D2: 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.) Big Falafels (6-1): They have separated themselves from their competition each time they step on the floor because of their versatility. The ability to run an offense with All-Star Humza Mela, Amjad Aryan, and Talal Trabolsi is one few can utilize, and this team has done a tremendous job. Following that, All-Stars Zaid Dadabhoy, Torin Asefie, and Karim Ahmed have each maximized their roles and brought it every night. They can quickly assess their opponents' strategy and overwhelm them with their well-equipped roster. These next few weeks, we see how they stand compared to the other top teams in D2, as they face Only the Family, Wet Like Book, and Too Smooth. Each of these games will be one to watch, and I believe Big Falafels can make a statement on their championship desires by taking down these teams before the playoffs begin. Nonetheless, they are #1 in the power rankings for a reason, and they challenge anyone to take this spot from them. 

 

2.) Too Smooth (6-1): All-Star Captain, Sheraz Kari, had no mercy for the worst team in D2, The Zone. He scored 44 points and picked up multiple blocks in this 80-point rout by Too Smooth. Yes, 44 points, but are you surprised? This dude is a baller! Talk about making a statement; these guys wanted to let Big Falafels know they were right there with them. This team is all business every night; after their win against Most Hated in Week 6, they wanted D2 to know they were serious about winning that championship. Ahmad Khalaf put on a vintage performance in that game, securing the win with a clutch layup and letting out a victorious scream. That win is what Too Smooth needed to get their momentum going, and now they want every team to try and challenge them going into the playoffs. Yaser Yousef has done a great job anchoring this team, and his leadership has shown its significance, as he slows down the offense and makes the right play each time. He's a well-known and respected veteran in this league for a reason. So Too Smooth is looking to finish the season 10-1, and with how they've been playing, I suggest teams be ready to bring their best if they want to change that.

 

3.) Most Hated (5-2): It looks like The Zone isn't the only team facing horrendous blowouts, as Cereal Killers lost by nearly 50 points to Most Hated this past week. So what's going on with D2 this season? There have been so many outrageous blowouts. Anyways, Alvaro Valenzuela put on his best David Robinson performance. This brother went off and delivered on 41 points and 15 rebounds while going 20/26 from the field! You read that right, unreal. Most Hated is full of talent, and now we've seen it from Mehr Khaliq, Waleed Khaliq, Anthony Newman, and Alvaro Valenzuela. It's only a matter of time till Ayoub drops a 50-piece at this rate. I believe this team brings life to D2, as every team wants a piece of them, and each of their matchups against higher-ranked teams has brought a crowd and energy to the game. This is just a preview of what the playoffs will look like because whoever matches up with them in a series better be ready for some good hoops and trash talk. Also, don't lose to them, or you'll end up watching highlights of them beating your team on Instagram. 

 

4.) Wet Like Book (5-2): This team had four All-Star selections in Irfan Anwar, Abdul Yousef, Ahmed Khan, and Radwan Yahya. An outstanding achievement, but that's not the real goal for this team. They returned from All-Star Saturday and gave Brick City the works as they had no answer for Wet Like Book's entourage from both the offensive and defensive. Ahmed Chawla, Ahmed Khan, and Emad Yahya on the defensive are challenging for anyone to score on in the paint. Brick City had to deal with that, but only if they could get through Yusuf Hashim and Radwan Yahya, a tall task. This past game Wet Like Book was without Abdul Yousef and Irfan Anwar, and they handled business accordingly against a well-built Brick City team. The depth on this roster is substantial, and with the "next man up" mentality going for them, they'll be ready every night. Yusuf Hashim had a game cashing in on multiple 3-Pointers; Radwan Yahya and Emad Yahya both tallied over 15 points from all over the floor. Haroon Khaliqi also came in and knocked in some big threes. This team faced a couple of crunch-time losses, but they've returned motivated each time. They have one goal in mind: to win the championship; let's see how they fare in these last few weeks as they take on some of the best teams in D2.

 

5.) OTF (5-2): In Week 7, Only the Family came into this game with only five players. They had a strong start against Apollo8, going up by double digits. Unfortunately, Zeeshan Ahmed suffered a severe ankle injury, which took him out of the game early in the first quarter. After that, Apollo8 took advantage of the four-person roster and overwhelmed OTF from all over the court. Mohammad Shafi tried to make things work for his team, but it was too much to ask with four people. Of course, if OTF had their entire roster, this would be a blowout in their favor, so I can't give this loss much thought. They ultimately called the game early in the 4th, but I know they will bounce back tremendously next game after that embarrassment; they'll need it because they face off against the #1 ranked Big Falafels this week. This will be a game to watch as two of the top teams in D2 face off. If OTF can bring together a full roster, then this will be a very entertaining game. 

