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June 26th, 2005
Check out the huge PT Sports Season Preview.
June 25th, 2005
Interview with Devonta Corrigan
By: Joe Spencer
JS: Hi, Devonta. Congratulations on finishing the preseason with a win over Toronto and a 10-3 record. Since you don't appear to be busy right now, I was wondering if you have time for an interview?
DC: Sure.
JS: Last year was a big turnaround for your team, going 52-28 after a 27-53 season, in which you, as well as the entire team seemed to struggle, disappointing many fans in the process. What was the key to the team's success last season?
DC: I learned not to be pressured to carry the team all by myself. Coach Daubanton reminded me that our team has good shooters such as Mark Miller and Oshodi Bombata, so I shouldn't worry about having to score every time I have the ball. Also, it was nice to get someone besides Nikos Atirides to run the point guard. Pete Nelson did a good job as a rookie to help get the ball to open men, as well as Ray Estrada, who we were able to obtain in a midseason trade.
JS: It must have felt good to make it back to the playoffs.
DC: Yes, even though we ended up being little competition for the Oregon team we had to face. It was fun to at least win that one game in Oregon the day after they beat us by 60 points. It would have been nice to face a team we were good at exploiting, like Capetown or Texas, but Oregon is obviously the best team in the WBA, and deserved to win the series and eventually become WBA champions. It's hard to try and stop or even contain a team with such stars as Lou Gonzales and Bishop Stein.
JS: Now that we are done talking about last season, what are your expectations for this year?
DC: I feel we should be as good as, if not better than, last season. Everybody from last year's roster is back, except for Pierce Shea, who is replaced by a solid veteran backup PF/C in Chuck O'Rourke. It should be an interesting race in the Euro Atlantic division this year. We've already played well against Albacete in the preseason, and we always play our hardest against Paris. As it has been the last several years, we have one of the better front courts in the league with me, Mark Miller and Oshodi Bombata as starters, and Jon Morgenland, Chuck O'Rourke and Al Herbert as backups. However, as it has been for quite awhile, our success will be determined by our guards. At point guard, Nelson and Estrada hopefully will have matured from the last season, as they are still young players. Unfortunately, these two have struggled a bit during the preseason; perhaps they'll start rolling once the season gets started. Also, at shooting guard, Tristen Collins has improved a lot since he first joined our team a couple seasons ago, becoming a solid passer in addition to the scorer he is. Collins is fun to watch if he gets on a hot shooting streak, but more often than not, he still often struggles to make his many of his shots. All these things aside, I'm at least hoping we can make it past the first round of the playoffs this year, which hasn't happened for me yet.
JS: I’m sure that’s what all Andorra fans are hoping for. Well that’s all I have for right now. I’m sure coach Daubanton wants you to get ready for the season opener against Long Island, so I'll leave you right here. Thanks for your time.
DC: Sure thing, Spencer.
June 22nd, 2005
Week One Review.
By Robert Williams
The first week of WBA Season 11 action is complete. We have seen some surprises, mainly in Omaha. This team is predicted to be in the lower tier of teams this season and somehow they have escape with only one lost in the Preseason. That lost came today against the number one team (Capetown) in dramatic fashion. In addition, we have seen David Song work some magic in London and we see the discos are jamming again. Their preseason record sits at 5-1. The defending champions Oregon Golden Bears have had their troubles in the preseason at 4-2, but they really do not seem worried by it. Word around the league is they have been in heavy negotiation with Alaska.
IN THE NEWS
The spotlight has been mostly on Brandon Morfield this week. Seems as if some owners in the league feel as if he has broken a moral rule. Situation is, he knew more indebt information about one of the foreign players that entered the draft this season. The man can steal and throw the ball. He is also one of the first persons to see the rankings of the newcomers. Where it is unfair for most, I do not see a lot of participation in this league by other owners. Shoot we have to trust someone! My view on this is Jervon Timmons probably is ranked an A in both steals in assists; you cannot get an assist if the person you throw to does not make the basket. You don't' give the person you throw to extra percentage points because you passed the ball to them. However, it does give him the ability to find the open man. He should be a great asset to this league. I really think that Point Guards are losing their touch in the WBA. Every year it is someone else that rises. There are not anymore Chuck Henderson's in the league. It would be nice to see more make it to the Pros.
In other news… This trade between Oregon and Alaska may be one of the most talked about trades of the season. It has the hype and the personnel, but maybe it will not be. We do not know. Alaska and Oregon earlier in this week decided to swap talent and age. Talent and age, uhhh… Well Corey Mosley will suit up in the blue and white. Marquez Houston will be a Golden Bear. Wu Dian-fan, will be the youngest SG in Alaska's history in the league since Storm Schmid. Bill Rainwater returns to home in Oregon. Raphael Park returns to home in Alaska. Vincent Holliday gets a place on the bench in Alaska, and Hakeem Samir will have a place in Oregon. Who wins in this trade? Well Alaska and Oregon just had a trade and the only thing that was really switch was the players. Alaska actually earns an extra pick for Season 14 but nothing was really done. The winner of this trade for now is Oregon. We forgot to mention, George Foster is now a Golden Bear to. Moreover, He is the difference in this trade. Oregon gets the SG they desperately needed in Foster. He is one the purest shooting guards in the league, even at his age. This season looks to be his return to elite status. However, he may have a hard time adjusting in Oregon. We will have to see. Houston and Mosley have many similar skills. However, I believe Mosley is a better defender, but Houston is only a camp away from being a dangerous force. Dian-fan is a camp away from being the scorer that Alaska will need. In addition, Rainwater, well he is Rainwater and drops baskets effectively. Watch out. He will come off the bench but should be worth the .25 mil. This trade really puts Alaska in a bind. Harry Applegate, where does he belong now. Here is Alaska's proposed lineup… PG- Chuck Henderson, SG- Wu Dian-fan, SF- Harry Applegate, PF- Corey Mosley, and C- Jack Spiegel. As you see Raphael Parks just may be the six man of the year. I think the coaching staff will be doing a lot of moving with the forwards.
In other news… The WBA has finally decided to do the realignment thing. What teams win and what teams lose. Well the biggest winner here is Paris. They are now in the Eastern Conference. Gustavo does not have to worry about the tough West anymore. Toronto will benefit to. Moreover, look for Long Island to win more games. The biggest loser in this situation is Alaska. This team is a lil unpredictable but with there new look, they would have been a sure playoff spot in the East. However, not only are they in the West now, but they are in the toughest division also. What a hell to be in. Below is my predicted finishes, including first round playoff predictions.
Western Conference
Pacific Division:
1. Oregon
2. Colorado
3. Nebraska
4. Alaska
5. Sacramento
6. Omaha
7. Salt Lake
These is by far the toughest division and expect some mix ups in the rankings 3 - 5, all these teams have potential to grab the number 3 spot. Oregon is a dominant force especially with the addition of Foster. Sorry Omaha, I know the preseason looks good, but we know how you and I do it… LOL
Southern Division:
Capetown
Cancun
Charlotte
Cincy
Miami
Mexico City
Arkansas
This division should actually should be fun to watch. Capetown and Charlotte are the strongest teams in this division, but I really feel like Cancun will return to elite status… Do not ask me why… I just feel it. Yes, Sam Plummer has away of finding himself at the top of the division, but I think he has his work cut out for him. However, at this time in the preseason, he is looking good… He remade this team. Look out for Plummer, he is a playoff genus, and didn't someone mention that they saw Aaron Black in NC, just this morning. Is he back like Jordan or is it just a myth?
Playoff Predictions for the West.
#1 Oregon vs. #8 Cincy; Oregon in three
#2 Capetown vs. #7 Alaska; Capetown in four
#3 Colorado vs. #6 Nebraska; Colorado in four
#4 Cancun vs. #5 Charlotte; Charlotte in five
Now for the East…
Atlantic Division:
Paris
Budapest - PEST
Gabon
Albacete
London
Andorroa
Frankfurt
I am for sure that Paris will actually take the conference. They are a strong team from the West and they took advantage of the realignment. And I don't think they will disappoint. London looks good in the preseason, but Song has fallen off in past season. I have to see what happens later on in the season. They like me have some strong competition within their own division. I just have to give Budapest some respect, they find away to be on top and I think the will just give Paris hell all season. Talking about given Hell, Albacete has fallen off some. They just may let London slip in.
