4 weeks into the Allplay Summer Pro-Am and the league is heating up. A couple things we know going into W5...
Two teams remain undefeated - Thunder and Kings (4-0)
Three teams remain winless - Suns, Raptors, and Nets (0-4)
The Kings average the most points per game (73.5) and have the largest win margin (19.5ppg / +78)
The Lakers average the least points against (42.8) and have the second largest win margin (17.5ppg/ +70)
The Bulls have the largest point defecit at -72
Only the Magic and Thunder join the Lakers and Kings with double digit win margins.
The Kings have already clinched their divison going 4-0 in Divison play.
The Hoaks Lakeshore division is the toughest division with only 1 team below .500
Only 10 players average more than 20ppg, and only 2 average more than 30 (Grabar and Aaron Jones)
Of the 10 averaging more than 20ppg, 4 are rookies (DD, Weisansal, Cosgrove, Malikye Ridgeway)
16 players average 10 or more rebounds per game, 12 average a double-double.
Now lets recap W4...
Starting off with our Thursday slate, LIVE from IFS Basketball we had 3 great games.
Game 1
Bobcats 73 Bobcats 49
A belt from start to finish was the wakeup call the Bobcats needed after suffering back to back loses. The Bobcats got out to an early lead and never looked back. The Bucks needed to be better around the rim missing many easy layups. Bucks Forward Jack Bickerstaff did his best to keep his team in the game netting 29 points in the tilt. He unfortunately had no help in this one as the combination of Cats Forwards Eddie Cosgrove and Coan Relyea proved to be too big for the Bucks.
Bobcats
Cosgrove: 21P
Coan: 9P, 14R, 3B
Tom Gannon: 14P, 5R
Henry Bickerstaff: 1 Win over Big Bro
Bucks
J. Bickerstaff: 29P, 7R
The Bobcats will face the Wolves (1-3) this Sunday at 7PM in Gym 1 at St. Francis HS
The Bucks will face the Mavs (3-1) this Sunday at 5PM in Gym 1 at St. Francis HS
Game 2
Wolves 69 Celtics 57
A back and fourth contest early on saw the Wolves pull away late in the 2H behind Jarmani Cooper's 25 points. Newly acquired Center Kavon "No Jersey" Rogers made an immediate impact as he cleaned up 19 boards for the Wolves. The Celtics went to battle without Guard Nani Rivera and his absence was noticable. The Wolves held onto the 2H lead and secured GM Davon Ridgeway's first win as a GM.
Wolves
Mani Cooper: 25P, 10R
Aweso Noor: 17P, 3S
Celtics
Bernstein: 16P, 9A, 7R
4 Scorers with Double Digits
The Wolves will face the Bobcats (2-2) this Sunday at 7PM in Gym 1 at St. Francis HS
The Celtics will face the Kings (4-0) this Sunday at 4PM in Gym 1 at St. Francis HS
Game 3
Rockets 76 Nets 65
What was shaping up to be the best game of the evening slowly started to tilt the Rockets way. The Nets gave the Rockets everything they could handle in the first 30 mins of the game. The Nets actually had a halftime lead. Conor Foley made some real deep 3s and newely acquired Forward Chris Bourne made his Nets debut scoring 17 in the contest. Rockets Center Derek Door had, had enough of the play of the Rockets and gave his team an emotional halftime speech. That's all rookie Guard Trent Domanowski-Ellis needed to hear as he was the catslyst in the 2H for the Rockets helping them get out to a comfortable lead and secure the win for H Town.
Rockets
Dorr: 21P, 12R
A. Hiam: 21P, 8A
TDE: 15P, 4S
Nets
Foley: 20P, 6R
Bourne: 17P, 7R
The Rockets will face the Magic (3-1) this Sunday at 6PM in Gym 1 at St. Francis HS
The Nets will face the Heat (2-2) this Thursday at 830PM at IFS Basketball
Moving onto Sundays slate...
Game 4
Clippers 63 Suns 58
The Clippers put together another complete game earning them their second win in a row. The win was aided by 22 from Guard Kam Williams. Also in the contest, Ty Bailey secured himself a double-double proving why the Clippers GM Gabe Mcgovern made the move to acquire him in the offseason. The Suns cannot seem to figure it out despite having one of the better rebounders in the league in Chris Griner. Guard J Mart said after the game that he needs to be better and that the loss was on him.
