Year-End Stats

As of 12/30/2011, our year-end stats look like this.....

Over 6,000 page views in the United States.  That's awesome.

146 page views out of Russia.  They appreciate our basketball like Andrei Kirilenko appreciate's back-tattoos.

Other notable countries with views....
Germany
Brazil
UK
India
Colombia
Malaysia
Sweden
and my personal favorite.....
Albania

Iron Sharpens Iron

When describing my PCTI1 and 2 performance, all you will hear are phrases like "He is a good teammate, He passes really well and He doesn't hurt you." What that really means is that he has played terribly, but no one wants to admit it. For that, I guess I can say I appreciate everyone's willingness to support my lackluster (That's the absolute most perfect word for it) play.

When I watch the film, I look at myself as a guy who appears to be enjoying being along for the ride.

That guy has come on gone.

3 months, 1 week, 1 day.

Get your ass in the gym.

No I'm not flexing.

#lftk

The Captain looks lost...

Pale and Unathletic?  I can't believe it took, DK that long to put a muzzle on this guy.

This is a perfect, "Hi, I need work," look.

Top 2 skeleton scenes of all time for everyone to enjoy on this finest of holidays.  GOAT technology

Scary Scott Donley

Talk about itimidation!

I bet this guy walked out on the Vols too, during the 3rd qtr, while they were getting stomped.

See you in April Cream Puff.

#cockstrongthis

Where You Going?

With Krow and Thompson looking on chomping at the bit to get in the game, above is a classic picture of a guy walking out on his beaten up team with no regard.

LFTK

Countdown:

Top 5 Favorite NBA Players

Over the course of my life, I have rarely obsessed over players or ever had a true “Favorite Player.” If someone were to ask me my favorite athlete of all time, I would have no idea how to answer it. Obviously, guys like Steve McNair, Keith Bulluck, Cliff Lee and Allen Iverson are up there, but no one really jumps out at me. Putting this list together was extremely hard for the NBA because I’m a 76er fan, and although Jrue Holiday has potential to be relatively special, I’m not quite jumping at him yet and therefore don’t have any go to guy’s from my favorite team. That and the fact that I much rather criticize than compliment. When evaluating, I typically look for heart, leadership, guts, toughness, smarts, if he makes his teammates better, and if he appears to be a guy I would like to hang out with.

5. Al Horford

This dude is really, really good. Although a bit undersized, he combines a pretty solid post game with one of the best mid-range games I have seen. He is a fantastic rebounder that competes and mixes it up in the paint. He is one of the best passing big men in the game, averaging around 3 dimes a game with a low turnover rate. He defends well, plays hard and seems to have a decent amount of likability to him. This is a guy I would love to see on a big market team where he would play with a decent point guard. Pretty impressive he has put up the numbers he has with Mike Bibby running the show since he has entered the league. In my eyes, one of the most complete players in the NBA today.

4. Brandon Roy

His knee issues are one of the saddest things that have happened in recent memory. The guy was on the fast track to being a true superstar. He had great leadership skills, played big (Bambi) in big (Brent) games, worked hard, was well spoken, was extremely tough to guard, played hard every night, and from all accounts was loved by fans and his peers. I really hope he will let his knees heel and come back from retirement in a few years with a superior team to make a run because the dude deserves it.

3. Chuck Hayes

Because I’ve always wanted to be one, I automatically love all undersized big men (UBM). There is typically a direct correlation between a UBM and being incredibly strong, being extremely tough and being an overachiever. Chuck Hayes is the latest in that wave. What Hayes does differently than the typical UBM is that he is a phenomenal passer. The guy sets up teammates with hard picks and great vision, along with being an enforcer, a role that has decreased in the NBA the last decade. He is not a great scorer but I think the Kings got what not only was a MUCH NEEDED asset, but an overachiever that is extremely underrated.

2. Tony Allen

This guy is a true enforcer that does not intimidate with size, but straight toughness, anger and unpredictability. I credit him for the Grizzlies turnaround as he instilled a swagger and confidence in that team because they simply felt comfortable knowing because they had Allen, they could win a street fight against any other team. He harnesses his aggression nicely on defense, being physical, smart and skilled to the point that opponents don’t want to try and score on him. Although not very skilled offensively, he can get pretty aggressive attacking the rim so the defense has to account for him. You can’t put a price in what having a guy like Allen does for the morale of his team, and I fully expect whatever team he is on the next four years to be an overachieving contender. I also love that he treated OJ Mayo like his stepchild by beating the hell out of him for being the douche that he is.

1. Chris Paul

There is nothing to not love about this guy. I’m not sure if it will get to the point where he is discussed like Magic, but I think Paul is going to end up being the best point guard of all time. He is perfect. The dude is the smartest player in the NBA, has great control of the tempo at all times, defends, never turns the ball over, can knock down most any shot, and is one of, if not the most competitive guy in the league. He has had an unbelievable career already, despite playing with next to no talent since he has entered the league (Hold my boy David West). I’m 100% confident that watching him play with Blake Griffin and the league’s coolest guy DeAndre Jordan is going to be one of the best combinations the NBA will ever see.

Just missed the cut: Marcus Camby, Eric Gordon, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Jrue Holiday’s clapping form.

Top 5 Least Favorite NBA Players

Fellas,

As you all get to know me better, you will realize (If you already haven’t) that I love to talk about anything negative. I love to hate on people, and decided a great way to combine my true passion and skill (Talking bad about people behind their backs), along with NBA basketball would be to do a post in regards to my Top 5 least favorite players in the NBA.

5. Dwight Howard

Let me start by saying this-I absolutely love this guy’s game. He is extremely skilled defensively and plays his butt off. Thanks to the work of Hakeem, he has a developing post game with a couple really good counter moves. Outside of his on the court performance is one of the most annoying players in basketball. I’m not going to say he isn’t competitive because he is, but this guy is leaving so much on the table with his goofy, childish personality. Does he appear to be a nice guy? Yes. Is he funny? No. On top of not being funny, he is constantly trying with his 6 year old child personality. Maybe other people find him funny and that’s why he can’t stop trying, but I can’t remember the last person I laughed at because he had a “Goofy” personality. You would think a 6’10” physical freak would be one of the most intimidating players in the league. Personally, I’m more scared of Matt Barnes.

4. Rashard Lewis

I will begin by stating the obvious-It’s unbelievably insane and ridiculous that he is one of the highest paid players in the league. That being said, it’s not his fault the NBA GM’s (See Otis Smith, David Kahn, Ed Stefanski) are some of the most idiotic employees on the planet. My problem with Rashard is that he is really, really bad at basketball and even worse to watch. He gains publicity as a 3-point shooter simply because he is tall and more than willing to shoot it. The only other way Lewis can score is by doing what every 6’10” “Big” should never do if they were the least bit tough, smart or good-Fade away. For some reason, NBA GM’s think Lewis can create matchup problems because he can spread the floor and be a tough cover for other big man. The issue is that Lewis possesses no positive attributes that should warrant being defended by a PF or Center. He is weak, slow, un-athletic, passive, and does not enter the paint. He does not rebound or defend on top of it. The guy is just an all-around bad basketball player and someone I find completely impossible to like. Fortunately, it’s time he begins to rot away on a team he fits in perfectly with-The Washington Wizards. I would bet the house without John Wall they would be the first team to go winless.

3. Kyle Korver

Man this guy sucks. What I hate most about Korver is the fact that when he enters the game, the entire offense runs through him. Since he is worthless is every other facet of the game outside of 3-Point Shooting, Chicago has to make sense of putting him in the game, so they do so by having their entire team focus on setting him screens and setting him open for his shot. I give KK credit-He does have a lightning quick shot. It’s frustrating though watching them try so hard to get him the ball for the 6 minute increments that he checks in, and how little ROI they receive from it. It’s actually pretty impressive if you think about how little he scores and you consider the fact that he is the focal point of the offense every second he is in the game. Having the likes of Deng, Boozer and Rose focus on how they can set up Kyle Korver for a shot is comical. It’s even more comical because he never seems to get open…. Or hit any shots.

