Big LBL Preview- Year 6

Year 6 of the Big LBL has begun as the Black Flashes try to defend their title. The league should be more exciting this year with two expansion teams who bring with them a wealth of fantasy sports experience.

I have grouped the league based in the loving memory of the Vancouver Grizzlies. The top group is called Shareef Abdur-Rahim, the best player to ever wear the teal. The second group consists of quality teams and is represented by Mike Bibby who starred for the team for a few years. The third group is in loving memory of Bryant ‘Big Country’ Reeves; these teams aren’t very good much like Big Honky. The teams in each group are ranked in no particular order.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim

The Black Flashes have another strong team and will try to three-peat this year in the LBL. Few teams can match the Black Flashes’ Big 3. T-Mac, Yao and D-Wade are all capable of winning games on their own. The Flashes will also show off their versatility this year with most players playing multiple positions. Tyson Chandler and Kirk Hinrich will need to play well for owner Big Ell to win another championship. Big Ell did take some risks with Zach Randolph, Steve Jackson and Rafer Alston but he knows he needs to keep it real to satisfy the fan base. In addition, having four Rockets may spell doom for the Flashes.

The Clip Trip looks to be a strong contender this year. Any team with Le Bron James will be a contender for the title this year, next year and in ten years. He is a fantasy monster but maybe a notch less important this year with SF only eligibility. Scott will be in his fourth title game if James regains PG eligibility. He is joined on the Clip trip by two other studs Ray Allen and Vince Carter. This team is tough especially with Emeka Okafor. He is going to be a keeper for years to come. The Clip Trip depth looks a bit shaky as does the PG position.

Mike Bibby

Dribbling Balls owner Rob Giessman hopes to use his bantam football success to propel his LBL team into the championship game. Kevin Garnett is the key for the Balls but he will need big years from Shawn Marion and Ben Wallace to make a run for the title. This team has plenty of what ifs. What if Jamal Tinsley continues to suck? What if Josh Howard can’t reach the next level? What if Marcus Camby spontaneously combusts? The Balls do have some good players like Billups. But they have a lot of scrubs like Eddie Jones and Wally World. The Balls have a chance if Jones returns to All-Star level.

The EZ Money Jazz is tough up front with the best front court in the LBL. No one can match Duncan, O’Neal and Bosh. PG is a question mark but if Paul plays well EZ will be in the money. They also look week at SG with Rose and Battier being far from fantasy studs. The have solid PGs; Redd is money and J-Rich can ball. It is difficult to rank the Jazz as they could make a run for the title or be a one and done in the playoffs. I predict one and done, just like the real Jazz, wait a minute they won’t even make the playoffs.

Double Dribble has a decent team and with some luck should make the playoffs. Ryan’s team would be better if Ryan had attended the draft. They do have talent at all the major positions with Baron Davis, Elton Brand and Brad Miller. Double will need Lewis and Shareef to have bounce back years. The trouble with Double Dribble is that they don’t have that much depth so injuries will need to be avoided. Avoiding injury trouble is a near impossibility with Webber in the lineup. People end up getting hurt just by being around him.

The Pittsburgh Pisces and should be a lock to make the playoffs. Stu has Nowitski who is a stud but a stud without center eligibility. Gilbert Arenas is a superstar and probably the best second round pick ever in the lottery era. Bibby and Odom should also help the Pisces. He looks a little weak up front and will need Kwame Brown or Mehmet Okur to really step it up. Hughes was a fantasy stud last year and may be again playing with LBJ. I also really like the pick-up but of Bonzi Wells he’s a keeper in my book.

Air Ball is looking to make a big splash in the LBL this year. Dwayne has gone with an experienced squad in this his inaugral season and should make the playoffs. Ball has excellent PGs with Iverson and Kidd to join with excellent wingmen Peja and Jefferson. He also has some decent fantasy role players like Hamilton, Magette and Brown. He will need his youngsters like Bogut to produce to secure his place in the playoffs. Dwayne has proven that he is a tough competitor in the Big Ell pools.

Bryant ‘Big Country,’ Reeves

The Seattle Sounders looked to be on the way up in this league with some good young talent. Dwight Howard is a man child who is only going to get better. Howard’s only negative is his Christian faith which must make him a locker room cancer in the NBA. Seattle will roll if Kobe is back and can put up huge numbers again. The sounders are solid at all positions. Marbury is a good point guard but may have problems playing for Brown in the NYC. This team’s fortunes rely on a bunch of Blue Devils who traditionally suck in the NBA. Rotten Ron Artest could be the key for Grant. He has the ability to win several categories which should help the Sounders. He also has the ability to get suspended for a very long time.

The Green Gang didn’t have a very good draft day primarily because they didn’t attend. He did get lucky getting Kirilenko for nothing. The Green Gang may not finish last but they will be hard pressed to stay out of the cellar. Kirilenko is a solid building block this team was in desperate need of. Paul Pierce and Shaq O’Neal are both quality players but both are getting old. The Gang makes the playoffs if Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams make like Mookie and Dominique; it isn’t likely. Stevie Franchise is a good fantasy player but what about Cassell? He has cursed this franchise for years but could be the man for the Clippers.

Phi Slamma Jamma may be a year away from making a run for the championship. They will find it tough without Amare Stoudamire. The Jamma’s could wreck havoc on the league when he starts playing and they make the playoffs assuming he is still in contention. Phi Slamma has talent with Steve Nash, Manu Ginobili and Carmelo Anthony. They do have lots of potential problems if Antoine Walker doesn’t produce and if the youngsters (Childress and Telfair) don’t pan out. He does have Pau Gasol and needs Eddie Curry to have a big year up front with Amare out.