Game 3 Recap

Game 3
Flying Elephants vs. The Blazers

Team Member Grades

NK47 (A) – Noel played an unconscious game on both ends of the floor. Really stepped up his game when his team needed him most.

Anicito (B+) – played lock down defense on the Blazers’ best player and even felt some offense come back slowly.

K-Diggs (B) – hard fouls and intimidating beard cleared the way for Kenny to grab a tremendous amount of rebounds. Some mental mistakes on defense led to easy baskets.

Robbie Hart (A) – Robbie’s offense and shooting ability were once again prevelant and extrememly necessary for the Elephants to be competitive.

Buffalo Ant (B) – Anthony’s having a hard time finding his shot but it was his defense and rebounding that was needed most for the Elephants last night.

Ritchie Rich (N/A) – Ritchie was a last minute scratch as the team found out he was commissioned by Allan Houston to work on his jump shooting in Houston’s last ditch effort to crack the NBA.

B-Cyrious (N/A) – dinner party to celebrate Kristie’s birthday. Happy birthday Kristie, remember when you used to come to our games?

Last night was a night of mixed emotions for the Flying Elephants. The Blazers had acquired former Elephant James Schories, who became an unrestricted free agent, in the off-season. The Elephants made a contract offer on the low end of what James was looking for due to concerns about his weekly attendance. Then the Blazers swooped in and put James in a position to join their team. James’ mere presence was heartwarming. Thoughts of his half closed eyes, phantom jump rope dance, and bewildered look whenever the team talked about defensive schemes tiptoed back into everyone’s head. It wasn’t long ago that James was a part of the championship team that defeated cross town rival Queens. Still fresh with feelings of camaraderie, the Elephants had to now go from friend to foe in a matter of a couple of weeks.

Anicito was summoned with the task of playing James in a box-in-one defense. Even though James wasn’t the prolific scorer that box-in-one’s are meant for, his pure ability to control a game with drives to the basket and clear court vision can get debilitating. Coach Kenny knew that stopping him at the source was key to a victory and since in Kenny’s warped mind James stood less than six feet, Anicito was his man (although there is no truth to that, Anicito can and will guard anyone between six-seven feet, 7’1 and over might pose a problem). So the task was set. The other four Elephants would sit in a box zone and try to contain the other Blazers who had some threats in James Glass’ three point shot and madman Pat who can hurt any team on the boards. The Elephants had to also be aware of Casey who the Elephants had signed to an offer sheet in the off-season but the Blazers quickly matched, as they had an enormous amount of cap room after AJ and the kid with the headband and John Leguizamo mustache left for free agency. Casey was a big man who could finish but not a killer so the Elephants were willing to take their chances.

The Blazers got off to a 7-0 lead and left the Elephants searching for answers on how to get going on the offensive end. After a couple of outside jump shots that didn’t go down the Elephants decided to attack the basket. Going to the low post with Anthony and Anicito, opened things up on the outside for Robbie and Noel to pour in the shots. And that is exactly what they did. With much of the attention being paid on Robbie, Noel was left more open than a bottle of Sprite at a pizza party, except Noel wasn’t flat. Noel was the Hudson, water! The Elephants pulled ahead as they went on a 19-9 run to overtake the lead. The Blazers would not crumble however. With each bucket, the Blazers answered with a tantalizing force in their big men. An out of shape Ronny Seikly filled the paint and hit some crucial outside shots. Casey cleaned the boards, keeping the Elephants on their heels. By half time the Elephants led 28-24.

Coming out of the break the Elephants knew that they needed to pull from within to win this game. With only 5 men on the active roster, there wasn’t going to be any backup. The Elephants would get a bucket, the Blazers would match. They ruled the day, we held the night. It was an exchange of tremendous heavyweight blows, Rocky IV style. The game was tight as the half wound down. But that was all dissipated when Noel and Robbie made big shots and more importantly capitalized on free throw opportunities.

The Elephants won in convincing fashion. Beating a very good team, while being undermanned. The team is now 3-0. A big game versus Queens is coming up but the Elephants will be once again short as the Mahlers are heading away for business. Some key reserves might have to be called up from the D-league.