Look Whose Balling, 2k13 Season

Phenom

*32 points, 3.4 assists, 2.3 steals, 6.3 rebounds

E-Smoove

27.2 points, 1.3 assists, 2.3 steals, 10.2 rebounds

Heart-N-Soul

15.3 points, 3.4 assists, 2.3 steals, 7.1 rebounds

Frost

15.3 points, 20 assists, *3.2 steals

Tone “Wild Thing” Loc

13.2 points, 1 assist, 2.4 steals, 5 rebounds

Silk Money

11.3 points, 2.2 assists, 2.4 steals, 8 rebounds

Carpenter

6.4 points, *12.3 rebounds

Bucktown

6.4 points, 1 assist, 2.1 steals, 5.4 rebounds, *2.1 blocks

El Concrete

9.4 points, 1 assists, 1.2 steals, 8.3 rebounds

General

4.1 assists

Hilltop Hustler

7.0 points, 1.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 7.1 rebounds

Stats Leaders *                                         5 games played

Legacy Infinite Resilience Day 5

“You can’t let praise or criticism get to you.  It’s weakness to get caught up in either one.” John Wooden – UCLA Coach

Ballers,

I just got through reading an issue of “Time Magazine” (7-22-13).  They featured YouTube’s two sensational second –grade phenom prodigies.  Tre’ Parker, a.k.a. Born Ready, is 7.  His brother Logan is 6 years old.  They both play for “Washington Evolution” and their team just went on to take the 2k13 AAU second-grade national championship held in Memphis, TN.  Kudos to their team and to all the other future generation young ballers!  They are on the path to establishing their own legacies and impacting the game in a major way.

Today Hakuna Matata (4-1) and Apocalypse (3-2) squared off for the sole purpose of first place of regular season.  At the 4:16 minute mark in the first half, Apocalypse was leading 28-27.  With Phenom’s (16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals) and 4-0-9’s (8 points, 6 rebounds, 3steals) they held the fort down for team Apocalypse.  But then the wheels started falling off the wagon!  For Hakuna Matata was ALL BUSINESS behind E-Smoove’s (17 points), giving them a 54-35 lead at the break.

The second half was no different!  Hakuna Matata was on a mission.  With Frost pouring in (14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals) and El-Toro, Runny Ray and Human Eraser tallying (23 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block) together.  And with E-Smoove finishing with (32 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals), it was too much firepower for team Apocalypse to eclipse.  The final score was 77-59. 

Being the Phenom’s birthday today, Hakuna Matata delivered him a birthday present.  LOL.  The Phenom finished up with (35 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals) in the loss.  His teammate 4-0-9 contributed (14 points, 13 rebounds, 3 steals) for his third double/double of the season.  Apocalypse has lost two straight games after going 3-0.  I’m sure they will get their act together.

In the second game, we had Dead Game (2-3) versus TTTB (1-4).  At the 6:00 minute mark TTTB led 14-12.  The Carpenter was in the lumberyard again (6 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists) putting in work for TTTB.  His teammate Lil’ T contributed (5 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists) in the half as well.  Lil’ Scrappy for Dead Game was back to his usual shooting performance, pouring in 13 points at the half.  At the break, TTTB led 26-24.

In the second half Dead Game slowly started to pull away.  Pitt Bull was being assertive in the paint tallying (13 points, 6 rebound, 2 assists, 1 block).  Lil’ Scrappy finished with (19 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal).  Heart-N-Soul and The General contributed (10 points, 9 rebounds, 10 assists, 6 steals, 1 block) together.  As a collected unit these ballers are slowly gaining respect around the league and are not to be underestimated.  They get the win 52-42.  TTTB’s contributors were, Carpenter (8 points, 16 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal), Silk Money (11 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals); Tone “Wild Thing” Loc, Hilltop Hustler and Pop-A-Shot generated (16 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists 7 steals, 1 block) together.

We had a lot of great performances this week, but the sole player of the week belongs to E-Smoove, a.k.a., All Business.  He played spectacularly and fearlessly both days.  His stats for the week are (68 points, 5 assists, 8 steals, 21 rebounds, 2 blocks).  Congrats on a job well done!  Office hours will be open next week gents!  Same time, same place!  Until then, I’m out!

Bigg Dogg

Copyright © 2013 by Chris Gregory

Legacy Infinite: Resilience, Day 4

Today was a day to take control.  Both our winners today led from start to finish.  In a match up that’s turning into quite a rivalry, Hakuna Matata topped Dead Game 74-68.  E-Smoove in what has been his motto all season was (AB) All Business!  Dropping a season high 36 points to go with 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 6 steals and 2 blocks.  He was able to score at will and showed no mercy.  Again, nothing personal; strictly business.

