Hoops League Season 4 Playoff Preview

West: #4 Portland Roses vs. #1 Los Angeles Stars

I. Season Synopsis

Portland: The defending champions lost multiple important pieces of last year’s title-winning team, and thus unsurprisingly sputtered a bit out of the gate, starting the season 5-9. Redoubled Herculean efforts from the league’s leading scorer Jamon Alexander and a career year from longtime PG Vun Brunson helped them turn things around, and the roses finished the year 11-8 thereafter en route to comfortably getting the West #4, even pushing for the #3.

Los Angeles: A year after losing to these very Roses in the Conference Finals, the Stars changed nearly nothing, gambling instead on their superstar backcourt of Carl Joseph and Polan Stronk. The gamble paid off, as LA was rewarded with their best season yet, as they convincingly took the West #1’s spot with a 24-9 record.

II. Roster Breakdown

Portland: The team is centered around transcendent superstar center and S3 Finals MVP Jamon Alexander (27.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 58.4% FG, 45.9% 3PFG, 1.5 BPG). 4x league assists leader Vun Brunson (9.2 PPG, 51.3% FG, 12.8 APG) is the league’s floor general, directing traffic for rookie SG Zane Cruz (5.6 PPG, 47.7% FG, 43.8% 3PFG) and veteran two-way wings Jordan Frazier (14.0 PPG, 50% FG, 1.1 SPG) and Justin Taylor (6.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 55.4% FG, 1.0 SPG, 1.1 BPG). The bench unit is led by rookie guard King Ntilikina (5.8 PPG, 58% FG, 75% 3PFG).

Los Angeles: On offense, it’s all about the Stars’ two star guards, sharpshooters Carl Joseph (16.9 PPG, 52.7% FG, 47.3% 3PFG, 6.7 APG, 1.6 SPG) and Polan Stronk (22.5 PPG, 53.6% FG, 47.6% 3PFG). On defense, however, it is a different story. The unit is led by perennial DPOY candidates Jacob French (6.3 RPG, 2.7 SPG, 2.2 BPG) and Sebastien Trident (8.5 PPG, 71.9% FG, 7.6 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 4.1 BPG). The bench is one of the deepest in the league, featuring 6MOTY candidates Anthony Flores (6.4 PPG, 1.0 SPG) and Raihan Rizky (4.2 PPG, 1.0 BPG), among others.

III. Philosophy Breakdown

Portland: The Roses largely attempt to outscore teams, something they have done effectively all year, ranking third in team PPG. Their defense, however, is among the worst in the league, as they rank 9th in team steals per game, and are dead-last in blocks per game. Talented at shooting both the three ball and dominating the post, the Roses rely on in-and-out star Jamon Alexander for most of their scoring, but every other player on the roster is capable of hurting you on O (besides Timmy Cannon, perhaps), as evidenced by King Ntilikina’s scorching 36-point performance earlier this year.

Los Angeles: The Stars rely on Stronk and Joseph to score most of their points, though Trident contributes a fair amount. Bench players Flores, Rizky and Kyle Mason offer a fair scoring boost from time to time as well. Where they win most of their games, however, is on the defensive side of the ball—fourth in RPG, third in SPG, first in BPG, they dominate teams on that end of the floor. With a balanced two-way attack, when the Stars offense is hot, they are nearly impossible to beat.

IV. Previous Matchups

Gameweek 6 – Portland Roses 59 @ Los Angeles Stars 84

A nondescript game where the scoreboard tells the story, the Stars hit 14 threes out of 26 attempted and outrebounded the stars 32 to 18. Portland lost despite shooting 52.4% from 3 and turning the ball over only once.

Gameweek 17 – Los Angeles Stars 72 @ Portland Roses 67

The Roses pushed the Stars hard, and Polan Stronk had one of his worst shooting performances of the year. All was for naught, however, as the Roses missed key shots down the line, lost 6 costly turnovers and the rebound battle 33-20, and subsequently lost the game as well.

Gameweek 28 – Portland Roses 65 @ Los Angeles Stars 87

Portland largely rested Jamon Alexander for this game, and they paid the price, again being beaten in every major statistical category besides assists. LA hit 13 threes and seemed able to score at will all day long.

V. Position-by-Position

PG: Vun Brunson vs. Carl Joseph

Brunson is inarguably the league’s finest passer of all time, and he’s upped his scoring this year as well and is justifiably in the MIP race. But Joseph is a far better scorer, a decent passer, and light-years ahead as a defender. He’s more talented all-around, and Brunson cannot defend him.

