Fall 2007: A1 League Champs: Real & Spectacular

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West Broadway Brothel 64  100 Proof Hangover 80

Brothel Closed for the Season Due to Massive Hangover

The gameplan was simple, slow the game down, and don't let the Hitman (23 points) go crazy.  Everytime that he drove past me, which was quite often, there was plenty of help behind me to alter his shot and distrupt the time of the West Broadway Brothel offense.  Anytime he can be held to just 7 field goals on the entire night, you've got to consider your game plan a success.  The intensity of the 100 Proof defense in the first half really set the tone for entire night.  Everyone was swarming, getting hands in passing lanes and challenging every shot.  With Tibbs (18 points, 9 boards) pounding the post, and O'Keefe (39 points) knocking down open shots as a result, the lead continued to grow.  The Macho Man was doing his best AK impersonation from the sidelines, shouting out instructions, changing the gameplan on the fly, and taunting Kevy Kev.  The Hangover held a monsterous 44-21 lead at the break thanks to their playoff intensity.  Even Da Bronco (10 points, 6 assists) came out of his self-imposed retirement for a night to spark some playoff magic.  Sure it wasn't a 54 spot like the last time out against Turin, but he did enough of the little things to make sure his team had a chance.  In the second half, the Brothel made a serious run, as any good team is apt to do.  Karl (19 points) and Billy (10 points) really picked it up as the Hitman was having a tough time.  The aftershock of the blitzing that they took in the first half finally wore off and the offense founda rythmn.  100 Proof backed off a little bit, their intensity hit a lull, and shots started to fall for WBB, especially the 3ball.  O'Keefe carried the load in the second half and Noah "The Ark" (9 points) elevated his game to close the Brothel down.  The lead never got lower than 10 for 100 Proof and victory beers have never tasted so sweet. 

Real & Spectacular 82  McLovin 62

Close Games? R & S Blow away McLovin'

So much for close games come playoff time in this season's A1 League.  Real & Spectacular is having none of that talk as they're gunning to make their run through the post season a memorable one.  It started off in convincing fashion blowing away McLovin' early in the game and never looking back.  A 17 point advantage at the break wasn't enough to satisfy them.  Everyone's midrange jumper was falling and there was nothing that McLovin' could do about it.  Craig Bosko (24 points, 10 boards) exploded for 20 points in the second half while OG (22 points) was steady throughout.  With a full roster, these guys look nearly unbeatable, but both Bosko and OG are on Level Red Baby Watch for the next couple weeks and could miss a game at any time.  That means Superboy (10 points, 5 boards) and Lappy (6 points, 8 assists) will have to step their game up even more in case either one misses time.  The Majic Man (16 points, 12 boards) was able to coast throughout, and it was a good thing because he was still banged up from the 3v3 on Saturday.  But the play of his teammates only legitimized my reasoning for NOT selecting him as this season's MVP.  He doesn't have to have a spectacular game, but O'Cal's teammates Need him to be on point. 

For McLovin', this game was a microcosm of their season.  Inconsistant play on the offensive end and sloppiness on the defensive end doomed them.  Without Mark Allyn (out with an undisclosed 3v3 injury, we really need to have these things after the playoffs) the offense never got into a rythmn and it was 'one pass and shoot' mentality all night.  KO and Sweens both struggled putting in only 10 points each, as AK's gameplans were once again on point.  Hinks, 14 points, was aggressively looking for his shots, and his teammates needed it.  Wrobz (28 points) was the most potent offensive player, but needed a lot of shots to get it done.  As a whole, the squad shot 9 for 32 for downtown and never really turned it on until the game was out of hand.  Real & Spectacular get the stars aligned for them, as they take on the Red Rockets next week and they're the only team this season that's beaten them.  Can they make it 2 for 2 ?

Dukes 73  6 For the Wall 59

Dukes Overcome 6 For the Wall Home Court Advantage

Despite being the higher seed, the team with the better record, and the favorite heading into this game, the Dukes were essentially playing a road game in their opening round match-up.  The crowd up on the balcony was relentless, rallying behind 6 For the Wall and pulling for the upset.  It helped that most of the boys from 100 Proof Hangover stuck around to pull for another early round upset. Everytime Trevor (22 points) or Salazar (21 points) let a three fly, there was plenty of cat calls and booing from the rafters.  Every positive play for 6 For the Wall was cheered on and the defense was encouraged on each ensuing possession.  But in the end, not even the extra energy provided by the crowd was enough to lift them past the heavily favored Dukes.  The Preacher (15 points) stepped his game up in the second half, answering the bell everytime 6 For the Wall threatend. Plus he did a good job on Steve O (13 points) and Q Walsh (9 points).  Jim Rahill (15 points) and Jeremy Gall (18 points) continually rallied the troops everytime the game seemed over.  Down by 20? No big deal, a 10-0 run in a matter of seconds made it a game.  Playoff time calls for the role players to step up when the stars can't get it done.  Brady (9 points) and Matt Wolfe (6 points, 6 assists) are those guys for the Duke,s and they're the best in the gym at what they do, knowing their role.  They hit back to back buckets to extend their lead for good and end any further threat that 6 would throw at them.   For their next trick, they'll take on 100 Proof Hangover in the semi-finals in their quest to get Trevor his first Brick.

Red Rockets 81  GFYS 67

Rockets Take Care of Bidness

Talk about well balanced, each guy for the Red Rockets had at least 19 points as they completely overwhelmed GFYS in their first round match-up.  Of course, it's easy to build a lead when the opposition only shoots 8-40 from downtown, mostly while playing catch-up.  O'Cal was at his usual stellar self, some might say MVP worthy, posting yet another triple double in what has been a career season.  What was most surprising is the amount of shots that O'Cal took.  He scored a nifty 22 points and was aggressively looking for his opportunties.  Once the defense focused on him, he got his teammates involved.  It's easy to look good when you've got Nip Jethi (19 points, 11 boards) and Erik Brown ( 21 points, 17 boards) are hitting the mid-range like they're paid for it.  Seriously, these guys should be giving Rondo shooting lessons in the off-season, it would only help.  With GFYS threatening early in the second half, Phi Slamma and Nip wouldn't be denied.  It was a good thing that those guys were on, as T'N'Tosti (19 points) struggled from the perimeter all night long.  Beagan played great defense on him, hounding him, contesting every shot, blocking a couple threes and generally giving him nothing easy.  Mazzone (36 points, 13 boards) ended up pulling his weight, but as a team they didn't shoot well at all.  Kurt Knepshield (12 points)  made a valiant, Willis Reed-like comeback but to no avail.  Rajotte (8 points) would have liked to have seen the Macho Man in front of him because that's when he's shot the best this season.  Beagan added 11 meanwhile, but they didn't have a shot of keeping pace with the Red Rockets in the second half.  They'll face Real & Spectacular in the second round next week, and they'll be looking to avenge their only loss of the season.