Season 38 Review and Playoff Preview

Four teams go 7-3, Naf Naf of Oklahoma City named MVP second time in his first two seasons and visitors, for the first time in MBA history, get more wins than do the home teams.








Naf Naf walks away with the top individual honor, but two unlikely MVP candidates from Dallas (yes, Boogart is from Dallas even though sheet doesn't say so)are second and third in the voting. Mon-Mon, in his 12th season, gets his first All-MBA star, as does his fellow forward Matthew Vanden Boogart, who was a last-minute starter for the Demons in his 6th season.
In a league experiencing the most talented group of centers active at one time, rookie Pippi "Bats" Pippistrelli of San Jose outplays them all to win both Rookie of the Year and All-MBA honors.
Sacramento rookie forward Bill Cull becomes the lone bright spot for the River Dogs.


Team MVPs show a good mix of youngsters and veterans.
Lemon Jell-o, who joined Dallas from Oklahoma City, probably made the hugest difference in his new team from the previous campaign. Jell-o, who led the league in steals for a record sixth consecutive year, was most responsible for the Demons going from the worst defensive team in Season 37 to the league's best defensive team in Season 38.
Likewise, Charleston's rookie center J.J. Gargantuan was undeniably most responsible for keeping the Mountaineers in contention until the final game of the season after they lost veteran star Beezow Bop-Bop early in the year.
Chicago rejoined the playoff picture after getting Hall of Fame center Max Payne in the draft and the league's other Hall of Famer Hrundi V. Bakshi of Milwaukee led the Greyhounds to a near-playoff spot, falling just short at 6-4.



Look at the centers. Less than one GVP separates the All-MBA center from the fourth-rated pivot in the league, and the fifth-rated center was only 1.5 GVP points off the pace. Pippistrelli gets top honors, but the next four centers are all playing on in the post-season.



This post season is up for grabs.

Oklahoma City vs. Philadelphia is a re-match of last season's upset, which saw the Phobia oust the favored Lariats.
The Lariats are the highest scoring team in the league, but Philadelphia is the second-highest.
Oklahoma City, largely due to a record year by league MVP Naf Naf, was the top 3-point shooting team ever.
Philadelphia has the highest shooting percentage in the league at 62.1 percent; but Oklahoma City is second at 61.9.

Chicago vs. Dallas should be another tough series, but it's likely to be lower in scoring. Dallas is the league's top defensive team and by far the best rebounding team in the MBA.
But Chicago is the next best defensive team, leading the league in blocked shots. However, they will be without their second-best shot blocker Stu Gatz, lost to injury.

I want to say Oklahoma City is favored because of Naf Naf, but then Philly comes at you with two superstars in T.Kanes Masterson and Diss Reflexia. Dallas, too, could be considered a favorite, with four starters having brilliant years and both forwards making All-MBA.

The only team it's tough to make a case for is Chicago, but they have Max Payne, who is looking for his fourth championship ring with four different franchises.

The Home Stretch for Season 38

SEVEN TEAMS STILL ALIVE
Seven of the league's 10 teams are still in the playoff hunt as we head into the home stretch of Season 38, and not one team has clinched a post-season berth as of yet.
Three of the five teams in the West are still mathematically in the hunt, and four of the five in the East.
The toughest schedules in order of toughest to easiest are rated as follows for the remaining seven contenders.
1) Philadelphia (5-3)--Remaining games against first-place Chicago (7-2) and second-place Charleston (5-3), both of whom beat the Phobia this season. The good thing is that both Philly games are at home. Like last season when they made the final after being picked for last, the Phobia began the season as big underdogs, predicted to finish fourth by both Dave and Tyler in the East.
2)Milwaukee (5-3)--Two home games, one against first-place Oklahoma City (6-2) and the other against lowly Houston (0-8). The good news is that the Greyhounds are getting power forward Puddles Pondhopper back while the Lariats will be without their power forward Reckless Abandon, whom they demonstrated they missed greatly in their recent loss to Dallas.
3) (tie) San Jose (4-4)--Even if they win their final two games, they still might not make it in. The next game, on the road against Dallas, is an eliminator if the Fighting Amigos lose. The final game is against Seattle (1-6), which has the offensive firepower to pull an upset.
3) (tie) Dallas (5-3)--Demons seem to need one win in their two remaining games against San Jose (4-4) and Sacramento (2-6). Right now they hold a two-game tie-breaker lead over San Jose in division wins and an 8-plus point differential in the second tie-breaker.
5)(tie)Oklahoma City (6-2)--The Lariats, like Dallas, need one win to clinch a playoff spot, it would seem. Their remaining games are a tough road game crossover against a strong Milwaukee team (5-3) and a final home game against Seattle (1-6).
5) (tie) Chicago (7-2)--Even with 7 wins and just one game to go, the Gale are not yet assured of a playoff spot. Their remaining contest is against Philadelphia (5-3) on the road. A win would do it, and Chicago pounded the Phobia 95-68 earlier this season. But a loss could still leave the Gale vulnerable to the rest of the East pack.
7) Charleston (5-3)--The Mountaineers have a home game against win-less Houston and a road game against Philadelphia (5-3). On the surface this looks like the easiest road to the playoffs out of all the contenders, but the Houston game might just be a trap game. Charleston has wins against both these teams, but beat Philly at the buzzer.
It's gonna be a madman finish, folks.

