October 1 - November 7, 2005

November 8th, 2005

The Longest Day

By Clark Lane

Tuesday November 8th 2005, the longest day. It is sunny in Paris. After

another night of unrest in France with 895 burnt cars another place of town

is ready to heat. The Eiffel Tower Stadium of the Paris SledgeHammers is

ready for an historic day. For second time in WBA history, a final is going

to it seventh game. As visitors we have the Oregon Golden Bears of Kevin

Harper. The team can be considered a duet between Lou Gonzales and Bishop

Stein. Lou Gonzales, arguably the best player in the league is at age 30 he

is starting to slow down. Ha! Many players would want to play at the prime

as Lou is playing at 30! He has been the league MVP, and the defensive MVP

several years on the short live of the WBA and he can be considered an Icon.

With 2 titles in his hands he is looking for a third one. With him Bishop

Stein is the youngest superstar of the league, and at 24 he is fighting for

his second title and the recognition of the league.

In front of them the Paris SledgeHammers, the team with the best record on

the regular season with 69 wins for 11 defeats is a two-headed monster like

Oregon. Their two main heads are Jay Vasquez and Heiko Van Brandt. Van

Brandt is this seasons MVP, and PF All-WBA selection and despite his great

all-round play he has only 1 ring on his hand. Next to him we have Jay

Vasquez, considered by many as the best Center out there. He does not have a

ring and he wants it! Vasquez has been playing as if there is no tomorrow

and he has really shown that now he is the boss. But everything he has done

so far will be nothing but a show of rage if he can not decide game number 7.

When asked about this game Paris coach Gustavo Follana said:

"This is a unique opportunity. The WBA has not seen this kind of play on the

finals since season two! We have two teams that are playing with rage.

Oregon wants to get ahead of all the other teams but Cancun and win his

second title. We want this title, because loads of wins are good, but they

are not worth anything if you cannot wear the ring to show you are the best.

It does not get better than this. Vasquez against Lou, Stein against Lio,

Van Brandt against Donovan Jones! This is what the WBA is all about!"

The games so far have been shows of might with no real fight. Both teams

have shown or a real aggressive stroke, or a very bad play where the other

team really dominates.

But everything is over, or nearly. One game left, 48 minutes for glory.

Everything until now is just the journey, now we are arriving to the

destination.

What do you say, Oregon or Paris?

November 2nd, 2005

PF Draft Preview

By Mandon Borfeld

This is an excellent class of PF's. They are pretty weak at rebounding which seems to be the theme of this class, but many of these guys would make for excellent SF's so perhaps that should enter into draft day decisions. To play PF in the WBA and be successful these guys will need to really focus hard on improving their rebounding numbers or else they will be physically dominated. That's usually one of the biggest transitions that a young player has to make to the next level is the physical adaptation. Give these guys a little bit of time and I think that probably 7 or 8 guys at this spot could be impact players in the WBA

1) 4SR Tyris Mayes ---4- B+ B A-/ A B+/ C C / C- A- C A C- B A- B A+ A -0.0070 -0.0023

This is a guy that has flirted with coming out early since the end of his sophomore season, but he has stuck it out and is now in a position where he could be drafted very high. He brings a strong offensive game to the table down low which is always an asset. As a detractor to that he doesn't have much range and is a poor free throw shooter which hurts his ability to dominate games. He is a good rebounded although a touch weak for the WBA. For a big man he has a decent passing touch and he makes smart plays with the ball which means very few turnovers or mistakes. He is also a very talented defensive player who can really shut down an opponent in the paint. Mayes has major upside, but he has a few areas that will need to be fine tuned to make him a solid WBA player.

2) 4SR Stromile Watson ---4- B+ B+ A-/ A- A / B+ D+/ F A- C B+ C D A+ A A+ A 0.0211 -0.0087

Another guy that has thought about entering the draft early, but stuck it out and has improved his draft position is Stromile Watson. Watson is another guy that brings a strong offensive presence in the paint, but he is capable of hitting the big free throws which makes him that much harder to defend. You can't get too physical or he'll just hurt you from the line. Like all the prospects he'll need to work on his rebounding to be a dominant force, but he does a good job cleaning the glass. Probably his biggest downfall is the fact that at times he loses his focus and commits some foolish fouls. He isn't a great defender so he makes up for it by playing physically all the time which also helps to get him into foul trouble. He's a smart player with the ball, but sometimes struggles to find his rhythm in the aspects of the game away from the ball. This is something that will need to be worked on with him.

3) 3JR Jalen Dampier ---4- B+ B- B / A- A-/ B B-/ B+ A- E+ B+ C+ D+ A D A+ A- 0.0135 0.0049

Jalen decided to come out early this year after a fabulous junior season. Jalen brings a completely rounded offensive arsenal into the WBA as he can knock down a jumper from any range. His shooting touch will make the adjustment to the WBA much easier for him. He also manages to get to the line quite well which will cause defenses to give him even more space to create shots. He's definitely a ball hawk though so I wouldn't expect him to be looking to pass the ball much. His defense is only average also and it isn't helped any by the fact that he struggles with fouls. He plays tough down low and gets to banging in there and gets himself into trouble. He is a pretty solid guy to have hitting the boards, but will probably need some time to adjust to the WBA power game. His attitude will also get him into trouble sometimes.

4) 4SR Kyle Hawkins ---4- A- B+ B+/ A A-/ A- B+/ B A- D+ B C- E+ B+ D A+ A -0.0030 -0.0011

Kyle has a lot of potential especially on the offensive side of the ball. He gets to the lane fast and draws a lot of contact which always seems to help his team out by making the defense back off. He also packs a nice perimeter game which is a big bonus for a power forward. Kyle is a solid rebounded, but like the others he will need some extra body work to be a physically dominating big man. His defense is also suspect at times and it doesn't help matters that he gets too physical at times and manages to get himself into foul trouble. He's pretty good at holding onto the ball, but he does seem to have problems finding open players on the team once he enters the lane.

5) 4SR Llewellyn Kinzer ---4- B+ B+ A-/ A- A-/ B+ B+/ C A- C A- C+ D B+ E A+ A+ 0.0118 0.0313

Kinzer has great potential at the next level because he is such a dominating offensive presence. He shoots a very solid percentage from the floor, but at times he will force up a shot from outside his range. He does a good job playing tough down in the paint and is known for his toughness. He does struggle a little bit as a rebounded at times so once again he'll need to have some attention given to improving this to play PF. He does do a decent job of passing the ball around without making mistakes and he is a solid defensive presence also. At times he does get into foul trouble though which can hurt his ability to stay focused. He also runs into some issues with technical fouls because he plays with such passion.

