Post#1590 » by playa-hater » Wed Aug 18, 2021 3:20 am
Meanwhile let me share a story. having lived/worked and been raised in NYC most of my life, and having seen TONS of Basketball. Tonight's game reminded me of seeing a highly ranked team, from out of town (HS or AAU) come in, usually with some BIG name All-American and play a bunch of no/lesser name but tough NYC kids and totally get smacked.
I have witnessed this too many times I can't remember them all.
NYC kids play the tough as Shet defense, play with attitude and rise to the challenge of playing whomever, and shut them down. Especially, though not always, Brooklyn kids.
There was a tournament in IS8 Jr HS that is legendary for Big names and decades of serious Run. Well one summer, they had a special player come from out of state. He had some seriously good teammates join him. but went against a team of NYC kids who had some talent in their own right, but no where near the hype and/or talent of this kid from outside NY.
The game was so hyped up, only about 500 fans could get in this tiny gym out of thousands. But I was lucky enough to squeeze in early. The short version is the NYC team beat the "outsiders" and held this BIG Name player to 2 points.
That BIG name player was Lebron James. It was the talk of the town. They said Lebron was shook! But in reality, I didn't see him a shook, but rather the swarm of defenders, who took great pride and focus in shutting him down. The rest of Lebron's teammates were definitely shook.
what is my point to this story?? looking at tonight's game reminded me very much of those NY city's games. Sac took great pride in first shutting down PP. Great man to man by D Mich first and trapping PP with 2 when necessary. they swarmed to him and jumped all passing lanes. Their defensive energy spread to everyone and eventually engulfed all the Boston players.
Almost 40 more shots?? 36 to 2 in points off of turnovers?? killed on the glass and contesting every shot while speeding up everyone.
This was a good ole fashion smacking. One team was way more energized and the other team was out manned and "shook". Just like the teams that came into NYC.
I Just hope not to see too many overreactions. But whatever. On to the season we go.
2 things need to go.. my lack of spell check and Joe..
