Monday @ 6pm - Dead Strokes @ For The Win
What a way to start the season off with the two reigning champs whom are both unanimous picks to return to the finals. We all know that both sides are talented, but who will actually show for Dead Strokes? The big guns have basically chased the lesser players like Chele, Carl, etc away, and how many of their big guns are really a fan of Craig in the first place? There are a lot of questions for Dead Strokes to answer, and it will be really interesting to see how Craig handles his first match as captain. On the other side, it's the same old jazz. Ant, Danielle, Stephen, Brian and Dante are my best guess at the 5 they'll have. The experience of playing together as a team should be what puts them over the hump this week as I imagine DS will be in a bit of a scramble tonight.
Prediction - 5-3 For The Win.
Tuesday @ 6pm - Harley Hustlers @ Freedom
The first of two Tuesday night match ups will see two teams that should be battling for the final playoff spot square off against each other. These two have faced off twice in 4orce already and have both won one match, so in PRO where everyone builds up the pressure that much more, it'll be interesting to see who folds. HH will have a solid 5 players at the table, while it's tough to imagine who Pete will have. If none of his old stars are able to come back or he can't get anyone in time for the match, it will probably come down to Pete vs HH himself, but Pete has too many tricks up his sleeve and they should be able to win.
Prediction - 5-4 Freedom
Tuesday @ 7pm - 8BallCrushers @ Straight Shots
Andrew & co haven't been predicted to do well by most, and considering Straight Shots are usually slow starters in any interleague, this could be an opportune time to start a winning streak. With Straight Shots, there will always be the usual culprits at the table for Dustin & Shelle, but whether or not players like Kenny will show is another thing. This will be a close match but I think Straight Shots will show the greater depth and take this one.
Prediction - 5-4 Straight Shots
Wednesday @ 6pm - Pool Hall Pros @ Rack Dem Up
Coming into this match-up, it is a bit tough to know who will be playing for either side, but RDU has been seeing a fair amount of success lately in interleagues so it's expected that will continue this season. PHP on the other side have a new captain so without much experience, it'll be tough for PHP to compete with the more skilled side.
Prediction - 5-3 Rack Dem Up
Thursday @ 6pm - Pool Dragonz @ Break and Run
The final match of the week shows these two consistent leagues battle it out. Based on the assumption that other predictors are correct and that Gus and Jordy are able to play on Thursdays, this does not bode well for Joe & co., who looks to start his new captaining gig on the right foot. He has been able to do well so far in WPC, but with carry he'll need to have some knock out punches if he looks to go far. Break and Run will have that knock out punch, and possibly every Thursday from now on, a first week knock out is the safe bet.
Prediction - 5-2 Break and Run
Monday, October 29, 2012
Season 15
Here we go with another season of PRO! With yesterdays tournament being cancelled, it's tough to see who the new guys for each team will be, but I'll have to do my best! First my pre-season predictions which looking back to last season, were almost exact so looking forward to continuing that success!
Atlantic Conference
First - For The Win
It's always difficult to think a defending champion cannot do it again, and with Danielle & Co. seemingly only getting stronger, the message shown by For The Win is quite simple, we're the best, deal with it. So good indeed, Ant isn't as important anymore. Yes he is good, but with recent acquisitions for them, he can lose and no one on the team will be sweating. As long as Danielle can keep everyone interested for the entire season, the season should be a breeze for them.
Key Players: Ant, Brian, Stephen
Best case record: 13-0
Probable record: 11-2
Second - Break and Run
The usual suspect to always be battling for the top spot, Break and Run come in unchanged as usual so there isn't much to stay. The usual crop of Jordy, Mina and Ross will be looked upon to lead this team into the playoffs once again, and with the help of Mike and Lisa, and Gus when he does show. There is never much depth on this team, which has always almost hurt them, but never has, but can you really rely on the same 6-7 players over ~3 years and expect the same success? So far Ross has been able to.
