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Week 8
NBA 2k20 is upsetting me greatly.
A patch happened in March, affecting only one uniform in the whole game, Ylisse’s away blue jerseys:
After months of communication with 2k, the end result was essentially a giant “lol we dunno what we did”, so we lost a good uniform. Sorry Ylisse, looks like you’ll always be in yellow or green this year.
On a positive note, we had 3 really competitive games, and one … not so competitive game. Luckily, our lopsided game was game 1, so let’s get to that!
Game 1: Hoshido @ Rhodos Coast
Rhodos Coast is still sitting in the ‘best of the rest’ category in Northern Fodlan, only a game back from Friege. Meanwhile, Hoshido is languishing 3 games back from Fort Merceus, Brigid, and Macedon.
Oh look, it’s my favorite coach, Fiz! Things aren’t looking so great, buddy!
But perhaps those tolling bells were a bit premature, because when the game started, Hoshido went off.
It was astonishing how lopsided the game began, as Hoshido sped out to an 18-0 lead immediately, and Rhodos Coast could barely keep up.
They finally scored to make it 18-2, but that only served to make Hoshido hungrier.
And they started to push around the Raiders a little bit, just to scare them slightly.
It was an effective plan, and it worked wonders in the 1st quarter.
Takumi, who won player of the week last week, seemed to enjoy the extra freedom that he was getting from the more physical play.
The first quarter ended with Hoshido up 42-6 on a reeling Rhodos Coast.
The second quarter was rather uneventful, save for a bizarre foul from Sakura.
This foul was actually recorded as a flagrant 1, her 2nd of the season. I have to look into how many technical fouls lead to a suspension, but it’s funny how this game actually records technical fouls; I don’t remember any of my past NBA2k games doing this as frequently.
Anyways, we reach halftime with Hoshido still up big, 57-24.
The second half was largely academic, any run by Rhodos Coast was snuffed out by a timely Takumi 3:
But, to their credit, the Raiders hit two separate buzzer beaters, once at the end of the 3rd and once at the end of the game. When the other team is wiping the floor with you, you can take all the small victories you can handle.
Hoshido cruises to an easy victory, 107-61.
Game 2: Macedon @ Nohr
Thanks for starting the game out right, Nohr. I’m always looking for those sweet shots of Leo.
Aw, and Garon’s excited!
Nohr and Macedon enter this game fighting for best of the rest in the South, as Nuvelle recovers from literally everyone being half-dead.
This game quickly became a game of long runs, where one team would pull out a big lead, and the other team would reel them in.
Nohr got the ball rolling, with Xander and Leo pulling the team to a 10-2 lead:
The lead would expand to 12, with Nohr holding a 22-10 lead, before Macedon started to push tempo going into the end of the quarter.
But Nohr held fast, utilizing defense and Elise’s speed to cut through.
Nohr’s 12 point lead was cut to 7, but they still led 22-29 going into the 2nd quarter.
Macedon had already found their legs before the 2nd quarter started, but now they really got into high gear.
2nd in Blocks per Game still, Macedon upped defensive intensity, while also managing to get quite lucky on some broken offensive plays.
Like, look at this. That’s a failed steal attempt that led to a wide open 3 pointer. That’s just destiny at work.
Minerva began to bully everyone around her, and dominate the glass.
Navarre also put in work on the interior, actually collecting 3 assists in the game as a pure center:
Minerva was helped by a resurgent Linde, who was only averaging 6 ppg before this game.
She had scored 12 in the 2nd quarter alone.
At this point, Macedon was up 50-35, and Nohr looked a little shaken. A changeup in defense, doubling up Minerva and letting Navarre run free, stemmed the bleeding, and Macedon’s offense slowed down.
And Niles hit a couple crucial shots to get them within single digits.
And at the end of the half, Camilla had her only block of the game to prevent Macedon from going up 9.
[timg]https://i.imgur.com/7Rnon3A.gif[timg]
lol just kidding!
Macedon would go into halftime up 54-45, with momentum starting to swing in Nohr’s direction.
Nohr didn’t start the 3rd quarter well, as Xander would get hit with a technical foul for this hit.
Honestly, it doesn’t look all that bad, so it’s a little bizarre.
Minerva took advantage of Xander’s less physical play and started showing off.
Xander gave up 6 points before he started to fight back.
And Niles followed it up with his last 3 of the night:
Macedon still managed to slow the pace down, mostly from making the game a little more sloppy:
Elise hit a layup to end the quarter, and Nohr took a 67-70 lead.
With only 12 minutes left, Macedon and Nohr became a shootout.
The two teams were separated by 3, 99-102, when Niles hit the clinching shot:
Linde would hit the final shot of the game, but it was too little too late.
Nohr wins, 102-104
Game 3: Sacae @ Fhirdiad
Hector looks … concerned.
Fhirdiad had some injury concerns this week, choosing not to start Ingrid or Sylvain, and refusing to play Dimitri at all.
Doesn’t mean Mercedes can’t have a little fun while she’s at it!
Sacae shot out to a furious start, primarily on the back of Eliwood.
Priscilla contributed 6 points early in the quarter as well, but her defense proved more valuable early.
Fhirdiad was having a particularly difficult time with ball control, with Felix being the worst offender. He had 7 turnovers in the first half, 5 in the 1st quarter alone!
