Simply Pool Souls [5-6] @ Dead Strokes [6-4]
Season match ups: Week 4: 4-2 DS, Week 8: 4-2 SPS
Very note-worthy facts: Away team is 2-0
Game 7 records: SPS: 2-1, DS: 0-2
The long-road of getting here: SPS defeat X8B 4-1, DS received a bye
Last night, Simply Pool Souls were able to prove myself, Brice, and probably every one else as they were able to defeat Xtreme 8 Ball. Now, people will jump to the defense of X8B as they only showed with 4, but were still down 3-1, giving SPS 3 chances to get one win. No matter the chance of that happening with a full roster, SPS showed that like the Seattle Seahawks last year, anything is possible in the first round. Will they come up short in the second round like Seattle? Dead Strokes are a talented team, much like X8B were, but are much more accustomed to the playoffs and getting those who need to be here, here. Dead Strokes come in with a selection of 13 players to choose from, and if they aren't able to fill a roster, I will be shocked. Players like Rocky, Ashton, Eddie and James will headline Dead Strokes and should be the reason they make it to the finals, or very well be the reason they do not. Simply Pool Souls brought 5 of the 6 I mentioned, so their roster is proven to be consistent. Jason and Joe both won last night and will need to win again tonight if SPS look to have any shot of defeating Dead Strokes tonight.
The most exciting line up: Becky, Kat, Guns, Jason, Joe, Monte for Simply Pool Souls and AJ, Ashton, Carl, Eddie, James, Rocky for Dead Strokes.
What to watch for in the match: Last night I mentioned SPS should play it slow to avoid X8B running, sadly, Dead Strokes are just as patient if not more than Simply Pool Souls so the pressure is on both Jason and Joe to come through tonight, if they are able to build a quick lead and force Dead Strokes to use their heavy guns in the middle of the match, SPS could be able to squeak out a game 6 win whether it's for the match, or to save it and bring it to game 7.
Top to bottom you can see that Dead Strokes is more talented, but SPS is no push over. In both matches between the two sides, Jason ended with a loss, if he is able to turn that into a win this week then SPS may be able to pull it off once again, but who knows.
Prediction - 4-2 Dead Strokes
Freedom [8-3] @ Sexy Poolerz [8-2]
Season match ups: Week 2: 4-3 SP, Week 7: 4-3 Freedom
Very note-worthy facts: Away team is 2-0
Game 7 records: Freedom: 4-3, SP: 1-1
The long-road of getting here: Freedom defeat Break and Run 4-1, SP received a bye
After falling behind in game one last night, Freedom were able to rally off 4 straight wins over the likes of Mike, Jordy, Daru and Lisa. If you were able to take Jordy and Daru over any two from Sexy Poolerz, would you? Chances are yes, but Sexy Poolerz are a lot deeper than Break and Run and racking up 4 straight wins against Sexy Poolerz is damn near impossible. Sexy Poolerz come in with the runner-up to Joe in the MVP race, along with Mike, Craig and Carlos who may very well be able to take 4 straight from Freedom if they're on their game. With Kevin being boxed in Sexy Poolerz, they take a hit unless they are able to get him out of the box in the name of interleagues. While Sexy Poolerz have a short roster, it's for a reason. Those that got eligible are about as reliable as anyone in the game, and Brice knows he can count on them to show just about any game of the week, and a big match up against Freedom just fuels their fire to want to show up.
The most exciting line up: Adam, Andy, Nish, Matt, Petey, Travis for Freedom and Brice, Carlos, Craig, Kerry, Roy, Sean for Sexy Poolerz
What to watch for in the match: Finding something better to do. While both sides are certainly capable of break running every break they get, both sides are more then capable of taking at least 30 minutes per game. The experience these two sides have is incredible, so if one side makes a mistake, you know it's damn near impossible that they will not be falling behind.
Top to bottom, if Freedom can get their best to the table, they have the odds on their side, but they are known for not having full rosters in the playoffs. Sexy Poolerz have the MVP runner-up, All-stars MVP, and the loud-mouth-who-is-still-an-MVP, and while this isn't 10 weeks long for Sean, nor carry for Roy, the three will be leaned upon to grab wins to ensure Sexy Poolerz make it to the finals for the first time in quite some time. Assuming both sides are able to show with their best roster, like the first two match-ups this should go to another game 7, and it's hard to bet against a team that has been there 7 times.
Prediction - 4-3 Freedom
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Round 1
Break and Run [5-5] @ Freedom [7-3]
Season match ups: Week 5: 4-3 Freedom, Week 10: 4-3 BNR
Very note-worthy facts: Away team is 2-0
Game 7 records: Break and Run: 2-2, Freedom: 4-3
Break and Run were able to ruin any hopes of Freedom finishing first in the final week with a game 7 defeat. It's to no surprise to me that both of these matches have gone the distance. In a non-carry format, both sides have vast talent that can pull out a win at any time. Records during the season mean very little, so players like Mina, Croz, and Ross for Break and Run and Matt, Petey, and Andy for Freedom are able to put away their less-than-expected records and move forward.
The most exciting line up: Adam, Andy, Nish, Matt, Petey, Travis for Freedom and Croz, Daru, Jordy, Mike Mina, Ross for Break and Run. Beyond Travis, those 12 look probable.
