Season 53 Playoffs....Semifinals Game 1...Oklahoma City at Gillette

 OKLAHOMA CITY 74, GILLETTE 73

LARIATS BARELY GET OVER THE HUMPS

GILLETTE -- The first playoff game in Gillette Humps history was a stimulating thriller that ended with a gut-wrenching 74-73 loss before the hometown faithful.

Trailing by six early in the fourth quarter, Gillette took a two-point lead briefly down the stretch, before twice giving up the lead and then tying things up again.

They still had a chance in the waning moments when Mortimer Masterson of Oklahoma City missed a medium jumper, but the Lariats' Handsy Joe Potatoe grabbed the key offensive rebound. His shot with a time unit left was blocked by Lefty Scavenger of Gillette. A lucky fast break bucket could have won the game for the Humps, but it did not materialize.

The closeness of the contest was reminiscent of the double overtime gave between these two during the regular season, won by Gillette.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

28 GVP...Team MVP and second team All-MBA point guard KING CZARDINES of Oklahoma City captured POG honors with a 20-point performance that tied for game-high in the Lariats' win. The fourth-year star delivered two big treys in the fourth quarter, going 9 for 17 overall and 2 for 3 from deep. The league leader in assists dropped a team-high 5 dimes, stole 1 pass and grabbed a pair of rebounds in this, his first playoff game.

OTHER 20-PLUS GVP PERFORMERS

27 GVP...The Lariats' rookie power forward Phillip Mianus stuck it to his opposite, Billy Bauer, scoring 19 points to just 2 for Bauer. The 6-8 Mianus added 4 rebounds, 2 blocked shots, 1 assist and 1 steal to his clutch ledger.

27 GVP...Rookie of the Year and All-MBA center Blob Dylan of Gillette was outstanding in defeat, tying for game-high scoring honors with 20 points, blocking a game-high 3 shots and tying for team-high in rebounds with 4. 

25 GVP...Second-year Gillette point guard Joey "Joe-Joe" Shamadu scored most of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, keeping Humps fans on their camel toes. Runner-up in assists to Czardines this season, Shamadu handed out 5 helpers in this one while also pulling down 2 rebounds.

24 GVP...Gillette got a great game out of small forward LaJon Brames, who dominated his man Buba Lipa. Brames scored 14 points, tied for team-best with 4 rebounds, dished 4 assists, stole 1 and blocked 1 shot. 

22 GVP...Gillette guard Lefty Scavenger handed out a game-high 6 assists, scored 12 points, grabbed 2 boards, blocked 1 shot and stole 1. 

20 GVP...Two-time All-MBA center Chochky Galumpkus of Oklahoma City waged war all game with standout rookie Dylan, and acquitted himself nicely in the process. The 7-1, 8-season veteran grabbed a game-high 7 rebounds, scored 12 points and blocked 1 shot in the important win.

NEXT UP: Dallas travels to the great Northwest to off the Seattle Stampede.

Season 53 Playoffs...Semifinals Game 1 Seattle at Dallas

DALLAS 90, SEATTLE 75

WHIZ KIDS BEGIN TITLE DEFENSE WITH EASE

DALLAS -- The defending champion Dallas Demons toyed with the visiting Seattle Stampede before putting them away in the first game of the Season 53 playoffs, 90-75.

Seattle was competitive in the first half, trailing only by 7, 44-37 before the home team's dominance took hold in the third quarter. Led by All-MBA guard Juzan Djinn and center Biggus Dickus, Dallas out-scored Seattle 28-15 in that frame and was never seriously headed.

The fourth quarter was played only to see if the slaughter rule would be enforced, and to their credit, the Stampede was able to keep that embarassment at bay. 

The final score was eerily reminiscent of Game 1 of Season 53 in the regular season, won by Dallas 92-78.

This playoff contest was gallant try by Seattle, which will likely be eliminated in the next game before their home fans.

Veteran Dallas forward Al A. Orden comes off the injured list for Dallas and will start the next game in place of Philibuck Davia.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

27 GVP...Although thwarted in scoring attempts numerous times by Sky Masterson of Seattle, the 7-foot BIGGUS DICKUS of Dallas used his 4-inch height advantage to score 18 points on 9 of 17 shooting while leading his team in rebounds with 6. The second-year rim protector added 1 blocked shot, 1 steal and 1 assist to his solid playoff effort.

