 As we’ve told you before, the mainstream streetball summer scene — previously dominated by AND 1 in recent years — has a new player in the Ball 4 Real tour. Made up of some of AND 1’s original (Main Event, AO) and newer (Spyda, Circus) members, the upstart B4R tour is a natural rival for the established AND 1 squad. Of course, the question we’ve been getting a lot is, which team is better? In a five-on-five game of real ball, we broke down the matchups:
POINT GUARD: Circus (B4R) vs. Bad Santa (AND 1)
If you didn’t already know, Bad Santa is Kenny Brunner, the former high school All-American and Georgetown point guard. Santa gets the scoring edge here, but Circus is a better passer. And with the weapons Circus has around him, he can rack up 20 assists … in the first half. Still, Santa is a problem trying to keep out of the lane and has a lot more experience from playing everywhere from the Big East to NBA summer leagues to pro leagues in a variety of countries...
Edge: AND 1
SHOOTING GUARD: AO (B4R) vs. Springs (AND 1)
Not taking anything away from Springs — who can definitely ball — but AO is that deal; he’s been doing it since Springs was a snot-nose. The only thing Springs has over him is athleticism.
Edge: Ball 4 Real
WING: Mr. 720 (B4R) vs. Baby Shack (AND 1)
Mr. 720 (formerly “Air Up There”) may be the better dunker, but Baby Shack does just about everything else better. And he can throw it down himself.
Edge: AND 1
FORWARD: Main Event (B4R) vs. The Assassin (AND 1)
After watching Assassin destroy 7-foot soon-to-be NBA Draft pick Spencer Hawes at Rucker Park last summer, he should be able to take the aging, 6-4 Main Event on the block and work him out.
Edge: AND 1
BIG MAN: Special FX (B4R) vs. Go Get It (AND 1)
This one’s easy. Go Get It dunks. Special FX dunks better. Go Get It rebounds. Special FX rebounds better. The St. John’s product has the upper hand here.
Edge: Ball 4 Real
BENCH
Ball 4 Real has a plethora of guards — Shane the Dribbling Machine, Spyda, I’ll Be Right Back, Killa Kirb and Pharmacist. AND 1’s backup backcourt consists of The Professor, Hot Sauce and Silk. If this were a showmanship contest, AND 1 would have the big edge, but in a real game, B4R’s guards come out on top. In the frontcourt, B4R has Half-Man Half-Amazing, High Octane and 50. For AND 1, it’s Helicopter, 8th Wonder and Escalade. In other words, B4R’s guys run up and down the court while Escalade slows it down tremendously.
Edge: Ball 4 Real
INTANGIBLES
Both teams have a good mix of youth and experience, but one thing that tilts this category in B4R’s favor is that their core group (Main, AO, Shane, Half-Man) has played together for so long. It’s the same reason why teams like the Spurs and Pistons are continually at the top of the League.
Edge: Ball 4 Real
THE WINNER: 4-3, Ball 4 Real
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