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Another unexpected cup win against a D.IV team, but it looks like the Claws will be bowing out and watching the rest of the Cup games from their living room couches as they face the former NBBA team Slashing Dragons next Thursday. However, the looming end of their cup run did not deter them, and even the loss of starting center Gilbert Rutledge could not stop them as the short-handed Maine squad "Clawed" their way to a 96-95 road victory over Ciudad de Panama Perros. Mallory Montel, starting in place of the injured Rutledge, had two buckets in the final minute including the go-ahead shot with two seconds left in regulation, Youseff Belhadj nearly messed around and got himself a triple double with 21 points 9 rebounds and 9 assists, and Michael Eini had 17 points, nine rebounds, 6 assists, and the game-saving block of Orlando Capriles' layup attempt at the buzzer. Next Tuesday, Maine Claws return home to face the newly created team odd future.

In other league news, Naples Napalm won handily (no surprises here) and Da vicks beat V squad at home, 100-83. For the time being, this puts the Claws in first place in the great 8.

Nice Run Claws!

Thanks! Well all good things must come to an end, and facing former NBBA team Slashing Dragons in the cup, the Claws coaching staff decided that building up enthusiasm and getting training for some backups was more important than going down in a blaze of glory. Hence only three players dressed, and Slashing Dragons blew Maine out 127-25.

Now on to all-star week. First a look at the Big 8 starters:

PG: Antonio Ruiz Díaz (10606457), Naples Napalm:
Diaz is the highest paid player in the league and earned every penny with his performance so far this season, as he started every game for the league leading Naples Napalm and averaged 18.7 ppg on 47.5% shooting from the field (34.6% from 3-point range) and also added 7.9 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game. However, he was even more of a force on the defensive end, averaging 2.2 steals per game and holding opponents to 22.8% shooting (42-184) from the field and 14% (7-50) from beyond the arc. He definitely deserves to be an all-star starter.

SG: Corrado Trombini (6392015), Da Vicks:
At 31 years old, Trombini is just one of three all-stars over the age of 30. However, this season he showed he hasn't lost a step as he played in every game and averaged a team-high 24.8 ppg, good for third in the league. He shot 45.5% from the field and had his best season from the 3-point line since season 10, shooting 42.5% from deep (he shot 42.9% in season 10). Trombini also elevated his game against other top league teams, scoring 39 points to lead Da Vicks in a win over the Maine Claws, 104-86.

SF: Orlando Capriles (18429450),Ciudad de Panamá Perros:

Capriles played in every game for his team without a break, even playing in a third cup game or scrimmage every week. He averaged 17.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg, and a team-high 4.5 apg in 38.1 minutes per game. Perhaps one of the best things about Capriles is his efficiency with the ball, as he shot 49.7% from the field, 45.5% from three, and 71.1% from the free-throw line.

PF: Nicolas Diaz (13375417), Naples Napalm:

Diaz shares a similar last name with his teammate and fellow all-star Antonio Ruiz Díaz, and the two are the same height at 6'5", but there the resemblance between the blond Argentinian and the red-headed Frenchman ends. Diaz played in all thirteen games and started at both the power forward and center spots, averaging a team-high 20.7 ppg to go with his team-high 16.7 rebounds, good for second in the league. He also was an excellent passer out of the post with 4.5 assists per game. Shooting 60% from the field and 85.4% from the stripe, he was virtually unstoppable on offense. If not for the talent of his teammates, Diaz could very well have led the league in scoring.

C: Olímpio Paraíso (738035), Da Vicks:

Paraíso is one of the oldest players in the league at 36, but still managed to play at a very high level. He only averaged 9.7 ppg, which is surprising in an all-star, but his efficiency and contributions to a very good team likely earned him the nod over more talented players like Naples Napalms' Enriko Viks, a mid-season addition who was likely also overshadowed to a certain extent by his teammates. Still, this selection is probably disputable.

And now the Big 8 backups:

PG: John Krueger (20675453), Double Dubz:
If not for Díaz, Krueger would easily have been the starter. He averaged 22.0 ppg on 49.8% shooting and 41.1% from distance, to go with 5.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. He also was very careful with the ball, averaging a mere 0.8 turnovers per game (an astonishingly low number for a point guard). On the defensive end, he also averaged 2.4 steals per game, but appeared to gamble a lot as opposing guards still managed to score fairly effectively or get by him to attack the basket (Note: I say this because in one game, the opposing point guard attempted 13 free throws and appeared to draw most of his fouls on the Double Dubz center, who fouled out while Krueger only had one foul. This would seem to indicate that Krueger allowed his man to beat him inside, forcing the center to foul him to prevent an easy basket.

