Season 54 Playoffs...Semifinals Game 1...Oklahoma City at Sacramento

 

OKLAHOMA CITY 92, SACRAMENTO 74 (Slaughter Rule Enforced)

SECOND-HALF SURGE BLOWS AWAY R-DOGS

SACRAMENTO -- The top 3-point shooting team in the MBA bombed in 10 from deep on the way to a 92-74 slaughter rule win that saw the victors from Oklahoma City begin pulling their starters in the third quarter.

Points prevented by quarters

Oklahoma City...2...3...6...2  Total=13

Sacramento.........5...3...7...4  Total=19

Tops in points prevented

1. Gooch, Sacramento...7

1. Duran-Duran, Sacramento...7

3. Mianus, Oklahoma City...4

PLAYER OF THE GAME

32 GVP...Third-year Sacramento power forward KEVIN DURAN DURAN was brilliant in defeat for the River Dogs, scoring a game-high 25 points and pulling down a game-high 6 rebounds while tying for top honors in points prevented defensively. He also had 1 steal. The willowly 6-9 star was 11 for 16 from the floor, going 3 for 4 from the foul line and 0 for 1 from beyond the arc. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

31 GVP...Oklahoma City shooting guard Handsy Joe Potatoe ... 23 points...4 3s...4 blocked shots...3 rebounds...1 steal.

21 GVP...Sacramento center Dave "Uncle Dunk" Tesh...14 points...4 rebounds...2 blocks...1 assist.

20 GVP...Sacramento small forward Anthony "Fish Face" Finseca...15 points...4 assists...1 rebound

NEXT UP: The powerhouse Demons of Dallas begin their post-season march toward a third straight championship as they host Pinky Toe and the Los Angeles Big One. 

54 Regular Season Stats and Awards and playoff preview

 Observations

-- As usual, the East won the cross-over battle

-- For the first time in recent memory (probably ever), every team averaged at least 70 points per game

-- Only three teams...Dallas, Oklahoma City and Charleston...had positive point differentials...none in the West.

-- Dave teams again bested Tyler teams more times than not in head-to-head competition

-- There was a lot of slaughter rule games...30 percent of the games played.

-- This was the most 100-point games ever in one season. 

-- Dave and Tyler tied for standings predictions 3-3 correct each, all in the East. Nothing was correct by either in the West.

Observations

-- Pinky Toe's 22.1 scoring average is the highest since Season 47 when Dr. Marcus Brody (also of Los Angeles) scored 22.8 to lead the league.

-- Pinky Toe is the first rookie to lead the league in scoring since Naf Naf of Oklahoma City topped all scorers in Season 37, 17 seasons ago. Naf scored 22.9 per game that season.

-- Pinky Toe is the eighth rookie to lead the league in scoring.

-- Sheetrock Hudson, in his final campaign, wins his third rebounding title. Only Hall of Fame center Bart Pitbull, with 4, had more.

Observations

-- The only team to place more than one player on the First Team All-MBA squad is Charleston, which did not make the playoffs.

-- Crentis Dentist is the first player from Oklahoma City to make All-MBA since Chochky Galumpkus seven seasons ago.

-- Juzan Djinn is the only player from last season to repeat as All-MBA.

-- With Juzan Djinn winning the regular season MVP, a Dallas player has won the top honor 10 times. Djinn is only the second Dallas guard to get the honor, the first being Joey Two-Tones in Season 23.

Dallas winners are as follows:

Season 54...guard Juzan Djinn

Season 53...forward Pete Marzano

Season 47...forward Chip Battoe

Season 46...forward Chip Battoe

Season 45...forward Chip Battoe

Season 44...forward Chip Battoe

Season 43...rookie forward Chip Battoe

Season 33...center Tom Kondla

Season 23...guard Joey Two-Tones

Season 16...forward Curly Hogbottom

Los Angeles and Houston Rookie of the Year Winners through the years

Season 54...guard Pinky Toe

Season 50...guard Flufferton Springs

Season 36...forward Vic Hitler

Season 7...forward Link Lennex

Season 3...guard Soul Duran 

In the predictions department...Tyler and Dave tied with two correct predictions each.  Tyler nailed Pinky Toe and Crentis Dentist for All-MBA and Dave correctly named Juzan Djinn All MBA and MVP. Here's what was predicted.

