While this score is deceptive and this was a beatdown in everything but final score -- the Celtics allowed us to come back with a healthy dose of arrogance and scrubs worthy of those not terribly lamented old Pistons and Lakers teams -- I think I'll push off the planned Girls theme until the Cavs beat us down on Sunday, and in honor of Southie go with a theme of Slums instead.
Boxscore
McGuire ( B- ) -- got the surprise start and generally gave us a solid defensive roleplayer performance, grabbed some boards for us, and added a couple of strong drives. Started with a drive but could not get the layin to fall, tough drive and up and under to follow, then made a bad pass ahead on the break for the TO. Got crossed over by Rondo up top, but Rondo could not finish. Fouled on the cut to start the third, but missed the FTs. Grabbed some d-boards, although not all were contested, and swiped at a few balls on defense, although we were losing all the loose ball scrambles and couldn't come up with any of them. Finished his night with a nice take along the baseline and dunk. Perhaps more importaantly I think made things mildly challenging for Pierce, who ended up with pretty much average numbers, but no hughe impact. Nothing huge here to write home about, but solid enough as a roleplayer. Just a roleplayer lacking the stars to cover for his lack of offense.
South Boston -- in some ways Southie (South Boston) doesn't really belong on this list, as it is more of an very tough decaying Irish working class neighborhood than a true slum. But the working choices often consist of low paying manual labor, bartending at one of the numerous drinking establishments, or being a hood, and if you're an outsider the cold cheerless streets can be considerably hostile. More importantly it was my excuse to choose this theme tonight, so its in.
Landry ( A ) -- responded off the crappy game against one of the worst teams in history with a big game against...well, one of the most decrepit. But formerly at least an elite team. Was attacking from the beginning, and in the first half in particular was pretty much a one man gang out there for us. Was able to work pretty well against the Ghost of Garnett early, driving by him repeatedly for buckets or fouls (the ole KG lateral movement ain't what it was). Actually had more trouble aganst Big Baby until he (Baby) melted down, and was not able to cleanly establish post position vs. the Baby's bulk, moved outside, and missed a jumper. Returned in the second with the full arsenal working, hitting a series of long jumpers, and able to drive and get fouled when challenged. Powered through three Celtics for the baseline flip, got a dunk out on the break, and played good defense on a Wallace turnaround (Sheed having a bigger fork sticking out of his overrated and slightly flabby back nowadays than KG). But also began to get stripped on his drives and pick up turnovers, and after getting the ball back on the offensive glass at the halftime buzzer got it slapped away too. Finished the first half with 18 points in a solo effort -- no other King had more than 6 and we were down 20. Was swarmed and went silent in the early third as the Cletics poked away balls and used their length to deny entry passes. Finally broke back through with a FT and a mop up dunk as we began to make a shaky game of it . Started the 4th with the side pop to get it too 25. Called for a shaky offensive foul when Scalabrine ran under him on the post move. Hit another long jumper and was being forced to the perimeter -- got blocked again and again as he tried to take it inside. Returned the favor with a block of his own on KG at the 1:10 mark that set KG off into a dumb technical and personal foul. Carl hit the FTs, and then got fouled again in the last minute to close his night with 30pts -- one off his career high. Was efficient once again, shooting 10-16, going 10-12 from the line, and adding a respectable 8 rebounds.
West Philly -- lovely West Philly from my college days -- one summer I got stuck about 5 miles out from home doing an internship, the next train wasn't for hours, there were no cabs in that part of town, and I could not think of a isngle friend with a car who was in town who I would not be severely inconveniencing with a rescue call. So I said screw it, threw my bag across my shoulders, and decided to hike the 5 miles back through Northwest and West Philly (I cut through a big park as well for some relief) in my suit and tie. You would have to know West Philly to know just how stupid such manuever was, a lone clean cut white boy wearing and carrying $1000+ worth of clothing and accessories and carrying a nice bag that looked like it would carry a laptop (I did not have it as I recall) hiking through streets that frequently resemble downtown Beirut -- rubble piles for buildings and sprayed bullet holes everywhere. And every eye on you.
This is about how far I started out. The neighborhoods got far worse between this locale and home just to the right of the skyscrapers.:
Hawes ( INC ) -- in the early going picked in the open court by Pierce, couple of quick fouls inside, and picked up a technical arguing the issue. Never returned for the rest of the half, and while yeah, technicals are bad,. We were down 20 by halftime --- what we were doing instead wasn't working, might as well bring the kid back at some point and see if he can help. In the 3rd missed a jumper from Beno and then went down with...something on a scramble play and had to leave the court. Never returned. Not sure what the injury was -- seemed to be walking ok, wasn't holding anything or bleeding, so not sure. Did not get anythign accomplished in his short minutes, but they were short before he got hurt.
North Philly -- and as long as I am in the Philly region, might as well throw a shout out at North Philly, Tyreke's old neighborhood. West Philly is bad. North Philly is worse. Not sure I would have pulled that same hiking 5 miles through it stunt with North Philly. Not sure if I did if I would be here to type this today. Tough TOUGH region. There's a reason it produces so many great boxers -- you have to be a bad man just to survive it, and if you do, nothing and nobody is going to scare you.
