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CBL Retro: 11/16/21 Games Preview and Predictions

Good day folks. We are at the last day for the regular season and there is a lot to play for.

Check out tonight’s previews:


8:00 pm. Tower vs Clutch
This is going to be a battle of the guards. Neither team have a down low presence that is going to scare anyone but they both feature guards that make plays on every level. Umer leads Tower, a relatively inexperienced group in Retro against a Retro stalwart. He is fiery but he might meet his match tonight because of the hottest shooter in CBL right now, Maaz. The guy has made about 15 threes in the last 2 weeks. He’s definitely been making it rain. We think the experience is going to be key here. Clutch wins 44-36.

9:00 pm Guardians vs Bricklayers
On the outside this game appears very lopsided. But when you dig deeper you start to see… a bloodbath. Sorry but the guardians spunky young group won’t stand a chance against the reigning champs Bricklayers. Aqib and Syed will try to make the shots to keep up but the analysis on this one is simple. They are not stopping Junaid and Naveed. Bricklayers win running away, 52-36

10:00 pm Panthers vs Warriors
This is a game with big playoff implications. Panthers still have a shot to be involved in a tie breaker after a last second loss to the tigers last week. The warriors on the other hand hadn’t looked good since the pandemic before last week. Naseem is clearly the fire behind this teams offense. It should be a tough battle back and forth with the difference being who’s actually playing for both teams. Doubting Muzz in a big game is generally not a good plan so we think Panthers pull out a nail biter in the closing seconds 48-46

11/15/21: CBL30 Games

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8:00pm CBB vs AFGHAN
9:00pm UD vs BACHEM
10:00 pm panthers vs Imaan
11:00pm OG’z vs AutoBots

CBL30 Previews/Predictions: Week 7

Good Day Everyone!

As CBL30 Comes down to the homestretch, there are many possibilities from seeds 1-6. The good news is that every team makes the playoffs. But this is CBL, no one wants pity.

Here is a preview of today’s games. There appears to be some exciting match-ups on paper.

G1, 8:00 pm, Imaan (3-1) vs Bachem (1-3) – The first game gives us a matchup that should be interesting because of guard play on both sides and what Bachem bring forth in trying to stop Mike L. Imaan are coming off a bye in which it gave three players a chance to heal up from injuries. Bachem are coming off a tough loss to OGz. We believe Mike L will get his way with the opponent,the best a team can do is pray he doesn’t go for 50pts. The key matchup will be MoeH vs Daniel Cheema. Physical defending vs fast twitch offense. It’s DC that gets Bachem rolling with his high uptempo play and deadly outside shooting. We know Moeh can guard 1 through 5 but he now must try to stay infront of DC and force him to do what he doesnt like. We expect Moe to full court press and deny the ball as usual frustrating DC. Mike goes for 32pts in a closely contested game and Imaan steals the win. 58-54 Imaan

GAME OF THE NIGHT!!

G2, 9:00 pm, Ogz3.0 (2-2) vs CBB (3-1)  – Well Kamil might not know it but this is a huge gave for his OGZ team. They are coming off a great team win and look as if the wheels are rolling! He knows that cousin SY is on the opposite bench seething at the opportunity to stomp on his hopes of winning and is why the intensity for this game will be high! Abdel had a lackluster performance last week but had the help of Bryan & Jamal. We believe Abdel returns to form tonight as he’ll look to fluster his good friend Taha. As for CBB they look comfortable in they’re jerseys and that might spell trouble for OGZ.  Taha put on a show with a mailman like layup and Curry like shooting clinic. Big man Sonny was a point shy off his normal double double(the basket kept being moved). Brother Jalal worked the boards in what was a tough shooting night. With all that said Captain Sy was out with a finger injury(stacked squad) We believe he’s a GTD. Both of these teams are firing on all cylinders and coming off of wins the decision to pick a winner is tough. By small chance of an attendance hiccup against OGz we believe that Taha and company will pull this win out.  76-77 CBB in OT

G3, 10:00 pm, Uncle drew(2-3)vs Afghan Ballers(3-2) – What a lackluster performance by Uncle Drew last week. Not having all players didn’t help the cause and not having a system as well hurt. We saw them setting up plays pregame but not to be seen used during. Listen they went up against a respectable opponent(Panthers). Alonzo played superb but other than that it was a game to forget.  Tonight they have a chance to redeem themselves and make a statement. The statement to be made is against the Afghan Ballers and if Nafi has his say “it ain’t happening son.” The ballers are ready to get this two game win streak going, they beat the Autobots in a physical game last week, just ask Stan or Mike the Reff! The matchup for this game will be Alonzo vs whoever thinks they can contain him not stop him but contain him(good luck). For the Ballers we need to see Haroun and Bieber step up and help Nafi, being nice and calm is great but some passion would be better. With this in mind we feel if the Afghans can get out on the break and finish the second offensive rebounds Nafi grabs for them this game will be over by the second half. Afghan Ballers 68-60

