Milwaukee 84, Seattle 65
MILWAUKEE MAKES FINALS
SEATTLE -- One of the MBA's storied franchises, the Milwaukee Greyhounds, will finally return to the league Finals after an absence of 15 seasons.
The Greyhounds, winners of the East Division, clinched its Finals berth by sweeping the Seattle Stampede in the Semifinals, the last game being a slaughter-rule contest in which they dominated 84-65.
The game was somewhat in doubt until the fourth quarter, when Milwaukee just blew the doors off a plucky Seattle squad.
The turning point for the franchise may have come last season when Milwaukee coach Fly Davia was replaced at the mid-point of the campaign by Hall of Famer Naf Naf. The new leader turned the 2-3 season around and the Greyhounds made the playoffs for the first time in 7 years, setting the stage for Season 48 success.
Milwaukee now awaits the winner of the other Semifinals series between Sacramento and Oklahoma City. The Greyhounds have the longest championship drought in the league, having last won the title in Season 18. Despite the 30 seasons without claiming ultimate victory, they still have the second-most championships in league history behind Philadelphia, with 7.
They also have the longest current winning streak with 7 consecutive wins going into the Finals.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Milwaukee's third-year forward WARDY JOUBERT III gave Seattle fans that deja vu feeling that has become so familiar to them. Like the many stars who began their career in Rain City, Joubert left after his rookie season, blossoming this campaign into the MBA's Most Improved Player. In the Semifinals against his old team, "Big Wood" was amazing. He led Milwaukee in scoring in its Game 1 triumph and ripped off the second triple-double of his career in the series clincher. The 6-9 Joubert feasted on Seattle substitute forward Oy Yoy-Yoy, who was forced into the starting lineup thanks to the injury to Stampede MVP Reed Lemur. Joubert tied for game-high in scoring with 20 points, yanked down a game-high 6 boards and dished a game-high 5 assists. He added a game-high 2 steals and a team-high 2 blocked shots to his ledger. He was 8 for 11 from the floor and 4 of 5 from the foul line. Seattle's faithful got to see why their team made him the first prime pick in the Season 46 draft...right in their collective face.
Other 20-plus GVP performers
-- League MVP Lannigan Lord Hobo of Milwaukee knocked in 17 points, grabbed 4 boards and doled out 3 assists from his guard spot for the victors.
-- Milwaukee center Sabado Gigante scored 16 points, had 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot in the win.
-- Although he (amazingly) went yet another game without taking a trey, Seattle guard Potatoes O'Gratin was a bright spot in the loss with 16 points, a game-high 4 blocked shots for the second game in a row, a team-high (tied) 4 assists and 2 rebounds.
-- Seattle center Willie Carry McCoffee, whose defensive abilities helped elevate Oklahoma Cith and Seattle teams into post-season appearances, bowed out of his six-season career with an offensive flourish, tying for game-high scoring honors with 20 points. He added 2 rebounds and 1 assist.
NEXT UP: It's back to The Dog Pound as Oklahoma City tries to oust the favored River Dogs in the decisive third game of their Semifinals series.
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