Season 39 Post-Season Preview

SEMIFINALS: Dallas (6-4) vs. Milwaukee (7-3)
The caliber of these teams makes this semi match-up as good as many finals have ever been. Kind of a toss-up, but Milwaukee gets the favorite nod.

The teams met in the regular season one time with the Greyhounds overcoming a 10-point first quarter to win 62-57. Lemon Jell-o of Dallas was Player of the Game, harassing Hall of Famer Hrundi V. Bakshi of Milwaukee into 4 steals.

The Greyhounds, still the MBA team with the second-most titles, make their first playoff appearance since Season 32, breaking the longest current post-season drought. They have captured seven championships, but the last came in Season 18, which is the longest time without a title among the Final Four.

Dallas was the overwhelming favorite to win the West before the season began, but had to struggle to make it back to the playoffs. They are the only repeater from last season's Final Four.

The Demons are the league's most dominant team on the boards in the MBA, by far. They killed Milwaukee in that department during their cross-over meeting, 27-18, but still lost the game.

Dallas has three titles to its name, the last coming in Season 28.

One tidbit to remember...no team has won an MBA championship having won less than seven regular season games since Season 9. That's 30 seasons ago.





THE OTHER SEMIFINALS: Charleston (6-4) vs. San Jose (7-3)
Charleston has the most All-MBA players in the post-season, with J.J. Gargantuan and B. Quiet, and their 6-4 record belies the addition of Beezow Bop-Bop, who returns to the starting lineup after missing 30 percent of the regular campaign due to injury.

Although San Jose won their division, they are the underdogs here, and the longest shot to win it all.

Even without Bop-Bop at season's end, the Mountaineers led the league in shooting percentage, filling it up at a 60.3 percent clip.

The Fighting Amigos held teams to 69.1 points per game, second in the MBA and best among the Final Four teams. They also led the league in free throw percentage, shooting 81.7 percent.

San Jose has won one championship, in Season 25.

Charleston has three championships, the last coming in Season 36, which is the most recent title among the four teams still in the running. Bop-Bop led the team to glory that post-season and won Playoff MVP.

Wrapping Up Season 39 prior to playoffs...2nd update

POSITION RANKING NOTES: The center position continues to house the most talent in the MBA with 60 percent of the starters registering 20-plus GVP seasons. And they will all be back next campaign.






ALL-MBA NOTES
-- Only the second time two guards from the same team have made first-team All-MBA. First time was Season 34 when Hall of Famers Hrundi V. Bakshi and Ching-Chong Chung did it in the one year they played together for the record-setting Houston team.

-- This marks the second season in a row that Naf Naf and Yipeekayee Masterfalcon have captured the two guard spots. The only other time the same guards repeated in consecutive years was in Seasons 4 and 5 when Uncle Bob Masterson of Philadelphia and Cappy Gambol of Milwaukee repeated and in Seasons 29, 30 and 31 when Hrundi V. Bakshi of Milwaukee and Cheetos Jones went back-to-back-to-back. Jones was on Sacramento in Season 29 and on Philadelphia the next two seasons.
That Season 29 Jones played for Sacramento was the only season in which a future Hall of Famer ever played for the River Dogs.

-- J.J. Gargantuan marks the seventh different center in as many seasons to be named All-MBA.

-- Rookie Bang-Bang Reiner of Oklahoma City and Reckless Abandon of Chicago had the same GVP score, but Abandon won the first-team spot and star due to the tie-breaker, which gives it to the player with the highest scoring average. Reiner, however, gets the Rookie of the Year label.

-- Charleston is the only team to have more than one first-team All-MBA player.




LEADER NOTES
Scoring: Naf Naf is the only player ever to start his career with three consecutive scoring titles. Only other guy to get three straight was the great Cappy Gambol. Most scoring titles ever was five by Uncle Bob Masterson.

3-Point Shooting: Although thought of as a killer defender, Lemon Jell-o gets his second 3-point shooting title.

Steals: Despite starting the season on the bench, Lemon Jell-o earns his seventh consecutive steals title. But, despite all those titles, he does not hold the record for most steals in one season. Jell-o's top single-season mark was 20, but Percy Faith, who had 5 steals titles to his name, twice exceeded Jell-o's top mark with 21 steals for Oklahoma City in Season 14 and a record 22 steals for Sacramento in Season 15.

Blocked Shots: Chicago Hall of Fame center Max Payne, in his 14th season, is the oldest MBA player to win the blocked shots title, his second.

Assists: It's worth noting that Louis Subgum of San Jose was the MBA assists leader despite also leading the league in most times fouled out.