SG: Zane Cruz vs. Polan Stronk

Cruz is a hired gun who struggled through most of the year and doesn’t do much besides score, whereas Stronk is one of the game’s most prolific scorers. Easy choice.

SF: Jordan Frazier vs. Julius Carter

i. Frazier is probably among the league’s most underrated players—he ranked 16th in the league in PPG on 48.6% from 3. He’s also a solid defender, with 1.1 SPG and 0.4 BPG. Carter is a decent defender, averaging about half a steal and half a block per game, but he’s inarguably the weakest link on this starting squad.

PF: Justin Taylor vs. Jacob French

Taylor was a key piece of the Roses’ title run last year, and he performed well against French. He’s a solid defender in his own right, and does far better on the offensive side of the ball than French. But French is a dominant defender, and a far better rebounder, something that has been significant in their meetings earlier this season. This matchup is among the most key in the series, but currently it appears to advantage French.

C: Jamon Alexander vs. Sebastien Trident

Alexander is perhaps the league’s best player and is an MVP frontrunner, and he dominated Trident in this matchup last year. For LA to win, Trident will need to play the way he has all season—namely, averaging 4.1 BPG. This matchup is absolutely essential for LA, because without Trident at least partially containing Alexander, Stronk and Joseph would have to hit an insane clip from downtown.

Bench: Portland vs. Los Angeles

Arguably one of the biggest factors in this series is the disparity in the depth of these two squads. Portland sans Mikey Williams, Chibba, Percy Snow and Koality Game is a much less dangerous team, whereas LA has three players averaging 4 PPG or more off the bench. King Ntilikina is very good, and Syndor Drago plays decently at times, but no one can keep up with Flores, Kyle Mason and Rizky. LA’s second unit is far and away better, and it will greatly affect the series.

VI. The Pick

LA was favored to beat Portland when these two teams met last season, and they came up short, true. But things are different this year. LA beat Portland in every meeting this season—soundly, one might add—and Portland does not have an extra two days’ worth of rest as an advantage. Moreover, LA is bringing back nearly the same squad as last year, whereas Portland’s is noticeably worse. Jamon Alexander, Vun Brunson and Jordan Frazier are good enough that this won’t be easy for the Stars, and if Stronk and co. go cold from the field, they could be in legitimate danger. But it’s hard to imagine lighting striking twice for Portland, particularly with a weaker squad and without a magical factor to play for. Stars in 4.

Game 1: Stars Game 2: Stars Game 3: Roses Game 4: Stars

West: #3 San Francisco Quakes vs. #2 Houston Cosmos

I. Season Synopsis

San Francisco: Another hot start to the season, this time 7-3, and there was much hope for them finally making the jump to contention. But an injury to Samuel James (21.4 PPG, 48.6% FG) derailed their momentum, and they sputtered to a 9-14 finish, still making their first-ever playoffs nonetheless.

Houston: An early season 11-3 start gave the Cosmos hope that they may be able to recapture their Season Two glory, but they gradually cooled off. Nevertheless, the injection of Cacio Way (13.0 PPG, 51.5% FG) and the return of Maxwell Goodson (14.1 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 2.0 BPG) to an already star-studded lineup had the Cosmos in contention for the top spot in the West up until the final stretch of games.

II. Roster Breakdown

San Francisco: A team lined top to bottom with former first round picks, the Quakes are helmed by former All-Star guard and renowned glue guy Marcus Nobles (7.5 PPG, 50% 3PFG, 3.2 APG), as well as former #4 selection Jake Robinson (4.3 APG). Former Roses first rounder Darryl Stevenson (13.2 PPG, 51.6% 3PFG, 1.7 APG) plays at the two with scorer extraordinaire Samuel James (21.4 PPG, 48.6% FG) at the three. The #1 pick tandem of Car Lo (4.4 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 1.9 BPG) and Darth Jor-El (12.1 PPG, 61.4% FG, 7.9 RPG, 2.9 BPG) man the frontcourt, and finally, the bench unit is led by former Miami Tide Tristen Ewer (4.5 PPG, 47.9% FG) and Yeetus McGeetus (68.6% FG, 1.1 BPG).

