Game seven

I needed a game seven. I didn’t get around to writing that, but as my holiday has been cancelled and in between multiple trips to basketball courts around Herts, I need something to watch.

The biggest question is how could Heat play so fucking terribly in game four and five, then play so well in #six before stinking it out so badly as the start of their home game seven that they could never quite get back? That’s a very long question. That could even be multiple questions. Sometimes my fingers keep typing. Sometimes the result even of that typing even makes sense. Not often, though.

It was an enthralling, rather than pretty, series. I think the better team won, in the end, and Celtics v Warriors will be a better Finals than Heat v Warriors.

You can’t knock Jimmy Buckets, though. In spite of that final shot. Connors’ comment on ‘Bev that maybe he knew his team simply didn’t have another five minutes in them rings true. With Herro barely playing (and they certainly missed him), all their starters played heavy minutes. And Butler was the man. I watched a lot of him when he was with Deng at Chicago, and he’s certainly used to playing a lot. It does raise the question as to whether too much is made of playing time. 40 minutes when there’s a day off between games shouldn’t be the biggest ask of a pro player, a few strategic rests tacked onto the numerous timeouts should make that possible.

Heat’s core is beginning to look old, though., even if you ignore 77-year-old Udonis Haslam who is clearly only still playing to break Dirk’s record. Despite what I wrote about, at 36-years-old, Lowry can’t go on forever on 30-35 minutes per game despite being the joint nicest NBA player I ever had a one-on-one interview with (it’s a small list, both Deng and DeRozen were also decent guys), there’s a lot of rebuilding to do.

Celtics will be left wondering how it took them so long to finally dispatch Heat, but they go into with an impressive record since the New Year (so do I, this is my 154th straight day with at least one post – just saying) and their road record should mean they’re not overly worried about having to win at least one at the Chase Centre.

I just can’t believe I’ve got find a way of filling three days before it’s on.

PE depts, eh?

When it came to choosing a secondary school for Cait, we went for academics over sporting excellence. It’s good we didn’t have any illusions about the PE department because we’d have been very disappointed.

There was an outdoor lunchtime basketball club when she was in Year 7. I was working there at the time and turned up, and was immediately asked to run it – a high-level position i couldn’t accept as I was only there randomly. The teacher’s random appearances at the club became more sporadic and it died. I left the school at the end of academic year and the closest anyone came to playing basketball outside of a three-week PE slot each year was when they gave permission for Cait to shoot around in the shiny new gym before school.

That is until the head of PE told her they’d entered two teams into a 3×3 tournament at the new outdoor facility in Writtle, Chelmsford. and asked her to help run it. This came as a bit of a surprise as she is the only kid (possibly) outside of sixth form who plays whereas every other mixed school I’ve worked at has at least a boys team, with the girls who play at club level playing for them. We then heard nothing for about two months until eight days before the tournament when they had their first practice. The teacher didn’t show up (notice a pattern?) and most of the hour was spent with Cait explaining how to actually play the game. The second practice, the day before the tournament saw mass dropouts for various reasons, but a teacher arrived who – along with a random sixth former – made up numbers for a game of 3×3.

Nothing was boding well. And as they waited for the mini bus on Wednesday morning the casual remark from the PE teacher that it was a mixed tournament. To both me and Cait that wouldn’t mean anything other than boys and girls playing together. To the PE teacher that meant mixed ability . You can guess who was right. A the descent into an utter shit show continued as it transpired that the mini bus had been lean to Alex’s school to take a team to a hockey tournament at Oaklands (small world, eh?) and phone calls were being made to parents to see if there was anyone could provide lifts home if they got them there. Eventually the PE teacher and a women from accounts (!) took both the A and B teams to the tournament. And they still got there first. Which males me wonder why I left home so bloody early.

This was a Year 10 tournament, with three places in a national tournament at stake. Predictably all the other A teams were boys, including a side from Barking Abbey and one from second tier academy champions Dagenham Park. The only other girls’ team were Barking Abbey, who damaged that school’s rep by losing to Cait’s school’s B team, coached by Cait. Worrying times for BA.