Northeastern Division:
Brooklyn
Toronto
Rochester
Boston
Long Island
Baltimore
New York
I must admit, I would hate to be in this division. It is full of uncertainties; you are not even certain if you will win a game or lose it. Brooklyn is favored in this division, but could easily lose that to any of the top three. Especially Toronto. Toronto spent the off-season developing a team and I think they are satisfied. Long Island made the move to the East, but he will probably make a trade that will get him in trouble. Hey Espo, Kevin is not going to give you Houston and if he does, I think the TC will be in a lot of trouble, you know the old rule about trying to run the league into the ground. I will be all on it! However, on to better things. Rochester is looking good in the preseason but as we all say, it is just the preseason. The sleeper in this division is Baltimore, they do not shout or holler, they just play ball. A team full of Tim Duncans. Players that play the game and never do anything flashy. Seems to be the trend nowadays.
The Eastern Playoff Picture:
#1 Paris vs. #8 Long Island; Paris in three
#2 Brooklyn vs. #7 Boston; Brooklyn in four
#3 Toronto vs. #6 Gabon; UPSET Gabon in five
#4 Budapest vs. #5 Rochester; Da Pests in five
Weekly Performers:
Top performer of the week goes to Brooklyn's Shane Strom. His first three games were 40-point performance and he looked good… He is currently on top of the league with a 30-point average. In addition, he has pulled in almost seven boards a contest.
Team of the Week… Well how funny I should select… London as of now it looks as if David Song has revived this team… He could be looking at coach of the year if he is able to get this team in the playoffs.
Coach of the Week… This is a real hard section, I am not really sure who sent in line ups and who didn't but as of now it is a tie with Kelley Avery and Sam Plummer, both have gotten their respective teams ready to play. Kelly is trying to shake the losing tradition and Plummer leaves the league, comes back, and makes a team that was mediocre a contender…
Now our weekly BUST. We all want to believe in someone, a team, a player, or something so badly and they just disappoint us. That is why we have BUSTS and this week, we have no busts. We could lean on Alaska and the entire organization, but we will be fair for the first week and not hurt feelings.
This concludes my First Week Report.
June 17th, 2005
Season Preview
By Ron Chambers
PACIFIC
Alaska Snowbears
Probable Starters:
Chuck Henderson
George Foster
Marquez Houston
Bill Rainwater
Jack Spiegel
Key Bench Players:
Ethan Hunt
Garth Donohue
Harry Applegate
Jim Fox
This team is not what they once were. While how they have put together this team may be questionable people must admit that there is talent on this team. Henderson is a Hall of Fame quality point guard who is on the down side of his career but still has a ton of talent and even more experience. Foster is a pure scorer and one of the best at what he does. Houston is young and dynamic. He is a great rebounder for a small forward and doesn't really have any weaknesses. Rainwater is probably a better talent that Applegate at this point and shoots a better percentage so he may start but I wouldn't be surprised to see Applegate start since he is a better defender and then have the more versatile Rainwater back-up both forward positions. Jack Spiegel has made a lot of enemies in this league by under performing but last season he really broke through. He isn't a great defensive player but he is great offensively. The bench on this team is a weak spot. Fox is solid but is getting old and has too long of a contract which will end up hurting the team in the future and Hunt and Donohue just aren't talented enough any more. All in all this should be a very good offensive team but they lack defensively especially in rebounding.
Oregon Bears
Probable Starters:
Bishop Stein
Wu Dian-fan
Raphael Park
Cory Mosley
Lou Gonzales
Key Bench Players:
Donovan Jones
Vincent Holliday
T.J. McFarland
Joe Torney
Stein and Gonzo are two of the best in the league. Mosley is a fantastic role player. Park is solid and on his way to very good. Wu Dian-fan is sub-par. He is one of those guys that never excites you but rarely disappoints you either. The talent is fine on this team but not exceptional. What make this team so good isn't their talent but their brains. They just don't make many mistakes. The bench has some issues though which may be big for a team that doesn't have great stamina. McFarland and Jones are very good off the bench but where are the quality minutes going to come from in the other three positions. It looks as though management just wants players who won't make mistakes and then put the load on the wide shoulders of Gonzales and Stein… Sounds like a good plan.
Sacramento Fighting Cocks
Probable Starters:
Jimmy Foster
Harold Gil
Jaxon McCall
John Davis
John Van Horne
Key Bench Players:
Jeff Sandbeck
Bobby Egan
Ozzie Kramer
Cameron Sampson
This is a team that isn't getting the respect they deserve. But, then again I thought that last year. As a team they shoot very well they don't pass the ball much but McCall may be the best isolation player in the league. I expect him to get more shots this year and have a great season. John Davis was a huge addition and really secured their starting five. Van Horne is becoming a dominant player and with Davis they should do well on the boards. Gil is explosive in all ways. He can light it up but he can also get kicked out of a game faster than anyone else in the league. Fortunately, Sacramento has one of the best defenders in the league coming off the bench in Bobby Egan. Sandbeck is also becoming a perfect reserve. Foster in some ways is addition by subtraction. He doesn't like to shoot much and that is exactly what this team wants. They don't want shots to be taken away from McCall.
Salt Lake City Fanatics
Probable Starters:
Austyn Williams
Jalen Bell
Cordell Parks
George Holt
Brad Bangerter
Key Bench Players:
Evelio Jackson
Wally Birkhead
Mike Taylor
Johnny Brose
There is a lot of raw talent hear but they are soft. Parks is the only player who will really go after the boards but he is a poor team defender. What may change the personality of this team is if they start Birkhead instead of Holt. He doesn't have the reputation of Holt but he is young and very tough. He is a much better defender even though he hurts a team offensively. Brose is also a tough player off the bench. Bell may be the weakest spot on this team as he is very one dimensional. So, don't be surprised to see Jackson play a lot of minutes and even win the starting job since he is tougher and more team oriented.
Colorado Pioneers
Probable Starters:
Charlie Daidone
Samir Sheth
Edgar Kamara
Greg Lacy
Arnold Eaton
Key Bench Players:
Eric Saks
Mark Carr
Mark Crowley
Paul Spagnoli
Sheth is the heart of this team and really developing. He still doesn't score as well as management would like to see but he puts tremendous pressure on the defense with his ability to get to the line. Kamara is a great all around player who will do the little things. The team stud though is Lacy. He does it all. His only weakness is that he cam be soft when he goes to the rack but Sheth is so aggressive that as a team they should be fine. Eaton is solid but not spectacular and the same can be said for Spagnoli off the bench. Mar Carr is going to make this team happy with his maturity. He has talent but he plays amazingly within himself.
Nebraska Sun Warriors
Probable Starters:
Jervan Timmons
Dxter Kodak
Wayne Taylor
Roy Base
Vance Clopp
Key Bench Players:
Johnny Blaylock
Marc White
Camron Diaz
Brandon Morfeld
This team is built to do two things. One- get the ball to Wayne Taylor. Two- get the ball to Roy Base. Those two are very good offensive players and they will carry this team. Timmons was a great pick but it will take him several years to get a WBA body and Blaylock isn't a pure point guard. Clopp plays ugly but some how avoids fouls… the rumor is the reffs feel sorry for him. But, he doesn't mind because he can get away with some very aggressive play. I would expect rebounding to be an issue for this team and I don't expect that they will shoot as well from the floor as they would like. Marc White looks like he will develop into the perfect reserve. Morfeld is coming along but he just doesn't have enough talent. Diaz should be a very solid reserve but isn't as tough as one would like to see. He is more of a finesse player like Taylor and Base.
Omaha Wild
Probable Starters:
Oliver McCarty
Brian Collins
Roy Houle
Gerhold Verholm
Ramiro Watts
Key Bench Players:
Angelo Bacchi
Mike Bennett
Davion Stahl
Scott Currie
This team has gotten good press but I don't see it. They have a lot of talent and depth, which they need since their starters aren't know for being in great shape. But, as a team they don't shoot well. Watts is fantastic offensively but Collins and Houle like to shoot much more than they should and their only bench scorer backs up Watts. What will help is solid rebounding, especially from the guards. This is just a bland team they aren't really bad at anything but they aren't really good either.
