Season 57 All Star Game...Bracket 6 Preview...Power Rankings at the Hal

WEST 84, EAST 64

WEST DESTROYS EAST

SEATTLE -- The West came charging out of the starting blocks with a 13-0 run that was never headed on the way to its first win in four seasons, an 84-64 victory that hit the slaughter rule with two time units remaining in the contest.

The East leads the series 36 to 21.

Star forward Satan Israel of the Sacramento River Dogs broke the All Star single-game rebounding record by hauling down 12 caroms. The record was previously held by Hall of Fame center Bart Pitbull of Houston with 11 in Season 20's star affair.

There was one injury for one game in the contest, as Zippy Wunderslug of the East was felled in the first quarter. Milwaukee will have to go to the cut pile to fill his spot for their next game.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

28 GVP...Just named to the MBA Hall of Fame, Los Angeles' fourth year point guard supreme VICIOUS HICK doubled down during the All Star gathering by capturing his first All Star Game Most Valuable Player Award. The 6-2 superstar, playing in this third All Star contest, knocked down a game-high 21 points while handing out a game-high 4 assists. The former Dallas Demon was 8 for 12 from the field, bombing away at a 5 for 7 clip from behind the arc before fouling out. He becomes just the second  L.A. player to win the coveted honor and the first since Hall of Fame point guard Dr. Marcus Brody turned the trick in Season 48.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

27 GVP...Retiring Los Angeles center Chat Bot...18 points...5 blocked shots...3 rebounds...1 steal.

25 GVP...Sacramento power forward Satan Israel...11 points...12 rebounds...1 assist...1 steal

25 GVP...Seattle rookie forward J.J. "Jake" Pickle...12 points...7 blocked shots...4 rebounds...2 assists.

22 GVP...Milwaukee shooting guard Itstha Bishop...16 points...4 rebounds...1 steal...1 assist.

21 GVP...Retiring Charleston point guard Kopi Luwak...18 points (4 treys)...2 rebounds...1 steal.

BRACKET 6 PREVIEW

The second half of the season starts with a cross-over between Oklahoma City at Seattle as the Stampede tests its new starting center, the veteran Laughing Boy Lasso.

The FEATURED GAME of the bracket will be the fourth one...a second meeting between Philadelphia at Mighty Dallas, this time at Dallas. The unbeaten Demons managed to out-last the Phobia 67-64 in a defensive tussle. POG in that game was Philly forward Phillip Mianus. Dallas has won 13 in a row dating back to last season. They hold the record of 18 straight victories.

POWER RANKINGS AT HALFWAY MARK (previous rating in parentheses)

1. Dallas Demons (1)

2. Los Angeles Big One (2)

3. Philadelphia Phobia (4)

4. Charleston Mountaineers (6)

5. Seattle Stampede (3)

6. Milwaukee Greyhounds (5)

7. Oklahoma City Lariats (8)

8. Sacramento River Dogs (9)

9. Gillette Humps (7)

10. San Jose Fighting Amigos (10)

Season 57 All Star rosters announced...one is the latest Hall of Famer

 

ALL STAR GAME FACTOIDS

-- Seattle is host

-- East has won 36 times, West 20...East has won last 3 in a row and 5 of last 6

-- WITH HIS SELECTION TO THE ASG, VICIOUS HICK OF LOS ANGELES BECOMES THE 63RD MEMBER OF THE MBA HALL OF FAME

-- 10 repeat all stars from last season's squads

-- Three teams have three all stars, but Los Angeles' trio are all starters.

-- Center Blob Dylan of Philadelphia is the only player with a GVP over 20 to not make the squad.

-- Lone rookie to make the game is J.J. "Jake" Pickle, Seattle forward.

-- Last season's ASG MVP, forward Phillip Mianus of Philadelphia is back in the game. The other all star who has won MVP of the game is Eddie "The Milkman" Creamer of San Jose

-- If the MVP of the first half of the season was a thing, it would be retiring Dallas center Biggus Dickus, who is having his finest campaign of an excellent career.

