Season 52 Finals...Game 4...Dallas at Milwaukee

Milwaukee 76, Dallas 74

GREYHOUNDS DEFY ODDS

MILWAUKEE -- After suffering the worst defeat in MBA playoff history, the confounding Milwaukee Greyhounds put what looked like an inevitable Dallas championship on hold by defending their home court for the second time in these Finals to scrape out a 76-74 win.

The unexpected triumph evens the series at two games each and send it to the decisive Game 5 in Dallas, the first for the league since Season 48 when Sacramento bested this same Milwaukee franchise to win it all.

One need only look at the box score and see that Dallas Rookie of the Year Kopi Luwak was a scoreless 0 for 8 to understand the missing ingredient in the Demons' attack. 

It should also be noted that this was the first game of the Finals that Milwaukee beat their opponents on the boards.

Even the injury (rest of game) to Milwaukee power forward Ape Con Myth in the third period, when he was (and remained) his team's high scorer, did not derail Milwaukee as they held off Dallas down the stretch.

The home team Greyhounds led by as many as 8 points in the fourth quarter with 53 ticks left as Dallas slowly worked its way back into the game.

Here are the closing time units:

-- Dallas forward Pete Marzano rebounds a Milwaukee miss and then scores himself on a short jumper to cut the lead to 2 points...72-70...8 ticks left

-- Flip Phelps of Milwaukee passes down low to center Lothario Fartlek who scores over the defense of Biggus Dickus...Greyhounds lead 74-70...6 ticks left

-- Juzan Djinn of Dallas hoists a trey and misses, but teammate Marzano tips it in...Greyhounds lead cut to 74-72...4 ticks left.

-- Milwaukee goes right back to Fartlek down low, who slams it home over the forced miss of Dickus, sealing the deal...76-72 Milwaukee...3 ticks left.

-- Dallas scores at the horn on a pass from Djinn to Dickus who hits a short jumper at the buzzer....final is 76-74 Milwaukee.

POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTERS

Dallas...0...4...2...4  Total=10

Milw.....2...4...8...2  Total=16 (key defensive quarter the third where Greyhounds upped lead to 6)

TOPS IN POINTS PREVENTED

1. Lothario Fartlek, Milwaukee...12 (by far the defensive star of the game)

2. Juzan Djinn, Dallas...4

2. Pete Marzano, Dallas...4

PLAYER OF THE GAME

32 GVP...Third-year star Dallas guard JUZAN DJINN captured his playoff-best third POG with a triple-double that included 19 points, tying for game-high in assists with 5 and tying for game-high in blocked shots with 5. Djinn, who was 9 for 13 from the floor and 1 for 2 from deep, added 2 assists and a steal while preventing 4 points defensively.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

31 GVP...Brilliant in defeat, rookie forward Pete "the Steakman" Marzano of Dallas scored a game-high 21 points, swiped a game-high 3 steals, prevented 4 opposition points, blocked 4 shots, snagged 2 rebounds and added 1 assist.

30 GVP...Up against the shot-blocking efficiency of Lothario Fartlek, Biggus Dickus still managed to deliver 19 points from his center position for Dallas while hauling down a game-high 6 rebounds and distributing 4 assists. He added 1 blocked shot. 

21 GVP...Savvy veteran guard Flip Phelps of Milwaukee moved to the two spot, but still tied for game-high in assists with 5 while scoring 13 points and pulling down 3 rebounds.

20 GVP...The league's three-time shot-blocking champion Lothario Fartlek was Mr. Rim Protector in this game, personally preventing 12 Dallas points, thanks in part to tying for game-high with 5 blocked shots. Fartlek also contributed the last 2 buckets down the home stretch for the victorious Greyhounds, the last being a jam over the 7-footer Dickus. He added 2 rebounds and 1 assist. 

 

Season 52 Playoffs...Finals Game 3...Milwaukee at Dallas

 

Dallas 96, Milwaukee 50 (Slaughter Rule Enforced)

DEMONS DELIVER WIN FOR THE AGES

DALLAS -- The Milwaukee Greyhounds paid the price for poking the bear and winning Game 2. With the Finals tied 1-1, the Dallas Demons, led by arguably the best guard combo in the MBA, destroyed the visitors with a playoff-record 46-point annihilation, 96-50. The tandem of Kopi Luwak and Juzan Djinn combined for 51 points, exceeding the amount of the entire Milwaukee team.

