The weekly update on current events in the NMAA Fall League from the Commish - The FINAL FOUR preview
Recap of the quarterfinals, and preview of the Final Four
By Omair Zahid POSTED OCTOBER 20TH, 2011
I'm writing this column with some sadness as I realize this coming Sunday, the 23rd of October is the final week of our NMAA Fall season. Not being able to wake up Sunday mornings and come to the UCF gym for another week of exciting basketball is something I will sorely miss until our next season which is tentatively scheduled to start January 1st. But with that being said, let's recap last weeks exciting first round of the playoffs, and then preview the Final Four teams.
We'll get the easy one out of the way. Mujahid rolled over the Greyhounds 76-33. The Greyhounds actually did worse than they did the previous week when they only lost by 26. The reds roll into Sunday's showdown with Sirat having really yet to be challenged this season.
The Unit vs Jund. I have to say, we started off the playoffs with a bang with this game. I expected The Unit to win this game, but it almost didn't happen. When you see a first half score of 46-26 in favor of Jund, you're thinking boy did I miss this prediction! I almost doubted myself (almost). Jund came out firing in the first half and could not miss a shot. I mean everyone was hitting on this team. The ballboy could have hit for Jund. They hit 8 three's in the first half. They were so hot my reaction was where was this all season? BUT in the back of my mind, I kept saying if any team has the firepower to comeback from a deficit like this, it's this team. Let's roll ahead into the 3rd quarter where Jund scores and pushes it's lead to 54-33. At this point I'm looking at the scoreboard and I see about 16 minutes left in the game, and I'm thinking ok if The Unit are going to make their comeback, it better be now or this one's over.
Call me Nostradamus, because boy did the comeback begin. All of a sudden Jund starts missing shots, The Unit starts scoring. They close the quarter with an 8-0 run to make it 54-41. With the 4th quarter coming up, I'm saying to myself they still have a shot, and it all depends on how Jund handles their runs. But Jund after seemingly unable to miss in the first half, can't buy a basket in the 4th quarter. The Unit closes it to 3 points, and have 2 chances to tie but can't capitilize. With 6 minutes left, I break out my camera and start recording the game, where Jund is clinging to 64-58 lead. And the comeback comes full force. To cut a long story short, The Unit rallies and forces the game into overtime, where they pull out a thrilling 1 point win 76-75 over Jund. One of the best playoff games I've ever seen in all the years I've been doing this. I feel for Jund as they had this game in their grasp but late turnovers and missed free throws doomed them. Most of all, our own league director Dev Lachman falls short yet again of winning that elusive league title that he's so desperate to win (There's always next season Dev!)
Sirat vs Zabardust. While this game didn't really have the thrilling moments Jund and The Unit had, it was a close game all the way to the end. Sirat led the entire game but couldn't extend it's lead past 9 points. Zabardust several times in the second half had the lead down to 3, but couldn't get over the hump. A poor first quarter had the green and yellow fighting uphill the entire game. Great season by Zabardust though, and Sirat advances to the semifinals for their showdown against Mujahid.
An-Nur vs Ar'Rad. If we thought nothing could top The Unit vs Jund for playoff excitement, this game came pretty close. And you saw the spirit of playoff basketball as the game was incredibly physical with both sides going at each other hard. An-Nur pulled out a gritty win in overtime when Steve Smith got hot and scored 9 of the last 11 points for An-Nur, including a 4 point play that sent the game into overtime. Alex Castillo for Ar'Rad played out of his mind, dominating the 4th quarter and rallying Ar'Rad from a 10 point deficit to take a 6 point lead, before Smith brought An-Nur back. But tempers were high as the refs were letting both teams play physical ball, and late in the fourth Adam Williams of An-Nur and Pasha Haghighi got into a shoving match and were ejected. The loss probably hurt Ar'rad more as they had to rely on Castillo to carry the offensive load, which he did a tremendous job of. If he had played in more games this season he could have been an MVP candidate. With that being said, An-Nur advances into the semifinals for their showdown with The Unit.