NAF NAF WINS MVP AGAIN AND EARNS HALL OF FAME STATUS
Oklahoma City's third-year point guard Naf Naf captured his third consecutive regular season MVP honor, edging Charleston forward B. Quiet and Charleston center J.J. Gargantuan.

Naf Naf's achivement ties him with Cappy Gambol, Link Lennex, Curley Hogbottom, Sagittal Occlusal and Hrundi V. Bakshi for most regular season MVP awards ever. He also matches the accomplishment of Occlusal, getting three consecutive MVPs in his first three MBA seasons.

In winning his third consecutive scoring title (23.2 points per game), Naf ties Hall of
Famer Tommy Zoop for most consecutive scoring championships.

Naf Naf becomes the 42nd member of the MBA Hall of Fame and enters the hallowed hall tied for 26th best player of all time with Joey Two-Tones, Soul Duran, Bart Pitbull, Shooter Flatch, Alex Pal and Doug Fresh.

He is expected to rise rapidly in those ranks.

Bang-Bang Reiner Rookie of the Year
Oklahoma City forward Bang-Bang Reiner beat out Dayshotta Leo of San Jose and Tree Fiddy of Sacramento for Rookie of the Year honors.

Reiner started the season in the cut pile, and was called up by the Lariats following an early-season injury. He immediately made the Oklahoma City team a playoff contender in the West.

For the year, Reiner scored 18 points per game and pulled down a team-high 5.3 boards per game.

TOP SCORING, TOP DEFENSIVE TEAMS MISS
Oklahoma City scored the most points this season and Chicago had the best team defense. Neither made the playoffs.
On a similar note, Oklahoma City was not only the best scoring team, they were also the worst defensive team. Finishing 5-5 makes perfect sense in that scenario.

West wins All Star tilt 71-69, but Vampire goes down

WEST 71, EAST 69

SEATTLE -- Fans of the first-place Seattle Stampede watched in horror as their star guard Ginger Vampire suffered a horrible injury on the second time unit of this All Star Game.

The home team West would go on to win a close contest 71-69, but there was little cheering since Vampire, who came into the game as the league's second-highest scorer at 25 points per contest, will now miss the remainder of the regular season (5 games) plus two more playoff contests (should the Stampede even make the playoffs...which is dubious now).

Vampire's injury appeared to be the same one he suffered in Season 34 which caused him to miss three games.

The West has now won 15 All Star Games, with the East still leading with 24 wins.

PLAYER OF GAME
Naf Naf of Oklahoma City became the first Oklahoma City MVP of the All Star Game since Marcus Pettis shared the honor in Season 25. Naf was high scorer in the contest with 26 points and also pulled down a game-high 7 rebounds from his point guard position. He added 2 assists for good measure.
Other 20-plus GVP performers
Poppy Poppalucco of Chicago, playing in his first and last All Star Game, did himself proud, tying for team-high scoring honors for the East with 17 points and game-high in assists with 4. He also had a rebound and a blocked shot.
B. Quiet, Charleston's fine forward, tied Poppalucco for team-high scoring honors with 17, pulling down 3 rebounds and blocking 1 shot.

Quick Rise up List
After just three All Star Games, Naf Naf has moved into fourth place all time for 3-pointers made in the star contest. He has 16, passing Stu Nod (14), Cappy Gambol (14), Doug Fresh (15), Didger A'doo (15), Uncle Bob Masterson (15) and Tommy Zoop (15).
He is just behind Ching-Chong Chung (17), Mamadou Zongo (18) and the leader in this category, Cheetos Jones (24).



NEXT BRACKET OF GAMES
First-place Chicago (4-1) at second-place Milwaukee (3-2) in a battle for the top spot in the East

Oklahoma City (3-2) at Houston (1-4) in a crossover contest that could put have the Lariats primed for first place.

Charleston (2-3) at Philadelphia (1-4) as the struggling Mountaineers look to get back into the playoff picture.

Sacramento (3-2) at Dallas (2-3) in a huge West contest. R-Dogs ambushed them last time 92-67 behind rookie Tree Fiddy.

Seattle (4-1), first in the West, at San Jose (2-3). Stampede's first game without best player Ginger Vampire.

Note: Seattle picked guard Fuzzy Dunlop off the scrap heap to replace Vampire on its roster.

Season 39 All Star Break Report

ALL STAR SELECTIONS MADE


Centers dominated this season's All Star Game selections, as expected, with the maximum number of six (three on each divisional team) being selected.

