CBL Finals Preview
This has been an amazing season full of big games, heroic performances and some of the closest standings Retro has ever seen. In the end it comes down to the Tigers, trying to get their first ever Retro chip on the back of their big three of Amrit, Ruhel and Sy. Imaan is a team of veterans featuring a bunch of Retro winners in Dev, Isa, Umair, Faiq and Riz who have been in this situation before and will look to capture the glory of a title again. It should be a great matchup, let's dive into how they compare.
Sy vs Owais: These are the two lead guards for their team but they operate in different ways. Owais is a long time Crescent vet who has been in these situations many times. He likes to bring up the ball and get the team in position. He will take advantage of smaller defenders by bringing him down into the post Mark Jackson style. Sy is a certified shooter, he never met a long range three he didn't like. He can score them in bunches and looks to spark the offense. He is a good passer but mostly when he is working the two man game with Amrit. He is an underrated pest on defense that will grab a couple of steals in this game.
Advantage: Tigers
Ruhel vs Umair: Just three days ago these guys were lining up on the same football field as teammates. This summer they were winning a draft championship together. Now they square off for the ultimate prize. Umair has not quite followed up his breakout summer campaign with a huge regular season but he still has a knack for getting a tough bucket when the time comes. His teammates trust him and his chemistry with Moe Gacha is phenomenal. Ruhel is a two time Retro MVP and that’s predicated on his killer jump shot and flair for the dramatic. He had a good game in the draft finals but doesn’t have big game experience like a lot of the imaan guys and that may play a role. The truth is both of these guys are top tier at their positions and it is probably a wash.
Advantage: Even
Amrit vs Gacha: Amrit may be the best player in Retro. He certainly has been this season. He’s a three level scorer who excels in the mid range and is a killer driving to the basket. He has been a perfect compliment to this Tigers team both in skill and temperament. He gets along with everyone and you can see it in the chemistry they have on the floor. In a game full of stars he is number one. Gacha will probably draw the assignment of trying to shut him down at points. Good luck. He is a great defender and amazing rebounder with maybe the fastest second jump in Retro. His offense is also there without ever needing to call a play for him. Gacha thrives at putbacks, quick cuts into the lane and all out hustle. No knock to Gacha he’s a top tier player but this is an easy one.
Advantage: Tigers
Rahim vs Isa: Age vs youth here. Despite the young age Isa already has a finals MVP in his career. Rahim is experiencing this level of success for the first time. So despite the advantage he has in years he is actually the novice when it comes to playing in the big game. Isa is a great driver to the rim and has really improved his shooting and free throw making in the last couple of years. His motor never stops and he has a knack for finishing at weird angles. Rahim on the other hand is more old school. He’s a big body who likes to finish around the rim but can shoot a three ball. If they are matched up together he may have trouble with his slow release around the bouncy Isa. For this one we gotta take the former FMVP.
Advantage: Imaan
Dully vs Dev: Ok history tells us this is a blowout. Dev is a legend and will have his way here. The truth is however that Father Time is undefeated and this is closer to a pick ‘em then it would have been even a year ago. Dev is easily winded now a days and couldn’t even close out the semis matchup where he was clearly exhausted by the end. His talents are still there in that he has a silky soft touch and still uses that big body to get rebounds. However can he hold up for a full intense game with clock stoppage. Dully is the perfect kind of role player for this Tigers team, communicative, hustles and plays his part without complaining. He’s good on the boards, solid on defense and will knock down an open shot if given the chance. Can he win you a game like Dev can, probably not. But this is a closer matchup than name recognition would have you believe.
Advantage: Imaan
Bench
One thing about having a team of stars is that you will have to sacrifice elsewhere. Tigers are loaded up from but the bench is short and thin, but mostly short. Jibar is the captain and brings the fire. Intense is the only way he knows how to operate and you can bet you will be hearing him yell a lot tonight. Idrees is a great glue guy. No one will beat him to a ball on the floor, he will get his hands on some offensive boards that will give his team a second chance and once or twice he will drive to the basket and make a layup that you didn’t expect. On the Imaan side they have the best bench player in Riz. He hit some big shots in the semi finals and according to him orchestrated the final defensive strategy to finish the game. Faiq has been in more chip games in Crescent than probably anyone else who will be out there tonight. Let us not forget the real heart of the team Corey, Imaan lacks a certain edge when he’s not there. This one is an obvious lean towards one side.
Advantage: Imaan
Official Prediction
Coming into the season, on paper Tigers seemed like the favorite. They came out of the gates slow but found their stride in big games. Captain Jibar steadied them and the big three of Amrit, Ruhel and Sy have shown they can carry the team but will they be able to when the lights are shining brightest. For Imaan Owais and Gacha have been great additions that have brought necessary tools to what Faiq needed to get them over the hump. This game should be intense, we haven’t even brought up that Riz was on this same Tigers team a year ago and there may still be bad blood over his exit. In the end some teams feel like they are meant to be and this Tigers team seems like just that. Expect a great game with big performances that ends in the first championship for the Tigers franchise.
Tigers 62 Imaan 56