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Tonight the post-season drops on the HSBC and a new breed of ballers will step up and make a name for themselves in their attempt to hoist the Champion’s Cup.

And even though put-up or shut-up time starts tonight, we just rifled through 18 weeks of the tightest, sickest, jaw droppin’ ball we’ve seen in a while during 08’s regular season.

I’ve been tracking the Top 20 players from week-to-week this year but now finally have the entire season to work off of, so after the jump, checkout who I think were the 20 baddest box ballers on the planet in 08…

20. Chris White, Defender, Buffalo Bandits
This guy’s just nasty. And not stupid nasty either. He plays smart, composed D (usually) but will come atcha like there’s no tomorrow and trash the sh** outta if you even think about cutting through the gut. Pound-for-pound one of the best pure D guys in 08, no questions asked.

19. Blaine Manning, Forward, Toronto Rock
Tough year in Toronto for sure, but one of the diamond in the rough stories had to be the elevated play of Blaine Manning. Manning came up clutch a ton of times this year and you could definitely tell he was playing with a new focus and dedication that was missing in 07. Like Bob Watson was in the Rock’s own end, Manning was “the man” at the other end of the court. Mighta had fewer points this year, but the digits don’t come close to telling the whole storey with Blaine in 08.

18. Bruce Murray, Defender, Colorado Mammoth
He’s the smoothest and most versatile movin’ big man playin’ D in the NLL, and at 260 lbs, that’s sayin’ something. Swatted down a ton of chances for the Mammoth this season and brought a dimension to the Mammoth’s D that was kinda missin’ last year. Don’t hear a lotta talk about Murray, but trust me, he was a beast this season.

17. Nick Patterson, Keeper, Minnesota Swarm
Even though the stats might not say so, Patterson was again, one of the best tenders in the game. The fast paced style of the Swarm breeds high scoring games no matter how you slice it, but it’s the big money stops that Patterson made this year that had most forwards second guessin’ themselves when the game was on the line. He’s the kinda tender that can not only keep ya in games, but win ‘em on his own too.

16. Mark Steenhuis, Transition, Buffalo Bandits
As always, Steenhuis posted the big numbers, played both ends when needed and was actually more clutch than most people give him credit for. Of the Bandits’ ten wins this year, Mark either scored or setup the game winning goal in seven of those games. With so many Canucks coming to the bigs playing both JR and college, Steenhuis (straight from JR to the pros) is still probably the best pure athlete of any Canadian in the league right now.

15. Scott Evans, Forward, Rochester Knighthawks
Grant mighta been scoring in bulk for the Hawks down the stretch, but Scott Evans’ goals meant more to Rochester’s playoff drive than any other player wearin’ teal. Evans can score on all sorts of weird angles and outta holes that don’t even look like the have openings.

14. Brodie Merrill, Transition, Portland Lumberjax
I don’t think people realize what an off the charts year Brodie had this season. Think after last year’s semi-sophomore slump during a year IL tagged him as the best player in the game, people kinda pushed him to the side and forgot about him in Portland, but Merrill didn’t give a sh**. Brodie went out and had a phenomenal year, especially in his own end, that drove the Jax past the Rush and into the playoffs again. Bicker all you want, Merrill was a full out stud in 08 whether you like it or not.

13. Geoff Snider, Transition, Philadelphia Wings
You know why I like Snider so much? It’s not cuz he has most FO’s won even before his opponent looks him in the eye. It’s not cuz he has most fights won before his bucket’s had a chance to bounce off the carpet. And it’s not cuz he’ll run you through the boards like a Mack truck if you take one millisecond too long to pick up a loosie. It’s cuz Snider plays with more heart and wants to win more than maybe anyone in the league, and it totally shows in his game. And like I said earlier this year, wish everyone played as “business” as Geoff did at the ASG, woulda made for a classic.

12. Ryan Cousins, Defender, Minnesota Swarm
Not sure there’s a defender in this league that combines as much leadership, skill, heart and smarts on the press as Ryan Cousins. Minny’s got a few guys that might play a bit better technically than Cousins, but it’s all the intangibles that Ryan brings to the table that has him as one of the most respected and dangerous guys in the game (earlier this year, the players voted him D man of the year at the half… trust me, they know what’s up, do you?).

11. Ryan Ward, Forward, Minnesota Swarm
Man, had Ward’s second half been as stellar as his first, we mighta been talkin’ MVP here. Ward led one of the league’s best workin’ team concept O’s and really dictated whether they swam or sank for most of the year. Even though Andy Secore out-pointed him, still think Ward is the man that makes that O tick.

