---

KEY PLAYERS I. Yu 13.3 ppg 6.4 rpg 5.6 apg 1.7 spg J. Kim 22.3 ppg 3.3 rpg 1.9 apg 2.4 spg

ANALYSIS: The Hypebeasts are arguably the league's deepest team. They have a ton of young talent led by (G) Ian Yu and anchored by veteran (F) George Chan and player coach (G) Virgilio Borbo. Whether or not that leadership will be enough to keep the Hypebeasts' eyes on the prize will remain to be seen. But, talent they got. Yu can get to the rim and finish as well as anyone while Chan and (C) Howard Chu can each dominate the low-post if needed. (F) James Li and (F) Jason Wu are two of the league's most athletic players and off the bench, (G) Will Moy and Borbo are two of the league's best sharpshooters.

With the Slayers, you know what you're gonna get.  A healthy dose of (G) Joe Kim. If (F) Harris Chung is there, SLA is that much better. Chung is a perennial All-FBNYC player and the only thing that's ever kept him from multiple MVPs is attendance--SLA may be haunted with that again in the Semis. If so, they're going to need a huge game from (C) Jiang Yu.

X-FACTOR: James Li has come a long way. Always among the most athletic, Li has polished his offensive game. Solid jump-shot, good footwork, handle and passing, Li is now a complete player and very capable of taking over this game. Then again, so is Jason Wu who is stronger if more reckless, but just as athletic and a better--or more willing--scorer. For the Slayers, a lot will rest on (G) Drew Chen if Chung and Sper don't make it. He'll have to be the 3rd scorer. Slayers have to top 55 pts for a chance to win this game. Chen must score. -- Kenny "The Jet" Li

Hypebeasts	GR	GR	The Slayers	Advantage
(G) Leon Chu	B	B+	(G) Drew Chen	Chu has been lost in HYP's uptempo gameplan but he does all the little things that make HYP so tough to beat. Chen is the same but less so in steals and the offensive boards like Chu but more with his shooting and clutch play.
(G) Ian Yu	A+	A+	(G) Joe Kim	This is the marquee match-up, former MVP vs. this season's popular vote MVP. Both are fast and dynamic, playing both sides of the ball. Kim has deeper range but Yu may actually be faster in the open court.
(F) James Li	B+	A	(F) Harris Chung	Word is Chung might not be available for the game. If so, say goodnight, Slayers. Li has been as solid as they come on defense and in the open court. He's also made some daggers late in games from deep.
(F) George Chan	A	B+	(F) Jared Sper	Chan is big and athletic, the mobile forward can score from virtually any spot on the floor if not in a particularly polished way. Sper has been MIA since Week 4. If he's there, he provides a lot of size and a mid-range game.
(C) Howard Chu	A	B+	(C) Jiang Yu	If there's one guy in the league who can match Yu's bulk, it's Chu. Jiang may actually be the more aggressive defender but few have the low-post skills and touch around the basket of Chu. Not to mention a 15' jumper.
BENCH	A	B-	BENCH	Both teams have solid veteran play from their bench that includes hard-nosed defense and clutch shooting but only HYP's bench has shown up regularly. Plus, HYP (F) Jason Wu is one of only two players to top 30 pts this season.

---

KEY PLAYERS A. Cho 18.0 ppg 3.0 rpg 5.0 apg 3.0 spg E. Hoover 17.0 ppg 6.0 rpg 1.0 spg 2.0 bpg

ANALYSIS: Bad news for the Fury. Their solid win vs. the Agents in Rd I will be the last they see of (G) Steven Chen who is leaving the team for personal reasons, ostensibly for the rest of the playoffs. He, too, is off to China. (F) Daniel Kweon will be moving into the starting line-up which will give them more size and suddenly legit small forward. Kweon has always been more of an undersized 4 but his recent prowess from the 3-pt line has not gone unnoticed. But, with (G) Jon Giacobbe still out, this leaves NYF with only 5 players available for Saturday's game. (G) Alex Cho and (G) Rommel Dolar will have to carry the load on offense.

The Quicks should have everyone intact. If (F) Shaun Young still has not returned they'll go with (G) Kenneth Van, who's shown some signs of life. (C) Ezra Hoover and (F) Pat Pilar will face a bigger front-line than AOD, one they had wavering success with in their last match-up. QIK was swept by NYF in the regular season. Containing Rommel Dolar will be key.

X-FACTOR: Kweon will be huge in the Fury's chances. If he can continue to spread the court with his 3-pt shooting, the lanes will be wider for Dolar and Cho, and the paint more available for (C) Bryant Picone and (F) Rich Chang. QIK (G) Jason Chin has shown his ability to take over stretches. If he's hitting from deep, look out. (F) Michael Thompson also has to be keyed. If the sharpshooter gets it going, they spread the court, that's the last thing you want the Quicks do. -- Bill Wonton

NYC Fury	GR	GR	NYC Quicks	Advantage
(G) Rommel Dolar	B+	B	(G) Wilson Lew	Dolar ate up FAS (G) Ren Hsieh when they went man, hopefully, Lew won't have to but the crafty veteran knows Dolar better. Both can hit the deep ball, Dolar brings unmatched quickness.
(G) Alex Cho	B+	B+	(G) Jason Chin	Cho and Chin just about cancel each other out with Cho being the slightly better scorer and Chin the slightly better passer.
(F) Daniel Kweon	B	B	(F) Kenneth Van	Kweon has expanded his game to SF skills with an unexpectedly deadly 3-ptr. Van struggled with consistency in the regular season but looked good in Rd I.
(F) Rich Chang	B	B+	(F) Pat Pilar	They'll face each other in the WHITE playoffs as well. Should be an interesting preview. Pilar is getting better and better each game. Chang has been steady all season.
(C) Bryant Picone	A	A	(C) Ezra Hoover	Size vs. athleticism. Picone eats up a lot of space but Hoover will try to go over the top. Didn't really work in Week 7 but his should be one to watch if both teams go man.
BENCH	F	A	BENCH	With Chen and Giacobbe out, NYF has no bench and QIK is solid. Chia, Thompson and Lee are all impact players.