2016 NLL Picks and Power Rankings: End of Season

Are Saskatchewan worthy champions? Yes. Were they the better team on Saturday? No. Would they have won game tree in Buffalo this Saturday? I think so. However the latter pair don't matter. We have brief  2016 reactions below, but that will need another day of material to itself. We'll dissect more then. Otherwise, it was a relatively entertaining game. Looking on the horizon, we may see expansion in the near future (I'm guessing for 2018). This is across the league, but the officiating did not get any better this year. I have not been pleased since the year referee Chet Couture retired (2009). Seven long seasons I have waited for officiating to find stability. However, just like the players, the refs get paid peanuts. Basically, I need more consistency among penalties and less ref control on interpretation. I am positively receptive to what Commissioner Sakiewicz has done. The toughest season for him is out of the way, s maybe for me there's hope.

Champions Cup (Game 1):

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Weekly Total: 1/1

Season Total: 53/81 (.654%)
Postseason Total: 4/8 (.500%)
Cumulative Total: 57/89 (.640%)
*Away team is above the home team; underline below arrow indicates correct pick.

Report Card (Overall):
Buffalo Bandits: (B+) Struggled at times against weaker opponents; improved defense.
Calgary Roughnecks: (B-) Though the squeaked out a playoff berth after starting 6-0, improvement from last year required starting Scigliano.
Colorado Mammoth: (C+) Jones carried team a lot still not enough for getting to the Finals;
Georgia Swarm: (B-) While they did make the playoffs, it didn't initially look that way; finding better juju at the Infinite Energy.
New England Black Wolves: (A) don't know if anyone gave them a chance to make the playoffs despite roster improvements.
Rochester Knighthawks: (F) Offense lost  a lot of force; gave up two game lead for last playoff spot late in season after four straight Finals.
Saskatchewan Rush: (A) Great team up until Finals, where team was above average instead of great; need better Bold back up in case of emergency.
Toronto Rock: (F) Flat start to year, worse finish  than 2015 Calgary - both started 0-6; core veterans not entirely stepping up.

Vancouver Stealth: (C-) Big improvement on both offense and defense; lucky T-Rich came out of retirement.

Final Power Rankings:
1. (1) SASKATCHEWAN - Lucky just enough Saturday night, but still the better team over all (in my opinion).
2. (2) BUFFALO - Can't be disappointed with the season fully.
3. (3) GEORGIA - The picks that are left are doing well, and the ones that aren't have given other players.
4. (4) COLORADO - How have they not been close to a final given their relative regular season success?
5. (5) NEW ENGLAND - Wings fans thinking they are missing out on some playoff lacrosse.
6. (6) CALGARY - Must decide what to do with Mike Poulin.
7. (7) VANCOUVER - Don't know much of what else can get them playoff bound again.
8. (8) TORONTO - Still get league's best dressed award for another year.
9. (9) ROCHESTER - We've learned that Rochester needs to either embrace the purple more or go back to a more traditional teal.

View Brian Shanahan's picks on IL Indoor.

-Ricky