Week six of the NBA 2K League begins tonight on ESPN2 and the ESPN app, as well as on the league’s Twitch and YouTube channels.
Be sure to check out the standings entering this week, as well as the Power Rankings heading into week six.
Magic Gaming (1-4) vs. Knicks Gaming (4-4)
It took three games for Knicks Gaming to knock off Gen.G, but the team did so with a +44 point differential in the series. In other words: New York was kicking on all cylinders, with a potent offensive attack led by rookie point guard Duck. The No. 2 overall pick averaged 33 points per game in the series, including a 53-point performance in New York’s game one win. Tonight, the Knicks look to take advantage of an Orlando team surrounded by question marks.
Magic Gaming lost its most recent series against NetsGC, as the team’s offense proved to be too inconsistent. Reigning Rookie of the Year Reizey shot just 15% from deep while turning the ball over 10 times. Orlando asks its lead guard to take on an insane offensive workload, and it allows opposing defenses to focus on Reizey. Until somebody else steps up offensively, I could probably copy and paste this Orlando preview for the remainder of their games. Tonight, the team faces off against a Knicks squad that has been building momentum.
Key Matchup: Reizey vs. Duck
As we just discussed, Reizey carries a heavy workload for Orlando and tonight he’ll have to match the production of the Knicks red-hot rookie.
Mavs Gaming (5-2) vs. Pistons GT (1-5)
Pistons GT won its first contest against Memphis, but then proceeded to drop two straight, resulting in a series loss. DemonJT is back as lead ballhandler, and DevGoss provided a bright spot (79% from the field) after being reinserted into the starting lineup. Superstar Ramo, who stated on Twitter he wants to be playing center, struggled shooting the ball (38%) in the most recent series at power forward. Tonight, Detroit’s franchise player aims to regain momentum, not only for himself, but for the entire organization.
Mavs Gaming took week five off to enjoy what has been a successful start to their 2020 season. With Sherm assuming a portion of Dallas’ ballhandling duties, the pressure has been lifted off of Dimez, creating a free-flowing, find-whoever’s-hot type of offense. PeteBeBallin continues to play at an elite level at center. Last time out vs. NetsGC, the big man put together a near-perfect stat line: 20 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 blocks, while not missing a single shot on 10 attempts. Dallas’ key trio of Dimez-Sherm-Pete heads into its matchup against Detroit confident in emerging with a win.
Key Matchup: Double ball-handler vs. Double-lock
The Mavs showcase one of the better ball-handler duos in Dimez and Sherm. Detroit will trot out both DevGoss and Charger on lockdown builds to combat Dallas’ attack.
Hawks Talon (3-2) vs. NetsGC (3-2)
After a lengthy hiatus, Hawks Talon returns to action against Brooklyn tonight in a matchup featuring two electric point guards surrounded with a talented supporting cast. Atlanta is led by BP, who averaged 25.5 points and 5.5 points in his last game against Raptors Uprising. While he struggled with turnovers and his outside shot, BP’s gravity was enough to get his teammates valuable scoring opportunities.
Despite going 3-1, the Nets will be looking forward to not having to play four nights in a row. Not having to prepare for a game likely provided the team with much needed recovery time. We saw Brooklyn slowly form an identity throughout the course of week five, and it all starts with Choc. The reigning player of the week is averaging 32 points and 8.5 assists per game this season.
Key Matchup: Kel Vs. Chess.
Ironically, the momentum of both Atlanta and Brooklyn’s was stopped by the undefeated Raptors. In both matchups, Toronto encouraged BP and Choc to share more of the offensive responsibilities. For Hawks Talon, that likely means Kel will once again have to step up after averaging 20.5 points on 54% shooting in their last game. Meanwhile, Chess was beginning to build chemistry after joining the team late as an undrafted free agent. While teams have begun to take away his designed sets, it’ll be interesting to see how the rookie bounces back after a few film sessions.
T-Wolves Gaming (5-1) vs. Grizz Gaming (3-4)
With Minnesota and Memphis combining for a record of 8-0 over its last few weeks, tonight’s matchup will finally slow one of these teams down. After dropping its first game of the season against Hawks Talon, T-Wolves Gaming has swept four of its five matchups, averaging a 13.7 point differential. While BearDaBeast’s momentum from last year’s championship run has carried over, his teammates have also stepped up when called upon.
For Grizz Gaming, tonight’s game signals a potential turning point in its season. After beginning the year on a four game losing streak, Memphis has regained its confidence with wins over Los Angeles, Boston and Detroit. Despite the turnaround, a win against the defending champions would silence the critics, put the team back at .500, and officially reset the Grizzlies’ season.
Key Matchup: Feast vs. Goofy
In a league that has historically been dominated by point guards, tonight’s game features two centers with championship pedigree. Like his teammate Bear, Feast has carried himself like a reigning champion, and has come up with timely rebounds and defensive plays during their five-game win streak. Meanwhile, Goofy is acclimating to life outside of New York. Despite winning a title with Knicks Gaming in season one, the veteran is hoping to establish a similar championship mentality in Memphis.
