Concrete Soul: Bassline, Day 3

B-ballers,


What’s poppin?

Another day of death row basketball is an added rhythm to the heartbeat of your MannofStat. Real talk. Today’s match-ups could easily be interpreted as early season statements.

Quiet Storm (0-2) vs. Silverbacks (0-2)

The 1st half of this contest was no indication of the game’s final outcome. The Silverbacks led 28-23 at the half. Outscoring team Quiet Storm 16-6 in the 2nd quarter, but the Quiet Storm found their groove in the opening minutes of the 2nd half. The precipitation of team Quiet Storm was evident when they accomplished a 13-2 run in just under 3 minutes that gave them a 36-30 lead, with 5:09 to play in the 3rd quarter. There was nothing quiet about this storm when they closed out the 3rd quarter leading 52-36. They outscored the Silverbacks 29-8 in that monsoon of a 3rd quarter.

Scrappy scored 10 of his 14 points in the 3rd quarter for team Quiet Storm. Second team All-World selection, E-Smoove led all scorers with 21 points (13 in the 2nd half). He also tallied 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. The Phenom produced his 3rd double/double in as many games (17 points, 12 boards, 8 feeds and 6 thefts). The big man for team Quiet Storm, Nasty Nas, tallied 12 point and 7 rebounds to complement his team’s 2nd half onslaught of the Silverbacks. The Quiet Storm outscored the Silverbacks 54-22 in the 2nd half. Bucktown and Slick Rick collaborated for 17 point, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals to lead the Silverbacks. The Quiet Storm “rained” supreme 77-50. Na mean?

The premiere contest of the day was a battle of the undefeated. Both team Chaos and team Hustle were virgin to the agony of defeat. That is until today. This game lived up to the hype and for the second straight game, team Hustle forced an extended period.

Scoop led team Hustle with 16 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 blocks. Runny Ray took 3 charges and contributed 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block, including a clutch basket with under a minute in regulation to tie the game at 56. Without question, Runny Ray left it all on the court for team Hustle. That’s what’s up!

The suspense was heighted when J-Rock went to the stripe for the front end of a 1 and 1 with 25 seconds to play in regulation. His free throw went half way down then came back out. What should’ve been money in the bank for team Hustle, turned out to be a major withdraw for team Chaos. Ya heard?

Heart-N-Soul scored 12 of his 14points, in the 2nd half, including the decisive 4 points needed in the overtime period, to give team Chaos a 60-56 victory, improving their record to 3-0. Team Hustle falls to 2-1.

Team Chaos was led by 1st team All-World selection, Silk Money. He tallied 23 points (5 treys), 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. Second year baller, Frost, generated 10 points (8 in the 2nd quarter) for team Chaos. The man in the middle, The Carpenter added 5 points, 14 boards, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block to the chaos of their overtime victory. Feel me?

I’ll see you at the table on Wednesday B-ballers, until then, holla if ya hear me.

Nuff Said,

MannofStat
Copyright © 2011 by Leroy Elwood Mann

Concrete Soul: Chorus, Day 2

B-ballers,

What it do?

It’s no secret that our annual b-ball tournament is in full effect.  Four games are in the books.  Two teams stand at 2-0.  The other two are scraping for their first thrill of victory in this 2011 season.  The temperature reached the mid 90’s today, but today’s exhilarating finale was 500 degrees and no less.  Word is bond!

Team Chaos (2-0) faced the potential ridden Silverbacks (0-2).  There was a high degree of energy coming from both teams’ benches.  The rookie big man for the Silverbacks, SunChild, accumulated 4 blocks today.  His defensive presence was felt, but the explosive combo of Silk Money (21 points, 10 boards, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block) and Heart-N-Soul (23 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 thefts) proved to be much too much for the Silverbacks.

Heart-N-Soul scored 12 of his game high 23 points in the 2^nd quarter.  The Carpenter (10 rebounds) and J-Dubb (11 rebounds) rules the boards, tipping the rebounding scale in favor of team Chaos, 56-31.  Chaos led at the half 29-21.

