Happy new year everyone! Firstly just want to thank those that have, for voting in the poll again. I think it was a good idea of Ruddys to set it up again with only the 2 options. At the moment it is all tied up with 5 votes each! Next vote wins???  Nah, it all depends when I can get on the net, and who is in front at the time.

Wow, Owen has made a statement! The highest score in the league this round, from only 40 games played, including just the one game from his best player - Rajon Rondo! Run TMC are definitely shaping up as the team to beat. On top of the points for ladder by almost 400 points! And leading the league with a 8 and 1 record, equal with Jasmine. Well done Owen! I dont play you until the 2nd last week, so hopefully you have top spot sewn up by then, or something, and take it easy on me. :lol:

Down the other end of the ladder: Last week there were 4 teams on either 4 or 5 game losing streaks, and 3 of those teams had a win this week - Leaving Steve in 3rd last place, on a 6 game losing streak.Well done to DSK, UAs and Stowie for notching up your first wins in a while!

As Steve has made the most trades in the league, I thought it would be interesting to compare his original squad with what his output has actually been. If Steve had have stuck with his original players that he drafted, he would be on 8509 points; whereas he has actually scored 8476 points. So there is not a great deal of difference there, especially considering his points against is 9891 - the 4th worst in the league. But he would have been able to grab a few players from FAs to cover injuries, and things may have been a lot different. I have to publicly admit that your honesty, Steve, did not help you, in a way. I have already revealed this to you in an email a while ago, that the only reason Derrick Rose was on my radar in the draft, was because you rated him as a potential top 10 pick. I was lucky enough to have a pick 2 spots before your 2nd pick, and I was even luckier Rose dropped that low. Afterward, you said to me that you had your eyes on rose for that pick, and then, when I grabbed him at 35 you were planning to draft Westbrook - who then went at 36; leaving you to rush into picking up Paul Pierce - who has scored about 500 points less than both those other two. Its a shame that your honesty came back to bite you - if you had not have mentioned Rose pre-season, he (or Westbrook) may have been available at your 2nd pick, and things could be quite different. Funny how one player could make such a difference - but these 2 players are currently top 7 in the league, by our points system. Anyway, I dont think there is any moral to all this, about withholding knowledge or whatever. The main reason I  am mentioning it (apart from being interesting), is that I believe Steve should be commended for being so honest and upfront with his knowledge and advice. Thanks Steve!

Im gonna get straight into the reviews and previews now - over the break:::::::::::::<!--more-->

Matchup 9 reviews:

<a title="Team Stowie (Daniel Stow)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=8&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Team Stowie[/url] 1040 v <a title="Doobia Dominators (Andrew Dubowik)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=20&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Doobia Dominators[/url] 684

Stowie is back! After starting the season with 3 wins, and then having to endure 5 losses in a row - Stowie is finally back in the winners column. Stowie had an impressive 5 players in the 100s, and another 3 players in the 90s! His best - once again - was J-Smoove on 159, who he has just traded away. While Doobs had just the one player above 100 - Bosh with 131

<a title="Pikus United (Adam Ziegler)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=9&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Pikus United[/url] 870 v <a title="Run TMC (Owen Beebe)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=19&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Run TMC[/url] 1231

PU actually put up another good score this week - outscoring 4 other teams! But as predicted [not that i went out on a limb or anything :lol: ] Run TMC were too good, and finished with the top score of the week once again. Owen finished with 6 players over 100, with 3 of them over 150! His best was Dorrell Wright on 199. PU had 4 players over 100, with Curry their best on 159.

<a title="Kings of Karlos (Sean Minetti)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=10&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Kings of Karlos[/url] 1127 v <a title="Dannys Lebronts (Danny Smith)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=18&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Dannys Lebronts[/url] 882

Another great win to Karlos! Danny10 was on the verge of matching Owens record streak of 6 wins, but Karlos obviously didnt want any part of that. Karlos had a whopping 7 players score a ton; however all scored less than - [obviously] his best, Evans (who had) - a very low 129. Danny10 had a bad week for the first time in a while, with only 3 players over 100 - Lebron scoring 155, but the other two less than 110.

