In an early season match up the titans, the game went quick. Some players hadn’t shown and there was no one to sub in or out. We had five men, they had seven enabling them to keep their legs fresh. They came out of the gates fast, scoring the first 14 points before we got on the board and had clawed out way back to a tie by halftime.
The second half are where players are made, and having taken it light the first half I dug in. getting my points in the post or at the free throw line before creating some space and start opening up the three point game. There are times when the game slows down and the court spreads out and the ball feels like it is on a yo-yo doing what you want with it. the second half was back and forth, they were up a few and we came back and were up a few, and then it was tied, and then I hit a three and their point guard came down twice hitting consecutive three pointers.
We have spent hours on the courts. Hours at the elbow, where the three point line is the furthest, coming off the dribble or the pass, a hand in our face or not, but that is the spot right there – the right hand elbow. And with a few seconds left, down by two, with room to move in a little and square up for a 16 footer we stayed planted behind that line ready to let it fly. The other team knew they were in trouble when the crossover created that space and they let out a collective groan with the release. The seams on the ball spinning backwards, in those slow loopy arches that new york shooters know about.
And then it clanged of the rim. They rebounded and the buzzer sounded. We lost. it was a good shot – next time it will splash the nets. This time around it is haunting, but if it wasn’t then it would have never been a shot worth taking.
