Observations by Player Leading Up to PCTI7

Preparing for the games in PCTI is one of the best parts. More have grown to embrace/admit the fact that PCTI has been great for all of our health.  Outside of the obvious, there's no question it keeps us exercising in ways we probably wouldn't, and playing more than we normally would.

I can say with 100% certainty that although the wins/losses have been lopsided the last two years, the pace and prep shown by the majority of the guys has improved in a big way.  I doubt any of us thought we would be improving over time, but that shows you the level of dedication and competitiveness to ourselves, the weekend, and our teammates.

As we all know, I keep tabs on most everyone's game... I try to coordinate my travels to play with different guys but if I can't, I'll stay connected through the grapevine (or just straight up ask you) to make sure I'm up to speed.

All that said, a quick look at what I know, and an observation on each of you this off season.

• Wilson: Down close to 15 lbs through an increase in playing, exercising and getting out of Atlanta, look for an increase in quickness, feel for the game, and work on the glass, but no loss of power.
• Big Brat Carney: Game play has been steady, has changed up his workouts to include more power/explosion.  A closet strong player with great stamina despite not putting much focus on exercise in the past, expect this regimen change to be a positive.
• Sabin: The king of prep has toned it down due to a lifestyle change that no longer revolves around PCTI (wah), Sabin will come in with his sharp shooting, uber efficient, racehorse style but along with the CrossFit workouts, his days of attacking the glass with wreckless abandon might be a thing of the past.
• Abe: A regular and favorite on my PCTI offseason hoops tour, this year was sorely missed. After taking a Rocky approach to preparing for PCTI/recovering from Plantars Fasciatis for what appeared like three months in Joshua Tree, Abe is back to his usual 6'5" 240 lbs of muscular and dominant self.  
• Actor: Thankfully, the alter ego JT Singz has been keeping us all up to speed on the physical prep being put on at Fox Studio.  The Act has continued to focus all his workouts on keeping his arms cut, and his career as a flourishing ugly plus size model has ensured that his body stay poor. That said, he told me he's been playing non stop, is working with a hoops trainer, and feels like he's playing his best ball since college.
• Nature: The King of Produce has a busy schedule of tomatoes, nature, and a poor attitude about anyone he doesn't know playing basketball, so there isn't much time left for hoops.  Always well conditioned and chiseled from his work walking up rocks, riding bikes, and sleeping in tents, The Biz will be his usual reckless abandon self on the court, but with a little less on court experience than in years past.  
• Donley: Year in and year out, The Don is one of, if not the most prepared for battle, playing his way into games no matter what city he lives in.  A recent pic with a bicep flex was his way of putting PCTI on notice that the recent move to Cincy did not set him back and that he's as ready as ever.
• TP: A lot of people were concerned about if he had enough time to get into playing shape given his injury, but a clip of his workout prep, along with a pic of his newly built full court outdoor hoops, has me extremely confident he's ready to make an impression and impact on the Brats in a big way.
• Spotlight: Three years ago he came into PCTI as a sharpshooter, but each year has improved his offensive game with a steady dose of playing, exercising and improved diet.  It's amazing that he's able to continue improving in between his time developing countries, and deserves some credit for his efforts.  After our session a few months ago, Spot is on track for another quality performance as a highly efficient scorer/good looking/incredibly unlikable guy.
• Hops: Coming off arguably the best defensive performance in PCTI history, word out of Nashville is Hops has added weight training to his offseason program, which should make him even more lethal as a defensive demon/trash man and assist in overall conditioning.  One of Hops closet strengths is his instincts moving without the ball, which an increase in strength/explosiveness could help create more scoring opportunities.
• Stickman: Every year, the Stick is the most highly scrutinized player because of the unknown as it relates to his conditioning.  Always a good communicator, he's been candid about the negative effects his job/baby has had on his offseason prep.  He's trying to ramp it up the last few weeks, but it might be too little too late to see the PCTI2 Bruise.  The good news is his best performance was his All-Tourney work, bursting onto the scene and having a borderline dominant Year 1 was probably the year he came in the worst shape, so there's a possibility The Stick has cooked up the right recipe for PCTI7.
• Wes: Conditioning is no longer an issue for this guy... It's the fact that he touches a basketball maybe three times a year, than we all have to hear him throw a fit when he can't make a shot. I quit keeping tabs on him because I know it's not going to change, and I'm sure this year is no different.  
• Rainbow: I've observed him all year and can say he's probably in the top three as far as preparing goes.  Playing three days a week, shooting on off days, in between running marathons will go a long way to having a good showing in his first PCTI.  The most impressive thing is that he's actually done some work watching last years videos to assist him in preparing for playing with people he doesn't know.
• Dan The Brat: Doesn't matter, it will yield the same results.

10 Days.