Season 54 Playoffs Wrap-Up

 

    DEMONS NOW SECOND ALL-TIME IN TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH 8, PASSING MILWAUKEE (7)  AND LOS ANGELES/HOUSTON (7). PHILADELPHIA STANDS ALONE WITH 16 TITLES.

SEASON 54 PLAYOFF MVP

Hit 3 straight treys in fourth quarter to break open Game 2 of Finals.

Hit game-tying shot and game-winning buzzer-beater to win Game 3 and championship.

PREVIOUS DALLAS PLAYOFF MVPS

SEASON 53...JUZAN DJINN

SEASON 52...JUZAN DJINN

SEASON 47...CHIP BATTOE

SEASON 46...CHIP BATTOE

SEASON 42...BINGO BANGO

SEASON 28...MAMADOU ZONGO

SEASON 23...JOEY TWO-TONES

SEASON 21...TERSIO TATARUGA

SEASON 20...SHOOTER FLATCH

Season 54 Finals...Game 3...Oklahoma City at Dallas

DALLAS 74, OKLAHOMA CITY 72 (Buzzer Beater!)

HICK'S BUZZER BEATER DELIVERS TITLE

DALLAS -- Rookie point guard Vicious Hick stuck the game-winning medium jump shot as the horn sounded, giving the Whiz Kids from Dallas a come-from-behind 74-72 victory over Oklahoma City and the team's third consecutive championship.

The home team Demons, who dominated the fourth quarter in both their previous Finals wins against the Lariats, trailed by 10 points with 48 time units remaining in the game. They then proceeded to run off the next 11 points, culminated by a Hick 3-pointer, to take the lead with 22 ticks remaining.

But Oklahoma City rallied to eventually tie the contest with 3 remaining on a Buba Lipa dunk. That set the stage for Hick's heroics, who took a pass from center China P and delivered his 30th and 31st points of the game as well as the franchise's 8th overall title.

The victory marked the 16th consecutive win for Dallas, dating back to last season's championship clincher against this same Oklahoma City team. 

This time, Dallas swept the Lariats, as opposed to last season's Finals, which went the full five games.

Oklahoma City suffered two injuries in this game, with starting center Chochky Galumpkus injured for the duration just 11 ticks into the contest. Then in the fourth quarter, Lariats power forward Phillip Mianus suffered a game-ending injury. 

PLAYER OF THE GAME

36 GVP...This is the game Dallas fans have been waiting for rookie guard VICIOUS HICK to have, and he couldn't have picked a better time to deliver. In this championship clincher, Hick, who was benched temporarily in Game 2, returned to the starting lineup with a vengeance, potting 3 treys out of the gate on the way to a 13-point first quarter. The point guard would go on to rack up 31 points, the highest total of anyone in the Season 54 playoffs. He was 12 for 19 in the game, bombing home 7 treys in 12 tries, continuing his torrid shooting from Game 2 where his three consecutive 3-pointers spurred the team to a win. The 6-2 Hick showed off his rebounding skills, gathering in 4 caroms, and added 1 assist to his masterpiece. This contest was largely a battle of point guards, with Hick's scoring being the difference.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

31 GVP...Oklahoma City point guard King Czardines,,,20 points...8 assists...2 rebounds...1 steal.

26 GVP...Oklahoma City Hall of Fame forward Crentis Dentist...17 points...4 rebounds...2 steals...2 assists...1 blocked shot.

24 GVP...Oklahoma City reserve center Chat Bot...13 points...9 rebounds...2 blocked shots.

NEXT UP: Final playoff stats and the announcement of Playoff MVP. 

Congratulations to Dallas...for my money the best team ever assembled in the long history of the MBA.

Season 54 Playoffs...Finals Game 3...Dallas at Oklahoma City

DALLAS 99, OKLAHOMA CITY 83

RELENTLESS DEMONS WIN AGAIN

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The pattern remained the same in Game 2 of these Finals, with the Dallas Demons leaving the Oklahoma City Lariats in the dust in the fourth quarter following three periods of hard-fought, close basketball.