Dallas is now ahead 2 to 1 in the Finals; one win away from a championship.

The beating, which began at the first tip and never let up, surpassed the longtime record of 40 points for the margin of victory, set way the hell back in Season 8 by Charleston over Houston in the semifinals. 

Boasting the top defense all season long, the Whiz Kids from Big D held Milwaukee to the absurd shooting percentage of 35 percent. Meanwhile, Dallas was ringing up its 96 points based on a 64.4 percent marksmanship and 13 of 14 from the foul line.

Still dominating in rebounds after having tied a one-game playoff mark in the Semifinals vs. San Jose (34 rebounds), the Demons outdid Milwaukee 32-15, more than doubling them off the glass. 

This was the first Slaughter Rule win by Dallas in the Finals after they destroyed San Jose twice in that manner in the Semifinals. It was the fourth time they've beaten Milwaukee this season against the one defeat. 

Mind you, this is all being done without the services of outstanding Dallas forward Satan Israel, injured for the entire playoffs.

The Finals now return to Milwaukee, where the Greyhounds will likely still be licking their wounds prior to the Game 4 tip-off. A Dallas victory gives the franchise its sixth championship. Vegas has them at an overwhelming 1 to 20 pick to win this next game and the title.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

36 GVP...Firing treys like a gattling gun and connecting on 5 of 11, MBA Rookie of the Year KOPI LUWAK of Dallas racked up a game-high 26 points, while skying for a game-high 7 rebounds and tying for game-high in assists with 3. The 6-2 Luwak destroyed Flip Phelps with 10 of 18 shooting (1 for 1 from the foul line).

AND

36 GVP...In addition to dropping 25 points on the Greyhounds, third-year guard JUZAN DJINN of Dallas held Milwaukee's top scorer, Thomas Thomas Thomas to a mere 7 points, causing him to go 3 for 12 from the floor. Part of that defense was Djinn's game-high 4 blocked shots. The 6-2 Djinn also contributed 6 rebounds and added 1 assist. Except for treys, he was super efficient, going 10 for 14 with all of his misses being from deep (1 for 5). 

Other 20-plus GVP performers (none from Milwaukee)

24 GVP...Dallas rookie forward Pete Marzano continues to play like a veteran. In this game he scored 14 points, adding 6 rebounds, 2 blocked shots and a game-high 2 steals. 

Season 52 MBA Playoffs...Finals Game 2...Dallas at Milwaukee

Milwaukee 92, Dallas 78

HOUNDS STUN DEMONS

MILWAUKEE -- No sane man could have predicted a 14-point Milwaukee Greyhounds win over the heavily favored Dallas Demons to even up this Finals series 1 to 1?

After losing the opener in this best of five 79-61, the Greyhounds looked badly overmatched, but using a home court adjustment that moved Thomas Thomas Thomas to the point and away from the defensive juggernaut that is Juzan Djinn, Milwaukee looked like a totally different team that could do no wrong.

Thomas was spectacular in victory and probably more importantly got a totally unforseen helping hand from seldom-used rookie guard Seeyalater Scronto, who, pressed into service, delivered like a courier from planet Perfection. Scronto came into the picture early, when Greyhound guard Flip Phelps was injured and out for the rest of the contest just 5 time units into the game. The 5-11 Scronto was a revelation who consistently beat the great Djinn for multiple baskets. Nobody counted on that happening.

So now we have a Finals, with the teams returning to Dallas for Game 3.

Wow. Just when you think everything is set in stone......

PLAYER OF THE GAME

40 GVP...Milwaukee guard THOMAS THOMAS THOMAS came through like gangbusters to earn his first POG of the playoffs and help the Greyhounds even up this Finals series. "Triple-T" scored a game-high 28 points while dishing out a game-high 8 assists and tying for team-high in rebounds with 4. The 6-foot, third-year guard scored from every zone, going 12 for 15 from the floor that included draining 4 treys in 6 tries. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

30 GVP...Dallas rookie center Biggus Dickus dominated his position in this losing effort. The sturdy 7-footer decimated Lothario Fartlek, holding him to 10 points and zero boards. Meanwhile, Dickus scored 18 and controlled the boards with a game-high 7 caroms while tying for team-high in assists with 3. The big man also blocked 2 shots.