Hall of Fame center Max Payne of Chicago added a 15th award on his card with this, his eighth All Star Game selection. Payne thus moves past Hall of Fame greats Dan Mann and Cheetos Jones into 12th place all time on the Hall of Fame list. He is tied for 12th place with Doc Watson and Cam Bodia, and is now just one award away from tying Diamond Dallas Paige and Jonny Cockaroo as the most honored center in MBA history.

Seven first-time all stars were selected to the mid-season extravaganza this season (which will take place on the home court of the surprising Seattle Stampede).

Two of the first-timers are rookies Tree Fiddy, the Sacramento center and clear-cut favorite for Rookie of the Year honors, and guard Dayshotta Leo of San Jose.

Chicago's Poppy Poppalucco finally made it to the All Star Game in his ninth season in the league. He and Sacramento forward Harold Arlen (playing in his 6th All Star Game) will both be retiring after this season.

Perennial All Star Game selections Art Vandelay of Chicago and Lemon Jell-o of Dallas each needed just one more award, an All Star Game appearance, to make 10 honors on their card in order to be named to the Hall of Fame. But Jell-o was benched early on for the first time in his career when Dallas acquired T.Kanes Masterson, hindering his chances and Vandelay was edged by second-year forward Baba Brinkman of Milwaukee, who only started his team's last three games thanks to an injury to Teatime Typhoo. So neither Jell-o or Vandelay got that elusive 10th award, and to make matters worse, both will be retiring after this season. Chances are, one or both will eventually get into the Hall via the retired Veterans route.

Players with 20-plus GVPs who did not make the All Star Game were:
-- guard Beezow Bop-Bop of Charleston (20.2)
-- forward Davis Phillips of Philadelphia (20.0)
-- forward Art Vandelay of Charleston (20.4)
All of the above are East Division players.
Hall of Fame guard Hrundi V. Bakshi of Milwaukee (19.4) also failed to make the team.

Chicago, Sacramento and San Jose each placed three players on the team, and every team in the league had at least one player selected.

The All Star Game record stands at 24 wins for the East to 14 for the West

CHICAGO, SEATTLE LEAD DIVISIONS
Defending champion Chicago and their league-leading defense top the East, but Milwaukee and Charleston are still in the hunt.

In the West, Seattle has shocked everyone with its first-place 4-1 record, thanks mainly to Ginger Vampire and mirrors (even though vampires abhor mirrors).

Houston, last in the East, may be moving its franchise if it finishes in the cellar again.

Unbelievable early season 39 game

Dallas 102, Charleston 98 in OVERTIME!

This was one of the best games ever played in the MBA as the two powerhouse teams from different divisions locked horns and battled like maniacally possessed Greeks and Trojans.
No Helen was needed in this all-out war.
The game was close throughout with a pair of unlikely 3-point shots from Demons players determining the outcome.
The fourth quarter saw eight different lead changes, with Charleston finally gaining a 3-point advantage. Then, with 8 time units left, forward Sven Marquardt who had missed 6 treys to that point, rose up, launched and tied the contest 88-88.
Then with 5 time units left, Marquardt, not normally a good shot from outside, launched a medium shot and hit it to give his team a 90-88 lead.
A missed 3-pointer by Mel A. Noma of Charleston was tipped in by teammate B. Quiet to tie it up 90-90.
Marquardt then tried yet another trey, but this one missed.
Art Vandelay of Charleston rebounded got the ball to Noma for a last-ditch medium shot....but he too, missed, sending this madman game to overtime.

OVERTIME

In the short overtime period, the lead changed hands five more times until Bootlace Barnaby of Dallas, not a good 3-point shooter, nailed one, was fouled, and then hit the resultant free throw, giving his team a 100-96 advantage and 10 ticks left.
The teams exchanged late baskets and Dallas escaped with an impressive road victory (which, by the way, makes the West 3-0 in crossover games early on...an unusual MBA occurrence where the East almost always dominates).

Four other abnormalities happened in this game.
1) All five starters from both teams had 20+ GVP games.
2) Charleston shot 73 percent from the field...and lost. (Dallas shot 62.7 percent but out-rebounded the home team 24-15).
3) There were no steals by either team in this game...both teams really took care of the ball.
4) Either team had a chance to win the game in regulation had they made their free throws. Dallas was 13 for 23 at the line and Charleston was 5 for 11...the only weakness displayed in an otherwise superior contest.

PLAYER OF GAME
-- Dallas center Naceg Gecan, who had 17 points through sheer force of will while playing against one of the best defensive centers in the game, J.J. Gargantuan. Gecan had a game-high 11 rebounds and numerous put-backs, got 2 assists and 1 blocked shot.