-- Every franchise is represented by at least one all star.

-- Hall of Fame center Chochky Galumpkus of San Jose is now tied for sixth place in most ASG appearances with 8.

-- There are six first-time all stars and three first-time starters.

-- Conspicuous by his absence is Dallas Hall of Fame guard Juzan Djinn, picked unanimously to win the regular season MVP award.

Previous All Star Games held in Seattle

Season 47...East 66, West 60...MVP Chip Battoe, Dallas, Top Scorer, Chip Battoe 24

Season 39...West 71, East 69...MVP Naf Naf, Oklahoma City, Top Scorer, Naf Naf 26

Season 26...East 79, West55...MVP Boone Doggle, Chicago, Top Scorer, Deafman Glance, Milwaukee 19

Season 17...West 86, East 59...MVP Streetcar Johnny Masterson, Oklahoma City, Top Scorer Streetcar Johnny Masterson and Bart Pitbull of Philadelphia, each with 20

Season 6...East 79, West 76...MVP Soul Duran of Houston, Top Scorer Soul Duran 23

Season 57 First Half Team Stats and individual stats leaders

 

Bracket 5 react

THE EAST

Three teams changed their position in the standings

Charleston moved from fourth into second, thanks to a differential tie-breaker with Philly.

Philadelphia, despite a big win over L.A., dropped from second to third due to that win being a cross-over.

Milwaukee, nearly giving Dallas its first loss, dropped from third to fourth.

Dallas finishes the first half with two close wins. I'm convinced they'll lose somwhere along the way, but will finish first. Everyone else in the East has demonstrated capabilities of getting that second playoff spot.

THE WEST

Everyone retained their same spot in the standings despite the two top teams in the standings, Los Angeles and Seattle, both losing.

Seattle, however, lost its starting center for the season, which gives hope to Sacramento and Gillette to stay in the playoff hunt.

San Jose is giving up 92.6 points per game and is really the only team I am eliminating from the playoff race at the halfway mark.

Season 57...Featured Game 5...Dallas at Milwaukee

DALLAS 75, MILWAUKEE 74

DEMONS IN A SQUEAKER

MILWAUKEE -- It came down to a short jumper with 2 ticks left by the league's leading scorer, Itstha Bishop of Milwaukee, which would have given the home team Greyhounds the lead. But not only was Bishop's shot off the mark, it was blocked by Dallas Hall of Fame guard Juzan Djinn, and in a familiar conclusion, the five-time-defending-champs had their 13th consecutive win dating back to last season.

For the second game in a row, Mighty Dallas escaped with a close victory, (having just bested Philadelphia by 3 in their previous win) and once again go into the halftime break with a perfect 5-0 mark, perched atop the East Division. 

The win in this game came with a less-than-scintillating 51.6 percent shooting (0 for 11 from deep), built on a strong performance of the Dallas front court and a ball-popping 22 assists. 

Dallas may have lost last season's league MVP Vicious Hick to free agency, but they seem to be winning with pure muscle memory.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

36 GVP...Fresh off of announcing his retirement at the end of this season, the best center in Dallas history, BIGGUS DICKUS, dominated Milwaukee's helpless rookie center Dave Cowhand, scoring a team-high 26 points on 12 of 13 shooting (2 for 2 at the foul line). The reliable 7-footer, who has played a major role in every one of his team's five most recent titles, is having his best season in the pivot in this, his sixth campaign. His 19.2 scoring average is by far his best ever (best previous was 13.5), as the big guy has taken up the scoring slack left by the departed Hick. Always a clutch defender, Dickus led everyone in this game with 8 points prevented and was also the game's top rebounder with 7. He added 1 steal, 1 blocked shot and 1 assist. He's currently in a brutal battle to get his first All-MBA foil star with Oklahoma City's Poop-Rupiah 3000, and is a clinch to make his fourth All Star Game. The ASG honor would give him 9 awards, one short of Hall of Fame status. A championship ring would secure that vaunted status.