Houston: A lineup that boasts 4 former All-Stars and a perpetual DPOY runner-up, the Cosmos start Jose Mendes (10.1 PPG, 52.6% FG, 9.1 APG, 1.7 SPG) and Alex Sinclair (1.5 APG, 1.6 BPG, 4.3 SPG) in the backcourt. Journeyman forward Cacio Way (13.0 PPG, 51.5% FG) and aging star Joseph Canny (15.8 PPG, 52.0%, 0.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG) play at the two forward positions, and Maxwell Goodson (14.1 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 2.0 BPG) returned to his starting center post after a rough injury last season.

III. Philosophy Breakdown

San Francisco: Samuel James is the key cog in the offense whenever he is on the floor, and from time to time, he is the entire offense. Darryl Stevenson receives secondary scorer touches, and Darth Jor-El occasionally gets the ball as a third option but largely plays cleanup on the glass. Defensively, the Quakes lean on their frontcourt duo, while Yeetus McGeetus and Daws 20 rotate in as defensive stoppers as well. The Quakes run a balanced attack, with solid offense and defense, capable three-point shooting and decent inside scoring.

Houston: First in steals per game, last in TOPG as a team, the Cosmos primarily beat teams by forcing them to make mistakes, while not making them themselves. Alex Sinclair is the team’s heart, soul, and defensive anchor, though he adds next to nothing on offense. Without a true first option on offense, the Cosmos typically share the ball between Mendes, Way, Canny and Goodson, with any four taking precedence depending on who’s hot and who’s not. Leeroy Smith provides most of the bench scoring. The Cosmos do not take many threes now that Joseph Canny is in his twilight years, instead opting for high-percentage looks. With all the turnovers they force, their two-point buckets can add up quite quickly.

IV. Previous Matchups

Gameweek 9 – San Francisco Quakes 57 @ Houston Cosmos 60

A tight contest in which both teams shot quite well, but Houston’s defense (7 steals + blocks) made the difference. A late steal by Alex Sinclair on Darryl Stevenson sealed the game for good.

Gameweek 20 – Houston Cosmos 42 @ San Francisco Quakes 51 That the Cosmos were able to keep it this close is something of a minor miracle. They went 0/3 from three, and were outrebounded as well as out-blocked. Meanwhile, San Francisco went a scorching 11/20 from downtown as Samuel James had one of his best performances of the year in a game that was never really in doubt.

Gameweek 31 – San Francisco Quakes 45 @ Houston Cosmos 38 The Cosmos mostly rested against the Quakes, looking to conserve stamina rather than contest the #1 seed any further. The Quakes, feeling the Roses breathing down their neck for #3, brought out most of the starters, and Darth Jor-El led the way as the Quakes out-blocked the Cosmos 11-1.

V. Position-by-Position

PG: Jake Robinson/Marcus Nobles vs. Jose Mendes

There’s no doubting Robinson is a talented passer, and Nobles is a solid role player. Mendes, however is a two-time All Star, and even if his offense is marginally worse than Nobles’, he’s a far better defender than either.

SG: Darryl Stevenson vs. Alex Sinclair

Stevenson is a dynamic offensive scorer, while Sinclair is by far the game’s best defender at the guard position. Sinclair would get the nod, but he is an absolute offensive liability.

SF: Samuel James vs. Cacio Way

A battle between two All-Stars, but James is both the better scorer and all-around player. Way is simply too inconsistent.

PF: Car Lo vs. Joseph Canny

Car Lo has great potential on both ends of the floor, and is already a very solid defender who will give the older Canny fits from time to time. However, Canny is one of the all-time greats, still a tremendous offensive player and underrated on defense as well. The advantage is clear.

C: Darth Jor-El vs. Maxwell Goodson

An incredibly tight battle that will play a large role in deciding the result of the series, Jor-El will undoubtedly eclipse Goodson sometime in the near future. For the moment, however, Goodson is the better rebounder, slightly better defender and more experienced offensive player; thus, he gets the nod.

Bench: Quakes vs. Cosmos

The Quakes’ bench depth seriously cost them last season, and they addressed that this season, nabbing Tristen Ewer and Yeetus McGeetus in trades. They’ve got some quality players, to be sure, but none as good as former 6MOTY Leeroy Smith, and Aomine Daiki is a cut above both Ewer and Daws 20. Beef Supreme is also not to be underrated at the backup 5 for Houston.

VI. The Pick

Young vs. old, offense vs. defense, a team in decline vs. a team on the rise, there’s no shortage of narratives to be found in this series, and it helps that the two are relatively similar in ability. It will be a tight series, one likely decided by turnovers and three-point shooting. In the end, it seems unlikely that San Francisco will be able to consistently outscore Houston at the rate they need to, and so Houston will take the series by the thinnest margin possible. Cosmos in 5.

