Season 56 Playoff Preview

 DEMONS HEAVILY FAVORED

With four consecutive championships under their belt, the Dallas Demons are the prohibitive favorites to tie an all-time record of five straight titles, accomplished in Seasons 29 through 33 by the Philadelphia Phobia.

This season the Dallas club (8-2) led the league in scoring for the fourth straight season (79.4ppg) while finishing in second place (to San Jose) in defense (67.6ppg). That gives them a league-best 11.8 points differential on the positive side, the fifth straight time they have been No. 1 in that department. They also led the league in 3-point shooting and blocked shots. 

The Mighty Demons have gone 5-0 in the last two post-seasons and a betting man would be ill-advised to buck the odds of them sweeping the playoffs again.

The All-MBA guard combo of league scoring leader and MVP Vicious Hick and Hall of Famer and runner-up MVP Juzan Djinn has to be considered, if not the best, at least the second-best tandem in league history. 

The team's only two losses came at the hands of Oklahoma City and playoff contender San Jose. They should breeze by the short-handed Gillette team in the SemiFinals.

NOW OR NEVER FOR THE FIGHTING AMIGOS

With three key players (Vinny Zazeech, Hall of Famer J.J. Gargantuan and top sub Handsy Joe Potatoe) retiring after this season, the team from San Jose (8-2) has its championship window slamming shut following the playoffs.

This is a fine aggregation, hanging its collective hat on the 75-64 cross-over triumph against Dallas during the regular campaign. But one game is a far cry from besting Dallas in a series. The San Jose loss to Seattle in the last game of the season erased what would have been home court advantage throughout the playoffs, so that didn't help matters.

The Amigos boast the league's stingiest defense (66.2ppg) and best shooting percentage (57.5). They have a balanced attack that ranked third in scoring 76.5ppg) behind Dallas and Milwaukee and posted an excellent plus 10.3 points differential.

The SemiFinal games against the Greyhounds could be the most competitive of the entire post season. 

The Amigos were easily dispatched by Dallas in the SemiFinals last season, but improved their roster with the addition of rim-protector Gargantuan.

GREYHOUNDS AIMING FOR FINALS

The Milwaukee Greyhounds (6-4) were the surprise team in the East this season, gaining a post-season spot for the first time since Season 52 and finishing second in the MBA in scoring at 78 points per game.

They were, however, sixth on defense, yielding 74.5ppg.

Milwaukee came tantalizingly close to beating Dallas in both of their meetings this season, losing 66-64 and 90-81.

Ehhy Table and Itstha Bishop are a strong guard combo and center Johnny Bananas is a proven scorer with the ability to put points up on anyone. The most unexpected and welcome contributions came from forwards Zippy Wunderslug and Scobee Bryant, both of whom posted 20-plus GVPs for the first times in their careers.

Don't count them out against San Jose, in what should be a very competitive Semis.

CRIPPLED GILLETTE AWAITS EXECUTION

The Gillette Humps (6-4), making their second playoff appearance, come limping into this post-season minus the services of its two best players; center Blob Dylan and leading scorer, rookie point guard Maboroshi No Hotcake. That is not a formula for success when going up against maybe the greatest team in MBA history. 

When fully whole, the Humps counted Milwaukee as one of its six victims during a satisfying regular season. But without its top two scorers, it certainly appears that Gillette will have to wait until at least next season to possibly win the first playoff game in the history of its franchise.

NEXT UP: SemiFinals Game No. 1...Gillettee at Dallas.

SEASON 56 REGULAR SEASON ROUNDUP

-- The four teams that made the playoff are the four teams that registered plus differentials.

-- Virtually no advantage this season to being the home team. 

-- West actually tied the East in cross-over victories.

-- Centers, as a group, seemingly performed the best as far as position players are concerned this season, with 7 of 10 starters finishing with 20-plus GVPs. That's 2 better than last season.

-- Guards dropped from 12 last season to just 7 this season,

-- Forwards went up slightly from 7 last season to 8 this season.

-- Players who show up on this list regularly are the cream of the crop in the MBA. There are 7 repeaters from last season on the Season 56 list. That's a huge upgrade from the 3 who repeated in Season 55.

Some very tight All-MBA selections, especially at center where 3000 edges Hall of Famer Galumpkus by 0.2 and at forward where Plover beats out Mianus and Marzano both by 0.1

Charleston teammates Whiskey and Fuyacho finish 1-2 in race for Rookie of the Year with Whiskey earning the award by 0.1.