2. Brooke Lopez

Lopez does not appear to be a bad guy. I’m actually guessing he is a really nice, likable guy. My hatred for him is 50% basketball related and 50% fantasy basketball related. I drafted Lopez in the second round of the fantasy hoops draft thinking I was getting a 20 point, 10 rebound, 1.5 block guy that would fill it up because he was 7 foot and on such a talentless team that he had no choice. Through 10 games I was starting to become curious as to how he was grabbing between 4-6 rebounds per game and how he was managing to turn the ball over 2 times a game. I mean, if your 7 feet tall, you have very few opportunities to turn the ball over since, you know, you’re supposed to be on the block the whole game. After a dozen games, I finally caught a Nets game to try and figure out what this guy’s problem was. I figured it out real quick-He just straight up does not appear to like or care about the game of basketball. I’ve NEVER seen a player so disinterested in every part of the game. Think about it, if you hang around the basket the entire game you can usually (Andrew) luck your way into 5 rebounds a game. That doesn’t factor in the fact that Lopez is 7 feet tall. I’ve never seen anything like it. He loves his midrange game (Anything to get him further away from the basket), despite having a nice arsenal of post moves and relatively good touch around the goal. Is he a good talent? Yes. If I’m the Nets, I’m shipping that guy off immediately while he’s young and before the rest of the idiot NBA GM’s realize you can’t win with a guy that doesn’t care about hoops.

1. Chris Bosh

Man I HATE this guy. It’s funny that I managed to walk away from The Decision completely disgusted by LeBron’s antics, but yet somehow found myself hating Chris Bosh for it. I didn’t know much about Bosh in Toronto outside of the fact that he was an elite rebounder and a guy that scored a lot of points. I also really liked his dreads. Thanks to him going to Miami, I’ve started to learn more and more about him and couldn’t be happier about it. Watching this guy to anything positive in any way makes my blood absolutely boil. I can’t tell you how excited I was when the camera was on LeBron after losing the Finals, and in in the background is Chris Bosh falling to his knees, crying like a child. If D. Wade would have fallen to the floor crying, I would have supported it. I have no problem with heart. Problem is that I’m convinced Bosh started crying because he was scared to death of how D. Wade was going to rip him for his soft, weak, gutless playoff performance. Over the course of the year Bosh admitted he was playing scared, wasn’t good at handling the big moment and that he was/is not the least cool of a guy (Seriously he said that). I’ll give Wade and LeBron this-They look good as headliners and know how to act the part despite not liking either of them. Bosh is PATHETIC at trying to look/act cool and I can’t get over that. Beyond all that, the guy is so bad defensively and at mixing it up that the Heat had to start Joel Anthony, one of the worst (If not the worst) basketball player in NBA history. I look forward to the Heat shipping him off and him going back to what he does best-Be a high scorer/rebounder on a bad team where he has no pressure to win. My nightmare would be hanging out with this guy.

Just missed the cut: Matt Barnes, Mo Williams, Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett.

Some thoughts for Geoffrey Gaybin...

Per your 5 euphamisms:

I love how every one of these categories is painted in a negative light. Especially mentioning the fact that guys like Jordan and Bird are assholes. Well duh, when you're that good at something it's rare to be a non-asshole. Look at other professions for example... Any really good doctor is probably going to be a prick, any really kick ass salesman is going to be a cocky son of a bitch, and anyone that's a freakishly good athlete... well you get the point. (Outliers include Durantula and Danica Patrick... shes so nice) That mentality of do anything to win combined with ridiculous amounts of talent are the pistons that drive those players to be who they are. What did this post aim to accomplish exactly? I guess it served to let everyone know that all of these people AREN'T Dirk Nowitzki. I've got a lot of things to read throughout the day on here and don't need to be wasting my time on this nonsense.

Per your 8 pick up types:

I remember Danny sending me a link to this a while back. Let's not be the Carlos Mencia of the PCTI blogs. Actually wait I just may have found it...

Yep: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hruby/070517

Per your team being terrible:

Your team is terrible and we will destroy you. Our heart is huge, our will to win is huge-er.

You have created a common enemy with all of your noise. Nothing draws people together like a common enemy.

Also, Wes sucks donkey balls

Russia loves PCTI

We've had 25 page views over the past 3 days from Russia.

Our market share there is consistently growing.  It's only a matter of time before we open up a development facility in St. Pete.

Doctor
PCTI CMO
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Basketball Euphemisms that don't Jibe

Basketball Euphemisms that don’t Jibe

Like many of you, I have watched my fair share of NBA and collegiate basketball games over the past 25 years. I can remember falling in love with the NBA in the mid 80s as teams like Bird’s Celtics and Magic’s Lakers were competing for titles. During this time, I got to witness some unbelievable talent come into the league, including Jordan, Akeem, Bias, Malone, Dominique, and my personal favorite, Chuck Nevitt. But what really hooked me was the fact that my team, the Dallas Mavericks, were going toe-to-toe with the Lakers for Western Conference supremacy, armed with the likes of Aguirre, Tarpley, Sam Perkins, Derek Harper, Ro Blackman, and Dale Ellis. Put another way, my Mavs were straight ballers. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough to beat the Lakers, instead settling for some deep playoff runs that did not culminate in a championship. However, it instilled in me a great sense of enjoyment and pride in my team and in the NBA. I thought that it was simply the best sport going, played by the best athletes in the world.

So, obviously I began to watch as much basketball as I could, even convincing my Dad on several occasions to let me stay up late on a school night to watch the Mavs west coast games versus the Lakers, Clippers, Sonics, and Blazers. However, the more that I watched, the more I began to realize that the basketball commentators used code language that I didn’t necessarily understand. For example, they would routinely refer to a guy like Craig Ehlo as gritty, gutty, tough, competitor, and hard worker. But while Jordan was putting up 60 points on Ehlo’s Cavs, I never heard Jordan referred to as gritty, gutty, hard worker, or possesses a lot of guile. And of course, I then began to realize at a relatively young age that basketball broadcasters are biased and describe games and players based on their own stereotypes and preconceptions about how a player should play. One of my personal favorites became describing a white guy as “deceptively fast”, while his equally talented, equally skilled, equally athletic black counterpart may be described as “not trying very hard”. So with that being said, I’d like to throw out a few of my favorite basketball code word euphemisms, along with what I perceive them to mean and how it might be used in a game setting.

1) The role player/journeyman.

Used in a sentence: Brian Scalabrine is a role player for the Celtics. He knows his role, supports his teammates, and does what he can to help the team win.

What it really means: This guy is not very good at basketball, and probably won’t be asked for his autograph by anyone.

Example: Sometimes a role player/journeyman might get subbed into a game and the commentator’s first thought might be “Wow, what a non-factor this guy is”. Of course, because it is relatively unprofessional to say something like that, the broadcaster will instead point out that he is a good support player, knows the “system”, knows his “role” on the team, doesn’t get outside of his ability, works well with others, is a “hard worker”, or perhaps even that he “can contribute when called upon”. It’s all code for “this guy has a skillset deficiency and won’t be playing much unless our good players are injured”. Good examples of role player/journeymen are guys like Tim Legler, Erick Dampier, Juwan Howard, Nazr Mohammed, and Chris Duhon…guys that you like as teammates, but just don’t bring enough to the table in terms of talent.


2) The Banger.
Used in a sentence: The Mavs are getting beat up tonight physically. Maybe they need to bring in a banger to match the other team’s physicality.

What it really means: This guy can’t shoot beyond 2 feet.

Example: You might call someone a banger if you think that they can get under the basket and use their physical strength and toughness to take contact from players on the other team. And it seems like a compliment at first. But then you realize that anybody who can shoot the basketball never gets called a “banger”. Can you imagine Dirk, LaMarcus, Bargnani, or Bosh ever being called a banger even if they are actually, you know, banging? Of course not, it strains credulity to think so. So basically, what you are saying with a banger is that he works hard, he is physical, he is OK with getting hit a lot, and doesn’t shoot from outside the charge semi-circle in the paint. Examples of bangers include guys like Kendrick Perkins, Ben Wallace, Aaron Gray, the Collins twins, and Shelden Williams.


3) The Sparkplug/Scrappy/Feisty Player.

Used in a sentence: I love watching JJ Barea draw a charge. He is such a scrappy sparkplug.

What it really means: You are small, probably white, probably slow-ish, and have to over-try just to compete against better athletes and players.