27GVP...If Milwaukee should win this Finals, they'll be singing drinking songs about the Game 2 miracle that was guard Seeyalater Scronto. During the regular season he shot less than 30 percent and averaged just over 2 points a game. In this critical contest, he explodes for 20 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, a steal and tying for game-high with 3 blocked shots. 

27 GVP...After scoring just 5 in the opener, Dallas guard Juvan Djinn went off for a team-high 20 points, snagged 4 rebounds, blocked 2 shots and added 1 assist.

26 GVP...Wily 14-year veteran power forward Ape Con Myth knows how to get to his spot in the short zone, and did so multiple times on the way to a 19-point game that included tying for team-high with 4 rebounds and adding 3 assists.

22 GVP...Although he couldn't slow down Thomas, Dallas' Rookie of the Year point guard Kopi Luwak had his usual stellar offensive game. Luwak scored 15 points, grabbed 4 boards and tied for team-high with 3 assists. 

 

Season 52 MBA Finals...Game 1...Milwaukee at Dallas

Dallas 79, Milwaukee 61

LATE BOMBS SEAL GAME 1

DALLAS -- With Milwaukee clinging to late-game hopes of an upset, the home team Dallas Demons unleashed a barrage of 3-point buckets that turned Game 1 of the Finals into a 79-61 laugher.

The Greyhounds had pulled to within 7 points of the Whiz Kids when Dallas snuffed out all victory aspirations for the visitors by delivering five consecutive 3-pointers in five straight trips down the court.

Rookie of the Year Kopi Luwak hit first, followed by two in a row from veteran Dallas forward Al A. Orden, then two more from Luwak. By the time the blitzkrieg was over, the 7-point lead had increased to 16.

Milwaukee had to be satisfied with being the first losing team not to have the Slaughter Rule imposed upon them.

This was the seventh consecutive win for Dallas, and it broke a five-game winning streak of the Milwaukee quintet. 

The teams now return to Milwaukee for Game 2...probably the best opportunity for the Greyhounds to steal a game.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

25 GVP...Rookie forward PETE "the Steakman" MARZANO of Dallas earned his first playoff POG with a 19-point game that tied for game-high. The 6-8 small forward was 9 for 12 from the floor, going 1 for 1 from deep and slamming home a trio of buckets. He tied for team-high in blocked shots with 2, grabbed 3 boards and added 1 assist.

AND

25 GVP...Also getting his first post-season POG was Dallas rookie guard KOPI LUWAK, who dominated his man Flip Phelps with a 19-point game that tied for game-high. The smooth-shooting Luwak was 7 for 11 from the floor, canning 4 of 6 3-point attempts and going 1 for 1 from the foul line. The 6-2 Rookie of the Year added 5 rebounds and 1 assist.

Other 20-GVP performers

23 GVP...Dallas' enforcer in the middle, rookie center Biggus Dickus scored 13 points, hauled down 5 rebounds, tied for game-high with 4 assists, swiped 1 steal and held Lothario Fartlek to 4 of 12 shooting.

23 GVP...12-season vet Al A. Orden was steady as usual from his forward spot for the Demons, scoring 14 points, including 3 treys, grabbing 5 boards and tying for game-high in assists with 4.

23 GVP...14-year forward Ape Con Myth of Milwaukee went to power forward war with Orden, scoring a team-high 18 points, grabbing 2 boards, assisting 2 times and getting 1 steal.

23 GVP...Small forward Entha Shortzone of Milwaukee, in the home stretch of his career, swiped a game-high 3 steals, scored 13 points, hauled down 4 boards and dished out 3 helpers in the loss. 

Season 52 Playoffs...Semifinals Game 2...Dallas at San Jose

 Dallas 83, San Jose 68 (Slaughter Rule Enforced)

DEMONS DOMINATE LATE

SAN JOSE -- Trailing by 10 after the first quarter and one at the half, the Dallas Demons stepped on the gas hard in the second half, leaving the San Jose Fighting Amigos a dot in their rear view on the way to an 83-68 victory. 

The win gives the Whiz Kids six victories in a row and puts them in the Finals for the first time since they last won it all in Season 47. They will face the Milwaukee Greyhounds, assuring that the MBA champion will come from the powerful East Division for the first time in five seasons; the last to win it in the East being the Season 47 Dallas squad that went 15-0 during the campaign.