The two-time defending champions, spurred by three consecutive 3-point bombs to start the fourth by rookie guard Vicious Hick, triumphed for the 14th consecutive time this season, besting the Lariats 99-83.

For the second game in a row, the same five players for Dallas checked in with 20-plus GVP performances, while the Whiz Kids again controlled the boards 25-11. 

With a series sweep in their sights, Dallas stands to tie the all-time winning-streak record of 16 in a row (including last season's championship game) held by their own franchise in Seasons 46 and 47.

It was all too much for coach Grady Booch of Oklahoma City, who was thrown out of the game with his second technical foul in the fourth quarter.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

38 GVP...Seventh-year guard HANDSY JOE POTATOE of Oklahoma City was brilliant in defeat, leading both teams in scoring for the second straight game, this time with 29 points. The one-time Rookie of the Year, despite being guarded by the great Juzan Djinn for much of the game, managed to go 11 for 18 from the floor, bombing home 4 of 8 3-point shots and going 3 for 3 from the foul line. The 6-5 Lariats' stalwart also tied for team-high in rebounds with 3, dished out 4 assists and blocked 2 shots. He has had an excellent post-season.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

35 GVP...Dallas Hall of Fame shooting guard Juzan Djinn...22 points...5 rebounds...4 assists...4 blocked shots.

28 GVP...Dallas power forward Satan Israel...24 points (3 slams)...4 rebounds.

25 GVP...Dallas small forward Pete "the Steakman" Marzano...18 points...5 rebounds...2 steals.

23 GVP...Dallas rookie guard Vicious Hick...16 points (4 treys)...4 rebounds...3 assists. 

22 GVP...Dallas center Biggus Dickus...4th triple-double of career with 12 points...5 rebounds...5 assists.

22 GVP...Oklahoma City power forward Phillip Mianus...15 points...3 rebounds...3 blocks...1 assist.

NEXT UP: The Finals return to Dallas, where the Whiz Kids are overwhelming favorites to wrap up a third straight championship in front of the hometown fans.

Season 54 Playoffs...Finals Game 1...Oklahoma City at Dallas

DALLAS 89, OKLAHOMA CITY 72

DEMONS GO 4TH IN TRIUMPH

DALLAS -- The explosive two-time defending champion Dallas Demons used a fourth-quarter detonation to blow open a hotly contested tie contest on the way to an easy 89-72 Game 1 triumph.

The see-saw ballgame was tied 57-57 going into the final stanza when the pipes burst all over the visiting team from Oklahoma City, as the Whiz Kids tallied 32 points to just 15 for the Lariats. The game ended with an appropriate desperation full-court shot by Satan Israel of Dallas that tickled the twine at the buzzer.

This was the 13th consecutive victory for Dallas, dating back to last season's championship game, and it sets them up very nicely for a third consecutive championship, which would make them just the third team ever to accomplish that feat.

Rebounding was key in the win, with Dallas on top in that statistic 28-15. Balanced scoring, which has been a hallmark of Dallas throughout their reign, was again evident, with all five starters in double digits and all five getting at least 20 GVP.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

29 GVP...The hulking presence of 7-foot Dallas center BIGGUS DICKUS was on display in this game as the third-year pivot hauled down a game-high 9 boards and tied for team highs in both points (17) and assists (3) while battling Chochky Galumpkus of Oklahoma City. Dickus, a second-team All-MBA star, was 8 for 14 from the floor and 1 for 1 from the foul line. This was his second POG of the post-season, giving him the inside position for Playoff MVP honors at this point. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

