Sunday, July 20, 2008
Week 2 MOTW: No-brainer.
On Monday night, two leagues began their season a perfect 14/0. On Thursday night of this week, one league will be merely .500 in matches, while the other begins 2-0.
I'm of course talking about Pool Legends and Devine Cuez, playing at the tail end of this week. They square off at 9PM on Thursday, following seven undercard bouts that may or may not be as entertaining. Pool Legends maybe had the more impressive 7-0 victory, being that we don't know much about Pool Loverz other than Straight Shots is probably the better team between them. Still, I can't remember any league beginning its first MLP season ever, without a single game in the loss column. MAYBE Unstoppable when they joined in the middle of Season 1, but that was strictly some of the best players in pool getting together, and calling themselves a league from everything I've heard about them.
Anyways, onto a preview of the match - I think Pool Legends will beat Devine Cuez. You're looking at a team anchored by Jason at the end of it, and guys like Kalpz, Matt, and co. along the way that you need to put your best players up against. They also play a very deliberate safety game, as a whole. Their goal is to bore you to death. Occasionally, they'll lose out to a lucky banger every now and then, but their general rule is to safety until they have a clear run, period. Because of this, they do tend to over-safety a bit as Ryan mentioned in his preview of this match, and that could lead to an unnecessary safety and thus, an unnecessary mistake. Devine Cuez will have two options: Wait out the storm and wait for that mistake, otherwise trying to match the play shot for shot, or to come out gunning and try to end the match quickly.
The one thing to watch, however, is a former Pool Legend in l3res.hubby, now playing for DC. No secret he'll want to play in this match, and of course both he and Jason know each other very well. A guy like uber.geeky can also put a real wrench in the plans of Pool Legends. God, these names have more periods than a women's health clinic.
Back to previews and predictions, I'm once again going against my colleague's Upset of the Week, and taking Pool Legends to come out on the winning side of a 4-3 score.
Week #2 Predictions
One week in the bag - No one banned for being too much of an idiot (Cam got 90 days in the box but, well, it's Cam) - Full teams showing up to matches - Minimal drama (with exception of PFN-LS match) - Great start to the season, in my opinion! Week 2 provides a few interesting match-ups, 3 of which I debated on being my upset of the week. However, for all teams, week 2 will pose one of two situations. For the 0-1 teams, they'll be looking to not fall behind the 8 ball this early in the season; 0-2 can be a hell of a hole to climb out of in MLP. On the other side of the coin, the winning teams from week 1 will be looking to ride their momentum past this weeks challengers and take early command in the race for conference champions! Let's begin!
-Monday Night-
7pm - Extreme Cues (1-0) @ Break and Run (0-1)
-Monday Night-
7pm - Extreme Cues (1-0) @ Break and Run (0-1)
Location: Welcome to the Jungle
Last Week: Extreme Cues def. Pool Pals 4-3 / Dreampool def. Break and Run 4-3
Watch List: ec_spin.technician & bnr_bnr_teacher
Outlook: Alright, so I watched the majority of the PP-EC match last week, and it's safe to say I wasn't too impressed by either team. That match could've went either way - stupid shots from both sides, botched runs, etc. At the same time, BNR lost to a team in DP that I don't see doing very much this season either. If I learned anything from last week, it's that EC can most likely shoot better than they did, and BNR was most likely playing to about their potential. I'm looking for EC to squeak by in this one.
Prediction: 4-3 Extreme Cues
Last Week: Extreme Cues def. Pool Pals 4-3 / Dreampool def. Break and Run 4-3
Watch List: ec_spin.technician & bnr_bnr_teacher
Outlook: Alright, so I watched the majority of the PP-EC match last week, and it's safe to say I wasn't too impressed by either team. That match could've went either way - stupid shots from both sides, botched runs, etc. At the same time, BNR lost to a team in DP that I don't see doing very much this season either. If I learned anything from last week, it's that EC can most likely shoot better than they did, and BNR was most likely playing to about their potential. I'm looking for EC to squeak by in this one.
Prediction: 4-3 Extreme Cues
7pm - Cheapshotz (0-1) @ Pool Loverz (0-1)
Location: You Got Lucky
Last Week: United Pool def. Cheapshotz 4-3 / Devine Cuez def. Pool Loverz 7-0
Watch List: cz_trumpsterized & pz_infatuation_xxx
Outlook: Quite the coincidence on the room name, PZ, because you're not lucky at all. You're about to run into a freight train. A pissed off freight train. Unfortunately for PZ, they're stuck on the tracks and arn't going to find a way off quick enough. After losing in game 7 to UP last week, Ben/Josh and the boys will be out looking for revenge. If they can calm the ego's on that team in time for this match, they might just have a clean sheet. It sucks, but PZ should probably start looking ahead to week 3.
