Season 56 Featured Game No. 4...Dallas at Charleston

 DALLAS 78, OKLAHOMA CITY 75

DEMONS ESCAPE AMBUSH

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Dallas Demons (now 4-0), trailing for three quarters, finally took the lead from the surprisingly gritty Oklahoma City Lariats (now 1-3) and hung on for a 78-75 victory, the team's 17th in a row dating back to last season.

This was the closest the four-time-defending champions have come to losing since the last time they played Oklahoma City in bracket 9 of Season 55 when they escaped with a 79-76 win.

Unlike past scenarios, where once Dallas takes the lead in a game and blows the other squad away, Oklahoma City stayed close throughout the fourth quarter, cutting a 6-point lead down to 3 with 8 ticks left in the game. Then, giving Dallas forward Pete "the Steakman" Marzano all the room he wanted from beyond the arc, Oklahoma City readied for the rebound. But, of course, Marzano, whose 3-point percentage in his four seasons has been 0.0, 0.0, 7.7 and 7.1, nailed the trey to sew up the victory. 

PLAYER OF THE GAME

35 GVP...The best player in the MBA took control of this game in the fourth quarter and captured his third POG of the season. We're talking, of course, of Hall of Fame guard JUZAN DJINN, who hit everything he put up in addition to blocking a key would-be bucket down the stretch. The seventh-year man missed half the first quarter due to a force-rest because of his age. But he still finished with a game-high 27 points, scoring from all four zones and dominating his man Barfly Gigglewaters. The 6-2 Djinn was 11 for 14 from the floor, potting 2 of 3 treys and all 3 of his free throws. Additionally, he tied for team-high in rebounds with 5, blocked 2 shots and registered 1 steal. While Djinn now has three POGs, nobody else in the league currently has more than 1. He's currently scoring at a 21.3 ppg clip, second highest MBA scorer, with the first being guard running mate Vicious Hick at 22.8 ppg.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

27 GVP...Dallas small forward Pete "the Steakman" Marzano...16 points...5 rebounds...4 blocks...2 assists. 

25 GVP...Dallas point guard Vicious Hick...19 points (including 5 treys)...4 assists...2 rebounds. 

25 GVP...Oklahoma City center Poop-Rupiah 3000...15 points...6 rebounds...3 blocks...1 assist. 

24 GVP...Oklahoma City Hall of Fame small forward Crentis Dentist...17 points...4 rebounds...2 steals...1 assist. 

23 GVP...Oklahoma City point guard King Czardines...17 points...5 assists...1 rebound.

MBA Standings … Season 56

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS………………4-0

MILWAUKEE………..2-1

PHILADELPHIA………2-1

OKLAHOMA CITY…..1-3

CHARLESTON………. 0-3

 

WEST DIVISION

SAN JOSE…………3-0

GILLETTE…………2-1

SEATTLE………….1-2

LOS ANGELES….1-2

SACRAMENTO… 0-3

 

NEXT UP:  Philadelphia at Milwaukee, both 2-1, in the first of two straight games against each other to conclude the first half of the season. Both are vying for that second playoff spot in the East.

Season 56 Featured Game No. 3...San Jose at Seattle...bracket summary...plus bonus

SAN JOSE 60, SEATTLE 51

AMIGOS REMAIN UNBOWED

SEATTLE -- The visiting San Jose Fighting Amigos (now 3-0) won a huge Western Division defensive contest, besting their preseason rivals from Seattle (now 1-2) 60-51.

The game was a defensive struggle, with both clubs shooting just 46 percent, with the visitors pulling away in the fourth quarter, which they won 20-10.

Seattle was missing its point guard for most of the second half, as Bellybutton Inquisition suffered an injury that had him on the bench for the remainder of the game.

PLAYER OF THE GAM

25 GVP...Looking to break a record he shares with fellow Hall of Fame center Max Payne for most All Star Game appearances, San Jose pivot J.J. GARGANTUAN put another POG in the books with a clutch performance against future Hall of Fame center Chochky Galumpkus. Gargantuan, the MBA's oldest active player in his 19th season, was picked up to be the rim protector San Jose badly needed with the team's first random pick in the draft. San Jose marks the fourth different franchise to take advantage of his varied talents. In this game, the 6-8 Gargantuan tied for game-high in rebounding with 7, scored 12 points on 5 for 12 shooting (2 for 2 free throwing), tied for game-high in assists with 3 and established a game-high  with 3 blocked shots. He seems to have plenty left in his tank.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

22 GVP...Seattle two guard Hilbee Juggleboy...13 points...5 rebounds..2 blocked shots...1 assist...1 steal.

21 GVP...San Jose point guard Donny Dupons...11 points...3 steals...3 rebounds...2 blocked shots...2 assists. 

BRACKET 3 SUMMARY

East Division...every team changed their place in the standings...Dallas, now alone in first, out-lasted Philly and Milwaukee in the undefeated status by laying a hondo on the Phobia, who dropped from second to third. Milwaukee also lost to drop from first to second. Oklahoma City's win over Charleston had them trade places in the standings, with the Mountaineers buried in the cellar and wondering what the fuck happened.

West Division...The only change came with Los Angeles beating Sacramento as the teams switched places from fourth to last.

BRACKET 4 

Bracket 4 kicks off with a FEATURED GAME between mighty Dallas and Oklahoma City on the Lariats' home court. The Demons are looking for victory number 17 in succession, which would be one off their own record. This is their fourth consecutive road game and nobody has come closer than 16 points to these monsters.This is their third Featured Game this season. They deserve to be in the spotlight. 

BONUS...COMPARING THE DYNASTY TEAMS

Comparing the current-day Dallas dynasty (4 straight titles…shooting for 5^th in a row) and Philadelphia’s five straight championships, beginning with Season 29.

PHILADELPHIA PHOBIA

Season 29…8-2 regular season (5-3 in playoffs)

Season 30…7-3 (5-2)

Season 31…8-2 (5-1)

Season 32…7-3 (5-2)

Season 33…8-2 (5-1)

 

Through first four titles in a row, the Phobia was 50-18 combined regular season and playoffs for a win percentage of .735.

Add the fifth title and they were 63-21…a winning percentage of .750

 

DALLAS DEMONS

Season 52…9-1 regular season (5-1 in playoffs)

Season 53…8-2 (5-2)

Season 54…10-0 (5-0)

Season 55…9-1 (5-0)

Season 56 (partial) 3-0

 

Through first four title Dallas was 56-7 combined regular season and playoffs for a win percentage of .888.

Add the three more wins and that total is 59-7…a winning percentage of .894.