RD2 Previews: 2014

Chamberlain Conference
#1 Sour Snails (17-2) vs #2 Eron, Joven and Chandler (13-6)
As expected, Trieu’s team cruised through this matchup, losing only the TO category. Trevor Ariza contributed heavily, with four games worth of 13.0 PTS, 6.3 REB, 2.3 STL, 2.0 STL on 48.3 FG%. Squirtle Squad tried to put up a fight but this matchup was basically over with before the weekend games. The only downer for Sour Snails is that they’ll be without the full time services of Russell Westbrook, who will miss, at least, the tail end of all back-to-backs for the stretch run.

In contrast to the earlier game, the matchup between EJC and Half Man Half ImAsian was a tug-of-war all week long. The two teams took turns taking the lead from each other and it wasn’t until Sunday that the game was finally decided. As predicted, the injury to LaMarcus Aldridge really hurt Oliver’s team, and they ended up losing by a mere 3 REB, 9 PTS, and was tied in BLKs. A healthy Aldridge could have changed that equation of course. Ricky Rubio shot 56.7 FG% on his way to 13.0 PTS, 10.7 AST, 2.3 STL. He’ll be a key player for this conference quarter finals as the hotly contested categories should be 3PT, AST, STL, and BLK against Sour Snails. Can Carmelo, Blake, and Dirk can keep up with Sour Snails explosive roster? We’ll see!

Russell Conference
#1 NJ All-Stars (14-5) vs #3 Spade (12-7)
Featuring a non-upset of an upset, Spade wiped the floor with So Buckets despite being lower ranked. Already without the services of Kyrie Irving, Buckets suffered additional injuries to Andre Iguodala and Nikola Pekovic, plus Pau Gasol had to be taken to the hospital during the second half of Sunday’s game, perhaps nauseous from his team’s impending defeat. Spade basically got an extra week for Eric Bledsoe to round into shape, while watching Kevin Love put in three games of 30.0 PTS per.

Top ranked NJ All-Stars had a slightly tougher go of it during their matchup against Fighting Dragons, who featured a feisty John Wall (20.3 PTS, 10.0 AST, 2.3 STL/3PT in four games). LeBron James missed a game but Lance Stephenson did his best LBJ impression with 19.0 PTS, 6.3 REB, 1.3 3PT on 53.8 FG% for the week. Eddie’s top five guys all had four game weeks this matchup, so maybe the schedule thins out next week. New addition Joakim Noah contributed 15.3 PTS, 10.3 REB, 5.3 AST, 2.3 BLK, 2.0 STL during his three games with All-Stars. Those numbers will come in handy versus a Spade team that is super competitive with All-Stars on AST, STL, BLK. Game of the week right here guys!

TOILET BOWL
#1 Fat Jubas (9-10) vs #2 Fob Stars (8-11)
Astonishingly, first ranked Jubas almost lost to an undermanned and undermanaged Jedi Knights squad. Lum’s team hasn’t been touched since late November, and they were running seven players, with O.J. Mayo out for most of the week’s matchups. It was basically six on eleven, with Eric trotting out just about his whole roster for this unexpected dog fight. Going into Sunday’s games, Jubas was actually down in categories. As it was, they still ended up barely narrowly edging Jedi in PTS, STL, BLK, TO.  Would Jimmy Butler’s 15.8 PTS, 4.5 REB, 3.3 AST, 2.5 AST, 1.8 3PT off the bench have made a difference? I guess we’ll never know! Markieff Morris paced Jubas with 15.5 PTS, 7.5 REB, 1.0 STL in his four games, and the hope is that CP3 will play more than two games in next week’s crucial matchup.

As for Fob Stars, they did well in advancing past Buffy, despite having their depth sapped by the trade of Joakim Noah. Still, Jimmy’s squad managed to put up a ton of PTS, REB, AST, 3PT and are looking good heading into the next round. Marcin Gortat has been playing very well, with six double-doubles in his last seven games, and even averaged 16.0 PTS last week. If Isaiah Thomas’ injury doesn’t linger, and Fob Stars can steal the REB crown, they should have a good chance to pull off an upset. Note: None of the four teams remaining in the Toilet Bowl have ever been to the TB Finals, so it should be extra motivation for them.

#1 Chunky Monkeys (9-10) vs #2 Inept Henchmen (6-12-1)
There isn’t much to say about Monkeys’ 8-1 trashing of an undermanned Funk Coalition team. Funk only won REB, and even lost TO due to playing three more games. Coach Evan added insult to injury by only playing seven guys, as Luol Deng missed most of the week, to no real ill effect. Quite a few big scoring games were had this past week for Monkeys, including Terrence Jones’ 30 points from Monday, Jeff Teague’s 34 points on Tuesday, and then a pedestrian 37 points from James Harden on Saturday. This team is peaking at the right time and only a slight lack of depth -- resulting from Deng's injury -- could torpedo Evan’s dream scenario of getting both the #1 and #2 overall draft slots.

Their opponent, the rejuvenated Inept Henchmen, made a huge trade before the deadline but surprisingly, it wasn’t Dwight Howard who won the week for them, but their newly assembled backcourt. In fact, Howard was a surprise scratch from all his games during the week and it was up to newcomers Tony Parker and Avery Bradley -- combining for 45.2 PTS per game -- to help the team jump out to an easy win over MoRRie’s Pogiboys. Kenneth Faried has been balling lately, averaging 17.8 PTS, 9.2 REB, 1.2 STL, 1.0 BLK during his past nine games. Trevor’s team will be faced with a very tough matchup this week, as they try to take out a team that overmatches them in almost every category. "And may the odds be ever in your favor!"