ALL-MBA PREDICTIONS FROM TYLER

Guard-Vicious Hick, Dallas (also MVP and Rookie of the Year)

Guard-Pinky Toe, Los Angeles (rookie)

Center-Chochky Galumpkus, Oklahoma City

Forward-Erik A. Crocidale, Seattle (rookie)

Forward-Crentis Dentist, Oklahoma City (Hall of Famer)

ALL-MBA PREDICTIONS FROM DAVE

Guard-Juzan Djinn, Dallas (also MVP)

Guard-Vicious Hick, Dallas (also Rookie of the Year)

Center-Blob Dylan, Gillette

Forward-Phillip Mianus, Oklahoma City

Forward-Pete"the Steakman"Marzano, Dallas

POSITION RANKINGS

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER -- Splash Gordon, Charleston

Past Most Improved Winners

Season 53...Charles Broccoli, San Jose

Season 52...King Czardines, Oklahoma City

Season 51...Thomas Thomas Thomas, Milwaukee

and Lothario Fartlek, Milwaukee

Season 50...Buddy Flakes, Sacramento

Season 49...Sheetrock Hudson, Charleston

Season 48...Wardy Joubert, Milwaukee

Season 47...Potatos O'Gratin, Seattle

PLAYOFF PREVIEW

THE TEAMS

PLAYOFF PREVIEW

SEMIFINALS...Oklahoma City (7-3) vs. Sacramento (8-2): The River Dogs surprised the hell out of everyone this season. Going into the draft they had a roster of just four players. Even after the draft, which included a number of pick-ups from the cut pile, Sacramento was picked for last. Instead, they went 8-2 to finish atop the West. The Lariats, the acknowledged next-best-thing to Dallas, would have been favored in this Semifinals matchup even before the top scorer for the R-Dogs, Karma Chameleon, was lost to injury for the initial series. Without Chameleon and his 18.5 ppg scoring average, the Lariats should have no trouble dispatching the River Dogs in two straight, setting up a rematch of last season's Finals against Dallas.

SEMIFINALS...Los Angeles (5-5) vs. Dallas (10-0): The Big One was nearly as big a surprise as the R-Dogs in the West. Picked unanimously for fourth, they finished comfortably in second thanks mainly to Rookie of the Year/All-MBA/league's leading scorer Pinky Toe and his 22.1 ppg. Meanwhile, the two-time defending champion Whiz Kids blew through the regular season schedule with a 10-0 mark. They showed only the slightest hint of being beatable...taking overtime to best Philadelphia and edging Oklahoma City twice by four points. They beat Los Angeles during the regular season in a cross-over game 85-73. They should win the Semis in a sweep.

FINALS...We predict Oklahoma City and Dallas in a rematch of last season, with the Lariats maybe winning one game. But we would not be surprised if the Demons swept to become just the second team ever to run the table with a 15-0 mark. 

Next: Game One...Oklahoma City at Sacramento

Season 54 Featured Game No. 10...Oklahoma City at Dallas

 

DALLAS 67, OKLAHOMA CITY 63

WHIZ KIDS PULL OFF PERFECTO 

DALLAS -- The Dallas Demons overcame a 9-point fourth quarter deficit with an offensive tsunami to best their visiting rivals from Oklahoma City 67-63, becoming the fifth team in MBA history to go 10-0 in the regular season.

The four-point win was their second of the season by that margin against the Lariats, but the victories were polar opposite in styles. The previous game was a 90-86 shootout win for the Demons, while this triumph was a defensive in-the-mud rock fight in which the top two Ds in the league flexed their muscles.

Oklahoma City finished the regular campaign 7-3 in second place behind Dallas in the East for the second season in a row.

The win sets up this Dallas juggernaut, which still boasts one of the youngest starting lineups in the league, for a third consecutive championship and a shot at being just the second team to run the table. The only other team to do so was the Chip Battoe-led Demons of Season 47.

