Recap: Week 3

Inter-Conference Games
5-3, Phanatics vs Morrie's Pogiboys
6-3, Squirtle Squad vs Sour Snails

Conference Games
5-4, Rhythm Drive vs PoohBears
5-4, Buffy vs Funk Coalition
7-2, Chunky Monkeys vs Fat Jubas
7-2, Human Amoebas vs Poobic Heirs
(statistics)

5-3, Phanatics vs Morrie's Pogiboys
It's not looking good for the Pogiboys. A lot of teams in this league can't score, but if they can't score, they should be able to have a decent FG% right? Not the case with the Pogiboys. With the Phanatics powerful PTS and REB combo, this was going to be a hard fought battle over the smaller categories and as it turns out, the Pogiboys just couldn't hit enough 3PT or shoot well enough from the field to win. The only bright spot here is the recent inspired play of Sebastien Telfair (12.5 PTS, 5.5 AST, 54.8 FG%). The Phanatics were short-handed without David West (in the lineup) and Richard Jefferson (not in the lineup) this week but still had enough firepower to rack up a win.

6-3, Squirtle Squad vs Sour Snails
Another team in a 0-3 hole to start the season is the Snails, whose predicted breakneck pace has led to no victories. The injury to Steve Nash probably has something to do with it (plus a few GP down), but what about the last two weeks? Iverson seems to be playing with no support on the offensive front, aside from sweet shooting Wally Szczerbiak. This team already lives and dies by the sword, so far it's dying. The Squirtles turn in a very nice week and has to be loving the development of young guys like Nenad Krstic (18.5 PTS, 6.5 REB per), Deron Williams (23 PTS, 9.5 AST per), Kendrick Perkins (7.25 REB, 2.75 BLK), and newly acquired "The (White) Hustler," David Lee. The Squirtles seem to be gelling, like Magellan.

5-4, Buffy vs Funk Coalition
While it's too early to call this a marquee matchup, it sure was a high powered one. Both teams are crazy explosive and as it turns out, Buffy edges the Funk by 2 BLK, 6 TO, or a few free throws made. Funk had a late flurry on Saturday but in the end, fell short. The main difference here was the unbelievable distance shooting from Buffy. Rashard Lewis, JR Smith, and Jamal Crawford dialed in (28 3PT combined) and bombed the Coalition off the court. Baron Davis was super healthy this week (66 PTS, 32 AST, 5 STL, sterling %s), while his Funk counterpart, Rafer Alston struggled mightily (12 PTS, 2 AST per). It was close, but Buffy walks away with the victory; just like Ohio State.

5-4, Rhythm Drive vs PoohBears
Displaying huge rebound numbers (224 REB) and even bigger turnover numbers (79 TO), Reno's big jolly giant of a team shows off its ability to hit from the field (51.5 FG%), rebound the few misses, and then outlet it right to an opponent. Not quite shades of Bill Russell but it's a winning formula! Rhythm Drive had a very solid week with contributions all around as everyone did what they're supposed to do on their way to a second victory. Rookie Adam Morrison dropped in an encouraging 19 PTS per. He's the unemployed man's Larry Bird!

The Pooh Bears, on the other hand, are hurting. AK47 has shot blanks so far this season and now he's really injured. Andre Miller, Shawn Marion, and Mike Bibby have been spectacular, but they can hardly do it alone. Typically, this team should win FG% (49.8%) but they lost by a hair to the one team that out-shot them this week. Without AK anchoring the defense, the Pooh Bears aren't winning STL and BLK; and they aren't built to slug it out on the boards or by trading baskets. Let's get some defense in here!


7-2, Human Amoebas vs Poobic Heirs
The Amoeba are rolling. Threatening to take out anything in their way, the Amoeba dropped in league leading PTS and REB this week, witih plenty of other goodies too. Dirk finally found his stroke (27 PTS per) and Jason Kidd was well, Jason Kidd (18.5 PTS, 7.25 REB, 8.75 AST, 2 STL, 1.5 3PT per). And is Rip having an outstanding season or what? 26 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST and a three pointer a game this week; that's pretty nice for just a "shooter." The Poobic Heirs had a pretty nice week themselves, but with only two games from Kobe and Kevin Martin -- and more importantly, Monta Ellis on the bench -- they just didn't have enough offensive firepower to keep up with the Amoebas. Yao Ming is dominating this season (24 PTS, 11 REB, 3.67 BLK per this week) but that wasn't enough this week. Are the Amoebas like the 1999 Rams? Is Zach Randolph Kurt Warner?

7-2, Chunky Monkeys vs Fat Jubas
Never underestimate the strength of a monkey! Despite reports to the contrary, the Monkeys are alive and well. They're gonna take out conference rival Fat Jubas by a comfortable margin. They still can't pass or hit free throws but by going big, they're dominating the glass, blocking shots, and heck, even draining the three. They're like Rasheed Wallace on motivation! It's still the Emeka Okafor for MVP campaign as he's doing the work of five men (23 PTS, 11 REB, 4 BLK, 2 STL per) . The only down note here is that Charlie V is down for a few weeks. The Jubas had the Wade and McGrady show, but everyone else is faltering, big time -- oh except for Leandro Barbosa, who is now getting even more opportunites with Nash's injury.