D3: Since I couldn't do Week 6 Power Rankings, I will also add a prediction for each upcoming game.. let's add some spice, shall we?
1.) Drip City (6-1): "Drip City.. if I'm being honest, I'm not worried about them.. respectfully," said Cream City's All-Star, Ahmed Abdelhady. This season will be the best competition for Drip City compared to previous seasons, as many well-built teams are looking to end their run. So far, they've maintained their composure as the two-time defending champions, but I am curious to see what does happen when another contending team gives this team a challenge. The trio of Sameer, Sohaym, and Sabeel continue to shine, and when all three of them are given the room to perform, no team comes close to beating them. In previous seasons, LA Fit All-Stars and Slime Szn breezed their way through the regular season, facing little to no challenge. However, when they faced Drip City, they were caught off guard and taken down in the Finals. I see a similar route this season, only in this case, Drip City is breezing through the regular season, facing no challenges, and I'm sure the league is curious what will happen when they play teams like Swarm, Cream City, and Wolfpack. Will Drip City be taken off its rhythm, or will they handle business as usual?
2.) Swarm (5-2): Although it doesn't show on the stat sheet, Shakil Syed has been an enormous asset to this team's game on both sides. He will outmuscle anyone to get the rebound and make the right plays to give his team easy chances to score. Their last game against AK Trey was a show, as Arhum Ali and Saim Ali gave a dynamic duo presence and went through the defense of AK Trey with ease, converting on multiple and-1s and staying focused on the defensive end. Unfortunately, Swarm dealt with an injury to their All-Star, Jake Farnsworth, in the middle of the third quarter; however, they stayed disciplined and motivated themselves to finish the game out for Jake. They did so, and “AIRhum Ali” continues to showcase his MVP skill set in D3, as he put up a monster double-double with 25 points and 17 rebounds. Don't forget about the fundamentals, as Aashir Ali, like he's done so all season, dished out five assists, continuing to lead D3 in assists per game. Those losses to Cereal Killers and Wolfpack woke this team up, and there is a lot of momentum building; watch out, Drip City, they are coming for you.
3.) Cream City (6-1): As a public service announcement, I am required to inform everyone of Mohammed Kazzaz's title as "Cream Commander." I am also required to remind everyone that he is an All-Star. That is all….
Just kidding, what a win last week for this team, defeating the undefeated Wolfpack in crunch time from a game-winning layup by Ahmed Abdelhady off a strong dime from fellow All-Star Ayman Abdelaaty. Let's not beat the bush, this team is for real. They have showcased their talents throughout the season, and their confidence level is the highest in the division. They also love to remind D3 of their pride in their post-game interviews, as Ahmed Abdelhady did so this past week, saying, "I'm not too worried; I think we're going to take it all this year." By the way they've been playing this season; that statement is proper to be said; let's see how Cream City carries themselves the rest of the season because I am excited to see the energy this team brings on any night.
4.) Wolfpack (6-1): A tough loss for the once undefeated squad, had Zain Razak made that put back, we'd be seeing a 7-0 team. Wolfpack has shown its ability to perform balanced throughout the season, as every team member understands its role and maximizes it to the greatest extent. This makes the team dangerous, and they are more than capable of finishing this season with just one loss in that column. One thing is for sure, no one wants to see this team in the playoffs, because they are the San Antonio Spurs of MBL. What's important to observe is the way they've kept their composure in critical moments, as four of the seven games this season have been crunch-time situations for this team. They should work on pulling away from teams comfortably, but they've handled the situations well, going 3-1 in these specific games. So let's see if they'll bounce back this week!
5.) Dreamers (5-2): This team's name fits by how much they are being slept on. Shadan Amini is an offensive masterpiece, and his first season in MBL has been remarkable. He is currently averaging 30.3 ppg, and he's not slowing down anytime soon. After a couple of losses, this team has bounced back tremendously, and they want to let D3 know that if they continue to be slept on, they will surely give you a rude awakening. With All-Stars in Sulaiman Asif and Ravi Sharma showing up alongside Shadan, you will be quickly shot out of the gym. There was a reason there were two representatives in the 3PT contest, so don't give them space, or you'll be walking back on the defensive with your head down. Don't sleep on Dreamers' defense either because big man Adil Udin will give your team trouble in the paint, alongside the defensive assets in Muneeb Moulvi and Hanzala Moulvi. Stay tuned for this team because they want that trophy and will challenge anyone to get it.
6.) Cereal Killers (4-3): Umer Khan, as he's done so all season, displayed what good hustle and defense are for a winning team. He anchored Cereal Killers from a defensive standpoint in their breeze win over 2Nyce. With that, the offense came with ease, as Umar Khalid shot lights out, knocking down six 3-Pointers, on his way to delivering 27 points. It doesn't stop there, as his fellow 3PT marksman Zeeshan Haquani cashed in on five 3-Pointers. Dreamers aren't the only team that can knock down 3s because Cereal Killers has a duo that will shoot lights out on any night. Furthermore, Ramiz Khan made his presence known in the paint by slashing and finishing while grabbing 13 rebounds. This is the Ramiz this team needs to succeed. Oh, and one last thing, this was done without Cereal Killers' go-to, Aasim Akhtar. This shows the depth of this team, and with Aasim, good luck trying to slow down this squad in the playoffs. This win ended their three-game losing streak; now, let's see if they will capitalize on the rest of the season.
