Week 7 Predictions

 FLEX WEEK IS HERE! Matchups decided during the season will have a big impact on playoff matchups. Here we go!

BIC Blue Storm Vs. Bilal Bears

With Wali Hamrah, the league leader in points, out, I expect BIC to make a big upset in this flex matchup. The first time they were scheduled to play BIC was at ICNA, giving the Bears the forfeit win. I expect Hamza Akram to have a big game with Wali out, controlling the board. If Raphin Shapon can box out Zain and keep him off the boards, then the Blue Storm can easily wrap this game up. I think the Bears will keep it close in the beginning, but slowly the Blue Storm will get away from them and secure the W. 

X-Factor Blue Storm - Defense on Zain. I would recommend double teaming Zain with Raphin and Hamza, or have Hamza just stay in the paint. If they can lock up Zain, and they have the height to, then they can surely get the W. 

X-Factor Bears - Guard play. If Yaqub and Arif can get their own on offense, then they can keep the Bears afloat and squeak by with a victory.

Prediction - BIC guards lock up on Defense and Zain has a slow day. BIC Blue Storm (+8)

 ICM Mambas V Hamza Warriors

No team is going to be undefeated this season and the top two teams are going at it this week. There is still one more week after this one, but this game particularly is a huge factor on playoff seeding. Both these teams have been killing it this year. The Warriors beat the Mambas last week, but the top two players for each team (Bilal Lateef and ZQ Hussaini) were both out. With both rosters fully in effect, this will be the biggest clash of the season so far. I expect the Mambas to come out playing with a chip on their shoulders after losing this past week. Their defense will be better with ZQ holding down the paint, and I think that will take a lot off the shoulders of each player. The leading Coach of the Year candidate was also not in attendance last week, so with both ZQ and their head coach back, this will be a great game.

X-Factor Mambas - Role players. A lot of focus will be on Mohammad Elzanaty and ZQ Hussaini, but will the role players step up and contribute enough to win this team the game?

X-Factor Warriors - Defense. If they can lock up the stars of ICM, they can easily get this W.

Prediction- I expect this to be a great game that comes down to the wire. ICM Mambas (+3)

 Al-Baqi Blazers V Hamza Hawks

This Hawks squad is coming into this game banged up with injuries. Dar has missed a few games and hasnt made the splash most hoped he would, and Hussain their star player is banged up, and might miss the game. The Blazers have the ability to make a statement this week and prove to the league their losses came with bad luck. If they cant take this Hawks team this week, then they are not legit contenders for the title. 

X-Factor Blazers - Defense. A team with great individual defenders is playing in a way which is disgusting on the defensive side of the ball. They need to get better on that side of the ball.

X-Factor Hawks - Bench. This teams bench either shows up big or doesnt at all. If they show up this game, they could make a real run for the W.

Prediction - Blazers get back on their stride. (+15)

 JMB BucketTeam V ICLI FLVKO

This game is going to be good. ICLI is looking for their first win of the season, while JMB is fighting to get to .500. And what could possibly make this better? The fact that these two teams are playing each other again in a rematch the week after. The joys of FLEX scheduling. I think that these teams will split their 2 games, with one winning this week, and the other team winning the week after.

X-Factor BucketTeam - Rebounding. If this team can control the boards, they will control the game. This FLVKO team is big, and if they can clamp them down low, then they will win this game.

X-Factor FLVKO - Scoring from role players. Ashique only shows up in games which are 3 V 5. He needs to step up and deliver in games that matter. Zahran needs to keep doing what hes been doing and Rashiq needs to keep his team and himself composed to get this W. If they win out, they can avoid last place.

Prediction - JMB keep rolling. FLVKO keeps sinking. JMB (+6)

Week 3 Predictions

Hamza Hawks V ICM Mambas

This is going to be a great game. Two well coached teams go head to head in a battle between two of the top three teams in this weeks Power Rankings. I expect both teams to clamp up on defense, leaving this game to be a low scoring affair. Both teams have stars to lead them, Hussain and Dar Vs ZQ and Mohammad. I think this game will essentially come down to the role players making plays. That being said, I think that the Hawks have a better supporting cast than the Mambas, and that will help them prevail in the end.

X-Factor Hawks -  Big Man Play. The Mambas are tall and lanky, so guys like Saad Rana and Safwan Manjoo need to step up and play with the bigs of the Mambas.

X-Factor Mambas -  Depth control. Can their role players give them a spark if ZQ and Mohammad aren't able to finish against this gritty defense?

Prediction- Hawks role players step up, led by Momin Qadri. Hawks win and complete a second consecutive week of upsets. (+5)

JMB BucketTeam    V  Al-Baqi Blazers

I don't expect this game to be close. The BucketTeam has somehow always kept the game close against Shahid, but I think he finally has the supporting cast around him to do some damage and separate himself from these other teams. JMB needs to focus on playing as much of the game as they can before they get mercied.

