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. 

Taking Back Friday: Two Fridays; 4-2

Let's just say that I'm improving with every game.  People are still seeing me as an amazing shooter, which is good, because they should've seen me before I went down with the injury.  The new guys are seeing me at 80%, I think.  

The biggest problem I'm having right now is with my endurance.  In the coming league, I think I'm going to have to play bursts.  It's going to be an issue because our bench isn't very good, to be totally honest.  It's NOT going to be an issue because our bench THINKS it's very good.  There'll be no shortage of guys who'll want to be taking shots.  That's just sad, I think.  I have no issue with taking a ton of shots.  PROVIDED you make at least 50% of them.  That's the deal break with me.  Make 50%, or don't shoot it.  

I've been consistently making that 50 these past few games.  That half hour of shooting practice really helped.  In my final game, I was scoring everywhere.  The two losses, I chalk up to myself.  I didn't have the endurance to carry on.  It's my superstar complex.  We win because of me, we lose because of me.  That's just how it is. 

Taking Back Friday VII : An Ugly Start

So I just got back from my very first game ever since the injury, and I stunk up the gym.  It was like learning how to play all over again.  Like some people said, I guess you CAN lose talent.  Unbelievable.  I kept telling myself that the whole time.  Unbelievable.

My footwork was off, so was my handle, my shots wouldn't go in.  DAMN.

I had moments of brilliance when I felt like my old self, but most of the time, I was breathing way too hard for a Friday night pick-up game.  Sigh.  In the end it comes down to this: THREE LOSSES, ONE WIN.

Before 2008 : 11-3

Since: 1-3

Gotta make that up.  

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 

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.

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.

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.