BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, CYL, and CBA
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
15 October 2314
CBA Preview 2314-2315
The second Commonwealth Basketball Association will be under way this weekend when the Southie Jammers meet the Boston Bugles on October 17. Last season, the Airport Aviators defeated the Salem Shadows, 4 games to 2, to claim the championship.
This season, we put PAM on it to determine who would raise the trophy at the end of the season. Here are the predicted standings:
NCC
1. Cambridge Tigers
2. Salem Shadows
3. Con-Lex Bolts
4. Medford Irish
The Tigers are led by the 1-2 punch of PF Kareem Rieck and PG Jeryl Newman. They will be joined this year by the #1 overall pick, PF Sniper Armstrong, who will probably play a 6th-man role, at least to start the 2314-2315 season. C Armand Penn joins the team this season hoping to boost his production in the middle.
Last season, Cambridge finished 31-41 and missed the playoffs.
SCC
1. Boston Bugles
2. Southie Jammers
3. Airport Aviators
4. Quincy Ironclads
Pam is also picking another team that missed the playoffs in the first season to win its conference, choosing the Bugles to finish atop the South. Boston was 34-38 last season, landing them in 4th place in a good conference a season ago.
With whom many believe to be the CBA's best player, C Tre Davis, leading the charge, there are big expectations for the Bugles. While no other player stands out statistically, all five starters averaged double digits, and the also have another 10+-point scorer on the bench in SF Marquel Minigunner. Rookie PF RaShawn Bergmann should contribute on offense and the boards, though he is expected to back up Max Effort Alt at the 4.
Prediction
PAM sees the Tigers taking the crown, winning the championship over Boston in six games.
CBA's MVP Watch
In the 2314-2315 race to be MVP, PAM sees five players as the best bets to win the award: Tre Davis; C Licker Sam Arnold, Salem; C DA Forte, Airport; PG Reggie Pacer, Quincy; and PG JB Letterhead, Salem.
Last season's MVP was a surprise pick in Southie's Vee Tsankov. He was a surprise pick because Boston's Davis had won nearly all monthly awards despite his team not making the playoffs. Voters decided making the playoffs mattered more than dominance by a player.
CBA's Top Rookie Watch
We also have a preview of the Top 5 rookies heading into the 2314-2315 season. Armstrong of Cambridge listed above is the top rookie prospect. Other top prospects include SF Book Smart Denson, Con-Lex; PF RaShawn Bergmann, Boston; PF Camera Cook, Quincy, and SG Cameron Minor, Medford.