<a title="Stevos Nuggets (Stephen Nilsson)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=12&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Stevo’s Nuggets[/url] 850 v <a title="Fudges Sixers (Jim Tsilikas)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=16&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Fudge’s Sixers[/url] 1067

Fudge is doing well now. After losing the first 5 games of the season, this win now makes it 4 on the trot, and only 1 game back from the 8! I tipped Steve, mainly due to the games available to his team during the week, compared to Fudge, and despite Steve having the edge in that department - by 8 games - Fudge finished the winner by a margin of more than 200 points. Steve finished with 2 players over 100, and Camby shrugged off his injuries to top score on 138. While Fudge had 5 players over 100, with Aldridge pumping out 235 to lead the team!

<a title="Ruddys Cavaliers (Peter Rudd)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=14&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Ruddy’s Cavaliers[/url] 932 v <a title="Wade Machine (Daniel Laengst)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=15&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Wade Machine[/url] 980

Impressive win from Dan, considering that big Dirk went down with an injury in the 1st game of the week - after only 12 min of that game. Even though I tipped against Dan, I would have thought, that if he was to win, that Dirks 5 games would have been the difference in this matchup... but he did it without him. Well done Dan! Ruddy had 4 players over 100, Nash his best on 160. And Dan finished on 4 players over 100, with Wade having a huge week of 192 points.

<a href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=1&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_blank">Team anthak[/url] 1212 v <a title="Team Fezkat (Kristian Collins)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=17&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Team Fezkat[/url] 756

Wow, what a win! If I must say so myself. :lol: A 450 point win against a team that had won as many games as they had lost from their first 8 games is fairly impressive on face value - but in reality, injuries hit Fez more than me, which resulted in my team having 13 more games played over the week. But I also need to add that my squad averaged more fpts per game than Fezs :lol: haha. Anyway, my mob had 7 players finish over 100, with Zach Randolph the best on 211. While Fez had 3 players over 100, and they all scored over 150 - New recruit, Jrue Holiday top scored on 172.

<a title="Too Seriouseses (Les Wales)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=2&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Too Seriouseses[/url] 1037 v <a title="Team HEAVER! (David Tong)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=13&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Team HEAVER![/url] 1134

Well DeShawn Stevenson didnt end up to be the inspired choice I predicted ... but it didnt matter in the end, with Heaver doing enough to get over the line against Walesy. Stevenson scored a total of -3 in his two games for Heaver, before being dropped to the waivers mid week. Walesy had 4 players over 100 with another 2 in the 90s; Billups was his best on 178. Heaver also had 4 players over 100, but only 1 in the 90s. Westbrook was his best with 181. What this game probably came down to, was the 4 extra games played by Heavers team; or the 4 players Heaver had in the 80s, compared to just the 1 from Walesy.

<a title="Team El Bonanzas (Al Lee)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=3&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Team El Bonanzas[/url] 495 v <a title="Under Achievers (Richard Chambers)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=11&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Under Achievers[/url] 1188

What a week for UAs to put up this kinda score! So many times this season, people have scored huge against Elbonanzas and Pikus United... when its not necessary. On the back of a massive 268 point week from Jason Kidd, UAs scored the 3rd highest score for the round - when the 2nd worst would have done! :lol: As well as Kidd, UAs had another 3 players with centuries; while Elbonz had 3 of his players score over 100 - Deng and Gay were equal best with 116 each.

<a title="Adelaide Maggots (Cameron Sears)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=4&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Adelaide Maggots[/url] 1077 v <a title="Do Something Knicks (Chris Riches, Steve Smith)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=7&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Do Something Knicks[/url] 1104

Chris, you said i shouldnt have tipped you again, as you keep disappointing...  but you didnt this week! A big final day - led by 61 fpts from Paul Pierce - saw DSK jump in front at the last minute to win their first game in over a month. Pierce was DSKs best for the week, with 209 points, and they had another 2 players over 100, and 4 stranded in the 90s. Chris Paul smashed out a massive triple century of 305 points, and Cameron had another 3 players over 100.

