Season 58 Playoff Preview

 This post-season is the most unpredictable of the past seven campaigns; the last six of  which were won by the overwhelming favorite, the Dallas Demons.

The Demons are definitely in the mix again this campaign, with a chance to add to their unprecedented string of championships. But they are no longer the locked-in Las Vegas prime pick. 

For the first time in MBA history, the team with the worst record of the four playoff teams (meaning Sacramento) comes into the post-season with 7 victories. Philadelphia leads the way at 9-1, followed by Los Angeles and Dallas at 8-2. So picking a champion out of this quartet is educated guess-work at best.

--The Big One from L.A. has the best guard combonation...and for that matter, probably the best forward combo as well. 

-- The Phobia, the all-time winningest franchise in MBA history with 16 titles, is looking for its first championship since Season 43, 15 campaigns ago. Coincidentally, Season 43 was the last time Philly posted a 9-1 record during the regular season. This has been the longest stretch in the team's history without winning it all. In fact, this is the first playoff appearance for Philly in eight seasons.

-- Half of the post-season field from last season returns to the playoff hunt, with Dallas and Los Angeles both back. The Demons took out The Big One in last season's SemiFinals 2 games to 0. 

-- The other half of the post-season field - Philadelphia and Sacramento - both finished in last place during the previous campaign, with the River Dogs carrying the added burden of a potential change of venues since they had back-to-back last place campaigns.

-- Retiring Sacramento forward Satan Israel still has a shot, albeit a long one, to make the Hall of Fame. One award shy of the grand distinction, a ring and/or a Playoff MVP award would turn the trick. That won't be easy with Philadelphia standing in the way of the River Dogs.

-- Tyler predicts a Finals between Los Angeles and Philadelphia, with the Phobia coming away champs. He sees L.A. guard Pinky Toe as the Playoff MVP. (which would be the first MVP of his fine career).

-- None of the four playoff teams had an impactful rookie on their respective squads.

-- The four playoff teams played six games against each other during the regular season. Los Angeles was 2-1, Philadelphia was 2-1, Sacramento was 1-1 and Dallas was 1-2. The results were as follows:

L.A. beat Dallas 80-58 on the road

Philly beat Dallas 76-75 at home

Dallas beat Philly 79-68 at home

Philly beat L.A. 70-66 on the road

L.A. beat Sacramento 82-79 at home

Sacramento beat L.A. 79-76 at home

The Semifinal matchups this season are:

Dallas at Los Angeles...A rematch of last season's Semis in which the Demons dispatched The Big One 2 games to 0. L.A. pounded Dallas in a cross-over game to start the season. Expect this one to go three games.

Sacramento at Philadelphia...Sacramento guards are going to have to shine brightly for the R-Dogs to get past Philly. The Phobia has a huge advantage at the center position. 

NEXT UP: Game 1...Dallas at Los Angeles

Season 58...Leaders and Awards

PRESEASON PREDICTIONS HONORS GO TO DAVE…2-1, the key being Juzan Djinn pick by Dave for All-MBA…both picked 3000

 

 

Dave

G-Hall of Famer Vicious Hick of Los Angeles

G-Hall of Famer Juzan Djinn of Dallas

C-Poop-Rupiah 3000 of Dallas

F-Eddie "the Milkman" Creamer of San Jose

F-Erik A. Crocidale of Seattle

 

Tyler

G-Hall of Famer Vicious Hick of Los Angeles

G-Itstha Bishop of Philadelphia

C-Poop-Rupiah 3000 of Dallas

F-Eddie "the Milkman" Creamer of San Jose

F-Eric A. Crocidale of Seattle

 

LEAGUE MVP 

Dave picks Juzan Djinn of Dallas

Tyler picks Poop-Rupiah 3000 of Dallas

 

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

forward Zach "Zing-Zing" Zigler of  Gillette (unanimous)

 

Only four centers over 20 GVP, but those four all made the Top Ten list for all positions. 

NEXT UP: PLAYOFF PREVIEW...ANY PREDICTIONS FROM YOU?

AS TYLER OBSERVED...GOING FROM ZERO AWARDS ON HIS CARD FOR THE FIRST FOUR SEASONS OF HIS CAREER TO LEAGUE MVP IS SOMEWHAT ASTONISHING. THE MOVE BY TYLER TO TRADE FOR PHILIBUCK DAVIA, ALLOWING GARNEL TO MOVE TO SMALL FORWARD FREED THE LATENT TALENT OF THE FORMER SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE HOST OF SHORT ATTENTION SPAN THEATER.

