PRO has trimmed its roster down to 8 leagues, show casing 4 in each conference making for a more intense season. The schedule looks hairy, but it seems that the admins has gone for a schedule similar to WSOP's. With 4 cross conference games for each team off the start, which could really create a gap in between teams right off the bat, but the gap could still be made up with 6 consecutive in-conference matches.
I should spend this time to again apologize for not predicting the playoffs for Season 10 but will extend congratulatory remarks towards Latino Pool Legends for avenging their Season 9 Finals loss and winning their first PRO title. (Trophies are shown here).
On to this season shall we?
And for the sake of these predictions, I'm going with the assumption the top 3 will continue to make the playoffs, though I have no clue how many actually make it.
Atlantic Conference
Freedom - For the second straight season, this side was thumped out of the playoffs by Pool Fiction, so throwing them into a different division may shine light for this side into moving past the first round for the first time ever. With players like Cam, Trav, Matt and Dan among others, Petey will have the talent to make the playoffs for the third straight season, and will be able to keep up with the likes of MC and SS. Mid-season form will be key for Freedom as in both of the past two seasons, they have long losing streaks that have kept them out of the top 2, that should change this season.
Prediction - Second
Miscues - While Jack predicted MC to finish first, and Peter predicted them to finish last, the two highlighted the positives, and negatives to this team respectively. With players in Ant, Ben, Saf and Trey, MC certainly has the talent to win it all. On the flip side, beyond those 4 they have, nerd.herd, James, Stephen and possibly Craig to back them up. Six with a possible 7th isn't very deep, especially in a mid-week interleague with 3 other interleagues (assuming WPC is still alive) going on at the same time. Depth will certainly cause them to lose games, but they have the talent to win enough to carry them to first.
Prediction - First
Pool Dragonz - Certainly a very similar side to the Brit Pool team we saw last season, so hopefully they wont need to depend on Pommy and his 1-9 record this time around. Players in Brice, Hani, DJ and Charles will be key to show every week for Drew if he looks to make any noise. This group has the talent to beat SS and Freedom, and even MC if they play up to their best, but consistency is key here and Pool Dragonz are short of it more often then not. Getting off to a good start will provide them with a great shot to crack the top 3 here, if they are able to start 3-1, they should be able to pick up enough in conference wins to stay in the top 3, but this conference may be too competitive for these guys.
Prediction - Fourth
Straight Shots - Two seasons removed from winning it all, they fell short last season and this season may show another slight drop in Straight Shots PRO history. While players like Pita, and Kazi seem to be non-existent, the return of Nigel to SS will give SS consistency and organization in their interleagues, but it may not matter with Ben as captain. Ben's a consistent force in himself who helped push SS over the top last season when Pita decided to gain a life. While the top 5 of SS is fairly unknown to me, especially with Craig switching teams every other day, Ben will definitely benefit the massive pool of players SS boasts as even if his all-star players are unable to make it. But with so much uncertainty in my head regarding this side, I do believe their minuscule fall will continue.
Prediction - Third
Pacific Conference
Break and Run - A season after winning it all, Break and Run had a let down last season, failing to win their conference both in the season and in the playoffs, but that's the past, and this is this season. With Jordy around for the entirety of the season, Ross will enjoy his help beside their newest PRO recruit in Mike (vain). Along with Joe (mvp_adept) playing his first PRO season with BNR, Ross has the talent to do quite a bit of damage this season. Players in Jim, Mike, and even Ross himself gives BNR enough fire power to win this conference. If they are able to sway Croz into playing PRO for them then it may well be a lock.
Prediction - First
Dead Strokes - The team DS should field this season differs a lot from the team they did last season. With many players gone from their lineup, James and Chele will have a more difficult time this season but may benefit with their conference being the weaker of the two. WSOP hasn't shown this squad a good showing this far, but if Corey has returned for good, him along side a strong Chuck and Roy gives DS an opportunity to challenge the best, and like PDZ
Prediction - Third
Pool Fiction - After yet another test run with Nick as HA, this crew go back home to the league that carries so much history, and rightfully so. Led by Kerry, this team certainly doesn't have the fire power it once used too, but still boasts a fearsome roster. New comers to PFN in Stevie, Kalpz, Jan & Jay (thanks WSOP roster page) will help fill the void that players like Scotty, Jamie, Jeremy and Andy once filled. While the old timers in PFN still come around once and a while, consistency is key in a short interleague and having the new comers fire on a consistent basis will be good. If Kerry & co. look to stay pace with a rejuvenated BNR squad, they'll need to start the cross conference portion strong.
Prediction - Second
Sexy Poolerz - This side used to be a feared squad in interleagues but lately not so much. It's no ones fault, players that once kept SP at the top have more or less moved on. Riding a 14 game losing streak in WSOP is nothing to be proud of certainly, but PRO is something else, something special. One player can really do it all (such as Brian & RM). But do SP have anyone quite like that? They lost Mike (Vain) to BNR which is a blow, and their golden boys in Pete and Ketan are more or less done. They'll need players like Shaggy, Jack (a great pickup), Kate and Pete to show consistently, as going by their other rosters there sure does seem to be a lot of turnover in their weekly rosters. SP have the potential to do really well, but potential is something for the future, PRO starts pretty soon. Bev is experienced, leading leagues like Lucky Shots to great heights, but she may have her work cut out for her here.
Prediction - Fourth
Recap:
Atlantic Conference
1st - Miscues
2nd - Freedom
3rd - Straight Shots
4th - Pool Dragonz
Pacific Conference
1st - Break and Run
2nd - Pool Fiction
3rd - Dead Strokes
4th - Sexy Poolerz
Want play-off predictions?
Wait 10 weeks.
Please enjoy them, I don't mean to hurt anyones feelings.
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