38th MBA All Star Game

EAST 106, WEST 94



Tyler called it one of the worst all star teams he has ever seen, but all the East Division All Stars did was break a four-game losing streak to the West while scoring the most points by any team in All Star Game history.
The 106 points eclipsed the previous record of 102 set by the East in Season 21. The West scored 100 in last season's overtime win.
This was the third 100-point game in All Star history and the first time the two teams combined for 200 points.

20-PLUS GVP PERFORMANCES

-- T.KANES MASTERSON of Philadelphia was the All Star Game MVP, leading the winning team with 23 points, tying for top honors in rebounding with 5 and getting 1 assist.
-- Dallas point guard Yu Raing, playing in his first All Star Game, delivered 20 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal.
-- Philadelphia forward Bruce Hammer scored 14 points, grabbed 5 boards and registered a pair of assists.
-- Forward Art Vandelay of Chicago added 20 points, a game-high 5 assists and 3 rebounds in the victory.
-- Second-season guard Naf Naf of Oklahoma City had 20 points and an assist, going 6 for 7 from beyond the arc.
-- The much-improved Yipeekayee Masterfalcon of Seattle drilled 7 treys en route to a game-high 27-point performance in his first All Star Game appearance. He also grabbed 1 rebound.
-- Forward Reckless Abandon of Oklahoma City had 18 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal in the losing cause.

NEXT BRACKET OF GAMES;
Oklahoma City (4-1) at Dallas (4-1) as the two top teams in the West tussle for the first time.
Chicago (3-2) travels to San Jose (3-2) for an important crossover game with both teams fighting to remain in the hunt.
Sacramento (1-4) at Seattle (0-5) in a clash of West Division bottom feeders.
Milwaukee (4-1) at Philadelphia (3-2) in another big East contest. The Greyhounds won the first match 85-75.
Charleston (3-2) at Houston (0-5) as the injured Mountaineers try to stay in the East playoff picture.

MBA Season 38 Mid-Season All Star Game Report

We go into the halfway break with seven of the 10 MBA teams still in the running for a playoff spot.
Two teams, Seattle and Houston have been shut out in the wins department.
Nobody is unbeaten.
The East has four teams who are at least 3-2, while the West has Dallas currently ahead of Oklahoma City (but the two teams have two games remaining against each other.)





Naf Naf of Oklahoma City is in position to destroy the single-season scoring record of 26 points per game held by Cheetos Jones. Naf is tickling the twine at a 30-points per game average. He has half of the top scoring games this season and has been the Game MVP in four of the five games he's played.
San Jose rookie center Pippi Pippistrelli is the lone player to be among league leaders in both scoring and rebounds.
Milwaukee's Puddles Pondhopper leads the league in two categories; blocked shots and free throwing.







Every team is represented in this season's All Star Game.
Gulemon Mon-Mon of Dallas joins a select list of players who have started in five All Star Games.
Likewise, Lemon Jell-o of Dallas is on a limited list of players who have been selected to six All Star Games. This selection for Jell-o gives him nine career awards, just one short of the Hall of Fame, which he appears to have made at some point in the not-too-distant future.
Three rookies made this season's All Star Game and both starting center positions are manned by rookies, despite the vicious competition for All Star Game spots at the pivot.