WITH THIS SEASON'S ADDITION OF AN ALL STAR GAME STAR AND THIS SIXTH ALL-MBA FOIL STAR, THE GREAT HALL OF FAME GUARD JUZAN DJINN HAS MOVED PAST MAX PAYNE, CHIP BATTOE AND FINALLY, NAF NAF ON THE MBA PYRAMID OF GREATNESS TO RANK JUST ONE AWARD BEHIND THE ALL TIME LEADER CURLY HOGBOTTOM. DJINN HAS 24 AWARDS (5 MVPS, 6 ALL-MBAs, 6 RINGS AND 7 ALL STAR GAME APPEARANCES. HE CAN TIE OR CLAIM THE TOP SPOT WITH A PLAYOFF MVP, ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP RING OR BOTH.

THE TOP 10 ALL-TIME MBA LIST

1. Curly Hogbottom...25 awards

2. Juzan Djinn...24 awards

3. Naf Naf...23 awards

4. Chip Battoe...22 awards

4. Max Payne...22 awards

6. Uncle Bob Masterson...21 awards

7. Hrundi V. Bakshi...19 awards

7. Saggital Occlusal...19 awards

7. Cappy Gambol...19 awards

10. Jesse Shershot...18 awards

10. Mamadou Zongo...18 awards

10. Boone Doggle...18 awards

NEXT UP: Position rankings and Main Standings Page with breakdowns

 

Season 58 Featured Game No. 10...Los Angeles at Sacramento

SACRAMENTO 79, LOS ANGELES 76

R-DOGS BEST BIG ONE

SACRAMENTO -- This time it was Sacramento (now 7-3) by 3 points, 79-76, with the River Dogs hanging on for payback for an earlier 82-79 loss to these same Los Angeles Big One (now 8-2).

In an excruciating fourth quarter in which they watched their 10-point lead get all the way down to 1, the R-Dogs could manage just 9 points as L.A. closed the gap with a series of blocked shots by Phillip Mianus. But, nursing a 1-point lead, Sacramento point guard Rabbit Munchers hit a welcome trey with 8 ticks left to provide some breathing room. But the lead was back to 1 in an instant as Los Angeles pivot Otzi Bolzano immediately scored, was fouled and hit his free throw. 

The winning bucket came at the 5 time unit mark when POG Satan Israel of Sacramento took control at the top of the key, drove to the cup and slammed home what turned out to be the game-winner. 

So now we have four threats to win the title this season, with a quartet of playoff teams who have all won at least 7 games.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

36 GVP...Retiring power forward SATAN ISRAEL of Sacramento was the difference in this game, scoring a game-high 32 points despite missing essentially all of the third quarter with a recurring injury. The 6-8 Israel, in his eighth and final campaign, was due for a big scoring outing. With guards Rabbit Munchers and Bellybutton Inquisition carrying a majority of the scoring load all season, Israel's offensive numbers were the lowest of his career. He picked an excellent time to rectify that situation, hitting his first 10 shots of the game as he notched 12 points in the first quarter, followed by 15 more in the second. His final total of 32 came on 13 of 16 shooting, including 3 slam dunks and 6 for 7 from the foul line. He is now averaging 14.5 points per game. He dominated his man, Grand Demur Fuyacho, who was returning to the Big One lineup from injury for the first time in four games. If The R-Dogs are going to do anything in the post season, they'll need Israel to be a productive part of their offense...and to stay healthy.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

25 GVP...Sacramento point guard Rabbit Munchers...18 points (4 treys)...4 rebounds...2 assists...1 steal.

25 GVP...Los Angeles Hall of Fame point guard Vicious Hick...16 points (3 treys)...6 assists...3 rebounds.

24 GVP...Los Angeles center Otzi "the Frozen Hunter" Bolzano...17 points...7 rebounds.

23 GVP...Los Angeles shooting guard Pinky Toe...18 points...3 rebounds...2 assists.

A LOOK AT THE TIGHT MVP RACE

This is one of the closest MVP races in recent memory, with three, maybe four players squarely in the hunt.

