Basketball is often called a game of runs, and the virtual rendition must be a similar game in that regard. The Atlanta Hawks Talon Gaming Club began their regular season with three straight losses, but have now played their way into a five game winning streak. Rookie Caesar “CEEZ” Martinez has been perhaps the best newcomer in the league, averaging 26 PPG, and dropping 50 points and 11 assists in a second win against Heat Check Gaming on Saturday.
“My transition coming into the league has been amazing, and I’ve had my teammates by my side helping me out,” CEEZ said.
“As you know, we have three vets and they’ve helped me a lot and I feel comfortable here.”
“He stepped right into the leadership role as a rookie, and playing the point guard role and managing the team is a hard role on itself,” coach Acuff said. “And then to put up big numbers and points on the board is more on top of that. To see him grow throughout this season has been amazing, and he’s welcomed the challenge.”
While fellow rookies Mike “SWANN” Swanegan and Thomas “FAKIEE” Batts have not put up point totals nearly as gaudy, they have played solid roles for a team who looks like a serious contender in the 2K League.
“I see potential and we could all be great players,” CEEZ said. “I’ve been playing with FAKIEE since before the league, and I didn’t know SWANN before he got to the team, but he’s showed out for us in every game.”
Aside from the three rookies, veterans like double-double machine Lee “LEE” Lamb and Michael “BP” Diaz-Cruz have continued to perform. Often the man tasked with dropping 30-10 last season, BP has transitioned into more of an all-around wing role this season, which has been key to their defensive success.
“We were finally able to figure out defense as a unit, and not for all of the responsibility to be on our lockdown defender,” coach Acuff said about the team’s commitment to getting stops. “So rotating for each other, covering for each other, that was getting us stops.”
With the team on a roll, coach Acuff and the rest of Talon GC has shown that talent and tactics are not lacking. The coach says that staving off complacency or overconfidence is going to be key to continuing what could end up being a double-digit game winning streak.
“We’re just trying to build on previous momentum and stay consistent,” coach Acuff said. “We don’t want them to be comfortable because our success early on, so I want to see them take the game seriously. It’s more about the mental preparation from here on, since we take the steps in practice to be prepared on the court.”
WHAT IS HAWKS TALON GC:
Hawks Talon GC is the Atlanta Hawks affiliate team in the NBA 2K League. Led by Head Coach Wesley Acuff, Hawks Talon GC was one of four expansions team in the second season of the NBA 2K League, a professional competitive gaming league co-founded by the NBA and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO). The NBA 2K League features the best NBA 2K players in the world competing as unique characters in 5-on-5 play against other teams in a mix of regular season games, tournaments and playoffs. For more information on Hawks Talon GC, visit hawkstalongc.gg or follow the team on Twitter and Instagram.
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