With THE TICKET powered by AT&T just around the corner, the jostling for seedings and position in the standings is serious in the NBA 2K League.

A few teams are beginning to make a power move to put themselves in the best possible position. One in particular seems to have struck the right cord with a recent move.

Here are my thoughts and observations from Week 8.

The Dimez Drop

There is no way Raptors Uprising GC could have envisioned the recent acquisition of former No. 1 overall pick Dimez would work out so well–at least not this soon.

In Dimez debut week with his new team after a blockbuster deal landed him in The Six after spending his entire 2K League career with Mavs Gaming, the original 102 member has delivered for his new squad.

Don’t look now, but RUGC is suddenly on a four-game winning streak after sweeping series against Nets GC and Warriors Gaming. Dimez was spectacular in all four games, but most notably in the initial win over the Nets when he dueled with Choc.

While the Nets GC point guard tallied 45 points and 14 assists in a herculean effort in a losing cause, Dimez led his new team with 31 points and 17 assists. Over the four games during Season 8, Dimez averaged 28 points and 10 assists at point guard.

Also, it is important to mention the unselfishness and continued stellar play of Kenny Got Work. A 2K League legend in his own right, Kenny stepped aside and moved to the shooting guard for the betterment of his struggling team, welcoming Dimez to the squad.

Kenny still got his, averaging 20 points and 5.7 assists in Week 8. No one will be in a hurry to face RUGC in the TICKET if this keeps up through Week 10. As a matter of fact, non-TICKET teams might have some trepidation when it comes to a potential matchup in the playoffs if RUGC makes it through
The TICKET.

Champions Hitting Their Stride at the Right Time

Another week, another display of poised, mature, and quite honestly, dominant team-2K basketball was on display from the defending champion Wizards District Gaming squad.

We do not talk enough about JBM. He’s essentially playing like the John Stockton of the NBA 2K League. He’s low on flash, high on substance. He limits mistakes with sound stick skills and superior vision.

During another perfect WDG week, JBM poured 22.5 points and 9 assists per game. Most impressively, he turned the ball over a grand total of 5 times over 4 games in WDG’s sweeps of Heat Check Gaming and Mavs Gaming.

As the season winds down, WDG is the best team in the NBA 2K League.

Trending Down

An NBA 2K League season can be filled with ups and downs throughout a campaign. Grizz Gaming is in a bit of a valley. They have lost three of their last four, and no longer looking like a serious title threat.

Things can change over the course of the next two weeks. However, after being swept by Pacers Gaming and only salvaging a split with a Gen.G Tigers of Shanghai team that they should have dominated, there are some questions for Lang Whitaker to consider heading into the stretch run.

The resurgent Knicks Gaming squad is suddenly nipping at their heels in the Eastern Conference sitting just a half-game back in the standings with two weeks remaining in the regular season. 

Talking All That Jazz

For the second consecutive week, Jazz Gaming put on another impressive display. They finished the week 3-1. Besides MVP candidate Splashy’s continued strong performances, Jazz Gaming’s performance was augmented by the return of recently re-acquired Lotty. 

Playing shooting guard, Lotty was a deadly weapon from beyond three-point range. He made 13 of 19 long-range attempts to provide Splashy with a capable running mate. 

You have to like what you’re seeing from Jelani Mitchell’s team heading into Week 9.

HVGT Kicking Them While They’re Down

The TURN champion Hornets Venom GT needy a boost after a tough performance in Week 7, and they got in the form of one of the softest schedules possible in the league in Week 8. 

HVGT took on Hawks Talon, who came into the game on a 12-game skid. They left the two-game series with a pair of defeats extending their losing streak to 14 straight contests before eeking out a six-point win over Kings Guard Gaming.

From there, HVGT beat up on a hopeless Lakers Gaming that has now lost 11 games in a row. In total, HVGT’s Week 8 opponents are a combined 9-37. If HVGT got anything besides 2 sweeps, there might have been cause for concern. 

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