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Week 3 (11/18 & 11/21)
Bull Knights vs IXLOS Sabers

The Bull Knights are off to a great start to the season, going 6-0 with a winning margin of 33 points per game, all while remaining in the hunt for the Cup. But they will face off with the IXLOS Sabers this saturday, with the winner taking the front seat in the Great 8. IXL seemed to be taking it easy until they lost in the cup, and now they have been taking it out on Great 8 teams, winning by an average margin of 40.5 points since they were ousted from the tournament. However it seems that there is turmoil and turnover in the IXL team, with 2 of their players, one being MVP candidate Wilson To-ong, now on the trading block. With the early addition of Lelos Gourlidis, will a now complete Bull Knights team be able to go 7-0 for the first time since their creation? Or will the relegates from the D.III get in the front seat for a promotion back to D.III? Lets look at the KTV for each team and find out.
KTV for BUL: Keep it close and let the backups win this game. Both teams have a very good roster, with BUL having an average team rating of 9.4 this year, whiile IXL has a team rating of 9.2. But if we crunch some numbers, we will see that the rosters are not similiar at all. BUL's highest rated player is Stefan Antonsson with a rating of 12.3, but the standard deviation of the ratings is 1.97085, meaning that most all of the players are within about 2 points of the average 9.4. Meanwhile IXL highest rated player is Wilson To-ong with a 13.3, but the STDEV for them is 2.74071. All of this goes to show that the IXL possibly have a better starting five, but the BUL's bench is much more capable, and this is where BUL needs to have success if they want to win.
KTV for IXL: Run an explosive offense. IXL have the advantage inside with To-ong and outside with Wu Shuoxiang and Rustam Rendakov. If they can put up points quickly, then they might be able to run away with this one. Foul trouble could spell disaster for this team if one of their 3 top players goes out though, and BUL's opponents are committing on average about 20 fouls a game, so look for this to be a deciding factor. If IXL can survive the 10 minutes or so that the starters are taking a breather, then they have a real chance to win this game.

Final Score: BUL- 87, IXL- 84
BUL has backups that could start on 3/4 of the teams in this league, and I think that they will be the difference in this match-up.

Since we are about to enter inter-conference play, I thought I would do a updated power ranking. It is quite difficult to rank the top 5 teams so far, since there is no clear cut favorite, but here is my best shot.

Power Ranking #2 (Preseason ranking)

#1 Georgia PowerRiders (1)
Surprisingly GEO has been leading the way with defense this season, allowing the 2nd fewest points in the entire league. Donát Gubán as been leading the way as expected, scoring 37.6 points a game and shooting 47.5% from the field. Their only loss came at the hands of Big Big Gulps and fellow scoring phenom Vsevolod Averchenkov. But if GEO's key players can get their game shape up, expect this hiccup to be the only one this season.

#2 IXLOS Sabers (2)
IXL has been a dominating defensive force all season, only allowing 72.9 points a game, and only 63.7 points a game since they were ousted from the national tourney. However, last week IXL sold their leading rebounder and they have their leading scorer on the transfer list now, so it seems that either IXL is about to blow up in preparation for the future, or they are trying to bring in more talent, which would be scary. Their roster isn't as formidable now as it was at the beginning of the season, but they are still #2 in this power ranking.

#3 Bull Knights (4)
BUL is ranked #1 in point differential, #3 in scoring, #3 in points allowed, and tied with the above two teams for average player rating at 9.4. However with a poor showing against IXLOS Sabers last week, where they shot 33.8% from the field and lost by 20 points, along with a key injury to Cieszymir Klimczak, this team is entering inter-conference play with a crippled confidence. But as long as BUL has Mustapha Hajri, who has the highest shooting percentage of the top ten scorers with 51.6% from the field, this team is not going to be easy to beat.

#4 Big Big Gulps (6)
This team is really quite odd. They beat my #1 ranked team one week but then lose to a 2-6 team the week before. It seems that BIG's training regiment is costing them games, as their two losses came when they dressed less than five players. But when all the chips are on the table, this team has the talent to beat anyone in the league. Led by Vsevolod Averchenkov, look for this team to barley squeak into the playoffs and then pull off some major upsets.