What to watch for in the match: Not the break, game 7 will be a tap game regardless.
This match will come down to match-ups and Petey will be given the upper hand as he knows the play styles of all in this match so he'll get the match-ups that give Freedom the best odds to win, but I can't imagine Freedoms players have played much since their last match, unlike Break and Run who haven't skipped a beat. Freedoms rust will give Break and Run a game or two and it will push this to another game 7 where statistically, Freedom should pull it out.
Prediction - 4-3 Freedom
Simply Pool Souls [4-6] @ Xtreme 8 Ball [6-4]
Season match ups: Week 3: 5-1 X8B, Week 10: 4-3 SPS
Very note-worthy facts: Home team is 2-0
Game 7 records: Simply Pool Souls: 2-1, Xtreme 8 Ball: 1-1
While getting crushed in their first meeting, Simply Pool Souls were able to get their revenge on X8B with a defeat that cost them the conference title. Does this mean SPS would rather play X8B then DS? SPS were 1-1 against DS this season with both matches being 4-2. Chances are SPS were just playing to win like always, and they'll obviously be doing the same this week.
Most exciting line-up: Becky, Kat, Guns, Jason, Joe, Monte for Simply Pool Souls and Ben, Dave, Gino, Grinch, Trey, Wild for X8B. For SPS, that's possible, for X8B, it's their first playoff match since MLP is it not? Hopefully they are able to deal with the limited roster and bring a team to the table.
What to watch for: Openness of tables, Simply Pool Souls are a more patient team, while beyond Ben, I doubt anyone in X8B knows how to purposely snook, thus giving them much more skill to run tables. Small tables will give SPS the advantage, while an open table swings it the other way in favor of X8B.
In theory Xtreme 8Ball should win this in 5 or 6 games, unless someone from SPS reads this and attempts my strategy for them. While I mentioned X8B's playoff roster issue/deal, it shouldn't be a factor as with 11 eligible players, 10 of them (sorry Trey) are indeed active enough to show up tonight. This will be an interesting match to say the least that will go far, not as far as game 7, but Xtreme 8Ball should pull out their first playoff victory in quite some time.
Prediction 4-2 Xtreme 8 Ball
Season match ups: Week 5: 4-3 Freedom, Week 10: 4-3 BNR
Very note-worthy facts: Away team is 2-0
Game 7 records: Break and Run: 2-2, Freedom: 4-3
Break and Run were able to ruin any hopes of Freedom finishing first in the final week with a game 7 defeat. It's to no surprise to me that both of these matches have gone the distance. In a non-carry format, both sides have vast talent that can pull out a win at any time. Records during the season mean very little, so players like Mina, Croz, and Ross for Break and Run and Matt, Petey, and Andy for Freedom are able to put away their less-than-expected records and move forward.
The most exciting line up: Adam, Andy, Nish, Matt, Petey, Travis for Freedom and Croz, Daru, Jordy, Mike Mina, Ross for Break and Run. Beyond Travis, those 12 look probable.
What to watch for in the match: Not the break, game 7 will be a tap game regardless.
This match will come down to match-ups and Petey will be given the upper hand as he knows the play styles of all in this match so he'll get the match-ups that give Freedom the best odds to win, but I can't imagine Freedoms players have played much since their last match, unlike Break and Run who haven't skipped a beat. Freedoms rust will give Break and Run a game or two and it will push this to another game 7 where statistically, Freedom should pull it out.
Prediction - 4-3 Freedom
Simply Pool Souls [4-6] @ Xtreme 8 Ball [6-4]
Season match ups: Week 3: 5-1 X8B, Week 10: 4-3 SPS
Very note-worthy facts: Home team is 2-0
Game 7 records: Simply Pool Souls: 2-1, Xtreme 8 Ball: 1-1
While getting crushed in their first meeting, Simply Pool Souls were able to get their revenge on X8B with a defeat that cost them the conference title. Does this mean SPS would rather play X8B then DS? SPS were 1-1 against DS this season with both matches being 4-2. Chances are SPS were just playing to win like always, and they'll obviously be doing the same this week.
Most exciting line-up: Becky, Kat, Guns, Jason, Joe, Monte for Simply Pool Souls and Ben, Dave, Gino, Grinch, Trey, Wild for X8B. For SPS, that's possible, for X8B, it's their first playoff match since MLP is it not? Hopefully they are able to deal with the limited roster and bring a team to the table.
What to watch for: Openness of tables, Simply Pool Souls are a more patient team, while beyond Ben, I doubt anyone in X8B knows how to purposely snook, thus giving them much more skill to run tables. Small tables will give SPS the advantage, while an open table swings it the other way in favor of X8B.
In theory Xtreme 8Ball should win this in 5 or 6 games, unless someone from SPS reads this and attempts my strategy for them. While I mentioned X8B's playoff roster issue/deal, it shouldn't be a factor as with 11 eligible players, 10 of them (sorry Trey) are indeed active enough to show up tonight. This will be an interesting match to say the least that will go far, not as far as game 7, but Xtreme 8Ball should pull out their first playoff victory in quite some time.
Prediction 4-2 Xtreme 8 Ball
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)