It all began with a gamble.

When franchise player Buck Hopper (Rabbit, G, STA) collapsed from an injured knee in the 2010 FBA Western Conference Finals, the analysts all agreed-- the bunny needed help. Despite playing with a roster mostly unchanged from 2009, the same team that had heroically given this rural community club their first Finals appearance, it seemed they just weren't enough to get to the top. With FBA legend Manuel Katz (Tabby Cat, Assistant Coach) retired, high speed backup Joey Cox (Roadrunner, G, BAL) gone after demanding a trade, and sure-footed champ Billy Joe James (Mule, C, BAL) released for cap space, the 2010 club just couldn't get it done. And with B-Hop about to enter the last year of his 7-year contract, management was desperate lest their superstar jump ship for another team.

Trading away Paul Teronura (Otter, C, TEN), Jack Howell (Wolf, F, KCC), and Jakub Lyška (Red Fox, G, WIL) was painful, especially considering the popular, well-oiled players were being traded for Cletus Swinton (Pig, C, STA)-- a hot-headed overweight pivot many felt was past his prime, and Peter Conner (Cougar, F, STA)-- an overly humble athlete forgotten on one of the weakest teams in the league. The draft was no less secure as the team's 24th overall pick landed them rookie Blythe Nacht (Red Fox [silver phase], G, STA), a midwestern pup with a 3-point shot as good as his defense was bad. Rounded out by a bunch of unknown bench players like oversized fowl Michael Porter (Mallard, F, STA), totally unknown Seth Ross (Gecko, F, STA) and convent-trained curiosity Mary Wooten (Sheep, F, STA), many analysts were thinking the same thing. How in the world is Don Von Wasser (Dolphin, head coach) going to make this bunch of misfits work?

It helps when you are one. The non-anthro dolphin from Hawaii has never had much use for convention. Despite not being able to shoot a basketball himself (unless his assistant tosses it up for him to bump with his nose), the porpoise proved his value by tirelessly researching his opponents and brilliantly coming up with playbooks that fit his club, no matter how unusual the team. Heck, he liked unusual teams-- they were less predictable for his opponents and gave him more options in drawing up plays. And that's why he managed to take a club peppered with has-beens and unknowns to the 2nd best record in the Western Conference.

At first, the climb seemed easy. The Sand Dollars may have won their first playoffs game in franchise history against them, but they only got one. The Thrust pushed them out in 5. And then John Stoat (Stoat, G, SPO) brought the Rapids to the second round in his first playoffs appearance ever-- only to get handed an 0-4 sweep by the Sauce. But then the climb got hard. Once again, the Thrust faced the Dakota Bikers in the Western Conference Finals, playing on the same court B-Hop collapsed on just a year earlier. And this time the Bikers had home advantage. Still, the Thrust fought the series to a 3-1 advantage, seeming to have the Finals in their grasp.

But no one can ever underestimate the Bikers. With the same starting line that took the chip last season save for the addition of the terrifying Dat Mongoste (Mongoose, G, DAK) who had led the Mayors to that same victory in '09, the Bikers fought back hard and tied up the series 3-3.

In one of the most desperate games of the 2011 Playoffs, the Thrust survived by just 3 points after Doral (Gecko, G/F, STA) blocked Dat's final long ball attempt. The Thrust would make their second Finals appearance in three years.

But then they were up against the towering Firestorm, a club with 2 championships already to their name, hungry for a third. With their mink front court outsizing their biggest players by a huge margin, it seemed hopeless for the Thrust when they fell 1-3 in the series. But a controversial move by B-Hop forced overtime in Game 5, allowing the Thrust to win and bring the series back to Rabbit Valley Pavilion. And then, in 2 hotly contested games filled with rage, emotion and controversy, B-Hop got to raise the Healey Davis Trophy in front of the team's fans.

Not bad for a gamble.

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You all knew this was coming! After my team won, I had to get a commission, and this year, I didn't hold back! I asked  o-kemono to draw all the players on the team, even the deep reserves, as well as the coach and assistant coach. He had the wonderful idea of adding the signatures-- thank you everyone who helped draw those out!

And as a guide, each head from left to right:

Manuel Katz (Tabby Cat, assistant coach)
Don Von Wasser (Dolphin, head coach)
#50 Admiral May (Maine Coon Cat, G)
#32 Michael Porter (Mallard, F)
#37 Mary Wooten (Sheep, F)
#28 Peter Conner (Cougar, F)
#69 Doral (Gecko, G/F)
#13 Randy Catcher (Bullfrog, G)
#23 Blythe Nacht (Red Fox [silver phase], G)
#84 Cletus Swinton (Pig, C)
#7 Buck Hopper (Rabbit, G)
#17 Carlos Syevens-Quiles (Calico Cat, F)
#77 Susan Kruegar (Raccoon, F/C)
#48 Douglas Smith (Coyote, G)
#46 Chrys Brachy (Maned Wolf, C)
#24 Seth Ross (Gecko, F)

Doral created by  dorallizard
Michael Porter created by  darrenzeraus
Blythe Nacht created by  kyell
Admiral May, Douglas Smith, Carlos Syevens-Quiles and Susan Kruegar created by  christaphorac
Seth Ross created by... unknown!
All other characters created by  buckhopper
Player signatures created by their creators except for Manuel Katz, Don Von Wasser, Mary Wooten, Peter Conner, Randy Catcher, Buck Hopper, Cletus Swinton and Chrys Brachy signatures created by  jtigerclaw and Seth Ross signature created by  buckhopper