<a title="Jasmines Mob (Jasmine Johnson)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=5&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Jasmine’s Mob[/url] 1091 v <a title="Westside Hardcore (Michael Walters)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=6&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Westside Hardcore[/url] 1009

This game certainly lived up to expectations - high scoring, and went down to the wire! Well it finished with a margin less than 100 points, but that was only due to Micka outscoring Jasmine on both of the last 2 days. Both teams had 4 players over 100; however Mickas best was Parker with 132, and jasmine had 3 players over 150, with Ellis the best on 174. Despite riding the Waiver wire, Micka finished on 3 less games played than Jasmine; however he finished up picking up two good rookies in Hayward and Turner who look to be in a bit of good form at the minute.

Now the Matchup 10 previews:

<a href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=1&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_blank">Team anthak[/url] (7-2) v <a title="Team Stowie (Daniel Stow)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=8&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Team Stowie[/url] (4-5)

If I win this one, I match Owens record winning streak - so Im pumped for this, but im not feeling entirely confident... Still gotta tip Team anthak to win.

<a title="Too Seriouseses (Les Wales)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=2&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Too Seriouseses[/url] (5-4) v <a title="Pikus United (Adam Ziegler)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=9&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Pikus United[/url] (0-9)

PU continue to do alright, but Too Seriouseses to win easily.

<a title="Team El Bonanzas (Al Lee)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=3&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Team El Bonanzas[/url] (0-9) v <a title="Kings of Karlos (Sean Minetti)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=10&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Kings of Karlos[/url] (7-2)

Kings of Karlos to notch up another win!

<a title="Adelaide Maggots (Cameron Sears)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=4&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Adelaide Maggots[/url] (4-5) v <a title="Stevos Nuggets (Stephen Nilsson)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=12&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Stevos Nuggets[/url] (2-7)

I have a feeling this will be the week Steve snaps the losing streak. But gotta tip Adelaide Maggots.

<a title="Jasmines Mob (Jasmine Johnson)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=5&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Jasmines Mob[/url] (8-1) v <a title="Ruddys Cavaliers (Peter Rudd)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=14&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Ruddys Cavaliers[/url] (4-5)

Ruddy has been doing a lot better of late; however Jasmines Mob hasnt let up all season, and I have to tip them.

<a title="Westside Hardcore (Michael Walters)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=6&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Westside Hardcore[/url] (5-4) v <a title="Wade Machine (Daniel Laengst)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=15&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Wade Machine[/url] (5-4)

Tough game to choose this one! haha :lol: Evan Turner to get Westside Hardcore over the line.

<a title="Do Something Knicks (Chris Riches, Steve Smith)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=7&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Do Something Knicks[/url] (3-6) v <a title="Fudges Sixers (Jim Tsilikas)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=16&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Fudges Sixers[/url] (4-5)

A revitalised Do Something Knicks to win in a close one.

<a title="Under Achievers (Richard Chambers)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=11&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Under Achievers[/url] (2-7) v <a title="Dannys Lebronts (Danny Smith)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=18&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Dannys Lebronts[/url] (7-2)

These 2 teams are at opposite ends of the ladder, but on last weeks form Under Achievers should win...

<a title="Team HEAVER! (David Tong)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=13&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Team HEAVER![/url] (7-2) v <a title="Run TMC (Owen Beebe)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=19&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Run TMC[/url] (8-1)

Match of the round! Top two teams on the points for ladder! I think Heaver has improved his team after the recent trade, but I dont think it will be enough to beat Run TMC.

<a title="Team Fezkat (Kristian Collins)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=17&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Team Fezkat[/url] (4-5) v <a title="Doobia Dominators (Andrew Dubowik)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=20&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Doobia Dominators[/url] (4-5)

Very tough to pick...  not really sure at all. but gonna pick Team Fezkat to get back to a 50% record.