Example: Avery Johnson made a career out of being a scrappy, feisty player. Because he over-tried on most possessions, it took the focus off the fact that he couldn’t shoot, couldn’t penetrate off the bounce, and couldn’t keep his man in front of him on defense. And of course, since he played PG, this was a really big problem. Instead, commentators would say code phrases like “Kevin Johnson is blowing past Avery on almost every possession, but the Little General is competing by being scrappy and feisty”. And all that really means is that the basketball announcer was slow, white, and small himself, so he saw himself through the lens of Avery. If he were unbiased, he would’ve described the action as follows: “KJ is kicking Avery’s ass tonight. Maybe Poppovich should take the Little General out of the game and get someone in there who has a better chance of stopping him”. Examples of scrappy, feisty sparkplugs include guys like John Crotty, Steve Wojiehowski, Jon Scheyer, Greg Paulus, Bobby Hurley, Jacques Vaughn, Jerry Sichting, and any other white guard from Duke that can’t play basketball very well.


4) The Competitor.

Used in a sentence: I love having Larry Bird as a teammate. He is such a competitor.

What it really means: This guy is a raging asshole.

Example: For years, Kevin Garnett, has been lauded as a competitor, someone who brings intensity, fire, passion, will, and arrogance to his team. Of course, the implication of this is simply that every one of Garnett’s teammates over the past 14 years has not been a competitor, or that they are not competitive. So while being an alleged compliment to Garnett, it is certainly a slap in the face to his teammates. You telling me that Sam Cassell, Terrell Brandon, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Malik Sealy weren’t competitors? But the only people who describe this “competitor” as such are his own teammates, and his own team’s broadcasting employees. The little known secret is that other teams and players around the league hate this guy because he is dirty, cheap, arrogant, and is basically an asshole in every sense of the word. Dirk has routinely described Garnett as “an asshole” over the past 12 years, and Dirk is one of the best “competitors” in the league. Examples of competitors include the aforementioned KG, Kobe, Michael Jordan, Artest, Bruce Bowen, DeMarcus Cousins, Larry Bird, and Alonzo Mourning.

5) The Veteran.

Used in a sentence: Juwan Howard is a veteran. He is professional, classy, works hard, and is a good presence in the lockerroom. He really helps our basketball team.

What it really means: This guy can’t play basketball any more. It has been 5 years since he made a meaningful contribution to a team.

Example: For whatever reason, there are some guys who just continue to hang around on rosters well past their useful shelf life. In many ways, they are like a vehicle that is still chugging along slowly after 20 years, even though its motor was shot 10 years ago, the tires are bald, and the check engine light is always on. And what makes it worse, these guys won’t retire, instead clinging to the hope that they can help a team win through his “leadership”, “craftiness”, and “veteran presence”. Unfortunately, these are all code words for getting his ass kicked on the court by better, younger, faster, more athletic, and more skilled opponents. But as long as he is a veteran, you can’t criticize him because he “been through the battles” and “knows the ropes”. And of course, teams won’t cut him because it seems heartless and cruel, when in actuality it is merciful and beneficent. Examples of “veterans” include players like Howard, Kevin Willis, PJ Brown, Chris Mihm, and Patrick Ewing with the Orlando Magic.

So, next time you watch your favorite NBA game, be on the lookout for these euphemisms and feel free to add your own to this seemingly neverending list of misconceptions, stereotypes, racial bigotry, and biased reporting.

Sabin

The 9th Type Of Player

I've played more pickup basketball than most people you know. Between my unpredictable work schedule, the fact that I've moved several times and the bad luck that most of my close friends (aside from those of you reading this) are not very good at the sport, I've never in my life - including college - been fortunate enough to be a part of a regularly organized game. To get my hoops fix I have to go find a random gym and learn to play with random guys.

So I've certainly come across plenty of the guys Sabin described in his two most recent posts and I give him credit for bringing to life several very accurate caricatures. I don't know that I would agree with the people from my team he assigned to each..but then again that's not a surprise.

I think he did overlook one other type of player, however. I'm sure had he sought to do the same thing with his team, he would have realized it.

This 9th guy describes every single guy on Sabin's team except for Sabin himself and Ben. This guy is the true heart and soul of team LFTK.

9) The Wash-Up. This guy walks in the gym and the first thing you think is, "alright, this looks like somebody I won't hate." He's a relatively normal looking guy, you assume he probably has a normal job, went to college and maintains an overall fairly well adjusted livelihood. You give him the double take, assuming that if he's a relatively anonymous looking white guy that plays basketball, you've probably met him before.

Giving it a second look, you realize this may not be what you hoped for. You suspect that he's 10 to 20 pounds heavier than he used to be and should be. You can see it in his face. He's carrying a pair of generic Nike high tops. The shoes are beat up and maroon, the same color as his worn mesh shorts. You put two and two together and realize he still hoops in his team shoes from high school. Even though he probably graduated from high school ten years ago. This could be trouble. He takes off his jacket and reveals a cutoff t-shirt that advertises Homecoming 2001. He grabs a ball and with two hands stretches it as far as he can behind his head. He lets out a big exhale and does a quick quad stretch before he lets his first jump shot go. From the form it's clear he's been well coached at some point in his life but the shot falls woefully short, an airball. He sheepishly smiles and mumbles something under his breath as he jogs after the ball. He gets up a dozen more shots, most never making it over the front rim.

Once the game starts, the guy does exactly what you would expect. He clearly knows the game, knows where to be on the court and is even more aware than everyone else on the floor that he is very limited in what he can offer the team. In fact, while other guys on the court who probably never have played organized basketball use blind confidence and ignorance to score point after point, this guy is frozen by his own passiveness.

You see a few signs of life. When the ball finds him in just the right spot, it triggers something in his diminished self confidence and he begins to try to make a play. The problem is the muscles don't fire the way they used to, the hands still talk to the feet but it's in broken english and it's obvious the confidence that athletes on even the smallest scale need to succeed left town years ago. Half way through the move he realizes this isn't going to end the way he envisioned, and as as if he hears the forthcoming scream of his old high school coach in his subconscious, he quickly cuts bait and winds up tossing the ball back out to the top of the key. Some 5-foot-7 17 year old who didn't even go out for his high school basketball team catches the ball and promptly fires a 25 foot three pointer.

After the game he's gasping for breath and sits down next to you, complimenting you on how you played. He starts to make an excuse but you know what's coming, "Sorry bro, I haven't played in a lllong time but I'm trying to get back in to it." You nod knowingly, it's hard to be mad at the guy because there is certainly a lot worse sort of player to get stuck with. You play at the gym for the next five years but you never see him again.

Get this guy on a team surrounded by four confident scorers and he'll hold the court for hours. Get him out there with three or four other guys like him and it will be hours before anyone on either team scores the requisite 12 points to get someone else on the court...

8 Types of Players, Part 2

This is the continuation of a 2 part series in which I detail the 8 types of pickup basketball players that you can typically find in every pickup basketball game across the country:

5) The Man. This cat runs the court all day long and leaves no hope that other teams can knock him off his perch. This guy doesn’t lose, and he doesn’t get tired. He possesses a textbook jumper, a skillset above those of the other players, and is generally efficient in all phases of the game. What’s perplexing about this guy is that his actions and results typically look effortless, despite the myriad of defenders who try and stop him. He usually goes through a laundry list of defenders as each one takes his turn trying to stop him. His dominance speaks for itself, so this player has no need for trash talk and stooping to dirty tactics that are normally reserved for inferior players. Only knock on this guy is that he is so good that he is perceived as aloof and not caring about teammates. But that is only because he is aloof and doesn’t care about his teammates. He doesn't need to know who they are in order to help them win. Learning his teammates’ names is just a straight waste of this guy’s basketball brain capacity.

NBA Equivalent: Steve Nash, Kevin Durant

PCTI Counterpart: Josh Stephen


6) The Almost Baller. This guy looks the part. Generally speaking, this player will have a strong, sinewy body, a basketball-themed tattoo, and either cornrows or a shaved head. This guy walks into the gym and you think to yourself “Oh man, this guy can really ball.” Many times, he will wear a jersey from a well-respected league that he previously participated in, adding to the respect factor. Basically gives the appearance that he can really help your team run the court. But then you start playing, and you realize that he is extremely mediocre. He takes shots that he can’t make on offense, shoots well beyond his range, and tries to create plays with the ball that simply are beyond his ability to convert. He fakes an effort on defense by continuously shooting pass lanes but coming up empty on thefts. He often puts his teammates in peril by gambling when he shouldn’t. And worst of all, when he does make a play that seems like a respectable basketball play, he calls attention to himself by letting you know that he just did it. This act alone separates him from an authentic basketball player who just plays and competes, and is comfortable with the result knowing that he left it all out there.

