Playing Among Trees: Gamelog 8/25/04

I ran with 3 bigs yesterday, sort of an uncommon team to get out of our core of ballers. I wasn't really sure I'd know what to do without some of the traditional other positions around. I usually benefit from having a true point guard around to create the offense, and a small forward type of guy to set some high screens for me. I was right about that.

I held onto the ball way too much, not knowing how to deal with the fact that I wasn't sure it was gonna get moved around enough with big post size guys filling up the floor. I tried to get into positions where I could get the ball inside and let the trees go to work, but the defenders were all pretty good at reaching around and stopping the entry passes, and I was pretty good at forcing bad looks after a few too many fakes. Still, the post players were really effective (especially since two of them had 3 point range and all had good jumpshots). And we won two of our 3 games. I told HollyG I'd win some for her and I hit a gamewinner to make good on it.

Next time, I'm gonna get back to my good shooting days and keep that elbow in. All net.

Let there be waves...

Skipped out from the picnic and work a little early to go to Santa Cruz. Forecasts promised swell...winded down highway 17, battled traffic on highway 1 to 41st street...ran out of the car and peered over the rocks...to see...nothing. Pretty flat. Seems to be the theme of posts on this blog so far. Kind of discouraging session...the waves were hard to line up, I felt weak (5/4 zipperless wetsuit is somewhat constricting...somewhat of an overkill for the season, but I don’t have anything else), and there were too many people relative to wave availability. Pray for waves! (and a new wetsuit)

HollyG adjusting her suit at Pleasure Point

Pleasure Point: Sitting 8/20/04

I ventured over to a new spot to watch HollyG surf today. This one was up on the rocks and a little bit flatter and much closer to where the waves break. I also had presence of mind to bring a towel this time, so that the bugs and itchies wouldn't disturb my otherwise peaceful time as HollyG's surf bitch. I took the long dangerous route to my new location when I could have just gone the high way and come down. And maybe next time I can bring a chair so my legs to get all numb. Meanwhile it's still quite cold here in Capitola, which is especially tragic because it was way hot at the Google picnic this afternoon. I like my new spot better, though. Now I'm close enough to throw rocks at the stupid people who steal HollyG's waves.

Happy Birthday Kobe!

Dolores Park

The exciting discovery of the day today, was finding out not only that the Dolores Park courts were in great condition and available down the street from my new house, but they're also LIT! I'm getting geared up for some bona - fide thuggery/nighttime hoops.

GameLog 8/18

We had 5 full rotations of guys come out to play yesterday. Plus an odd man. So on a day when we had over 20 guys show up I was really happy to have gotten their early and played on a solid team. I got to run in 4 games and still be done before 7:30 after a very good workout.

I found that it's easier to lose after you've won three close ones in a row and taken the last one pretty far against a bigger fresher team. :)

The nicest thing about yesterday was the matchups usually had me paired up against a weaker defender so I ended up doing a fair amount of scoring. I wasn't as effective jumpshooting off of screens like I like to be, but my shot felt a lot better, and given a little space, I was dropping them. I got a lot of open layups and baseline openings, and Doug was rebounding and cleaning up the stuff that I was missing. Mike and the other Ben were banging down low and taking the bulk of the defensive work as well as running the offense, and we put together a really good run.

And as the trend seems to be, once HollyG showed up to watch, I put together a little scoring run to put a little dent in the margin that we were losing by :) I hit driving layup on the left, and mid range jumper on the right. Then I threw a long (very risky) pass that Doug miraculously caught and converted. I always seem to play better when she's watching :)

Ahh, good times. Oh and we tried out the new ball. Also I need new shoes. My big toe can feel the blacktop.

HollyG at Manresa

Manresa

We went to Manresa, hoping there would be decent waves and fire rings for post surf toasted marshmallows and one or two or maybe fourteen hot dogs. But unfortunately, there were neither...just some mush and no free firepits. But, as always...since we were there, I went in, amidst some shortboarding groms. Boy did I feel like an old fart. There may not have been waves, but at least there was the sunset over the water...

Pleasure Point

Surfed little waves at Pleasure Point this morning. The kind where you're not even sure if it's a wave, but you paddle anyways, and have fun as you ride it down. So relaxing after getting beat up in mush at Linda Mar.

links to surf forecasts

Forecasts:
http://pacificwaverider.com/bayarea/
http://www.stormsurf.com/page2/forecast/shortcast/ncal.html

Wave, buoy, tide link:
http://www.surfpulse.com/forecast.shtml

Schedule for Team USA at Athens

http://www.nba.com/athens2004/schedule.html