AND

27 GVP...10-year Seattle veteran FROG MORTON demonstrated his vast playoff experience with a game-high 22-point performance from his power forward position. The 6-9 Morton, who came to Seattle in a trade from Charleston, was 10 for 12 from the floor and 2 for 3 from the foul line. He added 4 boards and 1 assist in the losing effort.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

26 GVP...The MBA's leading scorer, Kopi Luwak, rippled the cords for 17 points, bombing away 5 triples in 9 attempts in his 6 for 12 shooting day. The Dallas point guard led everyone in assists with 5 and pulled down 4 rebounds.

24 GVP...Defending playoff MVP Juzan Djinn led his team's balanced scoring attack with 19 points, going 7 for 10 from the floor. The MBA's leading free thrower was also perfect at the charity stripe with a 5 for 5 day, pulled down 4 rebounds and blocked 1 shot. 

24 GVP...Battling like hell against the hulking opponent that was Dickus, Seattle center Sky Masterson pulled down a game-high 8 rebounds, scored 12 poionts, tied for game-high in blocked shots with 2, added 1 assist and 1 steal. 

23 GVP...Seattle's 5-11 rookie point guard Bellybutton Inquisition matched his regular season outing against Dallas, scoring 18 points. He led his team with 3 assists and added 2 rebounds. 

20 GVP...Little 5-9 lefty Fuck Mountain of Seattle managed to score 13 points against top defender Djinn, including a trio of treys. He swiped a game-high 2 steals, tied for game-high with 2 blocked shots, grabbed 2 boards and had 1 assist. 

NEXT UP: Oklahoma City at Gillette, with the Humps hosting the first playoff contest of their existence. 

 

Season 53...quick playoff preview

SEMIFINALS...BEST OF 3 

Seattle (5-5) vs. Dallas (8-2)

These two teams played the first game of Season 53, with the Demons winning 92-78, Biggus Dickus was POG.

No 5-5 team has ever won an MBA title.

Dallas is the overwhelming favorite to win this series and to take it all, repeating as champions.

The Demons have the league MVP in forward Pete "the Steakman" Marzano as well as two other All-MBA first-teamers (just the fifth time three from one team have made it). The others, who finished second and third in the MVP race are the magnificent guard combo of Juzan Djinn and Kopi Luwak, the latter being the league's top scorer. Those three also finished one-two-three in individual scoring in the league. Djinn led the league in free throw shooting as well.

Dallas led the league in:

offense, averaging 83.2 points per game

shooting percentage...61.3 percent

points differential...+ 13.5 per game

Seattle, led by veteran center Sky Masterson, started the season 0-3 but finished in a rush to make the playoffs. 

Oklahoma City (7-3) vs. Gillette (6-4)

The Lariats are favored, although an upset by the Humps is not impossible.

The two teams met once in the regular season in a game that went to double-overtime before Gillette won 85-81. Billy "Be-bop" Bauer was the POG for Gillette.

Oklahoma City led the league in blocked shots, thanks mainly to rookie forward Phillip Mianus, who led the circuit with 33.

The Lariats also feature the league's top assist man, King Czardines and veteran center Chochky Galumpkus, who posted the top scoring game this season, a 35-point effort vs. San Jose. 

Gillette was the MBA's top 3-point shooting team, hitting at a 43.1 percent rate, with 47 bombs made.

NEXT: The opener...Seattle at Dallas

Season 53 Featured Game No. 10...Sacramento at Seattle

SEATTLE 68, SACRAMENTO 65

STAMPEDE EDGES R-DOGS FOR PLAYOFFS

SEATTLE -- Playing a second barn-burner against the visiting River Dogs from Sacramento, the Seattle Stampede successfully completed its unlikely playoff run before a raucous, fish-throwing home crowd, coming out on top 68-65.

The win gives Seattle a final record of 5-5; identical to the records of Sacramento and San Jose, but the Stampede registered 5 division wins to 4 by the River Dogs and Fighting Amigos.

This victory gave Seattle a 4-1 record in the second half of the season following an 0-3 start to the campaign.

The win over Sacramento was largely due to the R-Dogs' inability to withstand the defensive pressure of Seattle, which came up with 9 steals in the game and limited the losing team to just 45 shots. 

Seattle's last three buckets all came from veteran center Sky Masterson. Sacramento had a 3-point attempt on the final time unit that could have tied the game, but the shot was no good by Karma Chameleon and blocked for good measure by Fuck Mountain.

The Stampede return to the playoffs for the first time in four seasons and face the dubious task of bucking heads with mighty Dallas in the SemiFinals.