24 GVP...Oklahoma City shooting guard Handsy Joe Potatoe...20 points (5 treys)...3 rebounds...1 assist.

22 GVP...Oklahoma City Hall of Fame forward Crentis Dentist...18 points...2 assists...1 rebound...1 blocked shot.

21 GVP...Dallas Hall of Fame two guard Juzan Djinn...17 points (3 treys)...3 blocked shots...1 assist.

21 GVP...Oklahoma City center Chochky Galumpkus...16 points...3 rebounds...1 block...1 steal.

20 GVP...Dallas rookie point guard Vicious Hick...11 points (3 treys)...6 rebounds...3 assists.

20 GVP...Dallas power forward Satan Israel...16 points...4 rebounds.

20 GVP...Dallas small forward Pete Marzano...16 points...3 rebounds...1 blocked shot. 

NEXT UP: Oklahoma City defends its home court against the Dallas onslaught in a must-win situation for the Lariats.

PLAYOFF TRIVIA...When was the last time a center won the Playoff MVP award?

Answer...Hall of Fame center Diss Reflexia of Philadelphia in Season 43. The previous time before that a center won the Playoff MVP happened in Season 37...it was again, Diss Reflexia, playing for Seattle, the only time the Stampede won the whole enchilada.

 

Season 54 Playoffs...SemiFinals Game 2...Dallas at Los Angeles

 DALLAS 94, LOS ANGELES 64

DEMONS BELITTLE BIG ONE

LOS ANGELES -- The Whiz Kids from Dallas made short work of the Los Angeles Big One, crushing their spleen 94-64 to sweep the SemiFinals and set themselves up for a shot at their third successive championship.

The competitive portion of the game was over by the end of the first quarter, with Dallas leading 28-18. The Demons destroyed L.A. on the boards, more than doubling their opponent's rebounding total, 28-12. 

The Los Angeles fans had to be satisfied with watching another outstanding head-to-head battle between their own Pinky Toe and Dallas point guard Vicious Hick. The Rookie of  the Year, Toe, got game honors with Player of the Game with a 30-point explosion, while Hick nailed down the first triple-double of this post season.

This was the final game of D. Fenestration's gallant career. Immediately after the game was over, he jumped through the window of his 12-story condo, to his demise.

Points prevented for Dallas...12

Points prevented for Los Angeles...9

Tops in Points Prevented

1. Satan Israel, Dallas...6

2. Biggus Dickus, Dallas...4

2. Fudge Pies Deli, L.A....4

PLAYER OF THE GAME

37 GVP...Rookie of the Year and All-MBA guard PINKY TOE of Los Angeles showed out for the home crowd, scoring a game-high 30 points, dishing a team-high 4 assists and pulling down 3 rebounds in a losing effort. The 30 points represents the top scoring game thus far in this season's playoffs. Going head-to-head again against the league's other young guard stud, Vicious Hick, Toe put his team on his back, going 12 for 19 from the floor, bombing in 4 treys in 9 tries and going 2 for 3 from the foul line. This performance tied a bow on a first-rate rookie campaign.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

30 GVP...Dallas power forward Satan Israel...24 points...6 rebounds...tops in points prevented.

26 GVP...Dallas rookie point guard Vicious Hick...15 points (including 3 treys)...6 rebounds...5 assists.

25 GVP...Dallas Hall of Fame guard Juzan Djinn...12 points...7 assists...3 rebounds...2 blocked shots...1 steal.

21 GVP...Dallas center Biggus Dickus...16 points...5 rebounds.

NEXT UP: Two-time defending champion Dallas and Oklahoma City have been on a Finals collision course since last season when the Demons outlasted the Lariats 3 games to 2, with the last game an overtime thriller. Dallas has won both encounters during the regular campaign, each by 4 points, and has the home court advantage. They are at least 4 to 1 favorites. They have a chance to become just the third team to three-peat. These are the two top offensive and defensive teams in the MBA. It is the first time since Dallas met Sacramento in the Finals in consecutive seasons (46 and 47, both won by Dallas) that the runner-up is back for a rematch.