Key Players: Gus, Jordy, Mina
Best case record: 12-1
Probable record: 9-4
Third - Rack Dem Up
A Thomas Podmore league in PRO? I recall writing about his leagues in other leagues lasting no more than half a season, but it seems that this league has been stable for quite some time, and with Jess by his side, this creates a stable environment unseen by Thomas. The type of players Thomas has, has always been the same though with an inconsistent group of "no where else to go". Which is good and bad, good in the sense that returning players with poor histories will come here first, bad in the sense that they bring the same poor attitude and will jump ship whenever it rains. Again, Jess brings the stability that I believe can lead RDU to not only a full season in a proper interleague, but post-season opportunity.
Key Players: Cam, handkrash, Thomas
Best case record: 10-3
Probable record: 7-6
Fourth - Pool Dragonz
Always a team that everyone enjoys playing with, Pool Dragonz returns to PRO and with the apparent merge of Joes league, they finally have depth. Charles & Joe will be leading this team with average expectations, but the real ability to upset some of the top teams. The quality of players usually brought to the table by PDZ are not full of big names, but rather 5 quality names that at any given night, can upset any team. PDZ may have the best history of quality upsets, and as long as Joe, their captain, is able to play this season and not turn it into something poltical, PDZ have a realistic chance of being able to defeat any team beyond DS & FTW.
Key Players: Charles, Joe, Rob
Best case record: 8-5
Probable record: 5-8
Fifth - Pool Hall Pros
Always sucks having to put a team in last, but as a realist, that is how I see it today. Last season PHP showed minimal success with Trio and Joe living up to none of their talk. But with them gone, it doesn't seem like it will get any better. The usual players of Bev, Damo and Razzy will do their best with the new help of Maria and Mikey, and while PHP have a similar situation to PDZ in terms of being able to upset most teams, they really are lacking depth that I can see that will help and allow them challenge for a playoff spot. Best of luck this season though.
Key Players: Damo, Mikey, Razzy
Best case record: 6-7
Probable record: 3-10
Atlantic Conference
First - Dead Strokes
First predictor not to rag on DS and their recruiting methods? I'll try. Coming off a season in which they were runners-up in the playoffs, and other interleague seasons where they were runners-up as well, hard to pick any other spot for them than to repeat as a finals contender. With the likes of Luis B. and Ashton more or less fully retired, Omar will now lean on other old school players who have returned in Ogges and TJ. The fact he has allowed Craig to captain makes me ponder the decision and looking down the road, if Craig is expected to captain the entire season, there may be quite some turmoil on the team. The last time he was in PRO there was the apparent aimering in the all-star match so not sure what Roy is thinking, but Craig is a dynamite player that can possible put DS over their finals hump and give them that trophy they desire.
Key Players: Craig, Pommy, Omar
Best case record: 13-0
Probable record: 11-2
Second - Straight Shots
Depth has never, ever been an issue for Straight Shots, but coming into this season, it seems they've finally gotten something they've been missing over the past few seasons: solid players. The likes of Dustin, Kenny and Saf are great for Shelle & co. With the SSCam season boasting their own player in the Division B finals, that depth that has been talked about since day one has finally grown and now their depth of the past, is finally quality depth and Straight Shots should be able to compete for the top spot over all if they are able to find consistent play.
Key Players: Dustin, Kenny, Saf
Best case record: 12-2
Probable record: 9-4
This is where things get interesting as any of these teams can grab that final playoff spot for their own reasons.
Most likely to finish third - Freedom
From 13-0, to missing the playoffs, and this prediction like other predictors have noted, is purely based on Pete. The WPC roster Freedom has is basically Break and Run + Pete (Pete is eligible in Break and Run too, why not just BNR?), their 4orce roster is nothing like Freedom has had in seasons past and looking at their roster from the last half of UIC last season, Pete is in trouble with players. Consistently, I see him having DJ, Ash and Tim almost every week, beyond that I feel the depth of west_coast_guy420 and... I literally cannot find another ID that seems to show every now and then for Freedom. Pete has the ability to gain top-flight players, and there is the chance that his old players come back for one more whirl but Freedom is the X-Factor this season, any record for them is imaginable.