 

6.) Side Bets (5-2): Wet Like Book won't have the luxury of saying they're the only team that gave Side Bets a loss because Goonda Squad did so this past game. Going into the matchup, Goonda Squad was not expected to win this game, as Side Bets was heavily favored, but they turned the tables quickly. They played impeccable defense on Side Bets and caused it to be a Bruce vs. Goonda Squad matchup. No one else on the team could contribute, and Anosh Ali and the company took care of the business. Side Bets has had an issue with allowing teams to hang around them this season early in the game, and in doing so, this puts them at a vulnerability to be slowed down. Goonda Squad took advantage of this, and although Bruce did manage to get 21 points, the team was atrocious from the 3PT line, going 6-39. The only help Bruce had was Umar Patel's 17 rebounds, but ultimately the absence of Baheer Khan was apparent and is a reason why they lost this game. This is not a loss Side Bets was expecting, but I'm sure they will bounce back because they have a relatively easy schedule moving forward compared to the other top teams in D2. So let's see how they fare in Week 8; I expect them to try and blow out their next opponents. 

 

7.) Goonda Squad (4-3): What a win for this squad in Week 7! They took down arguably one of the top 3 teams in D2 in Side Bets. Anosh Ali had a strong performance with 21 points, while Medhi Baig and Abner James were rebounding machines, as they totaled 30 rebounds on their own. Goonda Squad needed this win to keep their playoff hopes alive, and now they are in an excellent position to compete for one of the final spots, as they are secured at the seventh seed going into Week 8, being the only team with a 4-3 record. They face off against IE's Finest this week, and a win for them will put them into an even better position. This team was considered one of the worst after Hadi Kassamali announced he wouldn't be playing this season, but they are working hard to silence the haters. They are doing a great job at it. Better wake up Brick City, Ballers, and Apollo8 because they aren't slowing down for you! 

 

8.) Ballers (3-4): Ballers made the proper adjustment in adding Ammar Rehman to their roster. His addition has impacted Ballers immediately as they are now in a better position to compete with teams. They took some significant losses to OTF and Big Falafels, but they are working hard to compete and make the playoffs. They are currently tied with two other teams for the eighth spot, and every game as we advance is crucial for them because the other two have just as much of a chance to take this seed as they do. So let's see if Ballers can find some consistency and get a flow going for the rest of the regular season. They have some tough matchups; let's see how they respond. 

 

9.) Brick City (3-4): Brick City faced another crucial loss, as Wet Like Book hit them hard unexpectedly. Abe Hamade doesn't seem to be himself with that thumb injury, and without Kareem Madkour, the offense looks pretty stagnant for this group. Jason Noble has been trying to get some flow for his team, but injuries are plaguing this team from displaying their full potential. They have a few weeks left to try and turn the tables, but if these injuries continue to be a problem for their players, it will be tough to get a rhythm going. They face off against Cereal Killers and LA Flame in the next few weeks, which will be a couple of chances for them to figure themselves out moving forward. However, there is a more significant task to address before those games: their matchup with Too Smooth. So let's see how this team approaches the rest of the regular season.

 

10.) Apollo8 (3-4): Apollo8 caught a big break last week having to face a four-person OTF team. This was a free win for them and a lucky one at that. Anis Shilleh, Rayhaan Kaykanda, and Ali Alshikhli played good defense and got easy baskets throughout this game. Apollo8 needed this win because it keeps their playoff hopes alive, but they play Side Bets and Most Hated in two of the following four matchups, so that will be a long pair of nights for this team.

 

11.) IE's Finest (2-5): They haven't been able to find a rhythm, and playoffs are out of reach for them. Aamir Ansari and Eric Jennings have been putting up numbers, but it's not enough to capture some wins. They will probably stay around this placement in the rankings. 

 

12.) LA Flame (1-6): This team was a huge letdown this season, especially being the defending champions. It's not entirely their fault; they can't get a good amount of players to show up to their games. They have had multiple forfeits, and only five players show up, and it's tough to compete under these circumstances. So maybe next season, things will look better for them. 

