Coco - Lake Merritt Arrows
1) What's your thoughts on being back again in the USA Cup Final after a 2 season hiatus?
It's quite interesting. The amazing thing about the cup is that anyone can kick you out. In some respects getting to this point is harder than making it to the league finals: in that case, you either know it or you don't whether you'll get there. In the cup, anyone can kick you out. I've also been lucky this year because I haven't had much to go through too many senseless CTs.
2) Did you expect to reach the Cup Final this season?
I never do, for the reason above. I did and do think that my team is the strongest in the US; so I was hoping I'd compete for something, but I know from experience at this point that I have won trophies with something less than my best team (ahem, last season's NBBA title...) and lost other trophies with an amazing team.
3) What are your thoughts on your finals opponent?
They are a bunch of annoying bums.
No, just kidding. Part of me thinks this: I am happy to be playing a final series in which (i) I have a shot at winning and (ii) I am not playing the Bulls. The only other time I played a final series against a non-Bulls team, I was shredded by the Heathens. The other part thinks: I really don't want to lose a trophy to a team that has started playing this game four seasons after me.
4) What would winning a second USA cup title mean to you?
I like to win trophies. I want to be Kobe to KDB's MJ (if that comparison makes sense!). Right now I'm more like Tony Parker, if you see what I mean.
Anyway, a few people I've talked think I'm only looking for a ticket to B3. That's not true! I'm in for the shiny gold trophy.
5) Who or whom have been your "star" player(s) in this cup run?
I have kept Ramos mostly off of my league roster to have him play in the cup. He's averaging only 23 minutes/game in the league. It has probably even costed me some games. If I had been a little less risk-averse and played a lesser palyer, I wouldn't be in this silly mess that I am with my league games.
Ramos is averaging 22 points/game in the cup.
6) Who was your toughest match-up this season on the road to the finals?
I've had a pretty lucky draw, actually. BMG and Morton Miners were my closest games, and in both game I had some distinct advantage or other (against wozz better game shape, against MM the financial resources offered by being a NBBA team).
7) If you win the USA cup, what are you going to do next?
Well, I'll aim for the double!