SG: Noe McBride (20675463), Double Dubz:
McBride averaged 25.8 ppg, good for second in the league, but he ends up backing up Trombini here because of his lower shooting percentage and worse defensive play.

SF: Eugenio Albericci (19462785), Naples Napalm:
Albericci is a mystery. His low salary indicates lower skills, although as a SF his salary probably underrates him. However, he put up decent stats, averaging 13.2 ppg on 49.7% shooting from the field. He likely benefited a lot from having a great point guard to find him when he was open, and a great PF who demanded attention from the defense, resulting in more of those open looks. So while he has a decent stat line, a player like Da Vicks' Manuel Barella might be more deserving based on individual talent.

PF: Enriko Viks (12133110), Naples Napalm:
A very strong case can be made that Viks should be the all-star starter at PF and Diaz the starter at C. However the fans didn't see it that way, but Viks' obvious talent was too great to pass up, and he ends up backing up his teammate here in the all-star game and starting alongside him every other week.

C: Ed Manley (21069311), Ciudad de Panamá Perros:
Manley is very good on the boards and an above-average defender, but horrible offensively as he only average 5.3 ppg in 31 minutes and shot a miserable 32.5% from the field. For a player whose shots come close to the basket, this is absolutely unacceptable, but a lack of quality center play and his aforementioned defense convinced enough fans to vote him into the all-star game.

Moving on to the Great 8 starters (my conference!):

PG: Cedrick Pagan (22090038), Maine Claws:
When he was drafted with the 11th pick in the Season 17 draft, Claws reporters and draftniks viewed him mostly as "the consolation prize in the Aaron Meeker sweepstakes". One expert said, "He's better than Gary McDowell, but he's no Aaron Meeker and even players like Calvin Bunn, Richard Duvall, and Maurice Wilbanks are more ready to contribute than he is." Another wrote, "He's an excellent athlete who could be something special if he ever lived up to his potential, but is that ever going to happen? He's a solid on-ball defender and a decent passer with a nice touch on his jumpshot, but he doesn't have true three-point range, he lacks the ability to finish at the rim, and watching him bring the ball up the court is quite frankly an eyesore. In short, he doesn't have the size or skills to play small forward, which is where his offensive game might fit best, he lacks the shooting stroke to be a 2-guard, and if he can't handle the ball will he ever amount to much at point guard?" While all these criticisms had merit, Pagan made it his mission to prove the doubters wrong, as he won the starting job straight out of training camp as a rookie. He suffered some ups and downs as a rookie, but in his second season he has really come into his own. For training reasons, he has split time with John Paul Golong and has only played in half the games, but when he has played he has been magnificent. This season, he is averaging 16.1 ppg and 10.6 assists per game, along with 4.1 rebounds and 2.4 steals. Although he still lacks that three-point touch (18.2% (2-11) on the season), he is making 44.3% of his shots from the field and is making his free throws at a 90.5% clip. This season, he tied a league record with 19 assists in a game, and he's still only 19 and getting better every week.

SG: Youseff Belhadj (22263996), Maine Claws:
Belhadj is one of the most versatile players in the league. He can play or defend any position on the court, and his remarkable chemistry with Cedrick Pagan has led to some spectacular plays. This season, he is averaging 16.1 ppg on 46.8% from the field and 50.0% from three, 10.1 rpg,and 6.0 apg for the Claws. He also plays for his country's junior national team (Al Jazair). There have been rumors that he may be on the trading block to make way for Neil Clarke and John Paul Golong to train with Pagan, but his on-court performance has nothing to do with this speculation. There is a reason why he received the most all-star votes of any player this season.

SF: Michael Eini (6853027), Maine Claws:
Eini has been a little overshadowed by the more compelling storylines of his younger teammates, but he remains a solid presence for the Claws. He is still the go-to player for big baskets, as the team's best shooter and with the best ability to create his own shot. He is averaging 16.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, and 4.4 apg.