Predictions
1) Oregon
2) Colorado
3) Sacramento
4) Nebraska
5) Alaska
6) Salt lake
7) Omaha
SOUTHERN
Mexico City Hellcats
Probable Starters:
Cole Bayo
Pete Merritt
Brody Liang
Angel Rojas
Sean Ashman
Key Bench Players:
Roger Mayer
Chuck Murphy
Evilio Nunez
Geoffrey Thompson
I am not totally sure what to expect out of this team. I expect them to make a lot of mistakes with fouls and turnovers. But, they will also do a great job of getting to the line. Ashman is a stud and he's still young so they should continue to build around him. Rojas is also very solid but his body isn't the best at holding up under the WBA pressure. Liang is about as consistent as they come but nothing spectacular. Merritt is a very good scorer and passer but his stamina is an issue. Bayo puts a lot of pressure on the opposing team with his aggressive play but he is not the best passer. Merritt should help with his passing skills though. But, this is a team that will need their bench to play well and I don't think they have enough talent on the bench. Thompson is a solid contributor and Mayer and Nunez have some skills but I don't think any player on the bench can make the type of contribution that Mexico City neads.
Cancun Outlaws
Probable Starters:
Parker Mason
Ahmed Dougherty
Lonnie Gerson
Kent Mercer
Reed Moses
Key Bench Players:
Scott Nicholson
Treyvon Marlow
Aaron Robinson
Samuel Blachford
Cancun is always a top team. Mason is likely the best point guard in the league today. Mercer is one of the toughest and most consistent Centers in the league. Not to mention he just has huge skills. Nicholson has honestly never become the player that many of us thought he would but he is still one of the top Power Forwards in the league, but management has said they plan to move him to the sixth man position and give Moses a shot at starting. Gerson is one of the best defensive players in the league and Dougherty is a one dimensional scorer. But, he doesn't make mistakes. Nicholson will make a great reserve at both power positions but and will have a shot at being sixth man of the year but after him there isn't much talent on the bench. Marlow is decent but has some holes. The clear weakness on this team is the reserve position for Shooting Guard and Small forward. Dougherty and Gerson do not have great stamina and Cancun needs a solid reserve here. I don't think Robinson is that player. But, Robinson also doesn't make many mistakes so if he can just fill the floor for 20 minutes a game maybe Mason, Mercer, Nicholson and Gerson are good enough to take this team far.
Capetown Zulus
Probable Starters:
Kelvin Davidson
Eric Manning
Obafemi Mabruke
Abdiel Gordon
Bill Yeager
Key Bench Players:
Ellis Law
Chris Worsonger
George Bissett
Leo Rice
Davidson was a big addition for this team. He allows Manning to slide to the shooting guard position and that gives the Zulus one of the best passing guard tandems in the league. Plus Davidson is a real professional who doesn't make many mistakes at all. And he uses his experience to make up for some of his physical limitations. Mabruke is arguably the best small forward in the league (Taylor, Strom and McCall fans would be the ones arguing the loudest). Gordon is also a stud who still has a lot of years left in him. The combination of Mabruke and Gordon will give teams fits for years to come. Yeager is on the down side of his career but is still efficient and still talented. With the age of Davidson and Yeager Capetown clearly wants tomake a push to win it all thiis year and they have the talent to do it. They also have a very talented bench with Law Bisset and Rice leading the long list. They are a little weak at the back-up point guard position but I expect Manning to get minutes there so it shouldn't be a problem.
Miami Xtreme
Probable Starters:
Isaac Edmondson
Dave Troychak
Bob Kinsey
Oman Fatafehi
Jose Nobis
Key Bench Players:
Quest Campbell
Milo Chambers
Brent Bangerter
Darryl Whittaker
Troychak and Fatafehi are the keys to this team. They are both very good at their positions but not quite superstars. Edmondson is a terrific passer and defender who doesn't make mistakes. Kinsey does the dirty work and Nobis… he's just too soft. The bench isn't that exciting either. Whittaker should develop into a solid role player but it will take some time. There just isn't much hear to talk about. To compete this team really needs to raise it's talent level.
Charlotte Crusaders
Probable Starters:
Drake Bachman
Eugene laMaitre
Abdullah Chanda
Anthony Curtis
Jim Peyton
Key Bench Players:
Ed Kane
Derek Vineyard
Scott Jacoby
Keyon Brown
Bacheman has spent most of his career as a back-up but management has said they plan to start him over more proven player such as Ed Kane and Alvin Simpson. This means most likely that Ed Kane will get the back-up minutes. LaMaitre is a proven shooting guard and is an excellent rebounder at that position. Chanda will clean up the loose ends. Crtis is the young guy on this team of old timers. He has a lot of talent and could develop into an all-star but probably not for a couple of years. Peyton is a solid tough veteran who will get more responsibility on this team than he is used to but he can handle it. Off the bench Jacoby is a pure scorer and Vineyard is solid but not what many WBA observers thought he would develop into. I think this team actually has what it takes to play good team ball. Their front court isn't great at rebounding but the tough play of their guards should help.
Arkansas Stingers
Probable Starters:
Buck Jones
DeRond Lyons
Elvin Sanders
Cristobal Dasher
Boom-Boom Casey
Key Bench Players:
Bill Andrews
Rudy Wilson
Paul Wilson
Tyrell Clay
Sometimes owners want to make over a perfectly good team to make them in their image that seems to be what happened here. This team will take a step back. Jones is solid but not as efficient as Krueger was. Lyons has huge upside but he will take a few years to mature. Sanders plays hard but has his holes. Dasher and Casey are the talent on this team as far as they can take the team is as far as it will go. Their talent is un questioned but is it enough. What may help this team is that they play aggressive offensively and will get to the line. Paul Wilson will also but huge off the bench especially since the starting five could rebound better. But, overall the bench is weak. Still, the aggressive play will help this team to play over their talent level but they are not contenders anymore.
Cincinnati Hitmen
Probable Starters:
Brandon Sandler
Dennis Evans
Nick Adams
Dontae Evans
Craig Bradshaw
Key Bench Players:
Marty Williams
Bomber Bartkowskki
Abegunda Abasi
Frank Rose
I like what this team has done. Don't get me wrong they are not contenders but they have put together five talented starters who are fairly young and they can grow together over the next few seasons. Nick Adams will be their top scoring threat but Dennis Evans will get their in time. Sandler is a great point and will make everyone's job easier. Craig Bradshaw and Dontae Evans are both good rebounders and defenders. Marty Williams and Abasi can be good off the bench but it gets thin after them. One problem this team will have is they are not great at getting to the line.
Predictions
1) Cancun
2) Capetown
3) Arkansas
4) Charlotte
5) Miami
6) Mexico City
7) Cincinnati
Play-off ranking
1) Oregon
2) Cancun
3) Capetown
4) Colorado
5) Sacramento
6) Nebaska
7) Arkansas
8) Alaska
ATLANTIC
London Disco
Probable Starters:
Cole Smith
Peter Parker
Chance Crowley
Sergei Danilov
Bobby Cress
Key Bench Players:
George Faup
Bob Bodnar
Clyde Summers
Kolby O'Rourke
Don't judge anything about this team by this year. Honestly, after Cress they don't have much talent. There are a lot of young guys with promises but that is about it. Peter Parker is a very good scorer but he is not much else. So many holes and so little time. Though, I have to admit it will be fun to watch Cress have a great season. I can't skip Danilov. He is a great role player but this team doesn't have the stars for him to compliment.
Frankfurt Fury
Probable Starters:
Yuri Vilasny
Remi Jeay
Brank Filipovic
Isaac Rice
Wong-Wei Wang
Key Bench Players:
Cullen Phillips
Joe Brennan
Steve Carter
Nike Johnson
This team is going to have a long year. They are not a very good shooting team. Filipovic is their best scorer and from long range he is truly great. The one thing this team does have going for them is they are good passers but their weakness is rebounding and that is a huge problem. Wang is not ready to be a starter in the WBA and probably never will. Eventually, Carter will be decent but he is on the soft side. Rice is a great talent but has serious health issues and this team is without another legitimate power forward.
Paris Juggers
Probable Starters:
Charlie Meyers
Scott Lio
Al Lee
Heiko Van Brandt
Jay Vasquez
Key Bench Players:
Sam Plummer
Shawn McKick
Lou Boone
Shaun Bush
Reynaldo DeAngelo
This may be the team to beat in the East. Van Brandt and Vasquez has the potential to be dominating. Meyers is no frill but he can pass and play solid defense which is what this team needs. Not to mention he is a good rebounder. Lio is another guy who doesn't excite people but plays solid and grabs boards. Lee is a very nice player who does a lot of the little things including grabbing boards. Did you notice the theme? This is the best rebounding starting five in the league and that will put a lot of pressure on the opponent plus they can get to the line. The bench is also the exact same. They are efficient and rebound hard.
