Sooner04
12/11/2008, 12:23 AM
I have been to Maine!
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y258/KingpinPadre/n9611721_37938448_2569.jpg
I must say, they've got some mighty fine lobster up there. But tasty lobster does not a successful recruiting visit make. With that knowledge on my brain, I entered the Lloyd Noble Center tonight knowing I'd see a team VASTLY outnumbered athletically. Knowing that, I knew I'd see a team try their darndest to muck up the game and throw everything but the box and none toward Blake Griffin. Imagine my shock when, after an early three put us down 3-0, we started a dunk-a-thon that found us up 11-3. I try not to nitpick over things when you're hammering somebody, but our opening runs over the last two games have combined to show a tally of 24-3. That's Bradford-esque right there.
Do we have problems? Of course. We are the Law Firm of Clang, Clunk and Brick when it comes to long range shooting. We've yet to find adequate help for the brothers Griffin down low, although I will say I thought Kyle Cannon asserted himself as the leader for the slot of Post Man #3. We still miss way too many free throws, but we've made them in the games where we needed them.
I think you take a drumming of Maine and move on, but I don't think Capel will. The effort seemed to wane at times, as shown by us being outrebounded for much of the game by a team that would probably have trouble boxing out the "clowns in a volkswagen" frontcourt that is the Oklahoma State Cowboys of 2009. I bet practice is brisk tomorrow.
SCORING BREAKDOWN:
1st - 16 [hacking wildebeast]
2nd - 22 [She's a woman who understands!]
3rd - 23 [She's a woman who knows her man!]
4th - 17 [Paris Hilton, barfing up a veggie burger]
LEADING SCORERS:
22 - Blake Griffin [As fine an athlete as I've ever seen on the BBall court.]
19 - Willie Warren [Ferocious dunks tonight. NASTY!]
13 - "Gamma" Ray Willis [Welcome back, friend]
10 - Tony Crocker
[b]LEADING REBOUNDERS:
10 - Blake Griffin [Couldn't have looked more disinterested.]
5 - Taylor Griffin
5 - "Gamma" Ray Willis
PLUSES:
1. "Gamma" Ray Willis: I'm not a real journalist, so I'm allowed to be biased. I'm a big fan of Ray. I've always had a soft spot in my black heart for guys who know how to score. My man, Ray, lacks that voice in his head that sparks the tiny flame of concern over what will happen if he misses that 15-foot floater. There's no conscience in there. Ray subscribes to that theory of shoot now, shoot some more and, when in doubt, shoot again. Was he out of control? A little, but I like guys who WANT to score. Nothing timid about the "Gamma" Ray. 13 points, five rebounds and one dime. Very nice.
2. Willie Warren: I have to keep telling myself he's a true freshman. He doesn't look like one, and he doesn't play like one. The kid is ferocious out there. 19 points in 20 minutes. Sheesh.
3. Passing: We were whipping the ball all over the place against that zone. If I'd been any more delirious I would've required smelling salts. 21 assists against nine turnovers. Beautiful.
4. Kyle Cannon: A little unlucky on a number of shots, but he showed me some strength and effort. He's the 3rd post now, in my opinion. Wright's struggling with strength and Orlando appears to be oafing around out there. I didn't get that vibe with Kyle.
5. Jeff Capel: 11 guys played at least 11 minutes. We needed that.
MINUSES:
1. Taylor Griffin: Did he play? I know he did, but the box score suggests otherwise. He's been there in the big games so far, so I shant harp on it.
2. Outside Shooting: Oh, the humanity! 7 of 28 is as dreadful as dreadful can be. It's uglier than waking up next to Joan Rivers. That crap has got to cease.
3. Rebounding: Effort, that's what it's about, and we appear to be laissez-faire about it most of the time. It's like we're shocked when Blake doesn't come down with the ball. That's what impressed me about Cannon. He seemed to attack the glass when he was in there. The rest of the guys? Meh.
In closing, and I still don't think we've played all that well except for the first half up in Tulsa on Sunday. One of these days, we're going to fire on all cylinders and absolutely bludgeon whatever poor squad lines up against us. Hopefully it's the Texas Longhorns and that greasy turncoat, Damion James. Maybe it'll be against Bill Self and that thing on top of his head. When it happens, though, you'll know it, and it'll be glorious.
We're 9-0, and our best ball is still way ahead of us. Good things are on the horizon. Stay healthy, get the win, and move on to the next stop.
