Week Three, November 12, 2011 (all recaps culled from box scores only)
Game One / Syracuse Nationals (3-0) 56 – Providence Steamrollers (0-3) 48 (OT)
OT? Good for The Rollers! Too bad they squandered that 11 point 2nd half lead though. And missed 14 FTs. The good news is that someone obviously read the recap last week when it was said they had “no go-to scorer”. Barry “Fast Don’t” Lai, #95, committed an act of sedition against The Nationals with a 21 point effort. That’s a no-go on the no go-to. Other Rollers running out of steam so early in the season? We’re all waiting for The Polish Rifle, #7 Ryan Kowalczyk, to find his range. The Nationals were monumental (this is exhausting), led as expected by Mr. Indefatigible, #17, MVP in Perpetuity, Bill Carruthers. He made all 3 FGs, 4/6 on 3pters both FTs, had 11 rebounds. #11 Davenport (Larry, Michael, LeBron, some players need only one name) owns the boards (10 more this game). He brings his claw hammer, rips out the nails and says “these boards are mine”.
Game Two / Fort Wayne Pistons (2-1) 45 – Kansas City Kings (0-3) 43
Are 5 Pistons better than 6? I don’t know, but last Saturday they were better than 8 kings. (None of them named Henry.) The day after 11/11/11 they had 11 assists and 11 turnovers; they were destined to improve on their 1-1 record. Brian Herrmann, #32, had 1 rebound and 1 assist. 1,1. Spooky. (Oh, he also had a career high 19 points, 8 too many in my opinion.) Had the Kings won, there would have been a chariot waiting outside for #41, Marty Bitner. He had a coming-out, a coronation of sorts, with an 18 point, 11 (there it is again!) rebound effort. (Have you watched him play? He’s got some bounce!)
Game Three / Minneapolis Lakers (2-1) 41 – Rochester Royals (1-2) 40
The “Farewell Tour, Phase III” for #57, Chris McIntyre continues (we had a raucous, tear-filled, it-turns-out premature, goodbye ceremony at the Spring PFL Banquet), and the way he is playing, we hope he never leaves. 13 points, 7 rebounds and the clinching FT. Plus he said all the right things in the huddle. Nice to see #23, Lida Mullendore, knock down a couple shots. But, but, Referee Pritchard, where’s the love for the Royals? 15 personal fouls to 4 for the Hacker Lakers? Might have to review the game tape. On the other hand, how many of #11 David Po’s 5 baskets (out of an economical 6 attempts) were lefty? (Get it? “On the other hand”?) How many of #31, Jean “Cornbread” Millette’s 4 missed 3s were in-and-out? How many of #36, Andrew Varley’s 12 rebounds were taken above the rim? (He was, it must be noted, one turnover from an auspicious triple-double.)
Game Four / Philadelphia Warriors (3-0) 52 – New York Nets (0-3) 50
Another classic take-it-to-the-wire PFL affair. Another contest that ends in heartbreak for the Nets. They will eventually prevail, these Nets, heeding the words of Carlos Castenada: “A warrior must learn to make every act [possession] count, since [s]he is going to be here in this world [game] for only a short while, in fact, too short for witnessing all the marvels of it.” Could I suggest more defensive rebounds from their biggest player? Why? 11 second chance points for the Philadelphians. Net #27, Steve Luszcz will bust out. #50 Matthew Chu will take something other than a 3. #60 Rev. Robert Hill must have a hook shot in that venerable game of his. A warm chorus of “hallelujah” awaits. These Warriors must be the sons of Chief Joseph or some other wise warrior. Check out their point distribution: 9-9-8-7-6-5-4-4. Or the sons of European Socialists. Trotskyites? Who are these share-the-wealthers? Occupy PFL Garden? Huge kudos to Larry “Ben Franklin” Bavis, who solved the electrical puzzle of the scoreboard. And the rookies on Philly: #40, Jeremiah Sloan (can we call you Jerry? Please?), #61, Chris “Tom-” Tom and #44, D Roh, combining for 9/16 shooting. Lots of straight shooting arrows in the quivers of the Warriors.
Game Five / St Louis Hawks (3-0) 60 – Buffalo Braves (1-2) 35
Week Three, time to talk about Nnamdi Nwachukwu, #54, Piston: First, I have taught my 2 1/2 year old daughter to pronounce and spell his name correctly. Second, if I were playing him, I’d make him score in some other way than 3pters, fast break layups and FTs. Third, after he posted me up for 30 points, I’d quick try to think of something else. Mr. Nwachukwu’s poise is getting more poised every week. Who in PFL Land can make him blink? The Hawks are fattening up for the winter part of Fall/Winter 2011-12. The Braves, meanwhile, seemed nothing of the sort. Braves? Carrion. When your point guard leads the league in field goal attempts, it creates a structure that most teams, at any level, in any league, have trouble making work. Where does the distribution come from? Offensive rebounding? Move the ball, y’all. I’d like to see “The Chief”, #28 (but usually “00” when not teamed with MG), Tim Francis-Wright, score more. Hate to have to change his nickname to “Big Ben” (Wallace) Francis-Wright. Want to know a secret? They missed #9, Marcia Whitehead, big-time.