The Silverbacks were led by their rookie swingman, Tone.  He tallied 15 points, 5 rebounds and 1 block.  His teammate and former defensive player of the year, Bucktown, stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks, but the 18 points by team Chaos eventually caged the Silverbacks, taming them with a 66-42 drubbing.  Na mean?

Game 2 featured last season’s M.V.P, The Phenom.  His Quiet Storm squad was confident that their 1^st win of the 2011 season was in today’s forecast, but J-Rock and team Hustle would weather the optimism of team Quiet Storm in epic fashion.

The first half ended with the Quiet Storm leading 33-28, but team Hustle responded with a 16 point third quarter that would keep things interested down the stretch.  The teams were deadlocked at 44 at the end of the third quarter. 

Team Hustle’s top ballers were J-Rock, who finished with 19 points (5/9 from the stripe), 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 1 block.  And, Scoop, a.k.a The Human Eraser, produced a heavy 19 points (5/9 from the stripe), 15 boards and 4 swats.  The man in the middle for team Hustle, Pitt Bull, contributed 8 points (2/3 from the stripe) including 2 clutch free throws in the 4^th quarter.

The Quiet Storm was led by the bench production of 2^nd team All-World selection, E-Smoove.  He finished with 19 points (10 in the 2^nd half), 8 rebounds, 8 feeds, and 1 steal.  The Phenom was held to 5 first half points.  He finished with 14 points, 10 boards, 2 assists and 4 thefts.  It’s the lowest point total for the reigning scoring champ, since his regular season finale in 2009.  He sat out the 2^nd half of that game in which he scored 9 points.  Nasty Nas contributed some thunder to the Quiet Storm’s cause.  He registered 9 points and grabbed 13 boards.  Scrappy had 12 points and 5 rebounds.

Just when it looked like Quiet Storm would get their first victory of the 2011 season, the front door flew off the hinges and the Bigg Dogg leaped off the porch.  He finished the day with 9 points, 11 boards, 4 dimes, 3 steals and 2 blocks.  With his team Hustle trailing 65-64, and 5 seconds remaining in overtime, Bigg Dogg drained a 12 foot jumper, with a hand in his face.  The sound of the buzzer brought the rec yard to it’s feet.  The Quiet Storm would remain winless and team Hustle would close out the 1^st week of the season at 2-0.  Hustle!  Hustle!  Hustle! Hard!

In 2 games this week, Bigg dogg tallied 20 points, 21 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and 3 blocks.  His game winning shot at the buzzer, sealed the deal for Player of the Week.  Stay off the yard if you can’t handle the Bigg Dogg.  Ya heard?

Stay Up,

MannofStat

Copyright © 2011 by Leroy Elwood Mann

Concrete Soul: Mid-Week Special, Day 1

It’s in the air.  Bron-Bron and D-Wade take game 4 of the NBA Finals and it’s on and poppin’ on the row; feel the heat!

Concrete Soul jumps off with team Chaos vs. Quiet Storm.  Silk Money (15points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block) opened the show with a dazzling inside-out exhibition that immediately put Quiet Storm on its heels.  The new substitution rule-requiring all players to play at least a quarter seemed to handcuff the Quiet Storm with the defending scoring champ, The Phenom (17 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal) and teammate and fellow 1^st Team All-world selection E-Smoove (10 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 3steals) both going scoreless in the first half.  However, the Quiet Storm bench outscored Chaos bench 11-6 to keep it close 20-13 at the half.

But the initial onslaught would prove to be too much to overcome.  With Heart-N-Soul (15 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist) doing his thing, Eye-G (11 points 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal) making a solid contribution, the Chubsta (5points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists 1 steal) with a surprisingly quiet yet perfectly complementary performance – and Frost (7 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block) providing dynamic energy at both ends of the court – Team Chaos was a well-oiled machine and won comfortably 59-44.  A great start for Chaos.  For Quiet Storm, not so much, but make no mistake, this team is loaded and will contend for the chip.