It should be noted that all four Semifinal games were massacres, where the Slaughter Rule was enforced.

It should also be noted that both Finals teams are Tyler teams, meaning he will hold the MBA title yet again. It will be his third in a row. 

PLAYER OF THE GAME

29 GVP...Third-year Dallas guard JUZAN DJINN scored a game-high 21 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, stole a game-high 2 passes and handed out 1 assist to earn his second POG of the post-season in as many games. The outstanding two-way player was 7 for 12 from the floor (1 for 4 from deep and 6 for 7 from the foul line). He dominated his man, Ray Natuzzi. We're looking at a possible Playoff MVP for Djinn as we head into the Finals.

Other 20-plus GVP performances

26 GVP...Six-year, 6-6 jumping jack forward Vito Andolini of San Jose did an excellent job subbing for the injured Eddie Creamer. First, he managed to not foul out, and in doing so gave himself the opportunity to sky for a game-high 10 rebounds while scoring 12 points and tying for team-high in assists with 3. He added 1 steal.

22 GVP...Dallas' rookie forward Pete "Steakman" Manzano turned in another solid game. He led everyone with 2 blocks, tied for team-high in rebounds with 6, scored 12 points, stole 1 pass and assisted 1 time. 

21 GVP...Rookie of the Year Kopi Luwak posted a game-high 6 assists from his two guard position, scoring 13 points and grabbing 2 boards in the process.

21 GVP...Subbing for the injured Satan Israel during the playoffs, 12-year veteran Al A. Orden was again super efficient, scoring 14 points and tying for team-high in rebounds with 6. He added 1 assist. In the two playoff wins, the 6-8 Orden is 14 of 15 from the field. 

21 GVP...League MVP and Hall of Fame guard Jesse Shershot shifted to two guard in this game, and for a while the strategy paid off. But he got almost no shots in the second half, scoring 13 of his 14 points in the first two quarters, including all three of his treys. The 6-year man pulled down 5 boards from his guard position and added 1 assist and 1 steal. 

POINTS PREVENTED

San Jose actually prevented more points than Dallas, stopping 12 to the winners' 10.

Tops in points prevented was San Jose forward Charles Broccoli with 6. Second was Biggus Dickus of Dallas with 4.

NEXT UP: Game 1 of the Finals...Milwaukee, looking to end the longest championship drought in history (34 seasons) at Dallas, with the young Demons a heavy favorite to sweep it 3-0. The Greyhounds come into the Finals riding a 5-game winning streak while Dallas is even hotter with 6 wins in a row. 

Season 52 Playoffs...Semifinals Game 2...Sacramento at Milwaukee

 

Milwaukee 106, Sacramento 76 (Slaughter Rule Enforced)

'HOUNDS CRUISE TO FINALS

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Greyhounds made the Sacramento River Dogs build a woodshed, then took them there and beat the hell out of them for the second straight game, this time 106-76.

The win sends the unlikely Milwaukee team (coached by Frank Pettis now in his 3rd season), picked to finish last in the East, to the MBA Finals, the team's first trip since Season 48 and only its second in the past 20 seasons. 

As in the first game of the Semis, the Greyhounds took control early with a 25-13 lead after one quarter and were never seriously challenged. Their 106 points on 66.2 percent shooting was just 4 points shy of the playoff record 110 set in Season 36 by Charleston over Seattle. Milwaukee hounded Sacramento into 8 steals in the game.

They now await the winner of the Dallas vs. San Jose Semifinals (most likely the Whiz Kids). Every playoff game thus far has been a slaughter rule-enforced contest.

The River Dogs thus have the distinction of starting their season with 6 straight wins and ending it with 6 consecutive losses.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

29 GVP...One of the main keys to Milwaukee's surprising success this season has been the play of FLIP PHELPS, who replaced Fatty McButterpants at the point for the Greyhounds this season. His outstanding play has continued in the playoffs. In this Semis clincher, he registered the 4th triple-double of his 8-season career, dominating Freddy Chepuzzo of the R-Dogs. The 6-5 veteran scored 14 points on 5 of 11 shooting (1 for 1 from deep and 3 of 5 from the foul line), posted a game-high 5 assists, stole 2 passes and for the second game in a row, topped everyone in rebounds, grabbing 8. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

26 GVP...Milwaukee shooting guard Thomas Thomas Thomas scored 19 points for the second game in a row, assisted 4 times, had 2 boards and 1 steal as he sent Buddy Pigglesworth to his retirement with a flourish.

