Taking Back Friday VI : Can’t Nobody Stop Me?

Dominated.  As in, totally dominated everything.  Went 3-0.  I was unstoppable on offense, and I played pretty damn good D as well.  

I've been wondering why I'd been losing games at all.  And I thought it was maybe because I wasn't playing good enough D, or not passing enough.. and then it just came to me.  I wasn't making enough shots.  I was shooting at around 40-50%.  I figured if I shot at 80%, that's almost double the point output.  

So that's what I did.  Easy as pie, right as rhyme.  It was so easy.. all it took was focus.  DAMN.

I went back to my trash-talking ways, too.  Nothing gets me going more than telling somebody just how I'm going to score on him and how he needs at least two more guys to stop me.  

People might not like it, but hey, love the playa, hate the game.

Scratch that.  I LOVE THIS GAME. 

Record: 11/14 

Xavier Ranked No. 2 in the Nation

This is pretty late, but my high school just got the crap beat out of them by the NUMBER ONE high school in the country.. meaning..

We're number 2!  

We got beat by more than 20 points, but that's OK.  We beat everybody else!  We were the underdogs going in, but with our trademark confidence (read: arrogance), it didn't affect us at all.  The sweetest part for me?  When we beat Ateneo.  DAMN, I hate that school.  I don't know why, but I really dislike that school.

But whatever.  We NUMBER 2 IN THE NATION!  WE GON' GET NUMBER 1 NEXT TIME!

Listed as Day to Day

I'm REALLY injured.  This strained hamstring thing, it's giving me a lot of grief.  I know it's not exactly a basketball post, but I got this injury balling!  It's been a couple of weeks now, and the pain's not going away, at least not completely.

I've been telling myself to stop playing the Friday night games, but we all know that's not going to happen.  I'm too competitive for that.  

But man.  This thing had better go away soon.  It hurts me when I'm balling, and when I'm NOT balling. 

Taking Back Friday V : Raining Js

I told Lester, OK, I'm going to score and be a highlight on offense.  He was like, FUCK THAT, STEPHON!  

…

Pretty much what I expected his reaction to be.  While I believe in highlight reels, Lester believes in team play.  We just agree to disagree.  

Anyway, I was doubting myself when I saw the entire RP team on the court, all 6feet somethings with BEAUTIFUL jumpers.  I told myself I could never grow that tall, but I sure as hell can shoot as well, if not better, than those guys.  And so that's what I did.  I scored at least 1/3 of all team points. 

I played seriously for 3 games, and I won them all.  I lost two games which I was sorta just messing around in, but whatever.  I'm not counting this week.  This wasn't a play to win week.  It was just to prove to myself I can still score at will.

My personal highlight, being guarded by Joel, right inside the 3-line.. SWOOSH.  Kobe. 

Boston and Larry

I was watching Larry Bird play against the Magic's Lakers, 1986 Finals, I think.. and I realized something.

They never show you the times when he sucked.  I've been a big Bird fan because of how clutch he was, but watching those games.. man, he totally sucked.  Magic and Kareem were totally dominating his Celtics.  I mean, McHale was the only guy keeping them in the game.

Ah well.  Maybe it was a bad series for him.

Oh, and this year's Celtics just lost to the Magic.  Remember my prediction on who was going to be Coach of the Year? 

Ooh, And I'd like to CHANGE my prediction for most improved player!  Sorry, Antoine, but Devin Harris is KILLING it right now!

Taking Back Friday IV : SICK!

So I played two full games, which I both won, and played the final moments of one game, which I lost.  

I'll take it.  I was sick as hell, after all.  Hamstring wasn't bothering me as much, but I felt pretty out of sync the whole time.  Maybe it was psychological, but I could actually feel my muscles being slow to respond.  Hmn.

Anyway, my shot was totally off.  I probably shot around.. 5/15 overall, and most of my successful ins came from layups.  Well, no.. I remember making TWO shots that were really hot.  

The first one was after missing my shot for play number 1.. I was pretty disgusted with the way I was shooting, so I asked for it again.  Lester though, he kept finding me, and BOOM.  It was so sweet, how the net just went swoosh on that one.  

The second?  What else.  The game-winner.  

I was coming down the court with the ball.  If I score, we win.  I'd been passing a lot because my shot wasn't on, but can you imagine me giving up the shot in a situation wherein there's only ONE guy guarding me?  It was as good as over.  

