With the (fantasy) playoffs only a few weeks away, we have our first teams that have dropped out of the race - after losses this week, Team Fezkat, Team Stowie and Doobia Dominators are all out of the playoffs equation; however they all can still obviously have a big influence in who does make the playoffs!

Matchup 16 was a big round! 14 days in total; including the All Star weekend; including the trade deadline; and including some huge matches in our league. Fudge, Chris & Smitty and Walesy all beat teams above them to keep their finals hopes alive - and the Sixers and DSK both put up massive scores to get the job done in close games!

I want to point out to everyone that our trade deadline is fast approaching!! All trades need to be proposed AND ACCEPTED prior to 7am Melbourne time on Thursday. There were a heap of trades leading up to the NBA trade deadline - I wonder if ours will play out the same? There was one today between Fez and Steve (JJ for Hickson) which was a good start...

Over the break I will have the usual reviews and previews; however I have also included the run home for the teams pushing for the last few playoff spots::::::

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Ill start with the run home. There are only 3 rounds remaining - there are the 3 aforementioned teams that cannot make it (as well as the two bye teams); and 3 teams that have playoff spots sewn up (Run TMC, Kings of Karlos, and Jasmines Mob); I also highly doubt that Heaver and Micka will miss, so I will not include them here. I will now list all 10 other teams (in order of their current ranking) and who they have in the run home:

Team anthak (10-6): Dannys Lebronts, Run TMC, Doobia Dominators (should win at least 1, but probably 2)

Wade Machine (9-7): Team Heaver, Under Achievers, Do Something Knicks (should win at least 1 game, but that might be it - looks to be a massive final game)

Fudges Sixers (9-7): Team Fezkat, Team Heaver, Under Achievers (Likely to win 2 of these games, and maybe all 3 in their current form)

Do Something Knicks (9-7): Stevos Nuggets, Ruddys Cavaliers, Wade Machine (All winable games. As I have already said - the last game will be huge)

Ruddys Cavaliers (8-8): Under Achievers, Do Something Knicks, Westside Hardcore (mathematically needs to win at least one, and 1 is all that is likely)

Too Seriouseses (8-8): Run TMC, Doobia Dominators, Team Stowie (Should get 2 wins which may be enough)

Dannys Lebronts (8-8): Team anthak, Team Fezkat, Team Heaver (The way they have been going, cant see another W for this mob)

Stevos Nuggets (8-8): Do Something Knicks, Westside Hardcore, Jasmines Mob (May find it hard to get another win. (In AFL talk 8 point game this week!)

Adelaide Maggots (7-9): Team Stowie, Pikus United, Kings of Karlos (Probably needs to win all 3. And should win 2, but 3rd will be tough)

Under Achievers (6-10): Ruddys Cavaliers, Wade Machine, Fudges Sixers (only the slimmest of chances to still make it, and all 3 games against other teams fighting for the last couple of spots - cant see it happening)

Now for the matchup 16 reviews:

(Heaps of individual scores over 100, so just listing the best for each team)

Team anthak 1782 v Fudge’s Sixers 1794
I have to say that this was probably the match of the round! Had it all - Huge scores, close finish, dramas, injuries, DNPCDs, lead changes!! Was awesome. Probably my most fun match of the season! After some massive scores by some players (Z-Bo and Curry) on the final day, and some shockers (Durant and Iggy) - it all came down to Lamarcus Aldridge needing 17 fpoints to get the win for Fudge; He came off injured at one point with the Sixers still shy of the lead, but he returned in a herculean effort to get the points required for the win - which left me as the highest ranked loser once again (2 weeks in a row). Top scorers were Zach Randolph with 265 from 5 games; and Lamarcus Aldridge with 281 from 5.

Too Seriouseses 1349 v Dannys Lebronts 1073
Looks like Danny10 didnt front up again, which made for a fairly easy win for Walesy. Billups top scored for Walesy with 196 from 5 games, and Lebron was best for Danny10 with 325 from 6.

Team El Bonanzas 0 v Run TMC 1908
Highest score of the round with 1908! Strangely a lot of teams tend to save the best for Elbonanzas and Pikus United?? Both those teams are conceding the most points - and there is daylight between them and Fudge, who has the next worst D. Owen has shown once again that he is gonna take some beating!!!  His top scorer this week was Al Jefferson with 290 from 5 games.

Adelaide Maggots 1583 v Doobia Dominators 1155
Doobs was in front at the break, but Cameron ran away with it in the end - winning 5 of the last 6 days! Cameron had 4 players score over 200! His best being Garnett with 227 from only 4 games; While Doobs had only Bosh above 200, with 231 from 6 games.

Jasmine’s Mob 1554 v Team Stowie 1361
Mixed emotions after this match = This result has confirmed a playoff spot for Jasmine , and put Stowie out of the running completely !  Was a hard fought match with the margin fairly close throughout. But Jasmine was the more consistent and had a good enough lead to withhold Stowies final day (last ditch) charge. Top scorers were Deron Williams for Jasmine with 221 from 4; and Salmons for Stowie with 200 from 5.

