DFAL Predictions 1/15

[NorCalScout]

Dougherty over Acalanes- Game will be closer then most think because a little let down after big win at Campo.

Dublin over Miramonte- Gaels stumbled early against Dougherty but have rebounded well and still have league title in their sights.

Las Lomas over Alhambra- Weak preseason schedule has done the Knights no favor in the tough DFAL. Beat Campo at their weakest and have now lost back to back games (Acalanes & Dublin). Just what any struggling team needs, to see Alhambra on their schedule to stop a losing streak. Las Lomas big and hopefully get back on track.

 

[kiddman32]

I pick the same three...

 

[observer22]

I'll go with Dougherty and LL, but will take Miramonte at home in a mild upset over Dublin just to stir things up some.
This could be a great game as both of their games last season came right down to the end.

 

[kiddman32]

Dougherty beat Aca 72-40
Miramonte wins 80-65, outscoring Dublin 46-29 in the 2nd half
LL with a 83-40 win over Alhambra

 

[2016chd]

Dublin not living up to the hype

 

[infofreak]

Falls had another technical. Did anyone see the game who can give some context to why?

 

[observer22]

Nice, I was 13 for 13 in predictions last night for the DFAL, EBAL, DVAL & BVAL. Miramonte has an improved team from last year, but Dublin is still dangerous even though they're not living p to the hype. I wouldn't rule out them beating Campo, DV or Miramonte when they play next, but they've got to turn it around soon.

 

[observer22]

Falls had another technical. Did anyone see the game who can give some context to why?

And 2 techs for Coach Costello as well. There must have been some heated moments, but they can't afford to lose composure like that.

 

[ncshewson]

this league has some of the most intriguing storylines of the season.
Dougherty-overachieving after many left them for dead after Fadal bolted.
Dublin-looked outstanding early on, but the loss to Concord in their own tournament started the question marks,
Miramonte's-resurgence
Campo's apparent decline

 

[Bitter Branson Fan]

i've watched Miramonte twice and walked away thinking how loaded and deep they are. I thought their only fault was being undisciplined, but didn't think my sample size of two games was enough to come to that conclusion.

 

[Tophoops]

The DFAL league regardless of how hyped up it gets is not one of the toughest in the bay. Not a lot of size. DV has 3 returning starters that complimented Fadal last year and they are doing good work. DV senior post player can finish and that is working for them.

Dublin has no solid player to compliment Falls and that's a gap Costello needs to address. Miramonte has the most talented team in the league but how that translate to winning games is a different subject.

 

[infofreak]

I agree with the Miramonte comment. Two really good shooters over 6'5".Their ranking puzzles me but maybe it is a discipline issue. On a given night they can beat a lot of teams. DV has had an exceptionally weak schedule prior to league but it has worked for them. It gave them cohesion and confidence and they played really well as a group when I saw them. Their power forward plays bigger than he is and the PG is a very nice player. If either of those guys are off, they struggle I think. I didn't see the campo game but that might be what happens to them when a good post player can defend DV's inside game. DV has a junior guard who is showing nicely as well and was unsung last year. Dublin has it in them to turn it around. The technicals are concerning. I think that Falls, as a junior, is probably learning a ton about leadership and bottom line is they need him on the floor and playing well or they suffer. I like DV or Miramonte for the title. I think each has multiple weapons.

 

[ncshewson]

Dougherty crushes Amador Valley today to only further their legitimacy.
Granted not the toughest non league schedule, but beating Logan, Pitt, Castro Valley and Amador are solid D-1 wins.

 

[observer22]

Dougherty crushes Amador Valley today to only further their legitimacy.
Granted not the toughest non league schedule, but beating Logan, Pitt, Castro Valley and Amador are solid D-1 wins.

Amador is not a solid win. It would have been a bad loss though if they didn't win. Who has Amador beaten? Dougherty was legitimate already without this win.

 

[infofreak]

I agree that DV has a nice team and a sparkling record but the only quality win they have per Maxpreps is dublin, and dublin will probably fall in the rankings as their losses mount. Last time I looked DV's avg opponent ranking (Maxpreps) for non league was around 500 with no one is the top 200. Logan is around 230 and Castro valley closer to 260. Compare that to Concord. Concord has 7 non league opponents ranked 150 or better. 3 of those are top 50 or better including sacramento who is top 10. Concord, like DV, beat Dublin. DV barely beat Pitt and was behind to Granada (ranked around 700) at home before pulling out a 5 point win. I think Concord (ranked 320) probably beats DV on most nights even though Concord is only 9 and 8. So, to me the intrigue comes in play offs when eventually DV will see some quality opponents. Even their league is generally softer this year than in years past. They are generally under sized so the test will come when they meet some athletic teams with length.

 

[EHS90]

I saw DV for first time on sat.. they was impressive and efficient.

 

[infofreak]

I agree about DV being efficient. When I saw them I thought the same. But you saw them win by 30 against a team that is young and a work in progress. Miramonte will be an interesting test for them because MM is more mature and longer than many. Las Lomas also might be a surprising test.

 

[ncshewson]

AV is a very well coached, young, solid middle of the pack, second tier, probably 4th place EBAL team that will make NCS. Hence I consider that a solid win for DV. A More impressive win than any league game Concord wins.

 

[ncshewson]

Concord needs to play a decent out of league schedule to get any respect since their league has to be one of if not the weakest in NCS this year

 

[infofreak]

NCSHewson, I agree that Concord has an easy league. I'm comparing the quality of non league schedules and Concord's is much tougher than DV's. Much tougher. I'm saying that Concord at 9 and 8 might be a better team than DV at 16-1, as crazy as that sounds. Concord seems to have the athletes to beat good teams. I saw them play quite well against an athletic Newark American and they beat Dublin. Both rated much higher than them.( I don't fully understand how Maxpreps ranks when these head to head wins don't seem to make much of a difference. That is a different issue.)

As far as AV being solid, I guess if your context is who might end up in an NCS game so "solid" being relative. But on an absolute basketball level I don't think that is a "solid" win, no disrespect meant here either to DV or AV. And I agree that AV is well coached.

As for league wins, Concord can't control the league it is in. So saying they have no solid league wins shouldn't be used as a strike against them. They can control their non league competition, and they've chosen to play against good teams. I looked at their schedule just now and their average opponent rank non league is around 200. DV's is around 500 average. I'm interested to see how DV does against MM and LL. I'm hoping Dublin gets back on track so that the second half of the league is up for grabs.