20-PLUS GVP PERFORMANCES
-- Dallas point guard Bootlace Barnaby had 19 points, tied for game-high with 6 assists and grabbed 3 rebounds.
-- T. Kanes Masterson, playing his first game for his new Dallas team, led everyone in scoring with 25 points, getting 1 assist.
-- Veteran power forward Gulemon Mon-Mon contributed 16 points and 6 rebounds, adding 4 assists for the Dallas victors.
-- Sven Marquardt, small forward for Dallas, playing his first game for the Demons, came up huge with 23 points and 4 rebounds.
-- Jesus Moron Joseph, Charleston's guard, had 12 points, tied for game-high with 6 assists, and grabbed 2 rebounds before fouling out.
-- Beezow Bop-Bop, Charleston's other guard, knocked in 20 points, had 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocked shots.
-- Charleston center J.J. Gargantuan had 17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 blocked shot.
-- Charleston forward B. Quiet had 20 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 blocked shot.
-- Art Vandelay, late of Chicago, playing his first game for the Mountaineers, led his team with 23 points, grabbed 2 rebounds and had 1 assist.

WEST STANDINGS
1st-- Seattle 1-0 (tie-breaker division win)
2nd--San Jose 1-0 (tie-breaker points differential)
3rd--Sacramento 1-0 (tie-breaker points differential)
4th-- Dallas 1-0
Last--Oklahoma City 0-1

EAST STANDINGS
1st--Chicago 1-0
2nd--Charleston 0-1 (tie-breaker points differential)
3rd--Philadelphia 0-1 (tie-breaker points differential)
4th--Milwaukee 0-1 (tie-breaker points differential)
Last--Houston 0-1

UPCOMING GAMES
Seattle at Sacramento in battle of unbeatens
Milwaukee at Houston
Chicago at Charleston
Philadelphia at Oklahoma City in a cross-over
Dallas at San Jose in a early showdown game

SEASON 39 PRE-SEASON REPORT

Dallas, Milwaukee, Charleston look like class of league
A different team has won the MBA title in each of the past six seasons, and that string could continue this season.
Dallas and Milwaukee look like favorites, along with Charleston, and the first two mentioned teams have not won in 10 and 20 seasons, respectively.

Here’s the Season 39 predictions:

EAST DIVISION
1. Charleston Mountaineers (T-2nd, D-1st)(5-5, 4th in S38)—Beezow Bop-Bop returns from a season-long injury and the Mountaineers are instant contenders again. They added Chicago forward Art Vandelay, the MVP of last season’s playoff and depth at guard with Mel A. Noma from Philly and at forward with Pap Smearz from Chicago. Second-year center J.J. Gargantuan was the team’s leading scorer and rebounder in Season 38 and may be the best of the league’s brilliant centers. They start the season against Dallas, so hold onto your seats.
1. Milwaukee Greyhounds (T-1st,D-2nd)(6-4,3rd in S38)—This is a stronger team than last season’s bunch, thanks to a trade that brought them steady second-year guard Baskets Weaver, a big upgrade over the erratic Yu Raing at the point. Tea Time Typhoo acquired from Charleston, will also be an improvement over the retired Puddles Pondhopper at forward. Milwaukee currently has the longest playoff appearance drought and hasn’t won it all since Season 18. Hall of Famer Hrundi V. Bakshi and company could change that.
3. Chicago Gale (T-4th, D-3rd) (7-3, 1st in S38) – The defending champs lost their top two scorers in forward Art Vandelay and point guard Ginger Vampire to free agency, but replaced Vandelay with the talented, but injury-prone Reckless Abandon. Lots of pressure on second-year guard Chief Keef to deliver big time. The Gale still have Hall of Fame center Max Payne who continues to roll along.
3. Philadelphia Phobia (T-3rd, D-4th) (7-3, tied for 1st in S38)—Top scorer and two-time All-MBA scoring machine guard T. Kanes Masterson goes to Dallas and point guard Mel A. Noma goes to Charleston. Jitter Bugg acquired for the point from Houston, where he was team’s top scorer. Achtu Meinlieber could not start for Sacramento, but Philly will depend on him at the other guard. Diss Reflexia, going into his fourth season, is a monster.
5. Houston Iguanas (T-Last, D-Last) (2-8, last in S38) – One more last-place finish and Houston has to roll the die to see if they change cities. And last seems inevitable. Lost top scorer in Jitter Bugg and replaced with Guy “the Eye” Clark from San Jose, who has yet to prove himself.