NBA Equivalent: Kwame Brown, Vince Carter

PCTI Counterpart: Joe Thompson


7) The Spirit Killer. There’s bound to be at least one of these in every pickup run. This player probably played JV basketball and got cut from the Varsity program with an explanation from the coach that went something like this: “Listen, I know you love basketball and you seem like a good kid. But at the end of the day, you are small, slow, weak, terrible at basketball, and kill our chemistry with your ball stoppage and refusal to sprint. Other than that, I think you are great, but I just can’t keep you”. Since that time, this player has been trying to prove his old coach wrong by entering pickup games and destroying his team’s chances of winning. His behavior includes things like calling invisible fouls, getting into arguments that disrupt the flow of the game, asking for checkups when none are warranted, throwing the ball to the other end of the gym when he gets disrespected, and leaving the gym when one of his questionable foul calls is not honored. His teammates usually hate him because of these actions, but for some reason he never gets permanently kicked out of the pickup game. He does all of this with flair and a certain amount of peacockedness that defies explanation and is certainly beyond his talent level. This player usually has a color-coordinated uniform and shoes that are a bit too flashy for his ability. He is denoted by the lack of sweat that he produces, generally because so much of his effort is reserved for non-basketball activities on the basketball floor. Other than this laundry list of gripes, this guy is an absolute joy to play with.

NBA Equivalent: JR Rider, Latrell Sprewell

PCTI Counterpart: Josh Pitto


8) The O.G., or "Original Gangster". Maybe one of my favorite pickup players of all-time. This guy is a true baller and is in the gym almost every day. You can recognize this player because he doesn’t say much, preferring to let his basketball skill speak instead of his words. But when he does speak, it is usually a one-liner that comes from nowhere that cracks up the entire gym. Those kicks he’s wearing aren’t the retro models, they’re just the original shoes from 1989. Just like the older fellas on the golf course that hit straight, true drives almost every swing, this cat is straight cash homie from 21 feet and in. He may have lost a step or 3 due to age, injury, or pounds, but dude can still get to the spots he wants to get to even if his defender is geared up for the challenge. This guy has an arsenal of elbows, grabs, pulls, and awkward knees that he’ll hit you with off-the ball that refs never see. And typically, this guy will pull out some assortment of Icy-Hot and Ben-Gay for the post-game stretch routine. The O.G. is a guy you love to have on your squad, and a guy that you hate seeing on the other team. Generally, this guy keeps in good spirits for wins or losses, and realizes that his game will be timeless and constant well into his 50s.

NBA Equivalent: Robert Horry, Bill Walton

PCTI Counterpart: Dawson Huff

Showing Out

The Doctor has inspired me once again.  I think I'm going to ham it up for the camera this year.  So, after every made bucket, I'm dancing like this.  For 3 minutes and 14 seconds. #plusminuswillbelow

8 Types of Players, Part 1

Some of you may not know this, but I have organized a pickup basketball game in Dallas over the better part of the last 10 years. During that time, I have come across some outstanding pickup basketball players as well as some players who were in over their head. But invariably, there are some pickup players who stand out as the most memorable, some for their play and some for their qualities. As such, I'd like to take a minute to discuss the 8 types of pickup players I have formed relationships with, as well as their PCTI counterpart and NBA comparison. Enjoy...

1) The "Big Dude who thinks he's a guard". Typically, you get excited when a big guy gets on your team because you think your team will have a chance to own the boards and get some easy baskets in the paint. But this player is really frustrating because while generally being the tallest guy on the court at 6'5" or better, he rarely bangs for boards and has an atrocious shooting percentage from deep. Instead of fighting for position in the lane, this player will jack 23 footers that he can't make. He will typically lead a 2 on 1 fast break and pull up to shoot a 3 ball. And despite encouragement from his teammates to play in the paint, he routinely shrivels up like he's taking a swim in a chlorinated pool. The fact that he refuses to guard the other team's beast only fuels the idea that this guy doesn't want to battle. Picturing himself as a shooting guard versus a power player, this player is a constant source of frustration to his teammates as it forces guys half his size to do his work.

NBA Equivalent: Andrea Bargnani, Rashard Lewis

PCTI Counterpart: Big Brent Carney


2) The Player/Coach. This player plays with the mentality that each second might be his last. He typically wears knee braces, ankle braces, elbowads, wristbands, goggles, and perhaps a headband. He would wear a whistle around his neck if he could get away with it. He would fight back from a season ending injury to play in a single meaningless game. He is also the first person to call out screens for his teammate, and remind you each possession if you fail to do so. He typically will call out offensive plays, even though nobody cares or listens to him. He is scrappy on defense, heady on offense, and looks to pass more than shoot. But despite his good intentions and sound knowledge of the game, he is usually more of a liability on the court. For some reason, this player will usually pick a pet project usually in the form of another player who he thinks he can develop, typically for low IQ and terrible defense. This project almost invariably fails.

NBA Equivalent: Avery Johnson, Jacques Vaughn

PCTI Counterpart: Brian Eskildsen


3) The Football Player: Who doesn't love playing with the football player? I mean, how can you not love getting undercut on an breakaway layup or getting slammed into a wall for a play that is on the other side of the court? This player treats the hardwood as his personal gridiron. He typically just finished lifting weights, so unfortunately he has even more adrenaline to start the pickup game. He will generally dive for every loose ball and fight for every rebound, so you generally want him on your team. Will also resort to dirty and illegal tactics tht resemble football and not basketball. For this player, it is hard to tell the difference between the rules of the 2 games. Usually is moving on every single screen that he sets, mostly because he likes the contact. Wears a mouthpiece not because it helps him at basketball, but because he grew up with a mouthpiece playing football. Typically the most unlike player by the other team. Often referred to disaffectionately as "this guy is murdering me", although not for his basketball exploits.

NBA Equivalent: Matt Harpring, Ben Wallace

PCTI Counterpart: Cockstrong Scott Donley


4) The Hustler. This player always seems like he is playing hard because he is huffing and puffing every trip down the court. But invariably it is not because he is playing hard or sprinting on every play, but just because he is in terrible shape. This player is usually the 6th offensive option in 5 on 5 basketball, so he doesn't worry all that much about his offensive contribution, instead trying to make his contributions elsewhere. If his physical attributes matched his love and passion for the game, he would be a dominant player. It is usually very easy for this guy to keep track of his own stats, because it is not hard to count to zero with respect to points, boards, and blocks. This player is typically the least athletic player on the court, despite repeated attempts to make plays that he cannot make. Because basketball skills are difficult for this player, he makes up for it by hustling, being positive, and being likeable as a teammate.

NBA Equivalent: Brian Cardinal, Brian Scalabrine

PCTI Counterpart: Anthony Hopkins



Part 2 to follow soon...

Sabin

Dedicated?

Some people have made a big deal about offseason training. Some have argued actually playing the game helps prepare you. Regardless, rumors have been flying about Team Legs Feed the Kittens and their leaders specific instructions to get into great shape by any means necessary. There have also been false allegations against myself, Anthony Hopkins, for putting games together in Nashville and not inviting members of Team LFTK.

I question the dedication of those following the "leader" (read: loudest) of LFTK. A quick back story, Ben Wilson contacted me asking if I could get a game together for Saturday morning, because he would make the trek to play with some fellow PCTI brethren. As I do not have a key or direct access to a gym I started asking my connections to get us in somewhere. I tell Ben there is a good chance as my man at Belmont thought he could get us in the previous. As I am searching for a gym, Ben goes to the LFTK message boards and boasts about getting to play against people that don't have the last name Cho or Len or Xi. This is when the following exchange happens:

Dec 8 4:40 pm

Wes-Fil-A Murray (W-F-A): Uve got a game this sat and no invite?

Anthony Hopkins (AH): I haven't sent one to anyone bc I'm not sure about the gym now

W-F-A: Oh gotcha ben was sayin somethin so i was wondering if i was gettin cut off cuz we aren't teammates or somethin

AH: Ha nah just trying to finalize

W-F-A: Haha gotcha

AH: I'll let u know

W-F-A: Sounds good

(I will later explain why this was a little odd)

After exhausting every option for a gym I could (poor Smo's old man car was giving him trouble), Saturday around 11:15, Bruise came through with a gym at 2 pm at BGA. This is when I started scrambling for any players to try and get 10.