Only 11 players will retire from the ranks of the MBA this season.
San Jose was hit hardest with both starting forwards announcing they will hang up the jockstraps.
Puddles Pondhopper, a 4-time All Star Game selection and former Rookie of the Year currently having his best campaign, will also, in the grand tradition of the MBA, hang it up early for Milwaukee.
Only three starters overall will be retiring, which points to an even deeper talent pool in the league next season.

Season 38 Preview

Predicted finish of MBA teams following draft, improvements and trade.

WEST DIVISION

1ST--OKLAHOMA CITY LARIATS: (9-1, 1-2) Although they lost one of their most important players in defensive stalwart guard Lemon Jell-o, the Lariats are still fully loaded with young talent and should capture their fifth consecutive West Division title. Simon Barsinister taking Jell-o's place is an acknowledged step down, but Hodor's addition at center will strengthen the team's one weak spot from a season ago. They still have the league-leading scorer Naf Naf at guard and his All-MBA teammate Walter Sobchack at forward. Reckless Abandon is set for a break-out year as well.

2ND--DALLAS DEMONS: (3-7) The infusion of all-time steals leader Lemon Jell-o and promising rookie point guard Bootlace Barnaby will most assuredly end the three-season string of last-place finishes by Dallas. Center Naceg Gecan, the top player at his position last season, has also improved his defense to go along with his potent 18.8 scoring pace and league-best (tied) rebounding ability. The forwards are somewhat questionable, but Dallas is primed for post-season.

3RD (tied)--SAN JOSE FIGHTING AMIGOS:(3-7) The aging franchise received a much-needed shot of youth in the persons of rookie guard Guy "the Eye" Clark and center Pippi Pippstrelli. Both will be instant starters, Clark being a superb shooter and Pippstrelli a defensive stalwart and rebounding machine. With some luck they could challenge Dallas.

3RD (tied)-- SACRAMENTO RIVER DOGS: (3-7) The R-Dogs replaced half its roster, and only point guard Patchy Fogg will remain a starter from last season's lineup. Sacramento traded Milwaukee third-year great Danke Shame for four-time all star game shooting guard Steve Carter, two decent rookie forwards and the Greyhounds first draft pick next season.

LAST -- SEATTLE STAMPEDE: (6-4, 5-1) Champs will plummet. Loss of playoff MVP center Dis Reflexia is a brutal one.


EAST DIVISION

1ST-- CHARLESTON MOUNTAINEERS: (7-3, 0-2) After playing without Hall of Fame center Max Payne in a painful first-round playoff elimination, the Mountaineers let Payne go, added rave-worthy rookie pivot J.J. Gargantuan and are poised to nail down their third consecutive East Division title. Only Oklahoma City has a younger starting lineup, and the Mountaineers have good, tested depth. With Bop-Bop, B. Quiet, Buck Naked and Jesus Moron Joseph all in their prime, Charleston is looking to navigate the tough East and nail down their second championship in three seasons.

2ND (tied) -- CHICAGO GALE: (5-5) Hit hardest by retirment with the losses of starting guards Didger A'doo and Hall of Famer Ching-Chong Chung, the Gale seems to have weathered the storm...at least on paper. Steady point guard Ginger Vampire will move seamlessly into the lineup, and rookie Chief Keef seems like a solid two-way player as his running mate. All-MBA forward Art Vandelay will be joined up front by the exciting aquisition of Hall of Fame center Max Payne.

2ND (tied) -- MILWAUKEE GREYHOUNDS: (5-5) Looking to get off a four-season .500-record snide, the Greyhounds fired coach Raisin Sport, replaced him with Fly Davia, and traded their team MVP of the past three seasons, Steve Carter, along with two rookies and a draft pick, to get defensive stalwart Danke Shame. They also created quite the buzz in Milwaukee by bringing back one of the great MBA players of all time, Hrundi V. Bakshi, who started his Hall of Fame career here. Enough? Time will tell.

4TH – PHILADELPHIA PHOBIA: (6-4, 3-4) Picked for last, they surprised all with a finals appearance last season. They added free-agent superstar center Dis Reflexia, but will go into this campaign without retired defensive great Gabba Penton at forward. Will Reflexia and two-time All-MBA guard T. Kanes Masterson be enough?

LAST – HOUSTON IGUANAS: (3-7) Strong at forward with Vic Hitler and Harold Arlen, they lost Hall of Fame guard Hrundi V. Bakshi in the free agent draft and got nothing to replace him. Seem destined for last.

