So we just wrapped up our weekend games, going 1-1. I don't have too much energy to write right now, but things went well. We lost to the best team in the league by two, and had every chance to win (on the road) and I think we can play with anyone. We beat a good team at home, even though we didn't play our best. So, all in all, good weekend.
Personally, I did okay. I am still trying to find rhythm with this team, hopefully it is almost here! I had 18 and 7 in the first game with 5 steals actually, and 14 and 5 in the second game. I am shooting it well from the free throw line though, 85% so far this year, so that is good. Things are starting to come.
Reott is the coolest.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
First Home Game
We had our first home game tonight and it was a good one. It was actually a good thing we practiced on the blue rubber floor because they rolled out a matt for us to play on at our home gym. Apparently the lines are confusing to television viewers, so they roll out a matt that only has the basketball lines on it. And it is blue. So, we were ready...
The first half went well for us, we didn't play great but neither did the other team. They had two Americans I had played against before. J.S. Nash, who we played against at El Dorado, and then David Chiotti, who we played against at Pepperdine. They were the same as before. Nash tried to get fouled a lot, actually has become more of a distributor than he was before but still scored a good amount. Chiotti was still a right shoulder center that just shoots jump hooks all game. He's good at it though. They also had a 7'2 Dutch guy. He was huge. We handled everyone pretty well and had a 5 point lead at halftime.
The second half things really went our way. We were pushing the ball and playing pretty good defense. A Dutch guy on our team, Neils, was 6/6 from three, 5 in the second half, and that helped us a ton. He, Omni Smith, Nick Stapelton, Steve Ross and myself scored in double figures and we won the game by a wide margin at the end. It was hard fought, but we played well down the stretch. The league will be a fun one to play in, the pace is uptempo and the players are good. So, I'm looking forward to the rest of the season. I even threw in a reverse dunk for old times sake during the second half. The crowd seemed to enjoy it.
I really feel good about the team, city, people, etc... I am glad to be here, and I know things are going to go well this year. The team has been very helpful with everything and everyone is very encouraging. So it's going well!!!
Dave
The first half went well for us, we didn't play great but neither did the other team. They had two Americans I had played against before. J.S. Nash, who we played against at El Dorado, and then David Chiotti, who we played against at Pepperdine. They were the same as before. Nash tried to get fouled a lot, actually has become more of a distributor than he was before but still scored a good amount. Chiotti was still a right shoulder center that just shoots jump hooks all game. He's good at it though. They also had a 7'2 Dutch guy. He was huge. We handled everyone pretty well and had a 5 point lead at halftime.
The second half things really went our way. We were pushing the ball and playing pretty good defense. A Dutch guy on our team, Neils, was 6/6 from three, 5 in the second half, and that helped us a ton. He, Omni Smith, Nick Stapelton, Steve Ross and myself scored in double figures and we won the game by a wide margin at the end. It was hard fought, but we played well down the stretch. The league will be a fun one to play in, the pace is uptempo and the players are good. So, I'm looking forward to the rest of the season. I even threw in a reverse dunk for old times sake during the second half. The crowd seemed to enjoy it.
I really feel good about the team, city, people, etc... I am glad to be here, and I know things are going to go well this year. The team has been very helpful with everything and everyone is very encouraging. So it's going well!!!
Dave
Thursday, October 9, 2008
deaux
Today was a good day here in Weert.
We had a little clinic that we put on just outside our apartment complex for a bunch of little kids. It wasn't so much a clinic as an opportunity for the woman in charge of them to get her picture taken for the newspaper, and for us to get a little of that good pub too. So we showed them how to dribble and shoot, played some shooting games and handed out cards. I got to hand out the team picture card, which I am actually not on, but no one seemed to notice. They were just in awe of the big basketball players they got to meet. I met a little girl there who grabbed my hand and was very excited to walk me over to her parents, and show me her newborn sister. I love stuff like that. My favorite fans are the younger ones, who don't really care about the wins and losses, but just like everyone wearing their favorite team's jersey.
After that was practice, on a rubber floor. We went to a different gym, the fourth different gym I have practiced at in the eight days I have been here. Gym time is hard to come by in Weert, so if you are ever here, book early. So we practiced for a couple hours and things went well. After that, the women's volleyball team had a match, so we went and watched and they won in five games. The game is a little different than in the states, they use a lot more shot making than we do back there. All I remember is trying to pound the ball straight down, but I guess there is more to it than that. It was an exciting match though, and I enjoyed seeing the Weert victory.
My roommate, Hugo, cut his finger open shortly after getting home. It was so sad because the cut required stitches, so he had to go to the hospital. The sad part was he cut it at the very end of preparing dinner, and didn't get to eat! Too bad. He is going to be out a week with his finger injury, one of those freak professional athlete injuries that everyone makes fun of. "Player cuts finger opening can of tuna, out three to five weeks." haha. I love it. Hugo is a great roommate and I wish him a speedy recovery.