#5 B.I.G Ballers (5)
This team has the most prolific offense in the league, scoring 109.6 points a game and winning by an average of 25.2 points. BIG has an outstanding starting five; they can pound it inside with Urmas Nael and Temel Öndüç, who are shooting a combined 60.3% from the field, and they have the perfect floor general in Marek Łętowski to dish it inside to them, who is leading the league in assists with 8.9 a game. Their weakness seems to be in their outside defense, where they have given up a combined 350 points to the PG and SG positions, which is 52% of their total points allowed. Plus I cannot rank them higher until they beat quality opponents.

#6 Darlington Falcons (10)
#7 The Blood Suckers (3)
#8 Sheboygan Red Skins (8)
#9 Arkansas Kings (not ranked)
#10 Ten Jaguars (11)
#11 DreamTeam3 (12)
#12 Texas Demon Slayers (13)
#13 Rat Brigade (14)
#14 Giant Hobo (not ranked)
#15 Phi Slamma Boicey (15) [ how the **** is this team still in the cup?!?!?!?]
#16 Saint Paul Murderers (16)

Projected MVP ranking:
1. Donát Gubán
2. Wu Shuoxiang
3. Vsevolod Averchenkov
4. Rastislav Budzinák
5. Mustapha Hajri
6. Görkem Ferzan
7. Zhao Xiuguang
8. Stefan Antonsson
9. Miguel José Cordero

Week 4 (11/25-11/28)
#3 Darlington Falcons vs. #2 B.I.GBallers

In my updated power ranking, it was pretty much a toss up between these two teams as who the #5 slot should belong to. This game feature the two top scoring teams in the league, with each team scoring about 109 points a game, so expect some pretty outrageous numbers in this game, especially if the pace is high. The winner will not only be awarded a top 5 spot in my next power ranking, but will more importantly stay in the race for the top spot in their respective conference. BIG has made a name for themselves by beating everyone they are supposed to beat convincingly, but are unable to take down a top team. On the other hand, DAR has taken down IXLOS Sabers and Big Big Gulps this season, albeit against a makeshift lineup from those teams. But now lets see how the stack up against each other:
KTV for DAR: Put all the marbles in for defending the inside game of BIG. They have two big men will out perform the big men from DAR. One key adjustment to make in order to do this is to start Clément Yver. He is the only man who has proficient game shape on DAR that is worth playing, and grabbing 6.5 RBs in 15 mins of play on average isnt a bad stat either. Relying on Miguel José Cordero would be a mistake right now, as his game shape has made his rating drop 1.5 below his season average over the last two games, as well as making his shooting percentage drop about 8% over that span as well. In order for him to be productive in the future, the manager has to do a better job managing his minutes, but as far as this game goes, he will not be at his best.
KTV for BIG: Pour it on. BIG has DAR beat in almost every position, ans if they can run an uptempo,balanced offensive attack, focusing somewhat on the advantage inside, then they will run a way with this one. They have better game shape overall regarding the starters, and with so many weapons, they can take their pick on which position to take advantage of. Plus Marek Łętowski, who has a 14.8 AST/TO ratio, will find the open guy in most situations. The only cause for concern is DAR's three point game. DAR leads the league in attempts and makes from beyond the arc, and if either Linartas Šliackus (39.7% from 3-point), Cordero (37.9%), or Atilla Rüzgar (39.5%) get on a roll, it could spell disaster for BIG. But since this is where most of their points come from, it should be easy to take it away, perhaps with a 3-2 zone.

Final Score: BIG -127, DAR -102
Assuming BIG doesn't play 2 players, the mascot, a lucky fan, and a real life falcon, then this one shouldnt be close. If DAR's game shape was better, this might actually be a game.

i think im ranked 4 now. what do you mean by projected MVP ranking. im just wondering

The number in the parenthesis represents where a team was in my preseason ranking, so since you joined after the i did that ranking, you were not there. And the Projected MVP ranking is where I think certain players will fall in the MVP voting at the end of the season, if things were to continue on their current path, which I highly doubt to happen.

P.S. Saint Paul Murderers is no longer with us, the #16 slot goes to SLAMMIN MIAMI HEAT

About our matchup, I definitely botched the GDP, and I think that hurt alot. Also I played CT against my opponent in the cup two days before, so I'm sure my that didn't help as I was playing on the road. Also I've been trying to train pressure for my trainees lately, which as forced me to start Mustapha Hajri, my ace, as the SF, which does not suit his skills. His rating is down almost by 4 points when he starts there instead of the SG position, but with a team loaded on outside talent, I need to put him there in order to have my best lineup as I train.

