Season 56 Playoffs...SemiFinals Game 2...Dallas at Gillette

DALLAS 82, GILLETTE 71

DEMONS RIGHT ON SCHEDULE

GILLETTE -- The Dallas Demons, led by superstar Hall of Fame guard Juzan Djinn, dispatched with the Gillette Humps 82-71 and are back in the MBA Finals, eyeing a record-tying fifth consecutive championship.

Tied 14-14 in the initial quarter, the Demons ended the frame with a 9-0 run and were never again headed, sweeping the SemiFinals and now awaiting the winner of the Milwaukee vs. San Jose series. 

Gillette, still looking for its first post-season victory ever, can only take solace in the fact that they came within 7 points of Mighty Dallas in the fourth quarter and that they were not blown out in either SemiFinals loss.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

37 GVP...Add a seventh triple-double and another playoff POG to the brilliant career of Dallas' Hall of Fame guard JUZAN DJINN. Already a two-time Playoff MVP (to go along with his 2 regular season MVPs and five All-MBA awards), Djinn warded off every Gillette comeback attempt with a game-high 24-point performance that included a game-high 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot. The 7-year wonder was 11 for 18 from the field and 2 of 4 from the charity stripe. His only short-coming was going 0 for 4 from deep, but I think Dallas fans can find it in their hearts to forgive him.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

29 GVP...Gillette rookie point guard Maboroshi No Hotcake...20 points (4 treys)...5 assists...3 rebounds...1 steal.

26 GVP...Dallas center Biggus Dickus...19 points...6 rebounds...1 blocked shot.

23 GVP...Gillette guard Joey Joe-Joe Shamadu, Jr....20 points (3 treys)...3 rebounds.

NEXT UP: San Jose at Milwaukee in Game 2 of the SemiFinals, with the Greyhounds, up 1-0, looking to advance to their first Finals in five seasons while the Fighting Amigos fight for their lives.

 

Season 56 Playoffs...SemiFinals Game 1...Milwaukee at San Jose

MILWAUKEE 76, SAN JOSE 63

GREYHOUNDS GRAB GAME 1 

SAN JOSE -- The Milwaukee Greyhounds took control of a tight series opener in the second half on the way to an important 76-63 road win, putting them one victory away from going to the Finals.

The third quarter was key in the Milwaukee win, as the visitors out-pointed San Jose 22-10, with the home team struggling to make shots.

Special plaudits go to Milwaukee substitute guard Rabbit Munchers, who came off the bench and scored 13 points; going 3 for 3 from downtown.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

23 GVP...Shooting guard ITSTHA BISHOP captured POG honors in this series opener, based mainly on his first half play in which he scored 14 of his 16 points. The 6-foot, fourth-year man who has led the Greyhounds in scoring four consecutive seasons, tied for game-high in points in this game. He was 7 for 12 from the floor, going 1 for 3 from deep and 1 for 2 from the foul line. Additionally, Bishop tied for team-high in rebounds with 4, swiped a team-best 2 steals and handed out 1 assist. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

21 GVP...San Jose point guard Donnie Dupons...16 points...3 steals...1 assist...1 rebound.

21 GVP...San Jose Hall of Fame center J.J. Gargantuan...10 rebounds...4 points...4 assists...3 blocks

NEXT UP: Gillette hosts the second playoff game in their short history as Dallas invades on the way to a Finals appearance.

Season 56 Playoffs...SemiFinals Game 1...Gillette at Dallas

DALLAS 72, GILLETTE 60

DEMONS WARD OFF PESKY HUMPS

DALLAS -- Short-handed Gillette kept things surprisingly competitive until late in the fourth quarter, but Mighty Dallas blocked too many shots (12) and canned too many treys (8) on the way to a 72-60 Game 1 SemiFinals victory.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

27 GVP...PETE "THE STEAKMAN" MARZANO scored a game-high 21 points on 8 for 10 shooting to grab a share of the POG honors in this playoff opener. The 6-8 fifth-year man even hit a trey in his lone longball attempt and slammed home 3 while going a perfect 4 for 4 from the line. He added 2 blocked shots and 3 rebounds in the victory. We hate this guy.