Prediction: 7-0 Cheapshotz.
-Tuesday Night-
7pm - Tourney Pool (1-0) @ Pool Pals (0-1)
Location: Back Spin
Last Week: Tourney Pool def. Magic Pool 5-2 / Extreme Cues def. Pool Pals 4-3
Watch List: tp_kingvaughan & pp_platinumghost
Outlook: So, TP escaped the "Upset of the Week" match unscathed. In all fairness, they were never in trouble the entire match against MP. During the week, TP picked up an elite shooter in ckp_superstaaaar (Matt). If he gets accustomed to TP's "old-school" philosophy of only representing the league if you stay active in it, he'll end up complimenting this team quite nicely over the course of the season. With or without him this week, TP should walk into Back Spin confident, and walk out with another win.
Prediction: 5-2 Tourney Pool
8pm - Straightshots (0-1) @ 8 Ball Scratch (0-1)
Location: And Far Away
Last Week: Pool Legends def. Straightshots 7-0 / True Pool Legends def. 8 Ball Scratch 4-3
Watch List: ss_superstar.xxx & 8bs_dan_poolman
Outlook: Quite interesting week 1 for both teams. In a dull match which saw a HEAVY dose of over-safetying by PL, SS stumbled out of the gate, fell down, broke their ankles and were euthanized on the table by a score of 7-0. 8BS, on the otherhand, gave TPL everything they could handle and more, in a match in which 8bs_s_n_o_o_k_3_d botched a fairly easy 8 ball shot in game 7 vs Craig (tpl_seven_ball3d), which would've given the underdogs THEE upset of week 1. I think SS is ripe for the taking this week, and 8BS has a great chance of picking up their first ever MLP win.
Prediction: 4-3 8 Ball Scratch
-Wednesday Night-
6pm - Magic Pool (0-1) @ Luckyshots (0-1)
Location: Sweet Dreams
Last Week: Tourney Pool def. Magic Pool 5-2 / Poolfiction def. Luckyshots 5-2
Watch List: mp_xlx_skill_xlx & ls_the.bawbag
Outlook: This match pits two teams coming off of rough first weeks. In one corner, MP got absolutely spanked in my week 1 "Upset Special" - apparently Cinderella forgot both of her glass slippers before even showing up to the ball. Thanks for letting me down guys! In the other corner - ls_brutalbutlucky had his tape DQ'd after his timestamp fell off in a game which would've saw LS take a 3-2 lead on the defending champs. All hell ensued following this, resulting in some unpleasant exchanges between players from both teams. LS impressed me more last week than MP did, so I'm taking them to escape from this match with the victory. Being the home team should be enough for them to scrape out 4 wins.
Prediction: 4-3 Luckyshots
Last Week: United Pool def. Cheapshotz 4-3 / Devine Cuez def. Pool Loverz 7-0
Watch List: cz_trumpsterized & pz_infatuation_xxx
Outlook: Quite the coincidence on the room name, PZ, because you're not lucky at all. You're about to run into a freight train. A pissed off freight train. Unfortunately for PZ, they're stuck on the tracks and arn't going to find a way off quick enough. After losing in game 7 to UP last week, Ben/Josh and the boys will be out looking for revenge. If they can calm the ego's on that team in time for this match, they might just have a clean sheet. It sucks, but PZ should probably start looking ahead to week 3.
Prediction: 7-0 Cheapshotz.
-Tuesday Night-
7pm - Tourney Pool (1-0) @ Pool Pals (0-1)
Location: Back Spin
Last Week: Tourney Pool def. Magic Pool 5-2 / Extreme Cues def. Pool Pals 4-3
Watch List: tp_kingvaughan & pp_platinumghost
Outlook: So, TP escaped the "Upset of the Week" match unscathed. In all fairness, they were never in trouble the entire match against MP. During the week, TP picked up an elite shooter in ckp_superstaaaar (Matt). If he gets accustomed to TP's "old-school" philosophy of only representing the league if you stay active in it, he'll end up complimenting this team quite nicely over the course of the season. With or without him this week, TP should walk into Back Spin confident, and walk out with another win.
Prediction: 5-2 Tourney Pool
8pm - Straightshots (0-1) @ 8 Ball Scratch (0-1)
Location: And Far Away
Last Week: Pool Legends def. Straightshots 7-0 / True Pool Legends def. 8 Ball Scratch 4-3
Watch List: ss_superstar.xxx & 8bs_dan_poolman
Outlook: Quite interesting week 1 for both teams. In a dull match which saw a HEAVY dose of over-safetying by PL, SS stumbled out of the gate, fell down, broke their ankles and were euthanized on the table by a score of 7-0. 8BS, on the otherhand, gave TPL everything they could handle and more, in a match in which 8bs_s_n_o_o_k_3_d botched a fairly easy 8 ball shot in game 7 vs Craig (tpl_seven_ball3d), which would've given the underdogs THEE upset of week 1. I think SS is ripe for the taking this week, and 8BS has a great chance of picking up their first ever MLP win.