Dec 10, 11:46 am

AH: Hoop at 2 at BGA. Who's in?

W-F-A (12:00 pm): Dang can't this afternoon

AH: Wow. Nice

W-F-A: Haha my mom is comin this afternoon...i was hopin for the mornin. And she plan on treating me to as much Chick-fil-a as I can handle! (Ok, I added that last sentence)

AH: Whatever

W-F-A: Dang

End of dialogue

Ended up not being able to get 10 due to people like Wes-fil-a. This is the type of dedication I am seeing first hand from a member of LFTK. Who knows if the other members are actually working out and playing, or just feeding lines they know their "general" wants to hear.

(Just a quick tangent)

Since it seems to be so popular with LFTK, I will give you a breakdown of Nashville people playing in "my games":

Name % invited % attended

AHop 100% 100% (obvious)

Bruise 90% occasionally forget to ask 70% (he comes as much as he can)

Pitto 85% too early for him 70% (unless its too early he is always there)

Wes 75% tired of NO 5% (has said yes twice in 2 years I think)

Ben 5% lives in the A 6% (has vowed to make it more this semester)

Smo 4% lives in Chatt but % climbing 4% (has initiated a new gym. % trending up)

I know it makes it difficult not having a regular time and place, but it is rare that I don't at least attempt to get PCTI folks out there. Numbers don't lie (maybe if they are completely made up).

Jillett Matchup Series

Once (or twice) a month, we will look at potential matchups for PCTI III.  This segment is brought to you by Jillett.  It's a competing dick-cheese against DDC: Donley Dick Cheese (sorry, they beat you to the advertising arms race).

Michael Orr’s Defense vs. Brent Carney’s Offense

In our first segment of the Jillett Match-Up series, we start out with a bang.  What easily could be the most anticipated matchup of the weekend, Carney  v. Orr could very well be the tipping point for both squads.  Once childhood friends, now bitter enemies, there will be no love lost once these two square off. 

Neither possesses a distinct advantage, although one could make the case for an advantage for either competitor.  Traditionally, Brent’s inside/out game usually gives power forwards and centers alike fits with his ability to stretch the floor, knife through the lane, and finish with his left hand only.  Addtionally, Brent’s added rebounding regimen provided him with another tool for defenses to worry about. 

However, this would-be advantage can be negated by Michael’s length (6’7) and excellent defensive basketball IQ.  “Smo’s” ability to clean up misses, and alter numerous shots provides LFTK with a viable defensive threat.  Additionally, his long, storied history of playing with and against Brent gives him more than enough defensive knowledge to slow down or shut down Brent’s high powered and well-rounded offensive game.

Anthony Hopkins’s Length/Brian Eskildsen’s Tenacity vs. LFTK’s Guards

In the explosive and hard-hitting podcast last week, Anthony Hopkin’s defensive length became a very hot topic.  As he may have lost a step, his defensive IQ and length are the highest rated attributes he has in PCTI (both 94s—which are also the highest ratings for any player in any category in PCTI).  Brian Eskilden’s ability to get opponent’s heads with his high-motor (read: dirty) defensive tactics was a highly debated topic post PCTI II.  He proved in both PCTI’s that his defensive energy has been enough to will teams to victory.  Their work will be cut out for them as he will be called upon to slow down Ben Wilson, Danny Krow, Wes-Fil-A, Bryan McKinney, and Michael Beasley. 

Every one of LFTK’s guards can fill it up in a variety of ways.  Whether it’s a barrage of scoring (Ben Wilson) or Killing you slowly (Wes Murray, Bryan McKinney, DK), each can spell trouble for most defensively challenged players in PCTI (see Josh Pitto, Joe Thompson).  The multitude and balance of scoring by LFTK will force AHop and B-Easy to study each and every player’s offensive moves in hopes of slowing down the variety of ways in which they can score. 

The kicker for all of this is the lack of a scouting report and tape on Michael Beasley.  His background as an explosive athlete with a tremendous ability to get to the basket could be trouble for Hops and B-Easy.  That may be the most interesting storyline not talked about this PCTI Offseason that will surely rev up as PCTI III approaches.

Next week will be some additional Tier 1 and more Tier 2 Matchups. 

Who's Rim?

Smo's.

PCTI Blog Stats

We are Global.

We have just under 25 page views from people outside the United States (whopping 16 coming from basketball starved Germany and 1 from basketball famished, the Philippines, among others).

Keep the contributions coming, even if it's a 1 line post.  The more, the better.

--Dr.
PCTI CMO
1 PCTI Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

PCTI 2, Game 4 Review

PCTI 2, Game 4 Review

Synopsis: Team BC jumped out to a 9-2 advantage early as Team Eskildsen couldn’t take the lid off of the basket in the first several minutes. However, from that point, Team Eskildsen went on a blitzkrieg 38-18 run to take a commanding 40-27 lead at the break. At halftime, Team BC was visibly demoralized as they began to question if they had as much heart as they had talent. However, continuing the theme of “a tale of two halves”, Team BC came storming out of halftime with a renewed passion and energy. They began to score in succession and Team Eskildsen began to falter and stagnate. As such, they made up lost ground with a 29-16 run of their own to tie up the score at 56 tight and get right back in the game. From that point, each team took turns gaining the lead, albeit by a nominal amount. Sabin hit a 3 to put his team up 66-63, followed by an Abe 3 to tie. Next trip up the floor, BC hit a 3 to put his team up 69-66, followed by an Eskildsen 3 to tie the game at 69 with 90 seconds to go. Abe turned it over on the next possession. In a related story, Joe Thompson went apeshit. Then, Ben took it strong to the hoop with a minute to go, got fouled, and calmly hit 2 big free throws. Up 71-69 and feeling very strong about their chances to win the game, Team Eskildsen saw the chance to ultimately tie the series 2-2. However, Abe put team BC on his back, converted an and-one and sunk the free throw. More on this play later. Shellshocked, Team Eskildsen called timeout and halfheartedly concocted a failed strategy to heave up a desperation 28 footer as time expired that did not draw iron. Team BC walked away with a 72-71 victory and an insurmountable 3-1 series lead. For Team BC, this game was the thrill of victory. For Team Eskildsen, this game was the agony of defeat.

Analysis: Each team had stretches where it played really well, and each team had stretches where it played really poorly. This was another game where each team was evenly matched, and the outcome was determined at the final possession. Team Eskildsen was right to be upset with itself after the game, squandering a 15 point lead in the 2nd half, and failing to get a single defensive stop at the end of the game to secure the victory. Even though Team Eskildsen played really well for 15 minutes in the first half while building a 13 point lead, it began to slow the pace and did not get many transition opportunities. Team BC then began to hit shots and scored in succession at multiple points in the 2nd half. They outscored us 45-31 in the second half, shooting a stunning 56% from the field, and 42% from deep. Team Eskildsen was unequal to the task in the second half, shooting just 36% from the field, 30% from 3, and 57% from the line. From the perspective of BC’s team, they walked away thinking that their heart and drive led them to a come-from-behind victory. Alternatively, from the perspective of Eskildsen’s team, this is simply a game that was stolen, being lost more than it was won. With poor defense, unforced turnovers, and questionable shot selection, Team Eskildsen simply choked this game away, ultimately causing a 3-1 series deficit. What is most difficult to accept about this game though is the fact that if Team Eskildsen had simply secured this victory, it would’ve walked away with a 2-2 series tie, and ultimately a 4-2 series championship. This will always be the game that got away, and will keep me and Captain Eskildsen up nights thinking about it. This is not to say that Team BC didn’t earn the victory or that they didn’t make a great play. Abe certainly went to beast mode and made a great play for his team. My point is simply that your perspective of the outcome of this game simply depends on which team you were on.

Top Player: Sabin. 18 points, 12 boards, 7-10 FGAs, 1 triple, 3-3 FTAs, 2 assists, 1 steal.

Honorable Mention 1: Abe. 21 points, 6 boards, 3 triples, 8-19 FGAs, 2-3 FTAs, 1 block, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, game-tying basket, and game-winning free throw.

Honorable Mention 2: Eskildsen. 7 points, 7 boards, 7 assists, 3-6 FGAs, game-tying triple, 2 blocks, and 2 steals.

Honorable Mention 3: Smo. 7 points, 11 boards, 3 assists, 3-6 FGAs.

