Photo: Chip and David: Jump Ball (June 2013)
Week Twelve, February 15, 2014
G1: Any game that has the Adelaide 36ers in it is a fun game to watch. They didn’t win but they assisted on 13 of their 16 baskets. They didn’t win but they stole the ball 10 times off 19 forced turnovers. They didn’t win but Brad Schutzer had 6 assists and ZERO turnovers. We may have to start charging admission to their games. The Kings, though, played like themselves. Keith Reitman has got some Rondo. David Duane is having his best season ever. Josh Pepin is chucking them in. They walk like kings.
Game One /Sydney Kings (8-2; 1-1) 49 – Adelaide 36ers (4-6; 0-2) 38
(Absent players: for SK: Tim Knauer, Barath Sankaran)
G2: Most of the season, the Melbourne Tigers looked like the team to beat: would they ever lose? Well, they lost last week but played this week like they didn’t like that feeling. They had some offensive sequences that were among the best we’ve ever seen in PFL. 4-5 quick passes around the perimeter till the ball found the open player. Jamal Halawa has got game. Scott Lieber could bust out for 30 points at any time. He’s like our Kevin Durant. Except for a couple of pretty funny breakaway layup attempts, Evan “The Pope” Pepe played like Kevin Love. That’s good. Townsville had trouble scoring and couldn’t get to the line. David Po had another strong stat line but he wanted to trade it for the “w”.
Game Two /Melbourne Tigers (7-3;2-1) 44 – Townsville Crocodiles (7-3; 0-2) 37
(Out and about: MT: Ryan Allison, Ben Floman; TC: Chip Allen, Steven Friedman )
G3: Watch out! Here come the Taipans! MVP In Perpetuity Bill Carruthers is playing like he wants to drop the latin. His kid, Tyler, likes that moment just before a horn goes off. Jordan Carroll . . . they’ve got basketball scoring and playing weapons! How did they beat the shot-blocking, 14 assist to 5 turnover, 16 offensive rebounds Hawks? By making 8 of 17 3s, for one. And shooting 41% for the game. Hamel’s Hawks saw Tommy score a career high (unverified) 20 points. But the story was Marty Bitner’s 8 blocks. Does he think you get paid every time you block a shot or something? He was fun to watch. Hawks 1 for 13 on 3s and 1 for 9 from the FT line? Gotta shoot better.
Game Three /Cairns Taipans (4-6; 2-0) 54 – Wollongong Hawks (4-6; 1-1) 50
(Players missing: CT: Jeff Smith; WH: Josh Kratka, Nat Rink, Lilla Zollei)
G4: It was going to be tough going for Perth when Derek Bogarty was MIA again and when Captain Mark Pinchook showed up with a strained calf muscle which did not allow him to rise up for those in-the-lane turnarounds he’s famous for. But the ‘Cats hung tough against the tenacious playoff defense of these Breakers. Truly inspired effort by a team that lost their first eight games. No quit in that bunch. The Breakers, PFL’s version of any NFL team’s front four, dominated the boards, “d”ed up and let Erik Morales do what he does best: finish plays. Team effort though; they shared the ball and shared the minutes. Gonna be a 1st Place Championship Game to remember. What’s the PFL spectator attendance record?
Game Four /New Zealand Breakers (5-5; 2-0) 41Perth Wildcats (1-9; 1-1) 35
(Perth: Derek “Pearl” Bogarty; all Breakers in)
