Recap: Week 14

Inter-Conference Games
8-1, The Poobic Heirs vs Human Amoeba
6-3, Pooh Bears vs Rhythm Drive
6-3, Chunky Monkeys vs Fat Jubas
5-4, Buffy vs Funk Coalition

Conference Games
5-4, Phanatics vs MoRRie's Pogiboys
5-4, Sour Snails vs Squirtle Squad
(statistics)

5-4, Sour Snails vs Squirtle Squad
What does it mean when 11-win Squirtle Squad loses to 1-win Sour Snails? Is the worst team in the West better than the best team in the East? Nobody expected the tiny sluggers from the West to win this one but win they did for their morale boosting second W of the season. At first glance, the loss of Carlos Boozer might account for the loss, but the Squad won PTS-REB handily, as well as FG%. Maybe Boozer would have contributed 2 STL or BLK -- and got the win for the Squad -- but then again, it's not like the Snails weren't missing a star of their own (Allen Iverson only played one game).

This was a legit win here! Rasual Bulter, Ryan Gomes, Trenton Hassell (5 BLK), and Hedo Turkoglu; step right up! Hedo had 8 STL (1 more than Artest) and his fine defensive effort can be given much of the credit for the Snails stunning win. A European shooter playing defense for the win?! The fantasy gods have a funny sense of humor.

Or maaaybe, it was just Trieu's birthday this week (Feb 2) so he used his one wish to go undefeated the rest of the season. One down, a championship to come.

6-3, Chunky Monkeys vs Fat Jubas
How many teams can sit the likes of Manu Ginobili and Danny Granger on the bench and pull off a quality win over a conference leader? The Monkeys were on fire this week with the newly acquired Joe Johnson (an eye-opening week of 33 PTS, 5 AST/REB, 4 3PT) and Tyson Chandler (15.25 REB, 2.75 BLK). Can anybody match 667 PTS, 272 REB, 34 BLK, 46 3PT and great percentages for the week? Woo-whee.

The diminished Jubas didn't stand a chance with McGrady ailing, Josh Howard hurting, and Tony Parker on the bench. Are we seeing a changing of the guard here? Are the Monkeys making push to be the Best of the West?

5-4, Phanatics vs MoRRie's Pogiboys
It looks like every weak West team is stepping up this week. The moribund Phanatics took it to the Pogiboys (playing five less games) and left Alvin's squad crying and weeping after losing their tenth straight. It was a pretty close battle but in the end, the Phanatics had 4 more 3PT -- on five more games -- and squeaked out a win. If it wasn't for waiver wire addition Chucky Atkins' 8 3PT for the Pogiboys, it wouldn't even have been that close.

The Pogi's have to be happy that Gerald Wallace is finally going wild though (26 PTS, 10.8 REB, 2 BLK/STL, 1 3PT on 55.4 FG%). The Phanatics have their own good news story, as Lamar Odom returned as versatile as ever (16 PTS, 10 REB, 4.5 AST, 1.75 STL/3PT). These two likely Toilet Bowl contestants get a late season look at each other

5-4, Buffy vs Funk Coalition
An extra 7-GP should allow anybody to compete right? Well, compete yes, win no. The Funk had a seven game advantage on Buffy this week -- annihilating them in PTS, AST, STL, and 3PT, but oh that tricky FT%. 77.8% from Buffy to 74.4% from Funk. You think Lebron's 47.4% from the line has anything to do with that? You bet your All-Star berth it does! Even notoriously bad free throw shooter Tim Duncan pulled off 82.6% this week. Lebron, stop making commercials and get thee to the gym.

Buffy sneaks out a win as Nick Collision continues to contribute amazing numbers (20 PTS, 12.7 REB, 1.3 BLK on 64.1 FG%). Good news? Chris Paul is back. Bad news? Antawn Jamison is out. Will Buffy ever get a full roster? Maybe not...

8-1, The Poobic Heirs vs Human Amoeba
I guess if you're going to dish it out you gotta be able to take it too right? The Amoebas came within a few free throws of being made the second team to be swept in every category -- they had done the sweeping the first time around. Raja Bell and Quentin Richardson flamed out this week (injuries) and it looks like when they misfire, opposing defenses collapse on Dirk, Amare, and Zach and the Amoebas lose -- sometimes big. Or um, that's the way I think it would work if fantasy basketball was real basketball.

Or maybe we're just looking at it the wrong way, as the Heirs laid out an ass whooping behind Kobe Bryant and the Kirk Hinrich-es. Kirk tossed up 20.7 PTS, 8 AST, 2 STL and 1.3 3PT on 53.2% shooting as he continues his fine play. Kobe finally has a real point guard, sadly, it's only on Oliver's roster.

6-3, Pooh Bears vs Rhythm Drive
Wait, weren't the Drive supposed to win BLK handily with Emeka Okafor on their side? Instead, the Drive lost the BLK category by 4. What gives? Okafor got 10 in four games, but Dwight Howard and Big Z put up less than 1 per game this week. The Pooh Bears had Pau Gasol swat 13 shots in only three games. That's the difference. The Drive did win PTS, FG% and REB so the plan is on track, but losing by 1 3PT probably hurt too. Mike Miller put in 5.7 3PT per game (an astonishing 17 by himself) but nobody else stepped up to help him out.

Clearly, the Drive will need another week to gel and become a team -- something the Pooh Bears have done as they have streaked out for four straight wins and are only 1-game behind the Drive and the Amoebas for a playoff spot. And let's give a big shout-out to the underrated Josh Childress who is an all-around talent with an impressive 52.5 FG% (along with 6.5 REB, 4.5 AST, 1 STL/BLK/3PT).