This was obviously a complete mis-match, even with a ten point start, the A team lost all five games. No team reached 21 points to end the game, so they all went the full ten minutes but it took until the final game for someone other than Cait to score. Apparently that girl now considers herself to be  natural and I can expect an email about her joining Oaklands. With no one other Cait having bounced a basketball in game since primary school (one girl had been part of my victorious county championship side) Cait was predictably double teamed constantly but still managed to provoke a few “you’ve been scored on by a girl” comments. She then won the game of “Killer” that got her side their only three league points of the tournament. Meanwhile the B team managed to beat a boys’ team (thanks mainly to the ten point start) as well as BA girls.

It’s good that 50 or so kids played basketball. Obviously. Cait clearly had a good time and got to be a bit of a star as the only girl who could genuinely play. But I question her school not asking a few pertinent questions before chucking a bunch of girls who’ve never played the sport into a tournament that’s obviously going to attract boys who are built like men (there were a few beards, apparently) and have probably played the game for five years. And the competition really should have been split between a boys and a girls section, with only single-sex schools allowed to enter just one. “Mixed” isn’t going to be mixed at all if there;s no requirement to have a girl on the court.

But it was still better than the “netball tour“

Hoopsfix Classic

I’ll get straight to the point (and I don’t often do that), this was bloody great.

Is there a better was to spend seven hours on a summer Saturday than watching basketball at Crystal Palace?

The biggest crowd outside the BBL this season saw one decent game and one really good game along with a three-point shootout and a dunk contest for a tenner (fiver for kids). That’s not shabby. As someone mentioned, the crowd was two, probably three, times the size if the senior NBL finals. Maybe BE should consider giving Sam the job of promoting their events, he’s clearly far better at it than them, and he’s also able to attract real sponsorship as well. Though I suspect they’d have a major heart attack if he suggested that maybe – just maybe – Manchester isn’t the centre of the universe.

Anyway, speaking of sponsorship, Caitlin is now determined to play in this when she’s old enough. A free pair of Jordans for every player was enough to persuade her. In the meantime she was happy with a couple of tee shirts in return for her statting – which grew from just doing the girls’ game to the boys’ one as well.

Back to point above. imagine BE attracting sponsorship that gave players £4-5k worth of boots.

We had to get their early, so I initially sat with the (large) Oaklands contingent who’d come down watch three of their players and one of the coaching team. But after two minutes, during which time I’d been kneed in the back three times I realised that the lack of a back on my seat meant I was never going to be comfortable. So I went behind the far basket to the proper seats and sat on my own. Where I was soon joined by Mark Clark, following by most of Lions’ WBBL team and then a few Sevenoaks Suns players. Clearly I am a babe magnet. Or they genuinely like their coach and despite the issues between their two clubs, the players also like each other. Having sat next to Shequila Joseph for a bit, I didn’t expect to see the GB international later suit up as a sumo wrestler and then take lay-ups after being spun around by one of the DJs. Crazy days.

A visit to the toilet at the end of the first quarter saw me discover the bar. A proper bar, at that. This was a result because it had appeared there was going to be nothing to eat or drink available. I thought things were getting even better when I was told they had cider, but although I’ll accept the blackcurrent abomination from Matt Shaw when it’s free , I’m not paying £4 for a can of that. So it was lager for me and Mark. He was happy with that.

The shootout and girls’ game were both decent. You’re not getting reports. That’s what hoopsfix.com is for. It’s their baby. The game got away from the black team a bit in the second half but it was worth watching, The girl from Oaklands captained the black team and didn’t have her best game, shooting 1/8.

I’d talked about the dunk contest with Cait on the way down. It’s a tough one to make it good at that level. There’s a lot of talented players but that doesn’t mean they can do the kind of spectacular dunks that get the crowd on its feet. It was okay, but nowhere as good as the game.

Because the game was excellent. There’s a lot of talent out there. We had a player on each team, so I figured I should support the team we were providing the coaching for. I lost for the second time in one day. It might be me. Ollie Wright had a decent spell in the third period when he helped drag his team back into it. He’s a player who really benefitted from playing D1 basketball during the plague season, he’s been a starter this season and he’s massively improved. Two years ago he wouldn’t have been even remotely considered for this game. Our other  player in the game, Kane Daley, also benefitted from those two years in D1 but unfortunately got injured in practice during the week and only played limited minutes having dropped out of the dunk contest.