Other 20-plus GVP performances

33 GVP...Milwaukee power forward Zippy Wunderslug...27 points...5 rebounds...1 steal.

26 GVP...Milwaukee shooting guard Itstha Bishop...20 points...5 rebounds...1 assist.

22 GVP...Dallas power forward Nick Kenpoop...9 points...6 assists...3 rebounds...2 steals...2 blocks.

20 GVP...Dallas Hall of Fame small forward Pete "the Steakman" Marzano...11 points...5 rebounds...2 assists...2 blocked shots.

POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTERS

Dallas...8...0...4...2...Total=14

Milwa...0...7...2...2...Total=11

TOPS IN POINTS PREVENTED

1. Biggus Dickus, Dallas...8

2. Ehhy Table, Milwaukee.5

3. Pete Marzano, Dallas....4

MBA Standings … Season 57

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS…………………5-0

CHARLESTON……….3-2

PHILADELPHIA………2-2

OKLAHOMA CITY…..2-3

MILWAUKEE………..2-3

 

WEST DIVISION

LOS ANGELES….3-1

SEATTLE………….3-1

SACRAMENTO… 1-3

GILLETTE…………1-3

SAN JOSE…………0-4

NEXT UP: Sacramento at Seattle in a rematch of this season’s lone buzzer-beater game, won on a medium shot at the horn by Seattle’s Eric A. Crocidale. Seattle is the favorite in this one, fighting for first in the West. But Sacramento’s last two games, the aforementioned close loss to Seattle and victory over Gillette, give them a semblance of hope.

Season 57 Retirements announced

Fourteen MBA players announced their retirements, which will take place at the end of this 57th season.

The hardest hit team was the five-time-defending champion Dallas Demons; the only team to lose two starters and the only club to lose a Hall of Fame player. Forward Pete "the Steakman" Marzano is the Hall of Famer and stalwart center Biggus Dickus is the other player who will be leaving the starting lineup of the Dallas dynasty.

Five other teams lost one starter, with only Charleston (2 players lost total) joining Dallas as the other team to lose more than one player. 

Sacramento and Gillette lost one reserve player each.

Two teams did not lose a single player. Those two were Milwaukee and San Jose. The Fighting Amigos, despite having six players up for retirement, including four starters, managed to make it through the process with no players retiring.

Four of the teams will be losing starting point guards (Charleston, Philadelphia, Oklahoma City, Seattle), two are losing solid centers (Dallas and Los Angeles) with only Dallas losing a starting forward.

Cut Pile retirees saw just four out of the 23 possible who were candidates hang it up. All four are forwards. Unless they are picked up by someone due to injury before this season is over, both Ichie Boobies and Mic Mack Moose will have spent their entire "careers" in the cut pile, each languishing for eight seasons.
 

Season 57 Featured Game No. 4...Dallas at Philadelphia

DALLAS 67, PHILADELPHIA 64

DEMONS IN A SQUEAKER

PHILADELPHIA -- This 12th win in a row for Dallas (now 4-0) was the closest the five-time defending champions have had in their long victory streak, with defense ruling the day for both team in a 67-64 triumph against Philadelphia (now 2-2).

PLAYER OF THE GAME

32 GVP...Philadelphia small forward PHILLIP MIANUS is having a career season, as demonstrated by this performance where he captured his second POG of the campaign while dominating Hall of Famer Pete "the Steakman" Marzano. Mianus went right at Marzano and his tough defense, scoring a team-high 22 points while continuing to lead the league in rebounding with 7 per contest, the number of game-high caroms he coralled in this contest. Additionally, he prevented the second-most points in the game with 7, blocked 2 shots and handed out 1 assist. He was 10 for 15 from the field (0 for 1 from deep and 2 for 4 from the foul line). Known more for his defense, Mianus is the leading scorer on this Philly team, which has struggled to put points on the board. He is averaging a career-best 15.8 ppg at the moment.

