Finally, some highlights... due to some technical difficulties, we can only get you a rough cut... but its just in time to get you primed for the playoffs. So... who's taking the Chip this winter?
FBNYC 2K9 FALL Playoff Preview - (2) NYF vs. (7) FAS
FBNYC, 12.2.09
FIRST ROUND
(2) NYC Fury vs. (7) The Agents | Saturday (12/5) 3:00pm @ MLK HS
KEY PLAYERS
R. Dolar 12.4 ppg 4.4 rpg 3.4 apg 1.2 spg
C. Moore 16.3 ppg 8.0 rpg 2.6 apg 1.9 spg
ANALYSIS: It may be a lot to ask of a rookie PG but the Fury's success this post-season will depend on (G) Rommel Dolar. Luckily, he has two vets in (G) Alex Cho and (G) Steven Chen to guide him. On defense, (C) Bryant Picone, (F) Rich Chang and (F) Daniel Kweon anchor a solid front-court that can score when needed. (G) Jon Giacobbe rounds out an 7-man rotation solid from top to bottom. Giacobbe's been inconsistent but if he gets it going, he is very capable of leading the team in scoring.
FAS has some pieces but they've struggled to consistently get (F) Chris Moore and (G) David Chu the ball in the right spots. (C) Mike Song can get to the FT line but hasn't passed well. (F) Malik Taylor puts in great work on the boards as does (F) Dooley Watts but neither has provided any range from the (F) position. And neither have (G) Stephen Ghee and (G) Rich Kim who have struggled with consistency. The key is PG play. (G) Ren Hsieh looked good last week and (G) Rob Toste has been solid. How they run this team will determine if FAS has any real chance.
X-FACTOR: If Giacobbe is there and his shot is on, he can carry the Fury offensively. And, when NYF has it going on offense, Picone and the NYF frontcourt are more than capable of finishing the job on defense. Rob Toste will be the player to watch for FAS. He has struggled with his shot all season but has proven in the past, he can be a dangerous shooter. If he can get it going, FAS may have a surprise in store for the Fury. -- "Scoop" Jack Sun
NYC Fury
GR
GR
The Agents
Advantage
(G) Rommel Dolar
B+
C+
(G) Ren Hsieh
Dolar is fast and has a great handle, the kind of guard that hurts FAS. Hsieh is still recovering from surgery but has shown enough savvy in the last couple of games to be effective.
(G) Alex Cho
B+
C+
(G) David Chu
Cho hasn't been a big scorer since he joined NYF, until the playoffs. Expect big things. Chu had a breakout game in Week 8, displaying the jumper that brought such high expectations.
(F) Steven Chen
B
B+
(F) Rob Toste
Chen is still the defensive dynamo he's always been and his offense is slowly coming around. Toste has been a playmaker all season, he'll have to step up the scoring here.
(F) Rich Chang
B
A+
(F) Chris Moore
Moore is FAS' most dynamic scorer. He can do it from inside and out. Get him the ball. Chang has been a solid glue guy this season, they'll need him more on D than offense.
(C) Bryant Picone
A
B
(C) Mike Song
Picone shuts down the paint and that's where Song wants to go. If Song can draw him out, he'll get the advantage but he'll have to keep Picone off the boards as well. Easier said than done.
BENCH
A-
B
BENCH
Like QIK, the Fury has starters coming off the bench but there's only two. FAS hasn't had great consistency from reserves but they are definite contributors, and sometimes finish out games.
PREDICTIONS:
CHARLES BOK LEE
KENNY "THE JET" LI
"SCOOP" JACK SUN
JEFF VAN GHANDI
(2) NYC Fury
66
62
65
60
(7) The Agents
65
56
54
66 Upset special!
FBNYC 2K9 FALL Playoff Preview - (3) QIK vs. (6) AOD
FBNYC, 12.2.09
FIRST ROUND
(3) NYC Quicks vs. (6) Audacity of Dope | Saturday (12/5) 2:00pm @ MLK HS
KEY PLAYERS
E. Hoover 16.0 ppg 6.2 rpg 2.2 spg 1.0 bpg
U. Naus. 21.4 ppg 4.2 rpg 2.8 apg 2.0 spg
ANALYSIS: QIK still has one of the league's most intimidating lineups. At mid-season, they looked impenetrable but have been inconsistent since then. That might be a result of looking ahead to playoffs but (G) Wilson Lew leads a veteran backcourt that will get (F) Pat Pilar and (C) Ezra Hoover plenty of looks around the rim. (F) Shaun Young and the solid QIK benchwill do everything in between while (F) Michael Thompson provides a deep threat as Young and (G) Kenneth Van have struggled.
It might not be much of a contest but if Dope wants to give themselves a chance, it will take more cohesiveness throughout their line-up and more resolve from (G) Andrew Hara. All things that were present in their win vs. HYP. AOD will have (G) Usama Nausrudeen back in the line-up which makes things more interesting but even if he and (F) Min Park can get it going offensively, they just might be able to keep up with the Quicks. The question is can they make stops when they need them?