AND

27 GVP...Starting for the injured Maboroshi No Hotcake at point guard, veteran Gillette scorer JOEY "JOE JOE" SHAMADU, JR. answered the bell like a champ, scoring a team-high 19 points on 8 of 12 shooting, including 2 for 4 from deep and 1 for 1 from the foul line. The 6-2 Shamadu also paced everyone in assists with 4, snagged 3 boards and swiped 1 steal. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

24 GVP...Dallas point guard Vicious Hick...18 points (5 treys)...4 rebounds...1 assist...1 steal.

24 GVP...Dallas Hall of Fame two guard Juzan Djinn...15 points...5 blocked shots...2 rebounds...2 assists.

24 GVP...Gillette forward Dark Urine...16 points 3 rebounds...2 assists...3 blocked shots.

21 GVP...Dallas center Biggus Dickus...9 rebounds...7 points...4 blocked shots...1 assist.

Next Up: Milwaukee at San Jose in Game 1 of the other SemiFinals

Season 56 Playoff Preview

 DEMONS HEAVILY FAVORED

With four consecutive championships under their belt, the Dallas Demons are the prohibitive favorites to tie an all-time record of five straight titles, accomplished in Seasons 29 through 33 by the Philadelphia Phobia.

This season the Dallas club (8-2) led the league in scoring for the fourth straight season (79.4ppg) while finishing in second place (to San Jose) in defense (67.6ppg). That gives them a league-best 11.8 points differential on the positive side, the fifth straight time they have been No. 1 in that department. They also led the league in 3-point shooting and blocked shots. 

The Mighty Demons have gone 5-0 in the last two post-seasons and a betting man would be ill-advised to buck the odds of them sweeping the playoffs again.

The All-MBA guard combo of league scoring leader and MVP Vicious Hick and Hall of Famer and runner-up MVP Juzan Djinn has to be considered, if not the best, at least the second-best tandem in league history. 

The team's only two losses came at the hands of Oklahoma City and playoff contender San Jose. They should breeze by the short-handed Gillette team in the SemiFinals.

NOW OR NEVER FOR THE FIGHTING AMIGOS

With three key players (Vinny Zazeech, Hall of Famer J.J. Gargantuan and top sub Handsy Joe Potatoe) retiring after this season, the team from San Jose (8-2) has its championship window slamming shut following the playoffs.

This is a fine aggregation, hanging its collective hat on the 75-64 cross-over triumph against Dallas during the regular campaign. But one game is a far cry from besting Dallas in a series. The San Jose loss to Seattle in the last game of the season erased what would have been home court advantage throughout the playoffs, so that didn't help matters.

The Amigos boast the league's stingiest defense (66.2ppg) and best shooting percentage (57.5). They have a balanced attack that ranked third in scoring 76.5ppg) behind Dallas and Milwaukee and posted an excellent plus 10.3 points differential.

The SemiFinal games against the Greyhounds could be the most competitive of the entire post season. 

The Amigos were easily dispatched by Dallas in the SemiFinals last season, but improved their roster with the addition of rim-protector Gargantuan.

GREYHOUNDS AIMING FOR FINALS

The Milwaukee Greyhounds (6-4) were the surprise team in the East this season, gaining a post-season spot for the first time since Season 52 and finishing second in the MBA in scoring at 78 points per game.

They were, however, sixth on defense, yielding 74.5ppg.

Milwaukee came tantalizingly close to beating Dallas in both of their meetings this season, losing 66-64 and 90-81.

Ehhy Table and Itstha Bishop are a strong guard combo and center Johnny Bananas is a proven scorer with the ability to put points up on anyone. The most unexpected and welcome contributions came from forwards Zippy Wunderslug and Scobee Bryant, both of whom posted 20-plus GVPs for the first times in their careers.

Don't count them out against San Jose, in what should be a very competitive Semis.

CRIPPLED GILLETTE AWAITS EXECUTION

The Gillette Humps (6-4), making their second playoff appearance, come limping into this post-season minus the services of its two best players; center Blob Dylan and leading scorer, rookie point guard Maboroshi No Hotcake. That is not a formula for success when going up against maybe the greatest team in MBA history. 

