THE Hammer 2048.32 - The 2048 WC Race Heats Up

[cheekimonk]

THE Hammer
15 Sep 2048
Jerusalem, Israel
**********************************

Last year, completely unexpecting a run and even conceding the WC to Manama due to confusion, the wheel is coming back around with Manama setting the pace for the UMEBA BURT League WC. Jerusalem trails by 4 and Baghdad 9.5 back:

BURT:
Manama Pearls 86-62 .581 GB - L10: 4-6
Jerusalem Hebrew Hammers 89-70 .530 GB 4 L10: 7-3
Baghdad Kings 69-79 .503 17 GB 9.5 L10: 4-6

In setting the scene, we start with Manama:

Manama
79-70 .530 - GB HOME 46-31 (.597) AWAY 33-39 (.458

This is clearly a team that's like playing on home soil, but after a 3-game home set with Tripoli the Pearls go:
3 @ Riyadh
3 @ Beijing
3 @Baghdad
3 vs Jerusalem

Jerusalem
75-74 .530 4 GB HOME: 42-33 (.560) AWAY: 33-41 (.446)

That's a terrible road record. So bad it's certain to have cost the team more than it could handle. Could the Hammers have contended with the BURT title and a better road record? Well, every team has a reason, right?

Again, a team that plays at another level at home the last of September:
1 @ Baghdad
3 @ Beijing
3 Tripoli
3 v Riyadh
3 @ Manama

So Jerusalem get 6 more road heading into the final showdown.

Baghdad
69-79 .466 9.5 GB HOME: 42-33 (.560) AWAY: 33-41 (.446)

It's not certain Baghdad can pull into WC competition this season.