Game note: Sacramento guard Flip Phelps suffered a season injury early in the second quarter, but as it turned out his season only consisted of the rest of the game.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

28 GVP...He's led them in scoring all season long, and in this playoff-clinching win, fourth-year small forward DOODLY SQUAT came through again with a team-high 21 points, dominating Hall of Fame forward Crentis Dentist in the process. Squat, who finished with a 15.7 ppg scoring average on the year, was 10 for 15 from the field in this game (1 for 2 from the foul line), while pulling down 4 rebounds, swiping 2 steals  and blocking 1 shot. This was his first POG of the season.

AND

28 GVP...Sacramento's rookie shooting guard KARMA KARMA KARMA KARMA KARMA CHAMELEON also registered his first POG with an outing that included a game-high 24 points on 7 of 12 shooting (including 2 for 4 from deep and 8 for 11  from the foul line). The 6-4 Chameleon dominated Fuck Mountain throughout, adding 3 rebounds and 1 assist. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

26 GVP...10-year Seattle forward Frog Morton topped everybody in blocked shots with 4 and in steals with 3 while tying for game-high in assists with 3, scoring 11 points and pulling down 5 boards. He dominated Kevin Duran-Duran.

25 GVP...Old reliable, Seattle center Sky Masterson, also dominated his man, Sacramento's China P. The 6-8 Masterson, chasing his second rebounding title, swallowed up a game-high 10 caroms in the win, giving him a career-best 6.9 per contest...currently second to Sheetrock Hudson's 7.2 average. Masterson scored the final three buckets of the game for Seattle to finish with 12 points. He added 2 assists and 1 blocked shot.

MBA Standings … Season 53

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS………………….7-2 (clinched playoffs)

OKLAHOMA CITY…..6-3

PHILADELPHIA………5-4

CHARLESTON………. 4-5 

MILWAUKEE……….. 2-7

 

WEST DIVISION

GILLETTE…………. 6-4 (clinched playoffs)

SEATTLE…………..5-5 (clinched playoffs)

SACRAMENTO…5-5

SAN JOSE………….5-5

LOS ANGELES….. 2-7

 

NEXT UP: Charleston at Philadelphia…The Phobia needs this win to stay alive for the second playoff spot in the East. They are currently one game behind Oklahoma City, who plays Milwaukee in their final game. Don’t think Charleston will be easy for Philly. The Mountaineers just got done giving Dallas their second loss of the season. In the first meeting between Philly and Charleston, the Phobia escaped with a 71-69 victory.

Season 53 Featured Game No. 9...Philadelphia at Oklahoma City

PHILADELPHIA 88, OKLAHOMA CITY 55

PHOBIA CRUSHES LARIATS TO STAY ALIVE

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The visiting Philadelphia Phobia (now 5-4) took their playoff hopes to the final bracket of the regular season, crushing the team they're chasing, the Oklahoma City Lariats, 88-55.

The beat-down began in the first quarter when Philly exploded for 34 points to just 15 for the home team, silencing the fans who had come to celebrate a playoff-clinching win.

The size of the victory may come into play as the third tie-breaker (behind division wins and head-to-head competition) is overall team points differential, the advantage of which Philadelphia now holds.

Still, all Oklahoma City has to do is beat last-place Milwaukee to earn a playoff berth. A loss to the Greyhounds (who have won two of their last 3 games) and a Phobia win over Charleston would make their records identical, and since the two teams split the season series, points differential would come into play.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

32 GVP...Retiring Philadelphia center TACO TOOSDAE dominated the center position in this game, scoring a game-high 22 points on 9 of 10 shooting that included 4 of 5 from the charity stripe. The 6-11, 7th year man added 6 rebounds, tied for team-high in assists with 3 and blocked 1 shot in this important win.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

30 GVP...Smooth Philly forward D. Fenestration hauled in a game-high 7 rebounds while scoring 19 points, tied for team-high in assists with 3 and blocked 1 shot. He absolutely dominated Buba Lipa of Oklahoma City.

26 GVP...Fourth-year Philly mainstay Ehhy Table tickled the twine for 20 points while pulling down 3 boards and tying for team-high in assists with 3. He dominated Handsy Joe Potatoe, who was the POG of their previous meeting.

23 GVP...Phobia point guard Dick Papers scored 16 points, snagged 2 boards, tied for team-high in assists with 3 and swiped a game-high 2 steals. 

21 GVP...Oklahoma City's rookie forward Phillip Mianus tied for his team's top scorer with 12 points, prevented a game-high 8 points, blocked a game-high 5 shots, grabbed 3 rebounds and handed out 1 assit. He leads the league in blocked shots with 32 and would be the first rookie since Hall of Famer Chip Battoe to do so.