When fully whole, the Humps counted Milwaukee as one of its six victims during a satisfying regular season. But without its top two scorers, it certainly appears that Gillette will have to wait until at least next season to possibly win the first playoff game in the history of its franchise.

NEXT UP: SemiFinals Game No. 1...Gillettee at Dallas.

SEASON 56 REGULAR SEASON ROUNDUP

-- The four teams that made the playoff are the four teams that registered plus differentials.

-- Virtually no advantage this season to being the home team. 

-- West actually tied the East in cross-over victories.

-- Centers, as a group, seemingly performed the best as far as position players are concerned this season, with 7 of 10 starters finishing with 20-plus GVPs. That's 2 better than last season.

-- Guards dropped from 12 last season to just 7 this season,

-- Forwards went up slightly from 7 last season to 8 this season.

-- Players who show up on this list regularly are the cream of the crop in the MBA. There are 7 repeaters from last season on the Season 56 list. That's a huge upgrade from the 3 who repeated in Season 55.

Some very tight All-MBA selections, especially at center where 3000 edges Hall of Famer Galumpkus by 0.2 and at forward where Plover beats out Mianus and Marzano both by 0.1

Charleston teammates Whiskey and Fuyacho finish 1-2 in race for Rookie of the Year with Whiskey earning the award by 0.1.

 

Season 56 Featured Game No. 10...Seattle at San Jose...plus Vinny Zazeech Day

SEATTLE 83, SAN JOSE 71 (on VINNY ZAZEECH DAY)

STAMPEDE TRAMPLES VINNY'S DAY

SAN JOSE -- Playing like the team unanimously selected to finish first in the division prior to the season, the visiting Seattle Stampede (4-6 final record) rained all over Vinny Zazeech Day by besting the first-place Fighting Amigos (8-2 final record) 83-71. 

Seattle shot a lights-out 62.7 percent against the league's best defense in a performance that was the exact opposite of their 60-51 loss in the first meeting of these squads; a game in which San Jose held Seattle to just 46.2 percent shooting.

The loss for San Jose probably means they will not have home court advantage, as hoped, in the playoffs. For that to happen, they need Charleston to beat Dallas at home in the last game of the regular season.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

35 GVP...Mighty mite point guard BELLYBUTTON INQUISITION had his best game of the season, leading Seattle to this victory. The 5-11 veteran, who has been running the Stampede offense for the past four seasons, dominated his opposite, the defensive-minded Donny Dupons, with a game-high 26-points on 10 of 17 shooting. He was 2 for 6 from deep and a perfect 4 for 4 from the foul line, and the spring-loaded leaper added a slam dunk, tied for team-high in rebounds with 4, handed out 4 assists and provided 1 steal in a superb display of leading his troops. Inquisition upped his scoring average for the season to 13.4 ppg. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

26 GVP...San Jose small forward L.S. Island...19 points...5 rebounds...2 assists.

20 GVP...Seattle Hall of Fame center Chochky Galumpkus...14 points...4 assists...2 rebounds.

Vinny Honored

The Fighting Amigos honored retiring shooting guard Vinny Zazeech at halftime for a short, 6-season career, that was nonetheless worthy of eternal rest in the Tier 1 envelope. The first 1,000 fans entering the building were given a “sangwich” in Vinny’s honor, and the popular guard was given a lifetime supply of gabagool by the team for his farewell present.

Zazeech entered the MBA tied for the tallest guard in league history at 6-8 and immediately found a starting spot that he never relinquished. His first season for Philadelphia, Season 51, was the last time the Phobia made the playoffs, and Vinny’s 47.6 percent 3-point shooting was a major factor in the team’s success. He then left Philadelphia for Charleston where he led the Mountaineers in scoring at 17.3 ppg and 3-point shooting before finally settling for his last four campaigns in San Jose. During those four seasons Zazeech tied for the league lead in scoring (20.3 ppg Season 55) and 3-point shooting (Season 53) while topping the Amigos in scoring twice, assists twice, steals twice and 3-point shooting three times. Zazeech made the All Star Game in five of his six seasons while earning an All-MBA foil star in Season 55’s playoff run for San Jose. Give him a napkin. He will be missed.

