NOMA AND PHILADELPHIA PUT ON DEJA VU ELIMINATION PERFORMANCE
PHILADELPHIA -- Oklahoma City had the home team Phobia right where it wanted it. After trailing by 10 points for a majority of the game, the visiting Lariats had the ball in league MVP Naf Naf's hands, trailing by 2 points with 4 time units remaining. The record-breaking 3-point shooter went up for the trey that would have put his team in the lead for the first time all game...and the chuckle-fuck missed it.
He missed it like he had missed 7 other treys in this do-or-die contest. He missed it like he missed more than 61 percent of his 3-pointers in this series. The man who shot 64.6 percent from beyond the arc this season defied the odds in his favor one more time.
And so, for the second season in a row, the Oklahoma City Lariats bowed out of the MBA playoffs, courtesy again of the Philadelphia Phobia.
And speaking of recurring nightmares, the MVP of the decisive third game in this series for the second season in a row was Philly point guard Mel A. Noma, who led everyone in scoring with 20 points. To add insult to injury, it was Noma who scored the game-winning points as well.
Naf Naf's effort very much resembled Game 3 of last season when he was 3 of 9 from trey, scoring 16 points, going 6 for 14 from the floor. In this one he was 7 for 17. Like last season, you kept waiting for him to heat up from three. Like last season, he never did.
The Lariats rallied to make a game of it even though they looked thoroughly defeated after the first quarter. In the intial stanza, Oklahoma City, already missing starting forward Walter Sobchack to injury, lost starting forward Reckless Abandon to a forced rest 5 time units into the game, then lost starting guard Simon Barsinister to forced rest 8 time units later, then lost substitute starting forward Abe Binder to 2 fouls 6 time units after that. So it was no surprise they trailed by 10, 24-14 after one quarter.
They then somehow managed to come all the way back to within 3 points with 28 time units left in the game. Here's how the remainder of the contest played out.
--Naf Naf of Oklahoma City tips in a missed shot to bring the Lariats within 1 point, 68-67. (27 left)
--T.Kanes Masterson of Philadelphia pots a medium jumper putting Phobia up 70-67.
--Reckless Abandon of OKC hits a short J and is fouled in the process. His and 1 is good and the score is tied 70-70 with 14 left.
--Masterson misses medium jumper for Phobia, Abandon rebounds for Oklahoma City.
--Naf Naf misses a 3-pointer that would have given his team its first lead. Diss Reflexia rebounds for Philly.
--With just 6 time units remaining, Philly point guard Mel A. Noma gets into the lane and hits a short jumper to put his team ahead 72-70.
--Naf Naf is fouled on a drive by Noma with 5 left, 1 foul short of a 1-1 bonus.
--Naf Naf takes and misses the trey at 4 time units remaining. Noma gets the rebound. Time runs out.
So now the Philadelphia Phobia, East Division underdogs for the second straight year, advance to the MBA finals for the second straight year. Philly was picked to finish last in Season 37 and fourth in Season 38.
They will take on the team that they tied for first place in the division, the Chicago Gale, in an all East final. The teams split their two regular season games, then Philadelphia won the extra tie-breaking game that gives them home court advantage in this finals series.
LIKE SWALLOWS RETURNING TO CAPISTRANO...
In 37 previous seasons, the Philadelphia Phobia and the Chicago Gale have never met in the MBA finals.
This will be Philadelphia's 20th Finals appearance. They have been champions a record 15 times.
This will be Chicago's 4th Finals appearance. They have won 2 championships...the last coming in Season 16.
Trivia question for Phil Davia if he gets this far reading this tome. Who was the starting center for the Chicago Gale in the Season 16 game where they won their last title? (Answer at bottom of page).
20-PLUS GVP PERFORMANCES
--Second-season Philadelphia point guard MEL A. NOMA came up huge for the second consecutive season in a first-round deciding game. He led everyone in scoring with 20 points, assisted 4 times, registered 1 steal and had 3 rebounds. Plus, he hit the game-winner.
--Philly two-guard T.Kanes Masterson, hounded all game by Simon Barsinister, still managed 14 points and came up with 6 big rebounds.
--Phobia center Diss Reflexia put his imprint on numerous phases of the game, coming up with the second triple-double of his career. The third-season pivot had 13 points, a game-high 7 rebounds, a game-high 5 assists and 1 blocked shot.
--Naf Naf of Oklahoma City led his team in scoring with 18 points, grabbed 3 boards and assisted on 1.
--Lariats forward Reckless Abandon had 16 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
TOP PLAYOFF SCORERS PAST EIGHT SEASONS
Trivia Question answer:
Hank Davia, pressed into action when Chicago starting center Piston Honda went down to injury, was in the pivot for Chicago when they last won an MBA championship in Season 16.
No comments:
Post a Comment