Clippers
Kam Williams: 22P
T Bailey : 14P, 10R
Suns
J Mart: 15P
Chris Griner: 11P, 19R
The YachtClub will face the Wizards (1-3) this Sunday at 6PM in Gym 2 at St. Francis HS
The Suns will face the Grizzlies (2-2) this Sunday at 4PM in Gym 2 at St. Francis HS
Game 5
Knicks 69 Spurs 66
What a barn burner this one was. A game of back and fourth runs made this one entertaining. We started the main gym with the 2-1 Knicks and the 3-0 Spurs. As bodies piled into the gym, all eyes were on ROTY front runner Sean Weisansal and his Spurs team. The Spurs got off to a real early lead and then the Knicks woke up. The game was close at the half with neither team being able to put a serious gap inbetween the other. In the second half in a tie ball game, Spurs Guard Xross Edwards said some things referee JoJo Stanton wasn't to fond of resulting in a technical foul and possession to the Knicks. This proved to be the turning point the Knicks needed. A late heave from Weisansal fell just left of the rim right into Kalon Kimble's hands and that was game,
Knicks
D. Redden: 21P, 8R
Kalon Kimble: 11P, 13R
Spurs
Weisansal: 21P, 12R
The Vet, Danny Carrig: 19P
The Knicks will face the Sixers (1-3) this Sunday at 5PM in Gym 2 at St. Francis HS
The Spurs will face the Bulls (1-3) this Thursday at 630PM at IFS Basketball
Game 6
Sonics 59 Grizzlies 58
This one looked over quickly as viewers witnessed the Grizz take an immediate 11-0 lead to start the game. Everything was going wrong for the Sonics, They couldn't hit a shot, they turned the ball over, and they missed easy layups. Eventually the Sonics put together a few stops and got some important buckets from Center Roy Wallace and Mitchell Middlebrooks. This game was a one point game going into halftime. The Sonics eventually widened the gap between them and the Grizz late in the 2H until Grizzlies GM Jack Harper hit back to back clutch 3s to bring the Grizz back to 2 under a minute left. The Grizz tied the game at 58 and then fouled Rookie Sonics Guard Keylo Bradberry putting him to the line. He hit one of his free throws and ended up getting the difference maker for the Sonics to complete the comeback win.
Sonics
Middlebrooks: 21P
Keylo: 19P
Grizzlies
Harper: 16P
Nate Gonsiorek: 13P
The Sonics will face the Nuggets (2-2) this Sunday at 7PM in Gym 2 at St. Francis HS
The Grizzlies will face the Suns (0-4) this Sunday at 4PM in Gym 2 at St. Francis HS
Game 7
Bulls 63 Raptors 51
One team had to ger their first win and it was the Bulls day to have a day. Bulls defenders held multiple Raptors scoreless and let Noah Grabar of the Raptors chuck all game long. The Bulls played a complete game from start to finish. They out rebounded the Raptors and pushed transition all game long. Lottery pick Daryl Hanes saw green everytime he had the ball in the offensive end constantly driving and finishing in the lane for the Bulls. Julius "Juice" Shaw also contributed with a double digit scoring effort. GM WavyDavy Stockinger for the Raptors is still seeking his first win of the season.
Bulls
Hanes: 23P
Juice: 13P, 7R
Raptors
Grabar: 30P on 30 attempts
The Bulls will face the Spurs (3-1) this Thursday at 630PM at IFS Basketball
The Raptors will face the Lakers (3-1) this Sunday at 8PM in Gym 1 at St. Francis HS
Game 8
Thunder 68 Heat 65
This was a fun one. A lot of hype went into this matchup and the game did not disappoint. The Thunder and Heat went blow for blow early on in the game. AP displayed his range early pulling from the volleyball lines for a couple 3s and the same goes for TK as he hit tough step back 3s. Heat Jemery Clark responded with a tough finish while getting fouled and Ryan Merz hit a couple of early 3s to keep the Heat's spirit alive and well. This game took a serious turn late in the 1H when a Thunder run included a vicious block courtesy of AP2 on BPD's Jeriah Williams. Some in the gym would have considered it a felony battery charge for what Peach did to Williams at the rim. This block led to the Thunder getting out in transition and a TK reverse layup to give the Thunder a double digit lead going into halftime. Despite the Heat's best efforts, the Thunder proved to be too much holding onto the lead for the remainder of the game.