MBA Standings … Season 56

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS………………….7-2 (clinched playoffs)(clinched first)

MILWAUKEE………..5-4

OKLAHOMA CITY…..4-5

PHILADELPHIA………4-6 (eliminated)

CHARLESTON………. 3-6 (eliminated)

 

WEST DIVISION

SAN JOSE…………8-2 (clinched playoffs)(clinched first)

GILLETTE…………6-4 (clinched playoffs)

LOS ANGELES….6-4 (eliminated)

SEATTLE………….4-6 (eliminated)

SACRAMENTO… 1-9 (eliminated)

 

NEXT UP: Milwaukee at Oklahoma City where the Lariats need to out-score the Greyhounds by 62 or more points in order to make the playoffs. Ain’t happening. Milwaukee won the first meeting between these two teams 84-71 with Johnny Bananas the POG.

 

Tight individual races going into final bracket

 

With all four playoff positions filled, the final five games of the regular season take on more of an individual player focus as far as category leaders and All-MBA status is concerned.

Home court advantage throughout the playoffs is still up for grabs as Dallas (7-2), winner of the East and San Jose (8-1), which topped the West play for that advantage. Dallas plays Charleston in the final game of the regular season, but the FEATURED GAME between Seattle and San Jose prior to that may be the clincher.

Three players are vying for the rebounding crown.

Eddie”the Milkman” Creamer, San Jose 6.1 is going for his second title in that department.

Retiring Oklahoma City forward Buba Lipa (5.9) and Oklahoma City center Poop-Rupiah 3000 (5.9) are right on his heels.

 

The assists title is also a three-way race

Ehhy Table of Milwaukee 3.2

King Czardines of Oklahoma City 3.2

Flufferton Springs of Philadelphia 3.1

Czardines is going after his fourth assists crown in a row. The record is six in a row by Hall of Famer Great Gruncle Terry.

 

Donny Dupons of San Jose (15) and retiring Los Angeles forward Turk Attaturk (13) are both after their first steals title.

 

Hall of Famer Juzan Djinn of Dallas has 30 blocks heading into the final game, but he trails Charleston rookie forward Grand Demur Fuyacho, who leads the league right now with 31. Djinn has twice led the league in this department, including last season.

 

In the free throw department, Piping Plover of Charleston 89.3% +25 made=114.3 and Scobee Bryant of Milwaukee 100%+12 made=112.0 cannot afford to miss a charity toss in their last contest.

 

ALL MBA RACES

One guard spot is secure with Vicious Hick of Dallas and his 28.5 GVP, which makes him pretty much a shoo-in for his first regular season MVP award as well.

The second spot is a battle between:

--King Czardines of Oklahoma City…24.6 GVP

--Hall of Famer Juzan Djinn of Dallas…24.4 GVP

--Itstha Bishop of Milwaukee…23.6

Djinn is seeking his fifth All-MBA foil star and fourth in a row.

Czardines is seeking his second.

Bishop has never won one.

 

Eddie “the Milkman” Creamer of San Jose (24.1 GVP) looks like he’ll earn his second straight All-MBA spot at forward.

The second spot is a close one, with three contenders.

Phillip Mianus of Philadelphia (22.8 GVP) is after his first All-MBA berth.

Right on his ass is last season’s All-MBA forward Piping Plover of Charleston (22.7 GVP).

Not far behind that pair is Eric A. Crocidale of Philadelphia (22.4 GVP).

 

The center position is a two-way duel between the same two pivots who finished 1-2 last season.

Hall of Fame center Chochky Galumpkus of Seattle, in search of his fourth star and second in a row, leads with a 24.6 GVP.

Second-year man Poop-Rupiah 3000 of Oklahoma City is at 23.9 GVP.

While Vicious Hick looks secure as league MVP, the Rookie of the Year race is a close three-way contest between:

Guard Maboroshi No Hotcake of Gillette (22.0 GVP)

Guard Famichiki Whiskey of Charleston (21.9 GVP)

Forward Grand Demur Fuyacho of Charleston (21.2 GVP)

AND FINALLY:

Sacramento has an excellent chance to be the fourth team in MBA history to go 0-10.

The other three were:

--Season 5...Seattle

--Season 43...Milwaukee

--Season 47...Kansas City