by NSL Woj
Formed by the Yagev/Zach coup d'etat, the Stallions have the largest gap between ceiling and floor out of any team, as they are probably the only team who is capable of winning the championship or finishing in last place. They bring just about everything to the table - defense, size, shooting, slashing ability, rebounding - but sometimes the whole is less than the sum of its parts.
Many probably think that they will finish near the bottom of the standings cause that's what Yagev - led teams do, but there are others who believe that Yagev is a clear cut top 5 player in the league and can carry the depth-heavy Stallions deep into the playoffs (I lean more towards the latter). Yagev has a lot to prove this year, is he up to the challenge?
Roster
Yagev Levi (C), Zach Goldman, Tameek Bray, Josh Cooke, John Ross
Yagev and Zach are locks for the starting lineup and it looks like the third spot will go to Tameek - leaving the sharpshooting Josh Cooke and the paint beast John Ross coming off the bench. Yagev and Zach are elite two way players, both capable of scoring 20+ and clamping the best player on the opposing team. They offer a ton of versatility and could be total game changers together as teammates. However, knowing Yagev, I'm not sure either of them will come out of the game, which could mitigate the biggest advantage that the Stallions possess: depth. If the star duo doesn't sit, that leaves a mere 28 minutes for Cooke, Ross and Tameek to play combined, which could lead to potential trade requests from Josh and John - two players known to care more about minutes than winning.
Strengths: Depth, Defense, Athleticism
As the deepest team in the league, the Stallions surround Yagev and Zach with three other capable starters. Barring disaster, Yagev and Zach should be locks for the All Star game, and there was a time last season where it looked like both Tameek (21 points per game) and Josh Cooke (16 points per game) had an outside shot at making it. Managing minutes may be a bit tough, but Yagev should have the pieces needed to answer anything that opponents throw at them.
Yagev and Zach are among the best defenders in the entire league, so they should do a solid job in limiting the top options on opposing teams. Tameek, Josh and John aren't great on that side of the ball, but they can easily get the job done against 3rd, 4th and 5th options they'll match up with.
Weakness: Scoring From Stars, Chemistry
While Yagev and Zach are very very players, neither have shown to be elite level scorers in the Newton Summer League.
Zach has improved a ton over the past few seasons, showcasing elite slashing ability, top tier athleticism, lockdown d and an improved jumper, but he has NEVER averaged double digit points in an NSL season.
After years of averaging an inefficient 14-17 PPG, Yagev went for 19PPG on 37/32/46 splits in his last full season back in 2021. That's great production, but will it hold up against the likes of DHS, Steven Campbell, Matt Rooney, Thomas Byrne (all average 25+ year after year) and Kyle Dewitt? Yagev has clearly improved his shooting over the past few years (and it has really showed in the pick up games at the Y), but his last three NSL games - two in 2022 and Game 3 of the Finals in 2021 - he has averaged 12.33 points, 7.33 rebounds and 2 assists, and shot a combined 1-15 from 2 and 11-38 from deep. I believe in Yagev this season and think he will have a great year, but he has to prove it on the Fair Oaks court.
All in all, the star scoring may not even matter because of Josh and Tameek, who are both capable of scoring 20+. They are easily the best scoring 3/4 option combo in the entire league and their games compliment Yagev and Zach nicely. Josh is an elite sharpshooter who will space out the floor nicely so Yagev can go to work. Tameek is probably best utilized as an athletic slasher who can keep the offense afloat if Yagev or Zach miss time or sub out. Meek should be able to feast on the other 3rd and 4th options teams will throw at him. Also, John Ross had a 35-15 game last year, so don't count him out either!
The depth the Stallions possess is nice, but time and time again, when it comes to winning and losing in NSL, depth doesn't make much of a difference. It helps, sure, but what really matters is that the superstars play like superstars. So ultimately, the success of the Stallions is going to come down to Yagev and how he fares this season.
Regular Season Prediction: 4th place
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