25 GVP...Leading the way in the pressure defense department for the victors from Milwaukee was forward Entha Shortzone, who registered a game-high 3 steals after getting 2 thefts in Game 1. The retiring Shortzone also scored 15 points, pulled down 5 rebounds and assisted 2 times.

24 GVP...After scoring 19 in Game 1, Milwaukee center Lothario Fartlek followed up with an 18-point performance that included 4 rebounds, 1 blocked shot and 1 assist.

22 GVP...This has to be the best game of substitute Milwaukee guard Luka Brasi's 5-season career. Coming off the pines, he added the third punch in the Greyhound's three-guard attack, lighting it up for a game-high 20 points. He added 1 rebound and 1 steal.

21 GVP...Sacramento's Hall of Fame center J.J. Gargantuan recovered from a bad Game 1 with a 13-point performance that included a game-high 2 blocked shots, a team-high 4 rebounds and 2 assists.

21 GVP...The POG of Game 1, Sacramento forward Crentis Dentist, scored a team-high 15 points in this loss, handing out 4 assists and hauling down 2 boards. 

SPECIAL GAME NOTE:

Not that it made any difference, but Sacramento was hit with three forced rests within 4 time units in the second quarter, with Dentist out for 40 time units, Gargantuan lost for 39 and then Pigglesworth at the 37 tick mark.

Season 52 Playoffs...Semifinals Game 1...San Jose at Dallas

 Dallas 78, San Jose 45 (Slaughter Rule enforced)

DEMONS DESTROY AMIGOS

DALLAS -- The fresh-faced kids from Dallas ran roughshod over league MVP Jesse Shershot and the visitors from San Jose, whupping up on their elders 78-45 to open the Season 52 playoffs.

In doing so, the young Demons tied the single playoff game mark for rebounds with 34, while shooting 63.5 percent while holding San Jose to a pathetic 33.9 percent. The rebounding mark, which was threatened in Game 1 of the other Semifinals series by Milwaukee (they boarded 32) was first set in Season 9 by the Houston Iguanas, which tied their own mark 27 seasons later in Season 36.

To say that Dallas, which extended its winning streak to 5, looks like the overwhelming favorite, would be a farcical understatement.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

25 GVP...Twelve-season veteran forward AL A. ORDEN had a perfect shooting game replacing the injured Satan Israel at the power spot in the Dallas lineup. The 6-8 Orden tied for game-high in scoring with 17 points on 8 of 8 shooting (2 dunks) and 1 for 1 from the foul line. The valuable substitute contributed 6 rebounds and 2 assists as well.

AND

25 GVP...JUZAN DJINN'S shut-down defense held league MVP and scoring leader Jesse Shershot to just 13 points, the same number that the third-year Dallas guard put up in this opening game massacre. The 6-2 Djinn was 5 for 12 from the floor (1 for 3 from deep) and 2 for 2 from the foul line. His 8 rebounds contributed mightily to Dallas tying the playoff rebounding record for one game. The MBA's blocked-shots leader swatted away 2 in this game, while adding 2 assists to his GVP total.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

21 GVP...The MBA Rookie of the Year Kopi Luwak switched over to shooting guard in this, his first playoff game, and hit his 17-point scoring average with no problem. The smooth 6-2 guard led everyone in assists with 3 and pulled down 1 rebound.

21 GVP...The Demons' big man, 7-foot center Biggus Dickus, dominated on the glass, pulling down a game-high 11 caroms while scoring 10 points. He made his counterpart, Twinkles Spatula, a non-factor. 

20 GVP...6-10 veteran power forward Charles Broccoli of San Jose was the only semi-reliable go-to guy on his team, tying Luwak and Orden for game-high in scoring with 17 points. The fifth-year man added 2 rebounds and 1 assist.

Playoff records

NEXT UP: The flailing, short-handed Sacramento River Dogs get back starting guard Freddy Chepuzzo as they travel to Milwaukee in an early elimination game. But after getting pounded 84-63 in the opener will Chepuzzo's return be enough to stave off the reaper?

