OKLAHOMA CITY 63, DALLAS 62
PERFECT SEASON HALTED
DALLAS -- So you say there's a chance?
The Oklahoma City Lariats now 6-2) gave themselves an inkling of post-season hope with a 63-62 victory over the previously unbeaten (and thought-to-be unconquerable) Dallas Demons (now 7-1).
The defensive struggle came down to the last few time units, with Oklahoma City ahead by three. Dallas guard Juvan Djinn took a short jumper and was fouled, but the shot did not go down. He then made both free throws (he's the league leader with 19 for 19 in that department), erasing Dallas hopes of a make, miss, offensive rebound basket scenario that could have tied the game.
The teams thus split the season series, with Dallas having beaten the hell out of OKC 100-68 in their previous meeting.
The Whiz Kids suffered another loss in this one as veteran forward Al A. Orden was injured in the second quarter and will miss the remaining regular schedule games, plus the first playoff game. Orden was already subbing for former All-MBA forward Satan Israel, who suffered a season-long injury early in the campaign.
Six-ten rookie forward Philibuck Davia will now man the starting forward position for the Whiz Kids until Orden can return.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
24 GVP...Going head-to-head with a fierce battle throughout the contest, the point guards for both teams set the pace in this excellent contest. Fourth-year Oklahoma City star KING CZARDINES, the league leader in assists, led everyone in that department with 3 while scoring 16 points, grabbing 4 boards and registering 1 steal. The team's top overall scorer was 8 for 12 from the floor (0 for 2 from deep). It was his second POG of the season.
AND
24 GVP...The league's leading scorer, KOPI LUWAK of Dallas, had a tough shooting day (7 for 17) but still tied for game-high scorer with 17 points, dropping in 3 long ones in 7 tries. The second-year man also tied for team-high in rebounds with 5 and team-high in assists with 2.
Other 20-plus GVP performers
22 GVP...League MVP candidate Pete "the Steakman" Marzano shut out his man Buba Lipa, accounting for a game-high 4 blocked shots while scoring 10 points, tying for team-high in rebounds with 5, tying for team-high in assists with 2 and getting his team's only steal.
MBA Standings … Season 53
EAST DIVISION
DALLAS………………….7-1 (clinched playoffs)
OKLAHOMA
CITY…..6-2
PHILADELPHIA………3-4
CHARLESTON……….
3-4 (eliminated from playoffs)
MILWAUKEE………..
1-6 (eliminated from playoffs)
WEST DIVISION
GILLETTE………….
5-2
SACRAMENTO…4-3
SEATTLE…………..3-4
SAN
JOSE………….3-4
LOS
ANGELES….. 1-6
NEXT UP: Sacramento at Los Angeles...The River Dogs destroyed last-place L.A. 81-44 in their previous meeting. The Big One has lost five in a row.
BONUS
DYLAN IS FAVORITE AMONG ROOKIE OF THE YEAR CONTENDERS AFTER 7 BRACKETS
Note how the GVP order is a direct reflection of the prime pick order in which these rookies were drafted.
25.1 GVP...Gillette 6-11 center BLOB DYLAN (3rd pick in the draft, 1st prime pick)...15.6 ppg, 5.9 RB, 11 blocked shots...Not only the favorite for Rookie of the Year, but currently in the hunt for overall MVP. He has the Humps in the unfamiliar spot of first place in the West.
22.0 GVP...Oklahoma City 6-8 power forward PHILLIP MIANUS (4th pick in the draft, 2nd prime pick)...11.9 ppg, 24 blocked shots, 5.0 RB...League's leading shot blocker has changed the Lariats defensive identity.
20.0 GVP...Seattle 5-11 point guard BELLYBUTTON INQUISITION (6th pick in the draft, 3rd prime pick)...12.9 ppg, 8 steals, 3.6 RBs...Steadying force on the Stampede...team's top assist man. Big rebounder for his small stature.
18.9 GVP...Milwaukee's 6-foot shooting guard ITSTHA BISHOP (9th pick in the draft, 4th prime pick)...14.6 ppg). Top scorer on his team despite being guarded by top defenders in the East.
18.6 GVP...7-foot center CHINA P (11th pick in the draft, 5th prime pick) 10.6 ppg, 5.7 RBs...Leads the River Dogs in rebounding. Came to team in trade with Los Angeles, who originally drafted him.
No comments:
Post a Comment