Pistons GT vs. Cavs Legion GC Recon Report

by Aaron Fox

Pistons GT is set to take on Cavs Legion GC for a pair of matchups tonight. Cleveland is coming off an eventful couple of games against T-Wolves Gaming less than 24 hours ago. The two teams split, and now 7-out-of-8 Cavs Legion GC wins have come against teams that are .500 or better: T-Wolves Gaming three times, Pacers Gaming twice, and Warriors Gaming Squad and Kings Guard Gaming one time apiece.

Detroit took down Bucks Gaming twice to kick off week nine, improving their record to 12-10, along with their playoff chances. We took game one in dominant fashion as the team was really clicking on both ends of the floor. Rookie lockdown defender Pexile had his best performance of the season, posting 12 points, 5 steals, and 4 assists on perfect shooting from beyond the arc (3-for-3). Bucks Gaming scored just 64 points while Radiant (33pts-11asts) and Cooks (29pts-2asts) combined for 62 between the two.

Game two was a different story. Pistons GT held just a one-point lead headed into the final frame. This is where Radiant might have played his best six minutes of the season, scoring 16 of his 43 points in the fourth quarter, sinking tough shot after tough shot. The final dagger was a leaning Radiant three-pointer, giving Pistons GT a six-point advantage with 28 seconds remaining.

Ramo posted a quietly impressive stat line: 11 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 blocks, and 3 steals. Cooks chipped in another 20+ point-performance (21pts), his fifth of the regular season.

Player of the Game: Radiant (38.0ppg-10.0apg)

• Game One: Pistons GT def. Bucks Gaming, 94-64
• Game Two: Pistons GT def. Bucks Gaming, 83-81

Now sitting fifth in the Western Conference with a playoff spot in hand (for now), Blazer5 (13-11) and Kings Guard (13-13) still remain as threats to spoil our postseason aspirations. Simply winning out the remainder of our schedule could potentially earn Pistons GT a playoff seed as high as three, but the team must take care of business against Cavs Legion GC first and foremost.

 

Key Matchup

Cooks vs. oFab

Cooks is coming off a career performance against Bucks Gaming, posting averages of 25 points per game on 66% shooting from the field overall (14.5 attempts per game). He’s now averaging 20.5 points and 1.4 assists per game in 8 regular season starts. Fab has been hot as of late for Cleveland, recording averages of 34 points, 13.3 assists, and 1 steal per contest in his last three games.

Fab is one of the few point guards that defends hash for his team, meaning Cooks will have his opportunities against a weaker point guard archetype on the perimeter. Taking advantage of those opportunities will be important for Pistons GT.

Not only will Cooks be tasked with a heavy offensive workload, but he’ll also be hunted by Fab on the defensive end. Limiting Fab’s success in those situations is certainly high on the priority list tonight. I say all of that to say this: Cooks and Fab are bound to see quite a lot of each other this evening.

Lineups

Pistons GT (12-10)

• PG Radiant: (27.6ppg-9.4apg-1.2spg-2.6topg-55%-50%)
• SG Cooks: (20.5ppg-1.4apg-0.6spg-58%-55%)
• SF Pexile: (6.3ppg-1.1spg-0.5bpg-64%-57%)
• PF Idris: (11.0ppg-3.8rpg-1.8apg-0.8spg-60%-54%)
• C Ramo: (16.1ppg-11.3rpg-2.8apg-1.4spg-1.2bpg-78%)

Cavs Legion GC (8-16)

• PG oFab: (27.8ppg-10.1apg-1.2spg-3.1topg-53%-42%)
• SG Strainer: (16.2ppg-2.8apg-0.9spg-53%-51%)
• SF Godddof2K: (7.2ppg-2.4rpg-1.2spg-60%-51%)
• PF BigRim: (6.1ppg-2.0rpg-1.1spg-0.7bpg-60%-50%)
• C DLaw: (16.6ppg-10.7rpg-2.7apg-1.4spg-1.3bpg-80%)

As always, catch all of the action live on the NBA 2K League’s Twitch and YouTube channels. Pistons GT and Cavs Legion GC will tip off at 9:00 PM for game one and 10:00 PM for game two. Follow @PistonsGT and @NBA2KLeague on Twitter for more updates.