Got No Game

I haven’t had any game lately.  Maybe it’s the lack of practice or what, but I don’t know.  Here are some of the things I’ve noticed:

1. My ballhandling is nowhere where it used to be.  My crossovers are awkward at best.. same goes for my spin moves and behind the back dribbles.
2. The J is MIA.
3. Endurance is nonexistent.
4. I can’t seem to finish!

ONE thing’s improved, though:

I KNOW HOW TO REBOUND!  BOX-OUT is my middle name!  That’s the one thing I’ve learned recently!  And that’s the bomb! 

I’m Back

Well, it’s been a while.  A really long while.  Around a month or so, I think.. I wonder if anybody still checks this blog?

Anyway, I’ve been busy, both on the court and off it.. it’s all pretty hazy, but I think it was somewhat an emotional and turbulent month (both on the court and off it).  For one thing, I lost my game.  I haven’t been going to the Friday games regularly at all, and I’ve been stinking up the JMA league.  And I was just too tired and out of shape to even ball well, much less update the blog.

But that’s over and done.  It’s the Second Coming, for real.  I’m back. 

Another Friday without Basketball

I know I can shoot around at home, but it's just not the same.  

A friend recommended his gym's physical therapist, but DAMN.  I'm pretty terrified of pain.  And doctors.  And anything to do with them.  Besides, the price is pretty steep.  I don't think I can spend that much to hurt myself.  Ok, fine, REHAB my knee, but whatever.

Oh, and Lester and I have a bet going.  Celtics ARE going to beat 70 games!

The Kobe Jumper

My jumper looks nothing like Kobe's.  Which isn't so bad, I guess, because Kobe doesn't have the textbook J.  I do, but his looks a lot prettier.  That's why I'm changing my shot.  

First thing I've got to do is figure out whether it's really a technique or just pure athleticism.  If it's the latter, then I'm pretty much screwed, no matter what, but if not.. then there's hope for me yet!  I'll give myself til year's end.  I'm not supposed to be playing basketball yet, anyway.  

Wish me luck! 

Why I Play Basketball

Since I'm out with an injury, I figured I may as well just get a little more personal with how I got my relationship with the game.  

I play basketball because I love winning.  Basically, that's it.  It's a competitiveness thing.. like, I can't stand to lose to guys who are on my level, or at least on a level I could potentially reach.  It feels good because I'm not that athletic, and I'm short by all standards, (pro-wise, anyway.)  But man, when you blow by somebody and just fade-away in his face for that sweet J, it feels good.

I also play because I like being the star.  I like entertaining people, getting them out of their seats, like, WHOA.  That's why I play.  But winning is the bottom line.  At least against people worth playing hard against.

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. 

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. 

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.

Taking Back Friday I : The Second Coming

Lester and I were talking earlier today.  He says that he was losing faith in our abilities as a tandem.  We keep talking about how much better we are as players, but we don't win consistently.  Dennis' team is the one that more often than not comes away with the W. 

That made me think.  Was I just really deluding myself into thinking I was better than everybody else?  To be sure, Dennis comes close, if not surpasses me.  He seems a lot more dedicated to the game of basketball, too.  Like, hardcore dedicated.   So why am I not all fired up to whoop his ass?  Am I scared I can't beat him?  I don't think so.  In fact, I can't even imagine being scared.  

The questions have been asked.  There's a game this Friday.  Let's look for the answers.

Getting in Baller SHAPE

I honestly don't know how to do that.  I know I should be doing suicides and everything, but those kill my legs.  Totally a different burn from doing squats.  Being a bodybuilder = totally different from being a baller.  

I've heard that plyometrics are the best for explosiveness and quickness.  But I've also heard they damage your joints, and it's not advisable unless you're a pro athlete because you should  be getting paid to hurt yourself.  Ugh. 

Well, whatever.  There's a plyometrics training center somewhere around the metro.  If it's reasonably priced, I might just go ahead and check it out one of these days.  Oh yeah.   

One at a Time

So I've resumed playing one on one.  I stopped for a long time because I altered my game to fit a five-on-five format, but now I'm getting back into the swing of things.  Since no one reads this blog, or because I maintain some sort of anonymity, I feel that I can safely list those who've fallen to my game without hurting anybody's feelings.

1. fast dude in red from the Friday games.
2. Winston from the Friday games.
3. Ping from JMA

That's it so far.  3-0.  Who's next? 

Welcome to the Baller Blog!

Yo.  This stuff is going to be all basketball.  From the NBA to the NBDL, to the PBA to the PBL, to the playas on the street, Gilbert's blog, my own game, going up in flames.  UAAP, NCAA, crossovers, spin moves, Slam Dunk the anime (because I am tensai!)  It's all here. 

It's going to be the shit, it's going to be the bomb, it's going to be the shitty bomb!

And that's it for my introductory post.  Peace.