WEST DIVISION
1. Dallas Demons (T-1st, D-1st) (7-3, 1st in S38) – Unanimous pick for first in the West and may be the best team overall. Dallas returns second-year point guard Bootlace Barnaby from injury and upgraded its overall roster talent in a huge way. T.Kanes Masterson, who can score like a madman and rebound as well, pushes last year’s top scorer Lemon Jell-o to the bench. Much-improved Sven Marquardt comes over from Houston and also relegates last season’s All-MBA forward Matthew Vanden Boogart to a substitute roll. Add rebounding madmen Naceg Gecan and Gulemon Mon-Mon and you have a dominant rebounding group that should easily make a return trip to the playoffs.
2. San Jose Fighting Amigos (T-2nd, D-2nd) (5-5, 3rd in S38) – Three new starters, all upgrades from last season, should get San Jose into the playoffs for the first time since Season 35. They still have rookie sensation and All-MBA center Pippi Pippistrelli as the main man, and added veteran Blue “Rondo” Alaturk and scoring forward Bruce Hammer down low. Watch for rookie shooting guard Dayshotta Leo to have a big impact. He’s big (6-5) and he can score.
3. Sacramento River Dogs (T-3rd, D-3rd) (3-7, 4th in S38) R-Dogs snared theguy considered the top rookie in the draft in 6-8 center Tree Fiddy, a fine all-around defender and scorer. They also picked up rebounding madman Harold “Farts” Arlen in a trade with Houston. And their bench is much improved.
4. Oklahoma City Lariats (T-4th, D-4th) (7-3, 2nd in S38) -- String of five consecutive playoff appearances appears to be over. Lost all three starters down low. But the good news is that they will be a fun team to watch. With the acquisition of Yipeekayee Masterfalcon, Oklahoma City boasts both All-MBA guards. Masterfalcon was third in the league in scoring and will pair with Naf Naf, league MVP and two-time scoring champ at guard.
5. Seattle Stampede (T-Lasth, D-Last) (1-9, Last in S38) – Three new starters, best being point guard Ginger Vampire from Chicago, won’t get the Stampede out of last Although they may win two games.

ROOKIE REPORT
Starters in their first year
6-8 center Tree Fiddy for Sacramento
6-5 guard Dayshotta Leo for San Jose
6-10 center Yo Noid for Oklahoma City

Made a roster—will come off the bench
6-4 guard Phil D. Buquette for Sacramento
6-10 forward Ape Con Myth for San Jose
6-5 forward Mike Hunt for Oklahoma City
6-9 center Indo Kazak for Charleston
6-3 guard Piggles Huckster for Chicago
6-5 guard Foor A. Verkmate for Houston
6-8 forward Tiger Masterson for Houston
6-5 forward Chavo Guerrero for Houston
6-3 guard Tatsuo Takamiya for Seattle

Straight to the cut pile
6-3 guard Basil “Toy Piano” Fomean
6-6 guard Jackson Galaxy
6-7 forward Bang-Bang Reiner
6-6 forward Tom “Fucking” Paddock


Tyler Record Predictions
Milwaukee 7-3
Charleston 7-3
Chicago 5-5
Philly 4-6
Houston 1-9

Dallas 8-2
San Jose 6-4
Sacramento 6-4
Oklahoma City 3-7
Seattle 3-7

MBA OFF-SEASON NEWS

MAX PAYNE MOVING UP THE LIST
Hall of Fame center Max Payne of the champion Chicago Gale has now moved into a tie for 10th place for most career playoff games played.
In adding 8 more playoff contests in Season 38's championship run, Payne, with 38 games total, passed all-time greats Uncle Bob Masterson and Dan Mann on the games played list. He is now tied with Oscar Mudcat and Stu Nod in the 10th position.
Tug Hershorts and Ed Masterson remain tied atop the list, participating in 49 playoff games each.
There was no change in the all-time playoff scoring list.



BAKSHI, VANSLOCHUM STILL CLIMBING ALL-TIME SCORERS LIST
Hall of Famer Hrundi V. Bakshi of Milwaukee and longtime guard Funsy VanSlochum, currently of San Jose, each moved up on the all-time scoring list.
Bakshi, who posted 168 points to lead his team in scoring this past season, jumped over 10 players in his 10th season in the league and is now fifth all-time in MBA scoring, right behind the great Uncle Bob Masterson.
VanSlochum, in his 15th season, passed five on the all-time list and has currently put himself in eighth place all-time in career points.