10. Eric Martin, Defender, San Jose Stealth
Put the women and children to bed, cuz Eric Martin was let off his leash this year and murdered some of the best O’s this league could throw at him, without thinkin’ twice (literally and figuratively). He’s built in that same mold Jay Jalbert is. If either of those two grew up on the other side of the boarder playin’ box, look the hell out!! No one combines as much skill with the mean streak Martin walks around with. Only question is, with “Meat” playin’ in San Jose, did anyone else notice?

9. Bob Watson, Keeper, Toronto Rock
Even with the ankle injury and major Rock losing skid down the stretch, Bob Watson was still the top tender in the game this year. As weird as it sounds, the last two seasons might be the best we’ve ever seen Whipper ever, and his ability to take his game to a higher level while the Rock franchise struggle on and off the floor, only goes to show what a prime time killer Watson really is.

8. John Grant, Forward, Rochester Knighthawks
Hey man, Jr. looked good throughout, but there was definitely something missin’ for parts of the season. When you break these guys down, pound for pound, Grant is still the slickest cat in the league, he just didn’t have storyline to go with it in 08 to be considered this year’s MVP.

7. Dan Dawson, Forward, Portland Lumberjax
Few poured it on as thick and as heavy as Dawson did for the Jax in the second half of the season. His numbers mighta dropped from a year previous, but that has more to do with who he had to feed to in Portland versus Arizona. He had a lotta pressure put on him and he dragged his crew over the finish-line more than once this year for sure.

6. Colin Doyle, Forward, San Jose Stealh
The Rock are finding out fast how irreplaceable a guy like Colin Doyle is, and the Stealth, for the second straight year, have one of the most clutch and consistent guys running their O. Doyle might be the most lethal “pass first” guy in the game and even with a slew of different names coming in and outta that lineup this season, Colin still kept San Jose’s O intact and runnin’ as smooth as silk.

5. John Tavares, Forward, Buffalo Bandits
Think this year I mighta heard JT’s name mentioned less than ever before, but if you take a good look at what he meant to Buffalo this season, ya gotta wonder why he’s not the first name rolling off most people’s tongue. He made so many guys a whole helluva lot better this year, and that’s a big reason why Buffalo clinched the East, had seven guys hittin’ double digits and owned the league’s best goal differential (+29). We might be seein’ a second generation of ballers takin’ over the game, but no matter who breaks into the bigs, Tavares keeps it real like no one’s business. He might be hittin’ 40, but his best before date reads whatever the hell he wants it to.

4. Gavin Prout, Forward, Colorado Mammoth
Even though things didn’t go as planned in Colorado this winter or spring, Prout still looked crazy good. Barely heard any mention of the fact that Prout came super close to breaking Josh Sanderson’s single season assist record this year, which was kinda weird. Prout led the league in man-up helpers and was just a point behind Casey Powell for the PP scoring lead too. With a number of injuries and an O around him that never seemed to click, it’s actually kinda amazing to see the kinda digits Prout posted this year considering the situation he found himself in.

3. Jeff Zywicki, Forward, San Jose Stealth
This guy does more dirty work than any other prime time scorer in the league and his shooting percentage is off the charts compared to almost anyone on the league’s leader-board too. Seven short handed goals to boot to lead the league ain’t too shabby either. In fact, the Stealth were 5-1 in games this year when Zywicki buried one a man down. As big as Doyle was for them this year running that O, it was Jeff’s’ tireless work off the ball and unmatched work ethic that propelled the Stealth to top of the West.

2. Casey Powell, Forward, New York Titans
The more you doubt this guy, the more he burns the ever lovin’ sh** outta you. For years during his break from the indoor game, box purists said he was too weak for the NLL. Then he blasted back onto the scene last year when the Titans took up shop and looked far from weak. Then this year, with fans and media still doubting his heart, Powell pushed the Titans to not only a playoff spot, but now no doubt has the respect of everyone associated with our brand of ball. Plus he’s a F’n genius on the floor too. Could be this year’s dark horse MVP depending on what voters are taking into consideration.

1. Athan Iannucci, Forward, Philadelphia Wings
No one knew he was gonna come as hard as he did this year, and even after everyone in the game noticed what he was capable of, Athan Iannucci kept producing at the same record breaking pace without batting an eye. It’s almost impossible to get a straight hit on him in tight and the way he isolates his man when pickin’ up a loosie, just crazy stuff!! Would be beyond shocked if he wasn’t named the MVP on the 15th.

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