7.) Black Mambas (4-3): Zain Asif, thank you for waking up! He was the X-Factor this team needed last game and is a big reason why they have moved up in rankings. If he can stay consistent, this team will have an advantage over other teams. Alongside his efforts came Albert Sosa and Amjad Hamideh, who played their roles well in this collective effort to beat I See I Shoot. Hammad Amer has become a staple on the defensive end with his blocks and ability to rebound, but this team needs him to contribute in the scoring column to give them a chance at taking big leads. One thing is for sure; they bounced back nicely from their struggle in the previous two games; if the ball can move around better and efficiently, this team can have a compelling set of offenses from all over the court. The race to playoffs is tight. Can Black Mambas maintain composure to reach the end goal?
8.) AK Trey (4-3): In Week 6, the D3 points record held by Sulaiman Asif (44) was broken by AK Trey's Arshad Dadabhoy. He scored 53 points in an annihilating performance against Hooks Aur Chai. What a season; Sulaiman's record only lasted five weeks before it was broken again. Following this 53-point effort from Arshad, AK Trey came into their matchup against Swarm with momentum. Until the 4th quarter, they were keeping up but couldn't convert entirely, as Swarm was able to get to the free throw line consistently, throwing AK Trey off their rhythm. The offense wasn't flowing, and it just became a losing effort. However, this is never a team to count out following a loss, Arshad and Edwin Tolentino are a potent backcourt, and they will look to bounce back this week! The fight for the final spots in the playoffs will be one to watch; let's see who wants it more!
9.) Love Wins (4-3): This team has taken many by surprise. Ali Kassamali and Junaid Zaveri are playing well-rounded basketball, giving this team a chance to compete every night. The only flaw this team has is their lack of depth, as many of the players are new to MBL and are learning to play with one another in the process. After hearing that Ali Rizvi suffered a season-ending injury, it won't get any easier for this team, but one thing is for sure, they will try their best every night to compete. Their last game against PIA went down to the wire, and Shebaz Batliwala, Hamza Deejay, and Fardeen Afzal did their best to support Ali and Junaid, as they successfully pulled away with a small margin. They are tied with multiple teams at 4-3; let's see if they can will their way into the postseason as Week 8 approaches us.
10.) Main Event (3-4): What an effort by Mahmood Baggia this past week, putting up a Tim Duncan type of stat line in 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 blocks. This performance earned him player of the week honors, as Main Event made easy work of Hooks Air Chai. Although this was a good win, this season hasn't been one they expected. Main Event has faced some tough losses that may come back to haunt them down the line, especially in the playoff race. They will need to ensure they collect themselves going onward because these next few games will be deciding factors on a potential spot in the postseason. Mohamed Aboubaker will need to continue to be consistent, and Mahmood Baggia will have to play as he did this past game with confidence; otherwise, Main Event won't have enough to grant them wins. They play against the #2 ranked Swarm this week; a loss could cost them the playoffs, so look for them to give their all in this matchup.
11.) 2Nyce (3-4): This team can't seem to find a consistent rhythm. They will have some games where they play as a unit, but then it becomes an ISO show. All in all, this is one of the teams I expected to see on the higher end of D3 this season. There is still a chance for them, but one thing is for sure, that ISO game plan you're using.. won't win you basketball games. Ibrahim Ellahi and Asif Qureshi are the scoring options for this team, but I believe they will only find rhythm if they embrace the colors on their jerseys and play Spurs basketball. Multiple ten-point efforts in a win are more significant than a single 20-point performance. This is how I see this team finding a way to win. Otherwise, they will find themselves in profound deficits, fighting to get back into the game. They have their work cut out for them the next three out of the four games, as they face three of the lowest records in the league, and if they win all three, they will find themselves in an excellent position to make the playoffs. I believe this team can make a run, it just relies on how they decide to play together moving forward.
12.) PIA (2-5): Unfortunately, this team has lost two crucial games within five points. Ali Shah has stepped up tremendously, as he has been putting up some significant numbers in the points category. Alongside him, the backcourt of Sadan Warraich and Abbas Gauhar does a great job setting the tone for the offense for this team. They are more than capable of being a team competing for the final spots; unfortunately, they couldn't close out the games they hoped to. Nonetheless, they will need to focus on winning as many of the last few games as possible to have the slightest chance of making the playoffs. I can't deny that they have talent on this squad.
13.) I See I Shoot (2-5): Although Omar Ouaddi is putting up numbers this season, it won't do him good if he's at the bottom of the rankings. He has put a valiant effort every night, but unfortunately for I See I Shoot, they have not been able to compete or close out in their past two losses. They will need to focus on winning every game as we advance, but the schedule isn't being too kind to them. They face off against Drip City and many more talented teams. Although it is a tough road, Omar's season has been remarkable, and his teammate John Wahab is also a talented asset. I definitely have to show their bench some love, as they provide more support on the court than any other team in the division.