To-ong was a pricy player and I can see how selling him now would benefit you in the future. And also with a projected net profit of around $84K, you will be able to get either a nice trainee or an awesome veteran when you promote back up to D.III.

As far a the early MVP rankings, I've noticed that while it is based mostly on player performance, with points per game being perhaps the biggest factor, the success of the team is also factored in, which is why I didn't include players such as Indersdorf (TX) and Montiel (TEN). Besides their ratings are just to low to be considered. But I definitely agree the award it Guban's to lose, although I do see Vsevolod Averchenkov giving him a run for his money, especially if Big Big Gulps advance further into the playoffs than Georgia PowerRiders.

Alright so it might be a little early, but I would like to hear what you guys think about who is going to be voted Allstars this year.
Most people think that this game is meaningless and simply ceremonial, however, for the past 4 seasons, the team that wins the championship comes from the conference that wins the Allstar game. Coincidence? I think not. So which conference is stronger this year, and who do you think will represent their respective conferences? Let the interconference smacktalk begin!!

As for me, I believe that the conferences are very evenly matched. Here are some stats: The Big 8 is 37-17 this season, while the Great 8 is 35-19, but has a 9-7 record against the Big 8. The top 3 scorers this season come from the Big 8, but 7 out of the top ten scorers come from the Great 8. The Great 8 has 13 players with an average rating of 10 or greater, while the Big 8 has 15 players. The Big 8 is 1-2 when it comes to games between the top 4 teams from each conference, but the top 2 teams from the Great 8 have yet to play against the top teams from the Big 8. The Great 8's average point differential is +58, while it is -58 in the Big 8. One key stat though that I believe is the deciding factor is that the Great 8 has the top 2 defenses so far, and we all know that defenses wins championships, and due to the aforementioned fact, the Great 8 will win the Allstar game. (That logic is slightly backwards, but I dont care)

Here are my projected lineups for each conference for the Allstar game:

Big 8
PG: Rastislav Budzinák (DRE), Zhao Xiuguang (TBS)
SG: Donát Gubán (GEO), Tim Barnes (TBS)
SF: *Vsevolod Averchenkov* (BIG), Gustavo Lousada (GEO)
PF: Urmas Nael (BIG), Antonio Cicuta (GEO)
C: Temel Öndüç (BIG), Guillaume Vénard (GEO)

Great 8
PG: Wu Shuoxiang (IXL), Mei Weiliang (ARK)
SG: Miguel José Cordero (DAR),Jean-Philippe Duhamel (SHE)
SF: *Mustapha Hajri* (BUL), Renaldas Šukšinas (ARK)
PF: Cieszymir Klimczak (BUL), ANYBODY!
C: Stefan Antonsson (BUL), Jędrzej Jałowski (SHE)

* these players could be placed in either the SG or SF positions.

Now obviously there are 5 more games to be played until the results are revealed, so this is subject to change, but if the results were presented today, this is how I think things will shake down.

at least i have 2 guys in the all star game i personally think mei weiliang on my team is good but i dont like how he plays. thats me but he does help me win games. i plan on selling him. hes been with me for a while. he helped me get to this league

@Elite- Dont get too excited yet. Im not the decider on who gets voted an Allsta., I'm just the neighborhood fortune teller that may be and most likely is wrong. You can take my take very lightly.

@Mix - I totally agree about the waste of a whole training day, and in that aspect, Allstar week does kinda stink. But I guess that is how it is in most sports, where the Allstar game is a tribute to the great players, and also a midseason rest for the rest of the players. I can't tell you how much I wish the Allstar game was this week so I could have my starting PF back before I have the take on the best the Big 8 has to offer.

Speaking of which, I really cant wait for that matchup. Last year I barely beat them and I know that they are looking for revenge. Plus this game features the two best SG's in the league, and last years game didnt disappoint, so I dont expect this years to either. I'm kinda hoping they will tire themselves out against the Sabers the week before. Can I quickly comment on how much that stinks, having to face the top two teams in the Great 8 back to back?

And I did sign up for the Offsite and the tools are quite helpful, especially the Game Predictor. Thanks for the invite! Good luck next week! You can bet your ass I'll be doing this week's breakdown on the GEO vs. IXL game!