Dallas caught a big break early in this game when Oklahoma City point guard King Czardines, the top assist man in the league, as well as the top 3-point shooter, went down with a first-quarter injury that kept him out of the game until the final quarter.

Still, the Lariats, led by Czardine's replacement Ol' Roy, went into the fourth quarter with a 46-39 lead after holding Dallas to just 8 points in the third. 

Then in the fourth, the impressive Dallas lineup coalesced, and getting contributions from everyone, ran roughshod for 28 points and the triumph.

"Those bastards wear you down," was all coach Grady Booch would offer following the disappointing loss.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

24 GVP...Third-year Dallas small forward, 6-8 PETE "THE STEAKMAN" MARZANO, last season's league MVP, battled long and hard with Hall of Fame Lariats forward Crentis Dentist, scratching out a game-high 16 points on 8 of 13 shooting (0 for 2 from deep). The defensive specialist tied for game-high in blocked shots with 3 and also hauled down 6 rebounds in the big win. This POG performance ties Marzano for the most POGs this season with Dentist, Karma Chameleon of Sacramento, Johnny Bananas of Charleston and Marzano's teammate, Hall of Fame guard Juzan Djinn.

OTHER 20-PLUS GVP PERFORMANCES

23 GVP...Dallas center Biggus Dickus...12 points...7 rebounds...4 assists.

20 GVP...Oklahoma City Hall of Fame forward Crentis Dentist...15 points...3 rebounds...1 steal...1 assist. 

MBA FINAL Standings … Season 54

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS………………….10-0 (clinched playoffs and first place and home court)

OKLAHOMA CITY…..7-3 (clinched playoffs)

CHARLESTON………. 6-4 (eliminated)

PHILADELPHIA………2-8 (eliminated)

MILWAUKEE……….. 2-8 (eliminated)

 

WEST DIVISION

SACRAMENTO… 8-2 (clinched playoffs and first place)

LOS ANGELES….. 5-5 (clinched playoffs)

GILLETTE………….4-6 (eliminated)

SAN JOSE…………3-7  (eliminated)

SEATTLE…………..3-7 (eliminated)

 

NEXT UP: Stats tabulation…announcement of MVP, Rookie of Year and All-MBA, to be followed by playoffs.

Semifinals…Oklahoma City at Sacramento

Semifinals…Los Angeles at Dallas.

Season 54 Featured Game No. 9...Dallas at Los Angeles

DALLAS 85, LOS ANGELES 73

DEMONS STILL PERFECT

LOS ANGELES -- The seemingly unstoppable Dallas Demons (now 9-0) easily handled the Los Angeles Big One (now 5-4) on the L.A. home court, 85-73, clinching home court advantage throughout the playoffs.

The two-time defending champions have one more win to complete a perfect regular season, and it will be against their biggest current rival, Oklahoma City, to close out the campaign.

This win tips the lifetime rivalry between Dallas and L.A. to the Demons, who have 23 wins in the all-time series to 22 for L.A. (previously Houston).

Dallas controlled this game from the first time unit, which was a 3-pointer by its point guard Vicious Hick, who also delivered another trey on the team's second posession. The first head-to-head battle between rookie stars Hicks and MBA scoring leader Pinky Toe of L.A. ended in a dead heat, with both scoring 18 points and accumulating 25 GVP.

This could very well be a preview of the SemiFinal round of the playoffs, and would be if the season ended right now.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

38 GVP...The league's most recently named Hall of Famer, JUZAN DJINN of Dallas, seeking his first regular season MVP award on the heels of two consecutive Playoff MVPs, nailed down his third POG of the campaign in this contest. This ties him for the league lead in that category with another Hall of Fame player, Crentis Dentist of Oklahoma City. Djinn, who is currently atop the MVP ladder, with Pinky Toe of L.A. trailing, scored a game-high 25 points on 10 of 19 shooting (1 for 7 from deep and 4 of 5 free throws). The elder statesman in the Dallas starting lineup, now in his fifth season, led everyone in rebounds as well with 7, while blocking 3 shots, handing out 2 assists and racking up 1 steal. He is scoring at a 20.2 ppg clip, raising the bar from his career best 17.9 ppg of a season ago.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

28 GVP...Dallas center Biggus Dickus... gets second consecutive triple-double (3rd career) with 15 points...5 rebounds...5 blocked shots...2 assists...1 steal.

