Sunday, September 07, 2008
Week Number Nine Preview
Kicking off the week, Lucky Shots look to follow up on a major upset last week knocking off Pool Fiction, as they play Magic Pool. Magic Pool sits steady at 4-4 alongside Elite Pool Legendz, Lucky Shots comes in at 3-5 and only needs a win to tie for at least 5th, possibly 4th. I think LS has a good thing going right now, and so long as MP tries to rely on guys like K202 to get the job done, he'll continue to damage them long-term, and Magic Pool is flirting, very dangerously if they lose this match, with avoiding a first round exit in the Playoffs - they won't have to worry about playing at all. Look for Lucky Shots to win this one, 5-2 as well.
Elsewhere on Monday night, United Pool takes on True Pool Legends in the battle for 2nd place in the American League. Both teams sit at 6-2, only one game ahead of 4th and 5th in the AL, one game behind Pool Legends at #1. TPL's Ryan has constantly said: United Pool is not that good. How are they [X record?] Well, they force the issue. As a whole, United Pool is not a typical snooker-first team, and they come right at you and make you decide earlier than you'd like to, what to do with the table. They've lost a couple in a row now, and that was after getting forced into a decisive 7th game against Wasted Shotz before Pascal bailed them out. I'll give Dazed the benefit of the doubt, and side with him. United Pool is dangerous, but overall I think TPL is better on average, I'll take TPL to win it this time, 4-3.
On Tuesday night, Break And Run's absolute last hurrah. They sit at 1-7, they're 2 games behind 6th place Lucky Shots. They're 3 games behind 5th place Elite Pool Legendz. If they can win this match, their season still has a tiny glimmer of hope. Pull within potentially one game of 6th if MP upsets LS, 2 games of EPL if they can pull off the upset... Their guys need to actually believe their season is still alive. They need to show up in full force and even then, I don't like their chances all too much. Could come down to a mental battle if it gets close, EPL will run their mouths if it does, might get flustered. It won't get all that close though. BNR gives them a scare, but Elite Pool Legendz comes out with a 5-2 win, and Break And Run is officially laid to rest.
Devine Cuez are tied for 4th place at 5-3. Yes, 4th and 5th places in the American League are FIVE WINS, THREE LOSSES. Best top 5 in one Conference MLP has seen in a while. You actually have to be, y'know, good to make the Playoffs up there. DC deals with #1 Pool Legends, and last time these two met... PL was much, much sharper mentally. They played their game, DC's players got antsy, it affected their games, they played terrible and were lucky not to get swept. I think it'll be more of the same. Pool Legends, simply better. Jason has a few guys that he can use against Lewis, they'll slow things down, they'll annoy DC again, and win 5-2 or 6-1.
Thursday night, Pool Loverz and Cheap Shotz. PZ has at least a hint of momentum and the ability to potentially play spoiler, but don't get fooled. It's still Pool Loverz, this is Cheap Shotz, and yes DC beat CZ 6-1 the first time around... But Cheap Shotz is better than Devine Cuez, and won't need a game 7 forfeit to bail them out. Cheap Shotz win big Thursday night, and yes I'll call it 6-1 again, outside chance of a sweep.
MATCH OF THE WEEK
I'm always hesitant to write a lot about a PFN match, because of the whole conflict of interest crap. However, this is a match for #1 in the National League, and it should be close. Easily the MOTW here in Week 9. I actually think Pool Fiction is vulnerable against Dream Pool this week. You saw last week what happens when they don't have the big guns in a 7v7 format. 5v5 you can get away with it, add 2 games and it gets really tough. Depth is everything in MLP. It's how things work. Dream Pool actually won 5 games out of 7 against PFN in PLC. Of course there were 2 Cam DQs and there could've been 2 more, as DP was caught coaching on YM (borderline, but it was still coaching.) So if they're stupid enough to do all that on Cam, in an all-Cam Interleague... You know that and more goes on, and I think I'm with everyone else just waiting for someone to spill the beans. But as long as this is the regular season, the team is still dangerous. Ash has slipped up a lot lately in interleagues. Lately it has been all on guys like sal bianca, cooldaddy, etc. to carry the load. Pool Fiction, straight up, is better. They jumped ahead 4-0 last time, DP won 3 junk games. This time, I think it'll be a lot closer. In fact, I'll go bold and actually take Dream Pool to take over #1 in the National League. They win the nightcap on Thursday night, 4-3.
