2042.2: It All Comes Down to This...
Posted: Sun May 17, 2020 11:09 am
September 22nd. Two weeks left. 1.5 games back...
The last few weeks of the 2042 BBA season is not as simple for the Aztecs as it might have been a few short weeks ago. At the beginning of September, Mexico City was in the playoff driver's seat, sitting at the head of a pack of JL teams vying for playoff position. Since then, the Aztecs have continued their second half plummet and now find themselves as the first team out, 1.5 games back of the Montreal Blazers. The task for Mexico City over the last two weeks? Reverse 3 months of poor form and claw their way back into the postseason picture. The scheduling powers that be have taken no pity on the Aztecs either. The team plays 13 games over the last 11 days of the season. What's more, the opposition brings no clear relief either. Mexico City will travel for four games in three days at Boise, hop a plane to Edmonton for a three game set, fly home to host Las Vegas for five in four days then host the Talons for a rain makeup to end the season (schedule tentative based on weather, as always). For those of you counting at home, that's seven games against the top two teams in the division, both of whom are surging, and five against a Hustlers team with something still to play for before a Phoenix team that would relish an opportunity to play spoiler. The Aztecs' combined record against these four teams? 18-25, more good news.
Aztec GM Fred Holmes expressed confidence in the team - "I really believe that we have the right guys in the room to get this done over the last week and a half here and make the playoffs. I believe in this team. I know our compete level has not at all been what we expect and know we're capable of as a group, but I have confidence that we'll show what we're made of over the last 11 days here."
If the Aztecs are going to pull through they will need to reverse the course of play that saw them squander a very strong April and May by lingering around .500 the rest of the way and will need to do it by beating some extremely talented teams. The big question will come down to this - Can the Aztecs channel their desperation to overcome the sizeable obstacles they've placed before themselves to make the playoffs? Will the heat of the moment temper this team or melt it? We'll all find out together in the coming days.
The last few weeks of the 2042 BBA season is not as simple for the Aztecs as it might have been a few short weeks ago. At the beginning of September, Mexico City was in the playoff driver's seat, sitting at the head of a pack of JL teams vying for playoff position. Since then, the Aztecs have continued their second half plummet and now find themselves as the first team out, 1.5 games back of the Montreal Blazers. The task for Mexico City over the last two weeks? Reverse 3 months of poor form and claw their way back into the postseason picture. The scheduling powers that be have taken no pity on the Aztecs either. The team plays 13 games over the last 11 days of the season. What's more, the opposition brings no clear relief either. Mexico City will travel for four games in three days at Boise, hop a plane to Edmonton for a three game set, fly home to host Las Vegas for five in four days then host the Talons for a rain makeup to end the season (schedule tentative based on weather, as always). For those of you counting at home, that's seven games against the top two teams in the division, both of whom are surging, and five against a Hustlers team with something still to play for before a Phoenix team that would relish an opportunity to play spoiler. The Aztecs' combined record against these four teams? 18-25, more good news.
Aztec GM Fred Holmes expressed confidence in the team - "I really believe that we have the right guys in the room to get this done over the last week and a half here and make the playoffs. I believe in this team. I know our compete level has not at all been what we expect and know we're capable of as a group, but I have confidence that we'll show what we're made of over the last 11 days here."
If the Aztecs are going to pull through they will need to reverse the course of play that saw them squander a very strong April and May by lingering around .500 the rest of the way and will need to do it by beating some extremely talented teams. The big question will come down to this - Can the Aztecs channel their desperation to overcome the sizeable obstacles they've placed before themselves to make the playoffs? Will the heat of the moment temper this team or melt it? We'll all find out together in the coming days.