Season 27 Playoff Preview

ROUND 1...BEST OF THREE GAMES

Oklahoma City Lariats (6-4) vs. Charleston Rebels (8-2)

The defending champion Rebels are led by All-League forward Boone Doggle (16.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg) who topped the league in shooting percentage with an astounding 77.5 percent. He was a nice pick-up from Chicago in the off-season. Doggle,10-year vet and Hall of Fame center Jonny Cockaroo (13.9 ppg) and forward Sammy Zazooch (12.6)kill on the front line.

The Lariats, with Rookie of the Year forward Jimmy Wharfdale (15.8 ppg and a league-leading 5.6 rpg), fellow first-year forward Gulemon Mon-Mon (13.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and center Titfur Tatt (13.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg) set a new MBA team rebounding mark for one season. Wharfdale and Mon-Mon finished 1-2 in Rookie of the Year voting. It should be a titanic clash of front lines, with Charleston slightly favored.

San Jose Fighting Amigos (8-2) vs. Milwaukee Greyhounds (5-5)

The Fighting Amigos allowed 10 fewer points per game than the next best team in the MBA. Third-year forward Sagittal Occlusal (18.1 ppg) has just won a record third straight regular season MVP award and this season became the youngest player to earn Hall of Fame honors. Point guard Funsy VanSlochum led the league in assists and steals.

The Greyhounds surprised everyone, making the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. The youngest team in the MBA, starting three rookies and a second-year man, they were picked by Dave and Tyler to finish fourth in their division. They're led by second-year All-League guard Ching-Chong Chung (17.7 ppg). Although heavy underdogs to San Jose, they came from 10 down to beat them 69-67 during the regular season.