November 2nd, 2005

SF Draft Preview

By Mandon Borfeld

There are several small forwards that are WBA ready right away. The top couple players at this position are all ready to make an immediate impact and I think that there are several others that will contribute given enough time to attain some additional skills. The rebounding for this spot is very suspect though and in the WBA SF is a crucial swing position in the rebounding battle. In my mind almost all of these players are going to be required to play SG to be stars in the WBA. They will all be able to contribute as SF's, but they will be a liability to their new team's rebounding abilities. A special rebounding camp or two may do the trick in really making a few of these guys into stars.

1) 4SR Tony Henderson --3-- A- B+ A-/ A- A / A- C-/ F B- B- C+ B- B A+ D A+ A+ 0.0125 -0.0002

Tony was supposed to be the first elite player to come out of the GCBA in a long time based on his abilities straight out of high school, but his talents have still never totally blossomed. He's a scoring machine who has no problems getting in the paint and mixing it up with anyone. He draws a lot of fouls because of his ability to play in traffic and does a great job of getting his team some free points. He's a below average rebounded for a SF which means he'll need to work hard at that aspect of his game to be competitive at the next level. He stays out of foul trouble himself and does a great job of getting his teammates involved in the game by dishing the ball out when he draws the double team. His defense is suspect at times, but his main contribution to any team will be as a scorer. His offensive game is nearly flawless, he shoots well, holds onto the ball, and gets his teammates involved.

2) 4SR Dan Kincaide --3-- A- B+ A-/ A- A-/ B+ A / A- C+ B- C+ B C A+ A A+ A 0.0049 0.0187

Some will say that this kid is the best player in the class and I couldn't argue with them. He is easily the best offensive threat because he is such an accurate shooter from any place on the floor. He'll kill opponents with his three point ability and just when they come out a step to stop that he flies past for the easy lay-in. Few players can match his offensive intensity. His rebounding will be a career long problem most likely if he stays at SF, but he may flourish in the WBA if he is moved to SG. He passes pretty well for a forward and he does a great job defending the ball and gets the occasional steal. Plus you can always rely on him to hold onto the ball and not hurt your team with costly mental mistakes. He was the GCBA Player of the Year for good reason and stands a great shot of being an impact player in the WBA.

3) 4SR Justin Hill --3-- B+ B+ B+/ A- A / B+ B+/ B+ B- C+ C+ B+ B A A A+ A- -0.0017 -0.0019

Hill is a guy that has gotten very little coverage coming out of the GCBA because he was a four year back-up at Midwest State, but he has all the tools to succeed in the WBA. First off he is an amazing scorer. Given the playing time he may have been able to challenge for the league scoring title. He can knock down a shot from anywhere and is also good at getting the open look. If he isn't open he's another guy that can find the open man on the court and get him the ball. He's not a great rebounded which may hurt him, but he is one of the best SF's in the draft at rebounding. His defense should set him apart from most other players however because he is a steals guy who can also block some shots all while staying out of foul trouble. Like the other players mentioned above he won't hurt your team with mental mistakes which makes him a WBA ready player.

4) 4SR Ryan DePina --3-- B+ B+ B / B A-/ A- C-/ B- C B- C+ B B A+ C A+ A- 0.0000 0.0075

Ryan is a very well rounded player, but his problem is that he doesn't do anything exceptionally which is always an asset for a young player to have. That's why I view him as more of a prospect than the other players. He has a high reward potential, but the team will have to be patient. He will most likely struggle with adjusting to the WBA game speed offensively because he has never been a great shooter anyway. He does draw fouls and gets to the line a lot and he also has a good knack for getting the ball to his open teammates for the easy shot. His rebounding will be terribly low for a SF which means I see him as a definite candidate for a position change. I think that as a SG he could be beneficial to several teams. He is an average presence defensively who is capable of getting a few steals. He is slightly undersized as a SF, but he has quick hands and is smart with the ball.

5) 4SR Eiji Yamaha --3-- B+ B+ A-/ B+ B+/ A- B-/ A- B- C+ C B B- A+ A A+ A- 0.0024 0.0002

Eiji might be the best player no one has concentrated on. He can play offense as well as anyone because he has such great range and he can get the ball around the court. His shooting ability will be very critical in his development in the WBA. His rebounding will leave some to be desired, but a move to SG or else some focus on the boards should move him along quickly. His defense is about average so he won't stifle anyone, but that isn't his weapon of choice. He'll be a reliable player who I feel can make a fast impact in the WBA.

November 2nd, 2005

SG Draft Preview

By Mandon Borfeld

The shooting guards in this class are stacked. There are several big time prospects that are ready to make immediate impacts in the WBA. This has been a position that has been picked on in the past for providing very hit and miss talent to the WBA and it seems that every year only 1 or 2 guys come out as a true impact guy as a shooting guard. Some of the biggest flops in the history of draft day have been from the two spot. I would say that this position is easily the deepest of any spot in this draft and if you need a shooting guard look very hard at drafting a guy as opposed to going to free agency because you will probably be able to draft a very nice talent even in the second round of the draft. Here are my top 5 SG's in order:

1) 4SR Jermaine Lee 12--- B+ B A-/ B+ A-/ A- B / C- C A- C B C- B D A+ A -0.0040 0.0171

This kid has all the tools to make a big impact right away. He has a very accurate shot and he isn't afraid to take the ball right at a tall defender. He's also very good at drawing the contact once he's in there which gets opponents into foul trouble. He's a pretty decent rebounded for a guard which helps his team when they miss shots. For a SG he is also a very gifted passer, and is available to play the PG spot in a pinch. The main reason I scout him as a SG is because I feel he likes to shoot a lot and his passing isn't quite at a PG level. He does struggle at times with fouls, but you have to love his intensity on the court. His defense is well rounded, but he may have a tough time right away adapting to the speed of the WBA game.

2) 4SR Jarion Harris 12--- B+ B B-/ B+ A-/ B+ B-/ B C A- C- C+ B B+ A A+ A- -0.0057 0.0079

Harris is another guy that is capable of playing the PG spot if needed, but again I think his passing ability suits him best to be a SG. He's another guy that misses few shots and has excellent range. He does look to pass first and shoot second which will make him seem like a solid PG selection, but he is also a slasher that gets to the hoop and draws fouls. His tremendous shooting ability qualifies him as a big time shooting guard with great court vision. He'll probably never be a premier defender either which means he wouldn't match up well against a PG that is passing the ball. He will thrive much more in a situation where he can be a secondary passer and show up with his shooting from the perimeter. Harris is a guy that I think will make an immediate impact.