Budapest Tigers
Probable Starters:
Michael Kutak
Tyson Cooper
Bill Blackstone
Kelvin Boice
Horace Colbert
Key Bench Players:
Frank Costantini
Storm Schmid
Marques Feldman
Bob Delaney
Despite loosing Peterson to retirement management has put together a talented line-up. Kutak will get his first chance at serious minutes since he was in Brooklyn. Boice and Blackstone are solid forwards and Colbert is still a star. As a team they shoot very well but they don't pass well and commit a lot of fouls and they don't get to the line much. Conventional wisdom is that this team will take a step back and I agree with that Bud this Franchise has a history of surprising people so don't expect that large of a fall off.
Andorra Highlanders
Probable Starters:
Pete Nelson
Tristen Collins
Devonta Corrigan
Mark Miller
Oshodi Bombata
Key Bench Players:
Zachariah Salera
Al Herbert
Ray Estrada
Chuck O'Rourke
The performance of this team all comes down to their guards. Corrigan, Miller and Bombata are great and they will do what they need to do for this team to win. Collins is coming along but he still has a way to go. Nelson isn't great but he doesn't make a lot of mistakes. For this team to win big though the guards have to be more than invisible. There is a good amount of talent on the bench and the second string is especially strong rebounding. As a team they do need to put more pressure on the ball
Albacete Burning Hell
Probable Starters:
Tyler Kane
Harry Jarvis
Bruse Johnson
Gordon Whitehouse
Juwan Bixby
Key Bench Players:
Tony Dimateo
Norm Axelrod
Vincent Robinson
Jason Moss
Albacete is always a top team and it will happen again. Kane has developed into a great point guard and Jarvis is a scoring machine as always. Bixby still needs some more time to develop but he is coming along and is still young. Whitehouse continues to be a great power forward. There is some question about what will happen in the small forward position. Bruce Johnson is their best pure small forward but Dimato is the type of talent you want on the floor. Personally I expect to see Dimateo coming off the bench and covering a couple of other positions as well. The backup point guard is a weakness for this team which is an issue given Kane's health and stamina limitations.
Gabon Giants
Probable Starters:
Otto Hameleers
Magic Toby
Fernando Edwards
Jerry Bramson
Jim Wilson
Key Bench Players:
John Devine
Elvis Harris
Reid Dall
Marty Feldman
Gabon is still trying to get back to their glory years. They finally got a good Center in Wilson and Bramson is a Stid as always. Edwards has developed into a solid small forward. There is a question about if Toby will be the shooting guard or if Hameleers will be. Toby is a tremendous talent but isn't really fast enough to play a guard defensively. With Dall on the roster now we may see Dall as the starting point and Hameleers move to his more natural shooting guard position. Either way, the bench is deep and a strength of this team.
Predictions
1) Paris
2) Albacete
3) Andorra
4) Gabon
5) Budapest
6) London
7) Frankfurt
Toronto Dinos
Probable Starters:
Justin Krueger
Emmett Yee
Walt Jackson
Harry Krammer
Simeon Hill
Key Bench Players:
Kris Calhoun
Felipe Juarez
Quade Nash
Webster Hewlett
This is a team that has been getting over hyped. Krueger is an efficient point guard, Yee is a scoring studbut one dimensional, Jackson is a future star, Kramer is a good defender but still too weak physically and Hill is a good rebounded and defender. The team can get to the line but they don't shoot too well and are still a ways away from being true contenders.
Rochester Raiders
Probable Starters:
Jimmy Whalen
Dave Williams
A.J. Schulz
Ramon Phelan
Jim McCarthy
Key Bench Players:
Peter Langstraat
Bert Haug
javonte Bolk
Kurt Beck
This is another team that has gotten very good press but they should be able to back it up. They were solid last year and have added A.J. Schulz. Williams is still a premier if not the premier shooting guard in the league. McCarthy isa huge talent but for some reasons has not been putting up the huge stats the last couple of years. Phelan is a young strong body who will improve with the years. This team can definitely rebound but they need to put more pressure on defense and they could be better passing. But, this is a veteran team and they will be very efficient.
Boston Massacre
Probable Starters:
Danny Hainge
Pedro Otis
Jim Donnelly
Dave Short
Al Zarra
Key Bench Players:
John Greene
Hank Pynn
Ajani Valentine
Matthew Pitcher
Let's face it. Boston is still rebuilding. Hainge is more of a shooting guard than a point. Otis is not impressive. Donnelley is great but he is a complimentary player on a team without a star. Short is not what he was and Zarra is great but probably can't anchor a team with serious aspirations. Greene will be very good off the bench and Pitcher is a huge talent with Huge holes. Valentine is solid but still young. Boston may choose to start Pynn at the point and move Hainge to the two spot which would probably be a good move. Hainge can be a star as a shooting guard and Pynn is very smart if not very talented.
Long Island Mayhem
Probable Starters:
Kadeem Reed
Paul Carroll
Sheldon Gorman
Tom Perkins
Pat Stephenson
Key Bench Players:
Tyriq Lang
Oliver Doherty
Leonel Coles
Toby McCree
This team is loaded when it comes to big men. Gorman, Lang, Perkins and Stephenson are all big talents and Coles and McCree are great bench players. Reed is a very efficient point and Carroll has developed into a good shooting guard. This team can pass, rebound score, defend and are pretty smart. But, we've said good things about this franchise before so I'm a little skeptical but if they can play like they should this is a very good team.
New York Liberty
Probable Starters:
John Gaiser
Keith Douglas
Jevon Carter
Tom Kinsey
Charles Cushman
Key Bench Players:
Gary Agey
Art Campbell
Chip Erlich
Marcus Rogers
There is not a good shooting guard on this team so they will probably go with a two point guard system and they have two good points. Carter, Kinsey and Cushman are all talented but no one makes me say wow. But, this is a franchise that was in big trouble and at least now there is some hope.
Brooklyn Rage
Probable Starters:
Omar Jefferson
Mario Bailey
Shane Strom
Jarius Miles
Joe Siebert
Key Bench Players:
Joe Clark
Bernie Henderson
Gus Rizzolo
Larry Saunders
This is the most talented team in the league. They will be a high scoring flashy team anchored by an old fashioned banger of a center in Siebert. Mile is still young but he will be the best power forward in the league in his prime. Strom just keeps getting better with age and is looking like a real MVP candidate. Bailey is the best all around shooting guard in the league and may be the best shooting guard period. Jefferson is a huge talent that can both pass and score. On the bench Henderson is very efficient as is Saunders and Clark and Rizzolo are just strong tough players. BUT, There are also huge holes on this team. The biggest is their love of fouls. Despite being so flashy they are very physical but also pick up a lot of cheap fouls. The other problem is that they tend to turn the ball over a lot. There isn't a team in this league that the Rage can't beat but they are just as likely to loose to any of the better teams. And they are not suited well to play against teams like Oregon who just don't make a lot of mistakes. This a team that could go all the way or fall flat on their face. But, their way it will be exciting.
Baltimore Pirates
Probable Starters:
Anson Valente
Jay Dickenson
Mike Ivey
Jamie Crouch
Don Laine
Key Bench Players:
Clarence Collins
Frank Ryan
Justus Rhodes
Johnny Tatum
They don't shoot well. They don't pass well. They don't get to the line. They don't make many steals. But, they rebound very well and don't make many mistakes. Outside of Valente they don't have any big names but this is atrue team and should do better than one would think by looking at their talent.
Predictions
1) Brooklyn
2) Rochester
3) Long Island
4) Toronto
5) Boston
6) Baltimore
7) New York
Play-off Rankings
1) Paris
2) Brooklyn
3) Rochester
4) Long Island
5) Albacete
6) Andorra
7) Toronto
8) Gabon
June 4th, 2005
Interview with Wayne Taylor
by Morf
Morf: Hey Wayne, it's good to see you again. Always glad to sit down with a living legend and go over the new season.
Wayne: Well, thanks for the praise and I hope I can live up to that billing.
Morf: So how's the leg holding up this offseason? Doing much work on it?
