Over in the Great 8:
Predicted Order of Finish:
1. LeBron Slams Up
2. Serapo Gaeta
3. Defenseless Babies
4. Rip City Revival.
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5. U.K. Nuggets
6. ATL The Hawks
7. Milwaukee Lethargy
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8. Visionaries
1st Round: LSU over RCR, SG over DB
Conference Finals: LSU over SG
The Teams
LeBron Slams Up
This franchise barely hung on last season and returns nearly every player from a 6-16 record and a surprise relegation win. They take the top spot through offseason acquisitions and the potential to sell their current listed players for even more upgrades. This is a big leap for this team, but in a conference where there are more unknowns than knowns, this franchise could make that big leap up.
Serapo Gaeta
Another franchise that returns every player from last season's 12-10 team. The team came on strong toward the end of the year, winning 4 of their last 5, including a 2 point OT victory over the team ahead of them on this list. Meza and Bayat anchor an extremely strong two-man attack, and there may be just enough depth for the team to inch its way upward this season.
Defenseless Babies
Like the team just below it on this list, this is a team that may see some skill slippage throughout the season. Still a fantastic pair of 27-year-olds motor this team forward. This a determined franchise with a relegation series win and they've proven they have no problem going to the transfer wire mid-season for help when needed. This group plays D and that will always keep things close.
Rip City Revival
Normally a team that finishes 17 and 5 will be an automatic favorite to take over the top spot. But there are just too many questions surrounding this franchise. A team that won with depth last season now has only eight players of D2 quality on its roster. And without depth, can the franchise hope to make a deep Cup run again, and bank enthusiasm? Probably not. The positives are two top-end quality players and a solid 8 man rotation. The negatives are age and injury risk. If they can muster up some depth and stay healthy there's a thin margin between 4 and 1.
The best of the rest:
U.K. Nuggets
If you can only play two players then this is your team. This franchise wins the NBA jam tournament. But with more than 50% of the payroll tied up in two players, depth is the question facing this franchise. Do they have enough? There's hope on the horizon with multiple U21 players being trained alongside Sherwood Dickens (my vote for the best name out there). Like the Dragons, this team could make significant gains in training and vault up this list. And if other teams can't handle their two beasts, then they'll quickly move up.
FINALS PREDICTION
Lunch Room Bullies over LeBron Slams up
Now let's play the games and prove this all wrong.
Last edited by Jbogroff at 06/05/2020 18:47:45