Game 1: Cosmos

Game 2: Quakes

Game 3: Cosmos

Game 4: Quakes

Game 5: Cosmos

East: #4 St. Louis Archers @ #1 Boston Charms

I. Season Synopsis

St. Louis: Expected to finish dead-last in the East this season, the Archers lived up to their billing for much of the first 20 games, starting 3-15. Yet an All-Star turn from Jason Garcia and a historically prolific rookie season from Westbrook Darius led the Archers to a sensational turnaround, and they went on a 9-4 run after the 18th game of the season, clinching their first ever playoff berth (then losing two garbage-time games).

Boston: On the heels of a free agency that saw them sign a record-breaking 3 All-Stars and retain one more (while losing one other), many expected the Charms to go on a rampage this year, annihilating the league. But Just Jaos and Thomas Shoffner largely struggled to produce early in the season, and the Charms lost two games in a row to open the year against the Blues and Tides. Despite injuries to Shoffner and Aaron Fiedelak, the Charms would not lose two in a row for the remainder of the season, instead morphing into a veritable death star squad, going 27-6 and gaining the East’s #1 spot for the second straight season.

II. Roster Breakdown

St. Louis: Jason Garcia (13.6 PPG, 54.9% FG, 52.1% 3PFG) is the team’s principal star, but St. Louis is a collection of talented young players altogether, such as presumptive ROTY Westbrook Darius (16.9 PPG, 55.3% FG, 3.2 RPG), Pierre Brodeur (10.9 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.1 BPG) and Joey Bas (12.8 PPG, 50.4% FG, 3.7 APG). Their bench features a ragtag cast of castoffs and prospects, with Ricky Jiggs (4.9 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.1 BPG) leading that unit.

Boston: Inarguably the single most talented roster the Hoops League has ever seen, the Charms’ starting five features a combined 15 All-Star appearances, 3 league titles, an MVP, a Finals MVP and a 2x Rising Star participant. The unit is led by face of the franchise guard Just Jaos (17.1 PPG, 50.3% FG, 2.4 RPG, 1.9 APG, 2.5 SPG), with Thomas Shoffner (18.3 PPG, 46.5% FG, 5.1 RPG) and Cedric Hardwicke (14.3 PPG, 60.9% FG, 5.8 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 3.4 BPG) in the frontcourt. Veteran guard and former Chicago Blues member Aaron Fiedelak (9.1 PPG, 49.6% FG, 10.4 APG, 1.7 SPG) runs the one, and glue guy and defender extraordinaire Tone Show (2.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 0.6 BPG) handles the three. The bench is led by All-Star and former MIP Kyron Hickman (6.3 PPG, 49.4% FG, 1.2 RPG, 2.2 APG) and rookie center Pippy Big Pippy (7.7 PPG, 72.9% FG, 5.4 RPG).

III. Philosophy Breakdown

St. Louis: The definition of a scrappy squad, St. Louis leans heavily on Garcia, Bas and Darius for point production, while Brodeur and co. attempt to clean enough glass to give them chances. St. Louis led the league in midrange jumpers this year, and subsequently boasted the league’s third-highest FG% as a team. Their three-point scoring is not too lacking, but will not win them many games on its own.

Boston: The Charms do just about everything and do it well, but their particular strengths lie in gritty defense on every inch of the floor as well as dominant scoring from multiple sources. If teams manage to shut down one All-Star, Boston simply relies on another. Fiedelak, Jaos, Shoffner, Hardwicke, Hickman, Noel Stoner, and Pippy have all led the Charms in scoring at least once this season, something that is incredibly hard to defend. Able to score inside and out, seemingly at will from time to time, the Charms win by overwhelming their opponents.

IV. Previous Matchups

Gameweek 3: St. Louis Archers 48 @ Boston Charms 60 Boston somehow managed to win despite shooting 39.4% from the field and 36.4% from 3 because they got 24!!!!! Steals out of the Archers. Just Jaos set a career high for steals and hit just enough shots for the Charms to win their first game of the season.

Gameweek 14: Boston Charms 60 @ St. Louis Archers 52 A close game in all respects that foreshadowed STL’s run to the playoffs, Boston’s turnover edge of 2 to 7 game in handy in the final minute as they pulled away from St. Louis after being tied at 45.

