Well now we are starting to hit our stride.
Theme tonight will be Really Stupid Laws: (Note, I have only independently confirmed a couple of these)
Artest ( C ) -- mostly quiet in the first half, but hit the outside shots he did take, and created open shots for several teammates off the double team attention he drew. Continued the roleplaying effort into the second half, which was helping on a lower level, but which was not enough. With Kevin silent, and yes even with Brad and Kenny gone, we needed an extra scorer, and Ron just never got anything really going that way this time out. Hit the glass, set some people up (at times), made a nifty open court steal from KG of all people on an outlet pass to set us up for an easy little 3-1. But never gave us the raw volume of scoring we needed, and on our last gasp (actually it was probably already over) seemed to slip and travel just to seal things.
DUMB LAW #1 (Florida): It is illegal to have sexual relation with a porcupine. -- Well damn.
Corliss ( A- ) -- good ole Corliss did his good ole Corliss thing one more time. Forced to start with both Brad and Kenny out, he gritted his teeth and did his damndest to try to lead us to a victory. Had an amusing first quarter while outplaying KG -- scored over the Big Ticket several times, even got in there for a couple of offensive boards, and finished with an impact 10pts 6rebs first quarter. Should come as no surprise he slowed therafter, but still hustled and banged better than you could have hoped for against the Wolves 7'/7' frontline. Looked legitimately upset at the end of the game that we had lost this one despite him pouring his heart into it. Silly of him, but admirable.
DUMB LAW #2 (Alaska): It is considered an offense to push a live moose out of a moving airplane. -- Worse yet, it is also considered an offense to feed alcoholic beverages to a moose. Damn fascists: Alaska = the no fun state.
Reef ( A- ) -- perhaps embarrassed by the Atlanta debacle, Reef went digging around in the back of his closet and found his dusty old naughty parts, and for three quarters gave us his most inspired play since...I don't even know when. It was not that he was dominating play, statistically or otherwise, but that he was bringing a complete effort, not only scoring from outside the paint with those line drive jumpers (even knocking down one of those corner threes), but actually doing things not related to him scoring. Passing for instance. And our soft lil tweener even came up with a series of big blocks (yes, as in blocked shots) in the third. The boardwork was indifferent at that stage, but he got a few. In any case, it was a complete game, and he was making a lot of plays to hurt the Wolves and inspire us. But disappeared down the stretch as he and Corliss suddenly remembered what year it was, and so gets the "-" as one more brick was thrown onto losing season 10 of 11 or whatever.
DUMB LAW #3 (Connecticut): In order for a pickle to officially be considered a pickle, it must bounce.
Martin ( D- ) -- another slow start -- beginning to think the worst thing that coupld have happened was Kevin winning that player of the week. Its been all downhill ever since. Showed better activity and effort on defense than he has been, but almost had no choice as the Wolves seemed to want to attack him on that end. And the activity came with a price, as Kevin got into early foul trouble. Given every chance to show something in this one. Never did. Took a hard fall in the 4th when he went up for a layup and was blocked/fouled by Jaric. Saved the F with some shaky play down the stretch. Sounds funny, but he did just enough -- hit a tough shot, got some FTs, that felt it had to warrant something. May or may not have been 100%, not sure. Been playing poorly for the last couple of weeks.
DUMB LAW #4 (Lousiana): You may not tie an alligator to a fire hydrant. -- And people think being a lawyer is no fun.
Its nice to have somebody else pump your gas for a change, especially since it ALWAYS seems to be raining when I drive through the state. Although it would be nice if they "checked your oil" and whatnot that they USED to do at full service stations. Also, its hard to see how Jersey has the highest wages, and highest per-capita income in the country with silly laws like this.