 

Season 56 Featured Game No. 10...Seattle at San Jose...plus Vinny Zazeech Day

SEATTLE 83, SAN JOSE 71 (on VINNY ZAZEECH DAY)

STAMPEDE TRAMPLES VINNY'S DAY

SAN JOSE -- Playing like the team unanimously selected to finish first in the division prior to the season, the visiting Seattle Stampede (4-6 final record) rained all over Vinny Zazeech Day by besting the first-place Fighting Amigos (8-2 final record) 83-71. 

Seattle shot a lights-out 62.7 percent against the league's best defense in a performance that was the exact opposite of their 60-51 loss in the first meeting of these squads; a game in which San Jose held Seattle to just 46.2 percent shooting.

The loss for San Jose probably means they will not have home court advantage, as hoped, in the playoffs. For that to happen, they need Charleston to beat Dallas at home in the last game of the regular season.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

35 GVP...Mighty mite point guard BELLYBUTTON INQUISITION had his best game of the season, leading Seattle to this victory. The 5-11 veteran, who has been running the Stampede offense for the past four seasons, dominated his opposite, the defensive-minded Donny Dupons, with a game-high 26-points on 10 of 17 shooting. He was 2 for 6 from deep and a perfect 4 for 4 from the foul line, and the spring-loaded leaper added a slam dunk, tied for team-high in rebounds with 4, handed out 4 assists and provided 1 steal in a superb display of leading his troops. Inquisition upped his scoring average for the season to 13.4 ppg. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

26 GVP...San Jose small forward L.S. Island...19 points...5 rebounds...2 assists.

20 GVP...Seattle Hall of Fame center Chochky Galumpkus...14 points...4 assists...2 rebounds.

Vinny Honored

The Fighting Amigos honored retiring shooting guard Vinny Zazeech at halftime for a short, 6-season career, that was nonetheless worthy of eternal rest in the Tier 1 envelope. The first 1,000 fans entering the building were given a “sangwich” in Vinny’s honor, and the popular guard was given a lifetime supply of gabagool by the team for his farewell present.

Zazeech entered the MBA tied for the tallest guard in league history at 6-8 and immediately found a starting spot that he never relinquished. His first season for Philadelphia, Season 51, was the last time the Phobia made the playoffs, and Vinny’s 47.6 percent 3-point shooting was a major factor in the team’s success. He then left Philadelphia for Charleston where he led the Mountaineers in scoring at 17.3 ppg and 3-point shooting before finally settling for his last four campaigns in San Jose. During those four seasons Zazeech tied for the league lead in scoring (20.3 ppg Season 55) and 3-point shooting (Season 53) while topping the Amigos in scoring twice, assists twice, steals twice and 3-point shooting three times. Zazeech made the All Star Game in five of his six seasons while earning an All-MBA foil star in Season 55’s playoff run for San Jose. Give him a napkin. He will be missed.

MBA Standings … Season 56

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS………………….7-2 (clinched playoffs)(clinched first)

MILWAUKEE………..5-4

OKLAHOMA CITY…..4-5

PHILADELPHIA………4-6 (eliminated)

CHARLESTON………. 3-6 (eliminated)

 

WEST DIVISION

SAN JOSE…………8-2 (clinched playoffs)(clinched first)

GILLETTE…………6-4 (clinched playoffs)

LOS ANGELES….6-4 (eliminated)

SEATTLE………….4-6 (eliminated)

SACRAMENTO… 1-9 (eliminated)

 

NEXT UP: Milwaukee at Oklahoma City where the Lariats need to out-score the Greyhounds by 62 or more points in order to make the playoffs. Ain’t happening. Milwaukee won the first meeting between these two teams 84-71 with Johnny Bananas the POG.

 

Tight individual races going into final bracket

 

With all four playoff positions filled, the final five games of the regular season take on more of an individual player focus as far as category leaders and All-MBA status is concerned.

Home court advantage throughout the playoffs is still up for grabs as Dallas (7-2), winner of the East and San Jose (8-1), which topped the West play for that advantage. Dallas plays Charleston in the final game of the regular season, but the FEATURED GAME between Seattle and San Jose prior to that may be the clincher.

Three players are vying for the rebounding crown.

Eddie”the Milkman” Creamer, San Jose 6.1 is going for his second title in that department.

