There is one week of regular-season gameplay remaining before The TICKET powered by AT&T. Some teams have their playoff spots secured, others are on the bubble, and some are just hoping to establish some momentum in the final week in hopes of making an improbable run.

Here are my thoughts and observations after Week 9 of the NBA 2K League.

61 No Asterisk

It hasn’t been a great season for oFAB and Cavs Legion GC, but the former No. 2 overall pick in the inaugural NBA 2K League Draft had this Roy Jones Jr., “y’all must’ve forgot” moment on Saturday night.

The CLGC star dropped a remarkable 61 points on Pistons GT in one of the last contests on the Week 9 schedule. oFAB was unconscious from three-point range, converting 11 of 21 attempts from long range and 22 of 39 shots from the field overall. He nearly outscored the entire Pistons GT squad in the 94-69 rout. Warriors Gaming Squad staff member and writer Josiah Cohen added some perspective to oFAB’s historic scoring performance.

Speaking of high-scoring performances, @_oFAB's 61 points tonight marks the fourth-highest scoring performance in @NBA2KLeague history and the only game thus far to finish in the 60s. Fab's 16 career 40-point games are tied for the most in league history. (3/5)

— Josiah (@josiahcohen13) August 8, 2021

CLGC heads into the final week of the season simply trying to get themselves into a position to perform well in the The TICKET. At 9-17, they are out of contention for one of the top 5 spots in the Western Conference.

There is some reason for optimism. CLGC split the Week 9 games and considering they battled two teams in a position to qualify for the playoffs without The TICKET (T-Wolves Gaming and Pistons GT) the hope is that oFAB and Co. can find a groove.

Grizz Gaming Clinches a Playoff Berth for the First Time in Team History

Somebody queue the classic Etta James track, “At Last.” Google it.

On the strength of a 3-1 week (2-0 over Magic Gaming and 1-1 vs. Gen.G Tigers of Shanghai) Grizz Gaming clinched a spot in the NBA 2K League Playoffs for the first time.

One helluva year so far for the gang. #PlayoffsBound | #GRNDHRDR pic.twitter.com/vxdOjt6i87

— Grizz Gaming (@GrizzGaming) August 8, 2021

There have been some up and down moments for this team. However, at 16-10, they have just two games remaining in the regular season before officially taking the next step, and competing for the NBA 2K League championship.

Vandii averaged 26.7 points and a shade over 11 assists per game in Week 9, and he has consistently pushed this team offensively.

T-Wolves Gaming 3-1 Week Capped With Game-Winning Shot

Grizz Gaming isn’t the only squad to enjoy a 3-1 week as they prepare to enter the playoffs. The Western Conference co-leading T-Wolves Gaming squad had the same record in Week 9, and the last victory came with style points.

After taking an upset loss to CLGC in the first game of the series, T-Wolves Gaming turned oFAB and Co. back thanks to this clutch buzzer-beater from Shifty Kaii.

.@ShiftyKaii secured the W for @TWolvesGaming with this last second shot!

Live now: https://t.co/IWibnYP9k4 pic.twitter.com/LgMejpd4gl

— NBA 2K League (@NBA2KLeague) August 7, 2021

As I tweeted shortly after this one went through the virtual net, the unselfishness of BearDaBeast, the skill of Kaii and the willingness of the rest of this squad to play their roles are the reasons T-Wolves Gaming will be as dangerous as any team in the playoffs. At 19-7, they have just two games remaining in Week 10 before they’re off in search of their second NBA 2K League title.

T-Wolves are tied with Pacers Gaming heading into Week 10, but they would seemingly have an advantage based on the strength–or lack thereof–of their upcoming opponents.

T-Wolves will play a pair against Lakers Gaming, who is currently on a 12-game losing streak, while the Pacers Gaming face another potential playoff team in Pistons GT.

76ers GC Squandered Opportunities

While Grizz Gaming and T-Wolves Gaming were taking advantage of their opportunities to lock down playoff seating, 76ers GC did not take care of similar business.

With a chance to significantly aid their Playoff chances in Week 9, 76ers GC nearly laid an egg as they were only able to secure one win after a pair of contests against Celtics Crossover Gaming and Blazer5 Gaming.

The 1-3 record dropped 76ers GC to 14-10 which means they could need to win at least 2 of their final four games to hold off Knicks Gaming and Magic Gaming.

Week 10 will not be easy for 76ers GC as they have a series against the defending champion Wizards District Gaming, and the hot-and-cold Heat Check Gaming squad.

1st Team to 20

Speaking of WDG, the champions keep rolling. They finished Week 9 with a 3-1 record, which helped them reach the coveted 20-win mark first this year. WDG star Dayfri, who also registered a triple-double in Week 9, reflected on his team’s accomplishment as he looks forward to the playoffs.

21-5 man going into the last week of the season. So crazy how everything works out, can’t wait to be in dallas 🧙‍♀️

— Ryan I 𝖎𝕭𝖆𝖑𝖑 (@dayfri) August 8, 2021

Dayfri is a Dallas native, so the playoffs will be special for him. The NBA 2K League recently announced they were returning to live in-studio competition for the postseason, and everything seems to be aligning for Dayfri and his team.

With one win or a Hornets Venom GT loss, WDG will clinch the No. 1 seed in the East. No defending champion has ever entered the playoffs of the following NBA 2K League season with a better winning percentage. This is without a doubt, the team best positioned for the league’s first repeat champion.

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