Westside Hardcore 1662 v Pikus United 0
Micka has moved onto 7 wins in a row now, and is challenging for the Dirk Diggler trophy. His best this week was Greg Monroe with 263 from 6.

Do Something Knicks 1718 v Kings of Karlos 1652
Very very very close to the match of the round! Definitely the biggest upset! Karlos hasnt looked like losing for a long time, but after shoring up a playoff spot last week, may have taken their foot off the pedal and have lost to DSK in a high scoring cliff hanger! Just kidding of course (about taking foot off), cant take anything away from DSK, as it was a mighty effort to get up here - and the win has them well placed to grab one of the final playoff spots now. Top scorers were Will Bynum for DSK with 211 from 6 games; and Dwight Howard with a massive 293 from only 4 games for Karlos.

Under Achievers 1303 v Stevo’s Nuggets 1409
Both teams desperately needed a win to stay within reach of the playoffs. Was really closely fought - both teams putting in the effort that this type of game deserved. UAs led at the break 532 to 423; and then Steve came out firing, doubling UAs on the first day after the break 144 to 72, and then winning the next as well. Surprisingly, both teams followed this up with a scoreless day on Feb24th, before Steve again fired up to win the next day 279 to 150 which put him in front and up by 117 points with 2 days to go. UAs musnt have been happy to lose the lead for the first time since way back on Day2, and smashed Steve on the penultimate day to grab the lead back, and it wasnt a small one. Steve had to win the final day by 54 points and he did it easily! Great game fellas! Unfortunately the loser will probably not see any playoff action now . The top scorers were Kidd for UAs with 230 from 5 games; and Wall for Steve with 209 from 5 games.


Team HEAVER! 1646 v Ruddy’s Cavaliers 1526
Another game that changed after the break. Ruddy led this one at the break, albeit by a very small margin, but only won 2 of the remaining 6 days play to lose by just over 100 points overall. Another good win to Heaver, who keeps getting the job done week in week out - and looks a likely contender for the championship! Top scorers were Kevin Love with 333 from 6 games for Heaver, and Pau Gasol for Ruddy with 316 from 6 games.

Team Fezkat 1537 v Wade Machine 1743
I tipped Wade Machine for the first time this season and I got it right! I probably should think about doing it again! Was a very close game - much closer than I thought it would be actually. No offence Fez - Dan has built a pretty formidable outfit, and as long as he can keep his players healthy and on the court, I reckon he is a big chance to go deep into the playoffs! Unfortunately this game spelt the end for Team Fezkat . The best scorers were Holiday for fez with 225 from 5 games; and Wade with 320 from 6 games for Dan.

Matchup 18 preview:

Back to a 7 day week again!

<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] (8-8) v <a title="Team anthak (Anthony Hack)" href="http://games.espn.go.com/fba/clubhouse?leagueId=23530&amp;teamId=1&amp;seasonId=2011" target="_top">Team anthak[/url] (10-6)

Danny10 left his team in Lebrons hands some time ago. Unless he comes back this week, it should be a pretty easy win for Team anthak.

<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] (14-2) v <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] (8-8)

Big game for Walesy! But I cant see him getting up with Run TMC white hot at the moment.

<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] (5-11) v <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] (0-16)

Doobia Dominators of course.

<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] (5-11) v <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] (7-9)

Maybe the pressure being lifted may help Stowie, but Im tipping Adelaide Maggots as they have been good this year and desperately need to win.

<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] (0-16) v <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] (12-4)

Jasmines Mob have the same record as a couple of others still with a chance to miss the playoffs - but this win guarantees her place.

<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] (13-3) 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] (12-4)

Big game! 2 of our top teams fighting it out! But more importantly - after Karlos loss last round, his winning streak came to an end on 10 wins. And Micka has the best chance to match that feat, as they currently have the best streak in the league of 7 wins. So the Dirk Diggler trophy may come down to this game. Im tipping Westside Hardcore.

<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] (8-8) 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] (9-7)

Another massive game! DSK hot off a great win over Karlos. But with their backs to the wall, Im tipping Stevos Nuggets to keep their slim playoff hopes alive!

<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] (8-8) 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] (6-10)

UAs needs to win all 3 remaining games to have any hope of making the playoffs, but I cant see it happening. The pressure will be too much and Ruddys Cavaliers should do enough for the W.

<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] (9-7) 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] (12-4)

Think Im gonna tip Wade Machine again. Ive got the hang of it now.

<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] (9-7) 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] (5-11)

Cant go past Fudges Sixers after watching them up close this past fortnight. Super impressive!

One last thing - But far from the least important! Congratulations to Chris88 on the arrival of his new child during the last matchup! Well done mate! You must be glad that you have a co-GM to help out