What separates them from the other two: Experience
Key Players: Pete
Best case record: 9-4
Probable record: 6-7
Second most likely to finish third - 8BallCrushers
A team I love predicting, Andrew brings 8BC back for another whirl of things. Last season they saw success on an individual level with different players coming out in their limited time taking over for who ever withdrew. 8BC is a real active league, and a real nice league too. The players they bring are people you have the ability to talk to for hours after and just great people over all. You won't get any drama with this league and every match is quality as Andrew is able to bring solid players to the table. They can compete against any league and while they miss the "knock-out" factor of a top notch player, they have guys that can get on a roll any night.
What separates them from the other two: Consistent depth
Key Players: Andrew, Dawn.
Best case record: 8-6
Probable record: 5-8
Least likely to finish third - Harley Hustlers
HH is a tight group lead by Steve, full of great people he has gotten this league a lot of recognition for being great people to play with, and being quite active as well. With SP falling, Steve has been able to acquire Brice for some much needed experience, kind of. Brice has experience, but just doesn't use it. If he's able to develop a game plan and share his knowledge with everyone else, HH will have a quick jump up the talent level and become most likely to finish third, but if Brice reads this, chances are he had no plans to before hand nor knows what to say to them now. HH have a good crop of players, and started off well in 4orce, so the possibility is there to continue the success this season.
What separates them from the other two: Upset ability
Key Players: Brice, Matt, Steve
Best case record: 7-6
Probable record: 5-8
Atlantic Conference
First - For The Win
It's always difficult to think a defending champion cannot do it again, and with Danielle & Co. seemingly only getting stronger, the message shown by For The Win is quite simple, we're the best, deal with it. So good indeed, Ant isn't as important anymore. Yes he is good, but with recent acquisitions for them, he can lose and no one on the team will be sweating. As long as Danielle can keep everyone interested for the entire season, the season should be a breeze for them.
Key Players: Ant, Brian, Stephen
Best case record: 13-0
Probable record: 11-2
Second - Break and Run
The usual suspect to always be battling for the top spot, Break and Run come in unchanged as usual so there isn't much to stay. The usual crop of Jordy, Mina and Ross will be looked upon to lead this team into the playoffs once again, and with the help of Mike and Lisa, and Gus when he does show. There is never much depth on this team, which has always almost hurt them, but never has, but can you really rely on the same 6-7 players over ~3 years and expect the same success? So far Ross has been able to.
Key Players: Gus, Jordy, Mina
Best case record: 12-1
Probable record: 9-4
Third - Rack Dem Up
A Thomas Podmore league in PRO? I recall writing about his leagues in other leagues lasting no more than half a season, but it seems that this league has been stable for quite some time, and with Jess by his side, this creates a stable environment unseen by Thomas. The type of players Thomas has, has always been the same though with an inconsistent group of "no where else to go". Which is good and bad, good in the sense that returning players with poor histories will come here first, bad in the sense that they bring the same poor attitude and will jump ship whenever it rains. Again, Jess brings the stability that I believe can lead RDU to not only a full season in a proper interleague, but post-season opportunity.
Key Players: Cam, handkrash, Thomas
Best case record: 10-3
Probable record: 7-6
Fourth - Pool Dragonz
Always a team that everyone enjoys playing with, Pool Dragonz returns to PRO and with the apparent merge of Joes league, they finally have depth. Charles & Joe will be leading this team with average expectations, but the real ability to upset some of the top teams. The quality of players usually brought to the table by PDZ are not full of big names, but rather 5 quality names that at any given night, can upset any team. PDZ may have the best history of quality upsets, and as long as Joe, their captain, is able to play this season and not turn it into something poltical, PDZ have a realistic chance of being able to defeat any team beyond DS & FTW.