I drove right, but I was already planning on spinning to my right then fading away.  Last minute, however, I noticed that he anticipated it, and was moving to cover me on that side, so I faked the spin, and moved back to the right, THEN faded away.  BAM.  

I'm good.  I know.  That's a move I practice a lot.  And it paid off.  

2/3 this Friday, 8/11 total.  Not good enough.  Gotta step it up.

HATING ON MJ

He had the flu and scored what, 39 points?  I can do that.  

I'm feeling really under the weather today, but I'm still balling tonight.  I'll be damned if I let Jordan talk about how I have no heart.  Screw him, I'm balling!

Also, I watched a varsity practice session, and there's this one guy who gets my goat.  I gotta prove tonight that I can be better than him.  

Holla at me. 

Season Predictions : Individual Awards

An tenth into the season, so I guess it's about time to make those predictions!

MVP: Kevin Garnett 

What can I say?  This guy is the one who glues it all together.  Sure they're three unselfish superstars, but who do you think keeps them that way?  Who do you think takes it upon himself to push his teammates to the best of their abilities?

Sixth Man: Jason Terry

Check his stats out.  Who else are you going to give it to?

Scoring Champ:  T-Mac

Under Rick Adelman's offense, T-Mac's going to get all the shots he wants.  And he usually makes them, too. 

Most Improved: Antoine Wright

This guy spent the summer working on his game and body, and it's showing.  Especially since VC went down with an injury recently.

Coach of the Year: This is a tough one.  Adelman's Rockets have always been good.  Doc Rivers got himself a free pass to at least 50 wins.  I'd have to say..

Stan Van Gundy, if the Magic improve their record from last year by at least 10 games.  

Taking Back Friday III : The Second Coming Continues

Won 2 out of 3 games.  The first game, the loss was my fault, totally.  I wasn't concentrating on the game so much as I was concentrating on my strained hamstring (which is a lot better, thank you for asking,) and that resulted in missing shots I'd normally make blindfolded.

I also stuck with the zone for too long, instead of shackling up the guy with the hot hand.  Dennis.  Dammit.  During the second half, when I did man him, o6 Lester got hot from the three-zone.  Of course, we all know who the new 3pt king is *ahem*. 

It's me, by the way.

Second and Third games, I won.  I didn't go 100% the whole time because my hamstring IS still bothering me, but I went to win em, and I did.  Can't nobody really stop me in our Friday night games.  

So far, I've won 6 out of the 8 games ever since I've decided to TAKE BACK FRIDAY.  That's a lousy 75% of all the games.  Fine.  I'll let it slide because my hamstring and conditioning aren't up to snuff yet.  But come December, all losing will stop.  

Guaran-DAMN-teed.

Kobe is the King

Did anyone else see his game against Utah?  Unbelievable.  I wonder what makes Kobe so damn good.  I mean, you can make a case that Lebron's more athletic, stronger, physically gifted.  Ray Allen's probably just as good a shooter, if not better.  And for work ethic, you can't say Gil loses out to him. 

There's just something else about Kobe.  What is it..?  Ah, yes.  Talent.

Was watching the highlights just moments ago.  I want to go out and shoot some hoops, RIGHT NOW!  2am with my bad hamstring and all!  Bring it on, baby! 

Muscle Strain a Pain!

So I strained my left hamstring last time.  It was hell for the first couple of days, but it's a LOT better now.  What worries me though, is the fact that the doc told me I'd be OK within a week.  And it's been MORE than a week now.. two days over!  Granted, it's largely improved, but there's still noticeable pain.

The sucky thing about it is, I can't work on my game.  I can't jump properly, hell, I can't even walk properly!

That basically takes out all the cardio out of my workouts, too.  The only thing I can do now is practice free-throw shooting, and chest passes.  Ah well.

Sometimes, I really wish I could play for a living. 

Taking Back Friday II : Got Started

I won 4 out of the 5 games.  I dominated whomever I wanted to dominate, I scored at will, I pulled down boards, I had a TON of easy layups.  Which was all expected. 

The game I lost, I think I've to chalk it up to my cousin.  Pao was incredible.  I scored the most points in all the games, but his defense and rebounding were really the turning point of the game.  There's no way I can catch up to his natural atheleticism, so I think I've got to work on my endurance, speed, and basics twenty times harder, just so I don't get left behind.

Conclusion:

4 W / 1 L

Prediction:

Will keep winning at least 80% of the next games.