THE ROOKIES

Bound for Greatness
6-8 center J.J. Gargantuan will start for Charleston
6-9 center Pippi Pippstrelli will start for San Jose
5-10 sharpshooting guard Guy “the Eye” Clark will start for San Jose

Solid Futures Ahead
6-8 forward Bill Cull will start for Sacramento
6-9 forward Du-Du Dadinga will start for Sacramento
6-1 guard Bootlace Barnaby will start for Dallas
5-11 guard Chief Keef will start for Chicago

Good Looking
6-9 forward Peter Pizza will sit for Oklahoma City
6-10 center Matthew Scott Chemers will back up fellow rookie Pippstrelli in San Jose
6-4 guard Baskets Weaver will play off bench for Seattle


Questionable, but hanging on
6-6 forward Baba Brinkman chucks his way onto the Dallas bench
6-5 forward Mimsy Borogrove makes Sacramento roster
6-5 forward Baldy McGrindy will be nailed to Seattle bench
6-7 guard Dustin Hirsch has size for Philadelphia

Directly to the cut pile
6-2 guard YourMajesty Lumpkins drafted and cut by Seattle
6-9 forward Parker Wellington drafted and cut by Houston

Season 38 Free Agents Announced

The Season 38 Draft is already assured of being an exciting one, as no less than eight starters, including both active Hall of Famers, will be included with the 16 rookies in this season's draft.

It could be a short stay at the top for the defending champion Seattle Stampede, which lost two of its famous "Three Amigos," the most damaging being last season's playoff MVP, center Dis Reflexia, who is among the top centers in the league, if not THE top center.

Also taking big hits in the free agent department were Houston (Bakshi), Charleston (Payne), Oklahoma City (Jell-o)and Dallas (Shame), to say nothing of San Jose, which lost its MVP, center George Gershwin.

FLY DAVIA NAMED NEW COACH OF MILWAUKEE
The Milwaukee Greyhounds have announced the firing of Raisin Sport as coach and the hiring of first-time coach Fly Davia.
The Greyhounds have had four consecutive 5-5 seasons and have the longest streak (six seasons) of not making the playoffs in the MBA. On the other end of the spectrum, they also boast the longest consecutive string of seasons without posting a losing record (nine).
Weird combo, eh? We'll see how Davia does.
One thing Milwaukee has going for it is they are the only MBA team to have no retirements and no players lost to free agency. Seemingly, they can only get better in the talent department.
Raising Sport has been head coach since the second half of Season 23. He has compiled a regular season record of 76-69 which included East Division first-place finishes in Seasons 30 and 32. He has had four playoff appearances at the helm, getting to the finals in Season 32. But he could never get Milwaukee, which has the second-most titles withe seven, a championship. At one point this franchise was dominant with Philadelphia, but their last championship was in Season 18.

Season 38 Free Agents Announced

The Season 38 Draft is already assured of being an exciting one, as no less than eight starters, including both active Hall of Famers, will be included with the 16 rookies in this season's draft.

It could be a short stay at the top for the defending champion Seattle Stampede, which lost two of its famous "Three Amigos," the most damaging being last season's playoff MVP, center Dis Reflexia, who is among the top centers in the league, if not THE top center.

Also taking big hits in the free agent department were Houston (Bakshi), Charleston (Payne), Oklahoma City (Jell-o)and Dallas (Shame), to say nothing of San Jose, which lost its MVP, center George Gershwin.

FLY DAVIA NAMED NEW COACH OF MILWAUKEE
The Milwaukee Greyhounds have announced the firing of Raisin Sport as coach and the hiring of first-time coach Fly Davia.
The Greyhounds have had four consecutive 5-5 seasons and have the longest streak (six seasons) of not making the playoffs in the MBA. On the other end of the spectrum, they also boast the longest consecutive string of seasons without posting a losing record (nine).
Weird combo, eh? We'll see how Davia does.
One thing Milwaukee has going for it is they are the only MBA team to have no retirements and no players lost to free agency. Seemingly, they can only get better in the talent department.
Raising Sport has been head coach since the second half of Season 23. He has compiled a regular season record of 76-69 which included East Division first-place finishes in Seasons 30 and 32. He has had four playoff appearances at the helm, getting to the finals in Season 32. But he could never get Milwaukee, which has the second-most titles withe seven, a championship. At one point this franchise was dominant with Philadelphia, but their last one was in Season 18.