by NSL Woj
Ryan McLaughlin was the first player in the entire league to sign in the free agency period, and now he leads a Blizzard team captained by the one and only Charlie Lewis. Joining them are Thomas Byrne, Brian Conneely, Erik Brown and the recently signed Samy Elghazzawi.
The Blizzard should be very competitive, but what seems like an absolute powerhouse on paper carries much more uncertainty than one might expect. Ryan McLaughlin is out the first month of the season as he recovers from a recent surgery and Thomas Byrne lives 30+ minutes away. Charlie did average 13PPG and 9RPG on 74% shooting last year in tourney 1, but he only had 3 (!!!) games played. Samy and Erik are good role players that should feast on any other 5th men, but if they get pushed up in the pecking order, their advantage disappears entirely (and probably becomes a disadvantage).
If Ryan misses less time than expected, Thomas misses less games than expected and Charlie doesn't try to be NSL Jokic (like he does at the Y), then the Blizzard have as good chance as any to win the Championship.
Roster
Charlie Lewis (C), Thomas Byrne, Ryan McLaughlin, Brian Conneely, Erik Brown, Samy Elghazzawi
The Blizzard possess an incredibly deep roster, with 6 players who are capable of starting, and every single player (besides Charlie and Erik) brings a unique skillset to the table. Thomas is the best shooter in the league and averaged 25 PPG and 5.7 3FGM/G last year, so he should have no trouble carrying the offensive load. It wouldn't surprise anyone if he is a top 3 MVP candidate by the time the playoffs roll around. Ryan is the best non-guard defender in the entire league and gives me major Jaren Jackson Jr. vibes. In two games last season, he averaged 23 points and 8.5 rebounds. Next up is Brian, an elite third option who can do a little bit of everything on the court - he had a breakout tourney 2 last season where he averaged 22 and 6 on 52% from 2 and 39% from deep. I envision a bit less volume this year, but similar efficiency. Charlie is the ultimate wild card. He's been extremely inconsistent in previous years as he sprinkles in some monster games where he totally dominates but then there are times where he's better off on the bench (like in the 2022 finals). If he has a great season (all star conversation; similar numbers to last year but no attendance issues) - and the opportunity certainly will be there with Ryan shelved the beginning of the year - then the Blizzard instantly vault from the middle of the pack to a top contender. Erik and Samy offer great depth and defense, and could show flashes, but neither project to have a huge impact this year.
Strengths: Size, Rebounding, Starting Lineup
The Blizzard have three clear cut big men in Ryan, Charlie and Erik, and another who plays like one in Samy. Most other teams are lucky to have one. This should be a huge strength in a half court basketball league, and there could be times where they absolutely overwhelm opponents with their size and dominance on the boards.
The starting three of Ryan, Thomas and Brian is arguably the best in the league - lots of strengths and very few weaknesses.
Weaknesses: Composure, Bench Shooting
It's not a secret that Thomas and Ryan are two of the most competitive players in the Newton Summer League. This can be a great thing for Charlie and the Blizzard, but it also can be an absolute disaster. If shots aren't falling and the refs are struggling, nobody would be surprised if things started to get out of hand. Thomas and Ryan are my pick to finish second and third in techs this year - behind Yagev, of course. And there's a good chance that Charlie finishes top 5 too.
The Blizzard expected starting lineup is Thomas Byrne, Brian Conneely and Ryan McLaughlin, which leaves Charlie, Erik and Samy - and absolutely zero shooting - coming off the bench. As long as two of Thomas/Brian/Ryan are in, this may not be too much of an issue, but otherwise, the space on the court could shrink really really quick. It may be smart for Charlie to look into a deal where he ships away Erik or Samy (yes I know it's unlikely cause they are Charlie's boys) for a bench shooter like Josh Cooke, Jack Whalen, Sammy Kapur or even Sam Rothstein.
The Blizzard should be a really solid team, but can they survive the first month of the season without Ryan?
Regular Season Prediction: 6th place
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