Week 3 (1/11-1/14)
B.I.GBallers vs Georgia PowerRiders
Two of the most dominant teams go head to head this week, and this match could end up determining which one holds the top seed come playoff time. This match is quite intriguing because of the individual matchups. B.I.GBallers has a quality lineup that may be able to go toe-to-toe with GEO's own formidable lineup. The only question is if BIG can stop the scoring phenom, Donát Gubán.
KTV for BIG: Do not put everything into stopping Donát Gubán. GEO's starting frontcourt is shooting a combined 54% from the field, and they rely on defenses swarming to the outside to get easy buckets. It has been proven over the past season and a half that trying to blanket Gubán will not necessarily reduce his scoring, as he takes sometimes as many as 40 shots a game, and about half go in. But if they can make GEO a one man show, then it will be much easier to beat them. Also it is important to notice that just because Gubán is an excellent scorer doesn't mean that he is an excellent defender, and his average game shape rating means he wont be at his best. GEO's average perimeter defense rating is awful, while their inside defense rating is respectable, and they really like to run a 2-3 zone. All of this points to an outside based offense.
KTV for GEO: Limit Turnovers. GEO turns the ball over 13.2 times a game, 2nd most in the Big 8, while BIG allows only 8.5 turnovers a game. This wide margin could mean the difference when playing an evenly matched team like BIG. Antonio Cicuta is the cause of most of these turnovers, so perhaps moving him to the C position where he will handle the ball less is a patient offensive scheme will result in fewer turnover, not to mention that his rating at the C position is 1.6 better than at PF. Also it would be wise to limit Gubán's minutes in this game; not only will it allow him to perform better at the end of this game, but also in the future.
Final Score: BIG- 107, GEO-112
BIG's strength is their inside attack, which unfortunately is GEO's defensive strength, and I don't believe they can outscore GEO without big games from Urmas Nael and Temel Öndüç.