Which NBA 2K League players are set to dominate THE TURN this weekend? Before the action tips off, have a look at this year’s pre-tournament bold predictions from the experts.

Jeff Eisenband
Social Media Host, NBA 2K League

i) THE TURN Champions: Blazer5 Gaming
Is this a lazy pick? No, it’s just the right pick. No team is as hot as Blazer5 right now. As OneWildWalnut said going into the 76ers GC game, this team’s goal is to blow people out and sometimes they have to settle for just a standard victory. MamaImDatMan is on another level right now and no archetype ban is going to stop that. Blazer5, the Pacers and the 76ers are currently a tier of their own.

ii) THE TURN MVP: MamaImDatMan
He’s the best player in the world right now and he will play even better at The Turn. Blazer5 should ban opposing locks, which is going to leave the floor wide open for Mama, even if the opposition bans his go-to sharpshooting playmaker build. Mama has a different swagger about him this year. Last year, he played with a fiery spirit. This year, he’s loose and is clearly having fun demolishing the souls of the rest of the league. Mama and Walnut have tasted losing and they seem vehemently against it.

iii) THE TURN – Outside chance: Magic Gaming
Magic Gaming has been hard to figure out this year. It climbed to the final four of The Ticket, then lost its first two games of the regular season, then won its next two. As the No. 12 seed, the Magic will have to play an extra game on Day 1, opening up The Turn against the Wizards, but there is a path to glory. The Magic would likely see the Kings next, followed by the Bucks. This squad is also dynamic enough to include multiple scoring weapons and taking UC Manny off the lock might actually make him more dangerous.

Josiah Cohen
Managing Editor, DIMER

i) THE TURN Champions: Blazer5 Gaming
I don’t see any way to not pick Blazer5, the hottest team in the league right now. They won last year’s Turn tournament, perhaps the peak of their season, and with the way the entire squad is playing there’s no reason they can’t repeat. Having the tournament in Las Vegas, closer to home, can’t hurt, but it’s the nonpareil pick-and-roll duo of MamaImDatMan and OneWildWalnut that could have Blazer5 rolling to another banner.

ii) THE TURN MVP: MamaImDatMan
Picking Blazer5 Gaming essentially means picking either Mama or Walnut for tournament MVP, assuming no valiant, vanquished player does enough to win it. Mama and Walnut are both phenomenal options, but how can I go against the league’s leading MVP candidate? There’s no doubt in my mind that Mama wants to make it two years in a row.

iii) THE TURN – Outside chance: Magic Gaming
There are so many good options that this comes down to two factors. Magic Gaming will probably have an easier road than most potential play-in winners by virtue of being the No. 12 seed. Furthermore, I like their defense-first lineup, and head coach Jonah Edwards will make the most of the new archetype ban system. There are plenty of great sleeper picks for this tournament, but every sleeper needs a little magic.

Ronnie 2K

i) THE TURN Champions: Blazer5 Gaming
Biggest point differential in the league, that one loss was a small blip and they’re hotter than wild fire right now. Like 76ers in Tip-Off, they’re repeating in The Turn coming off their win last year.

ii) THE TURN MVP: Mama Im Dat Man
He wants to rip that MVP trophy right out of his teammates hand and he’s putting up pure numbers. Early MVP candidate leaps to clear cut favorite this weekend.

iii) THE TURN – Outside chance: T-Wolves Gaming
Too much talent not to gel and I am on the bandwagon bigtime for at least one more week…

BlkFrankWhite
NBA 2K League Community Ambassador

i) THE TURN Champions: Heat Check Gaming
If Heat Check Gaming can get past their first round opponent in Warriors Gaming Squad their road to the finals (based on my predictions) will be paved with gold. As Heat Check Gaming builds steam they become stronger & harder team to beat in the arena.

ii) THE TURN MVP: Hotshot
As Heat Check Gaming goes so does Hotshot, arguably the best Center in the 2K League. Hotshot ability to play strong in the post & dominate on the boards will be the catalyst behind any Heat Check Gaming run to the banner.

iii) THE TURN – Outside chance: Jazz Gaming
As dark horses go this may be the darkest. Jazz Gaming are riding high after beating arch nemesis Warriors Gaming Squad in week 4. This win can be the changing point of their season and with the best shooting Power Forward in the 2K League Gliz making all the big shots, this team could surprise a lot of people and make it to the finals.

This article represents the opinions of the writer and not of the NBA 2K League.