas Lizards
92-67-3 (93.5 pts)
Magic Number - 16.0 (5 wins/week)
Remaining Schedule: WEY/FIT/TIJ

The Lizards have gone all in this season to try and win a championship, but they've sputtered the last few weeks. Their remaining schedule is very favorable, with games against free-falling Weymouth and a struggling Fitchburg team, before closing out against a Tijuana squad that's been making some more savvy moves leading up to the deadline. They should cruise against the Dumpster Divers, but watch out for Fitchburg, whose games always seem to end 5-4. They'll need the cushion of a couple of blowouts before finishing against the defending champs. Considering Bridgewater closes it out against Dublin, the race for the bye will come right down to the wire.

4.) Montreal DeathPiggys
86-73-3 (87.5 pts)
Magic Number - 22.0 (7 wins/week)
Remaining Schedule: TKO/BRW/PEO

Those pesky piggys just won't go away. Try as they might to trade away "win-now" type players, Montreal has stayed on pace to win now. They may have hit some pockets of resistance in the past few weeks, but they can't seem to budge from the middle of the playoff pack, as teams below them do better, and teams above them get worse. They may have two difficult weeks ahead of them (vs TKO and vs BRW), but since they close out the season against already eliminated Peoria, the playoffs seem like their destiny, and try as they might, they can't fight destiny.

5.) Colorado Bears
85-74-3 (86.5 pts)
Magic Number - 23.0 (7.5 wins/week)
Remaining Schedule: BRW/PEO/RAK

Last week the Bears were worried they had mortgaged their 2010 draft for the number 7 seed. After a 7-2 blow out against the top seeded team, Colorado's confidence has skyrocketed. They get the pleasure of proving themselves this week against the surging Phenoms, a break against the Bricklayers, and then put it all on the line against the Crows, which could end being the match up of the year, with both teams with everything to win/lose.

6.) Rakeville Crows
83-77-2 (84.0 pts)
Magic Number - 25.5 (8.5 wins/week)
Remaining Schedule: FIT/TIJ/COL

The best team in the EHBA finally squeaked into the playoff picture, thanks largely to a Tijuana meltdown at the hands of Phenoms last week. The cream of the crap has finally risen above it all and has really got to be the most feared team in the top 6 right now. Don't let their record fool you (they're actually just 4-4 against other current playoff bound teams this season), Rakeville will be a scary team if they can hold onto their playoff spot. It'll be fun to watch their final two match ups against other borderline teams fighting for that spot. Don't expect the Crows to be the odd team out however.




Power Rankings (Week 19)
By: Alexander Marquez Alejandro; Full Court Press

1. Bridgewater - I'll be honest--I have no idea how they're doing it. The team looks not so great on paper, but they keep on rolling.

2. Tokyo - Smackdown to Colorado last week notwithstanding, they still look like the team to beat in the playoffs.

3. Las Vegas - No longer control their own destiny, but still well-positioned to make a run in the playoffs. They may actually be better off in the 4th seed if they can't get the Bye though; Rakeville would be a crappy reward for the 3rd seed.

4. Colorado - It was big trouble in Little Tokyo for the Vegans last week, as the Bears showed that their previous struggles are behind them.

5. Rakeville - Everyone in Tokyo was bummed to see them get back into the playoff chase against Las Vegas. Too bad those custom made 'NASH' Vegan jerseys aren't refundable.

6. Tijuana - Team is a little top-heavy with Butler, Terry, Marion, Kidd, and Haywood all playing big minutes, but they should still make the playoffs. Clash with Rakeville next week will be huge.

7. Montreal - I don't know how they're staying afloat. With games against Tokyo and Bridgewater, you have to think they're finished...but then along comes Peoria to close out the season. Despite Jackie Moon's best efforts, they may be playoff-bound after all.

8. South Carolina - Hard to get too excited about the win over Montreal, but it's a favorable schedule the next two weeks. With a little luck, they could end up in the playoff hunt. It's a shame it might come down to a few categories here and there, since their coach has failed to update his lineup multiple times, costing them those precious wins.

9. Fitchburg - They seem to be in every game, but they just seal the deal. They needed a blowout against Peoria, but just barely escaped with a win. Looks like it's just not going to happen for them this year.

10. Weymouth - Ouch. LeBron can make a turd look pretty nice, but apparently only for about four weeks.

11. Dublin - The youngsters can be frisky on any given night.

12. Peoria - Apparently Rip Hamilton is available...


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League Notes:

-The Peoria Bricklayers were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention after their Week 18 loss to Fitch Foo Fighters, the latest in a season Peoria has stayed in the playoff chase!**

-The DeathPiggys traded away PF/C Mehmet Okur this week. When questioned about it, GM Jackie Moon responded, "It's no secret I've always hated Serbians." When told that Okur was actually Turkish, Moon cried out, "Good God, what have I done?!!?"

-Tokyo has been surprisingly inactive in the trade market so far this year, leading some to speculate...something something time zones. There's a joke in there.**

**probably