X-Factor BucketTeam - Play team basketball. Going 1v1 against this talented squad will end their game before halftime.

X-Factor Blazers - Chemistry. I think its important the Blazers use this week to get better and build chemistry.

Prediction -Yikes. Blazers by mercy. (+30)

Hamza Warriors V ICLI FLVKO

I think after taking a loss last week, the Warriors are more inclined to leave this week with a dub than usual. They are gonna come out of the gates firing, and will likely hit from all parts of the court. The ICLI FLVKO need to weather the storm and stick to their game, feeding the big men. If the guards of ICLI step up, they could really make a run and upset this Warriors team, handing them their second loss in a row. The Warriors on the other hand just need to stick to their style of ball and dominate at what they do best, scoring.

X-Factor Warriors - Big Man play. Can they compete with the 2 big men of ICLI? Omer Rana can only guard one at a time, so itll be interesting to see who guards the other big man.

 X-Factor FLVKO - Guard play. Every week one of their top guards has put up a donut. They need their guards to put some work in and get the big men some help.

Prediction - FLVKO make a strong run in the start of the second half, but the Warriors are too much at the end. Warriors (+5)

BIC Blue Storm V  Bilal Bears

BIC came out and showed LIMBA they are here to play. Yet again. Wasi and Raphin are doing what they need to on offense and Hamza Akram is holding it down downlow. The Bears played a great second half last week and a full lineup will be lethal. Too bad BIC has forfeited due to ICNA and the Bears get the auto W.

Week 2 Predictions

Hamza Hawks V Hamza Warriors

For the first time since the split between these two Masjid Hamza teams, the Hamza Hawks have a legit opportunity to beat the Warriors. The Warriors haven't lost a game since the second LIMBA season’s Championship, so the team to beat them first will definitely shake the league up. The Hawks took an automatic loss week 1, but I know they have championship hopes. That being said, I know they will come out firing. They have a good zone defense which I think will be tough for the Warriors to break down. I see Dar having a big game against his old team, possibly scoring 15+ points. Hussain needs to clamp down on defense and facilitate the ball around. Saad Rana is one of the most improved players in LIMBA, and he needs to hold down the paint. The Warriors need to simply do what they do best, play loose. When they play to have fun and relaxed, they play well, but the only time they've under performed is when they get under each other's skin.

X-Factor Hawks - Perimeter Defense. More often than not, the Warriors beat you from deep. They need to have their role players step up and play aggressive on the defensive side of the ball.

X-Factor Warriors - Stay calm. This Hawks team has the potential to go on runs, and the Warriors need to weather the storm and keep their path like they did week 1.

Prediction- I expect this to be an upset. Hawks shock the world. (+2)

ICM Mambas V Bilal Bears

This ICM team is lethal, and I think if any team can accompany the Hawks in a back to back upset, it can be this ICM team. ZQ has the length and athleticism to stay with Wali, while Mojtaba Tokhie is strong enough to stay with Zain. If Mohammad Elzanaty and Ahmad Yousef can manage to be pesky enough to get in the way of Yaqub and Arif having big games, this will be a great week for the power rankings to shake up. The Bears are likely to put up a big fight with Yaqub playing his first game of the season. If they continue to control the boards like they do usually, then don't expect this team to win by any less than 10 points.

X-Factor Mambas - Controlling the boards. Against the Bears there's a small chance any team can control the boards properly, but if the Mambas can hold their own, this game can easily go their way.

X-Factor Bears - Controlling their temper. Already in hot water, another situation this week could lead to future suspensions.

Prediction - ICM keeps rolling. (+6)

Al-Baqi Blazers V ICLI FLVKO

This game is going to be good. ICLI is looking for redemption while the Blazers are looking to prove to the league why they deserve to be considered as a contender. Shahid looks to get his name on the leaderboard along with a W to keep the Blazers undefeated, while Rashiq Rafeeq and the ICLI FLVKO look to change direction and get the first W of the season. The biggest question for the Blazers throughout the first 3 seasons of LIMBA was their big man play. Rumor has it they have some pieces to fill this role, but are any of them skilled enough to guard Zahran and keep him off the boards? He leads the league with 14 rebounds, and is 4th in scoring. He is the centerpiece for this FLVKO team, and to beat them you need to slow him down. The players on the ICLI squad need to show up, as Ashique and Zahran will likely be unable to continue the same level of play against this Blazers squad. Rashiq needs to stay out of foul trouble to be an asset to his team.

X-Factor Blazers - Rebounding. If this team can control the boards, they will control the game. They have enough shooters around shahid to attack on offense and enough defensive IQ to keep up with ICLI.

X-Factor FLVKO - Scoring from role players. Nibras cant go 0 for 12 and Rashiq needs to stay out of foul trouble.