Prediction: 4-3 8 Ball Scratch
-Wednesday Night-
6pm - Magic Pool (0-1) @ Luckyshots (0-1)
Location: Sweet Dreams
Last Week: Tourney Pool def. Magic Pool 5-2 / Poolfiction def. Luckyshots 5-2
Watch List: mp_xlx_skill_xlx & ls_the.bawbag
Outlook: This match pits two teams coming off of rough first weeks. In one corner, MP got absolutely spanked in my week 1 "Upset Special" - apparently Cinderella forgot both of her glass slippers before even showing up to the ball. Thanks for letting me down guys! In the other corner - ls_brutalbutlucky had his tape DQ'd after his timestamp fell off in a game which would've saw LS take a 3-2 lead on the defending champs. All hell ensued following this, resulting in some unpleasant exchanges between players from both teams. LS impressed me more last week than MP did, so I'm taking them to escape from this match with the victory. Being the home team should be enough for them to scrape out 4 wins.
Prediction: 4-3 Luckyshots
***Match of the Week***
7pm - True Pool Legends (1-0) @ United Pool (1-0)
Location: Back Somersault
Last Week: True Pool Legends def. 8 Ball Scratch 4-3 / United Pool def. Cheapshotz 4-3
Watch List: tpl_hornypom & up_l_ketan_l
Outlook: Intriguing match-up here. The so-called "powerhouse" TPL team got taken to 7 games last week by - who? 8 Ball Scratch? Seriously? And UP beat pre-season conference favourites CZ on the road? Surely, this match will be no contest? Not so fast. TPL absolutely decimated UP in PLC last week against the exact same team that UP defeated CZ (matches were both played at the same time). It was 4-0 TPL in that match before UP registered off 3 straight with wins from Candi (pool.chicky), Ste (hornyscots) (on a bad tape from Day (h2o.0nly) - timestamp) and Pete (king.2068). You know Ketan and his gang will be out looking for revenge, and there is a tiny bit of bad blood between the 2 sides after UP defeated TPL in the PLC Championship match last season. It's going to be a fantastic match to watch, and and even better one to be apart of. As much as I hate predicting my own side to win a close match...
Prediction: 4-3 True Pool Legends in a match that lives up to its hype
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-Thursday Night-
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7pm - Dreampool (1-0) @ Poolfiction (1-0)
Location: Bad Times
Last Week: Dreampool def. Break and Run 4-3 / Poolfiction def. Luckyshots 5-2
Watch List: dp_xsoubanhx & pfn_xlx_ogges_xlx
Outlook: Two unbeaten teams. Only one of them can stay that way. It's clearly PFN, right? I'm not gunna fall of my rocker and do something crazy like predict DP to upset them...am I? Ha - you actually thought I was, didnt you! God, I'm not that stupid. Basically, Pita is DP's best bet at picking up a win in this match, and in a bo7, one win isn't going to move you anywhere but down with respect to the standings. However, I get the sneaky suspicion this match is going to appear closer in the end than it actually was - always seems to happen that way in MLP.
Prediction: 4-3 Poolfiction
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***Upset Special***
9pm - Pool Legends (1-0) @ Devine Cuez (1-0)
Location: Advanced Lounge
Last Week: Pool Legends def. Straightshots 7-0 / Devine Cuez def. Pool Loverz 7-0
Watch List: pl_sexxxy_luckydog17 & dc_s0.godly
Outlook: What a way to end the week. Two teams with completely perfect records! Now, in my opinion, DC is more of a "running squad." While PL...well - they're PL - we know that they know how to snooker and about the only tables I've ever seen them run are ones when their opponent has 1 or less balls on it. It'll be a "Tale-of-Two Styles," if you will. So how does DC pull off the upset? This will be a match where they have to pick their spots - going toe-to-toe w/ a PL'er in a snooker match isn't something I'd recommend, so when they get a chance to run a table out or run-break - they have take it. Most importantly, make the PL player work for his/her win. Like I said, I've yet to see someone from PL try to run a table that has 10 or more balls on it. Secondly, they have to get 4 wins in 6 games. We all know Jase is playing game 7 and I don't know of any DC'ers with a snooker game quite up to par with his. If DC can keep these 2 things in mind, I might actually get one of these damn Upset Specials right, yet.
Prediction: 4-3 Devine Cuez
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That does it for week 2! Good luck everyone in tonight's BLT and we'll see ya at the tables this week. As always, feel free to leave a comment at the bottom and voice your opinion -in a pleasant manner preferably - with my picks for the week. Take Care!
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Last Week: 5-3 Overall: 5-3