Prior to this Featured Game, the race looks as follows:

1. guard Pinky Toe of Los Angeles…32.3 GVP points

1. forward Leonard Pinth Garnel of Philadelphia… 32.3 GVP points

3. Hall of Fame guard Juzan Djinn of Dallas… 31.4 GVP points

4. center Poop-Rupiah 3000 of Dallas…30.4 GVP points

MBA Standings … Season 58

EAST DIVISION

PHILADELPHIA………8-1 (clinched playoffs)

DALLAS………………7-2

OKLAHOMA CITY…..4-5

CHARLESTON……….3-6 (eliminated)

MILWAUKEE………..1-8 (eliminated)

 

WEST DIVISION

LOS ANGELES….8-2 (clinched playoffs and first place in division)

SACRAMENTO… 7-3 (clinched playoffs)

GILLETTE…………4-6 (eliminated)

SEATTLE………….3-6 (eliminated)

SAN JOSE…………2-8 (eliminated)

NEXT UP:  Philadelphia at Oklahoma City. The Phobia could clinch both first place in the East and home court advantage for the entire playoffs with a road win against the Lariats. Philly, on a 3-game winning streak, handled Oklahoma City fairly easily 76-63 in their first meeting, with Phobia center Blob Dylan domineering during the proceedings.

 

Season 58, Featured Game No. 9...Oklahoma City at Dallas

DALLAS 90, OKLAHOMA CITY 65 (Slaughter Rule Enforced)

DEMONS DESTROY LARIATS

DALLAS -- With this 90-65 manhandling by Dallas of Oklahoma City, the playoff teams are set for Season 58. All that remains is determining first place in the East in a race between current leader Philadelphia and the six-time-defending-champion Demons and who gets home court advantage throughout the post-season.

This Featured Game was competitive up until halftime. In the third quarter, Dallas outscored the visitors 20-7 and it was all over. 

The Demons, who possess the longest current winning streak at 5, crushed Oklahoma City defensively, preventing 19 would-be points.

The victors shot 71.2 percent from the floor to just 50.9 percent for the Lariats.

Points prevented...Dallas 19, Oklahoma City 3

Turnovers caused: Oklahoma City 4, Dallas 3

Tops in points prevented: Juzan Djinn of Dallas with 13, Poop-Rupiah 3000 of Dallas with 4

Tops in turnovers caused: Oblio Assbag of Oklahoma City with 2

PLAYER OF THE GAME

27 GVP...Role-playing power forward NICK KENPOOP of Dallas stepped up and claimed POG honors for the first time this season with a game-high 20-point performance. The 6-10, fourth-year man dominated Oklahoma City's L.S. Island, scoring on 8 of 9 shots, slamming home 3 dunks and going 4 of 6 from the foul line. The sharp passing big man tied for game-high in assists with 4 while pulling down 3 boards. A steady, if not spectacular piece in the last two Dallas championships, Kenpoop is now scoring at a modest-but-steady 12 points per game, which is tied for his best scoring season.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

23 GVP...Dallas small forward Venial Sinn...19 points...3 assists...1 rebound.

23 GVP...Oklahoma City small forward Rumpy Pumpy Lewis...17 points...3 rebounds...3 assists.

20 GVP...Dallas Hall of Fame two guard Juzan Djinn...11 points...4 rebounds...3 blocked shots...2 assists...game-high 13 points prevented.

MBA Standings … Season 58

EAST DIVISION

PHILADELPHIA………7-1 (clinched playoffs)

DALLAS………………7-2 (clinched playoffs)

OKLAHOMA CITY…..4-5

CHARLESTON……….3-6 (eliminated)

MILWAUKEE………..1-7 (eliminated)

 

WEST DIVISION

LOS ANGELES….7-1 (clinched playoffs and first place in division)

SACRAMENTO… 6-3 (clinched playoffs)

GILLETTE…………4-5 (eliminated)

SEATTLE………….3-6 (eliminated)

SAN JOSE…………1-8 (eliminated)

NEXT UP:  Bracket 9 concludes with first-place Philly at last-place Milwaukee. The Phobia is still jostling for first in the East with Dallas as well as home court throughout the playoffs. They held Milwaukee to 53 measly points in their first meeting, winning by 15 behind Itstha Bishop and Leonard Pinth Garnel’s duo POG performances.

 

Season 58 Featured Game No. 8...Sacramento at Los Angeles

 

LOS ANGELES 82, SACRAMENTO 79

L.A. comes back in barn-burner

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Big One (now 7-1), trailing by 9 points with 54 time units left in the game, rallied to come all the way back for an electrifying 82-79 victory over second-place Sacramento (now 5-3). 

The victory clinches a playoff spot for L.A.; its second in a row. They join Philadelphia as guaranteed post-season teams.

The Big One used a trio of 3-pointers by Vicious Hick in the fourth quarter and took the lead for good on a short jumper by center Otzi Bolzano with 3 time units remaining. 