3) 4SR Arturo Fonzarelli-2--- B+ B+ A-/ B+ A / A B+/ A- C- B C- B C+ A+ A A+ A+ 0.0136 0.0164

“The Fonz” has a total package. He was a JUCO transfer a few seasons back and made a big impact on his team. He is a big scorer with amazing accuracy from all spots on the floor. He drives the lane and draws contact well and cannot be left open or he'll drill a three spot on you. His passing is well above average for a WBA shooting guard which is always a bonus because it creates opportunities for the other players on the team. His rebounding is slightly weak because he does like to play outside which means he doesn't box out well and he doesn't have an overly hard work ethic. He won't turn the ball over though and he will pick up a few steals for you along the way. He has a chance to be the top SG selected in this draft.

4) 4SR Mike Lewis -2--- B+ B+ A-/ B+ A-/ B- B+/ B+ C B- C B+ D- B+ D A+ A 0.0105 0.0096

Mike Lewis would probably be my top rated SG if it weren't for his foul issues. So if you can handle those then give this guy a hard look early on. He's a very accurate shooter from all spots on the floor and he has broken more than one heart with his three point shooting in the clutch. He's an average rebounded for a man of his position, but he is one of the best all around defenders as a SG. He will block a few shots and grab quite a few steals. He is also excellent at taking care of the ball and does an adequate job of getting his teammates involved in the game by hitting them when they're open. He is one of the top scorers in the draft so watch the fouls, but it may be worth the gamble.

5) 3JR Jeff Childress -23-- B B B-/ B B+/ B+ C+/ D+ B- A- D C B- B+ D A+ A- 0.0158 -0.0045

Jeff declared early so I think he may intrigue some owners with his potential. He is a very solid player and was highly recruited out of high school. He lacks the range of some of the other guys, but power is his game. He loves to play physical and down low which is odd for a SG, but he does also have some experience at SF which plays a part in that. He is an above average rebounded at the SG spot and he does an excellent job of spotting open teammates and getting them the ball. He also draws a lot of fouls and plays with pretty good body control for such a tough player. His defense does leave a lot to be desired which will cause him to drop in the draft probably, but SG's are for offense. Right?

November 1st, 2005

PG Prospect Breakdown

By Mandon Borfeld

This class of point guards is going to have some major growing pains adapting to the WBA. As a class they are one of the weakest groups of assist men to ever exit the GCBA. These guys have some major talent and several of them should see some very nice opportunities at the next level, but passing will not be their forte. Perhaps a few extra camps will be needed to round out these players. That or a move to shooting guard would suit several of them. I think this is a thin position which means free agent point guards will be at a premium this season. It was hard to narrow down the list after about the top 3 because all of the players are so similar in their abilities, and none of them stood out as a bona fide star. I would say that the risk is greater than the reward on most of these players so stay away from the point position unless you have to have one or can afford a project. Here is my breakdown of the top 5 PG's to enter this draft in order:

1) 3JR Dondrell Palmer 1---- B+ B+ A-/ A- A-/ A- B+/ D+ D B+ C- B- B- A A A+ A- -0.0011 -0.0057

Palmer is a guy that will be WBA ready offensively. He takes high percentage shots because he isn't afraid to drive the lane and create. In fact, for a guard he really dislikes the perimeter shots which can lead to some trouble when he runs into a big defender. He draws contact well and can cause problems for a defense. He's a pretty reliable passer who has few turnovers, but he will need to work hard to meet WBA standards at finding the open teammate. His defense is a little below average, but he does have potential both as a steals man and a shot blocker. He's just a junior so I think the youth factor will intrigue a team needing a PG to take the risk on Dondrell.

2) 4SR Nathan Jackson 1---- B+ B+ C / B+ B+/ B- B+/ A D+ A- D+ B+ C- A B A A- 0.0085 -0.0049

Jackson is a guy that could go either way in adjusting to the WBA, but I think the odds are in his favor. He doesn't take a high number of shots which means his FG% doesn't have to be spectacular to allow him to contribute immediately. However, this shouldn't be an issue because he is a strong shooter with a lot of range. He's one of the best long range guys in the draft. He's also one of the best passers out there which is one thing that will draw attention to him immediately. He is smart with the ball and is also smart around it meaning he can play some excellent defense. He does have to watch his body control because he will get a few dumb fouls, but overall I think he may be the best WBA ready PG out there.

3) 4SR O.J. Lofton 1---- B+ B+ B / B B+/ B B / B D+ A- D+ B+ E+ A B A+ A- -0.0030 -0.0006

Lofton is a guy that has huge potential, but will need some time to mature into it. He's a big time scorer with range all over the court and he can get his teammates involved with finding the open shots. These are two key factors at the WBA level. His FG% will most likely be a detrimental factor to him contributing immediately and his foul problems will always be an issue. He is a hard worker on the court and he loves to bully around opponents. It will be hard to ever get that mentality out of him. He's smart with the ball and knows how to take care of it. He'll also get his fair share of steals, but the price is those fouls.

4) 4SR Wes Taylor 1---- B+ B+ B-/ B B+/ B+ B+/ B+ D+ B+ D B C A A A A- 0.0052 -0.0015

Taylor is a lot like Lofton in that they both were highly regarded high school prospects that never really hit full stride so they are filled with untapped potential. Taylor is another guy that might struggle with his shooting early in his career. He does have a weapon in his arsenal in that he can shoot the three so teams will have to respect him from all ranges. He is a below average passer in college, so I would think he'll need a lot of work to be a pure PG in the WBA also. He does alright in staying out of foul trouble while also working hard to pick up a few steals here and there. He fits the mold of the other players listed above in that he won't hurt his team with turnovers. He's a guy that I think would be ideal to move to a SG spot in the WBA.

5) 4SR Yoshikazu Tawaray1---- B+ B+ B / B+ A-/ B B / C- D+ B+ D+ B+ C A A A+ A- -0.0087 -0.0057

Yoshi, as he is called by teammates, has a tremendous upside if given the right time frame to mature. He's an excellent passer, but may be a little shy of what is required by a WBA squad. He has a great shooting touch and won't be hurt too badly adjusting to the pros because he isn't a guy that takes a lot of shots. He gets to the line well which causes defenses to have to back off a bit also. He's a strong on the ball defender and will get his share of steals. He holds onto the ball well which is always an important factor as well. He does lack the range of some of the other players which is why I think he'll be a late pick in this draft if he goes at all.

November 1st, 2005

WBA Icon on the Move?

By Mandon Borfeld

Thanks to the tremendous Western Conference Finals the off season has turned excruciatingly long for all those teams already eliminated and several of those owners are already starting to make preparations for next season. Although the trading ban is officially effective until the WBA Finals are over, several owners have entered into “gentleman's agreements” at this point. It seems that no matter what team's owner you talk to they have to tell you up front which guys are still on their roster and where others have been unofficially shipped off to. This brings up an excellent point that perhaps in the future the WBA should amend its' policy and allow eliminated teams to start making deals once their season is complete. This way it will avoid the huge influx that happens every year as soon as the Finals conclude.

