MBA Season 43 West Division Preview

1. SAN JOSE FIGHTING AMIGOS
PREDICTED FINISH: D-First, T-First
SEASON 42 RECORD AND FINISH: Third, 5-5
MOST RECENT PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: Season 41
ROSTER TURNOVER: 30 percent (2 new starters)
BIGGEST LOSSES: F-Kyle Sherwood (9.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg) to free agency
BIGGEST ADDITIONS: G-Jesus Moron Joseph free agent in draft (1.4 ppg)
WEAKNESS: Defense at both guard positions
STRENGTH: Overall Depth, Front Court Defense
LONGEST TENURE ON TEAM: Pippi Pippistrelli, this will be his 6th season, all with San Jose
THE SKINNY: After three consecutive 5-5 seasons and four in their last five, San Jose hopes to break through by replacing perennial star center Pippi Pippistrelli with the younger, more offensive-minded Hunk R. Down, who has been biding his time for three seasons on the bench. The 7-0 Down has taken some big leaps forward, according to Coach Augustus McCrae, in rebounding and defense...big enough to supplant the two-time All-MBA, 5-time All Star Pippistrelli. Also looking good is 6-10 power forward Egg Yolk Carpaccio, who will replace Kyle Sherwood as a starter, allowing Blue "Rondo" Alaturk to play small forward, where the 6-9 veteran has been more effective in the past.

2. LOS ANGELES BIG ONE
PREDICTED FINISH: D-Second, T-Second
SEASON 42 RECORD AND FINISH: Last, 2-8
MOST RECENT PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: Season 36 (as Houston)
ROSTER TURNOVER: 30 percent (2 new starters)
BIGGEST LOSSES: Team MVP F-Vic Hitler (16.6 ppg) to retirement
BIGGEST ADDITIONS: F-Baba Brinkman (18.2 ppg) free agent draft from Milwaukee, G-Dr. Marcus Brody, rookie who comes in as top-rated guard in the Season 43 draft.
WEAKNESS: More of a question...how will forwards Brinkman and Walter Sobchack perform at new positions of small and big forwards, respectively?
STRENGTH: Overall Depth, with a good sub at every position.
LONGEST TENURE ON TEAM: F-Walter Sobchack and G-Guy Clark, each five seasons with Houston/Los Angeles.
THE SKINNY: This is the most improved team in the MBA, thanks largely to a draft that saw them get double the players of most teams. In that group they harvested two great starters and a solid back-up. Brinkman is an excellent replacement for the retired Hitler, but the addition of snagging rookie point guard Dr. Marcus Brody rockets this team into playoff contention. The 7-foot rookie forward Tomm Foolerie adds depth off the bench. After two seasons of last place finishes, it appears that The Big One is ready to make its first playoff move in Los Angeles.

3. SACRAMENTO RIVER DOGS
PREDICTED FINISH: D-Third, T-Third
SEASON 42 RECORD AND FINISH: Fourth, 5-5
MOST RECENT PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: Season 34
ROSTER TURNOVER: 20 percent (1 new starter)
BIGGEST LOSSES: F-Tea Time Typhoo (13.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg) to retirement
BIGGEST ADDITIONS: Back-up 7-2 rookie center GoToo Grot in draft
WEAKNESS: Middle-of-the-pack good everywhere, great nowhere
STRENGTH: Youngest starting lineup averages 3.2 years and should improve in future.
LONGEST TENURE ON TEAM: Center Tree Fiddy has been the team's starter for five seasons.
THE SKINNY: River Dogs had just one pick in the draft and did not improve its starting lineup. Otherwise young team suffered big blow when steady forward Tea Time Typhoo suddenly retired after just six seasons. Replacing him with third-year man Bouganvillea Hedge is a downgrade. Despite back-to-back 5-5 seasons and a good, young core, the league's longest playoff drought is expected to continue.