 

13.) Cereal Killers (1-6): The only highlights of this team's season have been their two All-Stars, Ayaan Ismail and Humza Shariff. They only had five players last game and lost Ayaan to injury against Most Hated, leading to a near 50-point loss for this team. They certainly had hoped for this season, but they haven't gone as expected. Ayaan and Humza are hoopers, though, and I can see them being a part of better teams moving forward.

 

14.) The Zone (0-7): This team seems to be getting picked on every game, as they've faced multiple losses of 80+ points to Big Falafels and Too Smooth. It's an "Azaan Khan vs. all" show for them, and it won't do good in D2. I hope they can play in D3 next season because they'll have a much better chance to capture wins than they currently do this season. 

 

Game Predictions:

 

(GAME OF THE WEEK)

Only the Family vs. Big Falafels

 

Prediction: Big Falafels Win; 

OTF will need to have their entire roster to compete, and even if they do, Humza Mela is a force on both ends, and he will make Kyle Hamilton have to work hard to get some stops. Alongside that, Ismail Famous can only guard one person, and Big Falafels has Zaid Dadabhoy and Torin Asefie for them to worry about. Alongside that, Amjad Aryan and Talal Trabolsi down low will be troublesome, so Only the Family better be ready to compete defensively. However, on the offensive end, they will be a force, as Mohammad Shafi will try to lead his team in that regard alongside Ismail Famous. Expect 20+ points from both of these two in this crucial matchup. Ultimately, it will depend on if OTF can show up defensively because they'll need a lot to stop the offensive barrage Big Falafels has on their roster. 

 

Wet Like Book vs. Ballers

 

Prediction: Wet Like Book Win;

This will be a physical game, and Ballers attempt to bully their way to wins, but they won't be able to address the different options Wet Like Book throws at them. Ammar Rehman will need to do the heavy lifting, but overall, I can see them tiring themselves out trying to outmuscle Wet Like Book, which will be their weakness. So expect a big game from Wet Like Book's Yusuf Hashim, Irfan Anwar, and Radwan Yahya, as they will look to break the defense down and hit from 3. 

 

Most Hated vs. LA Flame: 

 

Prediction: Most Hated Win;

Is there even a second thought? Most Hated should spin a wheel to decide who goes off in this game out of their roster. Instead, expect a big performance from one of their players this week.

 

Side Bets vs. Apollo8

 

Prediction: Side Bets Win;

Bruce Haidrey will not allow for a two-game losing streak, so expect him to put on a monster performance in this game. They should also have Baheer Khan back, and if that's the case, Apollo8 should be ready for a blowout. They won't be able to keep up with their athleticism, nor will they be able to out-rebound Umar Patel. Instead, expect a big margin of victory for Side Bets this week. 

 

Too Smooth vs. Brick City

 

Prediction: Too Smooth Win;

Sheraz Kari will be facing off against his old teammates, which will be a reason for him to put on a show. I expect another massive game for him coming off the 44-point performance in Week 7. Alongside that, Ahmad Khalaf and Yaser Yousef should perform well, as they love to play big when it matters, and Brick City will need to work hard to compete. On the other end, don't expect Brick City to fold lightly, they definitely will take the opportunity to show Sheraz up for leaving them, so I can see Jason Noble and Abe Hamade having a big game. They'll need to if they want to compete because losses are crucial for Brick City at this stage of the season. 

 

Goonda Squad vs. IE's Finest

 

Prediction: Goonda Squad Win;

Goonda Squad is motivated to make the playoffs, and after a massive win against the talented Side Bets team, they have momentum. They will look to bring that into this matchup, which will likely overwhelm IE's Finest, as they won't be able to keep up. Expect big games from Abner James, Anosh Ali, and Waqas Anis, as they will look to dominate from all aspects of the court. Conversely, Aamir Ansari and Eric Jennings will need to show up for a chance even to compete. 

 

Cereal Killers vs. The Zone:

 

Prediction: Cereal Killers Win;

The #13 and #14 ranked teams face off; we might as well make this the finals matchup. I already know this will be the closest game The Zone has this season, and maybe they will capture their first win, but they'll have to get past Humza Shariff and Ayaan Ismail to do so. I expect big games from both of them, but I also expect a big performance from Azaan Khan. Nonetheless, this will be a game for both teams to have a chance at capturing a win for their confidence.