Saturday Six Because We are 6- D’oh…. 5-1.
Originally, I was going to write a Friday Five about my perfect Raptors and how well things were going. Unfortunately, I am stupidly superstitious and I decided it might be better to wait until they lost before I started blogging again. (They had not lost since my last post in MAY…. Unless you include exhibition games.) As disappointed as I am that we lost to the underachieving Magic, I am over the moon with a 5-1 start. So without further ado or rambling:
Win 1: Stephen Curry is Changing the Game
Way back when I was in junior high, the three point line was introduced to basketball in my area. I remember our PE teacher John Smith, a Brit surprise surprise, put a line down using string and masking tape. It was a novel idea but many considered it a hot dog move. Then Reggie Miller and Ray Allen helped change the three point attitude and one brilliant mathematician pointed out that hitting 34% of your threes was more effective than hitting 50% of your twos. Now it is a strategic part of the game and most coaches have embraced it, however Curry has changed it again. Traditionally, the three has been a catch and shoot concept. Rip Hamilton was the king of moving without the ball and tiring out the poor defender who had to run of infinite screens before exhaustedly watching Rip nail a three off a pass. But Curry is the King of Heave. (I may copyright that name.) He will throw the ball up from anywhere. It is amazing to watch him dribble around and transition it into a made shot. Steve Kerr is probably having visions of his Arizona self! Not his Bulls self, Mikey needed the ball. As he progresses in his career, coaches should start to encourage their players to mimic his game, if for no other reason than to entertain us.
Win 2: My Commute
No, they have not decreased the distance from London to Sarnia. It is still one hour from door to door unless I stop for gas or snacks. Fortunately, the number of ear candy podcasts out there is amazing. Filling up two hours a day has gotten easier and I am very thankful for it. That said, I used to do a pretty phenomenal rendition of Taylor Swift’s Mean. Like Hootie and Blow Fish, my concerts are not as frequent as they used to be.
Here are my podcasts recommendations:
o Jalen and Jacoby
o The Bill Simmons Podcast
o The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
o PTI
o Russillo & Kanell
o The Sporting Life
Win 3: He Looks Like
Dan La Batard has a contest where people write in and compare how a famous sports person looks to a real life situation. My favorites to date are:
Referee Joey Crawford looks like an animated turtle without his shell.
Tony Dungy looks like the Halloween mask that's on sale for 50% off the day after Halloween.
Gregg Popovich looks like a Scooby-Doo villain.
It is even better when they ask Tim Kurkjian to evaluate the entries.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=13793232
You’re welcome!
Win 4: Jae Crowder from the expensive baseline seats
If you haven’t seen this shot yet, it was worth the watch even though it counted for nothing.
Neat thoughts:
Why is the play dead after it goes through the hoop?
Is the hoop out of bounds if it is not in play?
If the player had goaltended the shot and scored would have counted since it was not actually a shot?
My head now hurts.
Win 5: Evaluating Character
I love this article about a coach who evaluates the character of his players. I hope he informs the players afterwards about how they did. It’s a good way to develop better citizens through sports.
http://coachprusso.com/2014/10/31/7-character-tests-i-am-always-quietly-observing-in-players
Loss 1: Greg Hardy and Jerry Jones
Please go away! You are horrible for sports and you are bad people. If you can justify such a heinous act on anyone, you two deserve to rot on an island. Maybe we can put all of the abusers there with you. Hope Solo, you can get on that slow boat too!
*Raptors Watch*
The good news: we are 5 – 1 despite four games on the road.
The better news: we are a looking like a defensive minded squad who is not even close to their ceiling.
Hopes:
Bismack Biyombo learns how to hit a lay-up.
James Johnson finds a role or a landing spot.
Leo Rautins finally shaves his beard.