Wayne: Yeah. I think it's getting better and better every day. A lot of people told me that an injury like that is usually a career ender and that I might be a has been in the WBA, but I managed to follow that up with two more scoring titles so I am pretty sure my rehab is going fine and I do know that I have the best trainers out there. These guys do amazing work at the UNO Medical Center in Omaha. They treat my injuries with all natural medications as well as a lot of pool and heat therapy. Real cutting edge stuff.
Morf: That's good to hear. So any new news over the break?
Wayne: Not a lot to tell. My wife had our first child this year and I am really excited about that. Scary being a dad though. Other than that I've just been working out.
Morf: So what are your self expectations for this season?
Wayne: I would guess I expect the same thing from myself every year. To go out there and help my team win games.
Morf: What about your stats?
Wayne: Only stat I care about is wins. Anyone that said winning doesn't matter was never paid to play a game. Don't get me wrong though, winning is important, but you can't be a sore loser either. It's part of the game.
Morf: So what's your favorite aspect of your job then?
Wayne: The kids. I love seeing the kids after the game. They come up with big smiles and they just don't know anything in the world except that they met Wayne Taylor. It's just a cool feeling to know that they look up to me and want to be like me. I mean if I have the ability to make a kids dream come true by signing their game program or a picture or a basketball card then I feel that's my duty which is why I stop whenever possible. I always feel so bad when I have deadlines and things and there just isn't time.
Morf: Lastly, what intrigues you most about this season and how do you project your team?
Wayne: Well, I am really excited about this kid Jervan Timmons we brought in. I haven't seen a youngster this ready to play at this level since myself or maybe Jarius Miles came into the league. During practice he has done some crazy things with the ball. And as far as our team goes I think the sky's the limit. We can do whatever we strive to do.
Morf: Thanks for your time and good luck this year.
Wayne: Thanks Morf.
June 3rd, 2005
Interview with Roy Base
by Morf
Morf: Hey Roy, glad you could sit down with us and chat a bit. Let's start off by asking you how you're offseason has gone.
Roy: Pretty good. I've put in a lot of time in the gym trying to build up some extra muscle. I want to try and pull down a few more boards this season to really round out my game.
Morf: I can tell it's paying off. So, what else have you worked on?
Roy: Well, I just want to give my team the best chance to win and that means rounding out my game fundamentally and minimizing mistakes. I mean that's the goal of every member of our team. We know we have talent, but we just have to make sure we don't beat ourselves.
Morf: Good idea. You mentioned your teammates, so what do you think about the new faces?
Roy: I have complete faith in our management and I think we made some strong moves this offseason to add some pieces to the puzzle. We've only had a couple practices, but Jervan is the real deal. Man I've never seen passes like that. It's like he has eyes all the way around his head that let him see the floor all around him. We've started calling him "Spiderman" because of his vision and ability steal the ball if he gets his hand anywhere near it. I'm excited about playing with him for sure.
Morf: Nice. What about your other new starters?
Roy: Well, Brandon has been with the team a few seasons and really put in his dues. He's worked hard this offseason on his shooting and I really think he's improved his range. And Vance has started for us at times already and he definitely seems ready to play a bigger role on the team.
Morf: So things have worked out well in the practices?
Roy: Oh yeah. I think we'll surprise a lot of people this year. We have a couple new faces in the lineup and then people still don't respect me as a player really. That means to the outsiders we're a one man team. Wayne is Nebraska basketball and I am fine with that, but he can't win any games by himself. He'll be the first to admit that. This is the best team I've played on since I've been here as far as how we work together.
Morf: Really? So what kinds of things do you expect from this squad?
Roy: Same thing we expect every year....a championship. That's never out of the question when you have this kind of talent.
Morf: Well, thanks for taking the time to sit and talk with us. We really appreciate it.
Roy: No problem.
June 3, 2005
Big Man Preview
By Brandon Morfeld
In this preview I am going to cover the top big men that will be declaring for this draft and going over how I project them to adjust to the WBA. Again, these players are in no particular order.
Trevor Ellis, Midwest State
Strengths--FG%, BLK, TO
Weaknesses--FT%, REB, Fouls
Ellis is an amazing player with the ball in the paint. In fact he is possibly the best scorer in this class and someone in the WBA will be very lucky to add his talents to their roster. He's a deadly accurate shooter around the basket, but his range does fade which causes him to be just an average free throw shooter. He also does an excellent job of kicking the ball out to open teammates. He is very coordinated with the ball for a big man. Ellis is also a great defender and no one finds it very easy to drive the lane with him standing in there. His biggest concern is his rebounding ability. For a Center he isn't always the strongest guy out there which may mean he needs to be moved to PF in the WBA.
Keanon Carrington, Westside Tech
Strengths--FG%, BLK, TO
Weaknesses--REB, Fouls
Carrington definitely has the potential to be a superstar, but I think he has to be moved to PF and then maybe even be forced to play SF for a while while he works on his rebounding. He is a guy that loves to play away from the hoop which means he doesn't get too many rebounds. He is a very accurate shooter though and he has no problems defending the paint when an opponent drives in. He does have to watch his foul counts though because at times he racks them up. This kid can really ball, but he is a project in the WBA.
Jeremy Sims, Harlem
Strengths--FG%, TO
Weaknesses--Fouls
Jeremy Sims may be the best PF in this draft. He is dead on with his shooting touch from everywhere on the court including the long ball. He just seems so comfortable handling the ball all over the floor and generally makes no mistakes when doing so. He is just an average defender and can get himself into foul trouble so a team looking for a defender at their PF position should look elsewhere, but if you want a scorer there then this is your man. He won't be an overly impressive rebounder in the WBA, but there is potential there and I think he will come around just fine.
Senecca Redd, Port Chester
Strengths--FG%, FT, BLK, TO
Weaknesses--REB, Fouls
Redd has been tearing up the GCBA for the last four seasons and he is ready for the WBA, but like a few of the other players I have mentioned he is weak enough as a rebounder that I feel he will need to make the move to PF to be effective at the next level. He is a big time scorer in the low post and players find it almost impossible to stop him. Plus if they foul he is very good at making them pay by dropping in the foul shots. He is also a very gifted defender down low, but at times he will force too much contact and draw the whistles. Great with the ball for a big man.
Victor Pearson, Appleby
Strengths--FG%, FT, REB, BLK, TO
Weaknesses--Fouls, Attitude
Victor Pearson is a hot tempered bully in the paint, but he definitely gets the job done. He's a very accurate shooter whose range extends out to the arc. This makes him very dangerous over a large area. He is also a very strong rebounder who doesn't let himself get pushed out of position. If he wants a spot he goes and gets it. Going along with this mentality is a hard nosed, "It's my house" mentality on defense which makes it difficult for opponents to score on him. He does get into foul trouble every so often because of his reckless play.
Dirk Kuefer, Williams
Strengths--FG%, BLK, TO
Weaknesses--REB, Fouls, AST
Dirk plays a lot like Pearson described above. He's another hard nosed in your face type of player. He also takes a lot of high percentage shots by muscling down into the paint. At times he can struggle with free throws though which may hurt his chances in the WBA. Another thing that may hurt is that at times he seems to "wonder" around the court, not knowing where he needs to be. This leads to a lack of rebounding production on his part. He knows where to go on defense though as he gets a large number of blocked shots. Just watch out because he doesn't get his teammates involved all the time and he forces things which can cause him to get into foul trouble.
Shawn Jones, Williams
Strengths--FG%, BLK, TO
Weaknesses--FT%, Fouls
The other member of the amazing duo at Williams University, Jones is a lot like Kuefer in his abilities. He's a very accurate shooter, but his range is pretty limited and he struggles even from the free throw line. Jones is a better rebounder which will help him adjust to the WBA and he may be one of the best prospects as a true Center. He does have a tendency to get into foul trouble because of how hard he plays defensively in the paint.
Llewelyn Kinzer, Siberia
Strengths--FG%, FT, REB, BLK, TO
Weaknesses--Fouls, Attitude
Kinzer is a very nice prospect for the WBA as he combines a few attributes that teams look for in a Power Forward. He could make a huge impact as a rookie if he is moved to SF, but as a PF he projects very well also. He is an above average rebounder and he provides an offensive punch that very few players can match or defend. He is also a tenacious defender but can get himself into foul trouble. He'll be a big time player in this next draft class.
Andre Rawlings, Siberia
Strengths--FG%, BLK, TO
Weaknesses--FT%, REB, Fouls
Rawlings is another par for the course big man. He's a weaker rebounder when being compared to the WBA talent pool which means he may need to make a position change, but he is a monster scorer and is a stopper in the lane with some monstrous blocks. He'll rack up some fouls sometimes, but as a whole he brings a quality package to the table and should see his name called early in the draft.
