Celtics Crossover Gaming picked up its first win of the season, Pistons GT earned a sweep and Kings Guard Gaming continues to roll after a 2-1 win in the BP-DatBoyShotz Bowl.
Celtics Crossover Gaming def. Pacers Gaming, 2-0
What went right?
Celtics Crossover Gaming point guard oFab was unreal again, averaging 38 points and 13 assists to lead his team to their first win of season three. Oddly enough, the night didn’t begin with Fab taking over, as the prolific scorer had zero of his team’s 16 points at the end of the first quarter. Even weirder was the fact the Celtics were up by two points headed into the second frame. But that didn’t last long because Fab would go on to drop 38 of his team’s next 50 points. He would then follow that up with an equally dominating performance in game two before displaying his support for BOHIO and casting further doubt amongst the decision-makers in Indiana.
What went wrong?
Pacers Gaming struggled to generate outside looks or sink the opportunities they did stumble into. The Pacers’ double lock approach has resulted in their wings becoming corner shooters, and Swizurk often playing hash as the power forward. Most of their offense comes in the paint, and that can only take you so far, especially with various Celtics catching fire throughout the night. While the Pacers’ willingness to think outside the box should be commended, they may need to further tweak their strategy as they prepare for the Ticket.
X-factor: Mel East
After a nail-biting game one victory, Mel East made things simpler for Celtics fans by beginning the follow-up game going 4-of-4 from deep. In a season where he can’t make his presence felt on stage, the shooting guard finally had some gravity on offense and opened things up early for Fab and the rest of the team. Mel would go on to finish with 26 points while shooting nearly 62% from outside.
— Kris Cuaresma
Pistons GT def. Magic Gaming, 2-0
What went right?
“Facility” Pistons GT is here and ready to ruin your playoff hopes. The story for Detroit was how well LykaPro played for the squad. The journeyman point guard has been shuffled in and out of lineups all season long, and this time I think he’s here to stay. LykaPro provided much-needed shot-creating ability from the shooting guard position and was a source of instant offense when his team needed him to be. He averaged 22 points and 4 steals per game while shooting an insanely efficient 10-for-12 on his 3-point attempts. For a team that has struggled with their offense all season long, LykaPro may have been just what they needed the whole time.
What went wrong?
I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but Magic Gaming goes through these offensive slumps that cost games. Somebody said it on the broadcast last night, it’s almost as if Reizey needs to be more selfish, put his head down and score at will like we see so many point guards do around the league. The reigning Rookie of the Year turned the ball over eight times in each match trying to get his teammates involved. If there was a bright spot, DT was able to contribute offensively alongside Magic Gaming’s star point guard, reaching double-digit scoring in each contest. Additionally, May continues to be a rock for this team, but they fell short yet again.
X-factor: 3-point shooting
Basically, this whole section is me praising how well LykaPro played, and deservedly so because he was fantastic. Here’s why it was a huge deal: Detroit won the 3-point battle in each contest, including hitting 14-of-15 attempts in game one en route to a blowout. In game two, Detroit hoisted and made two more 3-pointers than Orlando did. All night long, Pistons GT made Magic Gaming defenders pay for giving their shooters even the slightest bit of space.
— Aaron Fox
Kings Guard Gaming def. Hawks Talon GC, 2-1
What went right?
Bash is growing up in front of our very eyes and has quickly put together enough of a sample size to shed his mid-first round reputation. The rookie averaged 28.6 points and 10.3 assists and was the main cog of a well-oiled machine, proving that maybe the point guard isn’t just a product of his environment. When the team needed a bucket, Bash lived in the paint with a wide array of finishes, while also exploiting the weakside defense on several cuts for alley-oops. On the defensive end, Kings Guard Gaming was able to better contain BP after a sizzling first quarter. Their defense wasn’t on point like usual, but it did just enough to stop the motivated Hawks.
What went wrong?
Likely due to the Kings’ defense tightening up and the law of averages, Hawks Talon GC’s shooting slowly abandoned it when it mattered the most. Open looks they were greening from the corner were no longer dropping. After shooting 59% from outside in their game one victory, the Hawks would only shoot 38% the rest of the way.
X-factor: Seemo
After staying relatively quiet—yet efficient from deep—in games one and two, Kings Guard shooting guard Seemo erupted in game three to put the finishing touches on the series. The league veteran dropped a cool 29 points on 8-of-10 shooting from 3-point land, with a number of those bombs coming late in the game as the Hawks attempted a rally. Whether it was creating for himself on the pick and roll or through the cross-court motion the Kings run, Seemo was relentless from deep.
— Kris Cuaresma