14.) Prospects (2-5): Aliyan Ismail has been remarkable this season. He is currently averaging 14.5 points and 14 rebounds, a set of numbers few can achieve. Unfortunately, this is the only amount of good that has arisen out of Prospects' season. They have faced some crucial losses, and this team doesn't seem to find a comfortable flow to start the game, which puts them at a likelihood of playing catch up due to an extensive range in deficits. Mekaal Afzal, at a wedding last night, told me to include him in these rankings, and he'd deliver on a 30-piece next; Prospects better hope that happens...
15) Maryland Grim Reapers (0-7): This team will likely need to get to the drawing board for next season. It's a shame, this roster had some potential, but Zubair Ahmed showed he could score in D3's competition well. So let's see how they mesh together these next few games; if they figure out a collective way to work together, it will benefit next season.
16.) Hooks Aur Chai (0-7): Another week, another loss. They face off against Prospects this week; maybe they will find some rhythm since they aren't far below Prospects in the standings.
Game Predictions:
Drip City vs. I See I Shoot
Prediction: Drip City Win;
Although I See I Shoot is a talented young team, Omar Ouaddi and John Wahab are their main assets, and I don't think they'll be able to get going against Drip City's defense as Sabeel and Sohaym will be there for quick steals. Alongside that, Drip City will have the paint defended well with Hashim Moosani and Samy Ousman's rotations. They won't have an answer for the brothers' offensive game plan, and it will become a quick blowout if they aren't able to control that. Don't count I See I Shoot out just yet; maybe they'll cause an upset. They just lost a close game and want to bounce back. Lookout for Omar Ouaddi to be all over the floor in this game.
Swarm vs. Main Event
Prediction: Swarm Win;
Main Event doesn't have the assets to keep up with Swarm's athleticism. Although Mahmood Baggia anchors Main Event on the defensive end, Arhum Ali will capitalize, and he will also have the help of Saim Ali and Jake Farnsworth to overwhelm Main Event's defense. It will be another case of Mohamed Aboubaker vs. the other team, which is how Swarm will eat on both ends of the floor. Short and Sweet, this will be a one-sided game.
(GAME OF THE WEEK)
Cereal Killers: vs. Cream City
Prediction: Cereal Killers Win;
I say this, but truthfully this game can go either way, it will be the battle of the bigs in Ayman vs Aasim, and I predict it will be a close one and will ultimately rely on if Cream City can stop Umar Khalid. However, Umer Khan can only guard one player, and Cream City is a talented team, so on both ends, it will rely on whose defense will step up to the task. So expect Ramiz Khan to capitalize defensively. I believe Umar Khalid and Aasim Akhtar will take control on the offensive end, and if allowed to, it will be too much for Cream City to handle. These two have done this with so many teams in the past; it's a natural flow for them. This is why I believe they will take the edge in this game.
Wolfpack vs. Love Wins
Prediction: Wolfpack win;
Wolfpack will comfortably win this game; it will be nice to see Ali Kassamali and Zain Razak go head-to-head, but ultimately the depth of Wolfpack overtakes what Love Wins has to offer, and this will be the deciding factor within this game. Look for Taha Ahmed to make a statement game as he's been quiet in his return from the three-game absence earlier this season.
Dreamers vs. Black Mambas
Prediction: Dreamers Win;
This will be a game where Shadan Amini will have his way once again; expect a 20+ performance from him because no one on Black Mambas will be able to guard him. The game will become a blowout if either Sulaiman Asif or Ravi Sharma get their flow going, and Black Mambas should focus on trying to contain them because it's the only way they can keep this game close with Shadan scoring. Expect a strong performance from Zain Asif because he's been waiting for his moment, and what better time than against his brother, Sulaiman? If Zain Asif can capitalize and Black Mambas can slow down Sulaiman or Ravi, this will be a close game, but if not, expect a breeze win for Dreamers.
AK Trey vs. PIA
Prediction: AK Trey Win;
This will be a battle between two teams trying to fix their momentum. Overall, I believe AK Trey will have more than PIA can handle and will be what takes them over that edge in this matchup. I also wouldn't be surprised if PIA competes because Sadan and Abbas are another well-suited backcourt, and it will depend on whose backcourt the two teams want it more this week.
2Nyce vs. Maryland Grim Repears:
Prediction: 2Nyce Win;
As they did with Prospects, 2Nyce always finds a way to bully the lower-ranked teams following tough losses, and this will be no different. Instead, expect a strong performance from Ibrahim Ellahi and either Ahmed Ayub or Omar Tayara. The bigs on Grim Reapers won't be able to outmuscle either of these two, and I believe they will make an impact defensively and in the rebounding category. This will be a one-sided effort but expect Zubair Ahmed from Grim Reapers to get some good amount of scoring done.
Prospects vs. Hooks Aur Chai:
Prediction: Prospects Win;
You know, after seeing that this is their matchup, Mekaal Afzal may get that 30-piece. If not, expect a potent double-double from Aliyan Ismail, as he will completely dominate the paint against this team. Maybe this will get Prospects going with the playoffs coming around the corner.