Ryan Rogers, Chaco Canyon
Strengths--FG%, FT, BLK, Fouls, TO
Weaknesses--REB
Ryan Rogers is perhaps my favorite prospect in this class. He has so much potential because he is an amazing scorer and he combines that with a relentless defensive presence. But unlike many of the other players in this class he is able to maintain control and doesn't get into foul trouble. He plays with poise and leadership which are two atributes that every WBA team looks for. His only downfall may be his rebounding which means that like so many others he is best suited to play PF in the WBA. Rogers is still a can't miss prospect.
June 3, 2005
Preview by: Scoop Baxter
WEST
Continental-Pacific Division
Prediction finish
1. Oregon
2. Colorado
3. Nebraska
4. Omaha
5. Sacramento
6. Salt Lake City
7. Alaska
Division Overview: The Continental - Pacific Division is the toughest in the WBA. With three teams with the best winning percentages in the history of the league, this season will be a battle. Oregon must find some bench help to repeat as champs again. I don't they can play there starters the whole game again this season. Colorado and Nebraska will be nipping at the heels of the Golden Bears if they have trouble with there rotation. Omaha could be the spoiler in this division. They have a ton of depth on this team so watch out for them. With the trade Sacramento finally got their PG. Salt Lake City and Alaska are in for a long season in this division. I feel that at least four teams if not five will make the playoffs. Wow, exciting I can not wait for this season to start.
Oregon Golden Bears
Last season's record: 60 - 20
Re-signed: Bishop Stein extended for 5 yrs @ $10.72
Drafted: #31-Vincent Holliday
FA signings: Jack Berger--Accepts 2 yr. @ .26, Joe Jones--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25, Bill Rainwater--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25, Bill Andrews--Accepts 2 yr. @ .66, Raphael Park--Accepts 2 yr.@ .75, Russ Chase--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25, Zane Rivers--Accepts 1 yr. @ 1.15
Players acquired via trade: Joe Torney, Wu Dian-fan
Released: Kelvin Davidson, J.J. McCauley
Not returning from last year: Evan Kerr, J.J. McCauley, Leon Berthelson, Donovan McCormick, Kelvin Davidson, Auston Monte, Umberto DiTullio
Probable Starting 5: PG-- Bishop Stein, SG-- Wu Dian-fan, SF-- Donavan Jones, PF-- Cory Mosley, C-- Lou Gonzales
Key Reserves: Zane Rivers, Jack Berger
Overview: The championship is Oregon to lose. The one major whole in there line up is replacing Davidson. I think that not having him will bring this team down to earth a little. The decision that GM Harper has is to bring in another PG and move Stein back to the SG or to try and develop a SG guard on his own.
Colorado Pioneers
Last season's record: 60 - 20
Re-signed: Arnold Eaton extended for 3 yrs @ $7.47
Drafted: #2- Mark Carr, #14- Sam White, #48- DeOntae Perez, #55- Dave Curico
FA signings: Eric Saks--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25, Harvey Dwyer--Accepts 3 yr. @ 1.0, Joe Watts--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25
Players acquired via trade: None
Released: Jack Berkley
Not returning from last year: Jim Peyton, Russ Chase, Harry Crowley
Probable Starting 5: PG-- Charlie Daidone, SG-- Samir Sheth, SF-- Edgar Kamara, PF-- Greg Lacy, C-- Arnold Eaton
Key Reserves: Mark Carr, Eric Saks
Overview: The big question is where is Mark Carr going to find playing time? This team will be good but is lacking in depth. The season is on the back of Sheth can he have another exciting season again?
Nebraska Sun Warriors
Last season's record: 48 - 32
Re-signed: Vance Clopp extended for 5 yrs @ $7.00, Brandon Morfeld exended for 5 yrs @ $5.84
Drafted: #1- Jevan Timmons, #42- Coby Getz, #43- Joe Torney, #47- Kent Croce,
FA signings: Camron Diaz--Accepts 3 yr. @ 1.5, George Lush--Accepts 2 yr. @ .26, Ed Bryant--Accepts 2 yr. @ .26, Marc White--Accepts 3 yr. @ 1.5
Players acquired via trade: Webster Hewlett
Released: Webster Hewlett, Drake Bacheman
Not returning from last year: Dennis Evans, Nick Adams, Marty Williams, Paul Wilson, Nolan Blizzard, Drake Bacheman
Probable Starting 5: PG-- Jervan Timmons, SG-- Dexter Kodak, SF-- Wayne Taylor, PF-- Roy Base, C-- Vance Clopp
Key Reserves: Brandon Morfeld, Ron Avery, George Lush
Overview: How will the rookie fair as the starting PG? Everyone knows that Taylor is going to get his shots. With both Timmons and Kodak in the backcourt Timmons' job will be a little bit easier. The key is how will Roy Base replace Paul Wilson at the PF position? Lush will play a big role in the success of the Sun Warriors season.
Omaha Wild
Last season's record: 35 - 45
Re-signed: Scott Currie extended for 5 yrs @ $4.75(NTC)
Drafted: #3- Davion Stahl, #7- Scott Berger, #12- Raheem Qualls
FA signings: Angelo Bacchi--Accepts 5 yr. @ 5.0, Andres Fernandez--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25, Roy Houle--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25
Players acquired via trade: Lonnie Graham
Released: None
Not returning from last year: Luo-Kung Liu, Derek Vinyard, Branko Filipovic, Cullen Phillips, Jim Young, Pepe Garcia
Probable Starting 5: PG-- Oliver McCarty, SG-- Brian Collins, SF-- Gerhold Verholm, PF-- Ramiro Watts, C-- Mike Bennett
Key Reserves: Davion Stahl, Scott Currie, Angelo Bacchi
Overview: This team has been picked by some to win the division. I don't see that happening, but they could play a major part in deciding who does. They have a ton of depth. Verholm is the key to the success in what the Wild will do this season. After letting Filipovic go in free agency coach Kelley had to sure up his bench. With three pick in the top twelve pick this team has a lot of young talented players. So the “Wild Bunch” Stahl, Currie, Bacchi, Berger, Qualls, and O'Donnell will have to play big for this team to compete with the elite.
Sacramento Fighting Cocks
Last season's record: 41 - 39
Re-signed: None
Drafted: #37- Javon Thomas
FA signings: Sheldon Maloney--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25, Sage Walker--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25, Ozzie Kramer--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25, Mitchel Gallagher--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25, John Davis--Accepts 4 yr. @ 5.0, Jeff Sandbeck--Accepts 3 yr. @ 1.0, Brenton Daniels--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25
Players acquired via trade: Jimmy Foster, Bill Magenheimer
Released: Junior Jones
Not returning from last year: Jovany O'Neil, John Gaiser, Junior Jones, Kenyon Maggette
Probable Starting 5: PG-- Jimmy Foster, SG-- Harold Gil, SF-- Jaxon McCall, PF-- Cameron Sampson, C-- John Van Horne
Key Reserves: Bobby Egan, Jeff Sandbeck, Sage Walker
Overview: After making the trade to get their PG they always wanted, now what happens to Egan? Their starting lineup is very solid, but the key to Fighting Cocks future is how well their bench contributes. The team can finish as high as second or can finish in last place; it is totally up to Coach Lawrence.
Salt Lake City Fanatics
Last season's record: 33 - 47
Re-signed: Wally Birkhead extended for 5 yrs @ $7.10, Austyn Williams extended for 4 yrs @ $8.40
Drafted: None
FA signings: Umberto DiTullio--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25, Keyshawn Eosso--Accepts 3 yr. @ 3.0, Marten Kurpeikis--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25, Mike Taylor--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25, Odell Bell--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25, Keith Griffin--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25, Bernie Cobb--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25, Kenyon Maggette--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25
Players acquired via trade: None
Released: None
Not returning from last year: Paul Dilmore, Emillio Browne
Probable Starting 5: PG-- Austyn Williams, SG-- Jalen Bell, SF-- Cordell Parks, PF-- Brad Bangerter, C-- Wally Birkhead
Key Reserves: Umberto DiTullio, George Holt
Overview: With no major move in the off-season it leaves one to wonder if there is a management team in place for this organization. This will be a long season for the Fanatics fans. This team has some bright spots, but they have a lot of dark holes to fill. GM Brad Bangerter has left Coach Bangerter with a bare cupboard to work with and Player Bangerter has the whole Fanatics organization on his back.
