Game 2 recap 04/15/08

Zuricalaw.com Vs. Big Shots

Member present and game grades:

Zeke (B) - ran the point efficiently but forced too many passes.
Mike A (B) - came out lethargic in the first half but stepped it up in the second half. Lost a half of a grade bc he went 0/4 from the free throw line.
Jeremy (C+) - a little rusty in his first game since 1994, workouts with strength and training coach this week.
Mike B (A) - played his game as smooth as his haircut. The guy can shoot!
Ahmed (A-) - attacked the basket like a bull and finished. Lost a half a grade for getting a travel call.
Dan (fill in) (B) - big man was a little hesitant at first then came out in the second half ready to play.
Joe H. (DNP) - coach's decision
Mike T. (DNP) - PUBIC SYMPHYSITIS (this was actually listed as a reason why Mo William from the Bucks did not play last week, how embarrassing).

"We are made to persist. That's how we find out who we are." - Tobias Wolff

As the Zuricalaw.com team took center stage last night, it was going to be another test of team chemistry and strategy. With Mike T and Joe not able to make the game due to a prior commitment, which included 12 year old boys in short shorts, the feigned lawyers welcomed team member Jeremy to the hard wood and Dan who will be called in on an as-needed basis. Anicito stumbled in with Photo Frank, the two had kicked back a couple of brews prior to the game and Anicito resembled Jim Carroll from Basketball Diaries, minus the screen with the coach in the bathroom stall. Ahmed strolled in two minutes prior to game time is his quintessential flip flops, the backdrop of a quality basketball player (myself and zurica have always agreed that when a player walks into a gym holding his sneakers and wearing flip flops/sandals, 9 times out of 10, the guy is good). The team was six deep with Mike B's girlfriend cheering, as always, for her boy's team. Photo Frank was asked to do the book but started to shake as his mind raced through all sorts of numbers and graphs that involved team fouls, running scores, first half, second half, he almost had a nervous breakdown before someone told him to just do the scoreboard.

Zuricalaw.com took the court against their wily opponents, which included the look alike to Chris Dudley, Bam Bam Biggelow, Emilio Estavez from Men at Work, and Brain Grant. Zuricalaw struggled in the first half as Big Shots got out to a 6-0 lead and it wasnt until three minutes in did the Lawmakers (im opting for this name going forward because, we are the law in this league!) got a 3pt field goal from an unlikely source, Anicito. It was at this point that the Zuricalaw Lawmakers started to roll. Mike B (not to be confused with the Beastie Boy) controlled the perimeter and made Big Shots pay every time they left him open. Ahmed attacked the basket without fear. Anicito cleaned up some boards but failed to convert ALL of his free throws (coaches think that free throw practice with Anthony Mason should cease). Zurica made some nice passes off the dribble but also forced some bad passes into the post and on the break. Zuricalaw battled the Big Shots tooth and nail that first half as their Chris Dudley made his 5 to7 footers but couldnt finish around the backboard (mind boggling). That was when we decided to go from a man defense to a 2-3 zone. It was tight until the last two minutes of the first half when hustle from Jeremy and Ahmed forced turnovers, allowing Mike B to light up the arch and Dan to finish inside. It didnt help when Emilio Estevez starting screaming "kick balllll" at the ref and they T'd him up. I think the T was more for having a girl's scream. Jeremy did set a new Urban League record for most three second calls in a regular season game. I know he's just getting the rust out though. By the end of the half the Lawmakers opened up a 9 point lead.

In the beginning of the second half the Lawmakers struggled again. Zurica yelled tenaciously at Anicito for having a mismatch but Anicito wasnt even aware of it at the time. Ahmed was called for two flop fouls (one of which was legit) and a traveling call. The team forgot Mike B existed and tried to unintentionally ice him out, and Jeremy and Dan grinded it out to no avail. The Big Shots actually tied the game in the beginning of the second half (note: Anthony always does this to me, he tells me at half time how this game shouldnt even be close, this team is terrible, they're lucky we're up by 9 and not 90) and what happens they tie the game. its always a given. In any event, the Lawmakers best was better than their best, their quick was better than their quick, and they pulled it out in convincing fashion. Mike B's threes, hustle from all members, and a really good zone defense which there were block outs and rebounding across the board. It was a good win for the franchise.

2-0