Well March madness is upon us and from the looks of things it seems that the top teams will be favorites this year to get to the championship game. Last week we had some good games and for some teams time is running out while for others it's about getting the best position come playoff time. Last week I was perfect in my picks and I feel confident come playoff time which team would excel and which team will implode. We had Bronx run express and left the shockers of Sharon by 24; T&T kings rocked the community of CWC to the core by 19; New Life was rejuvenated and stopped the sharp shooters of Ebenezer by 11; the professors of White Plains teased the crusaders of Corona defeating them by 5; New Jerusalem rolled over the sustainers of ROL by 9; and the hawks of Fellowship flew high and defeated the warriors of Rogers Ave by 29. With a few games left in the regular season some teams need to find their swagger before time runs out. We have 4 games schedule for Saturday and an All Star game on Sunday at the Barclays. Who will come to play and which team is deserving of the praise only time will tell but let’s see what Milo thinks about this week games and the all-star game which would be a joy to behold. Let’s go.
Bronx Hawks Express vs New Life Rejuvenators
East meets west as the hawks of Bronx try and run express and take down the surging rejuvenators of New Life in Milo's "Game of the week". Both teams played last week and both teams won their respective games. Bronx knows in order to stay second in the division they must win these games or see their hopes dwindle away. New Life on the other hand must continue to play because a loss could drop them out of first and right into the falling arms of Horeb who defeated them earlier in the season. What are the keys to victory for both teams? Bronx must push the rock, shoot well from the field, play solid defense, and get bench contributions. New Life on the other hand must play solid defense, shoot well from the field, out rebound their opponent, and minimize the turnovers. Look for a close game because both teams are good, however, I feel the rejuvenators have found that "it" factor and this year they are proving to the league they are for real. New Life wins this match up by 4 points as they hold on to the top spot in the west division.
New Jerusalem Juggernauts vs Christian Fellowship Hawks
East meets west as the juggernauts of NJ try and stop the high flying Christian Fellowship Hawks and clip their wings. NJ won their game last week and look to continue their winning ways. Fellowship on the other hand had an easy week against the warriors of Rogers Ave and now must come prepared for battle. What are the keys to victory for both teams? NJ must play solid defense, shoot well from the line, attack the rim, and minimize the turnovers. Fellowship on the other hand must play smart and attack the paint, shoot well from the field, out rebound their opponent, and get bench contributions. Look for a close game this time round but I feel Fellowship will have the edge being some of their key players are back. Fellowship wins this match up by 3 points as they stay with the pack.
Ebenezer Sharp Shooters vs Horeb Hustlers
East meets west as the sharp shooters of Ebenezer try and rebound after a tough loss and out hustle the hustlers. Horeb won last week and this team is peaking at the right time. They are one game behind in the division and already defeated the leader New Life. This game could wind up being their only chance to clinch the division. What are the keys to victory for both teams? Ebenezer must shoot well from the field, attack the rim, play solid defense, and minimize the turnovers. Horeb on the other hand must push the rock, attack the rim, out rebound their opponent, and minimize the turnovers. I expect to see a close game because Ebenezer will not come quiet. However, I feel the hustlers have more at stake and for that reason I'm picking them to win this match up by 6 points as they try and over take the division.
Bethany Ballers vs Corona Crusaders
East meets west as the ballers try and crush the crusaders of Corona and squeeze the juice out of them. Corona played last week and gave the undefeated professors a run for their money. This team if focused could play with most teams but too many times they falter at the wrong time. Bethany on the other hand is 3rd in their division and need to win the remaining games to get a higher seat come playoffs. What are the keys to victory for both teams. Bethany must push the rock, play solid defense, shoot well from the field, and out rebound their opponent. Corona on the other hand must come with passion and attack the paint, shoot well from the field, minimize the turnovers, and play solid defense. Look for a close game because both teams are familiar with each other. However, Bethany is the better team and better teams usually win. Bethany wins this match up by 10 points as they continue to grind to the finish line.
East All Stars vs West All Stars
Battle between the league’s best as the bright and shinning stars of today battle for bragging rights and showcase the NCBL league. Sometimes we all need a break from the competition and enjoy a good quality performance. Well that is exactly what we will get this Sunday at the Barclays gym. Since this league started we had some great players grace us with their talents and this year is no exception. Although I decided not to state names in fear of overlooking some players or teams I will just make it the East vs West battle. In the past most players from either division would have a good argument that they were in the tougher division. Well one thing I do know from watching most teams this year is that the east is the beast, but the west is the best when it comes to individual talents. I know I will get some flak from some folks but hey it's my opinion and I'm entitled to it. Don't get me wrong the east have lots of good players who bring it every week however, I'm from the old school and when I see some teams best players chucking up shots to stack their sheets it doesn't mean they are better than another player who helps his team win. This game would be a showcase for the fans and followers and that should be the goal this Sunday. Entertaining is the one thing that everyone would enjoy and that is what I expect. Who will win this game, well, it all depends on which side of the fence you're on. If you play in the east you would say your division is better competition, and the same goes for the west division. I will tell you this; some players are all stars for their respective teams but can't play with other great players. Likewise, some players shine in the spot light of an entertaining game and fade when it matters the most for their teams. My team is in the West and from what I've seen this year I feel the West is the best. The West will take home the crown as the all-stars shine and the crowds, fans, and followers are entertained.
Well that's all for Milo's Week 9 picks. Players come out and give the fans a show' fans come out and support your teams, and lets fellowship together. Don't let life struggles hold you down because this is exactly what the devil wants. Discouragement is the one tool he uses to keep our minds down. Pray and ask Christ to remove all obstacles the devil might bring and put it in the hands of the Lord to fight. Christ has never lost a fight and the devil knows that if he can't win he could bring as much of us as possible down with him. Keep praying and studying because soon and very soon Christ will return for his children. Until next time, this is Milo signing out. God Bless.
