By Gregory Termolle
6PM: THE ALLIANCE (4-0) vs HALFWAY CROOKS (3-1)
The Alliance are the only undefeated team left in the league, while the Halfway Crooks have won their last three games after dropping their first one. The Alliance had some trouble last week against Boom-Shakalaka. It was the most trouble they’ve had so far, trailing as late as the third quarter before flipping the script in the fourth. On the other side, the Halfway Crooks did what we’ve seen them do in all of their wins: face a halftime deficit, but then turn things around in the second half. For Halfway Crooks to hang around with The Alliance, they’ll need to start the game as they have finished their last three, and maintain that level of play throughout.
Players to watch: Max Matroni (The Alliance), Jared Hanson (Halfway Crooks)
- Matroni: leading scorer in the league with 32.8 ppg.
- Hanson: leading team in scoring (18.8 ppg), runs the show at the point guard position
Potential breakout players: Jamal Johnson (The Alliance), Dylan Lincoln (Halfway Crooks)
- Johnson: averages 14.4 ppg and has shown flashes of being a force down low
- Lincoln: coming off of an 11-point game in Week 4, averages 13.0 ppg on the season
Legacy Leagues Predictions:
Greg: The Alliance
Mike: The Alliance
Tyler: The Alliance
7PM: BOOM-SHAKALAKA (2-2) vs BIG BALLER BRAND (0-4)
Big Baller Brand is still searching for their first win of the season after losing a close one to the Skyhookers last week. After starting off 2-0, Boom-Shakalaka has dropped their last two games to the Werewolves and The Alliance. Big Baller Brand was less than 30 seconds away from their first victory, but the Skyhookers’ Kevin Redmond hit the go-ahead three and sinked two clutch free throws to seal the win. Boom-Shakalaka’s size will be tough for Big Baller Brand to handle. This is a get-right game for a Boom-Shakalaka team who should be able to get back to using their physicality to control the game.
Players to watch: Ryan Rawnsley (Boom-Shakalaka), Brett Cody (Big Baller Brand)
- Rawnsley: averages a double-double on the season – 19.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game
- Cody: third-highest scorer in the league (27.5 ppg)
Potential breakout players: Marc Belleville (Boom-Shakalaka), Ryan O’Neill (Big Baller Brand)
- Belleville: averages 15.8 ppg on the season, coming off of a 26-point game against The Alliance in Week 4
- O’Neill: averages 13.3 ppg, but Big Baller Brand will need him to produce more if they want to get that first victory
Legacy Leagues Prediction:
Greg: Boom-Shakalaka
Mike: Boom-Shakalaka
Tyler: Boom-Shakalaka
8PM: SKYHOOKERS (1-3) vs WEREWOLVES (2-2)
The Skyhookers are coming off of their first victory in a game that came down to the wire in Week 4 against Big Baller Brand. The Werewolves are coming off of a tough loss against the Halfway Crooks after leading at the half. For the Skyhookers, Brendan O’Donnell will have to have another good game for his team to have a chance of beating the Werewolves. O’Donnell is coming off of a 46-point effort last week, and he’s been his team’s leader who controls the game. For the Werewolves, it’s going to be all about the duo of Gino Forte and Brian Heston. They’re the ones that set the tone for this Werewolves team, and we can expect them to do a lot of the scoring in this matchup.
Players to watch: Brendan O’Donnell (Skyhookers), Brian Heston (Werewolves)
- O’Donnell: second in the league in scoring (30.0 ppg), coming off of a 46-point game in his team’s Week 4 win
- Heston: leads his team in scoring (21.8 ppg), also averages 12.0 rebounds per game this season
Potential breakout players: Kevin Redmond (Skyhookers), Brad Allen (Werewolves)
- Redmond: hit game-winning three-pointer to seal his team’s first win in Week 4 over Big Baller Brand
- Allen: averages 7.8 ppg and 9.3 rebounds per game this season, posing as a legit post presence
Legacy Leagues Prediction:
Greg: Skyhookers
Mike: Werewolves
Tyler: Werewolves
