Team Clark Season Preview

As the start of league play is only one week away, I thought we should take a look at the participants in this years league. Today, we will highlight Andy Clark's team. Andy or Team 1 on the schedule, had the first pick in the draft. He chose former B league scoring champion and Olympic Club Legend James Maloney. He filled out the rest of his roster with proven B league contributors
Rich Bollini
Claude Calegari
Bill Breck
Greg Ley
Jim Sweeney
Chris McDonough
Jason Lynch

It remains to be seen if Team Clark will be able to find consistent scoring on a nightly basis. While Maloney is certainly capable of pumping in 20 a night as he did during the 05-05 campaign, he is best when his teammates are looking to get him in positions where he can score the basketball. Maloney is best coming off a screen at the elbow, or in transition, where he can either pull up for the 18 footer, or "sneak" ahead of the defense for a layup. He is certainly capable of hitting the 3, though it is not a consistent weapon in his arsenal. Maloney at times can fall victim to the "is it really gameday" syndrome, and it also remains to be seen whether his recent marriage will affect him mentally. We all saw how Tiger Woods played in the year after his marriage.
Rich Bollini will probably take on the role as the secondary scorer. He is as crafty a vetern playing in the B League currently, and being left handed, he often has the advantage on the attack. A good free throw shooter who can dribble with either hand, he is shifty and comfortable pulling up for the jumper or putting the ball on the deck and going to the tin. Team Clark will probably come to rely on his consistency if Maloney is having an off night.
Calegari, Sweeney, Ley, Lynch and McDonough are all classic Clark type players. Calegari is an excellent team player and very capable of contributing as the third scorer. He is also an excellent on the ball defender with long arms capable of defending multiple positions and very good at getting into the passing lanes. On offense he tends to prefer to dribble right, but can also spin left for a nifty fall away off the glass. Regardless, Clark is lucky to have him as Claude is a great guy and also a great team player.
The rest of Team Clark will need to step up when the occasion presents itself if they are going to win a majority of their games.
A few sleepers who could have solid years are
Chris McDonough and Mike Donnelly.

OUTLOOK:
Having the first pick in the OC B league draft is always a tough proposition. This year, with so many of the obvious picks from years past not participating, Andy's decision was even more difficult. While James Maloney is certainly a scorer, I'm not sure that he is going to be able to consistently score night in and night out and for that reason, I anticipate Team Clark struggling to score the basketball.
However, this is a veteran team that is has savvy and guile. But as the league has moved towards younger members in recent years, I wonder if Team Clark will struggle their stamina down the stretch in games.