Boxscore
McGuire ( B- ) -- got the surprise start and generally gave us a solid defensive roleplayer performance, grabbed some boards for us, and added a couple of strong drives. Started with a drive but could not get the layin to fall, tough drive and up and under to follow, then made a bad pass ahead on the break for the TO. Got crossed over by Rondo up top, but Rondo could not finish. Fouled on the cut to start the third, but missed the FTs. Grabbed some d-boards, although not all were contested, and swiped at a few balls on defense, although we were losing all the loose ball scrambles and couldn't come up with any of them. Finished his night with a nice take along the baseline and dunk. Perhaps more importaantly I think made things mildly challenging for Pierce, who ended up with pretty much average numbers, but no hughe impact. Nothing huge here to write home about, but solid enough as a roleplayer. Just a roleplayer lacking the stars to cover for his lack of offense.
South Boston -- in some ways Southie (South Boston) doesn't really belong on this list, as it is more of an very tough decaying Irish working class neighborhood than a true slum. But the working choices often consist of low paying manual labor, bartending at one of the numerous drinking establishments, or being a hood, and if you're an outsider the cold cheerless streets can be considerably hostile. More importantly it was my excuse to choose this theme tonight, so its in.
Landry ( A ) -- responded off the crappy game against one of the worst teams in history with a big game against...well, one of the most decrepit. But formerly at least an elite team. Was attacking from the beginning, and in the first half in particular was pretty much a one man gang out there for us. Was able to work pretty well against the Ghost of Garnett early, driving by him repeatedly for buckets or fouls (the ole KG lateral movement ain't what it was). Actually had more trouble aganst Big Baby until he (Baby) melted down, and was not able to cleanly establish post position vs. the Baby's bulk, moved outside, and missed a jumper. Returned in the second with the full arsenal working, hitting a series of long jumpers, and able to drive and get fouled when challenged. Powered through three Celtics for the baseline flip, got a dunk out on the break, and played good defense on a Wallace turnaround (Sheed having a bigger fork sticking out of his overrated and slightly flabby back nowadays than KG). But also began to get stripped on his drives and pick up turnovers, and after getting the ball back on the offensive glass at the halftime buzzer got it slapped away too. Finished the first half with 18 points in a solo effort -- no other King had more than 6 and we were down 20. Was swarmed and went silent in the early third as the Cletics poked away balls and used their length to deny entry passes. Finally broke back through with a FT and a mop up dunk as we began to make a shaky game of it . Started the 4th with the side pop to get it too 25. Called for a shaky offensive foul when Scalabrine ran under him on the post move. Hit another long jumper and was being forced to the perimeter -- got blocked again and again as he tried to take it inside. Returned the favor with a block of his own on KG at the 1:10 mark that set KG off into a dumb technical and personal foul. Carl hit the FTs, and then got fouled again in the last minute to close his night with 30pts -- one off his career high. Was efficient once again, shooting 10-16, going 10-12 from the line, and adding a respectable 8 rebounds.
West Philly -- lovely West Philly from my college days -- one summer I got stuck about 5 miles out from home doing an internship, the next train wasn't for hours, there were no cabs in that part of town, and I could not think of a isngle friend with a car who was in town who I would not be severely inconveniencing with a rescue call. So I said screw it, threw my bag across my shoulders, and decided to hike the 5 miles back through Northwest and West Philly (I cut through a big park as well for some relief) in my suit and tie. You would have to know West Philly to know just how stupid such manuever was, a lone clean cut white boy wearing and carrying $1000+ worth of clothing and accessories and carrying a nice bag that looked like it would carry a laptop (I did not have it as I recall) hiking through streets that frequently resemble downtown Beirut -- rubble piles for buildings and sprayed bullet holes everywhere. And every eye on you.
This is about how far I started out. The neighborhoods got far worse between this locale and home just to the right of the skyscrapers.:
Hawes ( INC ) -- in the early going picked in the open court by Pierce, couple of quick fouls inside, and picked up a technical arguing the issue. Never returned for the rest of the half, and while yeah, technicals are bad,. We were down 20 by halftime --- what we were doing instead wasn't working, might as well bring the kid back at some point and see if he can help. In the 3rd missed a jumper from Beno and then went down with...something on a scramble play and had to leave the court. Never returned. Not sure what the injury was -- seemed to be walking ok, wasn't holding anything or bleeding, so not sure. Did not get anythign accomplished in his short minutes, but they were short before he got hurt.
North Philly -- and as long as I am in the Philly region, might as well throw a shout out at North Philly, Tyreke's old neighborhood. West Philly is bad. North Philly is worse. Not sure I would have pulled that same hiking 5 miles through it stunt with North Philly. Not sure if I did if I would be here to type this today. Tough TOUGH region. There's a reason it produces so many great boxers -- you have to be a bad man just to survive it, and if you do, nothing and nobody is going to scare you.
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