Mavs Gaming officially eliminated after eventful closing weekend
August 16, 2018
The first season in Mavs Gaming history is officially in the books.
After losing five regular season games in a row, Dallas’ anticipated week 11 matchup with Kings Gaming was postponed due to weather in New York City. This set the stage for a final weekend consisting of two games to help determine their playoff fate.
But even if they won both games, they needed help from some other teams in order to sneak into the playoffs.
As the first game on Thursday, Mavs Gaming put Dimez at the power forward spot and Dayfri at the point guard spot. It was a shakeup we hadn’t seen yet, but a shakeup that worked pretty quick.
The Mavs outscored the Kings in every quarter and finished the game winning by 27 points. Dayfri finished with 31 points and 12 assists while Dimez finished with 14 points and nine rebounds. JLB finished with a double-double by recording 12 points and 13 boards. All five starters scored in double digits.
The Mavs needed a win to stay alive and they did just that.
“It was crazy…we fought,” Dimez said. “We never stopped fighting. We lived off that hope.”
But before their second game would begin on Friday, teams above them in the standings took care of their personal business to secure their spots in the playoffs. Mavs Gaming would be eliminated from playoff contention.
And just like that, it was all over.
After starting the season 4-1 and one of the best teams in the league, things spiraled downward over the second half of the season and they could never fully recover.
Mavs Gaming would go out in a meaningless game on Friday night and lose to the Bucks by a score of 67-72. JLB would have another double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Dayfri would finish with 19 points and 10 assists while Dimez added 18 points.
This means they would finish the regular season losing seven of their last eight regular season games. It would be the last time they would all play together.
“It is an indescribable feeling,” Devillon said. “It is a lot of things all into one.”
Many of the guys echoed what Devillon said in having a mixed bag of emotions. They were sad that the season was over, but looking forward to a break and heading back to their respected homes.
“Good and bad. It is a mixture of positive and negative emotions,” Hazza said. “I am happy to finally go home, but it sucks you end on such a low note.”
But the Mavs didn’t head home from New York after being eliminated on Friday. Saturday was the last day of the regular season and the league hosted an awards banquet that night to announce each of the regular season awards.
The Play of the Year, voted on strictly by the fans, was award to Washington’s BooPainter with his behind-the-back move through the paint.
The Sportsmanship Award was awarded to xTF3sHxX of 76ers GC and the Coach of the Year award was handed out to Duane Burton of Pistons GT. For the Community Engagement Award, Raptors Uprising GC took home the hardware.
But the big winner of the night and the best overall player on the best overall team was none other that OneWildWalnut. Taking home the MVP award, Walnut averaged 21 points and 14 rebounds a game while leading the Blazers to a 12-2 record and the number one overall seed in the playoffs. His 2.6 blocks per game and 2.2 steals per game also awarded him the Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Walnut was the MVP choice of Dimez, while the rest of the team submitted their votes for either Hotshot or BooPainter. For Dimez, watching Walnut win the MVP award was a cool moment as he has played with Walnut since his early high school years.
Other MVP finalists were BooPainter, Hotshot, Lets Get It Ramo and Mama Im Dat Man.
The awards were announced on Twitter through the official Twitter account for the league, but were announced in person in New York City at a banquet for the entire league. “We are like one big family,” Dimez, the number one overall pick in the league said when describing the fun atmosphere at the awards banquet.
As for the playoffs, the field is now officially set.
The Blazers earned the top seed in the playoffs and is set to face Knicks Gaming in the first round of single elimination. Staying on the left side of the bracket, the red hot Raptors Uprising team is going head-to-head with the league’s leading scorer in Hood and Cavs Legion GC.
On the other side of the bracket sits 76ers GC as the two seed. Philly gets a difficult draw as they face off with MVP finalist BooPainter and his Wizards District Gaming team. Up top on the right side is a matchup between two MVP finalists in Detroit and Miami. Lets Get It Ramo will lead his Pistons team against Hotshot and Heat Check Gaming.
After the single elimination games on Friday, the semi-finals will get underway on Saturday in a best of three game series on both sides. The two winners will face off in the finals next weekend on August 25.