CBL30 Report Cards – by Slappy White — updated

11-7-21: We are nearing the playoff’s and that means the end of the season so you know what that means? It’s time for midseason grading! So grab your coffee or your pumpkin spice latte and perch up on your chair. It’s time for some cold hard facts.

Uncle Drew(2-3)
This team is an enigma one week we have stellar play the next week we’re not sure what they’re doing. It’s led by a superstar combo guard in Alonzo Robinson who sometime looks as if the game of basketball is nothing but a run to him. Does this team have championship caliber players…possibly, does this team have shooters yes, the real question is does this team have the will to win? And it’s with that question we wonder what is it that they need to play harder, what source of motivation are they missing? Watching from afar it feels like this team is playing four on five some weeks as point guard Azal seems flustered and not in sync with himself or the game. With that being said this puts more pressure on Alonzo to do the scoring and the dishing. They’re role players are fine when called upon. Yet it seems as if they’re big isn’t being used to the best of his abilities. With Mehdi averaging nearly a double double Uncle Drew should be better. We know SF Saleh Ahmed is desperate to prove himself. He’s been working on his game during the off time but weve yet to see him be consistent. Once he does this team will take off. Grade B-

Certified Baller Boys (3-1)
Stacked comes to mind when we listen to the likes of other players not on this team. Are they really? Well we do know that they have brothers Taha & Jalal who are overseas pro players and that’s a plus for any team. If you ask anyone in CBL one guy won’t win you a chip not even a pro. With that in mind we know Taha is a proven winner and cbl champ so he won’t back down at all. Rookie big man Sonny is here for the first time and can be relied upon if the ball isn’t going in from three he’s as solid as they come. SG Jalal is a streaky shooter from the games we’ve seen but he’ll get his points one way or another. Add with that Taimur, cbls last standing beared brother and good luck beating them. We see from watching this team their only weakness maybe themselves. This is a team that can have five guys in double figures on any night. They can also get lost in the awe of Taha and his dribbling ways. We know we’re in a three point taking era but does it always have to be one? If they can figure out what type of system they are most strong in then the opponents will have long CBL nights. Well leave that up to Captain Sy. Grade A-

Imaan (3-1)
They have Mike Liander case closed. No no no in all seriousness this team is well built but is they’re depth going to be the reason to they’re demise? Yes I’m saying having to many players maybe an issue for them. We can say that positions one through five are as good as it gets. The glaring issue is they went from 30 point wins to barley squeaking by. Told you cbl ain’t that easy. Mike has dominated cbl and has the chips and MVPs to show it. He’s also had former teammates who were stars and that says a lot. What this team provides him is the ball and a whole lot of defense. With the likes of MoeH & Ish teams cannot be lazy with the basketball because they will take it. You add in a fit Jose and Safraz and you have yourself a stellar team. Captain Tariq with his 3pt shot and rebounding spreads the floor for Mike to work and be himself. One thing we noticed when watching this team so far is that they seem to get complacent running the same play over and over which makes they’re offense 3 vs 5 and they may not bode well when playing top teams. They’re only loss was to CBB but Imaan would tell you they cost themselves that game. This team is built for the playoffs and Mike L is built to win at all costs. Grade: A-

Autobots (0-5)
One word..HELP! Unfortunately the Autobots have yet to get a win under their belt and it sucks. Speaking of belts they still have the CBL belt and the trophy I think it’s time to pass it around for some motivation. Darnell where are you? Since his departure the Autobots just aren’t the same. All other players made their returns but let’s just say in a whole different shape. We’ve yet to see the Dre of old and without him this team may not get back to par. Dezz is back and doing his thing but seems to be frustrated by the refs, once he locks in good luck stopping him. With Stan down low opponents can’t get to the basketball at will. He’s physical and gritty and will deff let you know that you suck. The role palyers are sub par and do what they have to for the team. Captain Fahad shoots with confidence but sometimes barely touches the rim..remember just because you get the ball it doesn’t mean automatically to shoot. This team lacks leadership and hunger every monday night. One word comes to mind (fun) they need to start having that again and all will be well. Losing close games sucks but sometimes you can only blame yourself. We believe with Mr.Ager at the point and attendance full they will make a second half run. Grade D

