Philadelphia flexes its might in finals opener

Philadelphia 78, Houston 65

PHILADELPHIA--Having just returned from "The City of Brotherly Love" with Phobia team owner Tyler Masterson, it's amazing to this reporter that fans of the four-time defending champions are so certain of their team being MBA kings for the fifth consecutive time that there is nary a word exchanged from the citizenry about it; nor is there a banner in sight urging them to victory.
The ease displayed by the champs in the Game 1 dominance over a fine Houston team is indication as to why Philadelphia fans are so smug and self-assured.
With brilliant ball movement (19 assists, two shy of the playoff record) and a shut-down defense that kept the explosive Iguanas 15 points under their first-round scoring average, the home team Phobia was in complete control of this one, winning 78-65.
One can hardly recall the last time the once-boisterous Philadelphia faithful displayed their penchant for booing their own team. And why should they? This may be the best version of this franchise ever.
Two players in their final go-round led the way to this victory. Cock A. Doodledoo, whose leaving cannot come soon enough for Hall of Fame guard Hrundi V. Bakshi, again frustrated his nemesis defensively while scoring a game-high 23 points. It is the second game in a row that Doodledoo has led the offensive charge for the Phobia.
But even his effort was outdone by ninth season forward Tug Hershorts, who registered his second consecutive triple-double of the Season 33 playoffs. The 6-11 match-up nightmare came into this post-season with just three triple-doubles in an excellent nine-season career, and the big lefty showed that he still has it by cranking out two triples in a row. Plus, his 20-point, 7 assist, 6 rebound performance came against one of the best defending forwards in the league in Stone Flinthorn. At one point, when Hershorts registered three consecutive hoops on a slam dunk, a short swish and a medium string-music maker, Flinthorn held arms out in frustration as he ran downcourt, for he had been in Tug's grill on all three occasions.
Ching-Chong Chung, who came into this series averaging 27.5 points per game, continued to sparkle for Houston, getting 22, despite being guarded by defensive genius and Hall of Famer Cheetos Jones.
It's now on to Houston.