Season 54 Playoffs...SemiFinals Game 2...Sacramento at Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY 101, SACRAMENTO 80 (Slaughter Rule Enforced)

LARIATS RETURN TO FINALS IN STYLE 

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma City Lariats swept the Sacramento River Dogs 2-0 in this SemiFinals series, racking up 101 points on 66.2 percent shooting to return to the MBA Finals for an expected return clash with the two-time defending champions from Dallas.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

30 GVP...Cut pile refugee ANTHONY "FISH FACE" FINSECA scored a game-high 28 points in a losing effort for Sacramento, concluding a surprising season for the River Dogs. The 6-5 small forward, finishing up his fourth season, was 11 for 14 from the floor, going 2 for 3 from deep and 4 for 4 from the foul line. He added 1 rebound and 1 assist in his titanic battle with Hall of Fame forward Crentis Dentist.

Other 20 GVP-plus performers

29 GVP...Hall of Fame small forward Crentis Dentist of Oklahoma City...16 points...5 assists...4 rebounds...3 blocked shots...1 steal.

29 GVP...Oklahoma City point guard King Czardines...19 points (3 treys)...5 rebounds...4 assists...1 steal.

22 GVP...Sacramento power forward Kevin Duran-Duran...18 points...4 rebounds.

20 GVP...Oklahoma City power forward Phillip Mianus...14 points...3 blocked shots...2 rebounds...1 assist.

Next Up: More of a public execution than a game. Dallas puts the collective head of Los Angeles on the chopping block on their way back to the Finals.

Season 54 Playoffs...SemiFinals Game 1...Los Angeles at Dallas

DALLAS 89, LOS ANGELES 60

DALLAS BLOWS BY BIG ONE

DALLAS -- The undefeated, two-time defending champs from Dallas busted out of the playoff starting gates with a 31-point first quarter and drifted home with a first-round win over visiting Los Angeles 89-60. 

Counting last season's championship game, this was the 12th consecutive win for the Demons, who, despite actually giving way to The Big One in the second half 40-37, don't seem to have much competition in this SemiFinal round.

The Whiz Kids scored 89 points on 60 percent shooting, both right in line with their league-leading averages of 89.2 and 61.6 percent.

The head-to-head between rookie stars Pinky Toe of Los Angeles and Vicious Hick of Dallas (more or less a draw for the second time in two meetings) was, however, worth the price of admission.

POINTS PREVENTED BY LOS ANGELES ...6

POINTS PREVENTED BY DALLAS...14

4 PLAYERS TIED WITH 4 POINTS PREVENTED

TURNOVERS CAUSED BY LOS ANGELES...6

TURNOVERS CAUSED BY DALLAS...8

TOPS IN TURNOVERS CAUSED...Pete Marzano, Dallas...4; Barfly Gigglewaters, Los Angeles...2

PLAYER OF THE GAME

31 GVP...Neither center on Los Angeles could handle the 7-foot BIGGUS DICKUS of the Dallas Demons, who started off the game with a 12-point first quarter on perfect 6-for-6 shooting, driving Louie Lunkerson to the bench early on. Dickus, who was one of two centers to finish with a GVP over 20 this season, scored a game-high 22 points on 11 of 13 shooting. His only misses came from 3-point Land. The third-year man added 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot to his POG performance in a dominant display. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

30 GVP...Dallas rookie guard Vicious Hick ... 20 points...6 rebounds...3 assists...1 steal.

26 GVP...Los Angeles rookie guard Pinky Toe ...18 points...4 rebounds...3 assists...1 steal23

23 GVP...Dallas Hall of Fame guard Juzan Djinn...16 points...3 rebounds...3 blocks...1 assist.

20 GVP...Dallas small forward Pete "the Steakman" Marzano...10 points...6 assists...3 blocks...1 assist.

NEXT UP: Elimination Games come fast for first-game losers, and that's what Sacramento is facing on the road after being crushed in Game 1 by Oklahoma City.