Thunder
TK: 20P, 10R
AP2: 19P, 6A, 4S
Heat
Joe Ciocca: 18P
BPD: 15P, 9R, 1 pinned layup
The Thunder will face the Pistons (2-2) this Thursday at 730PM at IFS Basketball
The Heat will face the Nets (0-4) this Thursday at 830PM at IFS Basketball
Game 9
Magic 54 Sixers 43
I thought the Sixers finally put it together. They established a good first half lead, they were playing good team basketball, and they actually looked like s well together unit. Then the second half started and it went downhill. A late Gavin Mages tech was all the Magic needed to end the game on a 12-0 run which proved to be the difference in the game. Tyree Coble was just too much inside for Jake Ritts and John Borton of the Sixers. Luke Ingrando and Danny Emma continue to be the offensive catalyst for this Magic team as they both were responsible for double digit scoring.
Magic
Ingrando: 15P
Emma: 12P
Coble: 12P
Sixers
Ritts: 14P, 6R
J. Borton: 13R
The Magic will face the Rockets (2-2) this Sunday at 6PM in Gym 1 at St. Francis HS
The Sixers will face the Knicks (3-1) this Sunday at 5PM in Gym 2 at St. Francis HS
Game 10
Mavs 66 Nuggets 41
I'm comfortable saying that the Alex Davis theory is a thing. This Nuggets team for some reason just plays so much better as a unit when he's there. This matchup was supposed to be must see TV. It was, if you like Mavs basketball. The Mavs were efficient on both ends of the hardwood playing lock up D, and they also hit 6 more 3s than the Nuggets. If you watched the tape, you would have seen Aaron Jones throw down the hammer (pause) in the final moments of this one. The combination of Strug and Jones looks healthy and dangerous.
Mavs
Boog: 21P
HandyMan: 16P, 13R
Ahmet: 2P
Nuggets
DD: 17P
Charlie No Cap: 9P, 12R
The Mavs will face the Bucks (3-1) this Sunday at 5PM in Gym 1 at St. Francis HS
The Nuggets will face the Sonics (2-2) this Sunday at 7PM in Gym 2 at St. Francis HS
Game 11
Lakers 52 Pistons 45
In what many thought would be a cake walk for the Lakers, the Pistons proved why they are one of the toughest teams in the league,. Down their GM Fish and Rookie Forward Al Warren, the Pistons would heavily rely on none other, Sean Bob Kryszak. Undersized and outskilled, Kryszak really put his body on the line forcing Lakers bigs Tommy Michael and Derick Simpson to miss multiple would be easy layups. Prince Mike Bass picked up the scoring the Pistons and Sophmore Hayden Mumbach really tested the Brueckl's patience playing the role of the pest. At the end of the day, the Lakers defense was too much to overcome for the shorthanded Pistons.
Lakers
Simp: 24P, 11R
Tommy Michael: 9P, 12R
Pistons
Prince Mike Bass: 21P, 12R
SBK: 3P (mouthed the Commish), 1Stl
The Lakers will face the Raptors (0-4) this Sunday at 8PM in Gym 1 at St. Francis HS
The Pistons will face the Thunder (4-0) this Thursday at 730PM at IFS Basketball
Game 12
Kings 82 Wizards 47
Another display of dominance from this scorching hot Kings team. Led by Malikye Ridgeway and Mario Quattrucci, this Kings team looks unstoppable. This duo as mentioned before, leads all duo's in the league in scoring. The athleticism of Ridgeway, the size of Borton in the middle, and the ability of the role players to step up when needed makes this Kings team a lot to handle. The Wizards struggled to get points and nothing was falling for them. Unfortunately this one was over the second it started. Tony Gualla did his best to try to rally the 3AP Wiz but it just didn't matter. A belt, from start to finish.
Kings
Kye: 30P
Mario: 19P
M. Borton: 6P, 10R
Wizards
Gualla: 20P
AJ Turner: 10P
The Kings will face the Celtics (2-2) this Sunday at 4PM in Gym 1 at St. Francis HS
The Wizards will face the Clippers (2-2) this Sunday at 6PM in Gym 2 at St. Francis HS
As always, you can catch us LIVE at IFS Basketball on Thursday, St. Francis HS on Sundays, and both days on Twitch!