Panthers (5-0)
Did they fool the commissioners? Many age and talent questions have been asked about this team and we can see why. Don’t lose a game, have no weakness & beat Kamil those are reasons for everyone to Komplain. The fact of the matter is this team comes to play every night as if it’s the finals matchup. They play for one another and each other. They do the little things best, diving for loose balls, hustling, talking and game planning. The addition of Terrance to this team has put them over the top but blame Kamil for that not the Panthers. Captain Muzz has built a team of players not individuals and their positive attitudes and lack of egos shows in their record. We don’t believe they will go undefeated as they haven’t played against the top tier of CBL yet. But hey remember no undefeated team got past the first round so you may not want the pressure. Point guard Christian has been a meance on defense and sets the tempo to start games. Sprinkle in some Mazz and Nasif and you have yourself offense. The addition of Josh Core has been great even in his limited minutes (MCL). We just want to see this team vs bigger opponents as they are guard heavy. All in all stellar for the first half of the season. Don’t forget there still is another half to go. Grade A

Bachem (1-3)
Their main culprit is attendance really. Watching them you can see skill and talent when they are in the gym. Daniel Cheema is superb and fast that’s for sure but does he have the IQ? Pass when he shouldn’t, shoot when he shouldn’t, it’s tough we get it. What isn’t tough is believing in your skill set. With that said the rest of the team is set up well with a soild big man whose shorts may need some pulling down and a shooter in Ali Tariq who needs to be dragged to the gym(show up damn it). Kyle is back spinning to the basket and Adnans a daily presence. Were still looking to find the other Cheema brother who tends to be M.i.A (help, help,help). If this team can have full attendance and control the pace of games they will wreck CBL havoc against any team. We’ll be waiting to see this come to light. Grade C+

Afghan Ballers (3-2)
They deff stirred alot of talk in the off-season build up with their name and who was going to play. Their uniforms told us that they have been around the rodeo before and it was nothing new. Their game though told us otherwise unfortunately, rough beginnings. In CBL there will be growing pains but it’s how you fight through it that counts. We saw veteran big man Nafi let out those frustrations and belive you me he’s as kind as they come. With Bieber and Haroun at his disposal you can only wonder how they were down in the dumps but it’s their guard play that hasn’t lived up to the hype. Pg Shafi has had more open opportunities than farooqs penny bank accounts and they both can’t hit. Faiz was more worried about being a one than being the one to knock down open shots. As negative as I may sound about this team I’m not, I just expect more from them. They have seemed to turn the corner and possibly understand what works. If Nafi knows one thing it’s winning. Their second half run should be a storybook material! They have the ability to turn the game in seconds but what is their identity? Great shooters and a smooth Haroun that should be wins. Grade B-

OGZ 3.0 (2-2)
Say this with me 10 times fast, Kaptain Kamil Killed the Kompition Kuickly! This team should be OGZ 12.7 with all the changes they made but hey wth. With possibly the most rocky start the trigger to change players was pulled Kuick and if you know anything bout Kam he wants to win at all costs and we get it. Bye bye player 1, player 2 and player 3 that’s sorta how it went. He’s got Abdel, Bryan and Jamal as his core and that is championship material. He’s got Mark, Sammi and Talha as role players and that’s a plus. Do they have weaknesses yes! What are they (Kamil) and turnovers. Hold on to the ball it’s that simple also Talha watch Nerlens Noel …don’t be that guy!!!!! In other news the talent on this team is there they need they just need to be patient and trust one another that alone will take them up the standings. High expectations are great but being realistic is important. The team needs to feature Bryan because it’s his talent and skills that we see them being the best they can be! Get out and run it’s not that bad OGZ, in Apron we trust! Grade B+

CBL Retro – 10/26/21 Previews and Predictions

Well Retro fans and members. The current CBL Retro season is winding down and now its playoff positioning time. Therefore, expect each game to matter. Which means the intensity will be high. Check out today’s previews:

Game 1, 8:00 ,pm – Replacements vs. Tower. PREVIEW: This is a battle of two opposing styles. Tower has a team full of guys with a lot of energy and score with a team approach of everyone getting buckets. Replacements have been a two headed monster all season with Sajid and Ali Khalid leading the way. Of course Towers weakness is in big men so that’s where we give the Replacements the big advantage. We think they win a good game. PREDICTION: Replacements 48 Tower 40