Notable moments: Sabin yells “And one!” for a missed layup. The ironic thing is that it wasn’t his own layup, but rather for teammate Ben Wilson, who I thought should’ve gone to the foul line. In a related story, I will not be bringing this phrase to PCTI 3 due to the amount of negative energy it has engendered.

BMac sprints down the floor to catch up with an errant hit-ahead pass (seem to be a lot of these). As he tracks the ball down, he falls out of bounds, and throws the ball off of 3 members of Team Eskildsen to keep possession. There wasn’t a member of Team BC within 50 feet of the play.

The seal of this game wasn’t broken until a Scott Donley 3 splashed through with 16:50 to go in the first half. Team Eskildsen did not score until 15:30 to go in the first half. Seems like a long time to go without scoring. No wonder the scorekeepers laugh at us…

Joe Thompson misses a makeable layup, thinks he gets fouled, and yells “That’s fucking bullshit!” to nobody in particular. Again, great analysis. Next possession on the other end, Sabin successfully converts an and-one bucket, while BC states “You talked your way into that…how are you talking your way into that?”, while teammate Thompson, still fuming, yells “That’s the exact same fucking call on the other end!”. In a related story, officials still do not like Joe Thompson.

Ben slices and dices through 2 members of Team BC, goes up for the shot, switches to the left hand in a moment that recalls images of Jordan doing it to the Lakers, and converts the nice lefty layup. This was simply a special basketball play by a dominant offensive basketball player.

Pitto jumps into BC who is standing straight up. Pitto forces the ball into BC’s vertical hands, attempting weakly to draw a foul call. The refs buy it and Pitto goes to the line. BC stands there incredulously, with the ball no less, wondering how that play just happened. In BC’s defense, that was maybe the worst call in PCTI history. Blocks don’t get any cleaner.

BC is shown on film noticeably chatting up members of Team Eskildsen on the bench. Meanwhile, play is happening on the other end with free throw attempts. In a related story, BC only averaged 5.9 rebounds a game in PCTI 2. Also, BC’s reputation for caring more about being a pretty boy and less about grinding out boards for his team grew infinitely during this sequence.

Hops picks Abe’s pocket clean as a whistle and initiates a fast break. Abe, clearly the more physically dominant basketball player, loafs back on defense wondering when his next touch on offense will be. A very telling sequence between a talent and a grinder.

JT scores on Pitto and yells “Weightroom!”. Pitto immediately proceeds to hit a 3 pointer on the other end not 5 seconds later as JT is still looking for Deuce and the camera. In a related story, Thompson didn’t have much to say after Pitto drained the 3 in his eye.

Abe literally shoots a fingerroll from 15 feet away from the basket and misses. Damndest shot I’ve ever seen in all my years of hooping. Long story short, he misses the fingerroll, but the next trip down the floor drains an off balance 3 from 23 feet. On the one hand, you have to admire this guy’s ability to score. On the other hand, you really have to stop caring about your teammates to reach this level of terrible shot selection.

Sabin steals an errant pass from Team BC and sprints down the floor for an uncontested layup while Thompson mockingly yells “And one!” from the bench. Sabin points at Thompson on the way down the floor, indicating that Thompson is too small to mess with the author. In a related story, Sabin and Thompson almost came to blows a few minutes later. Great sequence.

Dovetailing this sequence, as Sabin runs back down the floor, Pitto can audibly be heard saying “He plays way too hard”. And that is probably all you need to know about why we aren’t best friends in PCTI.

There is a possession before halftime where Eskildsen, Ben, and Pitto make plans for an offensive play before the buzzer. All 5 other teammates are excluded from the plan, and consequently have no idea what we are doing on the floor. In a related story, the play itself did not work and was busted pretty early.

Team Eskildsen went from down 7 in the first half to up 13 at halftime. That 20 point swing is an indication of how well we started to play in the middle part of the tourney.

Deuce is now actively calling for Joe to act a fool when he scores. When Thompson does score, which is rare, Deuce gets hyped, laughs, and says “Joe, get in the camera!”. Joe, of course, mugs for Deuce while Team Eskildsen is scoring on the other end. It really is a disgusting relationship that those 2 have.

BC during a timeout, goes to the camera and says “Joe don’t talk smack, he smacks talkers.” However, there is no proof that Joe talks trash, and even less evidence that he has the ability to smack talkers. Not sure why this phrase was uttered except that BC likes to make Joe laugh.

DK is held scoreless for 38 minutes by a combination of Sabin, Hardin, Hops, and Murray. The other 2 minutes of the game, DK goes off for 8 points. In a related story, Pitto was guarding DK during that time.

Bruise spikes one of BC’s shot attempts like a volleyball player. Bruise then puffs his chest out and lets the gym know that this is his house. Consequently, BC then turns to Pitto, the smallest guy on the floor, and begins to talk trash. I’m not sure what any of it means, I’m just glad that Bruise is my teammate. I love that guy.

Wes takes a hard fall out of bounds close to the blue. He gets up, thinking that he was playing with a bunch of brothers, and says “I’m straight”. Not sure if he was saying he was OK, or if it was a declaration of his sexual preference. Either way, seemed like a weird thing to say at an all-white basketball tournament.

I’m just gonna say this…Scott Donley and Bruiser Van Horne are men on the boards. No excuses, no looking for foul calls, no babies allowed. Just big, strong dudes doing big, strong things in the big, strong paint.

Hops makes a nice pass to Ben for a layup that displayed their nice chemistry playing together. They no doubt learned this chemistry at the University of Unathletic White Guys. Hops went on to get his masters.

Joe Thompson calls a timeout when his team needs to draw up a play down 69-71 with 15seconds to go, and utters the following: “OK, Donley sets a pick for Abe. Abe you roll to the basket. BC you spot up in the corner, and Danny you do too. Wait, Danny, are you in the game? Oh, McKinney’s in? Damn it, OK, McKinney you spot up with BC. Oh, you’re not in the game either? Well, who’s in the fucking game? And who’s throwing the ball in?” At this point, time has run out and the buzzer sounds to resume play. Thompson responds with this gem…”Damn it. Just somebody set a backpick for Abe and we’ll see what happens”. With that kind of insight and coaching, how did they ever beat us? I don’t know either.

Last Play of the Game: As mentioned before, I respect that Abe made a great play to tie the game and ultimately win it on the free throw line. Yet, Team Eskildsen gave away this game as a result of our timeout decision on the last defensive possession. Somehow, Eskildsen, a really good defender, subbed himself out in favor of Pitto, a not-so-good defender, presumably for free throws. Unfortunately, that meant Pitto was guarding cockstrong Scott Donley. Of course, Donley sets the screen that frees Abe and Pitto neither tells Hops about the backpick, nor hedges the screen, nor switches, leading to disaster for us. In a related story, we then went on to lose the series in 7 games. And yes, I’m sure that I will always be bitter about this as I’m sitting at 0-2 in PCTI.

Sabin

BestCoasts Podcast 6 Featuring Scott "Hero" Donley

Listen to internet radio with BestCoasts on Blog Talk Radio

I Took Team Legs Feed the Kitten (Ben Wilson's) Heart

I gave Ben a taste this afternoon of what's to come in April.  It's clearly evident that Sayben's leadership skills have not been paying off.  If he's falling for this in December, imagine what April will be like....

I'm not even acting, for the record.

From there, Ben called my bluff.  But the damaged had been done.

Ben's gullibility is an example of what shoddy leadership does to a team.  He needs a shepherd to guide him and instead he's got a kitten.  

#BreakingGood

Best Route to Dallas

Expect to hear from me once a month in regards to travel arrangements. I'm fully aware of guys lack of motivation when it comes to booking airline travel, which is why I don't want there to be a situation where someone is in a tough spot that I could have helped avoid.

As previously stated, I strongly suggest everyone try to get a Thursday night, after work flight. There are direct flights from everywhere to Dallas each evening, and that way you will be there in time for the now traditional TR night film session. If you HAVE to leave Friday, please get on the first flight out, no matter how early it is, to minimize the risk of an all day session at the airport and missing Games 1 and 2 which will be played at 5:00pm and 6:00pm, respectively.

Everyone that has ever lived in the south obviously prefers flying Southwest. Problem is that Nashville does not fly directly to Dallas despite the fact that their headquarter's is that (So is American's.. There is your business lesson for the day Pitto). I suggest the following flight:

American Airlines Flight 1691 on Thursday, April 5th:
Departs Nashville @ 6:50pm.
Arrives Dallas FW @ 8:50pm.

