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Crazy weekend that just went by us. So crazy in fact that I had to breakup this week’s Armchair post (the East will be online later tonight), so I wouldn’t overload your minds with amazing team analysis (not cuz I couldn’t get it done in time and have 8K to run, aka a self induced heart attack, in about an hour… just wanna get that straight, although, if you don’t see that East rehash up later tonight, you can probably put money on the fact that that heart attack crack ended up being more than just a crack).

Either way, outside of maybe Edmonton (and maybe Colorado too), no one really stepped it up and dictated their fate this past weekend (check out Chris Hall’s take). Forget all this league parity talk (it’s getting beyond tired), this is the time the men get separated from the boys. The time the true ballers that are willing to give up their first borns step up to the plate. Bottom line, “it’s go-time”.

Anyways, here’s what the West looks like with just three weeks left…

Colorado Mammoth (7-5 overall, 6-3 division)
Not a bad weekend for the elephants at all. Two tough Eastern clashes, one a nice win over Rochester and the other a hard fought loss to Buffalo. Nothing to be ashamed of comin’ outta week 15. Had they come outta the half with a bit more urgency and finish against the Bandits, think they definitely coulda swept the week under the rug. Kinda concerning that they only finished on two chances on the press (something that a team like the Mammoth should do a lot more often)during the weekend split, but they got some decent production outta their even strength nonetheless, an area they struggled at not so many weeks back. They’ll definitely need some bite outta their own end this coming week when they play a speedy New York team that’ll suffocate ya on the break if you give ‘em even just a little peak.

San Jose Stealth (7-6, 5-4)
Same thing as usual with the Stealth. The boys are lacking consistency over a full 60 minutes. They dropped their second of the double against Portland and had it not been for some sick play by Jeff Zywicki, there’s a good chance San Jose coulda lost two in week 15. The Stealth have gotta have Gary Rosyski in the lineup. Not 100% sure what went on there with him being a healthy scratch week-after-week, but come on, he’s definitely the kinda guy you need full-time now. Hopefully we’ll see him in the lineup the rest of the way with Wiles on the sidelines. Not much else to say. When these guys play a full 60 the way most know they can, they’re one of the most unstoppable teams in the league. In the same breath, when they’re not on the same page, well…

Portland Lumberjax (5-8, 5-6)
Almost a full thirty minutes went by at one point in the Jax’s first game against San Jose that saw them scoreless, not surprisingly a loss. Tried pouring it on at the end there, but it was way too late. Good showing the next night, but they need that kinda effort from start to finish, cuz like I’ve mentioned a number of times, the close-out to their season is the toughest sked of any team in the league. Word is that the boys are feelin’ pretty confidant with Matt Disherin-between the pipes. Like most, Disher had a better second game during the weekend versus his first, but a decent couple starts from Dish for sure. Great couple games by Derek Malawsky, who pokes his head back into The Money Ballers later this week. They’re definitely in the driver’s seat right now for that three spot, and even though they have Philly, San Jose and Buffalo on their plate, right now at least, they can dictate their season and not rely on anyone else. A win over Philly would likely all but seal the deal.

Edmonton Rush (4-7, 3-4)
The best team over the last five or so weeks? The Edmonton Rush, or at least that’s what their 4-1 record says. It was gut check time in Alberta on the weekend and the Rush definitely knew how to hold their own against the Necks. Jimmy Quinlan is playin’ outta his mind right now. Chris McKay is lookin’ like he’d been playin’ all season, absolutely no rust. And if it wasn’t for some crappy games to start the year, Curtis Palidwor would probably be neck-and-neck with Whipper for tender of the year. Mike Hominuckis playing maybe the most consistent ball we’ve seen from him since entering the bigs and ditto forIan Hawksbee. Buck Stobart started the game by smokin’ Josh Sanderson and ended it with the game winner, not a bad night. Hard to find many negatives in their game right now and I can promise you neither first or second place team is gonna wanna host these guys in the first round of the playoffs. We’ll find out what kinda legs these guys have on the road, with their next three, well, on the road, against Calgary, San Jose and Colorado. Are you gonna bet against them?

Calgary Roughnecks (4-9, 4-6)
The Necks are winless in their last three and last in the West. Although Shooter told media on the weekend that he plans on Calgary making the post-season, the odds are definitely staked against ‘em. But I guess Shooter’s been there before, and produced, so hard to doubt the guy (i.e. Brampton vs. Victoria Game Seven 2002, crazy night). Every dude in that locker-room has to have the same attitude, or the Necks can forget playin’ past April. Calgary definitely had ample opportunity to bury Edmonton like they’d done to teams in past years, but for whatever reason, they just haven’t been able to get ‘er done this season. They have the Rush two more times before the door closes and definitely need both of those games if they want a chance at landing that four spot, maybe even numero three depending on how things play out.

Note: 10:00PM Just got home and feel like I may have in fact had five mini heart attacks throughout the run. What does it mean when you have a sharp pain searing through your arm? Anyways, check back tomorrow for what the East is lookin’ like at this crucial time, the NLL Top 20 and of course everyone’s fave, The Money Ballers. BOOOOOOOOOOOYAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!

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