The Lil’ Giant, Young Frost also put up a season high 21 points along with 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 steals and 2 block; a nice one-two punch.  Geezy contributed (9 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block) and the rest of the team was solid in what is the deepest team in the tournament.  And if they continue to play as they did today, they’ll be hard to beat.

Heart-N-Soul (28 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals) left it all on the court as usual.  El Concrete (12 points, 7 rebounds) and Pitt Bull (10 points, 7 rebounds) brought mad intensity, but Dead Game was simply outplayed today.

In the 2^nd game the undefeated Apocalypse battled winless TTTB, led by new interim coach and former All-World baller, J-Rock.  And now TTTB is no longer winless and Apocalypse is no longer undefeated.  Tone “Wild Thing” Loc (18 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 3 blocks) led a balanced attack.  And Silk Money did his thing (13 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 steals, 2 blocks).

The Hill Top Hustler brought pure game, hitting for (12 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, 1 block) and made it look easy.  And The Carpenter turned into The Carpenter, making his presence felt in the paint with 11 points and a season high 18 Grown Man Boards!

The final score was 61-55, but it wasn’t that close.  Congratulations on a job well done to Coach J-Rock and TTTB.

For Apocalypse, The Phenom has his numbers (32 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals), but Apocalypse simply could not match TTTB’s intensity today.  Curiously silent was 4-0-9, last season’s rookie sensation.  He had 4 points and 6 rebounds; not the numbers we’ve grown accustomed to seeing from him.

But today is only one chapter of a saga that will only get better as it unfolds…

-Mr. Blue

Copyright © 2013 by Paul Brown

Legacy Infinite: Resilience, Day 3

In game 1 of our double-header, Coach T.C. brought his undefeated Apocalypse to battle Coach LaLa and his underdog Dead Game squad.  And we found out early on that these dogs bite!  It appeared that the wrong team was favored as crisp, precision passing and a balanced scoring attack led by Heart-N-Soul (16 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals) helped Dead Game maintain as much as a 12 point lead throughout much of the 1^st half.  Lil’ Bison had 14 points, Scrappy poured in 6 and Pitt Bull had 8; all in the first half.

But wait, as the 1^st half was drawing to a close, The Phenom (40 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block) found his range and we were treated to an electrifying aerial assault.  His 24 first half points kept his team in the game and Dead Game led at the half by only 6; 41-35.

Apocalypse controlled the 2^nd half from start to finish, taking the lead 47-46 at 11:48; they would not trail again.  Maybe it was the heat or the humidity.  Or, perhaps it was the lack of solid bench play that led to fatigued starters, but the double-team employed so successfully on The Phenom in the 1^st half, suddenly seemed to melt away.  But, ultimately the game was lost on the line as Dead Game missed 16 free throws.

And with 4-0-9 (10 points, 15 rebounds) and Bucktown (5 point, 11 rebounds) cleaning the glass and Billy-Ho (8 points, 9 rebounds) sinking clutch FT’s down the stretch, its another Apocalypse win, 73-66.

The 2^nd game pit TTTB against Hakuna Matata.  TTTB was without its coach.  Apparently The Gem was involved in some sort of altercation and it is unlikely he’ll coach anymore this season.  His presence was obviously missed as his team was without their usual energy, losing 56-48 in a lack luster performance.

Silk Money has a double-double (11 points, 12 rebounds) before fouling out.  Tone “Wild Thing” Loc has 10 points and fouled out.  The Carpenter is rebounding back into form nicely though after leg surgery, contributing (10 points, 18 GMBs, 1 assist, 1 block) and Hilltop (8 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block) definitely came to play.

But Hakuna Matata was solid from top to bottom.  Led by the Lil’ Giant, Young Frost (18 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals). The kid is so lightning quick and freaky fast, he could deliver for Jimmy Johns!  E-Smoove had a steady (17 points, 9 rebounds) Geezy chipped in (11 points, 20 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals, 2 blocks).  A good team win, after a disappointing last second defeat for Coach Chimmi and Hakuna Matata.

There were a lot of great performances this week, but none better than The Phenom; your Player of the Week.  Checkout these numbers for the week:  95 points, 15 rebounds, 11 assists, 8 steals and 2 blocks!  Nuff said!

Mr. Blue

Copyright © 2013 by Paul Brown