Weekly Forecast -- Week 3

Note: I'll revisit Week 2's forecast, and do a little recapping tomorrow.

odensque vs. Les Digits

General: This could be a tricky matchup for Les Digits - they've been a low-scoring team, with strengths in some of the specialty categories and very low negatives. Odensque is the same way, and the lack of J-Smoove may cripple their efforts in BLK and STL - and will contribute to an overall game advantage for odensque.

Injuries: Smoove, T-Thom, and Manu are out for Les Digits. Battier remains out for odensque.

Categories:

odensque should win 3s, BLK, FT%, FGM

Les Digits should win PTS, FTM, AST

Toss ups -- OREB, DREB, STL, PF, TO, FG%

 (Les Digits' Billups)

What to watch for: Odensque still has a lot of dead weight (Bayless, Jaric, Darko), and underperformers in Brand and Marion. Those two need to step up on the boards this week. I'll be looking to see which B-Miller we get this year (14/10/6 tonight bodes well). Also, Rip might be suffering from AI's arrival.

Chauncey's looked good for the Nuggets, and Les Digit's two Hawks (Marvin and Horford) are looking better. Only two games from A-Jam this week, which could be costly. As seems to be becoming the custom, Shaq may be the wildcard. He's put up some amazing lines, but may sit out back to back's.

Fearless Prediction: As you can see, there are a lot of Toss Ups. Les Digits has shown a great deal of heart thus far, and we think the rebounders (Horford, T-Murph, Boone) will step up:   Final Score: Les Digits 8 - odensque 6

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The Later Hosens vs. play my$hkin flute

General: This looks like a classic Big (my$hkin) vs. Small (hosen) battle. Both teams have a lot of games...and a lot of question marks. The negatives may well be decisive.

Injuries: Dunleavy and (it seems) K-Mart are hurting for my$hkin. The Hosen are mostly healthy except for Oden (Barnes should be back after his childbirth).

Categories:

Hosens should win PTS, FGM 3s, AST, FT%

my$hkin should win FG%, BLK, OREB, DREB

Toss ups -- TO, PF, FTM, STL

(my$hkin's OJ Mayo)

What to watch for: What happened to Leandro and Wilcox? They've been terrible...Will AI find his form in DET?...There are G-Wallace trade rumors - are they for real? O J Mayo poured in 31 tonight - if he can produce,my$hkin could really benefit. Nene has been a beast.

The Hosen have another 4 BOS/4 IND game week, but tonight, KG had 8pts, PP 7, and T-Mac 3. That's unbelievable!...B-Wright is still an open question, and Rafer isn't doing much yet. D-Granger is awesome, and is really keeping the Hosen afloat...

An interesting dynamic - if Dunleavy were to return for a game, not only would my$hkin benefit, the Hosen would suffer, as Marquis would not continue to produce at an elite level.

Fearless Prediction:  Final Score: The Later Hosens 9 - my$hkin 6

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Nor'Easter vs. garbage speakers

General: Nor'Easter has 4 games from all their top players, and should only be worried by some key injuries. On the other hand, G.S. has only two games from Camby and C-But, and only 3 from BronBron and Biedrins. Will the Speakers set their lineup for the first time?

Injuries: For Nor'Easter, Parker's out a month, C-Maggs is day to day, as is Devin Harris - and Monta's out for a while, still. For the Speakers, F-Garc is still out, and A-Daniels is day to day.

Categories:

Nor'Easter should win PTS, OREB, DREB, AST, FTM, FGM, FG%

the Speakers should win TO, PF, FT%

Toss ups -- 3s, BLK, STL

(Speakers' Nocioni)

What to watch for: For the Speakers, Hawes will likely be less useful, and McDyess apparently won't play for a while. Marcus Williams might start getting time in Golden State, which could help, and Nocioni is stepping up for the Bulls.

Maxiell and Blatche haven't been very productive for Nor'Easter, and Bogut may be a bit of a disappointment thus far. Nick Young is a source of some excitement though, but with only 2 games will be hard to evaluate this week

Fearless Prediction:  Too many Nor'Easter games, and similar strengths make this a likely blowout - Final Score: Nor'Easter 11 - Garbage Speakers 3

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tsaogrip 2000 vs. Mongoose

General: Mongoose is still suffering from the injury to D-Will, and 2 games from B-Dizzle this week compounds the problem. Nagging injuries may have an impact on tsaogrip (Redd, Howard), but even in a 3 CP3 week, tsaogrip should dominate this week IF he sets his lineup, unlike Week 2.

Injuries: Howard and Redd are D2D for tsaogrip. D-Will (and Martell, if anyone cares) remain out for the Geese.

Categories:

tsaogrip 2000 should win PTS, 3s, DREB, AST, STL, FTM, FGM, FT%

Mongoose should win TO

Toss ups -- FG%, PF, BLK, OREB

(tsaogrip's W-Chand)

What to watch for: Tsaogrip is surely thrilled by the play of Q-Rich and W-Chand. Prince seems to be benefitting from AI's arrival, and even Felton showed signs of life. On the downside, Baby Al's situation remains unresolved, Finley seems to have lost his starting job to Roger Mason (though the Parker injury my change things), and B-Diaw is incosistent at best.

Fearless Prediction: I can't see Mongoose competing this week with so few games (2 for Kaman/Davis, 3 for Bynum/Gay/S-Jax) Final Score: Tsaogrip 10 - Mongoose 5

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thenopp vs. The Lovin' Spoonful

General: The Spoonful has been putting up points in bunches all season, and that shouldn't change in week 3 with 4 games from D-Wade and Li'l K-Mart. Only 3 games from Bosh and Emeka, and decreasing production from D-Lee could give thenopp an edge in the Big Man Cats.Thenopp has only 3 games from Kobe and Yao, however, and will need big weeks from JamsCraw and Z-Bo to prevail.

Injuries: The only injury is Gilberte for thenopp. (Kirk Hinrich, out for 3 months, has been summarily dropped).

Categories:

thenopp should win 3s, PF, DREB

The Lovin' Spoonful should win PTS, FGM, FTM, AST, STL

Toss ups -- FG%, FT%, OREB, BLK, TO

(thenopp's Kleiza - artist unknown)

What to watch for: Jermaine has continued to struggle in TOR, and production has been less than consistent, though promising, from Boobie Gibson, McCants, M-Gasol, and G-Hill. On the other hand, the uptempo offense has really helped Z-Bo and Crawford. Kleiza started tonight (12/9, 2 3s), which is most exciting, as he can be a high REB, 3PT guy if given time. Thenopp has boundless faith in J-Kidd, and yet again, it seems to be paying off.

The Spoonful is saddened by D.Lee's demotion and Durant's lackluster play of late. Hakim, Stucey, and A-Johnson are very, very frustrating to own, and odds are the Spoonful's patience will run out. Roger Mason looks to benefit from Parker's absence, and is hitting 3s at an astonishing clip.

Fearless Prediction:  Thenopp has had the Spoonful's number of late, and the Spoonful's big men have not been performing as well as needed. Final Score: thenopp 8- Spoonful 6