2018-2019 Playoffs
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1.
Light Blue |
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3.
Blue |
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Light Blue |
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6.
Dark Blue |
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6.
Dark Blue |
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Light Blue |
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4.
Teal |
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Champion |
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5.
Red |
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5.
Red |
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2.
Orange |
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2.
Orange |
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Round One, Game One:
#3 Kenny Konrath (Blue) versus #6 Matt V (Dark Blue)
-In an unpredictable year, it seemed utterly obvious these two teams would meet in the playoffs. Having been the principal actors in a ridiculous post-draft trade, the regular season results for these teams might lead you to believe that the trade was misinterpreted and that Matt V, needing extraordinary circumstances just to GET IN to the playoffs, had gotten the short end of the trade. But with the elevated stakes of the playoffs influencing this game, the unfairness of the trade was put on display in full. Team Dark Blue, having the luxury of two primary scorers who were both drafted in the first round, was able to outlast the resilient Team Luke by playing a very average game. Neither McGinty nor Pat Statham lit up the score board, but having multiple threats makes an enormous difference in the playoffs, when scoring comes at a premium. The already limited offensive capabilities of Team America (World Police) looked stagnant as they faded into oblivion in the second half. Luke played well and led his team with 22 points and 12 rebounds, but what do you expect from a team without a first-round pick? When critical points were needed, there was no one to pick up the slack. Matt V’s team moved on here by doing just enough, but they moved on nonetheless, which is all that matters.
Round One, Game Two:
#4 Vito (Teal) versus #5 Brennan (Red)
-For years, Mark and Rob would battle each other to stand-still in the playoffs, in the sense that their individual contributions were so similar that the were effectively negated. In this situations, the supporting cast ends up deciding the outcome to a large degree, which is why drafting a deep team that can play together will always be the best route towards a HatchetBall title. In this one, Mark scored just 16 points, so you may be quick to blame his lack of production on the loss. And, fairly, he could have been more aggressive in hunting scoring opportunities. But Team Red, which relied almost exclusively on Steigerwald to score points during the season, only got 17 points out of him. Obviously, you can influence the game in other ways, but with the two primary scorers on these teams cancelling each other out, the victor would be decided by the supporting cast, and it was. Team Teal’s front line couldn’t convert on repeated scoring opportunities, especially during an abysmal first half, and Team Red got a standout game from Hustlin’ Hahn and 3 critical buckets from Al Pacino. That was all it took to knock Mark out of the playoffs. Team Teal should feel regret for not taking advantage of a strong roster, but their inconsistency throughout the year doomed them in the end. Too many games playing from behind. Too many thoughtless, pointless offensive possessions. In the end, Team Red put them to bed by letting them commit suicide.
Round Two, Game One:
#2 Garmes (Orange) versus #5 Brennan (Red)
-Team Garmes had the most interesting regular season arc of any team. While most teams were up and down all year, Team Orange segmented their results into two clearly defined eras of excellence and putridity. After jumping out to a perfect 7-0 record, Team Orange won just 1 of their last five games to end the season 8-4 and give up the #1 overall seed in the playoffs. But the strength of their early dominance proved to be critical, as it got them a much-coveted first-round BYE and positioned them to play a very favorable matchup to get to the championship. Team Orange would have had a harder time with Team Teal, but still couldn’t shake Team Red in this one, requiring overtime to get by. Steigerwald put up a game-high 26 points and Jerry was back to his shit-stirring ways, but Team Orange got contributions across their roster and their depth was the difference as Team Red slogged in the 2nd Half, unable to find quality scoring opportunities. Team Garmes escapes with the victory (their first since February 21st) and gets to the title game.
Round Two, Game Two:
#1 Beave (Light Blue) versus #6 Matt V (Dark Blue)
-Minus the only first-rounder that they drafted, Matt V’s boys figured to face an uphill battle against the stout Team Beave. While the score never got out of hand, this game went as planned for the most part, with Dark Blue running out of gas and ideas down the stretch. It’s nice to see Matt V wasn’t rewarded for his pre-season fuckery. Heading into Championship Week, we’re looking at a very even matchup. Team Orange will not be bullied the way other rosters were by Light Blue’s size advantage, but they may struggle to get good shots against a group of long and heady players. Expect a bloodbath. Take the under.
Championship: #1
Beave (Light Blue) versus #2 Garmes (Orange)
-After a pretty underwhelming season, the championship game was also a bland affair. It’s possible we had underestimated Beave’s Boys all season long, as they looked dominant for the entire forty minutes of this one. They used runs to start the first half, end the first half, and start the second half to create a comfortable 10-15 point cushion that Garmes’ Guys could never threaten. In the end, Team Light Blue had good size and shared the ball well, which got them plenty of high-percentage chances at the rim. Famed Equestrian Clint led the charge, going about 10-11 from the field, punishing Team Orange any time they tried to double Large McGinty. Matt Koll picked up his 3rd title, but his first since 2012. This was quite a year of transition for HatchetBall: the games moved later than ever, the league and schedule condensed, and there continues to be very little agreement about anything amongst the league organizers. Some of these factors contributed to some worsening quality on the court, but nothing has dampened the communal spirit of competition that keeps us coming back every year. Next year, we’ll get into a new decade and will crown a 2020 champion. It will be a fresh start to look forward to and another chance to enhance your legacy or create a new one.