Who is really the Best IBL team???

[homeboypla]

I live in the Everett area and the Explosion is getting no respect not even listed on USbasket as a possible team to win the championship???

I have seen all of the home games and if Everett is not the best team then Salem should be considred the best after the Elgin vs Everett game the East Coast is not very strong as Elgin has lost two games on the West coast even to the one of the worst teams in the West Seattle..

Seattle is a joke of a team and if they can win against the East then I would say Salem or Everett is the best team in the league.

[mammal]

I cover the IBL for a few basketball websites. I think the best team is Elkhart. Marysville, Salem, Everett and Portland are all close. If Portland can have David Lucas healthy they will be very tough. Salem beat Portland by a couple of points and that was with a full roster. Portland didn't have Lucas. Colorado has won six or seven in a row so they are pretty good. The most interesting team is Santa Barbara. I can't remember a minor league team that has so many ex NBA players. They could be very dangerous if everyone on the team played. Some of their ex NBA guys only play the home games.
Elgin was playing pretty well until they had to go west. They lost to Everett and Seattle. Battle Creek and Holland are decent teams that get pretty good support but they are a notch below Marysville and Elkhart.

[winds55]

Well, at least you were proved right on this one. Too bad you didn't stick with your first instinct. :infun:

[Elkhart_Fan]

Now that we know how the story ends, please stop saying that the East is weak. Not only are the Express champs, (again), I can honestly say that the East plays hard-street ball. I saw the Express games when they took on Elgin, Battle Creek and Marysville -- and they weren't just basketball games...they were street fights. I mean some of the most physical play that I have ever seen. The West might have better individual players statistically, but I think the East plays better physical, team basketball. I honestly think that this was the difference in the championship game --- Portland played as individuals, and Elkhart played as a team. So please, lets give the East some respect....

[Xpressfan1]

No disrespect intended, but HOW can you say the East is weak? The Express have been in the league 2 years and won both championships. The Express beat Elgin so Elgin should not be the way you measure the results. The Express also beat Marysville 2 out of 3 times. My complaint about the IBL well one of my complaints, how could that have Marysville as the #1 seed? The Express had a better record and beat Marysville twice? Then Marysville was eliminated after their first game in the playoffs. Talk about lack of respect! Coach Beathea, the team and the fans of the Elkhart Express still battle for respect even though the Express continue to be the best team in the league.

[sportsnut2000]

I would say Elkhart and Everett would be considered the 2 best