STA @ DAK: L Thrust (#1) 68, W Bikers (#2) 94 (Dakota wins in 6)

Few furries are more superstitious than athletes. Throughout FBA history, ballers have adopted all kinds of rituals and habits to keep their minds and bodies in the game. Barton Rouge curses his opponent's hoop before every match. Zip-Nut cracks walnuts on the media table before tip-off. B-Hop touches his feet before each free throw.

So it would be hard to blame Jakub Lyška (Red Fox, SG) for being worried after the Thrust took Game 1 of the Western Conference Championship series. Even though statistics show that the team who wins the first game has the best chance of winning the series, the Thrust confidently shattered that conventional wisdom when they defeated the Blanks, then the Whips despite losing Game 1 in both series. After their outstanding victory against the Bikers, driven mostly by a spectacular performance from Defensive Player of the Year Doral (Gecko, SG), the Dog from Prague was heard telling a Czech reporter "Nelíbí se mi to." It was a couple days before an English-language news agency translated it as "I don't like this."

Things might have looked better in Game 2, when Sauce superstar Buck Hopper (Rabbit, PG) put on a spectacular performance for his hometown crowd, racking up over 40 points from the floor. Combined with a great show of support from his team, Stanislaus never let the Bikers get a shot at the W through 48 minutes of play. Paul Teronura (Otter, C) did a sensational job of defending Bikers big man Steven Munt (Warthog, C), smacking down shot after shot with his webbed paws, the Cruiser making the Bruiser look like Alan Chesuk in the 2009 FBA Finals. Rookie Carlos Syevens-Quiles (Calico Cat, SF) was unable to defend the crafty veteran Mike Lee (Puma, SF), but was able to find open lanes to the cup, driving in for lightspeed dunks off brilliant dimes from pass-master Jack Howell (Wolf, PF). Even Lyška, despite his earlier concerns, was electric from the arc, bringing the rain through the third quarter. And with XL wrapping up Ryan Malone (Kangaroo, SG), the Bikers found themselves with few scoring options, leading them to a big 27-point loss.

The crowd cheered big for their team. With the Thrust up 2-0 after two dominant wins, they were in the driver's seat. The analysts were all in agreement. With the #1 offensive player in Buck Hopper and the #1 defensive player in Doral, the Thrust had the core and the support they needed for another Finals run. Reporters who thought there was no way the club could recover from the loss of Manuel Katz on the floor were suddenly thinking something else. And maybe finally, this would be the year B-Hop got his ring.

Fate has a funny way of messing with things. Lyška's premonition was all but forgotten when the club boarded the plane to fly out to Rapid City, SD for the bus to take them to Sturgis. The next morning after the trip, Hopper felt so much pain in his knee, he could barely stand up. The team doctors quickly checked the bunny out and determined that the pressure changes from the plane trip had inflamed the tissues in his knee, cutting off blood flow and allowing an infection to develop. It was a very solemn press conference before the game when head coach Don Von Wasser explained Hopper's medical situation and the team's decision to sit B-Hop for Game 3 with future games being day-to-day. When Hopper took to the mic, he confirmed that while the injury was small at the beginning of the playoffs, the exertion put on it had damaged his knee further. He apologized to his fans for not taking better care of his knee.

Still, the Sauce were confident. At the same conference, team cheerleader Mitch Deigo (Kangaroo, SF) was clear. "Hops has pulled us this far by giving everything he's got. Now we gotta do it for him."

Bikers fans have never been known for their tact, and they did their best to keep their reputation when they booed and hissed at the Thrust, holding up tasteless signs reading "WE'RE HUNGRY FOR RABBIT STEW". The fans were likely disappointed to see B-Hop hobbling onto the court on crutches, sitting down without suiting up. But that disappointment vanished when the Bikers changed their gameplan, abandoning their hard D style for more shooting and rough play down low. The Thrust expected the change of style and responded smartly with conservative, defense-heavy play. But the new gameplan was not quite enough to grab the win. Despite neck-and-neck scoring through the first three quarters, the Bikers managed to pull ahead in the fourth when fatigue forced XL and Randy Catcher (Bullfrog, PG) to sit down, giving rookies Douglas Smith (Coyote, PG) and Admiral May (Maine Coon Cat, SG) their first major floor time in the playoffs. Unfortunately, the pair were no match for lights-out shooter Stephanie Beck (Deer, PG) and high-flyer Malone, who quickly pulled their team ahead and finished the game with a 6 point win.