The victory gives L.A. its first 7-win season in eight campaigns; the most since Season 50 when they went 9-1 in a championship year.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

35 GVP..."MIGHTY MITE" BELLYBUTTON INQUISITION was the star of the show for the Sacramento River Dogs in this tough loss. The 5-11, 6th-year veteran scored a game-high 27 points in a head-to-head shootout with league scoring leader Pinky Toe of L.A. Inquisition got off to a great start, scoring 11 points in the first quarter on the way to a 12 for 20 shooting day, with 1 slam dunk. He was also 3 for 3 from the foul line and tied for game-high in assists with 4 and team-high in rebounds with 4. A three-time all star, this hard-driving back court player has become sharper with the passage of time. He's scoring at a career-best 17.6 points per game and has sparked the revitalized Sacramento franchise after coming to them in the free agent draft. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

26 GVP...Retiring Los Angeles forward Phillip Mianus...15 points...5 rebounds...4 blocked shots...1 assist...1 steal.

25 GVP...Hall of Fame Los Angeles point guard Vicious Hick...17 points (4 treys)...6 rebounds...2 assists.

20 GVP...Los Angeles center Otzi "the Frozen Hunter" Bolzano...13 points...5 rebounds...1 blocked shot...1 assist

25 GVP...Los Angeles shooting guard Pinky Toe...21 points...3 assists...1 rebound.

MBA Standings … Season 58

EAST DIVISION

PHILADELPHIA………7-1 (clinched playoffs)

DALLAS…………………6-2

OKLAHOMA CITY…..4-4

CHARLESTON……….3-5 (eliminated)

MILWAUKEE………..1-7 (eliminated)

 

WEST DIVISION

LOS ANGELES….7-1 (clinched playoffs)

SACRAMENTO… 5-3

SEATTLE………….3-4

GILLETTE…………2-5

SAN JOSE…………1-7 (eliminated)

NEXT UP: Bracket 8 concludes with Seattle hosting Gillette. A win would put the home team Stampede just one game behind Sacramento for the second playoff berth. But there is no guarantee. The Humps bested Seattle in Bracket 6 with a 75-68 setback behind the hot shooting of Maboroshi No Hotcake. 

 

Season 58 Featured Game No. 7...Philadelphia at Los Angeles

PHILADELPHIA 70, LOS ANGELES 66

DEFENSE PREVAILS 

IN SHOWDOWN

LOS ANGELES -- Led by the efforts of Tut Ankhamun, Blob Dylan and Leonard Pinth Garnel, the league-leading defense of the Philadelphia Phobia (now 6-1) held the MBA's top offense 19 points below their average as they triumphed 70-66 in this cross-over showdown of first place teams.

The loss was the first blemish on The Big One's record (now 6-1) and improved the East vs. West record to 5-2 this campaign.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

25 GVP...Los Angeles shooting guard PINKY TOE led all scorers in this losing effort, with a 20-point performance in which the fifth-year man was 9 for 16 (2 of 5 from deep, 0 of 1 from foul line). He added 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. Toe, who is shooting for his second All-MBA foil star, is second in the league in scoring with a 22-points per game average. He's leading the L.A. squad in scoring for the fifth straight season. This was his fourth POG, tying him for the lead league.

25 GVP...The league's best defensive center, BLOB DYLAN of Los Angeles, scored a team-high 19 points in this huge win, giving him a career-best 15.3 ppg scoring average this season. The 6-11 sixth-year man was 9 for 11 from the floor (1 for 1 from the foul line) with a team-high 5 rebounds and the team's only blocked shot. It was the first POG of the season for Dylan.

25 GVP...6-10 small forward LEONARD PINTH GARNEL is having a banner year in this, his fifth campaign. He's leading the league in rebounding, is third in assists and is averaging a career-best 13.4 ppg. In this win he was 7 for 10 from the floor (1 for 3 from deep), handing out a game-high 7 assists and pulling down 3 rebounds. He's on track for his first All-MBA star and is currently tied with Toe for most POGs in the league with 4. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

23 GVP...Retiring Los Angeles forward Phillip Mianus...9 points...8 rebounds...3 blocks...2 assists...1 steal.

22 GVP...Retiring Philadelphia shooting guard Itstha Bishop...16 points...3 assists...2 rebounds...1 steal

MBA Standings … Season 58

EAST DIVISION

PHILADELPHIA………6-1

DALLAS………………4-2

OKLAHOMA CITY…..3-3

CHARLESTON……….3-3

MILWAUKEE………..1-5

 

WEST DIVISION

LOS ANGELES….6-1

SACRAMENTO… 5-2

SEATTLE………….3-4

GILLETTE…………2-5

SAN JOSE…………0-7 (eliminated)

NEXT UP: Last-place Milwaukee at Dallas. A loss by the Greyhounds would eliminate them from playoff contention, joining San Jose in that category. The defending champion Demons bested a surprisingly game Milwaukee club in their first meeting 83-77 behind the POG heroics of center Poop-Rupiah 3000. 

