SEASON 46 HOME STRETCH PREVIEW

RANKING THE TOUGHEST ROAD FOR PLAYOFF CONTENDERS

IN THE WEST: Seattle and Oklahoma City (Sacramento has clinched)

--Oklahoma City has the tougher remaining schedule with games against Seattle and powerhouse Dallas in a cross-over. 

--Seattle has Oklahoma City and lowly San Jose. 

The showdown game between Seattle and Oklahoma City right off the bat will probably settle things. Seattle needs to win both of its games because the Lariats have the division wins tie-breaker sewed up with a win against the Stampede.

IN THE EAST: Another three-way race between Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Charleston (Dallas has clinched)

-- Philadelphia, with games against Dallas and Milwaukee, has the toughest road.

-- Charleston has the second-toughest remaining slate against Sacramento and Kansas City, but goes into the stretch with the most wins and most division wins of the trio of contenders.

-- Milwaukee has the easiest schedule with Kansas City and Philadelphia, but even if they match Charleston in wins and division wins, they lose out in head-to-head with the Mountaineers.

THE RACE FOR THE ALL-MBA FOIL STARS (GVP)

Guards

Colquitt Croix, Philadelphia 27.3

Lannigan Lord Hobo, Milwaukee 26.6 (All-MBA last season)

Cat Timol, Charleston 25.8

Forwards

Chip Battoe, Dallas 28.4 (All-MBA last season) (front-runner for fourth MVP)

Flip Testerton, Charleston 25.7

Anurag Dickshit, Oklahoma City 24.7 (All-MBA last season)

Tiger Masterson, Dallas 24.3

Doo-rag Dripp, Sacramento 23.5

Center

Chutcher Mouthchair, Philadelphia 24.3

Tree Fiddy, Sacramento 23.5

Seven Castanza, Seattle 23.0

GoToo Grot, Dallas 22.8 (All-MBA last season)

 

LEADERS NOTES

-- Hall of Fame Philadelphia guard Colquitt Croix is going for his first scoring title in this, his seventh and final season. He has finished second in scoring five times.

-- The Assists Title goes down the home stretch in a 3-way tie with last season's winner Great Gruncle Terry of Sacramento looking to repeat and Philly forward Wawa Wewa, the only forward ever to win the assists race, trying to win again. 

-- Another 3-way tie is featured in the steals department where Potus Obama of Sacramento is looking for his third title in four seasons. 

-- Unless he goes suddenly cold, Colquitt Croix seems to be comfortably ahead to get his first 3-point title. (Remember, he had to contend with Naf Naf for many seasons).

-- Despite missing games to injury, Hall of Fame forward Chip Battoe of Dallas is comfortably ahead to win his fourth consecutive blocked shots title, which would be the most titles in a row in this department. Raisin Sport, Tom Kondla and Jimsy Redfern all had three in a row. Sport holds the record that Battoe will tie (4) for most blocked shots championships.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR RACE

It's a two-way race with the following pair of rookies.

Guard Freddy Chepuzzo of Kansas City 19.1 GVP who appeared to be a clear winner at one point.

Center Chochky Galumpkus of Oklahoma City 17.3 who has been mounting a late charge.

UPCOMING BRACKET (NO. 9)

-- We start off bracket 9 with a bang...Seattle (4-4) at Oklahoma City (4-4) in a game that will likely determine which of these teams finishes in second and goes to the playoffs. Seattle, behind center Seven Castanza, bested the Lariats 85-77 in the first meeting, but is in the midst of a 3-game losing streak. The Lariats are looking to sneak in to the post-season for the second year in a row.

-- San Jose (2-6) at Los Angeles (2-6)...both teams are getting back their best players...center Hunk R. Down for the Fighting Amigos and guard Dr. Marcus Brody of Los Angeles. This game will probably determine who stays out of the cellar, which is big for San Jose since it would be their second such finish in a row. L.A. won the first meeting 64-59 with Norman Conquest sharing POG with Mister Methane of San Jose.

-- FEATURED GAME: Giant cross-over pits West division champs Sacramento (7-1) against East's current second-place team Charleston (5-3). An upset by the Mountaineers is unlikely, but it would pretty much sew up a playoff spot for them if they can pull it off. It will be Flip Testerton Day in Charleston.

-- Philadelphia (4-4) at Dallas (7-1)...Simply put, Philly has to win to stay in contention. It would be a big upset. Dallas won their previous meeting 84-71 despite a big game by Phobia center Chutcher Mouthchair. It will be Bingo Bango Day in Dallas.

-- Kansas City (1-7) at Milwaukee (4-4)...The Greyhounds need to win out to have a shot at the post-season. They should not take this game lightly. In their last meeting, Milwaukee won by 4, thanks largely to POG Lannigan Lord Hobo.

--