Key Players: Charles, Joe, Rob
Best case record: 8-5
Probable record: 5-8
Fifth - Pool Hall Pros
Always sucks having to put a team in last, but as a realist, that is how I see it today. Last season PHP showed minimal success with Trio and Joe living up to none of their talk. But with them gone, it doesn't seem like it will get any better. The usual players of Bev, Damo and Razzy will do their best with the new help of Maria and Mikey, and while PHP have a similar situation to PDZ in terms of being able to upset most teams, they really are lacking depth that I can see that will help and allow them challenge for a playoff spot. Best of luck this season though.
Key Players: Damo, Mikey, Razzy
Best case record: 6-7
Probable record: 3-10
Atlantic Conference
First - Dead Strokes
First predictor not to rag on DS and their recruiting methods? I'll try. Coming off a season in which they were runners-up in the playoffs, and other interleague seasons where they were runners-up as well, hard to pick any other spot for them than to repeat as a finals contender. With the likes of Luis B. and Ashton more or less fully retired, Omar will now lean on other old school players who have returned in Ogges and TJ. The fact he has allowed Craig to captain makes me ponder the decision and looking down the road, if Craig is expected to captain the entire season, there may be quite some turmoil on the team. The last time he was in PRO there was the apparent aimering in the all-star match so not sure what Roy is thinking, but Craig is a dynamite player that can possible put DS over their finals hump and give them that trophy they desire.
Key Players: Craig, Pommy, Omar
Best case record: 13-0
Probable record: 11-2
Second - Straight Shots
Depth has never, ever been an issue for Straight Shots, but coming into this season, it seems they've finally gotten something they've been missing over the past few seasons: solid players. The likes of Dustin, Kenny and Saf are great for Shelle & co. With the SSCam season boasting their own player in the Division B finals, that depth that has been talked about since day one has finally grown and now their depth of the past, is finally quality depth and Straight Shots should be able to compete for the top spot over all if they are able to find consistent play.
Key Players: Dustin, Kenny, Saf
Best case record: 12-2
Probable record: 9-4
This is where things get interesting as any of these teams can grab that final playoff spot for their own reasons.
Most likely to finish third - Freedom
From 13-0, to missing the playoffs, and this prediction like other predictors have noted, is purely based on Pete. The WPC roster Freedom has is basically Break and Run + Pete (Pete is eligible in Break and Run too, why not just BNR?), their 4orce roster is nothing like Freedom has had in seasons past and looking at their roster from the last half of UIC last season, Pete is in trouble with players. Consistently, I see him having DJ, Ash and Tim almost every week, beyond that I feel the depth of west_coast_guy420 and... I literally cannot find another ID that seems to show every now and then for Freedom. Pete has the ability to gain top-flight players, and there is the chance that his old players come back for one more whirl but Freedom is the X-Factor this season, any record for them is imaginable.
What separates them from the other two: Experience
Key Players: Pete
Best case record: 9-4
Probable record: 6-7
Second most likely to finish third - 8BallCrushers
A team I love predicting, Andrew brings 8BC back for another whirl of things. Last season they saw success on an individual level with different players coming out in their limited time taking over for who ever withdrew. 8BC is a real active league, and a real nice league too. The players they bring are people you have the ability to talk to for hours after and just great people over all. You won't get any drama with this league and every match is quality as Andrew is able to bring solid players to the table. They can compete against any league and while they miss the "knock-out" factor of a top notch player, they have guys that can get on a roll any night.
What separates them from the other two: Consistent depth
Key Players: Andrew, Dawn.
Best case record: 8-6
Probable record: 5-8
Least likely to finish third - Harley Hustlers
HH is a tight group lead by Steve, full of great people he has gotten this league a lot of recognition for being great people to play with, and being quite active as well. With SP falling, Steve has been able to acquire Brice for some much needed experience, kind of. Brice has experience, but just doesn't use it. If he's able to develop a game plan and share his knowledge with everyone else, HH will have a quick jump up the talent level and become most likely to finish third, but if Brice reads this, chances are he had no plans to before hand nor knows what to say to them now. HH have a good crop of players, and started off well in 4orce, so the possibility is there to continue the success this season.
What separates them from the other two: Upset ability
Key Players: Brice, Matt, Steve
Best case record: 7-6
Probable record: 5-8
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