Several big name players are rumored to be on the move this off season. At one point Lou Gonzales was even mentioned as a potential candidate to change rosters. It sounds more and more every day like Heiko Van Brandt may be finding a new home after the season as well. But perhaps the most interesting trade rumor has been the mention of Wayne Taylor. Taylor was traded to the Sun Warriors a long time ago as an 18 year old phenom straight from his rookie debut in Colorado. Nebraska molded this young man into an all around stud and a perennial MVP candidate. Unfortunately, as the team around Taylor got better, his own numbers suffered and he lost some of his recognition as the best player in the WBA. At one point Nebraska wouldn't have taken any player in the league for Taylor, or even any set of players for that matter. He was their franchise player. An icon in the WBA as a Sun Warrior. But after so many unsuccessful and frustrating attempts to get to the Finals, Nebraska announced this off season that it may listen to offers for Taylor's services. Most owners simply disregarded this as a show of frustration by Nebraska management and didn't act seriously on the claim. However, a few owners entered into meaningful trade talks. Oregon was one potential suitor, but it was quickly discovered that the two sides wouldn't be able to come to a conclusion they could both agree upon. Oregon wasn't ready for an overhaul of such a great team and Nebraska was looking for the right deal along the way. One that they felt was worthy of giving up a player with Taylor's talent. The next team to make a serious push was Long Island. This is a team that had an amazing run this season, but in the playoffs everyone could see that their lack of backcourt depth and a true Small Forward really hurt them. Long Island was ready and waiting to make a huge offer for Taylor, but of course Nebraska was looking to add a SF in return for Taylor and Long Island didn't have a single candidate that was able to fill that void. These negotiations broke down when Long Island was unable to locate a third team willing to supply a decent SF.

Nebraska then officially took Wayne off the market and stated that they were going to keep him on roster because he was such a valuable presence to this franchise and its' fans. One GM even said, “This was probably just motivation for Taylor going into the playoffs.” Recently, however, Taylor's name has been leaked out as being part of one of these “quiet deals” that have been made.

Wayne Taylor didn't return phone calls or grant our request for an interview, but his agent did release this statement:

“As far as I know I have not been traded, nor will I be traded, by this franchise. However, if Nebraska feels it is in the best interest of their team to move me elsewhere, then I will just be happy playing basketball anywhere. (Just not Salt Lake City). Basketball is my passion and I plan to play it for a long time no matter where I'm at. I firmly believe that I can lead any team on a championship run and that's what these teams pay me to do. Now, I don't want to leave Nebraska because I love it here, but this is a business and every team just tries to do what's right for them.”

General Manager Brandon Morfeld was also unwilling to grant our request for an interview, but released the following statement himself:

“This office makes it a policy not to discuss any potential roster moves until they are official out of respect for the players involved and their respective families and fans. There is no sense in working anyone into a panic until a move is official. We just want to do what is right for Nebraska basketball and try to bring home a championship for our fans. As far as Taylor goes, he is a model citizen and an amazing player to watch on the court. He's the center of our franchise right now.”

General Manager Brandon Morfeld has long been known for making some of the biggest deals in WBA history. In Season 3 he made two franchise altering moves when he first acquired Rick Schulz from London in exchange for Pierce Shea and Maury Foreman. His next move was to acquire Steve Peterson for Alonzo Hatfield, Al McCauley, and Bill Mangano. He followed that move up with one of the biggest blockbusters in league history acquiring Wayne Taylor and Dexter Kodak for Steve Peterson and Heiko Van Brandt. In Season 7 he traded Jim Fox and Ramiro Watts to Cincinnati in exchange for big man Jim McCarthy. After a season McCarthy was then dealt to Rochester along with Jimmy Whalen for Dexter Kodak and Dave Williams. In Season 10 Williams was then dealt back to Rochester in favor of youngster Dennis Evans. So as you can see it would be no surprise to see another major move out of Morfeld. He is known for rolling through the big name talent and always keeping a fresh and exciting show on the court in Nebraska.

October 31st, 2005

A League of Babies

By Zagrieb Zano

The topic of this article perhaps slightly mislead by the title is one that hasn't been addressed. While most people probably assumed by the title that this would demonstrate which players and owners act like infants when they don't get their way. It is with a clever title such as this that your immediately intrigued. It's what we call in the journalism business an “Interest Maker.”

Each owner knows there are a few certainties in life. You pay taxes, you grow old, and Hillary Clinton is bound to say something once a week that even make the Ted Kennedy's of the world cringe. Any time a potential trade is in the works between the owners involved, the smart owners will take into account a players age to help determine his speculated value. Simply put if you have a chance to take a 25 year old Lou Gonzalez compared to a 31 year old Lou Gonzalez his value is going to be adjusted based on that. Of course Lou being an all-stud is going to cost a hefty price to acquire him in the first place.

In the league as it stands now, a player has about 6-7 years before he considered too old. This leaves an owner very little room to work with in trying to build for the future. And from that short time span, typically a player has about 3 years where he is improving at a noticeable rate, from there it is either keeping with the status quo or beginning the downward slide.

Often a general manager will have to decide how his team is going to look over the next couple of years. Some of the top managers have been able to grab quality players who have been developing well for another team. And on the year they are set to breakout the top manager steals away the quality talent thus keeping his team on a competitive level. This foresight is what makes one manager appear to be a genius while another manager appears to be clueless. Unfortunately, this gift of foresight is not something that is easily attainable. The difficult thing for a general manager to determine is which player to keep for long periods of time. On average a typical non-all star player stays with a team for 2 seasons.

The chance that a player will resign with the team that drafted him once the rookie contract is over is staggering low at around 23%. In fact, if a player wasn't drafted in the top 8, there is only a 17.4% chance the player will be resigned by the team. Is this something the league needs to worry about? Probably not, as fans overall like to see player movement, though it can become difficult to identify with a team if half of the players who get significant minutes will be gone after a season or two.

Some of the top general managers in the WBA, have realized that you need to find 2 or 3 key players who can compete against the leagues best at their position. While the league has only one team thus far that can say it is a dynasty in Cancun. Many general managers could learn a great deal from how the Cancun management has continued to be so competitive. They have realized that Parker Mason, Kent Mercer and Scott Nicholson was a trio that no other team could easily match. They have then brought in a carousel of players to fill in as needed.

Other successful teams have used a similar method even though it hasn't brought as many championships as the outlaws. Brooklyn for years was known as the Strom and Siebert show. This alone has led them to win many games. When they had A.J. Shulz in the lineup they were near unstoppable, and would have won more championships if not for the lack of point guard talent. Paris seems to have caught onto this understanding thanks to the ageless Heiko Van Brandt and all-stud Jay Vasquez. Does it matter that these two players are required to produce 42% of the teams' points game in and game out? Well ask the teams the last half of the season when Paris ran of 24 straight games.