Well, I am going to curl up in the smallest ball I can get my body into and try to fall asleep. The 3x6 mattress I sleep on is hardly roomy, but every other option for my bed was worse (used, stained, discolored, smelly) and I more of a chance sleeping in a state of physical discomfort than picturing how my used mattress got all those stains on it...
Wish me luck sleeping!
Dave
We had a little clinic that we put on just outside our apartment complex for a bunch of little kids. It wasn't so much a clinic as an opportunity for the woman in charge of them to get her picture taken for the newspaper, and for us to get a little of that good pub too. So we showed them how to dribble and shoot, played some shooting games and handed out cards. I got to hand out the team picture card, which I am actually not on, but no one seemed to notice. They were just in awe of the big basketball players they got to meet. I met a little girl there who grabbed my hand and was very excited to walk me over to her parents, and show me her newborn sister. I love stuff like that. My favorite fans are the younger ones, who don't really care about the wins and losses, but just like everyone wearing their favorite team's jersey.
After that was practice, on a rubber floor. We went to a different gym, the fourth different gym I have practiced at in the eight days I have been here. Gym time is hard to come by in Weert, so if you are ever here, book early. So we practiced for a couple hours and things went well. After that, the women's volleyball team had a match, so we went and watched and they won in five games. The game is a little different than in the states, they use a lot more shot making than we do back there. All I remember is trying to pound the ball straight down, but I guess there is more to it than that. It was an exciting match though, and I enjoyed seeing the Weert victory.
My roommate, Hugo, cut his finger open shortly after getting home. It was so sad because the cut required stitches, so he had to go to the hospital. The sad part was he cut it at the very end of preparing dinner, and didn't get to eat! Too bad. He is going to be out a week with his finger injury, one of those freak professional athlete injuries that everyone makes fun of. "Player cuts finger opening can of tuna, out three to five weeks." haha. I love it. Hugo is a great roommate and I wish him a speedy recovery.
Well, I am going to curl up in the smallest ball I can get my body into and try to fall asleep. The 3x6 mattress I sleep on is hardly roomy, but every other option for my bed was worse (used, stained, discolored, smelly) and I more of a chance sleeping in a state of physical discomfort than picturing how my used mattress got all those stains on it...
Wish me luck sleeping!
Dave
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Blog
Alright, I am blogging. Cool huh? Well, today is like every day in the basketball business. We wake up to go try on shoes we don't want to wear and that don't fit, and complain. Then we have an hour and a half shooting practice and complain. Then we drive home, complaining all the way that the 6 hours in between practices isn't enough time. And Wednesday is the "easy day" with the least complaining. Tomorrow, we have one practice. We have two hours from 8-10pm. I don't know how the coaching staff of this team could possibly think we could do this, but we have to coach kids at this clinic thing from 5-6! Oh and watch film on the team we play Saturday sometime between then and practice... How inconsiderate. So anyway, tonight I just have the hour and a half of warm-up and 5 on 5. I really hope I make it through.
The weird thing is, the players on the team have got me wanting to complain too. They've got me thinking that we shouldn't ever have to practice, it's only fair for us if we just play games! Our starting center, an American guy who no doubt had a harder practice schedule in high school and college, admitted to me that he isn't in great shape, and is going to have trouble playing 35 minutes a game (we don't have a viable back up center). He complains more than anyone! About tomorrows practice, he said "they're gonna have us there 5 hours man! How are we supposed to be ready for the game Saturday?" Well, I really have no idea.
Life is even more ridiculous here. Professional basketball overseas isn't formatted for a guy who doesn't drink, smoke, party, and try with all his might to have sex with anything that moves. I'm in a small city (45,000 residents) and even I can't think of anything else to do besides the activities mentioned above. So I do nothing. The only other guys who seem to do okay are the ones that have families (sometimes guys actually fit in to both categories simultaniously). So I'm on the computer a lot. I download music and get on facebook. And now, I blog. So enjoy it. I am going to keep doing a lot of that and then try not to pass away from practicing so much!
The weird thing is, the players on the team have got me wanting to complain too. They've got me thinking that we shouldn't ever have to practice, it's only fair for us if we just play games! Our starting center, an American guy who no doubt had a harder practice schedule in high school and college, admitted to me that he isn't in great shape, and is going to have trouble playing 35 minutes a game (we don't have a viable back up center). He complains more than anyone! About tomorrows practice, he said "they're gonna have us there 5 hours man! How are we supposed to be ready for the game Saturday?" Well, I really have no idea.
Life is even more ridiculous here. Professional basketball overseas isn't formatted for a guy who doesn't drink, smoke, party, and try with all his might to have sex with anything that moves. I'm in a small city (45,000 residents) and even I can't think of anything else to do besides the activities mentioned above. So I do nothing. The only other guys who seem to do okay are the ones that have families (sometimes guys actually fit in to both categories simultaniously). So I'm on the computer a lot. I download music and get on facebook. And now, I blog. So enjoy it. I am going to keep doing a lot of that and then try not to pass away from practicing so much!
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