 

Season 52 Playoffs...Semifinals Game 1...Milwaukee at Sacramento

Milwaukee 84, Sacramento 63

'HOUNDS BLOW AWAY 'DOGS

SACRAMENTO -- Two teams going in opposite directions stayed their respective courses in this playoff opener as the visiting Greyhounds of Milwaukee coasted to their fourth consecutive win, 84-63, hanging a fifth straight loss on the short-handed, short-circuited River Dogs of Sacramento.

POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTERS

Milwaukee...2...2...0...2...Total=6

Sacramento..2...0...0...2...Total=4

TURNOVERS CAUSED BY QUARTERS

Milwaukee...3...1...4...3...Total=11

Sacramento..2...2...1...1...Total=6

TOP INDIVIDUALS IN POINTS PREVENTED

1. Entha Shortzone, Milwaukee...4

three others tied with 2

TOP INDIVIDUALS IN TURNOVERS CAUSED

1. Entha Shortzone, Milwaukee...5

2. Crentis Dentist, Sacramento...4

PLAYER OF THE GAME

33 GVP...They needed him to play great, and he did, but the game-high 27 points from Sacramento forward CRENTIS DENTIST were not nearly enough to ward off another R-Dogs loss. The 6-6 Dentist was magnificent in defeat, dominating his man Shortzone by going 11 for 16 from the floor. He canned 2 of 3 trey attempts, slammed home a couple and was perfect (3 for 3) from the foul line. He tied for team high in rebounds with 4, blocked shots with 1 and steals with 1 while causing 4 turnovers on the defensive end.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

30 GVP...After a disappointing regular season on offense, Milwaukee center Lothario Fartlek tied for team-high scorer in this Game 1 win with 19 points against one of the top defenders the MBA has ever seen as he dominated Hall of Famer J.J. Gargantuan. Fartlek got the Greyhounds off to a quick start with a 10-point first quarter that included 3 rebounds, 1 block and 1 steal. For the game he finished with 6 rebounds, tied for game-high in assists with 3, blocked 1 shot and stole 1 pass.

25 GVP...Milwaukee point guard Flip Phelps seriously out-played Jeez-O Mann, scoring 13 points, tying for game-high in assists with 3, stealing 1 pass and leading everyone in the game with 8 rebounds. 

25 GVP...Shooting guard Thomas Thomas Thomas of Milwaukee tied for team-high in scoring with a very efficient 19, tied for game-high in steals with 2 and pulled down 4 rebounds.

23 GVP...The only guy other than Dentist on the R-Dogs who bothered to show up offensively was retiring two guard Buddy Pigglesworth, who scored 15 points while tying for team-high in rebounds with 4 and game-high in assists with 3. He added 1 steal.

20 GVP...Milwaukee power forward Ape Con Myth took it to fellow geezer Bogainvillea Hedge, holding him to 2 points while scoring 15 himself. The 6-10, 14-season veteran, grabbed 3 rebounds and added 2 assists.

Game notes: 

-- Milwaukee doubled the rebounding total of Sacramento, 32 to 16. The Greyhounds were just 2 rebounds shy of a playoff record first set by Houston in Season 9 and last tied by Houston in Season 36. 

NEXT UP: San Jose at the heavily-favored Demons of Dallas. Both teams are missing star forwards, but Dallas is still loaded with weapons and is heavily favored.

Season 52 Schedule Summary+Predictions revisited+Category Leaders+Team MVPs+Position Rankings+Playoff Team Comparisons and predictions+ Leaders + All-MBA Teams

San Jose MVPs Through the Years

S52--Gurd Jesse Shershot

S51--Guard Jesse Shershot

S49--Guard Jesse Shershot

S26--Forward Sagittal Occlusal

S25--Rookie Forward Sagittal Occlusal

S11--Forward Johnny Fartpants

Dallas Rookies of the Year Through the Years

S52--Guard Kopi Luwak

S51--Forward Satan Israel

S43--Forward Chip Battoe

S16--Forward Curly Hogbottom

SEASON 52 PREDICTIONS REVISITED

Standings--Close in the West, but only one standings spot correctly predicted by D and T, who predicted this division exactly the same...the one correct one was fourth place for Gillette. However, it should be pointed out that the two playoff teams were both correctly forecasted.