The question arises do you win with youth or can you win with the “old” players at who are going into their 30's. It depends on whom you ask. And it isn't fair to rate this simply on how many championships a team has won. Otherwise we would be forced to use Cancun as the only example. Some believe that it is better to get a “finished product” so you know what your going to get. This entails grabbing players in their high 20's. Others believe that youth is where the advantage is, especially considering that the players are bound to improve over a year or two. As the league is now, it is somewhat difficult to come to a strong hypothesis to this answer considering that players don't last long after the age of 30.

As a spot quiz, who do you believe has the youngest overall team as compared to the oldest? And where does your team compare in overall age?

When I asked myself this question, I like most of you felt that the team that likes young men most of all would be Nebraska. But while they are close, my research would be somewhat surprising, or should any of us really be surprised?

London in fact has the youngest team in the league at a mere 23.64. This is just barely above the average draft age of 22. Toronto was right behind as is their preference filling their team with 24 year olds. The lowest age for any playoffs team has both Long Island and Nebraska averaging 24.86.

The geriatric team of the league is none other then Charlotte. They average 28.86. Which helps explain why they did well as they have most of the main players at the age of 30 or older, unfortunately it will be difficult for them to really improve as their main players will declining year in and year out. Perhaps the most surprising to me was to see that Salt Lake City was the 2nd oldest averaging 27.5. Where I am very familiar with this club, it made me realize that how this average will be affected when you trade all of your draft picks for two consecutive years.

Cancun has found a good balance averaging just over 25 years of age, but their big three are all pushing into their 30's. In the end, you're not going to win games if you don't have the talent. The evaluation of talent and how that player will help your team is a fickle mistress. Just because an older player averages a double double for one team does not mean you will get the same results. Often the best way to know what you are going to get is to hang on to your top draft picks and see where they are at after 5 or 6 seasons. Don't' be rash to move a guy or fail to resign him after 2 or 3 years.

October 31st, 2005

Western Conference Game 7 News Conference

(Cancun Coach Pat Fullum at the podium)

Reporter: What do you think is the key to tomorrow’s showdown with Oregon?

Pat Fullum: Parker Mason will have to perform his magic, in the three games we won he was spectacular.

Pat Fullum: Plus our defense has to step up and play the way they did all season.

Pat Fullum: Best defense in the league but so far has been so-so this series.

Reporter: What's the hardest thing to stop about Oregon?

Pat Fullum: Lou! He is unstoppable...We are just hoping to take shots away from him and maybe try to get him into foul trouble, which happens from time to time.

Reporter: Do you think your team has done a good enough job exploiting Lou's weakness on the boards?

Pat Fullum: No, not at all... Somehow, we just can't seem to get the numbers we should on the boards. We have, on paper, one of the top two teams in rebounds, but Oregon just has been dominating us in that area, in large part because of Marquez Houston and Donavan Jones.

Pat Fullum: We’ll have to pay the price in game 7 and get those extra boards.

Reporter: So what's your strategy in trying to stop Lou? Let him get his looks and hope for an off night, or play very tight defense and send him to the line?

Pat Fullum: I thought about prayer, but it wouldn't be right to ask for that kind of help... I don’t know, the guy is pretty unstoppable. We will be aggressive on him, and hope he picks up fouls. We will also rotate Reed Moses, Kent Mercer and Scott Nicholson on him to give him different looks on defense.

Reporter: Everyone knows there is more to this team than just Lou. How important has Houston been to this team?

Pat Fullum: What a presence he has been. I feel Mr. Harper has built his team perfectly around Lou. Marquez is a great example as he is an exceptional rebounder from the small forward spot. I think the acquisition of Cole Bayo has also been underrated. Bayo brings much needed penetration to this team and has brought a new dimension with his ability to go to the line.

Reporter: Where has Mercer been this series? It just seems his name hasn't come up much. How can you get him more involved? Can he play PF to get Lou off him?

Pat Fullum: Actually, he played the first couple of games at PF. We tried putting him on Lou a little the past two games but that has been Moses’ job 30 minutes a night. The good thing about Kent being silent in this series is that we think he is ready to blow up and have a huge game 7 for us. He might see more action tomorrow and should provide a great lift.

Reporter: Who are your "players to watch" as a surprise impact guy tomorrow for each team?

Pat Fullum: Ahmed Dougherty for my team and Marquez Houston for Oregon. Houston and Bayo, we feel, are the guys we have to stop. Stein, Jones and Lou will get their numbers no matter what. So if we stop 40% of their offense, we’re in good shape. But if these two have great games, we are in trouble. As for Ahmed, it seems that whenever he has a good shooting night, we win. So his outside shooting will be important to us.

Reporter: And finally, whoever wins tomorrow--does either team have enough juice left to play with Paris?

Pat Fullum: Only 7 games left after that, I am pretty sure Paris will have a fight on their hands. Both us and Oregon did well versus that strong Paris squad this season so it should be an exciting finals! Just hope we can be a part of it!

(Oregon coach Kevin Harper at the podium)

Reporter: What do you think is the biggest key to winning this game 7?

Kevin Harper: The biggest key to winning such an important game is playing smart. We lost a key game 5 due to committing too many turnovers, and we've really been focused on using our heads while we play, rather than letting our adrenaline get the best of us.

Reporter: So what makes this Cancun team so tough? What do they have that really makes them hard to beat?

Kevin Harper: This is a very easy question to answer, because you'd expect nothing less from a team of their pure talent. I believe top 3 in both offense AND defense. They come to play every day, and having Parker at the 1 doesn’t hurt.

Reporter: Coach Fullum commented that he felt his team hasn't taken enough advantage of Lou's rebounding weakness. Was his rebounding a concern of yours to start the series?

Kevin Harper: Not really. He's not the type of center to play all his defense in the paint. He can hold his own, but we take advantage of his athleticism and wingspan by having him roam around the top of the key while Marquez and Donovan play closer to the paint. We have the rebounding around Lou, so we don’t expect him to grab 10 a night.

Reporter: You brought up Parker Mason, a perennial MVP candidate, but who else on this squad has given you problems?

Kevin Harper: Well obviously there’s Kent Mercer, who's an easy all-star every year, and in the West that really means you had a great year. But other than the obvious, we have been very impressed by their young shooting guard Ahmed Dougherty. He's played great, all while being guarded mainly by Bishop Stein, who is one of the better defenders at SG in the whole league.

Reporter: So, who is one guy from each squad that you think we should keep an eye on to be a surprise difference maker in today's game?

Kevin Harper: Who doesn't love to watch Mason and Stein go at it? They steal the show by themselves.