American Airlines Flight 2684 on Sunday, April 8th:
Departs Dallas FW @ 6:00pm.
Arrive Nashville @ 7:45pm.

Prices are roughly around $350 (SW's are about $410)right now. Hold off until they get down to about $275 then book. My suggestion is to pay attention not necessarily because of the prices, but for the flights. American Airlines has better flights and is cheaper than Southwest going from Nashville to DFW. An AA flight will be non-stop for an hour and a half, a SW flight will be minimum four hours and a chance to get stuck in the world's worst city that isn't Nashville or Atlanta; Houston, TX.

I strongly advise not driving as it's a BRUTAL 11 hour drive of nothing and anticipate a lot of bad cramps along the way... And it will probably be more expensive than flying.

For anyone wondering, American Airlines stock (Ticker: AMR) is currently trading at $.74 (Up 67% today because they claimed bankruptcy and somehow people found value in that). Southwest (Ticker: LUV) is currently trading at $8.54 a share. Southwest is a trillion times better than American in every facet, hence the reasoning they are taking a ton of business from them, and why all their employees are happy and AA's are miserable 24/7, usually trying to make your flight experience as miserable as they are. Unfortunately in this case, it will save you time and money.

And finally, an update on each company stock price as of today that is represented in PCTI:

Kimberly Clark (Donley)-$70.79 WITH a 3.96% dividend
CH Robinson (Smo)-$68.54 with a small dividend
Verizon Wireless (Abe)-$38.32 WITH a 5.22% dividend
Macy's (Wes)-$32.95 with a small dividend
All State Insurance (McKinney)-$27.12
ConAgra Foods (Ca$h)-$25.52 WITH a 4% dividend

Long story short, the company's represented in PCTI are not growth but value stocks. If you have a portfolio with KC, Verizon and ConAgra will your money will compound each year and turn into a decent sum in 30 years if you re-invest your dividends. For anyone that is wondering, outside of my salesmanship of Slim Jim's and David Seeds in the always lucrative convenient store industry, ConAgra is hurting. However, our cash cow is the doing all the fries for Burger King and McDonalds, along with the dough for Papa John's... Unfortunately, commodity prices are up so it's hurting our business. I'm not sure how the forecast is looking for the rest of the company's on the list. The one thing I will weigh my hat on is that the actual price of the stock is not a direct correlation of the company's overall performance (Or so they so, I think that's exactly what it means). If I'm wrong, my company is the worst publically traded company in PCTI.

There is another business lesson for Pitto and Bruise.

This post was 99% for Brian. I trust everyone else to book their flights except Pitto, and I like Brian enough to know he is the one that will be put out when it's March 25th and Pitto still has not gotten around to booking his flight.

Long story short, BOOK YOUR FLIGHT.

Silent or Deadly?

Within the PCTI organization, there is no question some people are more active than others. With big mouths like Danny Krow, Jeff Sabin and Anthony Hopkins, there is never a shortage of trash talk, dialogue, etc. Some would say there is a direct correlation between engagement in offseason activities, organizational skills, and draft stock. Hell, there is no other excuse for Danny Krow being a 2nd round pick with a career output of 3 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 apg. Hopkins has been looked on and praised countless times for his leadership abilities and the "Intangibles" he brings to a team. Outside of your big mouths, you have the PCTI media relations department, consisting of Big Bambi and Dr. Thompson who keep everyone engaged once a week with their stimulating breakdown of each athlete. Trickling down from there you have the guys that are notorious one line emailers, reminding everyone they are around, funny and ready for next year, stemming from Stephens to Wilson to Pitto to Eskildsen to Donley to Smo to Bruise. Then you have Dawson Huff who does not have internet access despite there being internet in literally every square inch of the world. Beas is a rookie and still working his way on to the scene.

That then leads me to the two mystery men. The men that no one knows what they are doing, how they are doing, or where they are doing whatever it is they are doing... Bryan McKinney and Wes Murray. Is this by design? Doubtful. Maybe they just don't feel the need to let 7 games of basketball each year consume their life. Maybe they truly care about being quality employees, and choose to spend the time they are getting paid to work to actually, you know, work.

Or maybe it's part of a master plan to be known as a silent assassin. Despite both their best efforts, the PCTI faithful has not allowed them to slip off into the darkness without atleast being discussed about frequently in an open forum. There might not be two athletes in this thing that have been more scrutinized this offseason than McKinney and Murray. However, outside of a few pictures of McKinney overhead squatting or throwing tires around, what does anyone actually know what he is doing? What the heck is Wes doing? No one knows. You know why? Because he doesn't tell anyone.

There is no question McKinney has received praise from a few Cross Fit faithfuls for his offseason decision to join the cult. However, does anyone really think that olympic lifting is going to translate into production on the basketball court? Outside of Sabin showcasing what Cross Fit did for him during the Friday morning shootaround by grabbing the rim and doing pullups on it, did anyone really see such a drastic change that they should be concerned about what McKinney might bring?

What about Murray? What is this guy capable of? Some early remarks about his game when I requested a scouting report:

"He is the only guy I can't score on."-Josh Pitto
"He absolutely kills the opposition without even realizing it."-Anthony Hopkins

We all know what the corporate world can do to a basketball game. No time to play and no access to games all contribute to a deteriorating basketball game. Is Murray's game deteriorating? We don't know. Is he playing this offseason? We definitely don't know. Regardless of what Murray shows up, you know you will be getting a top teammate, competitor, defender, shot faker, and effort guy. Is that all TLFTK will be getting? Time will tell. For all PCTI knows, Murray could be working on the Mikan drill putting in two hours of gym time each day preparing.... Or he could be eating a Chicken Sandwich (Chris) Doused in Polynesian Sauce.

One thing we know-These two mystery men are showing up to PCTI... We think.

TEAM LEGS FEED THE KITTENS

Just catching up on some rest before another intense practice session ran by Coach Saban.

Scouting Report: Jeff Sabin

PCTI2 Totals:
PPG-10.3
RPG-7.7
APG-1.7

Pro's:

High percentage shooter with a solid perimeter and mid range game. Quality finisher when going right. Addition of bulk and physicality have been incremental to his game. Can shoot it accurately off the dribble. Uses the glass effectively in mid-range game. Improved rebounder that smacks the air out of the ball when cleaning glass. Elite conditioning helps him run the floor and wear down the D. Good handle and passer. Enjoys mixing it up down low. Quickness and physicality compliment his love for defense nicely. Coach on the court. Effective in the post against weaker defensive players. Rarely misses a free throw. Offseason regiman is the best in the business.

Con's:

Still finding his PCTI niche. Despite a solid PCTI2 performance, constantly battled with teammates and did not play to his strengths. Character issues. Post game is strictly based on physicality and a fade away. Obsession with being physical detracts from his biggest strength-Shooting. Angers teammates and the opposition with cries when attacking the basket. Villain ways make the PCTI faithful wonder if he can get along with anyone on the court. Not quite as strong as he thinks just yet.

Overall:

0-2. Underwhelming PCTI1 performance. Controversial PCTI2 performance. Clashes with teammates. Yells at refs. Swung at by Joe Thompson. Despite all the negatives, Sabin earned himself a leadership role moving into PCTI3, and was extremely scrutinized for drafting his guys-A bunch of tough, hard nosed, mean, well conditioned athletes that enjoy hurting people almost as much as they do winning basketball games. Within minutes of the draft, Coach Sabin laid out a clearly defined offseason plan, combined with each players role on the team. Is this type of structure and comraderie what his teams have lacked the last two PCTI's? Sabin has not played anywhere close to his potential, and the first tournament in his hometown should be just what the Dr. ordered. That being said, Sabin has given Breaking Bad more than enough bulletin board material in one offseason. Expect them to come out gunning for him in PCTI3.

Scouting Report: Ben Wilson

PCTI2 Totals:
PPG-12.7
RPG-8.3
APG-2.6

Pro's:

Dynamic offensive player. Explosive scorer that can hurt the defense from anywhere on the court. Sneaky quickness complimented with a strong spin move make it tough to stop him from getting to the hoop. Good touch around the basket and can finish with either hand. Great handle and vision. Size, guard skills and rarely used post up game make him a matchup nightmare. Positive energy guy. Plus rebounder despite not putting a premium on it.

