Sign of the Twine: Cotton, Day 14

B-ballers,


What it do? The second session of the 2012 postseason was full of shining moments. Team Runnin’ Rebels (10-2) shot 32/52 from the field and dished out 21 dimes enroute to their second double-digit win of these playoffs, 74-58. They will take a 15-point postseason average – for margin of victory – into Friday’s championship game.

League M.V.P. The Phenom shot 15/23 from the field. He tallied true M.V.P. numbers in the form of 36 points (6/7 from the stripe), 10 boards, 6 dimes, and 3 steals. Team Regulators (5-9) kept it interesting – only trailing by 5 at the half (39-34). But the second half play of Scrappy was just too much to overcome. He scored 12 of his playoff career best, 20 points, in a decisive second half in which the Runnin Rebels put up 35 points. Scrappy finished 8/10 from the field and dished out 4 dimes, while copping 2 steals in the process. He and The Phenom combined for 25 of the Runnin Rebels thirty-five second half points. Now, if that ain’t the cream rising to the top; I don’t know what is. Ya heard?

Other contributors to the Runnin Rebels waltz to this year’s final were: The Human Eraser (8 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 swats), The Carpenter (2 points, 12 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 blocks), The General (4 rebounds, 5 dimes and 3 thefts), and this year’s Most Improved Player, Flex, scored 4 points (2/3 from the field) and mustered 2 rebounds.

Team Regulators were led by Silk Money (18 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 thefts). The Balnket contributed a solid performance – finishing with 13 points (all in the first half), 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. The Bigg Dogg tallied 11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. The Regulators will face the ever-rising Sky High (4-8) in an elimination game; deciding the final spot in Friday’s championship game. The Chip Chase is on! Na mean?

Speaking of Sky High; they were responsible for the dirty work of eliminating the second seeded Funky Technicians (7-7). Both teams stayed true to the term, “elimination game.” The Sky High chants echoed throughout the rec yard and the sense of urgency was evident in both squads when Runny Ray and Heart-N-Soul each picked up 3 quick personal fouls in the first half of play.

Frost a.k.a. Lil’ Giant saved his best game of the season for today’s elimination round. He poured in a career high 26 points (11/17 from the field). He grabbed 6 rebounds, and dished out another career best of 5 dimes. He led Sky High in their highest scoring output of the season (85 points) – including a dominant 46 point second half. Damn!!

As a team, Sky High shot 34/56 from the field. The King Cobra hissed his way to a playoff career high of 14 points (4/6 from the field and 6/9 from the stripe). He also tallied 11 boards, 2 assists, 4 thefts and 3 swats. Monster Ballin, for real! Ya heard?

The primal roar of Sky High’s Billy-Ho was heard throughout this contest and he generated 19 points (9/17 from the field), 3 rebounds, 4 assists (playoff career best), and 3 steals. In 2 postseason games played, Billy Ho is averaging 16.1 points and 4 steals per game, a role player making the most of his opportunities. Feel me.

E-Smoove contributed a modest 14 points (4/4 from the stripe), 12 boards, 3 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks. As one of this team’s leaders, E-Smoove seemed more enthusiastic about the team effort – behind today’s victory – than his individual play: “Everybody came to play today. That’s the best we’ve spread the ball around all year.” True indeed.

The Funky Technicians are the first squad to exit this year’s postseason, but not without valiant efforts from Heart-N-Soul (22 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 4steals), Lil’ Bison (16 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist), and Nasty Nas (15 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks).

Until next we meet, I’m out like Glenn Chapman.

Much Love,

MannofStat
Copyright © 2012 by Leroy Elwood Mann

Sign of the Twine: Water, Day 13

Welcome to the Playoffs! Who wants the chip? Let’s get it.


Game 1: Sky High v. Runnin’ Rebels. The Rebels are off to the races early and E-Smoove (17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block) picks up two quick fouls signaling trouble for Sky High. The Phenom moved in for the kill early with 21 of his teams’ 28 first half points, finishing with (32 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks), just another day at the office for the prolific one. But don’t blink – Sky High locks down on D, led by the ferocious efficiency of the King Cobra (3 point, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, 1 block) cutting the lead to one just before the half with Frost pouring in (12 points) and Billy Ho bringing the noise with (14 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals).

But Sky High suffered from too many self-inflicted wounds, going 8/18 from the charity stripe and missing a Google of chippies. Fatigue began to set in during the second half where they didn’t get to the line once and were out-rebounded as a team 59-34. And that simply will not get it done – not in this post-season. Scoop (9points, 15 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 3 blocks) and the Carpenter (2 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal) shut down the paint. Scrappy (9 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals) and the General (6 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 1 block) made solid contributions. And Hilltop is the perfect complement off the bench with (4 points, 4 rebounds), and old-school fundamentals. When the Rebels run, nobody does it better. They sent a message today with a 62-48 win.

Game 2 pitted the Regulators against the Funky Technicians. Coach-C was absent from the bench for the Regulators with the Gem filling in as assistant coach. I’m not sure what the plan was, but it was executed to near perfection. 4-0-9 didn’t get the start, and that’s about the only thing he didn’t get in a superb performance. The Funky T’s sprinted out to an early 8-2 advantage. Enter 4-0-9 (15 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks), the rebounding champ who also runs the floor. The Regulators quickly claimed the lead; they would not trail again. 4-0-9 controlled the pace of the game on both ends and had easily, the play of the day with a spin-move in the post, receiving the inbounds pass from the Blanket, over the shoulder ala Hall of Famer, Jerry Rice and finishing – in the colorful words of CBS Sports’ Bill Raftery “with a little smooch” electrifying the yard.

The Regulators led by as many as 19 points. The Funky Technicians would make on last run led by Heart-N-Soul (25 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals) and the Regulators made him work for everything he got. Then the Regulators went to their closer – in the form of Silk Money (20 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 1 block). When he wasn’t finishing at the rim, he was from the stripe to close the show – 59- 54. With the Bigg Dogg (6 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists) providing the poise and veteran leadership – the Regulators are in a good place. This is the playoffs! It’s physical, it’s dirty; it’s nasty. And if you’re waiting on the officials to bail you out with the nickel-dimes, you’d be better off going upstairs and playing checkers.

Mr. Blue
Copyright © 2012 by Paul Brown