Prediction - Blazers make a splash in their first game. (+10)

BIC Blue Storm V JMB BucketTeam

BIC came out and showed LIMBA they are here to play. They ran out of gas towards the end, but put up a fight against the defending champs. Wasi leads the league in scoring and Hamza Akram put on a show. JMB fell to the Bears, but played a sloppy game. I expect both teams to come out firing and play really well. I don't expect turnovers or bad possessions often from either side. I think both these teams have the ability to play well, and I think both want to desperately prevent an 0-2 start. Nasser needs to be more efficient while Hamza demands the ball more to make plays for the rest of his guys. I think BIC needs to keep playing through Hamza and Wasi, but figure out who their true point guard is.

X-Factor Storm - Playmaker. They need someone to initiate the offense. They didn't know what to do at times against the warriors and settled for bad iso shots. Hamza Akram is their best passer but he cant be facilitating from the three point line at all times.

X-Factor BucketTeam - Play together. Ive said it before and Ill say it again, they need to play as a group. Ball movement will lead to easy shots which all these guys have the ability to knock down.

Prediction-  JMB shows up. (+3)  

Week 1 Predictions

Al-Baqi Blazers V. Hamza Hawks

First game of the new season is looking to be a great matchup. The Hamza Hawks are equipped with their big free agency addition in Abdullah Dar, while Shahid Naimi joins the Blazers. I expect this to be an interesting game. The Hawks have one of the best coaches in the league while the Blazers play a freestyle type of game. Hawks play a much more team based offense and defense much like the spurs in the past, but with their new addition in Dar will we see them feed him and let him go Iso more than before or stick to the ball movement scheme coach Walid has implemented? Their defense has gotten better with Dar’s ability to swat shots, but will it be able to stop a dominant player like Shahid? I expect this game to either be a close one.

X- Factor Blazers - Defense. We know they have playmakers on offense, but can they hold up on defense against a well equipped offense?  

X- Factor Hawks - Role players. This team has stars like Hussain and Dar but can the role players and bench guys hold their own?

Predicted Winner - Blazers (+2)

JMB BucketTeam V Bilal Bears

The Bears have been known to have weak attendance during the regular season, but i'm going to assume they will be on deck with a full squad. Simply put, they are too big for the BucketTeam to keep up with. Abdullah Choudhry is a solid big man but he can only defend one player at a time, and Zain & Wali are tenacious on the boards, on Offense and on Defense. If the BucketTeam can shoot well, they can keep this game close. Nasser and Uzair have to have a good shooting game from deep, while Mubeen and Abdullah box out down low. Hamza and Sameer need to penetrate and kick out for the zone defense of the Bears to be broken down. Will they be able to do it? I think after melting down in the finals game the Bears will come back harder and stronger than ever. This team playing at a fierce level means trouble for anyone.

X-Factor Bears - Drive. They can be the best team in the league if they don't fool around and play hard.That seems to be an issue for this squad.

X-Factor BucketTeam - Shooting .Nasser, Uzair and Hamza need to have big numbers and efficiency from outside to get this W.

Predicted Winner - Bears (+10)

ICLI FLVKO V ICM Mambas

This is going to be VERY interesting. The two teams were once merged as ICLI, but have split and revamped as dark horses. Mambas had issues off the court and on offense last season, but have addressed at least one of these issues. ZQ and Arbaaz will help heavily on offense, while the players have to just control their tempers. FLVKO has a tall lineup that could pose a threat to any team. I expect most teams to get into a lot of foul trouble against this physical squad. This will 100% be a close matchup.

X-Factor FLVKO - Ball movement. We know they have great individual players, but that doesn't mean itll work on a team level. We’ve seen this with teams like the Cavs this season, but will FLVKO have a different result?

X-Factor Mambas - Boards. More likely than not the team which controls the boards controls the game. They have a shorter lineup against a big lineup, but if they can manage to get their share of boards then they will likely be able to sneak away with a W.

Predicted Winner - FLVKO (+1)

BIC Blue Storm V Hamza Warriors

This game is hard to predict due to our lack of knowledge on this Blue Storm team, but I will talk about what we DO know. We do know that the warriors are stacked on offense, but lack bench depth. We DO know that the Blue Storm are rumored to have a good defense with height, which may be the achilles heel of the Warriors.  I expect this game to be either a close game or a blowout, no inbetween.

X-Factor Blue Storm - Chemistry. We haven't seen the individual players but if this team can operate well together then they can be successful. Hopefully the SJU Basketball Courts have been a cooking ground for this squad.

X-Factor Warriors - Rana. Will Omer fit right into the offense or will Bilal and Shamikh need to get him into the rhythm of the Warriors O? This will make a huge difference going forward.

Predicted Winner - Warriors (+6)