25 GVP...Dallas rookie point guard Vicious Hick...18 points (6 treys)...5 assists...2 rebounds.

25 GVP...Los Angeles rookie point guard Pinky Toe...18 points...5 rebounds...2 assists.

21 GVP...Los Angeles shooting guard Barfly Gigglewater...17 points (3 treys)...3 rebounds...1 assist.

MBA Standings … Season 54

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS………………….9-0 (clinched playoffs and first place and home court)

OKLAHOMA CITY…..6-2

CHARLESTON………. 4-4

PHILADELPHIA………2-6 (eliminated)

MILWAUKEE……….. 1-7 (eliminated)

 

WEST DIVISION

SACRAMENTO… 6-2

LOS ANGELES….. 5-4

SAN JOSE…………3-5

SEATTLE…………..3-5 (eliminated)

GILLETTE…………. 2-6 (eliminated)

 

NEXT UP: A battle at the bottom of the West Division, with Gillette at Seattle. These are the only two teams mathematically eliminated from the playoffs in the West.  The Stampede won the initial outing 72-60. 

Season 54 Featured Game No. 8... Charleston at Dallas

DALLAS 89, CHARLESTON 70

DEMONS CLINCH FIRST

DALLAS -- The victory apparatus that is the Dallas Demons became the first team in Season 54 to clinch a playoff berth with an 89-70 dismantling of the visiting Charleston Mountaineers, assuring the home team of its third consecutive first-place finish in the East Division.

The two-time defending champions also remain unbeaten at 8-0, with just Los Angeles and Oklahoma City standing in the way of the MBA's fifth perfect regular season. 

Charleston stayed within reach of the powerhouse Demons for three quarters before finally unraveling to the talented quintet in the final stanza, as the Whiz Kids, featuring five double digit scorers and two triple-doubles, pulled steadily away.

POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTERS

Charleston...2...0...0...3...Total=5

Dallas..........2...6...2...2...Total=12

Points Prevented Leaders

1. Pete Marzano, Dallas...6

2. Satan Israel, Dallas...4

3. Seeyalater Scronto, Charleston...3

TURNOVERS CAUSED BY QUARTERS

Charleston...1...1...2...0...Total=5

Dallas..........1...0...1...0...Total=2

Turnovers Caused Leaders

1. Johnny Bananas, Charleston...2

(5 others with 1 each)

PLAYER OF THE GAME

30 GVP...The 10th MBA player this season to record his second POG (nobody has managed 3 thus far) is Dallas' outstanding rookie guard VICIOUS HICK, who used this playoff-clinching victory to snag the first triple-double of his career. The 6-2 point guard scored 16 points, grabbed a game-high 8 rebounds and handed out a game-high 6 assists. He was 7 for 10 from the floor, 1 for 3 from deep and 1 for 2 from the foul line. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

25 GVP...Dallas small forward Pete "The Steakman" Marzano...20 points...3 blocks...2 rebounds

24 GVP...Dallas Hall of Fame guard Juzan Djinn...16 points...5 rebounds...2 assists...1 block

23 GVP...Dallas center Biggus Dickus...second triple-double of career...13 points...5 rebounds...5 assists

23 GVP...Charleston point guard Seeyalater Scronto...17 points...3 assists...2 blocks...1 steal

23 GVP...Charleston center Johnny Bananas...16 points...3 rebounds...2 blocks...2 assists

20 GVP...Charleston small forward Piping Plover...17 points...2 rebounds...1 blocked shot

MBA Standings … Season 54

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS………………….8-0 (clinched playoffs and first place)

OKLAHOMA CITY…..5-2

CHARLESTON………. 4-4

PHILADELPHIA………2-5

MILWAUKEE……….. 0-7 (eliminated)

 

WEST DIVISION

SACRAMENTO… 6-2

LOS ANGELES….. 5-3

SAN JOSE…………3-4

SEATTLE…………..3-5 (eliminated)

GILLETTE…………. 2-6 (eliminated)

 

NEXT UP: San Jose traverses to Oklahoma City in this important cross-over contest. The Fighting Amigos are clinging to hopes of a playoff spot and Oklahoma City could really put some distance between themselves and Charleston for the second spot in the East. 

