The penultimate week of NBA 2K League action concludes with four games on Friday night, as teams fight for playoff, Ticket, and playoff bubble positioning.
Hawks Talon (5-8) GC vs. Cavs Legion (4-7)
Hawks Talon GC’s playoff hopes now rest solely on its success in the Ticket, and while tonight’s matchup with Cavs Legion isn’t a must win, there are valuable reps to be had. The Hawks went all-in on BP when they traded for the talented point guard but things didn’t go exactly as planned. There are times when BP, Kel or Lee have been spectacular, but the amount of times they’ve all been productive simultaneously have been few and far in between.
Due to connection issues, Cleveland has no choice but to make a mad dash towards the finish line. While giants such as Kings Guard Gaming and Raptors Uprising GC patiently await them on the other side of next week, the Cavs must first get past BP and company if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive. It looks like Doza will be the point guard the team finishes the season with, but for Cleveland to find success, they’ll need the rest of the team to consistently contribute.
Key Matchup: Strainer vs. Kel
Strainer had some success during his stint at point guard and occasionally found ways to get Doza going. Now, he’s going to have to figure out a way to get himself involved in the offense as a secondary scorer for the Cavs to hit another gear. Meanwhile, Kel has slowed down lately after establishing himself as a security blanket for BP when he gets cold. The player who re-establishes himself best tonight will likely decide who takes this matchup.
Pistons GT (3-10) vs. Blazer5 Gaming (6-6)
According to everybody’s favorite app, Ramo will extend his versatility to yet another position tonight. We’ve seen Ramo play many roles, this season alone, and tonight he caps it off by starring as Pistons GT’s point guard. With not much gameplay left in their season, Pistons GT is clearly willing to try any and all lineup options in order to build momentum for the Ticket.
Blazer5 Gaming has had an up-and-down season, but MamaImDatMan says the team is primed to make their run. Not that Portland really has a choice: it’s essentially win-or-go-home for any team with six losses at this point in the season. Blazer5 Gaming can push its record over .500 with a win and looks forward to matchups next week with T-Wolves Gaming, Wizards District Gaming, and 76ers GC.
Key Matchup: PG Ramo vs. Lavish
Two veteran players squaring off head-to-head. As mentioned, this will likely be Ramo’s first career start as a primary ball-handler. While Ramo has logged plenty of minutes at center and power forward, Lavish will look to take advantage of his inexperience as a lead-guard.
Gen.G Tigers (5-9) vs. Hornets Venom GT (7-6)
Despite crossing paths tonight, these season three expansions teams are currently headed in the opposite direction. Interestingly, the Gen.G Tigers of Shanghai were once in the same tier as Hornets Venom GT earlier in their campaign. While they weren’t considered an elite squad by any stretch, they were talented enough to knock out any team they matched up with. For a new franchise, early success was everything Gen.G was hoping for. Unfortunately, it wasn’t sustainable, and the Tigers have slipped far down the standings.
Meanwhile for the Hornets, they too are starting to lose their grip on the confidence and momentum established earlier in the year. If Charlotte doesn’t win out, then there’s a good chance it’ll have to go through The Ticket just to remain at the table with the cool kids. A big loss to T-Wolves Gaming hurts, but having Type back in the lineup can only be good for the on-court product.
Key Matchup: ShiftyKaii vs. Type
ShiftyKaii has had an up and down season, but one thing that’s remained consistent is his willingness to attack the rim. His relentlessness will be tested by Type, whose Prodigal Son return to the Hornets may be what allows them to rediscover their edge.
Grizz Gaming (7-8) vs. Warriors Gaming Squad (12-3)
Grizz Gaming held its own fate in the palm of its hands, but has gone cold with recent play. No one forgets the Turn loss to 22-seeded Lakers Gaming, and last night the Grizz’s playoff hopes took a major hit with a sweep at the hands of Bucks Gaming. This is the last regular season matchup for Memphis, thus their last chance to garner some momentum before heading into the Ticket, where the team will attempt to earn its first-ever spot in postseason play.
Warriors Gaming Squad has already surpassed their regular-season win total from their first two seasons combined. Golden State can push that record a little further tonight, as a win against Memphis pushes their season total to 13. Unfortunately for Grizz Gaming, the hypothetical WGS win would eliminate them from earning a playoff spot via their regular season record. CB13 and co. gear up to break a record and crush the opposition’s playoff aspirations.
Key Matchup: Vandi vs. Gradient
Vandi never quite got going last night against Bucks Gaming. If Memphis wants to be successful it starts with their point guard, and with their season on the line in recent weeks, we haven’t seen the superstar Vandi we all know exists. The only problem is, the Grizz guard is slated to matchup with one of the league’s best lockdown defenders in Gradient.