Con's:

Defensive stance and effort are laughable. Gives too much space one on one and tends to zone out. Big time streak shooter that has put up some of the best and worst games in PCTI history. Has the tendency to try and take over despite being on a cold streak. Conditioning comes into question and has proven he wants to get by off skill and talent, rather than dedicating himself to a rigorous offseason regiman. Lack of access to quality hoops game will work against him. Despite ability to hit from anywhere on the court, percentages show the 40ft. jumpers need to go.

Overall:

A two-time All PCTI winner, Wilson has cemented himself as an elite scorer, rebouner, and overall performer despite his career record of 0-2. Fresh off a performance that landed him the #1 pick slot, questions will linger if the Wilson/Sabin combination is ready for a breakthrough, or if it's just not meant to be. Will he dedicate himself to a lighter version of Sabin's offseason workout plan? Most will guess no. If no is accurate, will we see any improvements in Wilson? If so, expect Wilson to lose the "Defeated" label and compete with Sabin in the MVP race. If not, expect a few great games, a few bad games, and a few games he is too tired to care.

Scouting Report: Dawson Huff

PCTI1 Totals:
PPG-12.3
RPG-2.8
APG-.8

Pro's:

Posseses a rare set shot that he can hit from all platforms. Shoots a high percentage and rarely takes bad shots. Try hard guy that is more vocal on the court than he is off it. Plays with heart and loves the game. Strong post up game with an arsenal of moves almost as excessive as his arsenal of jokes. Borderline unblockable shot that is released at it's highest point. Career 90% FG shooter. Not dynamic but solid defender that slides his feet and is very disciplined. Good teammate and good measurables for a guard. Never gets tired and leaves it all out on the floor. Decorated career at McMinville Community College shows he can compete at an extremely high level.

Con's:

Destructive leg injury is still being rehabilitated. Strong box out guy but does not compliment that skill with rebounding production. A very willing passer but not known as a guy that's going to hurt you with his vision. Not explosive in any sense of the word. Character questions off the court.

Overall:

Huff came out of the gates in PCTI1 and had one of the best tournaments to date from an efficiency perspective, shooting a high %, playing strong defense and making few poor decisions. His passionate play and love for the game will be on display more than ever after missing PCTI2. How he responds to his leg injury will be key, but don't expect anything less than 50% shooting, 10 ppg, and a lot of Jim Carrey jokes from 1990 whenever it is that Huff is able to set foot on the PCTI hardwood next.

Scouting Report: Michael Beasley

PCTI2 Projected Stats:
PPG-9.6
RPG-5.2
APG-1.4

Pro's:

Skilled, relentless, physical defender that enjoys being disruptive. Discipline and quickness make him very difficult to score on. Long and athletic. Plays full throttle at all times. Attacks the basket offensively and can finish. Accurate shooter that can hit from anywhere. Good rebounder despite not being overly physically imposing. Strong base on defense. Good teammate that comes from a winning program. Training regimen at high altitudes should be a positive. Super competitive.

Con's:

Despite looking good recently, still rehabbing his body into basketball shape after a two year hiatus from a torn pectoral muscle. Has been known to try and take over occasionally. Does not prefer defending the post and has no game with his back to the basket. Shot can be inconsistent. Lack of PCTI experience could be a weakness. Passion for the game came into question in college but appears re-dedicated. Not known as a top notched passer despite being very willing.

Overall:

A relatively complete player on paper, Beasley will be the only rookie entering the PCTI ranks. Seems to be a good fit in Team Legs Feed the Kitten system as a defensive stopper, energy guy, and scorer. Will need the leadership of Jeff Sabin to make sure he is ready for the marathon that is PCTI. Has been well received for his engagement in emails early on. Currently training in Lake Tahoe can be a positive and negative, as his lack of competition should be a significant draw back. Will he be ready for top competition? If Sabin's tuteledge can keep him focused, expect to hear Beasley talked about in the All-Tournament ranks for years to come.

Scouting Report: Wes Murray

PCTI2 Totals:
PPG-3.3
RPG-1.4
APG-1.4

Pro's:

Relentless, stout defender that gives the offense no space to operate. Completely erases his assignment from the offensive glass through superior box out technique and effort. A+ teammate that seems to find hole's in the defense. Shows flashes as a knock down shooter with range. Deceptive quick first step. Utilizes shot fakes to keep defenses off balance. Looks great in black.

Con's:

Conditioning/passion concerns will continue to linger throughout the entire offseason. Mystery man that thrives on no one knowing his whereabouts. Documented his love for Chick Fil-A as one of his biggest detractors from his PCTI performance. Not quite known as a superior athlete. Lack of playing in the offseason played a part in him losing some of his offensive PCTI1 aggressiveness. We will not be calling him the next Steve Jobs anytime soon.

Overall:

Murray came into PCTI as a huge question mark, as he was only known by a few and was coming in with a significant ankle injury. He displayed excellent toughness fighting through the pain and putting together a very solid performance, playing a big role in some key victories for Team A Hop. The move from college to professional life took it's toll on him, as his offseason training regimen became non-existant. Question marks will continue to surround this mystery man as to what Wes Murray we will be seeing. Additionally, who is the true Wes Murray? Despite a strong performance, playing on a bum ankle for 6 games takes it's toll, so one can't help but to wonder truly what the man is capable of.

Scouting Report: Dan "The Man" Krow

PCTI2 Totals:
PPG-3.7
RPG-3.3
APG-2.7

Pro's:

Throws a great overhead pass. Making a name for himself as a master of the hit ahead pass, which has resulted in 2 assists combined in PCTI1 and 2. Excellent post feeder. Good verbals. Great passer from the post. Wide array of post moves. Willing screen setter.

Con's:

Known as a high motor guy that actually has a very inconsistent motor. Gets discouraged if not heavily involved in the game, despite showing no aggressiveness when incorporated. Known as a knock down mid range jump shooter that actually shoots a very low percentage from 15ft. Terrible touch around the basket and even worse from three-point range. Lacks quickness and has extremely slow feet. Does not attack the basket as a PG. Talks the proper game but does not actually go through with the words that come out of his mouth. Tends to talk guys into shooting wide open shots, which typically results in baskets for the opposition. Although appears to set a lot of screens, Krow usually just runs to a general area and tries to get in the way of a defender without making actual contact.

Overall:

Big mouth that has cemented himself in the upper echelon of PCTI talent through savvy moves of organization, excessive email and blog posts, and overall engagement. Krow has consistently been picked at the top of each draft despite consistently low shooting percentages, along with point and rebounding totals. Tries to play up his assists, A/TO ratio and steals but each stat is so minimal you can't help but to question how much those stats are actually impacting the game. After two years of giving every excuse in the book, Krow is in a good place with access to everything he claims he has needed, so look at PCTI3 as put up or shut up time for the man they call "The Commish."

Scouting Report: Bryan McKinney

PCTI2 Totals:
PPG-6.3
RPG-4.7
APG-1.0

Pro's:

Rifleman with a lightning quick release. Relentless when crashing the offensive glass. Motor never stops running. When hot, can do serious damage to the opposition. Ultra-confident offensively. Best in the business when it comes to hedging screens. Forces turnover's by excessively jumping passing lanes. Will not shy away from a charge under any circumstances. Typically in superior condition and never gets tired. Runs the floor for hit aheads with the best of them and wears down the defense. Cross Fit.

Con's:

Has not been in typical Bryan McKinney shape the last two PCTI's. Some would question whether his head was in it or if he was more focused on the bar exam. Has been less aggressive offensively, taking a more passive role and deferring to lesser shooters. Typically known as a low IQ basketball player. Willing post feeder but otherwise leads something to be desired when it comes to passing. Has not been as effective crashing the offensive glass due to letting himself go in PCTI2.

Overall:

Despite his best efforts to stay quiet and keep a low profile in PCTI, McKinney's decision to join the Cross Fit ranks has made him the most scrutinized, talked about player in the PCTI3 offseason. When motivated and in shape, the sky is the limit as to what he can do. Will he come out firing, crashing the glass relentlessly, and wearing out whoever is guarding him, or will he come out just trying to fit in the flow of the game? When you have the natural tools McKinney posseses, fitting in does not do him justice. Time will tell, but expect to hear the name Bryan McKinney, Cross Fit, and question marks a lot the next four months leading up to the big weekend.