SEATTLE: Only one of the four playoff teams that is not a repeater from last season, the Stampede is the surprise team of Season 42's playoffs. Getting the excellent veteran center Naceg Gecan in the off season was obviously enough to offset the loss of the previous season team MVP, guard Ginger Vampire. They are one of the MBA's three teams to have a positive point differential and their 79.2 points per game is second only to their semifinal playoff opponent, Charleston. They may be easy to count out, but don't forget that in Season 37, they were the least likely team to win it all, but they did.
CHARLESTON: The Mountaineers are heavy favorites to win it all, having gone undefeated in the regular season and setting a scoring mark of 91.8 points per game in the process. They have the top two MVP point-getters in Hall of Fame guard Naf Naf and Beezow Bop-Bop, and second team All-MBA center J.J. Gargantuan. They topped the league in field goal percentage (63.1 percent) 3-point shooting (55.6 percent with 80 made), assists (13.7) and tied for the top spot in steals with 23. Don't forget, however, that they were the favorite last season as well until Oklahoma City bested them in the finals.
DALLAS VS. OKLAHOMA CITY
DALLAS: Don't sleep on Dallas. This semifinal match-up is the same one of a season ago in which the Demons were ousted 2 games to 0, but were extremely competitive in both contests. They lost 72-67 in overtime and 79-78 to the eventual champions from Oklahoma City. Since then, Dallas lost starting center Naceg Gecan to free agency and replaced top scoring guard Wimsy Greenfoyle with an even better scorer in second-year man Bingo Bango (17.9 ppg) from Los Angeles. Dallas got the best season of his career from retiring power forward Gulemon Mon-Mon (17.5 ppg). Bango and Mon-Mon both finished in the top five in scoring in the entire league, and steady Matthew Vanden Boogart (15.5 ppg) is another excellent piece. This could be an upset pick if you are placing a bet.
OKLAHOMA CITY: The two-time defending champions enter the playoffs for the second straight season where they are not the favorites to win it all. This may be the final hurrah for the great Lariats teams, as their top two scorers, Ginger Vampire (16.6 ppg) and Hall of Famer Max Payne (16.3 ppg) are both retiring. Oklahoma City again led the league with a stultifying defense that yielded just 65.3 points per game. And the rebounding was also the best in the MBA. They replaced Hall of Famer Yipeekayee Masterfalcon, who was last season's playoff MVP, with storied guard Vampire. Will that be enough to secure a third title? We shall see.
NEXT UP: The Playoffs begin with Seattle at Charleston