Points prevented by Philadelphia=14

Points prevented by Oklahoma City=12

Tops in points prevented

1. Phillip Mianus, Oklahoma City 8

2. Wawa Wewa, Philadelphia 6

3. D. Fenestration, Philadelphia 4

Changes in standings since last bracket

The only change in either division was Sacramento moving past Seattle into second place in the West, thanks to the R-Dogs beating (and eliminating) San Jose and Seattle getting upset by Milwaukee. 

COMING UP: The final bracket of the regular season starts with San Jose over Gillette. That game has no bearing on the playoffs, but is notable for it being the last contest ever played by Hall of Fame guard Jesse Shershot of the Fighting Amigos.

That contest is followed by the FEATURED GAME of the final bracket, Sacramento at Seattle, with the winner advancing to the playoffs. Sacramento bested Seattle at the buzzer 79-78 on a short jumper at the buzzer by Kevin Duran-Duran of the River Dogs. 

The third and fourth games of the bracket are playoff pressure pots, the first being Charleston at Philadelphia, followed by Milwaukee at Oklahoma City. Philly needs a win and a Lariats loss. Oklahoma City just needs a win to make the playoffs.

Season 53 Featured Game No. 8...Oklahoma City at Dallas...PLUS BONUS

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.

Season 53 Featured Game No. 7...Dallas at Oklahoma City

DALLAS 100, OKLAHOMA CITY 68 (Slaughter rule enforced)

DEMONS UNRAVEL LARIATS

 OKLAHOMA CITY -- As if anyone needed further authentication as to which team rules the roost in Season 53, the visiting defending champs from Dallas destroyed the would-be challengers to their supremacy, crushing the home team Lariats 100-68.

The game was a close, spirited affair for one quarter before things got totally out of hand. After out-scoring Oklahoma City 27-17 in the second quarter, the Whiz Kids held a 12-point lead at halftime, where they had already accumulated 10 blocked shots.

They would go on to tie the single-game record for blocks (15...established twice by Seattle; once in Season 27 and once in the playoffs in Season 49) while becoming the first team in Season 53 to hit the 100-point mark. The triple-digit score was achieved on the final time unit of the game when Dallas sub Philibuck Davia scored down low, was fouled and converted the free throw.

For the game, Dallas shot a ridiculous 74.5 percent, while Oklahoma City was held to 41.2 percent.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

42 GVP...A game-high 29 points, a game-high 8 blocked shots, 4 rebounds and 1 assist. Those were the final totals for fourth-year Dallas superstar guard JUZAN DJINN who totally frustrated his counterpart Handsy Joe Potatoe, sending one would-be 3-pointer after another back in his face. (Potatoe was 1 for 13 from deep). Djinn was a solid 11 for 16, canning 2 of 6 from beyond the arc and maintaining his perfect season at the free throw line, where he went 5 for 5 (he now leads the league there at 15 for 15.) This is the kind of game that could vault him into his first regular season MVP honor.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

32 GVP...Dallas center Biggus Dickus totally destroyed two-time All-MBA pivot Chochky Galumpkus, allowing him just 3 points while scoring 26 of his own. Lariats back-up Chat Bot fared slightly better, but not much. The second-year 7-footer added 3 blocked shots, 2 rebounds and 1 assist to his superb outing.

27 GVP...The lone bright spot in the game for Oklahoma City was point guard King Czardines, who led his team in scoring with 18 points (including 3 buckets from deep), tied for game-high in assists with 5, pulled in 2 boards and registered 1 steal. 

25 GVP...The leading candidate for MVP going into the game, second-year forward Pete "the Steakman" Marzano had another stellar game, scoring 15 points, grabbing a game-high 5 rebounds, swatting away 4 enemy shots and adding 1 assist.

22 GVP...The league's leading scorer, Dallas point guard Kopi Luwak, contributed 16 points, grabbed 4 boards and added 2 assists to the massacre.

MBA Standings … Season 53

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS………………….7-0

OKLAHOMA CITY…..5-2

PHILADELPHIA………3-3

CHARLESTON………. 3-4

MILWAUKEE……….. 0-6

 

WEST DIVISION

GILLETTE…………. 5-1

SACRAMENTO…4-3

SEATTLE…………..2-4

SAN JOSE………….2-4

LOS ANGELES….. 1-5

 

NEXT UP: Win-less Milwaukee travels to Philadelphia. A win by the Phobia puts them just one game behind Oklahoma City, and the Lariats have to play Dallas again the next game while Philly gets the Greyhounds. It’s getting close.