Gameweek 25: St. Louis Archers 67 @ Boston Charms 69 An incredibly interesting game, St. Louis focused entirely on keeping the ball and defending the interior, allowing Boston to beat them from deep. The Charms were unable to do so for much of the game, but a vintage performance from Just Jaos pulled Boston past the pesky Archers.

V. Position-by-Position

PG: Joey Bas vs. Aaron Fiedelak

Bas is developing into a star, no doubt, but he is not a star yet. Fiedelak, on the other hand, has established himself as one of the all-time greats at the PG position, and his experience will allow him to boss Bas around on both ends.

SG: Jason Garcia vs. Just Jaos

Garcia was a first-time All Star this season, while Jaos got that honor for the fourth time. Although Garcia has shot consistently better all season long, Jaos is the better defender, and would still be taken by most anyone who wanted a 3 with the game on the line.

SF: Tobias Miller vs. Tone Show

Miller performed admirably for his first season, and will be one of only three rookies across the entire league starting games for a playoff team. Show, on the other hand, was acquired by Boston before the season to be a defensive stopper, and he has been exactly that for the Charms all season long. He may be able to exploit a weaker, less experienced defender here as well.

PF: Westbrook Darius vs. Thomas Shoffner

Darius is the presumptive ROTY, and he has already proven himself as one of the great scorers in the league. Shoffner, however, is a former MVP, a multiple time All Star, All HLA, etc., and likely a Hall of Famer. He should be able to stop Darius, and even if he can’t, he’ll surely be able to exploit him on defense.

C: Pierre Brodeur vs. Cedric Hardwicke

Brodeur and Hardwicke are familiars, having faced off in the Season 2 finals when a rookie Brodeur was on the Houston Cosmos. While Brodeur has the potential to be great, without a doubt, Hardwicke IS great at the moment, particularly on the defensive end. He will throw Brodeur for a loop.

Bench: St. Louis vs. Boston

Jarred Anderson is perhaps the Archers’ best bench player, and he’s a former Charms castoff. That should tell you all you need to know about the quality disparity between these two. The Charms’ unit is arguably the best bench unit of all time, led by All Star Kyron Hickman and legendary spark plug Noel Stoner, plus rookie phenom Pippy Big Pippy and grizzled veterans Joel Botelho and Jay Da God. Their bench may be better than the Archers’ starters.

VI. The Pick

St. Louis has mostly kept the matchups between these teams close, but Boston is simply harder, better, faster, stronger. In every statistic, measurable and immeasurable alike, Boston has the advantage. This series will not be close. Charms in 3.

Game One: Charms

Game Two: Charms

Game Three: Charms

#3 Miami Tides vs. #2 Chicago Blues

I. Season Synopsis

Miami: Having acquired the Bridges duo of Austin and Anthony in the off-season, the Tides were bound to improve, and improve they did, winning 12 of 14 after losing their first game and never looking back. They acquired old friend Eddie Dale via trade, and added Hanamichi Sakuragi as well to bolster their depth. Heading into their first playoffs ever, they will be a formidable opponent.

Chicago: The more things change, the more they stay the same. Chicago again brought back the veteran core of Yensid, Zoulou and Jaga C, with perhaps a deeper supporting cast than ever, having acquired Scottie Thompson and Kwanzy Iceberg in the off-season. They traded for Clement Hamel mid-season to obtain even more forward depth. Although they sputtered a bit to end the season, the Blues remain as dominant as ever.

II. Roster Breakdown

Miami: The roster, particularly the offense, is centered around transcendent superstar Anthony Bridges (21.7 PPG, 51.6% FG, 48.2% 3PFG), while established star Eddie Dale (8.9 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 1.9 SPG, 4.1 BPG) anchors the defense. Rookie guard Austin Bridges (10.5 PPG, 50.0% FG, 48.0% 3PFG) adds offensive support from the perimeter, while Lamarr Chambers (7.6 PPG, 53.6% FG, 3.1 RPG) supports Bridges from the frontcourt. Kacey Cunningham (10.9 PPG, 50.2% FG, 1.0 RPG, 7.0 APG) leads the bench as the PG.