--Dave wins in the East and overall with 2 correct predictions to Tyler's 1.

--Both D and T predicted Shershot correctly as league MVP. Neither got Rookie of the Year correct. 

--All-MBA team prediction goes to Tyler 2-1. Both picked Shershot correctly, but Tyler gets the edge for his second correct prediction, D. Fenestration, at forward.

 

Season 52 Featured Game No. 10...Oklahoma City at Dallas

Dallas 77, Oklahoma City 73

DEMONS WIN; MILWAUKEE IN

DALLAS -- The Dallas Demons (now 8-2) clinched home court advantage throughout the playoffs with a spirited win over the visiting Oklahoma City Lariats (5-5), but lost starting forward Satan Israel to injury for the entirety of the post season. (He was replaced on the roster by Stan Doffish).

The Dallas victory finalized the fourth and final playoff spot to the surprising Milwaukee Greyhounds, eliminating Oklahoma City on the final game of the season for the East Division.

It was later determined that Charleston, with a 5-5 record, and not Oklahoma City (also 5-5) finished in last place in the East; the first time in 52 seasons a .500 team has ever finished in last place.

While Dallas finished in first at 8-2, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Oklahoma City and Charleston all finished 5-5. The first tie-breaker and the playoff spot went to Milwaukee, which won 4 divsion games, while the other three 5-5 teams each won 3 division games. The second tie-breaker for those three teams was head-to-head wins, with Philadelphia getting 3, Oklahoma City 2 and Charleston 1. 

PLAYER OF THE GAME

30 GVP...Rookie of the Year shoo-in KOPI LUWAK of Dallas nailed down his fourth POG of the season, tying him at this point with Hall of Fame guard Jesse Shershot of San Jose for the league lead in that department. The smooth-shooting Luwak scored a game-high 22 points on 9 of 15 shooting, hitting 2 of 5 from deep and going 2 for 3 from the foul line. The 6-2 guard added a game-high 2 steals and pulled down 4 rebounds. He finished the season with a robust scoring average of 17.7 ppg, good for second in the league behind Shershot at the moment.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

23 GVP...Dallas defensive ace Juzan Djinn nearly shut out Handsy Joe Potatoe of Oklahoma City, allowing him just 2 points on 1 of 8 shooting. Meanwhile, the third-year Demons star scored 12 points, tied for game-high in rebounds with 6, handed out 3 assists and added to his league-high blocked shots total with 2 more for a grand total of 31.

23 GVP...Rookie forward Pete Marzano of Dallas scored 14 points, topped everyone in blocked shots with 3, dished out a team-high 4 assists, stole 1 pass and grabbed 1 rebound in the win. 

23 GVP...Going head-to-head with heralded rookie Biggus Dickus, Oklahoma City center Chochky Galumpkus led his team in scoring with 19 points while grabbing 2 boards and assisting 2 times. He's in a major battle with Johnny Bananas of Charleston for his third All-MBA foil star.

20 GVP...In the game-within-a-game head-to-head battle for the second All-MBA spot at guard, Oklahoma City's King Czardines netted 20 GVP against Luwak's 30. Will it be enough to get him that foil star? He scored 13 points, grabbed 1 rebound and led everyone with 6 assists giving him a 4.7 per game average in that department. That means perennial assist champ, Hall of Famer Great Gruncle Terry, will need 4 assists in his final game to tie for the assists title and 5 to win it outright. 

MBA Standings … Season 52

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS………………….8-2 (clinched playoffs and home court throughout playoffs)

MILWAUKEE……….. 5-5 (clinched playoff spot)

PHILADELPHIA………5-5

OKLAHOMA CITY…..5-5

CHARLESTON……….5-5

 

 

WEST DIVISION

SACRAMENTO…6-3 (clinched playoff spot)

SAN JOSE………….5-4 (clinched playoff spot)

SEATTLE…………..5-5

GILLETTE………….3-6

LOS ANGELES…..1-8

 

NEXT UP:  Gillette at San Jose…The home team Fighting Amigos still have a smidgeon of a chance to get first place in the West Division. They need to beat the Humps (who they creamed behind Eddie Creamer 71-50 in their first meeting) and then hope that a 1-win Los Angeles team can take down a heavily-injured Sacramento in the final regular season game of Season 52.