In order to coach a team, you have to be ready to make tough decisions. The loss in Dakota was sobering for the Thrust, and head coach Don Von Wasser thought hard about his next move. Hopper reportedly was feeling better the next day and able to put in limited minutes on the court. That was good for Stanislaus. With a loss by such a small margin, most analysts agreed, the only way the Bikers had won was because Hopper wasn't playing. If B-Hop had just 10 minutes on the floor, no doubt he would have made up the deficit and gotten the win. A 3-1 lead in the series would give the Sauce 3 chances at winning it all. Even if Hopper had to miss 2 games to recover, he would have been able to rest up for four days without having to travel back to Sturgis for Game 6. On the other hand, since Game 5 was scheduled only 2 days after Game 4, if Hopper played the next match, he would have to fly back to California, possibly risking the health of his knee. If he skipped the game, he could take a bus back to California with less risk to his knee for Game 5 in Alpo Arena. It was not an easy decision to make.

Against B-Hop's protests, Von Wasser sent the bunny home on a bus. In an interview before Game 4, he explained the reasons for his decision. "Sometimes to win a series, you have to accept losing some games. In a series like this, we have to maximize our best opportunities. We've got a better chance of winning at home, and we have a better chance of winning with Hopper. And that means sending Hopper home. As long as we win every game we have at home, we'll make the Finals."

Bikers fans were quick to answer. When the Thrust took to the court in front of the hissing crowd, the signs now read "WAY TO BOUNCE, HOPPER", "BUNNY GO DOWN THE HOLE" and "THIS IS A NO PREY ZONE". Beck bristled at that sign when she came out for warm-ups. "I'll bet they don't say that in Spokane," she muttered, before hiding her eyes.

It was probably the most emotion seen for the whole game. In one of the dullest performances in recent playoffs history, the Thrust plainly made only a token effort on the court, putting in their scrubs and never trying very hard against the Bikers. Dakota, seeing that the Thrust were all but surrendering the game from the start, did the same, giving the most floor time Tatiana Trotsky (Horse, C) and Njau Mbadinuju (Zebra, SF) have seen all season. Aside from the fun of watching rookies and lesser-talented players do their best, the game dragged on to its predictable outcome with Dakota tying up the series 2-2 after an 11 point win.

For Game 5, the situation was very different. Buck Hopper had been caring for his knee for days now, and while the team doctors said the best thing for B-Hop would be to end his season now, they agreed that the bunny could put in limited minutes on the court if needed. The Carp told reporters he would only use Hopper if her had to, so when the game started to a cheering crowd of Thrust fans, Catcher took starting point.

Things started off well for the Sauce as the "Double D", Dig'Em and Doral, brought their vicious backcourt defense to seal up Beck and Malone. Teronura's big paws kept Munt in check, holding back the warthog's scoring down low, leaving the Bikers with only Lee and Jack Wayans (Black Labrador, PF) to work points around Syevens-Quiles and Howell. Carlito took advantage of every fast break off steals from Dig'Em and XL, and Cruiser took it to Bruiser with quick, powerful dunks off perfect inside dimes from Howell. With the Thrust firing on all cylinders without their superstar, the crowd cheered their club to a 14 point lead by halftime.

Crowds may love leads. But every basketball fan knows, 14 points can vanish in an instant. That instant came in the middle of the third, when the Bikers made an adjustment in their attack, playing more aggressive D and taking advantage of fatigue in the backcourt. Doug Bentham (Weasel, SG) hit the court and roughed up XL with a series of body checks that racked up fouls, but kept the defenseherm distracted. Beck began hitting shots from the arc. Rookie Samuel Roberts (Clydesdale, C) came in and sped up the inside game, catching PT with the up-and-under move, then leading him away from the paint and using his charging speed for a pair of thunderous alley-oop dunks. By the end of the third, the Sauce's lead became a deficit. Von Wasser knew it was time. With a roar from the crowd, Hopper hit the court.

B-Hop looked good bringing the ball up. He slowed at the arc, staring down Beck-- then dazzled the crowd with a lightning-quick jumper, going up, snapping off the quick release and sinking the triple in Spirit Guide's muzzle. That sent another roar from the fans, but it quickly died when Hopper came back down on his feet and cried out, grabbing his knee. He winced in pain, but stayed on the court. He was slow in the next handful of possession, but then he began to dominate. He snapped Beck's ankles with a jaw-dropping cross fake, rushing the wide open lane for a huge two-handed crusher, hanging off the rim. He then shot a perfect fadeaway through the double-team, followed by a hesitation pull-back on the drive, getting space, hitting the easy jumper right over Lee's paw. The Bikers fought back hard, double-teaming, then triple-teaming the bunny, trying to shut him down and preserve their lead.

