Week 1 Game Previews

Season 4

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Wednesday Night Games

• 7:30 PM ET: Oceanside Surfs vs. Albuquerque Martians

The Oceanside Surfs (previously Kentucky Reserve) look to make their GSB Season 4 Debut with a continuation of their hard-nosed sharpshooting style from a season ago. Dime Hardaway, Kobe Johnson, and Josh Young 2.0 (S3 All-Star) are all back and better than ever. All of those 3 are double digit scores and they will look to come out the gate and get hot. Bo Mambo (S3 All-Star) will also want to follow up his All-Star level campaign from a season ago; Oceanside will continue to use him in various outside the box ways. He may guard the paint in one defensive possession and in the next rotate up and be on a guard at the 3pt line. Mambo adds a depth of versatility not usually seen from the center position. The Surfs also went and got Bismack who should never be overlooked. This gives the Surfs an assist happy guard who can drive and kick or get to the rim. Bismack is also an efficient shooter when he picks his shots. The Surfs will also be developing Angelo Roman (S3 All-GSB Rookie 1st Team) to continue to take that next step offensively. The Surfs will plan to really stagger their lineups and rotation to keep a veteran presence on the court all night long, meaning there will be little break in their offense or bend in their defense.   

But, the Mothership will be rocking, as the Albuquerque Martians make their home debut in what will surely be a sold out affair. The Martians were quiet in the offseason, but did pick-up Ty White (Hakuna Matata) and Monty Clarke. However these two moves alone have given them so much. White is an athletic, smart, and confident combo guard that is at home whether running the point or in that off-ball spot; she is not afraid to pull from 3 which she did well in the preseason. Clarke is an uber flexible, rebounding, and defensive hybrid forward that will afford the Martians the opportunity to play small ball or create lineups that are unorthodox. Al Ingram (S3 All-Star, S3 Most Improved Player), Jon Fowler, and Jason Peace (S3 All-Star) will lead the charge with Brent Lane right behind them ready for his increase in minutes. The Martians and their 3-point laden offense is no longer a surprise, they will need to mix things up this season as teams prepare to take that element away completely. So, look for a variety in styles of play as the Martians love to get creative. This game will come down to defense and rebounding, both teams can shoot and will assuredly shoot well. Who is going to force more turnovers and get stops at crucial moments? Who is going to demand respect in the paint and get boards? We shall see! 

• 9:30 PM ET: Oakland Otters vs. Portland Pioneers

This could be a slugfest, both of these teams experienced an off-putting offseason with Portland seeing a mass exodus from their roster. However, the Oakland Otters, went from S2 Champions to questioning everything in Season 3. Season 4 they must get back on track and return to their strong reputable identity. If there is anyone who can do it, it will be Anthony Stank (2x All-Star, S2 MVP). Stank must get back to prime form, which is by being the unwavering commander of the court. So look for dazzling drives that leave you speechless, and unreal shots from half-court. There to help Stank must also be Almedin Colakovic and Dane Jones, both who took advantage last season with an increase in their minutes and usage. Colakovic has no problem starting, Dane Jones will be eager for his chance now with Oddy Nuff gone to be a primary focal element as well. But, there is competition in the guard rotation. Klank Thompson (S3 All-GSB Rookie 1st Team) is still in my opinion the heir apparent and will push for an increase in production this season as well as he cements himself at either SG or SF. The Otters will play around heavily with their guard and wing rotation until it's perfect. Because, with Dan Glisack (3x All-Star) back there will be no worries in the frontcourt. The Otters have all the ingredients to be a very elite team this season, it will come down to if Stank is S2 Stank or S3 Stank. But, herein lies a part of the problem. At least from the outside looking in. Which is trying to get back to something that may be unattainable, the Otters will accept who they are this season and work to those strengths. So, if Stank is back to being S3 Stank they need to gameplan him out and not gameplan him in. Oakland easily wins the paper battle. However, we know games are not won on paper.Ultimately, the fire power Oakland possesses is far greater than people are giving them credit for.   

The Portland Pioneers on paper look decimated, they lost about everyone they could lose. Except for gems in Rashadi Ish and Devan Davis. The franchise has taken on new leadership and direction. Ish looks to be the superstar of the team and was unstoppable in the preseason, Davis will need to be that calm veteran presence to help keep the ship steady when things get rocky this season. The Pioneers need journeyman Sean Robinson to become a force. If he were able to play above his potential it would give the Pioneers a quality sharpshooting wing, who could potentially play at two different positions for them. Issue being Robinson's general refusal to branch too far out of what he's comfortable with. And right now Portland cannot afford to be stuck in a rigid box. The Pioneers will pray that all of their incoming rookies are up for task, Daylen Proctor (9th Overall Pick) and Ralph Rodrigues (22nd Overall Pick) both looked the part in the preseason. But, the preseason is over, and now the heat gets turned up another notch. I think Portland will do the best they can to hang in this one, if they can slow things down and force Oakland to be perfect they give themselves a shot at times throughout the game. If they can win enough of these battles who knows what can happen. The Otters are prone to poor play and turnovers at certain positions, if Portland can exploit this and get some extra possessions with Ish or Davis in they must capitalize.