Kevin Harper: But as far as surprises, I don’t think there will be any surprises, good 'ol Cancun Vs Oregon...doesn’t get any better than this lately!

Reporter: Finally, this has been a great series. Does the winner have enough juice to go at it with Paris?

Kevin Harper: Oh definitely. Paris is a great team, but I don't think many believe they are a shoe-in to win the title. Us, Cancun and Paris are all similar well rounded teams, and it'd be a great series regardless of who wins.

October 19th, 2005

Draft Lottery

12 Toronto(owned by Arkansas)

11 London(owned by Long Isl)

10 Alaska(owned by New York)

9 Salt Lake(owned by Salt Lake)

8 Mexico City(owned by Mexico City)

7 Gabon(owned by Gabon)

6 Cincinnati(owned by Omaha)

5 Arkansas(owned by Arkansas)

4 Frankfurt(owned by London)

3 Omaha(owned by Omaha)

2 New York(owned by New York)

1 Baltimore(owned by Baltimore)

October 19th, 2005

Season Awards

MVP

Heiko Van Brandt, Paris

2-Bishop Stein, Oregon

3-Jay Vazquez, Paris

Rookie of the year

Mark Carr, Colorado

2-Jervan Timmons, Nebraska

3-Davion Stahl, Omaha

Defensive player of the year

Cordell Parks, SLC

2-John Van Horne, Sacramento

3-Lou Gonzalez, Oregon

6th man of the year

Scott Nicholson, Cancun

2-Ellis Law, Capetown

3-Mark Carr, Colorado

Most improved player

Ahmed Dougherty, Cancun

2-Oliver Doherty, LI

3-Tom Kinsey, NY

Executive (GM) of the year

Mike Esposito, LI

2-Gustavo Follana, Paris

3-Rondall Reynoso, Brooklyn

Coach of the year

Gustavo Follana, Paris

2-Dugyik Tamas, Budapest

3-Mike Esposito, LI

All-WBA

PG-Parker Mason, Cancun

SG-Bishop Stein, Oregon

SF-Shane Strom, Brooklyn

PF-Heiko Van Brandt, Paris

C-Jay Vazquez, Paris

All-WBA 2nd team

PG-Anson Valente, Baltimore

SG-Mario Bailey, Brooklyn

SF-Devonta Corrigan, Andorra

PF-Kent Mercer, Cancun

C-Lou Gonzalez, Oregon

All-WBA 3rd team

PG-Oliver Doherty, LI

SG-Dave Troychak, Miami

SF-Jaxon McCall, Sacramento

PF-Cory Mosley, Alaska

C-John Van Horne, Sacramento

All-Rookie

PG-Jervan Timmons, Nebraska

SG-Mark Carr, Colorado

SF-Darryl Whitaker, Miami

PF-Jarrod Roe, Gabon

C-George Faup, London

All-Rookie 2nd team

PG-Davion Stahl, Omaha

SG-Darond Lyons, Arkansas

SF-Joe Torney, Oregon

PF-Kurt Beck, Rochester

C-Keven Rollin, Baltimore

All-Rookie 3rd team

PG-Brice Bell, London

SG-Geoffrey Caldwell, Toronto

SF-Chad Nolan, Mexico City

PF-Jalon Clair, Alaska

C-Steve Carter, Baltimore

All-Defense

PG-Parker Mason, Cancun

SG-Bobby Egan, Sacramento

SF-Cordell Parks, SLC

PF-Greg Lacy, Colorado

C-John Van Horne, Sacramento

All-Defense 2nd team

PG-Brandon Sandler, Cincinnati

SG-Mario Bailey, Brooklyn

SF-Lonnie Gerson, Cancun

PF-Oman Fatafehi, Miami

C-Lou Gonzalez, Oregon

All-Defense 3rd team

PG-Cole Bayo, Oregon

SG-Dave Troychak, Miami

SF-Obafemi Mabruke, Capetown

PF-Mark Miller, Andorra

C-Jay Vazquez, Paris

Citizenship Award

Dave Williams, Rochester

2-Kelley Averey, Omaha

3-Pat Fullum, Cancun

October 8th, 2005

Around the WBA

Youngster Kolby Rourke has announced that he has been unhappy in London and that he will not resign with the franchise.

Nebraska was impressive in their series with Colorado but despite the impressive last minute win the victory was filled with tragedy. With three seconds left Wayne Taylor suffered a serious anckle sprain and is expected to miss the rest of the play-offs.

October 6th, 2005

Retirements Announced

1. 35 year-old, Jerry Sims of Alaska, has decided to retire.

2. 30 year-old, John Davis of Sacramento, has decided to retire.

3. 30 year-old, Jim Wilson of Capetown, has decided to retire.

4. 31 year-old, Bruce Johnson of Capetown, has decided to retire.

5. 31 year-old, Frank Rose of Cincinnati, has decided to retire.

6. 30 year-old, Lou Boone of Paris, has decided to retire.

7. 30 year-old, Brad Martin of Rochester, has decided to retire.

8. 23 year-old, Seth Finklestein, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

9. 24 year-old, Addison Stanton, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

10. 25 year-old, Marko Maric, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

11. 26 year-old, Alfred Hodge, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

12. 29 year-old, Gene Allen, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

13. 23 year-old, Barry Allen, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

14. 31 year-old, Bernie Cobb, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

15. 23 year-old, Bill Martin, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

16. 23 year-old, Bob Gardner, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

17. 23 year-old, Bob Kane, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

18. 22 year-old, Bob Wright, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

19. 23 year-old, Brandan Stein, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

20. 30 year-old, Burt Rodriquez, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

21. 21 year-old, Carlton Bowers, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

22. 25 year-old, Chance McCormick, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

23. 23 year-old, Deontae Perez, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

24. 30 year-old, Alvin Simpson, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

25. 21 year-old, Dorian Pierce, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

26. 21 year-old, Doug Dunlap, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

27. 24 year-old, Ed Beck, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

28. 29 year-old, J.J. Jordan, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

29. 27 year-old, Storm Schmid, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

30. 22 year-old, Jackie Chavez, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

31. 23 year-old, Jaret Girard, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

32. 25 year-old, Jim Harrison, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

33. 23 year-old, Jim Ross, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

34. 23 year-old, Jim Young, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

35. 29 year-old, Jimmy Lewis, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

36. 29 year-old, Sage Walker, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

37. 28 year-old, Johnny Meynardie, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

38. 25 year-old, Josiah Gillies, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

39. 29 year-old, Jovany O'Neil, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

40. 23 year-old, Junior Jones, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

41. 22 year-old, Kalvin Bing, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

42. 25 year-old, Andres Fernandez, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

43. 27 year-old, Lance Armstrong, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

44. 22 year-old, Marc Williamson, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

