Playoff Preview- 8/1
As the regular season comes to a close, each team in the
King of Kings Summer Pro-Am looks to make a deep run into the playoffs. In a
league loaded with Division I, II, and III talent, every team regardless of
regular season performance has the ability to be contenders if each team plays
to their strengths. Let’s take a look at what each team needs to do in order to
have a shot at the title.
Upstate Swagger:
Upstate Swagger boasts a roster of local legends. They have
three ex-professional players in Dave Golembiowski, Scott Morton, and Sean
Burton. Upstate Swagger may not be the youngest or most athletic team on the
floor, but they are certainly the smartest and it shows in their play.
What they need to do to win: Simple. Upstate Swagger needs
to play their game. Even if they are not hitting their shots
from beyond the arc (which is a rare occurrence) their ball movement can slice
any defense apart. Speaking of defense, their zone can smother any opposing
team. The key to the successful zone of Upstate Swagger is their ability to
continually box out and rebound defensively, which is no easy task in a
zone. With a full roster led by Burton at the 1, Upstate Swagger is poised
to make a run deep into the playoffs.
The Gunnas:
Cousins Wesley Jackson and Deandre Preaster, two former
standouts at Thomas R. Proctor High School, lead the Gunnas. The team also
features local ballers Walkery Mills and Josh Henderson. After a disappointing
regular season, the Gunnas look to make a run in the playoffs.
What they need to do to win: The Gunnas need to have the
right players in the right positions. The offense needs to run through their
best ball handler, Henderson, who can dribble out of any trouble he gets in.
Jackson should be at the two/three, along with Mills at the two/three. Preaster
needs to bang down low where he is most dangerous/versatile. His array of post
moves and quickness is very hard to defend. The Gunnas also need excellent perimeter
offense from Mills and Jackson in order to make up for the rest of their
undersized roster, which can sometimes be exploited in man-to-man situations on
defense. It will be interesting to see if things can come together in the
postseason for the Gunnas.
Team Motivated:
Team Motivated (JD’s Finest) is led by the star studded duo
of Brandon Triche and Dajuan Coleman, two Jamesville-Dewitt grads who will play
at Syracuse in the fall. There are rumors that Michael Carter-Williams, who
played in the team’s first game, will be returning for the playoffs. Throw in
swingman Alshwan Hymes of JD and you have the most athletic, dangerous, high-powered
offensive roster in the league.
What they need to do to win: In order for Team Motivated to
win the championship, Triche, Coleman, and possibly Carter-Williams need to
dominate their one on one matchups. No defense, zone or man, can match up with
the strength and size of Triche and Coleman. By winning these matchups, the
entire floor will open up for their teammates, all of which are highly
capable of knocking down open threes or take the ball to the hoop. If Team
Motivated’s stars can play to their potential, they become the heavy favorite
to win the championship.
Syracuse Elite:
Syracuse Elite is a squad full of mid to upper twenties
Syracuse based ballers. They are the defending champions of the league, and
they don’t hold that title lightly. They play just as hard if not harder than
any team in the league at all times.
What they need to do to win:
Syracuse Elite needs to play as a unit. Defensively, the
team matches up pretty well with every team in the league. They switch between
half and full court man-to-man, constantly putting pressure on the ball. The
problem with Syracuse Elite is they don’t have that one star that can put the
team on his back offensively when things aren’t going their way. This makes it
that much more important for the defending champs to involve everyone on
offense and move the ball. This team won’t kill you from behind the three-point
line, but when they are moving the ball and getting to the basket, they become
serious contenders.
Greater Grace (Utica Select):
Syracuse forward James Southerland and center Rakeem
Christmas lead greater Grace. The mid season addition of Coastal Carolinas EJ
Gallup, who seemingly hits every three pointer he pulls up for, makes Utica
Select quite the threat.
What they need to do to win:
Utica Select needs step their game up defensively. They have
proven throughout the year they can trade baskets with any team in the league.
Their defense at times has been lazy. Utica Select frequently allows teams back
into games through a lack of defensive intensity. With Gallup hitting shots,
Christmas down low, and Southerland having the advantage in at least one
category in every matchup he sees, it all comes down to defense for Utica Select
if they want to contend for the title.
99 Problems:
99 Problems is led by former Syracuse University and Proctor
guard Josh Wright and current Colgate baller Chad Johnson. The duo carries the
load offensively for the team. Height wise they are a little under-sized, but
their speed can easily make that up on the court.
What they need to do to win:
99 Problems plain and simple has a problem sharing the ball.
Some of the players on the team most certainly feel the pressure from Wright to
pass the ball to their best playmaker (Wright himself) instead of letting each
player get involved offensively. In order for 99 Problems to be considered as
contenders, Wright and Johnson need to realistically score 70 points a game
combined, in addition to stepping up their defense and getting the rest of
their players involved. It may seem like an improbable task, but it can be
done, and it is necessary in order for 99 Problems to be considered as a threat
in the playoffs.
Dream Chasers:
The Dream Chasers are led by Notre Dame grad and Colgate
University baller Pat Moore and Lemoyne’s Brian Zapisek. The team looked befuddled
for most of the season on the court, but came together in the last few weeks,
finishing the season 3-4 on a two game win streak.
What they need to do to win: Shoot lights out. That is how
they won their final two games of the season, and that is what they need to do
in the playoffs. If Moore, Zapisek and Co. can get hot from beyond the arc,
they can compete with anyone. They also have two centers at 6’8’’ and 6’11’’
that can alter any shot that comes in the paint. But no matter what, it all
comes down to shots for the Dream Chasers, and if they hit shots, both open and
contested, then they have proven they shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Bless Ballers:
Mookie Jones, who played for Syracuse University as well as
last seasons leading scorer Cornelius Vines, who played his college ball at
Hofstra, lead the Bless Ballers. The Bless Ballers offensively can compete
with anyone in the gym. When they move the ball well, they can strike from
anywhere on the court.
What they need to do to win:
The Bless Ballers offense has to go through Vines, who is by
far the best ball handler on the team. That being said, Vines needs to relish
his role as point guard and try to create less by himself and focus on getting his teammates
involved. Another key for this squad is Mookie Jones. Jones, who was not known
for his perimeter offense prior to this season, can light it up at times from
beyond the arc. Jones needs to find the right balance of three point shots
while not sacrificing his ability to get to the basket, which is key for his
team. If Jones is making shots, that opens the floor up for Vines as well as
the rest of his team to find holes in the defense. If Vines and Jones can share
the ball effectively and score when they have the opportunity, then the Bless
Ballers have a chance to make a deep run into the playoffs.