With under a minute left, the Sauce pulled themselves within 3. In a brilliantly engineered play, the panting Hopper passed to Doral, then ran behind hir for the hand back. Making a sharp turn around the lizard, he punched the paint, flinging a no-look to Howell in front of the double-team. That distracted the D, letting Hopper curl to the arc, where Doc Pass flung a perfect dime to him at the open corner. Hops scooted his big toes behind the line and shot the J, getting the tying swish with a huge roar from the crowd. But the cheers quickly turned to boos of anger when the official waved off the bucket from an offensive foul away from the ball. It was a solid three minutes of yelling from Hopper and Von Wasser alike before before play could resume.

With 28 seconds left on the clock, the Thrust had a chance to stop the Bikers possession and tie up the game. With Hopper's knee aching, the bunny limped off the floor to let Catcher defend Beck. Spirit Guide brought the ball up and dribbled beyond the arc, letting the clock run down. With just seconds left, Bentham provided a screen as Beck cut. Dig'Em was caught by the pick, but Doral saw the play and swapped D with the bullfrog, following Beck as she curled around the arc. But then XL stopped suddenly, giving Beck an open look. She stopped and shot the jumper from deep, sinking the 3-point dagger. The crowd wailed in horror, then screamed in rage when the jumbotron replay clearly showed Dirty Doug grabbing Doral by hir tail. The officials missed the hold and refused to call back the play, preserving the 6 point lead for Dakota. It turned into a 6 point win as Hopper failed to sink the desperation shot.

The Thrust were in trouble. Von Wasser had gambled on being able to win every home game by limiting Hopper's minutes and keeping him off the road. With the series now 2-3 and Game 6 in Sturgis, the Carp had no other choice. Hopper was on the plane to Rapid City that night.

The day before the game, reporters clamored for news on B-Hop's knee. The trainers had taken special precautions to make sure the tissues didn't inflame like they did before. They drained fluid from the joint and put Hopper on antibiotics to combat any further infection. He was quickly fitted with a new brace to better support the weaker side. Hopper refused to give any comment to the reporters, focusing all of his attention on getting and staying healthy. Assistant coach Manuel Katz didn't mince words with the sportscasters. "The conejo has one focus. You're not it."

The Bikers crowd was not kind to Hopper. They jeered him and taunted the fact the he had missed both earlier games in Dakota. "LOOK WHO'S PLAYING" and "BE-HOPEING YOU'D SHOW UP" danced on signs across the hissing crowd. Hopper didn't react to any of it. Showing himself to be the professional veteran he is, his ears were up, but he wasn't listening.

Von Wasser started B-Hop thinking that a quick, early lead would be the best defense against the determined Bikers. Hopper showed improvement on the floor as he spotted holes in the Dakota defense and exploited them with quick passes to his teammates, or ferocious drives into the paint. Using Lyška early, Hopper slung a pair of dimes to the fox, who sank two triples from the center of the arc. PT worked the ball back from the post-up against Munt, then passed across the key to the rushing Hopper for the big dunk from the side, right over the warthog's back. B-Hop turn-faked Malone, then popped up a high arc to the glass, right in Syevens-Quiles' range for a big alley-oop. The Thrust hit hard and hit early, finishing the first quarter with a strong 10 point lead.

But fate has a funny way of messing with things.

It wasn't even anything fancy. Not a sick crossover, not a ridiculous fadeaway, not some twisting, wrap-around hopstep to the cup. Early in the second quarter, Howell inbound the ball to Hopper after a Dakota score. The crowd sneered and booed the bunny as he dribbled, strolling past the Bikers logo at halfcourt. As he passed, he pointed across his body at a teammate, calling a play. Then on his next step, his foot landed funny and his leg buckled. He fell and screamed, grabbing his knee.

The crowd laughed for a moment, but just a moment-- before an official's time out was called and the Stanislaus trainers raced to surround the fallen rabbit. He lie on his back, holding his leg, an arm draped over his eyes, shaking in pain. The jeers vanished and turned to silence as the trainers gently stretched out his leg. The only sound that echoed in Sturgis Stadium was B-Hop crying.

In a rarely seen gesture, the Bikers fans applauded when Hopper was finally helped off the court, limping and grimacing in pain. He did not return. The Thrust continued to play, and play hard, but the game was somber and lifeless from that point on. It's likely the Thrust barely noticed the Bikers when they retook the lead, or when Dakota blew them out by 26 points. The crowd cheered at the final buzzer as the Bikers won the series in 6 games. The Thrust players left the court with the fans chanting behind their backs. "BEAT THE ROOTS! BEAT THE ROOTS! BEAT THE ROOTS!"

Hopper did not attend any of the post-game interviews. In fact, reports say he refused to take the team plane back to California, choosing instead to rest a little longer before finding his own way home.

Whatever way that might be.

---

COMMISSIONER'S NOTE: Because of the trouble I had posting this, I'll leave the News and Free Agency Update for tomorrow. Sorry for the delay on this one!