Other 20-plus performers

29 GVP...Dallas point guard Mini Carfartt...24 points...3 rebounds...2 assists. 

27 GVP...Philadelphia substitute guard Tut "the Pharoah" Ankhamun...18 points (3 treys)...4 rebounds...4 assists...1 steal.

24 GVP...Dallas center Biggus Dickus...13 points...4 rebounds...4 blocked shots...2 steals...1 assist.

Points prevented by quarters

Dallas...4...6...2...4  Total=16

Philly...2...6...11...0  Total-19

Tops in points prevented

1. Biggus Dickus, Dallas 8

2. Phillip Mianus, Philly  7

3. Leonard Pinth Garnel 6

MBA Standings … Season 57

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS…………………4-0

PHILADELPHIA………2-2

MILWAUKEE………..2-2

CHARLESTON……….2-2

OKLAHOMA CITY…..1-2

 

WEST DIVISION

SEATTLE………….3-0

LOS ANGELES….2-1

GILLETTE…………1-2

SACRAMENTO… 0-3

SAN JOSE…………0-3

NEXT UP: Another battle between the top two teams in their division…this time the West, as Los Angeles (minus superstar Vicious Hick) and unbeaten Seattle (minus two guard Hilbee Juggleboy). Seattle won the previous meeting this season in the closest finish of any contest this season, 76-75, with Pinky Toe as the POG for The Big One with a 31-point performance.

Season 57 Featured Game No. 3...Charleston at Philadelphia

CHARLESTON 95, PHILADELPHIA 70 (Slaughter Rule Enforced)

MOUNTAINEERS POUND PHOBIA

PHILADELPHIA -- Charleston's starting guards went off for a combined 53 points as the visiting Mountaineers (now 2-1) routed the previously unbeaten Philadelphia Phobia 95-70. Philly is now also 2-1.

Philadelphia came into the game allowing a stingy league-best 54 points per contest in the young season, but Charleston bombed away from deep with 9 of 18 treys in a game they never trailed. The victory by the Mountaineers evened the series between the two teams, with Philly having edged Charleston 69-64 in their previous meeting.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

36 GVP...After his running mate, Famichiki Whiskey, starred in the first half, Charleston point guard KOPI LUWAK exploded in the second half, scoring 12 points in the third quarter to put the game way out of reach for Philadelphia. The 6-2 long-range specialist bombed in 6 treys in 8 attempts from deep, going 11 for 16 from the field and 2 for 2 from the foul line for a game-high 30 points. The sixth-year star added 6 rebounds in this important win.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

31 GVP...Philadelphia small forward Phillip Mianus...2nd career triple-double...16 points...7 rebounds...7 blocked shots...1 assist.

27 GVP...Charleston shooting guard Famichiki Whiskey...23 points (3 treys)...2 rebounds...2 assists.

24 GVP...Charleston center Flatfoot Floogie...12 points...7 rebounds...4 assists...1 steal.

21 GVP...Philadelphia center Blob Dylan...17 poinrs...3 rebounds...1 assist

20 GVP...Philadelphia point guard Flufferton Springs...16 points...2 rebounds...2 assists.

POINTS PREVENTED

Charleston...12

Philadelphia...8

TOPS IN POINTS PREVENTED

Fudge Pies Deli, Charleston...6

7 tied with 2

MBA Standings … Season 57

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS…………………2-0

PHILADELPHIA………2-1

CHARLESTON……….2-1

OKLAHOMA CITY…..1-2

MILWAUKEE………..1-2

 

WEST DIVISION

SEATTLE………….3-0

LOS ANGELES….2-1

GILLETTE…………1-2

SAN JOSE…………0-2

SACRAMENTO… 0-3

NEXT UP:  Expect a massacre as Dallas, now in first place in the East, takes on the old, rickety lineup of win-less San Jose in a cross-over to conclude bracket number 3.