Alaska Snow Bears
Last season's record: 29 - 51
Re-signed: None
Drafted: #19- Vincent Miles, #39- Abdullah Oblongata
FA signings: Jim Fox--Accepts 3 yr. @ 3.7, Chuck Henderson--Accepts 5 yr. @ 6.2, Bucky McCarty--Accepts 2 yr. @ .75, Ethan Hunt--Accepts 2 yr. @ .75, Garth Donohue--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25, Chad Archer--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25, Pierce Shea--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25, Cennino Cenninni--Accepts 1 yr. @ .25
Players acquired via trade: Peter Langstraat, Michael Kutak, Jalon Clair
Released: Michael Kutak, Abdullah Oblongata, Ed Kane, Raphael Park, Odibe King, Buck Jones, Odell Bell, Al Zarra
Not returning from last year: Keyon Brown, Lou Boone, Odibe King, Rick Schulz, Raphael Park, Bennie Armstrong, Peter Langstraat, Ed Kane
Probable Starting 5: PG-- Chuck Henderson, SG-- George Foster, SF-- Marquez Houston, PF-- Harry Applegate, C-- Jack Spiegel
Key Reserves: Jim Fox, Bucky McCarty, Garth Donohue
Overview: Snow Bears management is always under fire by some of their most to help their team. The best thing that GM Williams good have done he did by signing Chuck Henderson, even at an older age can bring stability to an unstable team. Just like some of the other teams in this division the starting lineup is pretty good, but the problem is the bench. Can Bucky and J. Fox be that supporting cast that the Snow Bears need? If that happens they could finish in the middle of the division. Coach Williams needs to sure up the bench and they could possibly make the playoffs. Hey, one can dream.
June 1st, 2005
WBA Preseason Predictions
South
Projected Finish
1) Cancun
2) Capetown
3) Cincinnati
4) Charlotte
5) Arkansas
6) Miami
7) Mexico City
Overview: The killer C's are my prediction for the top four spots here, but I think that really the top two are the only ones that have distanced themselves from the rest of the division. Sam should make a nice jump with Charlotte and I see a lot of young talent on a few of these teams.
Best Player: Parker Mason
All Division Team
PG--Parker Mason
SG--Dennis Evans
SF--Nick Adams
PF--Obafemi Mabruke
C---Kent Mercer
Team by Team Analysis
Cancun--These guys have the same core as they always have and that is saying a lot for their talent level. They have an amazing floor leader in All-Star Parker Mason. Mason is an MVP threat every year and there is virtually nolimit to what he can accomplish. He passes the ball well and just has amazing vision to keep his teammates involved. The next major contributor to their success has been their frontcourt tandem. First there is PF Scott Nicholson who has some injury problems, but when he is healthy he is one of the best there is. His main asset is his ability to get to the basket. Next is their amazing C Kent Mercer. Mercer is the perfect big man for this offense because he can hit the boards hard and he demands so much attention that it creates opportunities for Mason and Nicholson. These guys will again be major contenders for the title.
Capetown--Every year they add pieces to the puzzle and every year they seem to get a little bit better. They have acquired a big name C in Bill Yeager. Yeager gives them an All-Star threat at a major position and is an anchor in this lineup. They have also signed up Kelvin Davidson which gives them an amazingly talented PG to distribute the ball. Not to mention that he also knows a little bit about scoring. Then they added Ellis Law who will fill up their frontcourt working along with Obafemi Mabruke. Eric Manning will complete their starting lineup. This team has the talent to upset Cancun in the division, but Pat is a smart coach and a good owner. If anyone can hold off this team it is him.
Cincinnati--I love this team. In fact I almost picked them to win this division, but they have upset me in the past so I didn't want to give them too much credit. At the PG spot they have proven veteran Brandon Sandler who is a prototype PG that can get his teammates involved. Then at the SG position they picked up Dennis Evans who is fast developing into one of the best in the league. At SF they added Nick Adams who I believe easily has All-Star potential now that he gets to start again. That trade with Nebraska may have been just what they needed to really push this franchise over the top. At PF they still have young star Dontae Evans and Abegunda Abasi can back-up both forward positions very effectively. Then their is primetime big man Craig Bradshaw. Bradshaw has really underachieved in his early seasons, but I think a breakout year is around the corner. With proper coaching there is no telling how far this team can go this year.
Charlotte--I think Sam has this team in a better position already with the few free agent signings he has made so far along with his coaching ability. He has a great passerat the point in Alvin Simpson so he has that spot taken care of. Then he has Eugene LaMaitre at the SG position whic gives him a real threat there. LaMaitre is a great scorer and I'm sure Sam is very happy to have him on the roster. Then in the frontcourt they have a couple of nice players in newly acquired Derek Vinyard and Abdullah Chanda. Both were signed this offseason and will bring a great presence to this team in the paint. They also have young Anthony Curtis who continues to improve and could be a real force soon.
Arkansas--This team made some moves this offseason that I really feel weren't beneficial to this franchise. Maybe they had to for cap reasons, but they lost two star players and I don't feel they replaced them very well. The team is lacking a true PG now and Bill Andrews is a solid player, but he's no WBA starting PG. Then at SG it will likely be rookie DaRond Lyons who was a nice pick-up for them. He probably isn't ready this year to start, but he will be a solid player for them soon enough. Then they have Dasher who is always a presence in the paint along with the old master Boom-Boom Casey. Casey still has the recognition, but ever since he left Colorado he has never been what he was. He's a very consistent player who everyone knows will put up good stats game after game, but I felt he was always capable of so much more. He isn't enough to carry this team to the playoffs.
Miami--It's hard to find the talent to scout on this squad. Dave Troychak is their franchise player and he is a darn good one too. He's one of the best SG's around, but it's hard to build a team around a SG. There isn't much Troychak can't do though and he will lead this team to some wins for sure. They also have Oman Fatafehi who just seems to dominate more and more each season. Fatafehi brings a nice inside game to this team which compliments Troychak very well. If this team can find a way to fill in the holes around these two players then they might be able to move up.
Mexico City--This team is getting better step by step, but they just don't have the talent that is demanded to compete at the WBA level. Their best player is C Sean Ashman who definitely has the capability to put up some big numbers, but he is very inconsistent in doing so and is hardly a franchise player. Then they have Brody Liang who is another solid player, but probably isn't more than a bench guy for some of the top teams in the league. But teams have to start building somewhere. They also have offesnive minded Pete Merritt who does give them a big scoring threat, but just like Ashman he is very inconsistent at what he does and at times you can forget he is even in the game. Then there is youngster Cole Bayo who is getting better each season, but I doubt he will ever be ready to e a top PG in the WBA I like that this team is building and I think they can eventually get there, but I just see this season as a step on the path.
June 1, 2005
Early WBA Scouting Report
By Brandon Morfeld
In this first report I am going to cover the players that I project will have big time seasons at the positions of PG, SG, and SF. This report is meant to be used as a tool in projecting these players to the WBA and as a scouting guide for the coming season. The players below are in no particular order.
Casey Pointer, Chesapeake University
Strengths--3P%, AST, STL, TO
Weaknesses--FG%, Fouls
Casey helped lead Chesapeake to an unprecedented run at the title last year and he definitely has all the tools to make it in the WBA. I believe he will be forced to play at SG at the next level just to improve his efficiency. He is a solid defender, but his intensity can lead to foul trouble and I am pretty concerned about his shooting ability and how it may adjust to the WBA's pressure defenses. He does get his teammates involved though and no one can dispute his work ethic.
Shermar Mahara, Langepas
Strengths--3P%, AST, STL, TO
Weaknesses--FG%, Fouls
Mahara is much the same type of player as Casey Pointer. He plays on a winning team and has the right kind of mentality to make him successful in the WBA. But just like Casey he does have a tendency to rack up the fouls while he is trying to shut his man down on defense. He is an average guy on the boards, but his best attribute is by far his ability to get his teammates involved. Even so I project him into the WBA as a SG because of his ability to score. He'll need to work hard on his jumper and work on taking the higher percentage shots. He loves the three ball, but that alone doesn't win games at the WBA level.