Retiring Oklahoma City forward Buba Lipa (5.9) and Oklahoma City center Poop-Rupiah 3000 (5.9) are right on his heels.

 

The assists title is also a three-way race

Ehhy Table of Milwaukee 3.2

King Czardines of Oklahoma City 3.2

Flufferton Springs of Philadelphia 3.1

Czardines is going after his fourth assists crown in a row. The record is six in a row by Hall of Famer Great Gruncle Terry.

 

Donny Dupons of San Jose (15) and retiring Los Angeles forward Turk Attaturk (13) are both after their first steals title.

 

Hall of Famer Juzan Djinn of Dallas has 30 blocks heading into the final game, but he trails Charleston rookie forward Grand Demur Fuyacho, who leads the league right now with 31. Djinn has twice led the league in this department, including last season.

 

In the free throw department, Piping Plover of Charleston 89.3% +25 made=114.3 and Scobee Bryant of Milwaukee 100%+12 made=112.0 cannot afford to miss a charity toss in their last contest.

 

ALL MBA RACES

One guard spot is secure with Vicious Hick of Dallas and his 28.5 GVP, which makes him pretty much a shoo-in for his first regular season MVP award as well.

The second spot is a battle between:

--King Czardines of Oklahoma City…24.6 GVP

--Hall of Famer Juzan Djinn of Dallas…24.4 GVP

--Itstha Bishop of Milwaukee…23.6

Djinn is seeking his fifth All-MBA foil star and fourth in a row.

Czardines is seeking his second.

Bishop has never won one.

 

Eddie “the Milkman” Creamer of San Jose (24.1 GVP) looks like he’ll earn his second straight All-MBA spot at forward.

The second spot is a close one, with three contenders.

Phillip Mianus of Philadelphia (22.8 GVP) is after his first All-MBA berth.

Right on his ass is last season’s All-MBA forward Piping Plover of Charleston (22.7 GVP).

Not far behind that pair is Eric A. Crocidale of Philadelphia (22.4 GVP).

 

The center position is a two-way duel between the same two pivots who finished 1-2 last season.

Hall of Fame center Chochky Galumpkus of Seattle, in search of his fourth star and second in a row, leads with a 24.6 GVP.

Second-year man Poop-Rupiah 3000 of Oklahoma City is at 23.9 GVP.

While Vicious Hick looks secure as league MVP, the Rookie of the Year race is a close three-way contest between:

Guard Maboroshi No Hotcake of Gillette (22.0 GVP)

Guard Famichiki Whiskey of Charleston (21.9 GVP)

Forward Grand Demur Fuyacho of Charleston (21.2 GVP)

AND FINALLY:

Sacramento has an excellent chance to be the fourth team in MBA history to go 0-10.

The other three were:

--Season 5...Seattle

--Season 43...Milwaukee

--Season 47...Kansas City

 

Featured Game No. 9...Gillette at San Jose...Plus bonus on Prime Picks

SAN JOSE 72, GILLETTE 63

AMIGOS TAKE FIRST; HUMPS LOSE DYLAN

SAN JOSE -- The San Jose Fighting Amigos clinched first place in the West with a 72-61 win, while the second-place Humps from Gillette lost star center Blob Dylan for three games to injury (one regular season and 2 in playoffs).

This marks the fourth time in the last five games that a starter has gone down for a Dave team, as the familiar pattern of late-season injuries begins to once again poison the very foundation of potential contenders. This latest injury to Dylan steals the show as it impacts the playoffs. Gillette is now going to face Dallas in the SemiFinals best of three, meaning Dylan, short of a miracle, will likely miss the entire series.

Research shows that this will also be the fifth consecutive season a Dave team will be forced to compete without a starter in the playoffs. Meanwhile, we calmly wait for the law of averages to start evening things out in this department. It seems, alas, we have a better chance of Godot making an appearance. 