The standard was really good. It’s absolutely criminal that there’s no GB team for many of them,, and for those who do have U-18s this summer, there’s still the likelihood that they won’t have the chance to play internationally next year. Great though this was, this absolutely should not be the highlight of this summer.

The whole event was professional (though how it managed to end up running an hour late is a mystery, but i really didn’t care), it had an air of summer league/streetball but the players took it seriously. The commentators got the crowd involved without being annoying. And they should be proud of that last bit because most commentators really annoy me.

Everyone who is anyone in London basketball was there (so my stalker didn’t show up)  and it was great to catch up with so many people. Obviously I want more, but Sam looked absolutely knackered, so I think he can do without any more grey in his beard. It’s obviously incredibly hard work and I know the event is like a duck on a pond. It looks graceful but underneath the legs are going full pelt. Just like Leopards at Brentwood in the old days.

There looked room for a few more people, maybe they can do that next year. But just make sure you get a ticket.

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The NBA is dead to me

It was nice while it lasted. Once Warriors had won one in Dallas there was an air of inevitability that Mavs wouldn’t reach the Promised Land.

They did at least make a fight of it in the third period when Luka finally got going but ultimately came up short against a Warriors team I expect to win it all. It wasn’t Luka’s best display of the play-offs,  a mere 28 points (albeit on 28 shots), nine rebounds and six assists. He certainly didn’t get some of the calls that Curry and Poole received but he still needs to sulk a bit less.

The defence – of lack of it – in the second and early stages of the third periods meant it was always going to be an uphill struggle. The movement of Steph, Klay and Poole is just too much for any team when they’re playing well

15 play-off (and four play-in) teams end the season disappointed, it’s an all or nothing game. But it has been a good season for my Mavs. I don’t think anyone expected to reach the conference semi-finals, getting through the first round was a realistic aim. That utter pounding of Suns – a result that will probably change how an entire franchise spends the summer – will always live long in the memory.

I had my doubts about Kidd as coach, it did seem a bit as if Dirk’s influence had helped his mate get a job. But he’s completely blown those doubts out of my head and made me feel guilty considering he’s one of my all-time favourite players and a guy who helped Mavs win the title. Sometimes a change is needed, and although the departure of Rick Carlisle was disappointing, he’s brought a different kind of basketball to Mavs. He does need to find a way to up the pace a bit when Luka is running the point, if only to give the bomb squad more opportunity to drop threes.

First job for Kidd/Cuban/Dirk must be to keep Jalen Brunson. They probably took their eye of the ball a little by not doing it earlier, but he’s really stepped up in the play-offs. Getting him back is an absolute must. Dinwiddie had another two years on his contract, having three guys who can all run the point is a real asset. They can all play together but it does mean there can always be two of them on the floor.

They really need a big, a genuine big, though. So at least there is the option to pound the ball inside as an alternative to living in the Land of Plenty.

But I have enjoyed the ride I’ve watched every one of Mavs’ 100 games this season. I now have to decide if I can forgive Warriors enough to support them in the Finals.

It’s Friday, I’m in love

Obviously, as Tracy reads this, I need to mention I’m always in love. But after what seems a very long half-term, I have a (much needed) week off following today’s serving of random lunacy as a maths teacher. The Y7s love me after I spent the final five minutes of yesterday’s lesson (where I’d worked them like dogs) explaining that the word “literally” is (literally) completely unnecessary in 99.427% of the times they use it.

And it starts with a five-day basketball-fest, although the majority of it is being a cab driver rather than watching.

I should have rebranded  our Skills Development Sessions “Fantastic Fridays” or something along those lines. But having nailed down three court bookings I was able to offer them to all eligible players last week and have been pleasingly inundated. Both sessions are fully booked with 22 kids on each (I’m working on a ten percent no-show average) and a waiting list which will be used if people give me advance warning they can’t make it. The kids seem to have really enjoyed it – though I think the girls were a bit shocked to be doing press-up in the older session last week – and it’s something I’d like to build on in the future. And what else would I do with my Friday night?

We’re off to the Palace on Saturday. The Crystal one, I’ll have to wait for my knighthood for pissing off people in basketball.  It’s the Hoops Fix Classic. It’ll be the first one I’ve attended, though as it started in Brixton you could argue it’s a newer version of Rough & Ready which also took place at The Rec. Cait’s statting abilities sees her as part of an all-female crew for the girls game, the joy at getting a T-shirt none of her peers will have was unbridled. I can’t remember the last time I went to Palace. I love the place but it is an arse to get to, but I need a fix of proper, live basketball and this will do nicely.

