Finals Preview
We are down to the final two. Muzz and the Panthers have seemed destined to be here with their incredible regular season performance and equally impressive playoff wins. They dispatched of a talented A Team squad quite easily and do it with chemistry that is unmatched in Retro. Bricklayers have been the underdog for most of the playoffs, using that to fuel them to the final game. Umer caught fire early to jump out to an early lead and take a lead against the tigers that they never gave back. Let’s look at the matchups of this game.

Umer vs Muzz
An amazing matchup, a former MVP against a player looking to get his first amidst a great season. Muzz still has a quick first step and can turn on some scoring when needed but he has become more well rounded as he has aged, really becoming a great passer. Umer is on a tear right now, attacking the basket and using the crossover to get good three point looks. He is the driver of the Bricklayers and they go as he goes. At this stage of his career Muzz can’t keep up with the younger Umer.
Edge: Bricklayers

David vs Yusuf
David had a quiet game scoring yesterday but made his usual high iq plays, getting into passing lanes and hitting the boards as a guard to keep possessions alive. There was a moment last week that the Panthers were letting A Team back in the game and Yusuf took the ball hit a quick crossover to an easy layup and you knew he was toying with his defender. He is extremely talented handling the ball and scoring. Like David he has extremely high basketball iq and the tie breaker between them is that he can score at will.
Edge: Panthers

Zaid vs Atif
This is a great matchup cause these guys play a similar style of game. They create havoc for ball handlers that lead to transition opportunities and easy buckets for their team. Atif is probably the better scorer but Zaid seems to have a motor that never ends. It does help that he has a decade on Atif. Atif scored 14 points yesterday and is a killer at knowing when to leak out for easy scoring opportunities meanwhile Zaid is shifty and does so many things that won’t show up on the scoreboard. This matchup is very even.
Edge: Even

Abdullah vs Hyder
For all Hyder’s complaining he got his team to the finals in his first season at the helm in Retro so whatever he’s doing worked. His presence in the court in this matchup though will be limited. Abdullah has had a phenomenal season, being the most consistent producer on the best team in the league. He can score down low and is an underrated rebounder. His best asset is the chemistry he has with all his teammates. They know how to find each other in open spaces and he can knock down threes. Hyder himself hit the dagger three of the game last night and we have seen him go for thirty this season.
Edge: Panthers

Idris vs Hassib
Idris is having an amazing season, he was ferocious on the boards yesterday and had some huge blocks. Hassib saved his best effort for the semifinals going for 17 points. He works so well with Muzz and Yusuf always getting to the right spot on the floor. The truth is we probably should call this matchup a draw but there’s one deciding factor. Idris has struggled all season with really physical big bodies centers and that is Hassib’s specialty. He will try to push the young Bricklayer around and when considering fatigue it should work.
Edge: Panthers

Bench: Umer and Musaib vs Ali Mian and Waqar
Umer can jump out of the gym and hit a mid range jumper but Ali Mian is the best player of this group. He does all the little things that help win games and that will be huge here. Musaib will play a few minutes and be a body to give the others some rest while Waqar can be called upon for defensive stops when they matter.
Edge: Bricklayers

In the end the Panthers have some better matchups and they are the more rested of the two. We think like yesterday this is a lower scoring game and it will get close until the end when Muzz and Yusuf lead the Panthers to another title in Retro.

Panthers 48 Bricklayers 42