PLAYER OF THE GAME

26 GVP...San Jose coach Louie Subgum almost started cut pile replacement Harry "Big Stink" Merdaio for the injured J.J. Gargantuan in this game. But he went with last-season's rookie center ST. IDES, who rewarded the decision with a Player of the Game performance. The 6-9 Ides got a break when defensive stalwart Blob Dylan of Gillette went down early in the first quarter to injury, and Ides responded with a game-high 18 points, 10 of which came in the first quarter. Ides was 7 for 10 from the floor with a pair of dunks while going 2 for 2 from the foul line. Additionally, he tied for game-high in rebounds with 6 and tied for game-high in assists with 3, adding a steal for good measure. Prior to the game, Subgum was pondering who to keep on the roster when Gargantuan returns from the injured list. The performance by Ides made the choice easy, and "Big Stink" simply walked his note card from the San Jose envelope to that of Gillette, where he will now replace Dylan on the Humps roster.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

25 GVP...San Jose power forward Eddie "The Milkman" Creamer...18 points (4 slams)...6 rebounds...1 assist.

24 GVP...Retiring Gillette two guard Lefty Scavenger...17 points...3 assists...2 steals...1 block...1 rebound.

MBA Standings … Season 56

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS………………….7-2 (clinched playoffs)(clinched first)

MILWAUKEE………..4-4

OKLAHOMA CITY…..4-5

PHILADELPHIA………4-5 (eliminated)

CHARLESTON………. 3-6 (eliminated)

 

WEST DIVISION

SAN JOSE…………8-1 (clinched playoffs)(clinched first)

GILLETTE…………6-2 (clinched playoffs)

LOS ANGELES….4-4 (eliminated)

SEATTLE………….3-5 (eliminated)

SACRAMENTO… 0-8 (eliminated)

 

NEXT UP: Los Angeles at Seattle in a battle for third place.

BONUS

A Look at Prime Picks

Prime picks during the MBA have been in existence since Season 44. While every other pick for each team is random, prime picks allow the team to name a specific player in the draft that the team is going after. A 1 or 6 on the die roll gets that player. Any other number and the team has to go to a second choice for its prime pick. This continues until a prime pick is actually made. Each team (unless trades are made) is given one prime pick per draft.

Here are some of the best prime picks, team by team, to come out of the draft. Their impact on a team's success is undeniable.

Oklahoma City

Season 47…center Chochky Galumpkus (7^th overall pick…future Hall of Famer)

Season 48…guard Handsy Joe Potatoe (rookie who made Rookie of the Year…2^nd overall pick)

Season 53…forward Phillip Mianus (rookie…4^th overall pick)

Season 54…forward Crentis Dentist (29^th overall pick…future Hall of Famer)

Season 55…center Poop-Rupiah 3000 (rookie who made Rookie of the Year…19^th overall pick)

 

Gillette

Season 46…guard Freddy Chepuzzo (rookie who made Rookie of the Year…11^th overall pick)

Season 50…forward Billie “Be-Bop” Bauer (rookie…7^th overall pick)

Season 51…guard Lefty Scavenger (rookie…3^rd overall pick)

Season 53…center Blob Dylan (rookie…3^rd overall pick)

Season 55…center Blob Dylan (returns to team from free agency…5^th overall pick)

Season 56…guard Joey Joe-Joe Shamadu, Jr. (returns to team from free agency…26^th overall pick)

 

Sacramento

Season 44…guard Great Gruncle Terry (rookie and future Hall of Famer…3^rd overall pick)

Season 52…forward Kevin Duran-Duran (rookie…11^th overall pick)

Season 56…forward Satan Israel (26^th overall pick)

 

Dallas

Season 44…guard Louie Subgum (16^th overall pick)

Season 48…center J.J. Gargantuan (Hall of Famer…30^th overall pick)

Season 49…center Chochky Galumpkus (Hall of Famer…22^nd overall pick)

Season 50…guard Juzan Djinn (rookie and future Hall of Famer…4^th overall pick)

Season 51…forward Santan Israel (rookie…2^nd overall pick)

Season 52…guard Kopi Luwak (rookie who made Rookie of the Year…6^th overall pick)

Season 54…guard Vicious Hick (rookie …23^rd overall pick)

Season 56…forward Grand Demur Fuyacho (rookie…10^th overall pick)

 

 

Los Angeles

Season 44…guard Norman Conquest (15^th overall pick)

Season 45…forward Sloppy Dollop (5^th overall pick)

Season 47…forward Sheetrock Hudson (rookie…13^th overall pick)

Season 50…guard Great Gruncle Terry (future Hall of Famer…5^th overall pick)

Season 50…guard Flufferton Springs (rookie who made Rookie of the year…6^th overall pick)

Season 54…guard Pinky Toes (rookie who made Rookie of the Year…22^nd overall pick)

Season 55…forward Turk Attaturk (21^st overall pick)