Game 2, 9:00 ,pm – Clutch vs. Panthers. PREVIEW: A tale of two teams with attendance issues. This game could go twelve different ways depending on which players show up. At full strength Clutch are a well oiled machine who know how to play together and have championship experience. Panthers on the other hand go with sheer star power led by former mvps Muzz and Hyder [we didn’t forget Adnan]. This should be a good battle, hoping for everyone to show up. PREDICTION: Panthers 42 clutch 38

Game 3, 10:00 ,pm – Bricklayers vs. Tigers PREVIEW: Game of the night! Defending champs vs the first place Tigers. The Bricklayers are coming off a tough loss against the Replacements and Naveed and Junaid will be looking for revenge. On the other side Kaptain Kamil and the best big man in the league, Dev are in a fight for the 1 spot. It’s a battle of the two older teams in the league, but there’s on guarantee. No ones scoring more than 15 on Farooq. In the end the Bricklayers don’t lose two games in a row and they will pull this one out as well in a nail biter. PREDICTION: Bricklayers 54 Tigers 52

CBL30 10/25/21 Games Previews and Predictions

Well the power rankings dropped and some folks took offense and others accepted the facts. But like any day in CBL what’s basketball without some drama. Let’s dive into this week’s match-ups and predictions.

8pm-CBB (2-0) vs Panthers (3-0): PREVIEW: Sitting at the top of the CBL standings with a perfect record, the Panthers team has a big challenge on the horizon this week as they face their undefeated counterpart CBB. So far this season, the Panthers have controlled play, winning three consecutive games. However, the Baller Boys aren’t far behind as they are currently rank second in the standings. Some would say the Panthers are finally meeting soild competition and their toughest test yet. The Baller Boys are coming off two stellar wins against top 5 teams without superstar point guard Taha catching fire yet, scary thought huh? The best thing going for this team is that they are not dependent on one player rather they are like The Expendables on any given night you can get clipped by any one of them. One thing we know for sure though captain Sy is ready to take the top spot and best record. We expect these teams to come ready and battle for what they believe is their rightful spot. Captain Muzz has built a well rounded team for this season and won’t back down. His men give him 110% every night. This will be a battle of the guards that’s for sure. We see a high scoring but little defensive affair.  PREDICTION 76-64 CBB

9pm-Imaan (2-1) vs Uncle Drew (2-1): PREVIEW: Look what we have here best friend versus best friend, teammate verse teammate: Michael Liander vs Alonzo Robinson. Quickpoint these two guys have torched CBL together winning multiple chips & taking down stacked teams. But on this night they will be going up against one another. Imaan is coming off of a tough loss last week in which we saw Mike go for 25pts-25reb. Where as his counterpart Zo went for 25pts-6reb in a win. Unfortunately health is not on Imaans side with their big man forward Tariq out and a gtd today. We also hear chatter that others may be m.i.a. As for Uncle Drew we expect a hungry and ready team that want to climb up the standings to the top where they believe they should be. If they play anything like they did last week expect them to give Imaan a rude awakening. We saw Saleh Ahmed go off in the second half to carry his team to a hard fought win over Autobots. The question is will Zo continue his second half sluggish ways and be helped by his guys or will they faulter? For Mike and company who is going to step up? MoeH has been stellar on defense but any offense? Can Jose make open layups? Where has Safraz of week one gone? With so many questions and little answers we see Saleh lighting up Imaan as Zo gets the full court Harden treatment. PREDICTION 77-67 Uncle Drew

10pm-Afghan Ballers (2-1) vs Autobots (0-3): PREVIEW: One team is going to right the ship and it can either make or break their season. The Afghans come off a bye and can finally get back to winning If the yelling and finger pointing stops. Anyone find the beebs yet? Both him and his talent have been m.i.a and that’s hurting the ballers. The after hours chatter says this team more concerned about who should be a one rather who should be a leader. Haroun & Nafi need to corral the boys and show some sort of urgency.

The Autobots have another chance to get a win under their belts. Last week they showed great effort and resiliency but it was to little to late. If they can get full attendance from all members this will be one heck of a game. One unfortunate piece of news is that we cannot figure out who the leader of this team is? Time to step up Raheel!! We need to see Dre/John/Dezz and Stan on the floor at the same time and just like those machines they can transform the season. Urgency Autobots…it’s time to assemble! Just like Transformers we see Dre/John come to the rescue and get th Bots a first team win! PREDICTION 66-63 AUTOBOTS

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