What’s crackin?
The name of the game is elimination. Yesterday (Day 18, The Blue View) “The Realest” were the first to go on the extinction list. Today team “Elixir” followed. “TNT” was much too much for the “Elixir” squad to conquer. “TNT,” “E-Smoove” and “Bucktown” combined for 44 of team “Gatlins” 71 points. Mass production compared to their 12 and 4 point subpar efforts in yesterday’s 66-54 loss to team “Mayhem.”
Today’s atmosphere was electric. “Bucktown” led the “Gatlins” in an inspirational pregame chant, while “Elixir” coach “Red” attempted to engage the “Gatlins” in some verbal pregame fireworks. The trash talking, the hard fouls and the competitiveness make up the triangle for playoff basketball across the board. The NBA or deathrow, playoff basketball ignites a fire within the most subtle of characters. So acknowledge: There’s a sweet song playing on death row and I’m about to turn up the volume. Ya heard?
“Gatlins” (11-4) vs “Elixir” (6-9)
Both teams want to play for the chip, but only one can advance. The “Gatlins” clinched a date with team “Mayhem” for one of possibly two championship games tomorrow. They defeated “Elixir” 71-56. The “Gatlins” were led by the “E-Smoove” operator. Taking no shorts, “E-Smoove” dropped a heavy load on team “Elixir.” He finished the day with a monstrous 26 points (15 in the 2nd half), 6 rebounds, 4 feeds, 4 steals and 4 swats. “Bucktown” recorded his first double/double of the postseason. He tallied, 18 points (playoff career best), 10 boards, 2 assists and 2 blocks. An explosive output for “TNT” indeed, but coach “Slick Rick” lit the fuse in yesterday’s Rap Session: “They have to play like there’s no tomorrow, because it’s now or never.”
“Nasty Nas” took heed to his coach’s declaration. He responded with 4 points, 14 boards (playoff career best) and 4 swats(playoff career best). “Flex” was the symbolism for victory when he came off the bench to contribute 3 points to a dominant “Gatlins” victory.
“J-Rock” put forth another big time playoff performance. He led “Elixir” with 24 points (14 in the 2nd half), 14 boards, 4 feeds, 3 steals and 4 swats. He exits this year’s postseason with playoff averages of 22.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.2 blocks. Team “Elixir” led 30-25 at the reces, but the “Gatlins” beat them on the glass 41-30.
In 3 playoff outings, “Hear-N-Soul” has averaged 23.2 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2.1 steals. He finished the day with 16 points (6/6 from the stripe), 9 boards and 3 thefts. The pulse of “Heart-N-Soul” is beating all the way to the championship game. His hypertensive on court activities will be essential if team “Gatlins” has any chance of ending the 13 game winning streak of team “Mayhem.” Ya heard?
2010 All-Tournament Squad
“The Phenom”
“Heart-N-Soul”
“J-Rock”
“E-Smoove”
“Silk Money”
Honorable mentions: “Bigg Dogg,” The Human Eraser”, “Nasty Nas” and “Bucktown”
Nuff Said,
MannofStat
Copyright © 2010 by Leroy Elwood Mann
No comments:
Post a Comment