He and Annette would get benched before the quarter ended, opening the door for Ingrid and Ashe, who immediately pulled together this:
Despite this, Sacae would pull out a 30-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The 2nd quarter seemed to be just what Fhirdiad needed, as the team regrouped and focused around Mercedes.
She did not disappoint, pulling in 12 rebounds and 14 points in a dominant 2nd quarter.
Felix finally got out of his funk:
And Fhirdiad pulled back a 14 point deficit and managed to take a 48-50 lead by halftime!
They continued into the 2nd half with the same inside dominance.
Dedue started to score as well, and Mercie attempted to intimidate the opposition.
The 3rd quarter would end with Fhirdiad extending their lead, 75-81.
Dedue started the 4th quarter with an emphatic block:
Careful Dedue, don’t hit your teammates!
Sacae got within 2 points, at 99-101, before Mercie took back over.
When Felix blocked a ball straight into Sylvain’s arms, the game was essentially over:
Fhirdiad would go on to in, 101-111.
Game 4: Ylisse @ Enbarr
Buckle in, folks. Eastern Church vs Western Church was an appetizer to perhaps the best game of the season so far.
Ylisse got the game started in classic Ylissean fashion, with slow but physical offense.
Enbarr chose to respond the only way they know how: Dunks.
Chrom and company kept pace with the Eagles, however.
All of this was given the stern retort of: “It’s Dunk Time”
And then NBA gave me a set of animations so bizarre I had to save them:
Ferdinand: breaks wrists after fouling Hubert
Frank Vogel: “Don’t break your wrists please.”
Jason Kidd: “How did I end up here?”
The quarter ended with Enbarr up 26-30.
Quarter 2 began with a huge 3 pointer by Sully:
Robin would get his 2nd steal out of 4 on the night:
And Ylisse was right back in the lead.
So who should show up but the MVP of last week’s Enbarr game, Constance von Nuvelle.
She stole the ball 3 times in the quarter, and added 12 points in the quarter.
But that didn’t stop the scoring trio of Robin, Sully, and Tharja from keeping up.
Then Enbarr went on a run of their own:
They spread the ball to 7 different scorers over a 5 minute period, including this insane gem from Caspar von Bergliez, which showcased his dumb as hell rebounding ability.
And with the final shot of the half, Constance von Nuvelle extended Enbarr’s lead into double digits:
Enbarr went into the second half up 51-61.
The second half started with Hubert giving his all for the Emperor.
Unfortunately, Edelgard decided to start taking on too much on offense, and her height disadvantage was finally capitalized on:
And, perhaps as a result of a hex, Tharja began to score at will:
Open shot after open shot revealed themselves to the dark mage, and she took full advantage by going 5-6 from three point range in the 3rd quarter.
Enbarr didn’t take all this lying down, however: Petra would score off of a great steal:
And Edelgard would finally get open again:
But Tharja’s 19 points tore apart the lead that Enbarr had worked a whole half to build, and the 3rd quarter ended with the teams tied up, 79-79.
Robin would have a scary moment in the beginning of the 4th quarter, as Caspar shoved him in midair.
Caspar got a technical for the foul, which was well deserved imo, and Robin was able to continue.
Early on in the quarter, Petra and Edelgard dominated the less athletic Robin and Tharja, dunking at will:
But Ylisse’s whole strength all game long was in long form pace. They controlled the boards and controlled the ball:
With only 1:01 left on the clock, Edelgard put up a monster 3 pointer to put Enbarr up by 4, 104-108.
About 15 seconds later, Chrom put up a floater to cut the lead to two.
With the ball in Edelgard’s hands, and Hubert and Ferdinand struggling with Chrom and Frederick, the Emperor took it upon herself to put the game away.
And Freddie and Robin made sure that Chrom would succeed:
But with one solid heave from Caspar, Ylisse’s comeback-
Almost fell short: We are heading into Overtime.
Overtime became a battle of heavyweight boxers, trading blow for blow. Robin got things started with a filthy behind-the-back pass:
This is why he is the most popular point guard in the Northern Fodlan Division All-Star Voting: He does at least one no-look pass a game.
But finally, Ferdinand Von Aegir had enough.
The man who disappeared for most of the game put up 6 points in Overtime, half of Enbarr’s output.
However, the biggest threat was Hubert, who was locked in a personal feud with Frederick.
Yes, that is Hubert Von Vestra flinging himself across the interior court for a huge dunk.
Frederick couldn’t respond, but there was someone more than eager to make the opposing team suffer:
Tharja would nail that 3, and Robin would follow it up with a 3 of his own:
With Ylisse up 119-118, the ball fell back into Edelgard’s hands, who found a wide-open Petra MacNeary:
But with the game on the line, there was only one man who could save Ylisse: Frederickson
With 15 seconds remaining, Enbarr had a chance to win the game, and Edelgard is not someone to take lightly with the ball. Even though she was covered tightly by Robin, she took a chance when Hubert set up a screen:
Heartbreak in Enbarr, as Ylisse steals a huge win, 121-120.
For the first time all season, Enbarr is no longer the best record in the Fodlan League.
… They’re just tied for the best record.
Managers and Players, it is once again time for upgrades! You know the drill, give me 6 players to improve by 15 points each, and for players, give me your 15 points of improvement!
Scores will be up tomorrow!