Season 50 Preview
West Division
After placing two teams in the Finals last season, the West is still considered the weaker of the two divisions. I'm thinking just about everyone is a playoff threat here, but top three teams will likely battle it out for the two post-season spots.
1. SAN JOSE FIGHTING AMIGOS…predicted 2nd by Dave, 1st by Tyler
Last Season: Won
championship, First in West 6-4, 5-1 in playoffs
Last Time Missed Playoffs
: Season 48
Last Title: Last
season
Biggest Additions: Just one change in roster…Center Twinkles Spatula
Biggest Losses: League’s top scoring center Sabado Gigante to retirement.
Summary: The
inside-outside offense of league MVP Jesse Shershot (leading scorer at 19.9 per
game for second year in a row) and Gigante (18.0 per game) is down to just
Shershot. Can the three-time All-MBA guard get enough help from the remainder
of his teammates to return to the playoffs? Eddie “the Milkman” Creamer will
have to step up his scoring.
2. (tied) SACRAMENTO RIVER DOGS…predicted
1st by Dave, 4th by Tyler
Last Season: 4th
Place, 4-6
Last Playoff Appearance
: Season 48
Last Title:
Season 48
Biggest Additions: Veteran
point guard Junior Dabas (14.9 ppg for Philadelphia last season) should
eliminate a lot of missed shots.
Biggest Losses: None
to speak of.
Summary: One season removed from their championship season, R-Dogs improved their horrible point guard problem and could be back in the hunt for playoff spot. Aging lineup features two Hall of Fame bigs in center Tree Fiddy and forward Doo-rag Dripp. Fiddy, the most injured player in history, has to remain healthy.
2. (tied) LOS ANGELES BIG ONE... predicted 3rd by Dave, 2nd by Tyler
Last Season: 3rd Place, 5-5
Last Playoff Appearance : Season 47
Last Title: Season 45
Biggest Additions: League's top point guard and uber defender Great Gruncle Terry via free agency and rookie guard Flufferton Springs.
Biggest Losses: None to speak of.
Summary: Four-time league leader in assists, Gruncle Terry and lefty sharpshooting rookie Springs should bring some snap to what was the league's worst offense (68.9 ppg). Terry makes teammates better wherever he goes. A lot will depend on what Big One fans hope will be a breakout year for center Quick Tink.
4. GILLETTE HUMPS…predicted 4th
by Dave, 3rd by Tyler
Last Season: Last
place, 2-8
Last Playoff appearance
: never
Last Title: never
Biggest Additions: Rookie
forward Billy “Be-bop” Bauer
Biggest Losses: None
to speak of.
Summary: Can
they stay ahead of Seattle in the West and avoid rolling the cube of chance to
go to a new city? Best roster for this franchise thus far. Improving last-place defense (81.0 points yielded per game) a must.
5. SEATTLE STAMPEDE…predicted last unanimously
Last Season: Second place, 5-5, 3-4 in playoffs
Last Playoff appearance : Last Season
Last Title: Season 37
Biggest Additions: Nothing to speak of
Biggest Losses: Top scorer Potatoes O'Gratin (14.4 ppg) to retirement
Summary: Have two top-flight youngsters in forward Charles Broccoli and center Sky Masterson, otherwise, nada. Only team in MBA with two consecutive playoff appearances. That mini-streak is expected to end.
East Division
Traditionally the tougher of the two divisions and this season is no different with four of the five teams in the playoff hunt. Philly is back in power going for its 17th championship, and Milwaukee, always seemingly knocking, is looking to end the longest championship drought in the league.
1. PHILADELPHIA PHOBIA...predicted first unanimously
Last Season: Second place, 7-3, 0-2 in playoffs
Last Playoff appearance : Last Season
Last Title: Season 43
Biggest Additions: Highly-touted rookie guard Ehhy Table, a two-way player who appears able do it all.
Biggest Losses: Team MVP center Dupa Yashu to retirement.
Summary: If veteran 6-11 center Taco Toosdae, acquired in a trade with Sacramento, plays up to expectations in his first stint as a starter, the Phobia should find themselves atop the East. They boast two of the top youth in the league in forward D. Fenestration and rookie Table, as well as proven veterans forward Wawa Wewa and Dick Papers. Solid depth as well.
2. MILWAUKEE GREYHOUNDS, predicted 3rd by Dave, 2nd by Tyler
Last Season: Third place, 6-4
Last Playoff appearance : Season 48
Last Title: Season 18
Biggest Additions: Rookie guard Thomas Thomas Thomas.
Biggest Losses: League-leader in assists, Great Gruncle Terry and starting running-mate at guard and team mainstay Lannigan Lord Hobo.
Summary: Milwaukee holds the distinction of being the only team in the MBA in the past two seasons to put together consecutive winning seasons. But in the East, 6-4 fell short of playoffs last season. Despite losing both excellent guards, they should be right in the thick of things again. League's best defense will likely suffer with loss of Terry.
3. CHARLESTON MOUNTAINEERS…predicted 2nd by Dave, 4th by Tyler
Last Season: First place, 8-2, 1-2 in playoffs
Last Playoff appearance : Last Season
Last Title: Season 42
Biggest Additions: Heralded rookie guard Splash Gordon
Biggest Losses: Center Seven Castanza
Summary: Getting exciting rookie Gordon keeps Mountaineers in the hunt. Defensively excellent, Gordon will have to score to make up for the added hacking of Mister Methane, who probably will not repeat as the team's top scorer (16.5 ppg). But Don Barzini is ready to step in when Methane has to hit the pines.
4. DALLAS DEMONS...predicted 4th by Dave, 3rd by Tyler
Last Season: Fourth place, 5-5
Last Playoff appearance : Season 47
Last Title: Season 47
Biggest Additions: Outstanding-looking guard Juzan Djinn
Biggest Losses: None
Summary: In a league teeming with outstanding rookie guards, Juzan Djinn could lay claim to being the best. He certainly is defensively...your rare shut-down guard. He was the only change to the team's roster. Will it be enough?
5. OKLAHOMA CITY LARIATS…predicted
Last unanimously
Last Season: Last
place, 2-8
Last Playoff Appearance
: Season 48
Last Title: Season
41
Biggest Additions: Rookie
guard King Czardines, rookie forward Doodly Squat
Biggest Losses: Team’s
top rebounder Anurag Dickshit to free agency. Starting center Juji Mufu to free
agency.
Summary: Could
be rolling for changing city if they finish last for third time in four
seasons.
Predictions Note: Last season, Dave predicted just one of four playoff teams. However, the one team he picked, San Jose, won the championship.
All-MBA Predictions
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