4. OKLAHOMA CITY LARIATS
PREDICTED FINISH: D-Fourth, T-Fourth
SEASON 42 RECORD AND FINISH: First, 8-2 (0-2)
MOST RECENT PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: Season 42
ROSTER TURNOVER: 60 percent (4 new starters)
BIGGEST LOSSES: Hall of Fame center and All-MBA last season Max Payne (16.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg) to retirement, top scorer G-Ginger Vampire (16.6 ppg) to retirement, F-Sloppy Dollop (15.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg) to free agent draft, G-Akbar Zagobia (8.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg) traded
BIGGEST ADDITIONS: 7-foot rookie center Willie Carry McCoffee, rated No.1 pivot in the draft in trade involving Zagobia with Philadelphia, G-Mel A. Noma (9.9 ppg, 3.6 apg)in trade with Philadelphia, G-Brownie McShytles (11.3 ppg) in draft
WEAKNESS: Question marks at two starting positions and putrid substitutes at forward off the bench.
STRENGTH: Young center to build on for the future.
LONGEST TENURE ON TEAM: F-Bang-Bang Reiner, 5 seasons, all with Lariats
THE SKINNY: After two championships, three straight division titles, seven division titles in nine seasons and eight playoff appearances in nine campaigns, the party is over in Oklahoma City. McCoffee is a good building block and Reiner will score, but the future is a long way off.

5. SEATTLE STAMPEDE
PREDICTED FINISH: D-Last, T-Last
SEASON 42 RECORD AND FINISH: Second, 5-5 (0-2)
MOST RECENT PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: Season 42
ROSTER TURNOVER: 50 percent (3 new starters)
BIGGEST LOSSES: C-Naceg Gecan (16.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg) retired, F-Jairo Capoeira (14.1 ppg) retired, G-Mel A. Noma (9.9 ppg, 3.6 apg) free agent draft.
BIGGEST ADDITIONS: F-Kyle Sherwood (9.7 ppg)
WEAKNESS: Lacks an impact scorer, overall size and rebounding ability. Worst bench in the league.
STRENGTH: None.
LONGEST TENURE ON TEAM: G-Bob Kittle, seventh season, all with Seattle, last of the S37 champions.
THE SKINNY: Downgrades at three starting positions will have Stampede taking a major fall.

PRE-SEASON AWARDS PREDICTIONS (all unanimous by D and T)

All-MBA
G - Naf Naf, Charleston
G - Colquitt Croix, Philadelphia
C - J.J. Gargantuan, Charleston
F - Chip "the Crip" Battoe, Dallas
F - Pietro Destroyer, Chicago

MVP - Naf Naf, Charleston

Rookie of the Year - Chip "the Crip" Battoe, Dallas

MOST DECORATED PLAYERS ENTERING SEASON 43
21 awards - Hall of Famer Naf Naf, Charleston

10 awards - Hall of Famer Beezow Bop-Bop, Charleston

8 awards - J.J. Gargantuan, Charleston
8 awards - Pippi Pippistrelli, San Jose

6 awards - Colquitt Croix, Philadelphia
6 awards - Diss Reflexia, Philadelphia

5 awards - Baba Brinkman, Los Angeles
5 awards - Pap Smearz, Seattle

THE MBA's OLDEST ACTIVE PLAYERS
15 - G- Steve Carter, Los Angeles

13 - C- Wayan Garuda, Los Angeles

11 - F- Matthew Vanden Boogart, Dallas
11 - G- Giacoma Ferrari, San Jose

10 - G- Beezow Bop-Bop, Charleston
10 - F- Pythogoras Theorum, Sacramento
10 - F- Shag Bark, Chicago

MBA's OLDEST CUT PILERS
11 - F- Vermin Supreme
11 - C- Shits McGriddle

10 - C- Hoot Barnowl
10 - G- Buzz Kill

INTERESTING MBA FACTOID
Only one rookie, guard Anass Rammer, did not make an MBA roster this season.

NEXT UP: SEASON 43 GETS UNDER WAY THURSDAY, APRIL 25
Game 1 - San Jose at Chicago in cross-over contest...The Gale again opens its season with games against the top teams in their division. Chicago's second game is at Charleston.
The rest of Bracket 1
Oklahoma City at Sacramento
Los Angeles at Seattle
Philadelphia at Milwaukee
Charleston at Dallas (featured game) starting the season with a rematch of last season's finals