Playoff Preview
8PM Hyder vs Yusuf
This should be a very fun matchup. Yusuf and Samad were seen jawing at each other earlier this season with Yusuf even attempting to bribe the commissioner to get this game on the schedule. Sometimes the world is just funny that way. Hyder’s team has had an uneven draft season, some games looking like they are a well rounded bunch that has enough defense, size and scoring to win; other times they look discombobulated and not quite sure they have their roles figured out. Samad and Muzz are both better with the ball in their hands and Zamier scores best on ball. That means at times they can seem like it is your turn, my turn on offense. Nick seems like a great addition hitting some big shots last week and Hassib is solid in the middle. The defense has seemed pretty good outside of a crazy decision not to foul Arvin last week when up 3. Yusuf’s team is a giant question mark, on paper they should be amazing. Amrit, Tosin and a bunch of killer shooters with size like Rahat, Ibby and allegedly a great shooter in Umer. The problem is they have only been together one game and that was a loss. Will they be able to just come together and play well in a big game versus a good team? It seems unlikely but then again Amrit and Tosin were the top two MVP contenders in the regular season so if they live up to their potential it can be a recipe for scoring. Can the defense hold up is a big question. Tosin is a pest and can get a ton of steals but is not necessarily a great one on one defender and Amrit is just ok in that aspect. If that holds true Yusuf went to Mexico a week early cause it’s right back to Cancun for him. Captain Hyder loves an intense battle and this should be exactly that. This should be a great game that comes down to the wire and in a close game I will pick the duo of Amrit and Tosin to give Samad the boot in draft season for the first time in his career.
Yusuf 56 Hyder 50
9PM Zia vs Aadil
I don’t know if I would still be friends with my teammates after one of the worst beatdowns in Crescent history. Faced with the chance to win and get a bye they got thrashed. But they have to move on and play a team they have already beaten in Zia’s formidable squad. They are at their best when they are working through Ali Khalid in the middle. When he is not distracted by munchkins he is skilled down low and helps to get all his shooters open and willingly makes the passes. That will be the key here. This team couldn’t hit water from a boat last week. Aadil, Ruhel, Yahya, Nafi all cold as ice. The three ball is the ultimate equalizer and when they are hitting they play much better than you think they would. Zia’s team lost an OT game they fought hard for and had to be disappointed with how it ended. Talha and Arvin are a formidable duo and if Arvin can turn it up a little on the offensive end he can be the spark that drives them to a championship appearance. They are getting enough shooting with Zia and Munier but it is the clear weak point of the team. Now when you have bigs like they do, we haven’t even mentioned Sami yet, that may not be an issue. They may be the best defensive team in the draft and they will try to make all these games dirty and gritty to play in their favor. We think they slow this down and do just that in a very tight game.
Zia 48 Aadil 45