Game 2 featured the Silverbacks vs. Team Hustle in an old-fashion slug-fest.  The Bigg Dogg (11 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assist, 1 steal, 1 block) barks and bites in another one of his signature all-around performances.  It was 12-11 at the end of one.  J-Rock (19 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals) goes hard.  Pit Bull (7 points, 3 rebounds) steps up and Team Hustle surges to go up 29-22 at the half.  The 2^nd half is all Bucktown (20 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block) all the time.  But the next highest scorer for the Silverbacks was Sunchild (5 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals) turning in a gritty performance, but there was not enough scoring balance overall for the Silverbacks.

While Team Hustle was solid all around with Scoop (9points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, 5 blocks)  The General (5 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 2 steals) and Runny Ray (4 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 blocks) putting in work.  But the Silverbacks gave a game effort and it was a 3-point game, 48-45 with under 2 minutes to play.

Then J-Rock closed it out like Mariano Rivera for the NY Yankees, dropping the hammer and closing the lid down the stretch and turn a close game into a 10-point win, 57-47 “Hustle – Hard.”  And we’re just getting started.  And it’s already hot.  Can you withstand the heat?  Be there Friday.  Out

Mr. Blue

Copyright © 2011 by Paul Brown

Final Preseason Rap Session

B-ballers,

What it do?

On the eve of the NBA finals, I can’t help but think of the great championship squads of the past.  In doing so, the point guard position immediately comes to the forefront of my thought:  “Magic” Johnson and the “Showtime” Lakers.  Rajon Rondo and the Celtics “Big 3.” “Zeke” Thomas and the “Bad Boys” from Detroit.  Even the great Haeem “The Dream” had the sharp shooting and shifty ball handling skills of the King from Queens, Kenny “The Jet” Smith.  In my personal opinion, the b-ball universe revolves around the “Point god.” Ya heard?

Speaking of Queens, NY our first regular season rap session is with a spirited baller – who hails from Queens – and is never short of conversation once the call goes in the air.  It’s a pleasure to be in the company of my fellow point guard, “The General.”

MannofStat:  General, what’s going on, Dunn?

General:  Everything’s good, MannofStat. How you?

MannofStat:  Days away from my b-ball fix.  So you know what it is, right?

General:  No doubt.  It’s tournament time.  You get 7:30 like CharlieSheen when the whistles blow.

Both:  (Laughs, then bump fists)

MannofStat:  True indeed, but tournament or no tournament, you’re amped whenever the ball goes in the air.  What do you use as motivation on the court?

General:  My love and knowledge of the game and knowing that I can compete at a high level.

Mannofstat:  Do you look for a particular play when you’re bringing up the rock?

General:  Without question.  The “Pick-n-Roll.” I mean, when its done correctly, it’s a thing of beauty.

MannofStat:  What’s the make-up of a great point guard?

General:  A great point guard knows the strengths and weaknesses of each of his teammates.  He knows how to control the flow of the game.  He recognizes who’s hot and feeds them without a second thought.  He also has to be an extension of the coach on the floor.

MannofStat:  That’s what’s up.  What are your expectations for team Hustle?

General:  I think we’ll win it all.

MannofStat:  Word?

General:  Most definitely.  You heard it here first, MannofStat.  We have a good balance of youth and wisdom.  We’ve got some talent on this squad. Throw in a good coach (Smoke-Digga) , it all smells like a title to me.

MannofStat:  Aight.  I feel your energy, Dunn.  If you could, you’d drop somebody off at that cup, right now, wouldn’t you?

General:  I’m amped MannofStat!  Let me shout out my team Hustle. We got the tools to do it baby!  J-Rock, Scoop and Bigg Dogg.  This is our time!  Ya heard?

MannofStat:  You spoke of the talent around you.  How can you make your teammates better?

General:  I know what each player can and can’t do.  I’ll have to put them in situations where they’ll thrive.  It’s my job to work with them on and off the court. I’ll know they’re sweet-spots so that we can flow as a unit.

MannofStat:  That’s what’s good, Dunn.

General:  Yo, MannofStat.  Good lookin, Dunn.  I mean this format gives me a chance to spit about my love for this game.  Feel me?

MannofStat:  No doubt.  Handle your business General.

Both:  (Bump fists)

Keep it 100,

MannofStat

Copyright © 2011 by Leroy Elwood Mann