Mike Lewis, Midwest State
Strengths--3P%, STL, TO
Weaknesses--Fouls
Mike Lewis brings a great mentality to the team and is another example of a great player coming from a winning tradition. He is a pretty solid shooter from all ranges unlike our first few prospects, but is most efficient at the long ball. He's a solid passer also and knows how to shut down his man defensively. He's another guy that does allow himself to get into trouble with the refs because of his aggressive defensive style. He rebounds fairly well for a SG and does an excellent job of holding onto the ball.
Janecek Prochazka, Appleby College
Strengths--FG%, TO
Weaknesses--AST, Fouls
Janecek is actually a decent passer, but the reason I am listing this as a weakness is because he is coming out as a pure PG which means his passing is horribly deficient for the WBA level. Now if someone scouts him as a SG then he has all the right tools. He scores a ton and is a great shooter inside the arc. He doesn't rebound all that well which could hamper his position change and he definitely has to watch his foul situation. He will also need some work on his defensive abilties at this point.
Tony Henderson, Langepas
Strengths--FG%, FT, Fouls, TO
Weaknesses--REB
Henderson is a player that came into the GCBA with huge expectations, but has never quite lived up to them. He's a kid waiting to fully mature and ready to have an explosive year. He is already one of the GCBA's premier offensive players and he is an expert at driving the lane and drawing the contact. He comes up lacking in the rebounding department for the SF position which will hurt him even more so in the WBA, but he does have heart and he plays very hard all game long and still manages to stay out of foul trouble. He's also a very level headed kid who doesn't let mistakes get to him and he learns from them.
Dan Kincaide, West River
Strengths--FG%, FT, 3P%, STL, TO
Weaknesses--REB, Fouls
Dan is anexceptionally gifted player and I wouldn't be surprised if he led the GCBA in scoring this season. He provides all the weapons that a player needs to wreak havoc on defenses. He can power down inside for a dunk or knock down a long range bomb. His inability to grab the hard rebound is the only thing holding him back from being a huge star in the WBA. He'll try to grab them, but often times it just leads to sloppy play under the hoop which causes him foul issues. He just isn't that style of player. He is more comfortable in clean air.
Jermaine Lee, Kasierslautern
Strengths--FG%, FT, AST
Weaknesses--Fouls
Jermaine brings a very consistent game to the table which means you can count on him every day. The problem with this is that consistency isn't what matters in the WBA--it's explosiveness. Lee definitely can pack a punch when it comes to his scoring ability, but he has a lot of work to do on his defensive maneuvers so that he can try to stay out of foul trouble. Not only that, but his passing is borderline if he is forced to play the point, but it is a strength if he gets to play the 2. So that could go either way.
Bohuslav Hruska, Beijing Academy
Strengths--REB, AST, STL, TO
Weaknesses--FG%, 3P%, Fouls
Hruska has so many stats that could go either way for him. He'll be a risky pick for someone, but it could pay HUGE dividends. He won't dazzle anyone with his shooting ability, but he does like to put the rock up quite a bit. This means he has the potential to score a lot of points, but he will need to be trained to do so. He is also a pretty solid rebounder for a PG or SG which is always an advantage. His passing ability is solid, but probably won't cut it as a PG in the WBA. He does have his defense though which is where he really likes to show off. At times this gets him in foul trouble so he'll have to learn to watch that.
Kyle Trask, Waco
Strengths--3P, TO
Weaknesses--REB, Fouls
Kyle has had a great career at Waco University and a large part of that has been his offensive production. He is a guy that can score from literally anywhere on the floor and he excels at dropping in from long range. Teams really have to be sure to know where he is at all times. Not to mention that when teams dodecide to double team him he is excellent at getting the ball to his open teammates for the easy shots. Teams will have to watch out for his weak rebounding and take note that he may need to be moved to SG. The fact that he is not a very good defender coupled with his foul problems may spell doom for him though.
Scott French, Great Plains
Strengths--AST, TO
Weaknesses--FG%, REB, Fouls
Scott French rates highly according to the rating system we have here, but I don't really see how he will have a sustained WBA career. He plays no defense at all and he fouls a lot to go with that. Not to mention the fact that he is a poor rebounder and can't shoot the ball at all. His only upside is that he can pass the rock pretty well and he doesn't lose control of it either.
June 1, 2005
Eastern Conference Playoff Predictions
By Brandon Morfeld
To finish off my preseason predictions here is the playoff predictions for each conference as I think the seedings will end up. Just in case you were around 3-5 in your division you can see where I think you rate in the broad scope of things.
1) Paris
8) Boston
Paris was fast becoming a dominant team in the Western Conference last season and I expect them to be just as dominant in the East. I really feel that with Vasquez they are the team to beat in the East. Not to mention that with Heiko Van Brandt they have hte best frontcourt in the entire conference. Boston will sneak into the playoffs ahead of Baltimore and Budapest who I expect will both be battling right to the end of the season. The main reason I predict this is the veteran leadership Boston has in Dave Short.
4) Albacete
5) Brooklyn
Albacete has a really quality team, but Bixby may need another year to grow which is why they drop to the fourth seed in the East. He has grown fast, but he isn't quite to that elite status yet and the rest of his team is aging. They are still a premier team and I expect the battle for the 2 seed to be very hard fought between 3 teams. Brooklyn is still a young team so I would expect them to be a touch inconsistent at times. That doesn't diminish the fact that they have talent though and I believe they will be a solid 5th seed with the potential to go up from there. I wouldn't be shocked to see them as high as a 2 or 3 seed if things go right for Rondall in training.
2) Rochester
7) Andorra
Rochester wins the 2 seed by winning the division and with this veteran lineup I think it will be very hard to beat them. With clutch play from McCarthy this team has a shot to be a 1 seed also. I don't want to forget Dave Williams, but his play is so consistent that it really depends on Big Jim as to the success or demise of this team. Andorra is a team that is hard to predict because they did so well last year and I didn't project them that high. So it is hard for me to figure out where their tremendous success comes from. Obviously Devonta Corrigan has a large part in it, but he can't win games for this team all alone. I wouldn't be shocked to see them as a higher seed at all though.
3) Toronto
6) Gabon
Toronto is my special pick in the East this season. I really like the pieces they have acquired this offseason and i think they are a team ready to make a big move onto the WBA scene. They just need to make sure they get a solid effort from Simeon Hill. Gabon is another team that I think finally improved themselves by getting a guy like Jim Wilson. It's about time they had a real C in town so I think it will be hard to predict these guys cuz they haven't ever had one.
Western Conference Playoff Predictions
1) Oregon
8) Charlotte
Oregon is the champs until someone says otherwise. With Lou Gonzales at the helm and Cory Mosley and Donavan Jones backing him there are very few teams that have the talent to beat these guys over seven games. That's why it will be crucial for any team that wants to compete with them to get ahead early. Charlotte is a team that I believe is on the rise and I think Sam will put these guys back into the playoffs this season. He has a decent starting 5 and I think that with his coaching ability the team will really respond well to his style. His team is already starting to remind me of his old Colorado teams as far as style of players.
4) Colorado
5) Capetown
Colorado is a team that is solid every year and I see no reason why this season would be any different. They could easily take the third seed from Nebraska and may even have a shot at winning the division and being a 1 seed overall. They have a load of talent and are very consistent game to game. That's one of the things that makes them so hard to beat. Capetown made some huge acquisitions lately and I wouldn't be shocked to see them as a higher seed either, but this is the West and not everyone can be a #1 seed. They have a load of talent starting out with Bill Yeager at C and Kelvin Davidson at PG. Watch out for these guys come playoff time because they will be hard to beat for sure.
2) Cancun
7) Sacramento
Cancun is always tough and they are another team that could easily be a 1 seed. They have former MVP Parker Mason on the court leading the charge and Kent Mercer is right in there causing probelms for any opponent. This duo is enough to win the championship any year. Sacramento is still working on filling in some holes, but I think with their powerful frontcourt and high scoring Jaxon McCall this could be their year to really push some of the bigger teams. If McCall can get on track then look out for these guys.
3) Nebraska
6) Cincinnati
Nebraska is a tough team to predict because so much depends on their offseason work ethic this year. Of course with Wayne Taylor on the squad you know they are ready to put on a show. But besides him there is a lot of unproven players starting for them this year. It wouldn't completely shock me to see them barely slip into the playoffs again this year. Cincinnati is a team that I finally hope is there now. They have the complete package with great players at every position. If they can get these guys to come together as a team then I really think they'll be able to play with anyone in the west.