GSB Season 4 | Week 4 (Tuesday): Game Previews

• 7:30 PM ET: Portland Pioneers (0-3) vs. Atlantic City Sea Dogs (3-0)

The Portland Pioneers are desperately searching for their first win of the season, but it won’t come easy (or at all) against a hearty and unbeaten Atlantic City Sea Dogs team. Portland’s struggles have been a sad combination of lackluster offensive execution and unending defensive lapses, leaving them stranded in the winless column. If the Pioneers want to turn their season around, Rashadi Ish and Devan Davis need to elevate their playmaking and scoring to carry this team out of the rut. Their supporting cast is meek, with only Ralph Rodriguez  really standing out to offer much help. There are able bodies there, Portland needs to simplify everything to get more production from their depth.

For Portland, this matchup is should be less about putting up gaudy numbers and more about finding an identity. An identity which strings things together and gets the ball in the hoop consistently. Get to the foul line and play with some toughness. They need to control the tempo and limit their turnovers, as Atlantic City thrives on capitalizing off mistakes.

The Sea Dogs, meanwhile, have been nothing short of dominant. Their perfect start is no fluke, with Rae’Sean Carter now running the show and putting up MVP-caliber performances so far. Carter has been a blazing spark plug for an offense that overwhelms opponents with fast breaks and precise half-court execution. Ricky Spyder, their sharpshooting stretch forward, has been beside himself from beyond the arc this season and finally looks close to his ROTY form from years ago. And unsuspecting Aaron Ike has truly anchored their interior presence with ferocious rebounding and rim protection. 

Atlantic City is deep, superstars Hoe Jarris and Javier Munoz are taking small steps back on offense to open up opportunities for players like Gwen Gwen, Cash Wallace and the scariest man in the league Jason Voorhees. Not to mention, Tyrano Rex who has been incredible for AC this season. 

But, Atlantic City’s greatest weapon is their confidence—they come into each game looking to dictate the speed and pace. If Portland wants to stand a chance, they’ll need to bring a level of intensity and focus we haven’t seen yet. Otherwise, the Sea Dogs might run them out of the gym early. Happy Hoe Jarris Day!

• 9:30 PM ET: New York Skyliners (1-2) vs. Seattle Orcas (3-0)

The New York Skyliners are coming off a tough loss and find themselves facing another juggernaut in the Seattle Orcas. New York has been so promising, with flashes of brilliance from Ant Thomas, who is averaging 24.0 points per game, and Greg Lake, who is playing as advertised. But their struggles come on the defensive end, where they’ve struggled to close out games and contain explosive offenses. Against Seattle, they’ll need to find a way to disrupt the Orcas’ rhythm and force them into uncomfortable situations.

This game also presents a key opportunity for Sarah Counterman, who has shown potential but needs to become a more consistent scoring option this season to give the Skyliners a chance against elite competition. We knew the arrival of Greg Lake in New York would signify the ball being shared far less, but the drop-off has been hard to overcome. 

The Seattle Orcas, on the other hand, are swimming in the deep water of dominance. Their 3-0 record reflects a team wading in the same direction, led offensively by Oscar Oden the Orcas’ main objective is to make life miserable for the opposing team. Nick Hill is having an incredible year, Quan Wulong-Chi also provides another quality sharpshooter to make it that much harder for opposing defenses. Oh, and just when you think you’re safe; Shane Nox, Mario Medici and Jim C. Williams attack from underneath like it’s Jaws. 

Their offense has been nearly impossible to contain. And on defense they are erasing teams entire game plans. Right now you’ve got a team (that feels even hungrier than last season) that can hurt opponents from every angle.

Seattle’s success comes from so many elite elements, but let’s highlight their balance (which Shane lets everyone know about)—each player knows their role, and their chemistry is palpable. The minute spread is amongst the best in the league,  showing little drop-off between starters and depth players. 

Against New York, the Orcas will look to methodically control the pace and exploit the Skyliners’ defensive vulnerabilities.

For New York, the key will be staying disciplined and slowing the game down. If they allow Seattle to dictate the tempo, this one could get out of hand quickly. However, if the Skyliners can find a way to muck up the game and force it into a grind, they might have a chance to shock the Orcas.