 

With the two-time defending champion Demons from Dallas currently at 7-0, it's appropriate to look back on the four teams that made it all the way through the regular season to go unbeaten at 10-0. 

The first two teams to do so failed to win the championship, and only one team ever ran the MBA gauntlet to finish 15-0.

This Dallas team has a good a chance to join these four teams and even go totally unbeaten. They must get past Charleston (4-3) who took them to overtime in their last meeting, Los Angeles (5-3) and finally, Oklahoma City (5-2), who they squeezed by for a 90-86 triumph. That's a pretty tough road.

Also, Milwaukee, currently 0-7, has a shot of joining the three teams who went 0-10 for the season:

Seattle in Season 5

Milwaukee in Season 43

Kansas City in Season 47

They will, however, be getting back probably their best player Ehhy Table for their last three games...Philadelphia (2-5), Charleston (4-3) and Seattle (3-5). We predict at least one win out of that schedule.

Anyway, here are the four clubs who went 10-0.  

Season 6 PHILADELPHIA PHOBIA 

- 10-0 regular season; lost first game of playoffs to Charleston, then won next two; swept by Milwaukee in Finals

- sandwiched between two championships ... won titles in Seasons 5, 7 & 8

- All-MBA players were: guard Uncle Bob Masterson, center Alex Pal, forward Rowdy Ron Clutch

- Five starters, plus top sub all eventually made Hall of Fame...Masterson, Pal, Clutch, guard Oscar Mudcat, forward Raisin Sport, top sub guard Stu nod. 

- Sport led the league in blocks with 26

- Mudcat led the league in 3-point shooting (70%)

- nod made the All-Rookie team

- team led league in scoring at 81.9 ppg

- led in defense at 65.5 ppg (+16.4 differential)

- led in rebounds at 22.7 per game

- led in blocks with 74 (a record at the time)

- Pal led playoffs in rebounds at 6 per game

- Mudcat led playoffs in steals with 4

LINEUP WAS

G – Uncle Bob Masterson (Hall of Fame)

G – Oscar Mudcat (Hall of Fame)

C – Alex Pal (Hall of Fame)

F – Raisin Sport (Hall of Fame)

F – Rowdy Ron Clutch (Hall of Fame)

Key sub – guard Stu Nod (Hall of Fame)

Season 18 Oklahoma City Lariats

-10-0 regular season; swept by Milwaukee in Semifinals

- Hall of Fame center Diamond Dallas Paige won league MVP honors in his final season

- Paige tied Chicago center Achilles Heel for scoring title at 19.8 ppg

- Paige led league with 8 rebounds per game, which is still a record

- Forward Tersio Tataruga made All-Rookie team

- team led league in scoring with 79.4 ppg

- team led league in rebounding with 24.1 per game

LINEUP WAS

G – Streetcar Johnny Masterson

G – Mamadou Zongo (Hall of Fame)

C – Diamond Dallas Paige (Hall of Fame)

F – Briscoe Darling

F – Tersio Tataruga

Season 42 Charleston Mountaineers

- first 10-0 team to go on and win the championship, beating Dallas in Finals, going 5-1

- Hall of Fame guard Naf Naf was league MVP for 6th consecutive, and last time

- Naf Naf lone All-MBA player of team

- Naf Naf led league in scoring with 25.3 ppg (6th of 7 consecutive)

- Naf Naf led league in 3-point shooting at 68.2% with 60 made (5th & final time)

- substitute forward Sheik Yerbouti made All-Rookie team

- team led league in scoring, averaging 91.8 ppg (still a record)

- team led league in shooting percentage at 63.1%

- team led league in assists with 13.7 per game

- team led league in steals with 23

- team led league in blocked shots with 76

- Naf Naf was top playoff scorer at 20.7 ppg (tied with Bingo Bango of Dallas)