X-FACTOR: Young is QIK's most versatile player but now in his true position at the small forward, he has had less mismatches, which means less open looks. Still, if he can start making that corner 3 so deadly last season, game over. As for AOD, it comes down to their mid-season acquisition of Park. You know what you're getting with Hara, Nausrudeen and (C) Len Kamdang. Park his been questionable. If he can get it going offensively, that's a bonus, but it's what he does if he doesn't that will be key. Can he contribute positively if the shot is not falling? -- C.B. Lee
NYC Quicks
GR
GR
Audacity of Dope
Advantage
(G) Wilson Lew
B+
B
(G) Andrew Hara
Few run a team like Lew, a veteran with a penchant for big shots but Hara should test him on D and use his size to his advantage.
(G) Jason Chin
B+
A+
(G) U. Nausrudeen
Chin has been solid all season even when he's struggled with his shot. Nausrudeen looks lights out even when he's not. They will need him to be aggressive throughout.
(F) Shaun Young
B
B-
(F) Min Park
Both have struggled with their shooting this season but its what they do off the ball that may determine the outcome.
(F) Pat Pilar
A
C+
(F) Clinton Starghill
Pilar, when healthy, may be the league's most athletic player. But, he's not healthy, which means limited minutes. Starghill is a feisty defender with 3-pt range.
(C) Ezra Hoover
A+
B+
(C) Len Kamdang
Hoover is as athletic as Kamdang is big. While the rookie center has unparalleled hops in this league, Kamdang is slightly more versatile and has 3-pt range. He'll need it.
BENCH
A
C
BENCH
QIK is deep and has starters coming off the bench while AOD has struggled with consistency though they have shown signs life lately.
PREDICTIONS:
CHARLES BOK LEE
KENNY "THE JET" LI
"SCOOP" JACK SUN
JEFF VAN GHANDI
(3) NYC Quicks
72
70
76
70
(6) Audacity of Dope
56
58
60
54
FBNYC 2K9 FALL Playoff Preview - (4) SWA vs. (5) SLA
FBNYC, 12.2.09
FIRST ROUND
(4) Swagganauts vs. (5) The Slayers | Saturday (12/5) 1:00pm @ MLK HS
KEY PLAYERS
D. Tyson 15.4 ppg 10.6 rpg 4.6 spg 1.4 bpg
J. Kim 22.3 ppg 3.3 rpg 1.9 apg 2.4 spg
ANALYSIS: Arguably the surprise team of the season, SWA doesn't usually look pretty but with a group of straight-laced, blue-collar types, they get the job done. They wear you down with defense, keep the game close and force mistakes down the stretch. (C) Derrick Tyson is an MVP candidate with a versatility that dominates on offense and defense. (F) Amin Gillespie and (F) Dave Liu round out a very strong SWA frontcourt.
The Slayers, on the other hand, have been a tale of two teams. Their start was typical of the back-to-back champs they are but the 2nd half of the season has seen the team check out. It's hard to say who will even be suited out this Saturday but one thing is for sure, defending MVP (G) Joe Kim will be there. Hopefully, he'll get some help from (G) Drew Chen and SLA's deep, scrappy backcourt but it's the bigs who have to show. SWA did an excellent job of swarming Kim in the regular season when SLA had no bigs to take the pressure off.
X-FACTOR: Gillespie has been solid running the show in the second half of the season and if he continues to do that and limit his TOs, SWA can win no matter who shows up. Drew Chen, though, is usually and will still be key for the Slayers. When he's on, he mingles with elite player status but even if he's off, he always seems to be in the right spot at the right time in the crunch. -- K.J. Li
Swagganauts
GR
GR
The Slayers
Advantage
(G) John Hsu
B
B+
(G) Drew Chen
Chen has been solid all season compared to Hsu's somewhat inconsistent play but Hsu always good for at least one big play.
(G) James Lam
C+
A+
(G) Joe Kim
Lam has struggled with his shot but is still a scrappy defender. Kim, however, may be the most unguardable player in the league.
(F) Amin Gillespie
B+
A
(F) Harris Chung
If Chung shows, this will be worth watching. Chung is one of the few players that can match Gillespie in skill set and athleticism.
(F) Dave Liu
B+
B
(F) Jared Sper
Sper has been MIA recently, but he's playoff eligible. He gives SWA a size advantage but will struggle with Liu's quickness.
(C) Derrick Tyson
A+
B
(C) Jiang Yu
Yu has all but checked out this season. If he's there, he gives SLA another big body but either way, its a bad match-up for SLA.
BENCH
B+
B+
BENCH
Both teams have solid benches that fit the scheme of their respective game-plans. But neither has a star off the bench.
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