The Gulag trailed Ricky Bobby for five days and won it on the last one. Ricky Bobby led 5-3-1 after Tuesday 20 Oct, 7-2 after Wednesday 21 Oct and still 5-4 going into Sunday 25 Oct. The Gulag finished ahead 5-4, the only lead they held all week.
The final day belonged to The Gulag's scorers. Jalen Brunson had 28, Desmond Bane 22 and Tristan da Silva 19 with 5 threes, all on Sunday 25 Oct. Turnovers went The Gulag's way by a single turnover, 68 to 69, and steals by the same margin, 46 to 45.
Jalen Johnson was The Gulag's best player all week, averaging 21.7 points, 10.0 rebounds and 10.0 assists, with 26 points, 9 rebounds and 16 assists on Saturday 24 Oct. Wendell Carter Jr. was the surprise: 17.0 points a game on 76% shooting against a projected 10.0, and Jalen Smith added 24 rebounds. The Gulag won rebounds 196 to 149 and points 539 to 480.
They did it short-handed. Nic Claxton spent all six days on the injured list, AJ Dybantsa sat out two starts and LeBron James one, so The Gulag's 38 games on Yahoo's count were 35 on the floor. Bam Adebayo averaged 13.0 points against a projected 20.2, Desmond Bane shot 33%, and Collin Gillespie went scoreless in his one game, though he had 4 steals in it.
Ricky Bobby's strength was the backcourt and the rim. Tyrese Haliburton averaged 21.7 points and 9.7 assists, Trae Young had 34 assists in three games, and Ricky Bobby won assists 144 to 118. Walker Kessler shot 82% and blocked 9 shots, 6 of them on Friday 23 Oct, as Ricky Bobby took blocks 27 to 24.
Paul George gave them 38 points with 7 threes and 5 steals on Tuesday 20 Oct, and averaged 26.5 in his two games against a projected 19.8. Ricky Bobby won threes 51 to 41.
Depth was where Ricky Bobby came up short. Brandon Ingram spent all six days on the injured list and Coby White sat out one start. On the floor it was 33 games to 35. Onyeka Okongwu averaged 8.7 points and 5.0 rebounds against projections of 15.0 and 7.8, and Jerami Grant shot 31%.