Season 58 Featured Game 6...Philadelphia at Dallas...plus a look at scoring and rebounding leaders

DALLAS 79, PHILADELPHIA 69

DEMONS WIN WITH SURGE IN FOURTH

DALLAS -- The Dallas Demons (now 4-2) dealt the visiting, first-place Philadelphia Phobia (now 5-1) their first defeat of Season 58, using a strong fourth quarter to turn a closely fought contest into a 79-69 victory. The win split the season series between the two East Division front runners and brought the six-time defending champion Demons to within a game of the Phobia.

The loss by Philly makes Los Angeles the only unbeaten team in the MBA right now. 

While Philadelphia, the top defensive team in the MBA, played hard-nosed defense, preventing 19 points by Dallas, free throws proved to be the main difference in the game. Dallas shot 13 more charity tosses than did the Phobia, going 14 of 15 at the line.

POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTERS

Philadelphia...9...4...0...6  Total=19

Dallas.............2...2...0...2...Total=6

Top Players points prevented

1. Blob Dylan, Philadelphia 8

2. Leonard Pinth Garnel, Philadelphia 6

3. Venial Sinn, Dallas 4

TURNOVERS CAUSED BY QUARTERS

Philadelphia...2...1...2...0  Total=5

Dallas.............3...0...0...3  Total=6

Top Players turnovers caused

1. Mini Carfartt, Dallas 3

2. Nick Kenpoop, Dallas 2

PLAYER OF THE GAME

39 GVP...The smallest starter in the league at 5-10, Dallas point guard MINI CARFARTT, grabbed his first POG of the season, scoring from all four zones on the court to produce a game-high 33 points. The effort was in direct contrast to the first meeting with Philly, when Carfartt scored just 4 points and fouled out in a 1-point loss. The little guy was 12 for 17 from the floor, a perfect 2 for 2 from deep and 7 for 7 from the free throw line. He also tied for the team lead with 3 assists while pulling down 2 rebounds and registering 1 steal. Defensively, he was the top player in the game at causing turnovers, with 3. The fourth-year player is now averaging 14.3 points per game.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

27 GVP...Retiring Philadelphia shooting guard Itstha Bishop...23 points (4 treys)...4 rebounds.

25 GVP...Dallas center Poop-Rupiah 3000...15 poionts (5 slams)...8 rebounds...1 block...1 assist.

21 GVP...Dallas Hall of Fame two guard Juzan Djinn...16 points...2 rebounds...2 assists...1 steal.

21 GVP...Philadelphia point guard Tut Ankhamun...13 points...6 assists...1 steal...1 rebound.

20 GVP...Dallas power forward Nick Kenpoop...7 points...8 rebounds...2 assists...2 steals...1 block.

20 GVP...Philadelphia power forward Philibuck Davia...18 points (7 slams)...2 rebounds.

MBA Standings … Season 58

EAST DIVISION

PHILADELPHIA………5-1

DALLAS………………4-2

OKLAHOMA CITY…..3-3

CHARLESTON……….2-3

MILWAUKEE………..1-4

 

WEST DIVISION

LOS ANGELES….6-0

SACRAMENTO… 4-2

GILLETTE………2-4

SEATTLE………2-4

SAN JOSE………0-6

NEXT UP: The final game of bracket 6 has Charleston looking for revenge against Milwaukee on the Greyhounds’ home court. Milwaukee edged the Mountaineers in their first meeting 76-74 for their only win thus far. Charleston can get back to .500 with a victory, but a loss would drop them behind Milwaukee in the standings.

SEASON 58 MBA SCORING LEADERS

23.8 ppg...Famichiki Whiskey, Milwaukee

22.3 ppg...Pinky Toe, Los Angeles

21.5 ppg...Juzan Djinn, Dallas (Hall of Fame)

19.5 ppg...Bonifazio Spegatini, Oklahoma City (rookie)

19.3 ppg...Rabbit Munchers, Sacramento

SEASON 58 MBA REBOUNDING LEADERS

6.7 per game...Leonard Pinth Garnel, Philadelphia

5.4 per game...Scobee Bryant, Milwaukee

5.3 per game...Brother Jasper, Gillette

5.3 per game...Blob Dylan, Philadelphia

5.3 per game...Satan Israel, Sacramento (retiring)