Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Northwest Emeralds | 98 | 58 | 0.628 | - | Los Angeles Stars | 84 | 72 | 0.538 | 14 | Mexico City Aztecs | 74 | 82 | 0.474 | 24 | Ottawa Whiskey Jacks | 70 | 86 | 0.449 | 28 | Carolina Flight | 65 | 91 | 0.417 | 33 |
LATIN AMERICAN DIVISION | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Buenos Aires Dolphins | 98 | 58 | 0.628 | - | Rio de Janeiro Jaguars | 87 | 69 | 0.558 | 11 | Sao Paulo Toucans | 73 | 83 | 0.468 | 25 | Puerto Rico Coqui | 66 | 90 | 0.423 | 32 | Santo Domingo Palmchats | 65 | 91 | 0.417 | 33 |
Last year the Predictor 3000 thought that the eventual WBA Champion Jaguars would miss the playoffs. While the computer isn't as down on them this season the thought is that they will once again need a special and fortuitous playoff run to become the second team to repeat as world champions.
Overall, though, we shouldn't expect much change in the ABL balance of power. The only change in playoff teams predicted for 2112 is Los Angeles taking Mexico City's place. Aztec fans are probably still too busy celebrating their country's WBA triumph to concern themselves with preseason predictions of doom, however. One interesting note is that the balance between divisions in the ABL appears vastly improved as the North American is actually predicted to have a winning record over the Latin American for the first time in recent memory. Whether they can turn that into their first ABL pennant since Los Angeles's 2104 world title remains to be seen.
Now, the IBL:
AFRO-EUROPEAN DIVISION | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Black Forest Foxes | 102 | 54 | 0.654 | - | London Monarchs | 90 | 66 | 0.577 | 12 | Barcelona Bulls | 86 | 70 | 0.551 | 16 | Rome Generals | 81 | 75 | 0.519 | 21 | Paris Fleur-de-Lis | 46 | 110 | 0.295 | 56 |
ASIAN DIVISION | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Karachi Falcons | 87 | 69 | 0.558 | - | Mumbai Cobras | 84 | 72 | 0.538 | 3 | Shanghai Sharks | 81 | 75 | 0.519 | 6 | Manila Folders | 69 | 87 | 0.442 | 18 | Melbourne Meteors | 54 | 102 | 0.346 | 33 |
It looks like another exciting year in the IBL with 7 teams looking like strong playoff contenders. In the European Division the Foxes are favored to bounce back with another division championship but London doesn't look like their first playoff appearance will be a fluke. Defending pennant winners Barcelona are in for a fight to earn a chance to defend their league title.
Meanwhile in the Asian Division dire financial straits have caught up with 2108 world champion Melbourne and they're starting to hurt in Mumbai as well. Karachi is favored to repeat as division champions while this may be the year that the process pays off with a playoff appearance in Shanghai if things break right. |
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