FRIDLEY, MN: Did the Celtic Get Their Swagger Back With Johnny Webb?

Didn't get the 6-0 mark that I wanted but instead went 5-1. Time to try and get back on track this week. Also I was thinking of doing the power rankings and didn't get a chance to do that last week. I promise to have them up by this time next week. Maybe a Valentine's Day gift.

Bandits Vs. Greenhorns

The Bandits didn't take advantage of playing a team that they could have beat. While things are starting to click there are still more problems. This is one of the problems with playing on teams that always have different parts. If you don't figure out things quick you let some game get away.

This week the Bandits take on another team that I think we can beat. While they are a good team they are very beatable. The X factor in this game is going to be Steven Ellis. He does a little bit of everything for the Greenhorns and then is also there point guard. If we can limit his play I think rest of the game will take care of itself. However if he is out there making plays and finding open guys then this game could get out of hand very quickly.

Greenhorns by 4

Noisy Withdrawal Vs. Secret Agents

Noisy Withdrawal is emerging as one of the best teams in Fridley, while the Secret Agents are definitely the worst team in Fridley. The winner of this game should be apparent the only thing I wonder is by how much Noisy will win this game by.

Noisy Withdrawal by 40 (which is only 8 more than usual

Hand Down... Man Down Vs. Cobra Kai

Hand Down...Man Down is got a win that was too close for how big of a lead they had. Up 22 at the half they came away with a eight point victory. If they hope to move to the top of the middle tier of teams and make the playoffs they will have to stay more focused throughout the whole game. They are doing what they are supposed to, as in beating the teams that they should, but need a good win to impress some people to make the playoffs. This is one of the game that they could do that in.

Cobra Kai looked like they were going to pull off the upset for the first 5-10 minutes of the game. Up by around ten points and it looked like Noisy Withdrawal couldn't stop them or knock down a shot. Then something changed and Noisy caught fire. This can't be the case this week. I know that HDMD doesn't have the fire power of Noisy but they have some guys that can hit some shots.

To win this game Cobra Kai must play better defense, which I know they can do, and Nick Roell and Dustin Dupont just need to control the game and find the best match-ups. If they can play their game they will win this game. If they look past HDMD though they might just find that they are better than they thought and lose a game they should win.

Cobra Kai by 10

Celtics Vs. Rip'n

If the Celtics can get back to the run and gun Celtics of old they should dominate Rip'n this week. We started to see the old Celtics against the Bulls last week but after a 29 point first half lead it was like they lost some steam and slowed up the offense and were out scored 40-28 in the second half. While I don't think Rip'n is as good of a team as the Bulls they do benefit more from a slower pace as I know Montrell Yancey does not want to run up and down the court all game.

Rip'n could not stop the Zhao Lee show last week. I know they are different players but Marcus Marshall and Ryan Samuelson can also knock down some shots. If they don't find someone to guard them better than they guarded Zhao this could be a long game for Rip'n. Add to that they Rip'n turned the ball over 15 times last week and this could get ugly.

I know that when the Celtics sense that a team is down they attack like a shark that smells blood in the water. I think this week they will prey upon turnovers and lazy defense and get a impressive win like the Celtics of the last couple season would do.

Celtics by 25

Ninja Turtles Vs. Avengers

This is what I'm going to call the game of the night. Two very different but talented teams. With both team able to play great offense this game will come down to who can stop whom. The Turtles have the edge on defense, even though they are ranked lower, but the Avengers have more explosive offense. It will be interesting so see where everyone matches up.

I think with Ryan Jansen being one of the best on ball defenders and Derek Batiste making it his mission to take that title from Jansen this game could come down to the second best option for each team. This is where the Avengers might get hurt a bit and the Turtles could take advantage. The Turtles have defensive specialist, like Jansen and Pinkett, that aren't asked to do a ton of scoring on offense while the Avengers don't have those types of players. With all the extra energy that the Avengers are putting into their defense it could hurt their offense.

Am I predicting that the Avengers undefeated season ends here...no. I think that this game will be very close and very physical. I don't know that the Avengers will like that kind of game, but I think that they just have too many weapons to guard and they do play some very good defense of their own and can stop the Turtles just enough to get this victory.

Avengers by 5

Fob Five Vs. Bulls

The Bulls looked like they were going to get blown out by the Celtics last week and then got it together and played a very good second half to make it a closer game, but still lost by 17. This week they play a struggling Fob Five team.

When matching these teams up the Bulls seem to win the match-up at every position on the court. The one place that Fob Five can gain the advantage is basketball IQ. Junius Ho is a very good strategist and can keep your team in games that you might be out matched. This week he will have to come up with one heck of one though. Going up a team that is bigger faster and stronger is going to be tough.

I think that Junius and the rest of Fob Five will keep this game close but the Bulls will get on some big runs, like they do every game, and get the victory.

Bulls by 10