FINAL FOUR PREVIEW
So we come to it. The Final Four teams. I haven't mentioned this yet in the article like I did a few times last week, but I'm still highly upset as a player that I'm not playing in this. But before I start thinking about all the negative sports stuff, like the lockout still going on, Dwight Howard recorded in Esquire magazine that he's leaving (Realize it now Orlando, he's leaving, these stories popping up are just his way of easing us into his departure), and the dolphins getting crushed by the Jets (Suck for Luck!), it's another bad sports week for me. But you don't want to hear my crying, so on to the games!
Mujahid vs Sirat
It's a rivalry game. But then it isn't. Sirat believes so, but Mujahid doesn't. Sirat is still seeking their first appearance in a final, with this being their second semifinal appearance, and third straight playoff matchup against Mujahid. Mujahid knocked Sirat out in the Winter League semi's, defeated them in a close game 57-54 this past spring in the quarters, and now it's another semifinal showdown. Can Sirat get over the hump? Mujahid doesn't feel like it's a rivalry, considering they've never lost to the cardiac kids. In their season matchup, Mujahid pulled away in the second half to win 67-45. So what's the story here? Will Mujahid keep on rolling and blow out Sirat again? Will Sirat live up to their nickname, keep the game close but fall in the end? Or will the Siratans finally get over that hump and upset Mujahid for the first time ever and make their first final appearance? I know one thing for sure, Sirat is becoming like the Chicago Cubs, if they don't find a way to pull these big wins out, they'll become the loveable losers that everyone loves but they're never significant enough to win. Mujahid in the meantime will play to their strengths and dominate the paint. I have Mujahid advancing to the final 68-56. (Does that fire you up Sirat??) Also let me note, Mujahid's captain Asif Khan is always looking for bulletin material even when there is none, and I'm sure he'll find a way after reading this to say I discounted his team. Come on Asif!
Dane Thompson of Mujahid has been putting up MVP type numbers this season
The Unit vs An-Nur
This should be one heck of a game. I expect it to be very similar to the Jund matchup last week. I think both teams will score, and it should be one great play after the other. The Unit did pound An-Nur by 32 in the season meeting, so I'm sure you're wondering why I'm thinking this game will be close. Two words - Daniel Celestine. To me, this player is what Dwight Howard is to the Magic, or Kobe Bryant to the Lakers, or Tiger Woods to Golf, Bonnie to Clyde, Romeo and Juliet (Getting off track, back to the column). Basically, he's indispensable, and the purple and yellow roll as he rolls. The two time MVP didn't play in the season matchup, and I know for a fact he's looking for payback. An-Nur has on their minds to repeat, but slowing down The Unit will not be an easy task. Between Hamza Sloussi, Greg Remy, and Alexis Fernandez An-Nur has their hands full slowing them down. The Unit is favored in this game, and most people will expect them to win and advance to the final, but I have a feeling An-Nur will rise to the challenge, and pull out the win. (Yes, I'm slightly biased here, so what???)
Championship
So based on my prediction, it will be An-Nur vs Mujahid in the final. The only thing that sucks about this is that both games are held in the same day, so there can't be a true final prediction. But I have faith in the purple and yellow and will say they will find a way to knock off Mujahid in a close game to claim their 2nd league championship. However, if it's The Unit vs Mujahid, I'll say Mujahid will get their second league title in their history as they will win in also a very close game. If Sirat makes the final, I can't see them defeating The Unit or An-Nur. So there you have it! Those are my predictions! I'm sure everyone has opinions, and somebody will be offended, and fired up, etc etc. Blah blah. Only one way to find out, and that's show up this Sunday at 10 am to UCF for the NMAA Fall League FINAL FOUR!!!
Note - Due to all the overtime games, I didn't get a chance to take my 4th 3 point contest title. So it will be held this Sunday. Yes, I'm still planning on winning it!!!