Thank you for your time.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y258/KingpinPadre/n9611721_37938448_2569.jpg
I must say, they've got some mighty fine lobster up there. But tasty lobster does not a successful recruiting visit make. With that knowledge on my brain, I entered the Lloyd Noble Center tonight knowing I'd see a team VASTLY outnumbered athletically. Knowing that, I knew I'd see a team try their darndest to muck up the game and throw everything but the box and none toward Blake Griffin. Imagine my shock when, after an early three put us down 3-0, we started a dunk-a-thon that found us up 11-3. I try not to nitpick over things when you're hammering somebody, but our opening runs over the last two games have combined to show a tally of 24-3. That's Bradford-esque right there.
Do we have problems? Of course. We are the Law Firm of Clang, Clunk and Brick when it comes to long range shooting. We've yet to find adequate help for the brothers Griffin down low, although I will say I thought Kyle Cannon asserted himself as the leader for the slot of Post Man #3. We still miss way too many free throws, but we've made them in the games where we needed them.
I think you take a drumming of Maine and move on, but I don't think Capel will. The effort seemed to wane at times, as shown by us being outrebounded for much of the game by a team that would probably have trouble boxing out the "clowns in a volkswagen" frontcourt that is the Oklahoma State Cowboys of 2009. I bet practice is brisk tomorrow.
SCORING BREAKDOWN:
1st - 16 [hacking wildebeast]
2nd - 22 [She's a woman who understands!]
3rd - 23 [She's a woman who knows her man!]
4th - 17 [Paris Hilton, barfing up a veggie burger]
LEADING SCORERS:
22 - Blake Griffin [As fine an athlete as I've ever seen on the BBall court.]
19 - Willie Warren [Ferocious dunks tonight. NASTY!]
13 - "Gamma" Ray Willis [Welcome back, friend]
10 - Tony Crocker
[b]LEADING REBOUNDERS:
10 - Blake Griffin [Couldn't have looked more disinterested.]
5 - Taylor Griffin
5 - "Gamma" Ray Willis
PLUSES:
1. "Gamma" Ray Willis: I'm not a real journalist, so I'm allowed to be biased. I'm a big fan of Ray. I've always had a soft spot in my black heart for guys who know how to score. My man, Ray, lacks that voice in his head that sparks the tiny flame of concern over what will happen if he misses that 15-foot floater. There's no conscience in there. Ray subscribes to that theory of shoot now, shoot some more and, when in doubt, shoot again. Was he out of control? A little, but I like guys who WANT to score. Nothing timid about the "Gamma" Ray. 13 points, five rebounds and one dime. Very nice.
2. Willie Warren: I have to keep telling myself he's a true freshman. He doesn't look like one, and he doesn't play like one. The kid is ferocious out there. 19 points in 20 minutes. Sheesh.
3. Passing: We were whipping the ball all over the place against that zone. If I'd been any more delirious I would've required smelling salts. 21 assists against nine turnovers. Beautiful.
4. Kyle Cannon: A little unlucky on a number of shots, but he showed me some strength and effort. He's the 3rd post now, in my opinion. Wright's struggling with strength and Orlando appears to be oafing around out there. I didn't get that vibe with Kyle.
5. Jeff Capel: 11 guys played at least 11 minutes. We needed that.
MINUSES:
1. Taylor Griffin: Did he play? I know he did, but the box score suggests otherwise. He's been there in the big games so far, so I shant harp on it.
2. Outside Shooting: Oh, the humanity! 7 of 28 is as dreadful as dreadful can be. It's uglier than waking up next to Joan Rivers. That crap has got to cease.
3. Rebounding: Effort, that's what it's about, and we appear to be laissez-faire about it most of the time. It's like we're shocked when Blake doesn't come down with the ball. That's what impressed me about Cannon. He seemed to attack the glass when he was in there. The rest of the guys? Meh.
In closing, and I still don't think we've played all that well except for the first half up in Tulsa on Sunday. One of these days, we're going to fire on all cylinders and absolutely bludgeon whatever poor squad lines up against us. Hopefully it's the Texas Longhorns and that greasy turncoat, Damion James. Maybe it'll be against Bill Self and that thing on top of his head. When it happens, though, you'll know it, and it'll be glorious.
We're 9-0, and our best ball is still way ahead of us. Good things are on the horizon. Stay healthy, get the win, and move on to the next stop.
Thank you for your time.