PCTI 8, Game 3 Review

PCTI 8, Game 3 Review

 

Memorable Quotations:

 

1. “This fuckin’ blows. Sorry, family show.” – Spot, when asked about injury update
    
2. “Dictate match-ups. Today is for Deuce.” – DK, when asked about keys to victory on day 2
    
    
3. Author’s note – TP won the jump-ball with an incredibly enthusiastic tip that sailed out-of-bounds and gave possession to the other team. This was made all the funnier given that Abe did not contest the jump-ball. #Strategy
    
4. “Good shit!” – DK, dozens of times talking to Rainbow
    
    
5. “He’s not gonna drive!” – Beas, telling Ben how to stop Sabin
    
6. “Let’s do it!...Need a break?....Yeah, I need a break.” – Conversation between Andy, who was excited to play out of a timeout, and Spot, who immediately subbed him
    
    
7. “Without you, this whole thing falls apart.” – Sabin, addressing Deuce and his value to PCTI
    
8. Author’s note – For those who missed Paco’s half-time speech to rally the troops, it’s good stuff.
    
    
9. “Cut for me because it’s not even funny how fast I’m blowing by Sabin.” – Andy, giving his team instruction in a timeout
    
10. “That’s THE BEAST!!!!” – BC, hyping himself up after leading a 2^nd half surge
     
11. “I just wanted to see him make one.” – Ben, apologizing to teammates for watching BC make a triple without contesting
     
     
12. “The next set of interviews will be post-PCTI interviews.” – BC, in a prescient moment after game 3’s conclusion

 

Game Play:

 

Wow. Like Charles Dickens, a tale of two halves. WLTB turned a 13-2 deficit into a 26-point lead in second half, a 37-point swing before ultimately finishing the game with an 82-64 victory.

 

Fresh off the previous day’s defeats, Saxx looked to immediately turn the series around with renewed energy, spirit, and determination. Staring a 2-0 series deficit in the face, the team played with force on its way to a 13-2 first-half lead. Abe and Beas led the way with several buckets by each and, more importantly, like Neo from The Matrix, the team began to believe. For the first time in the series, Saxx beat WLTB up the floor in transition and out-boarded them on the offensive end. However, like most sexual experiences with Smo, it was short-lived and didn’t last. DK quelled the run by getting to the free throw line and sinking a pair, calming WLTB and abating a larger run. Sabin and Andy exchanged individual 6-0 runs, the old guy’s with mid-range and the young fella’s with triples. WLTB closed the deficit to 18-17 behind a pair of buckets from BC and Bruise, and an and-one from DK. Smo cracked the scorebook with a nice layup and Hops joined him with his own. Both teams probably felt reasonably in control at this point, given that Saxx had a 5-point lead at 22-17 and WLTB had a much more manageable score to chip away at. Just before halftime though, WLTB spurted with an 8-0 run, led by a couple of buckets from BC. A late triple by Andy sealed the scoring at 27-25 for the Saxx. Interesting note that TP very nearly made a half-court shot as time expired. Have we ever seen one of these go in successfully in PCTI?

 

Although Spot gave some beautiful coaching techniques to his team at half-time, the 2^nd half was simply a tidal wave of offensive output for WLTB, who scored 57 points in 20 minutes. I’ll have to consult the PCTI histories, but this may be something approaching a high for one half. BC led his team out of the gates with 8 points in an opening 15-7 run, shifting the score to WLTB’s favor at 40-34. Like Bull Durham’s Ebby LaLoosh, The Beast announced himself with authority and took ownership of the game. 3 consecutive buckets by Sabin pushed the lead to 46-34 and forced Saxx to call time-out and re-evaluate its defensive strategy. A triple by Andy temporarily stayed the momentum, but Dan connected on several buckets, one of which was a 3-ball from a beautiful behind-the-back feed from Rainbow. This was quite unexpected and precise given his preferred technique of jump-passing. At 55-40 and just 10 minutes to go, WLTB asserted command of the game. After a time-out, WLTB rained down ungodly fire like Daenerys Targaryen with a 14-3 run led by layups from TP and a couple of mid-rangers from Sabin. Now with the score at 69-43 and the outcome all but sealed, Saxx was left with a very difficult choice: do we fight to get back in it or save ourselves for Game 4? Like battle-hardened warriors, Saxx re-doubled its efforts and tried to mount a comeback. Ben put on a personal shooting clinic, making 4 triples on nearly consecutive possessions, sandwiching a Wilson layup and Hops’ free throws in between. This shooting exhibition may have been more effective if WLTB had stopped scoring, but alas it did not. Even after Wilson’s triples, the deficit was still 17 points at 77-59. JT, Hops, and Andy provided some last-minute scoring and finalized the tally at 82-64. In the end, WLTB’s scoring barrage and balanced attack were too much to overcome on the way to a commanding 3-0 series lead.

 

Analysis

 

• FG% was the difference. Saxx at 33% (25-75) and WLTB at 51% (36-70).
• Triple Happy. Saxx took 55% of total shots (41/75) as 3s compared to just 30% (21/70) for WLTB.
• Saxx knocked down 12 3s in game 3, but took 41 attempts to get there (29%).
• Dan’s 16 assists in game 3 may be a record that stands for all time.
• WLTB has 32 assists on 36 made FGs. Speaks to ball movement and shot-making.
• Saxx murders WLTB on the offensive glass for first time, 15-9.
• Dan has a near triple double with 12 points, 8 boards, and 16 assists. Incredible game.
• BC has one of the most efficient games in PCTI history with 19 points on 8-11 FGAs, but his PCTI buddies DK and Sabin stole his thunder. #frenemies
• SMO! 10 boards with 6 offensive. I see you, boy.
• Andy with a super-efficient 13 points on 5-6 FGAs with 3 triples.
• Sabin, BC, TP: Combined 24-36 FGAs for a sizzling 67%.
• WLTB: 57 points in 2^nd half
• 37-point swing in the game

 

Top Players:

 

1. DK: 12 points, 8 boards, 16 assists, 3 steals, 39 Sabin Productivity
2. BC: 19 points, 4 boards, 5 assists, 3 blocks, 8-11 FGAs, 3-4 3FGAs, 39 Sabin Productivity
3. Sabin: 20 points, 5 boards, 3 steals, 10-16 FGAs
4. Andy: 13 points, 4 boards, 5-6 FGAs, 3-4 3FGAs

 

 

Sabin