Roster:
- Derek "exodus" Heidinger
- Gary "Funshine" Laurita
- Cory "BADAPPLES!!!!!!" Branagan
- Rich "sauce " Cannon
- Grant "Griff" Hall

Predicted Finish

sapphiRe's Prediction: 6/16
Mike's Prediction: 6/16

Compostie Prediction: 6th Place, 10-5

How They Got Here

The '94 Knicks were close to taking home the ultimate prize from Season 6 of CEVO. They went 13-5 during the regular season, easily earning them a spot in the playoffs. They picked up two more wins there, but it wasn't enough to get them into the championship match.

That was because they dropped two matches to Carolina, in Round 2 and Round 5. They ended up in third place, which is nothing to be ashamed of, especially considering that their second loss was an overtime match. If not for the Core they could have easily been playing for the title against the Dallas Venom.

Still, third was more than enough to get them a place in CEVO-P for season 7, and they're returning the same roster from last season, adding even more chemistry and experience to an already dangerous team.

Looking Ahead

I'm not sure how to say this, so I'll just come out and say it: this team is a disappointment. A huge disappointment.

I mean, couldn't they come up with a better name than the '94 Knicks? Why not the '93 Bulls, a basketball team that was actually good? Is it really a good idea to name yourself after a bunch of chokers that couldn't get it done in Game 7? I think we're underestimating the effect of positive thinking.

Alright, I admit the only reason I'm picking on their name is because I can't find much fault in their lineup. The vast majority of Source talent is in the CGS, and the '94 Knicks have former CGS players, CGS taxi-players, and people that (in my humble opinion) should be in the league. Other things they have include

- In Funshine they've got the requisite AWPer that can dominate at any given time, an absolute necessity in Source.
- Underrated riflers
- Oodles of experience in big matches and against top teams.
- A great mix of impact players and support guys.

On that last point, I thought about trying to put the players into those groups for clarity, but I couldn't figure how to break it down. There's a good reason for that: at any given moment I think they can all play a support or prominent role as needed. They don't have any huge, domineering egos, but all the players are also capable of dominating any given round. If I was going to build a team that I knew would work hard and put the team first, some of these guys would be on top of the list.

As you can see from our rankings, both sapphire and I like them a little more than the Chimera, and we don't make that choice lightly. These guys are talented, experienced, and they'll be contending all season.

The only question I have for them is whether or not they can change last season's story and beat Carolina, or the other CGS teams, come playoff time.

I wouldn't bet big money against it, but I am afraid they'll be more similar to their namesake than their fans would hope.

--Mike