 

Milwaukee

Season 45…center Poppa “Pupa” Popcorn (rookie…1^st overall pick

Season 49…guard Great Gruncle Terry (future Hall of Famer…10^th overall pick)

Season 53…guard Itstha Bishop (9^th overall pick)

Season 54…guard Ehhy Table (1^st overall pick)

 

Philadelphia

Season 46…center Chutcher Mouthchair (15^th overall pick)

Season 47…guard Dick Papers (rookie…16^th overall pick)

Season 49…forward D. Fenestration (rookie…15^th overall pick)

Season 50…guard Ehhy Table (rookie…7^th overall pick)

Season 54…forward Leonard Pinth Garnel (rookie…26^th overall pick)

Season 56…forward Phillip Mianus (24^th overall pick)

 

Charleston

Season 44…forward Frog Morton (rookie…14^th overall pick)

Season 49…guard Mister Methane (23^rd overall pick)

Season 50…guard Splash Gordon (rookie…9^th overall pick)

Season 55…forward Nick Kenpoop (rookie…6^th overall pick)

Season 56…guard Famichiki Whiskey (rookie…29^th overall pick)

 

Seattle

Season 44…guard Potatoes O’Gratin (rookie…12^th overall pick)

Season 45…forward Pietro Destroyer (4^th overall pick)

Season 47…center Willie Carry McCoffee (15^th overall pick)

Season 48…forward Charles Broccoli (rookie…3^rd overall pick)

Season 51…center Johnny Bananas (rookie…14^th overall pick)

Season 53…guard Bellybutton Inquisition (rookie…6^th overall pick)

Season 54…forward Eric A. Crocidale (rookie…7^th overall pick)

Season 55…center Chochky Galumpkus (future Hall of Famer…12^th overall pick)

 

 

 

San Jose

Season 45…guard Mister Methane (rookie…7^th overall pick)

Season 47…guard Jesse Shershot (rookie and Future Hall of Famer…12^th overall pick)

Season 49…guard Cremeofsum Yunguy (26^th overall pick)

Season 51…guard Cremeofsum Younguy (returns from free agency…8^th overall pick)

Season 52…forward Charles Broccoli (19^th overall pick)

Season 54…center Sky Masterson (24^th overall pick)

Season 55…guard Donny Dupons (rookie…14^th overall pick)

 

Chicago

Season 44…guard Lannigan Lord Hobo (rookie…8^th overall pick)

Hey Tyler....I'd be interested in seeing your ranking of the franchises who have had the best prime picks over the past 12 seasons. 

 

 

  

Season 56 Featured Game No. 8...Milwaukee at Dallas

DALLAS 90, MILWAUKEE 81

DEMONS PULL IT OUT TO CLINCH PLAYOFFS

DALLAS -- The Dallas Demons (now 6-2), challenged mightily in this game for a share of first place, finally shook off the pesky Milwaukee Greyhounds (now 4-4) in the fourth quarter to escape with a 90-81 victory. The win clinches a fifth straight playoff appearance for Dallas.

The four-time-defending champs were trailing by 3 going into the final stanza but were able to pull away on the strength of four late long bombs, two each by Vicious Hick and Mini Carfartt, the later who was subbing for a fouled out Juzan Djinn.

Meanwhile, the high-octane Milwaukee offense, which had been on display for three quarters, could only manage 11 fourth-quarter points. The Greyhounds thus yielded second place to Philadelphia, at least for the moment.

The teams came into the game ranked first and second in offense and did not disappoint the packed house in Dallas. This win, plus the two-point victory two games ago, gave Dallas a sweep of Milwaukee for the season.

POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTERS

Milwaukee...6...2...0...4  Total=12

Dallas...........5...0...4...4  Total=13

MOST POINTS PREVENTED

1. Itstha Bishop, Milwaukee...8

2. Pete Marzano, Dallas...5

3. Nick Kenpoop, Dallas 4

TURNOVERS CAUSED

Milwaukee 1, Dallas 2

PLAYER OF THE GAME

34 GVP...The top 3-point shooter in the MBA made his presence felt in this one, as point guard VICIOUS HICK of Dallas potted 6 treys, including 3 in the fourth quarter to lead the Demons to a playoff-clinching win. The third-year sharpshooter scored a game-high 27 points on 9 of 15 shooting, including 6 of 9 from long range and 3 of 4 from the foul stripe. Additionally, he pulled down 3 rebounds and assisted 4 times. This was the second POG of the season for the 6-2 guard, who is now averaging 19.4 ppg, currently third in the league in scoring. With superstar Djinn fouled out and 32 time units still remaining in a tight game, Hick came up big when needed the most.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