PF: Ömer Faruk Turaç (11550171), V Squad:
Turac averaged 13.4 ppg and 10.6 rebounds per game. However, these stats do not tell the whole story as Turac showed surprising ability on both the offensive and defensive end. Offensively, he shot 46.4% from the field, but showed a nice outside touch for a big, making 42.3% of his perimeter shots. And he was surprisingly solid from the line, making 78.8% of his free throws. Defensively, he averaged 2.4 blocks per game as part of one of the best defensive frontcourts in the league.

C: José Firmino Lins (9241249), V Squad:
They say "You can't teach height", and at 7'1", Lins is not lacking in that department. He leads the league in rebounds with a staggering 19.4 per game, and although he only averages 10.5 ppg he does so fairly effectively, and his contributions on the defensive end and especially on the glass definitely make up for any offensive limitations.

Great 8 backups:

PG: John Paul Golong(23476013), Maine Claws:
Golong is a rookie, but his agent will definitely be seeking a pay raise for him next season. Although his upside is somewhat limited and he can't defend well or rebound at all, he has put up remarkable stats for a player of his position. He came out of a weak draft class, so expectations were low, but even so the Claws front office again confounded the experts by taking Golong with 'better' players like Johnny Crockett still on the board. Especially with a young point guard like Pagan on the roster and a definite need at backup SF, the selection of Golong had fans and experts alike scratching their heads in bewilderment. However, the rookie performed very well in his opportunities this season, splitting time with Pagan at PG and averaging 15.9 ppg on 50.5% shooting (35.7% from three) and 8.1 assists (which would be good for second in the league behind only Pagan). The team hopes he can use this all-star selection as a confidence-builder to improve and become a solid contributor to this franchise for a long time to come.

SG: Theo Briscoe (21603292), V Squad:
Briscoe averaged 20.4 ppg, earning him the selection here. However, he took a lot of shots, and his other stats were otherwise unremarkable, which is why the fans overwhelmingly voted Belhadj the starter.

SF: Mario Alberto Melonar (19368435), V Squad:
Melonar had very pedestrian stats, but makes it onto the roster because the Hustling Hawks traded superstar Anaximandros Lekkas away before the all-star voting. Lekkas was averaging 32.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, and 4.2 apg before he was traded. His absence opens up a spot for Melonar.

PF: Wade Campbell (25541174), Grey Huskies:
Somewhere every other power forward in the Great 8 is cursing the ignorant fans/sobbing their hearts out/drinking themselves into a stupor over this astonishing selection. Campbell is objectively one of the worst players in the league, plays for a horrible team, has only played 7 games, and put up mediocre numbers (12.1 ppg, 13.1 rpg, 5.6 apg). Those numbers are decent, but not great, and furthermore they are inflated by being on such a bad team.

C: Mallory Montel (19512002), Maine Claws:
Oh how quickly the fans forget. Montel was the Claws' backup center for most of the season, a role in which he averaged 9.5 ppg and 9.3 rpg in 25 mpg. Gilbert Rutledge, the starting center, was averaging 13.4 ppg on 60.6% from the field and was playing exceptionally well offensively. Before he got injured, he was showing the ability to get open down low in the half-court offense and run the floor in transition for several nice feeds from Pagan for powerful dunks, and was well on his way to an all-star berth. Then he got hurt, missed 4 games, and in the first game after he goes down Montel replaces him and scores 19 points on 9-12 shooting, including the go-ahead basket with two seconds left in a thrilling 96-95 victory. Since then, the fans' loyalty switched, and Montel was voted into the all-star game instead of the probably more deserving Rutledge. Oh well that's how the story goes.

Last edited by Trueborn at 03/26/2012 16:36:08

And the Claws would like to say goodbye to Neil Clarke, an 18yo rookie SG who was chosen with the 43rd pick of the draft. Clarke showed very nice skills and potential and was a bargain salary-wise, but he was improving relatively slowly and the team decided to focus in a different direction with first-round pick John Paul Golong and established young talents in Cedrick Pagan and Youseff Belhadj. So he was shipped off to a D.IV Hong Kong team. The Maine Claws wish nothing but the best to Neil as he pursues his career overseas, with the goal of returning to play in the United States again someday.

(Hopefully the Hong Kong manager will actually train him and not just keep listing him on the TL for 3 or 4 times the price he paid for him, which Chinese/Hong Kong managers often do).