76ers GC continued its hot streak, dealing NetsGC’s playoff hopes a serious blow, while two No. 1 picks showed off as three playoff-likely teams kept pace toward the top of the standing.
76ers GC def. NetsGC 2-1
What Went Right
76ers GC has been receiving classic Radiant performances as of late, and last night was no different. The Philly point guard scored at will, working well out of the pick and roll with his big man Breadwinner. Bread has found a permanent home at center and last night he flashed dominance on the defensive end, recording 6 blocks apiece in each 76ers GC win. The series win marks four straight for Philly, and maybe, just maybe this squad is catching fire at the perfect time, building momentum heading into tournament play.
What Went Wrong
For starters, NetsGC lost the turnover battle in each game, with Choc being the main culprit, recording 19 during the series. Despite coming back and to push game three to overtime, Brooklyn relinquished the lead immediately after overtime’s tipoff and never regained momentum. Choc was able to register 30-point double-doubles in all three games but it wasn’t enough, as NetsGC dropped its record to 7-5, putting them right in the middle of the pack in the playoff race. The team will square off against Grizz Gaming tomorrow night in what may prove to be its most important series to date.
X-Factor: Radiant
Radiant was the best player on the virtual hardwood, no question about it. The former MVP finalist registered two 50-point performances against NetsGC last night. As Radiant himself put it: he’s back and seemingly ready to spoil his opposition’s playoff positioning.
Jazz Gaming def. Mavs Gaming 2-1
What Went Right
When Splashy gets going, Jazz Gaming is difficult to stop. Even when he goes on a cold ring—as he did late in game two—the rookie is still prone to stopping on a dime in transition and greening a three. However, on this night, especially when Dallas overcommitted to take the ball out of Splashy’s hands in games two and three, the rest of the Jazz stepped up to knock down their shots. We also cannot go through the recap without mentioning Utah’s defense, which conveniently turned it up whenever the games got close late.
What Went Wrong
While it didn’t necessarily go wrong, the decision to move Dimez to sharp at the three didn’t provide the results Mavs Gaming was hoping for. Dimez would only score five points in the series-deciding game after averaging 17 points on 66% shooting from deep in the first two games. Additionally, Mo struggled to stop Splashy from hitting a three during a critical set of back-to-back possessions late in game one. When two top teams square off, sometimes all it takes are a few moments to decide the game. Had these possessions gone the other way, it could have swung momentum in the opposite direction and easily resulted in Dallas sweeping the Jazz.
X-Factor: Ria
The former No.1 pick increasingly made his presence felt as the series progressed. After going a perfect 7/7 from the field in game one, Ria put up 11 shots in game two and 14 in the third matchup. Overall, he only missed 4 shots in the entire series. Even in the game Utah lost, Ria was leading the charge by finishing his looks when the Mavs played high on pick and rolls. Had it not been for both Splashy and Lotty missing their late three ball attempts—both on the same possession courtesy of consecutive offensive rebounds from Ria—then this could have very well been a sweep.
Warriors Gaming Squad def. Pistons GT 2-0
What Went Right
After fighting off the gritty Pistons GT squad in game one—a game that went to double overtime—it was relatively smooth sailing for CB13 and his Warriors Gaming Squad teammates in game two. The former No. 10 pick excelled scoring the basketball, posting totals of 32 and 42 points. Everything came together for the second-year guard during game two, where CB13 erupted for 43 points and 12 assists on 19/24 shooting.
What Went Wrong
First and foremost, Detroit gave us an absolute thriller in game one’s matchup. Unfortunately, crucial mistakes in crunch time cost them the opportunity to steal a win, and their struggles multiplied in the second contest. The newfound three-point shooting success went cold, as both DemonJT and LykaPro struggled in both games to hit their perimeter shots. The Detroit backcourt combined to shoot 11/32 from three-point range during the series.
X-Factor: Slaughter
Slaughter turned in a pair of dominant performances, posting averages of 12 points and 16 rebounds per game while shooting 11/13. During game two, the Warriors center outrebounded Detroit by himself, 15-13. In addition, Slaughter recorded 7 total blocks while patrolling the paint, in what really was a complete series for the big man.
Wizards DG def. Hawks Talon GC 2-0
What Went Right
As usual, Wizards District Gaming was led by a complete team effort. However, early in the series, it was a pair of Wizards veterans that put Hawks Talon GC down in too deep of a hole to climb out of. ReeseDaGod was fantastic on the offensive end, quickly earning his takeover en route to finishing with 23 points on 75% shooting, while also shooting 77% from deep. Meanwhile, down in the paint, Dayfri played a significant role in helping his team out-rebound the Hawks 24-12. The star center was three assists shy of finishing with a triple double in the opening game.
What Went Wrong
Outside of their poor showing on the glass in game one, the Hawks also struggled to take care of the ball. Midway through game two, Atlanta threw away all the momentum it had built in the first half with a flurry of mistakes on the offensive side. The Hawks would go on to lose the series turnover battle 23-9. Lastly, when the Hawks—or any team really—aren’t hitting threes at a high clip, it’s difficult to escape with the victory, especially against a solid defensive squad such as the Wizards.
X-Factor: JBM
It’s not often we can use a pair of No.1 picks as the X-Factor in the same set of recaps, but JBM’s performance allows us to do so. While neither game in this series was particularly close, JBM was electric in game two, dropping 47 points and a surprising 9 threes on 13 attempts. The Hawks had come out with more intensity in the follow up game, and JBM’s aggressive response went a long way in neutralizing the duo of BP and Kel.