31 GVP...Milwaukee shooting guard Itstha Bishop...24 points...5 rebounds...2 assists...8 points prevented.

25 GVP...Milwaukee point guard Ehhy Table...16 points (3 treys)...6 assists...3 rebounds.

25 GVP...Milwaukee center...Johnny Bananas...21 points (6 slams)...3 rebounds...1 blocked shot.

23 GVP...Dallas center...Biggus Dickus...16 points...4 rebounds...2 blocked shots...1 assist.

22 GVP...Dallas power forward Nick Kenpoop...9 points...6 rebounds...5 assists...2 blocked shots.

MBA Standings … Season 56

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS………………6-2

PHILADELPHIA………4-3

MILWAUKEE………..4-4

OKLAHOMA CITY…..3-4

CHARLESTON………. 1-6

 

WEST DIVISION

SAN JOSE…………6-1

GILLETTE…………5-2

LOS ANGELES….4-3

SEATTLE………….3-4

SACRAMENTO… 0-7

 

NEXT UP:  .A cross-over between two 3-4 teams trying to get back into the playoff hunt as Seattle visits Oklahoma City. 

Season 56 Featured Game...San Jose at Dallas...plus 7th bracket roundup...plus the Rookie of the Year race

SAN JOSE 75, DALLAS 64

AMIGOS WIN SHOWDOWN 

DALLAS -- The San Jose Fighting Amigos (now 6-1) got out of the gate quickly and were never really challenged as they bested the four-time-defending champs from Dallas (now 5-2) in this cross-over featuring the two division leaders.

The Demons are showing a chink in their armor, having lost two of their last three games and not scoring in the 70s in any of those contests.

For the first time in recent memory, the West now has the edge over the East in cross-over contests, 4-3. 

PLAYER OF THE GAME

32 GVP...San Jose's second-year point guard DONNY DUPONS led the way in this huge win for the Fighting Amigos, scoring a game-high 24 points, tying for game-high in assists with 3, grabbing 2 boards, blocking 2 shots and registering 1 steal. He was 10 for 17 from the floor, sinking a pair of treys in 6 attempts. He's now averaging 13.7 ppg and is now second in the league in steals with 8. His 10 first-quarter points got the visitors from San Jose off to an excellent start in this game.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

28 GVP...Dallas center Biggus Dickus...19 points...6 rebounds...2 assists...1 blocked shot.

23 GVP...Dallas point guard Vicious Hick...13 points...7 rebounds...3 assists. 

22 GVP...San Jose power forward Eddie "the Milkman" Creamer...16 points (5 slams)...5 rebounds...1 steal.

21 GVP...Dallas power forward Nick Kenpoop...15 points...3 rebounds...2 assists...1 block.

Bracket 7 Summary

No changes in the West, but in the East, Milwaukee and Philadelphia flip-flop in the standings again, with the Greyhounds edging Charleston and the Phobia dropping a two-point decision to Oklahoma City. 

NEXT UP- We start bracket No. 8 with a FEATURED GAME right out of the gate as second-place Milwaukee invades the Dallas home court with a chance to take over first place in the East. Dallas managed to squeak by with a 66-64 victory in the last meeting between these two, with Greyhounds guard Itstha Bishop taking POG honors. 

BONUS

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR RACE

With three games remaining, all three of the viable candidates are Dave guys, with two both on the under-achieving Charleston team.

1.       The leading candidate at this point is the league’s leading scorer, Charleston shooting guard Famichiki Whiskey, with a 22.6 GVP. The top rookie prospect in the draft, Whiskey is the only MBA player averaging 20 points per game…20.3ppg to be exact.

2.       Right behind him with a 20.6 GVP is Gillette point guard Maboroshi No Hotcake. This rookie is second in the league in assists with 3.4 per game while scoring at a 13.4 ppg clip, hitting 42.6 percent of his deep shots.

3.       In third place is another Charleston rookie, power forward Grand Demur Fuyacho, with a 20.3 GVP. The 6-10 Fuyacho is averaging 11.0 ppg and hauling down 5.3 rebounds per contest. His 23 blocked shots lead the league.