45. 23 year-old, Alex Treacey, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

46. 22 year-old, Max Townsend, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

47. 22 year-old, Michael Law, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

48. 29 year-old, Myron Baran, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

49. 30 year-old, Myron White, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

50. 26 year-old, Nolan Blizzard, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

51. 30 year-old, Ozzie Kramer, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

52. 22 year-old, Patrick O'Neil, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

53. 22 year-old, Phil Ellis, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

54. 30 year-old, Pierce Shea, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

55. 23 year-old, Quinn Davis, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

56. 26 year-old, Wong-Wei Wang, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

57. 22 year-old, Rich Deugau, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

58. 30 year-old, Sheldon Maloney, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

59. 23 year-old, Scott Karov, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

60. 23 year-old, Sherone Welles, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

61. 22 year-old, Sid Howard, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

62. 29 year-old, Sky Harrington, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

63. 25 year-old, Solomon Farrell, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

64. 24 year-old, Stan Lee, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

65. 23 year-old, Steve Miller, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

66. 25 year-old, Terry Bumgardner, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

67. 22 year-old, Thaddeus Park, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

68. 24 year-old, Trenton Meehan, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

69. 23 year-old, Trevant Bordeaux, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

70. 31 year-old, Wesley Phillips, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

71. 29 year-old, Willie Toth, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

72. 22 year-old, Xu Bing, Free Agent, has decided to retire.

October 5th, 2005

Eastern Conference Playoff Preview

1) Paris 69-11 (#2 Off, #5 Def)

8) Boston 37-43 (#14 Off, t-#14 Def)

Season Series: Advantage PAR, 4-0

Paris comes into this one as a heavy favorite against a mediocre Boston squad. Boston has heavily relied upon big games from guard Danny Hainge to win, and it may be wearing him down. Paris has too many weapons and too powerful of an offense to let this one slip. Heiko Van Brandt is undoubtedly the leader of this team, and can destroy a team with his passing, rebounding or defense, and arguably the best triple-double threat in league history. With Vasquez riding shotgun on this offense, not many defenses look forward to this type of match-up. To their credit, though, Boston is an improving team, still rebuilding after their sudden decline from their glory days.

Paris advances 3-0

4) Brooklyn 46-34 (#5 Off, #20 Def)

5) Andorra 42-38 (#9 Off, #25 Def)

Season Series: Advantage Even, 2-2

This should be a close series. Brooklyn is a young team with unlimited potential in the next few seasons. Andorra fell a little below expectations after a Cinderella-type season ten. When it comes down to it, asking “did Andorra win today” and “did Corrigan have a good game”, is really asking the same thing. Mark Miller, although a very solid player, has been underachieving since day one in the WBA and rumors have it is it wearing very thin on management. On the other side, Brooklyn might be one of the most entertaining teams to watch live. They have a flashy style that starts with young hot-shot point guard Omar Jefferson. Once proclaimed the future of Oregon, his inexperience showed, and he was included in a trade to re-acquire Lou Gonzales. Mario Bailey, a former undrafted high schooler is quick becoming the best two guard in the East. Andorra's lack of a true, playoff ready PG will be the death of their playoff experience.

Brooklyn advances 3-1

3) Rochester 47-33 (#10 Off, #16 Def)

6) Albacete 41-39 (#16 Off, #10 Def)

Season Series: Advantage ALB, 3-1

Another good match-up. Rochester and Albacete have always been somewhat of rivals and even though `Cete has had a sub-par year by franchise standards, they have improved as the season progressed and are a dangerous team to play. Jarvis is the veteran trying to guide future stars Tyler Kane and Juwan Bixby to a opening round upset. Rochester comes into this year's postseason with one of their better teams in recent memory. McCarthy is a force down low, and at point guard, sophomore Javonte Bolk is quickly gaining favor over Jimmy Whalen, who's a very good point guard in his own right. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Whalen in an Andorra jersey next season, and Mark Miller in Raider red.

Rochester advances 3-2

2) Long Island 62-18 (#4 Off, #8 Def)

7) Budapest 40-40 (#15 Off, #11 Def)

Season Series: Advantage LI, 4-0

The Long Island franchise finally has a season they can brag about. They had an unbelievable start to the season, only to “cool down” the last 1/4th of the season. Budapest, on the other hand did the opposite. After acquiring Paul Wilson and Felipe Juarez, both castoffs on a struggling Toronto team, they caught fire behind the insane rebounding of the “Windex Man” Paul Wilson. Long Island though has been winning with depth. Their 2nd string players would make a decent WBA lineup alone. Their patience with Oliver Doherty at the point has finally paid off. After dealing with his bad shooting for a few seasons, he was on the trading block. Maybe that is what sparked his sudden improvement. He is now an All-Star caliber player and probably the most valuable player to this team. Throw in the emergence of Sheldon Gorman, Paul Carroll and re-emergence of Tom Perkins (at small forward nonetheless) and you've got a winner. Big winner. Credit to Budapest for winning with a bunch of players nobody wanted.

LI advances 3-0

October 4th, 2005

Play-off Predictions

By Ron Chambers

This looks to be a very exciting post-season. There is a lot of quality, especially in the East, and upsets are almost surely going to happen. But, let's cut the chat and get to what everyone cares about… the predictions.

THE EAST

Oregon vs. Miami

Not only is Oregon the defending Champ but they also ended the season on an impressive run. They have made some roster changes since last season but they are still the team to beat. Houston turned out to be the perfect fit for this team. He is a tremendous rebounder and he can pass plus he is young! But, this team is still all about two players Lou Gonzales and Bishop Stein and they are having great years. The lead the most efficient offense in the league and I expect they will continue with their great rhythm into the play-offs.

Miami on the other hand backed into the play-offs without playing well down the stretch. They have a great scorer in Troychak, who lead the league in scoring and a stud of a big man in Fatafehi but after that there is a big drop in talent. To be honest they are outmatched in every facet of the game and this should be a one sided series.

Prediction: Oregon wins 3-0

Cancun vs. Charlotte

Cancun has been a WBA powerhouse for many years now. They have more Championships than any other team and still continue to be a dominant force. Charlotte on the other hand has only averaged 28 wins a season, but, during the off-season the acclaimed Sam Plummer, formerly of the Washington Monument. Plummer however is no longer in Washington and the Charlotte franchise is a far cry from the Washington franchise in their prime. Despite the improvements made in the team they are heading into the post season short handed. Eugene LaMaitre is still injured though he is expected back by the second round if Charlotte can make it that far, Luke Benner will also miss the first game of the series to attend his father's funeral and J.J. McCauley is suspended for 5 games.

Charlotte was hard pressed to try and compete with Cancun in the first place but short handed they have little chance.