Sunday sees a trip to another of my favourite venues – Wodson Park, Ware – which played a pretty significant part in the early days of Leopards II – for a Herts U-15/17 sessions. If Oaklands’ booking dept were a bit more organised this would probably have been there, but we’re one of a handful of families who have a shorter trip and – even if the eventual girls’ selections will suggest otherwise – it’s Herts County, not Wolves+. A cheeky little three hour sessions should get the five girls who have Aspire the following day nicely warmed up.

Before those four trips to Oaklands in two days – I certainly can’t kill eight hours in St Albans without being horrifically over the limit – I’ll be getting up 3am to drop Tracy and Alex off for their trip to Greece. The one I’m not going on because Cait has Aspire. I won’t pretend I’m not disappointed but it was clear that if players weren’t available for the both of the two-day sessions (the second is next weekend, there will be cuts following Tuesday’s session, I’m told) they’d no longer be in the running to play for England. Cait  – and her parents, for that matter (in fact, even her brother) – have put far too much time into this to even think of dropping out at this stage.

After all of that. I think we might have a rest.

Just one more win?

“One game at a time”,. It’s a bit of a cliche, it’s quite a lot of a cliche, but it’s all Mavs have got.

And they played really well for three quarters in Tuesday night’s 119-109 home win against Warriors. Maybe pretty much everyone predicting a sweep after game three fired them up. Maybe Warriors took their foot off the gas a bit. Maybe it was a bit of both. Regardless, it proved they could do it. Reggie Bullock (pronounced “Bullark” going 6-10 instead of 0-10 obviously helped, more payers stepped up and they looked a better team for it. Luka’s numbers were still good – 30 points, 14 rebounds, missing a triple-double by an assist – , but 40-point nights clearly aren’t the holy grail given their winning percentage in those games. He still set another record by becoming the youngest (and only second all-time) player to score 30 in his first five elimination games.

The fourth period was a bit weird. It could be argued that Kerr should’ve put his starters back in earlier, but he went with the guys who started the comeback until it got into single digits. He was probably right, the energy it would take to erase a 29-point deficit would probably mean they were knackered down the stretch. He probably got it about right. They gave it a go, but it was fairly inevitable that they’d only end up making the scoreline respectable. The commentator prattling on about “extended playing time” seemed to miss the point that no key players played more than they’d expect to in an elimination game.

Warriors’ zone was a mess before (extended) garbage time. That’s bound to give Mavs a lift, and if they did win tonight it would set up an epic game six.

I’ve heard a lot about 146-0, Caitlin kindly sent me the graphic while her team were being gubbed. Just as the 200andwhatever-0 record for #1v16 seed in NCAA ended, it will end one day. It probably won’t be this season, but for now, I’ll settle for just one more win.

I guess they aren’t coming back

I doubt I’d have got a press pass – though I did alright over the years – and I can’t imagine I’d have been willing to pay their prices unless it was Mavs, but it was a bit of a disappointment to read that the NBA are returning to France rather than the O2 next year. It wasn’t a shock. They’d dropped enough hints, clearly the NBA has given up on London. .

I still don’t get why they don’t play a home and away (or home & home, as the Yanks call it) series between the two sides but clearly that isn’t happening.

What a shame.

Things I learned today

According to Radio 5 Live this morning, LA Dodgers are a US basketball team. They’d probably beat Lakers if LeBron had the night off, but the BBC never fail to disappoint.

You really need to go to this

If only because you might get to meet me, you really need to be at Crystal Palace on Saturday May 28th for the Hoopsfix All-Star Classic.

It’s a charitable event, two games, a dunk contest and three-point shoot-out. Seriously what more do you need?  

So click here to buy your tickets. And remember, you might get lucky and not meet me, so even my stalker can safely turn up.

Me too

Like Connors, I remember being told by Radio 5 who’d just won an NBA finals’ game. I was sitting at the same set of traffic lights, listening to the same station, at about the same time as when some bloke commented – live on air – “It was almost inevitable that the Queen Mother would die”

I now listen to music on the way to work.