Chicago: A team with a true wealth of riches, the Blues are of course headlined by two-time MVP Walter Yensid (22.6 PPG, 59.7% FG, 49.4% 3PFG, 6.3 APG, 2.5 SPG), while his principal supporters are perennial All-Defensive team members Tshaka Zoulou (9.2 PPG, 63.1% FG, 6.8 RPG, 1.9 SPG, 2.3 BPG) and Jaga C (7.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 4.0 BPG). Scottie Thompson (5.5 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.5 APG) and Kwanzy Iceberg (11.1 PPG, 50.2% FG, 3.0 RPG) round out the starting lineup, and the bench is led by Rajah Rose (10.8 PPG, 56.2% FG, 48.0% 3PFG).

III. Philosophy Breakdown

Miami: Everything runs through the Bridges Brothers on offense, while Dale and Sakuragi play cleanup on the glass. Lamarr Chambers also provides occasional buckets to support Anthony Bridges. Miami mostly looks to win by the three-pointer, though their midrange game is effective as well. Their forwards do the majority of the work in the rare offense in which the PG is not the focal point. Their defense is led by two-time DPOY Eddie Dale, though on that side of the ball, they lack much perimeter defense. They generally aim to dare teams to outshoot them, or dare them to challenge Dale inside.

Chicago: One of the league’s premier units on both sides of the ball, Chicago’s offense mostly runs through Walter Yensid, though Tshaka Zoulou and Kwanzy Iceberg get a fair amount of touches as well. Jaga C cleans up on the boards, as does rebounding specialist Scottie Thompson. On defense, Yensid handles most perimeter matters, but Tshaka Zoulou rotates in and out between the paint and the perimeter. Jaga C, the S1 DPOY, handles the interior for the most part.

IV. Previous Matchups

Gameweek 7: Chicago Blues 63 @ Miami Tides 60

A scrappy affair for both teams that saw Anthony Bridges pour in 27 with Kacey Cunningham dropping 21 plus 8 dimes, the Blues eked out their eighth straight victory to start the season thanks to a heroic effort from Tshaka Zoulou, who accounted for 3 of the Tides’ costly turnovers.

Gameweek 18: Miami Tides 60 @ Chicago Blues 64

One of the first games the Tides played after the trade that brought Dale and Sakuragi to South Beach was this one, so while the scoreline is impressive, it is somewhat misleading—Walter Yensid sat. Rajah Rose instead poured in 28 while the Blues moved up to 17-1.

Gameweek 29: Chicago Blues 66 @ Miami Tides 70

That this game was so close is a minor miracle, considering Yensid went a horrific 3/12 from three. Anthony Bridges, for his part, went only 6/15 from deep, but his brother Austin hit 5/9, which was enough to give the Tides the edge.

V. Position-by-Position

PG: Sage Jackson vs. Walter Yensid

Jackson is a fine role player, but Walter Yensid. Walter Yensid. Walter Yensid. Walter Yensid. Walter Yensid.

SG: Austin Bridges vs. Scottie Thompson

While Thompson is effective on both ends for the Blues, he simply doesn’t bring the dynamic scoring touch that the Tides’ star rookie has. Bridges’ play this series could determine its outcome.

SF: Anthony Bridges vs. Kwanzy Iceberg

Bridges, as one of the game’s all-time greats, is obviously the better player, but Iceberg could be the key to this series. He’s a major improvement over Chicago’s erstwhile small forward—Sergio Fric.

PF: Lamarr Chambers vs. Tshaka Zoulou

Chambers has taken big steps forward in his third year on the Tides, but Zoulou will seriously push the young forward’s limits. Zoulou is an all-time great defender, and his offense is not to be underestimated. If he goes wild for Chicago, they will be very hard to stop.

C: Eddie Dale vs. Jaga C

Certainly the closest match-up in the series, as it features two DPOYs going head-to-head. Jaga owned this matchup when they played in Season One, but Dale has dominated since. Dale gets the edge from recency bias, but this will be one to watch.

Bench: Miami vs. Chicago

Two of the better bench teams in the league face off here, as Miami features former All-Star Kacey Cunningham plus All-HLA member Hanamichi Sakuragi, while Chicago boasts presumptive 6MOTY Rajah Rose, plus veteran defender Clement Hamel.

VI. The Pick

Arguably the best matchup of the first round, Miami-Chicago will be nothing if not entertaining. With similar one-man superstar plus strong supporting cast and defensive frontcourt philosophies, the teams are as evenly matched as any in the field. Given that, the Yensid factor will make the difference in a thrilling 5-game series. Blues in 5.

Game One: Blues

Game Two: Tides

Game Three: Tides

Game Four: Blues

Game Five: Blues