Prediction: Cancun wins 3-0

Capetown vs. Sacramento

Capetown is spreading rumors that they intentionally finished with less than 60 wins. Personally, I don't buy it. But, truth be told that doesn't mean much. They are just as good of a team as Cancun an Oregon. They just had a little less luck. They did have the best home record in the west and that could be problems for Sacramento which struggled on the road at times. Capetown is one of the deepest teams in the league with 8 players averaging at least 19 minutes. And stars like Mabruke, Yeager and Gordon give them one of the biggest name front courts in the league. Sacramento on the other hand tries to play as close to six players as they can. They would have been a deeper and better team had they not lost John Davis to injury early in the season but they have done a good job of recouping after that major loss. If we were to just go by the head-to-head record Capetown would be the sure selection however Sacramento made a late trade to acquire Edgar Kamara and they have played very well with him (12-6). Kamara allows McCall and Van Horne to really shine. If things go well for Sacramento they could push this series all the way and even win it. But, I don't think they will be able to do that.

Prediction: Capetown wins 3-1

Colorado vs. Nebraska

This should be the gem of the first round. Both of these teams are just a hair under the elite level but they also both have the ability to rise to that level at any given time. Nebraska'a Taylor and Base make up the most prolific scoring duo in the league. Colorado's Sheth, Daidone and Gil provide one of the best 1-2-3 punches in the league. To me the problem is Gil. These teams are both very close but I expect that Gil's temper will cost the Pioneers the series. No doubt he will get kicked out at a crucial time allowing Taylor to dominate.

Prediction: Nebraska wins 3-2

Round 2

Oregon vs. Nebraska

If this is in fact the second round match-up it will have all the star power but Nebraska lacks Oregon's depth.

Prediction: Oregon wins 4-2

Cancun vs. Capetown

This series could really go either way. Capetown is a better rebounding team but Cancun is experienced and does the little things. But, I've learned to never bet against Cancun.

Prediction: Cancun wins 4-3

Conference finals

Picking the two teams with the best records to make the conference finals isn't very bold. But, it has been five seasons since a team other than these two came out of the West. In the end I think Oregon will again make it to the WBA finals.

Prediction: Oregon wins 4-3

EAST

Paris vs. Boston

Paris is as impressive as any team I've ever seen. Heading into the play-offs on a 24 game win streak is truly amazing. Not only that, but, they have 38 of their last 40 games. They didn't quite make the hallowed 70 win mark but they have had the most impressive second half of a season ever. Vasquez and Van Bandt are the stars but they also have a terrific supporting cast that is efficient and makes very few mistakes. Boston on the other hand is lucky to be in the play-offs. They only qualified by beating Toronto on a tie breaker. Further it is telling that Boston has fewer wins in their last 80 games than Paris does in their last 40. For Boston, Hainge is on his way to becoming a super star and Short and Green are ones on the down sides of their careers. But, none of them are on the level of Vasquez and Van Brandt and their supporting cast doesn't match-up either.

Prediction: Paris wins 3-0

Long Island vs. Budapest

Budapest was the Western Champion last year but the loss of Peterson was devastating. They should be proud to have become competitive again. Long Island on the other hand has made a complete turn around going from 32 wins last season to 62 this year. Esposito is even being discussed as the front runner in the Executive of the year balloting. Both of these teams are hard nosed no thrills teams who like to beat the other team into submission. Late in the season Budapest acquired Paul Wilson and Joe Clark who are both great rebounders which will allow them to match up with the Huge Long Island line-up a lot better. But, Long Island has a lot more talent, especially offensively. I expect a fight from Budapest but not a win.

Prediction: Long Island wins 3-1

Rochester vs. Albacete

Honestly, I think many people expected more out of both these teams. Albacete has long been a power house but this year they had to rely on some desperation moves to even put together a play-off team. They should however be given credit for that. We often see the type of major moves they did this season back firing but they didn't for Albacete. Rochester was highly touted before the season but despite all their talent they struggled down the stretch. Albacete has shown a lot of patience with Juwan Bixby and Tyler Kane and it looks like it may end up paying off but they are not yet to the level they need to be. Rochester has to scare a lot of teams. They are possibly the deepest team in the league. They just ooze talent. They problem they have is that their stars, with the exception of Williams, are a half step behind the stars of the other top teams. But, this is a veteran squad that makes very few mistakes and can give others fits.

Prediction: Rochester wins 3-1

Brooklyn vs. Andorra

This is an interesting match-up due to the controversial trade between these two teams earlier in the season. Sadly, Daren Benson is injured and may not be able to play in this series at all. Both of these teams have high powered offenses lead by their Small Forwards, Devonta Corrigan and Shane Strom. Brooklyn is a better rebounding team and they have played good defense since they inserted Herbert into the starting line-up half way through the season (they are 29-17 since that point) and they have been playing fantastic defense since moving Bernie Henderson into the starting line-up (they are 10-2 over the last two weeks and have only allowed 96.2 points per game). Andorra on the other hand has been very mediocre to end the season. The key issue in this series though is that Andorra does not get to the line much and so they will not exploit Brooklyn's major weakness- fouls.

Prediction: Brooklyn wins 3-1

Round 2

Paris vs. Brooklyn

Brooklyn would go into this series on quite a role but Paris is the hottest team in the league. Most importantly though Paris doesn't make many mistakes and they have the talent to take advantage of the mistakes that Brooklyn will make. Brooklyn should put up a fight but in the end Paris will be too much.

Prediction: Paris wins 4-1

Long Island vs. Rochester

These are both efficient teams but Long Island is just too big. They dominate the boards against most teams and Rochester is an average rebounding team.

Prediction: Long Island wins 4-2

Conference Finals

Paris vs. Long Island

This has the potential to be a great series. Both teams are big physical teams that rebound very well and commit few mistakes. Vasquez and Van Brandt though will be too much for Long Island and they will also do a great job of involving the rest of the team. Paris will also make fewer mistakes.

Prediction: Paris wins 4-2

October 4th, 2005

Around the WBA

Luke Benner's Father passed away over the weekend and Luke will miss the first game of Charlotte's series with Cancun to attend the funeral.

This just doesn't seem to be Charlotte's year. Add on to the injury of LaMaitre and Benner's father's death. The serious misjudgement of J.J. McCauley. A fan in the stands was somehow able to get under the Skin of J.J. McCauley today. McCauley who has always been the professional's professional lost his composure today and hurled a chair at a fan in the stands. The league has issued a 5 game suspension that will really hurt Charlotte in their attempt to upset Cancun.

Doctor's Found a chronic injury in Marc White today. It was agrivated by a pull to his back today. Doctor's say that this injury will affect him for the rest of his career but they have not released more information about the injury itself.

Albacete's Bomber Bartkowski lost his grandmother last week and has dedicated this play-offs year to her memory.