By Matt House Brown:
Midterms didn’t stop the power players from hitting the Middlesex basketball court on Sunday. (1/17) There was some excellent play from the Bucks and nonexistent action from the Bulls who forfeited the game.
1. Bucks (W, 33-32) – This week’s battle at the top of the rankings between the sophomore Craig LaMantia (pictured) led Knicks and the Brunswick sophomore Jack Sherwood led Bucks ended with the Bucks on top. The game lived up to the hype that surrounded it coming down to the final seconds of the game. Sherwood scored 26 and the Bucks seemed to control the game throughout. Their depth off the bench is unmatched by any other team: the Bucks are looking at the rest of the schedule thinking about going undefeated. However, the Raptors could be angry after the loss and it could be a trap game for the Bucks, but even that is a long shot. As long as the Bucks keep winning the cliché still rings true to the other nine teams: fear the deer. (4-0)
2. Knicks (L, 32-33) – The Knicks suffered a tough loss at the hands of the Bucks. Defensively, they consistently watched Sherwood take layups and offensively, LaMantia couldn’t do it himself as his supporting cast struggled. They were lagging behind the Bucks all game long as they proved their worthiness of the number one spot. Although the Knicks simply got beat, this loss could be contributed to the lack of substitutes available to them. They only had one sub until sophomore Jack Travers, a fairly important player, went down due to a lingering ankle injury. No matter how they lost, they still lost to the best, resulting in no decline in their ranking. (3-1)
3. Heat (W, 57-22)- The Heat early in the house season this year are playing much like the actual Heat in the NBA. They are throttling lesser opponents and putting up big numbers, but lost in the only big game of the year so far. In only one of their four matchups so far have they really played a full game defensively and in that one game they lost at the hands of the Bucks. Despite this team’s ability to win big the jury is still out and I can’t place them over the Knicks or Bucks because they beat a team that is averaging 24 points a game. (3-1)
4. Hornets (W, 38-22) – The Hornets led by Casey Burke, sophomores Carl Stowell, and freshman Cam Smith beat up on the Wizards this week. I must say I am very surprised by this victory and am skeptical in putting them up as high as they are. However, They only have one loss, and have only lost to the Heat and Bucks, two great teams. (2-2)
5. Celtics (W, 32-25)- This team caught the Raptors getting overconfident and took advantage getting the solid win. The Celtics continue to play solid basketball despite their lack of a singular superstar. One may speculate that their record is better than the Hornets, but the Celtics lost to the Hornets by 9. Hence the Celtics are placed below the Hornets. (3-1)
6. Wizards (L, 22- 38)- The Wizards did not just lose to the Hornets. They got throttled by the Hornets. I’m not sure what happened here but no matter what excuses they throw at me they have still lost two in a row and need to turn it around. (2-2)
7. Raptors (L, 25-32) – After their big win over the Nets the Raptors appear to have gotten over confident and than shocked by the Celtics. While the Celtics proved better than previously thought, the Raptors revealed themselves to the league. Underneath the high socks, sweatbands, and lack of the sleeves, the Raptors are what the record shows they are. (1-3)
8. Bobcats (L, 22-57) – Although throttled by the Heat this week, they still do have a legitimate victory which came over the Bulls. (1-3)
9. Nets (W, Bulls forfeit) – They beat the Bulls due to the fact that the Bulls only had four players. However, the Nets still have no real victory. (1-3)
10. Bulls (L, forfeit)- (0-4)
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