--This was the third Oklahoma City Lariats championship, the other two coming in Season 35 and Season 40.
--Retiring point guard Yipeekayee Masterfalcon has earned Hall of Fame status, thanks to being named MVP of the Playoffs and getting his third championship ring. Masterfalcon ends his career with 10 awards, three rings, four All Star Game appearances, two All-MBA stars and one MVP of the Playoffs. He is the 46th member of the Hallowed Hall and will be listed as tied for 28th most honored player in MBA history.
--Hall of Fame center Max Payne has played three of his 16 seasons with Oklahoma City. All three of those seasons resulted in championships for the Lariats.
--This championship gives Max Payne 6 championship rings. It ties him for first place in career championship rings with fellow Hall of Fame members Cam Bodia and Tug Hershorts.
THIS WAS THE LARIATS PREVIEW COMING INTO SEASON 41
Oklahoma City Lariats
PREDICTED FINISH: First
SEASON 40 RECORD AND FINISH: First, 8-2 (5-0) Champions!
MOST RECENT PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: Season 40
ROSTER TURNOVER: 40 percent
BIGGEST LOSSES: G-Naf Naf
BIGGEST ADDITIONS: F-Pap Smearz, G-Akbar Zagobia
WEAKNESS: League’s oldest overall roster
STRENGTH: Depth, Defense, Offense
THE SKINNY: Suffered the worst single loss by any MBA team ever but still considered big favorite to win the West. They are so deep that forward Bang-Bang Reiner and his second-leading team scoring average of 16.8 starts the campaign off the bench. Zagobia makes the league’s strongest defensive team even stronger. Don’t pity the Lariats.
