LAX Sports !

By Sean Connolly

As I predicted. John Grant and the Rattlers absolutely destroyed the Outlaws this weekend with a 16-6 beating. The Rattlers set themselves apart from every other team this season, and they did the same this past weekend.

They were led by the MLL MVP John Grant and Joe Walters stepped up big time for the Rattlers this weekend. He was named the Championship Weekend MVP, as he should as he had 6 goals and 5 assists in just two games…the most important two games of the season.

This whole season the only team I could see taking down the Rattlers were the Outlaws. They had the only team in the league that could possibly compete with the complete team of the Rattlers. But, this weekend they proved me wrong.

As it turns out, surprisingly, the Philadelphia Barrage ended up playing the Rattlers better. In the MLL Playoff Semifinal between the Barrage and Rattlers, the game went into overtime and for several moments it seemed like an upset was imminent. But luckily for John Grant and company they overcame the tough minded Barrage. The game on Sunday though was not nearly as close.

The Rattlers dominated throughout and it makes me wonder if the Barrage won in overtime against the Rattlers if they would be champions. Let’s put it this way if the Outlaws played the way they did on Sunday against the Barrage, the Barrage would be the New York Giants of Major League Lacrosse…Ok maybe I went too far, but these Lacrosse comparisons are tough!

By Sean Connolly

That’s what I’m talking about! Finally, the most exciting season in MLL history is now being supplemented with an outrageously exciting playoff race that encompasses several teams in both the West and East. Let’s take a look at the table right now…

Western Conference

Denver 7-3-0

Los Angeles 5-4-0

Chicago 3-7-0

San Fransisco 2-7-0

Eastern Conference

Philadelphia 6-3-0

Boston 6-3-0

Rochester 6-3-0

Long Island 5-4-0

New Jersey 3-6-0

Washington 3-6-0

How great is this? We have a three way tie in the East between the Philadelphia Barrage, Boston Cannons, and the Rochester Rattlers. Don’t count out Long Island either as they’re just one game behind. The West is clearer to say the least but Los Angeles has been playing well and could sneak up on Denver…but don’t count on it. Denver has just dominated this season and has shown the Lacrosse world that they are the team to beat.

I predicted earlier in the season that it would be a match up between Rochester and Denver in the finals, but this race might be taking a toll on Grant and the Rattlers. Denver has been rolling along smoothly and I think they’re too strong to be taken down.

No matter the result this season will go down as the MLL’s best. Whether it’s Denver, Rochester, or my personal dark horse, Long Island Lizards who takes the crown it’s gonna be an absolute pleasure to watch.