- Pietro Destroyer was tops in playoff assists at 3.2 per game

- Bezow Bop-Bop tops in playoff blocked shots with 15

- Bop-Bop tops in playoff steals with 7

- Naf Naf tops in playoff 3-point shooting qt 58.3% with 28 made

LINEUP WAS

G – Naf Naf (Hall of Fame)

G – Beezow Bop-Bop (Hall of Fame)

C – J.J. Gargantuan (Hall of Fame)

F – Pietro Destroyer

F – Wawa Wewa

Season 47 Dallas Demons

- first & only MBA team to run the table at 15-0, sweeping Los Angeles in Semis, then Sacramento in Finals for back-to-back titles

- 5th straight (and last) MVP award for Chip Battoe

- 2nd straight (and last) Playoff MVP award for Chip Battoe

- Battoe only Dallas player on All-MBA team

- Battoe leads league in blocks with 44...5th consecutive season of what would be six in a row

- team led league in scoring at 80.1 ppg

- team led league in defense allowing 61.8 ppg

- team led league in steals with 38

- team led league in blocks with 92

- Battoe led in playoff scoring at 17.8 ppg (2nd in a row)

- GoTo Grot led in playoff rebounding with 6.6 rpg ( 2nd in a row)

- Battoe led in playoff blocked shots with 35 (4th time in a row)

LINEUP WAS

G – Louie Subgum

G – Meatpants Masterson

C – GoTo Grot

F – Chip Battoe (Hall of Fame)

F – Tiger Masterson

Season 54 Featured Game No. 7...Los Angeles at Sacramento

SACRAMENTO 75, LOS ANGELES 67

R-DOGS TAKE OVER FIRST

SACRAMENTO -- The amazing run of the Sacramento River Dogs (now 5-2) continued tonight with a 75-67 victory over visiting Los Angeles; a win that gives the R-Dogs sole possession of first place in the West.

The victors were aided by the second foul out this season by L.A. rookie sensation Pinky Toe, who was subsequently held to 10 points below his league-leading average coming into the game.

The Big One (4-3) is still in good shape for a playoff spot, but is looking down the barrel of season-ending games against Dallas and these same River Dogs again.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

26 GVP...Earning back-to-back POGs is Sacramento second-year guard KARMA CHAMELEON, who follows his game-high 24 pt effort in the win agaiinst San Jose with a game-high 22-point output in this big triumph tonight. The 6-4 Chameleon was moved to the point to hopefully slow down Toe, but played much of the game in his more familiar two spot after getting three fouls. Chameleon was 9 for 15 from the floor (1 for 2 from deep, 3 for 4 from the foul line, 1 slam dunk), while also pulling down a team-high 4 rebounds.

AND

26 GVP...Second-year 6-8 power forward FUDGE PIES DELI of Los Angeles led his team with 17 points despite being guarded by defensive ace Kevin Duran-Duran of Sacramento. Deli was 7 for 12 from the floor, including 1 for 2 from deep and 2 for 2 from the foul stripe. He added 1 dunk. He tied for game-high in rebounds with 5 while posting game-high in steals with 2. He added 1 blocked shot and 1 assist to his fine compilation.

Other 20-Plus GVP performers

24 GVP...Sacramento power forward Kevin Duran-Duran...14 points...3 blocks...3 rebounds...3 assists...1 steal

21 GVP...Los Angeles rookie guard Pinky Toe...15 points...3 rebounds...3 assists

MBA Standings … Season 54

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS………………….6-0

OKLAHOMA CITY…..4-2

CHARLESTON………. 4-2

PHILADELPHIA………2-4

MILWAUKEE……….. 0-6

 

WEST DIVISION

SACRAMENTO… 5-2

LOS ANGELES….. 4-3

SAN JOSE…………3-4

SEATTLE…………..2-4

GILLETTE…………. 2-5

 

NEXT UP: It’s Charleston at Seattle in a cross-over for the next contest. The Mountaineers are favored, and another win would keep them firmly in the race among the elites of the East. Seattle desperately needs an upset to remain relevant in the West.