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Around SBN: The 2009-2010 Card Chronicle Big East basketball preview

Just back from the game!

My son and I attended the game today and I thought I would share some of my thoughts from Phillips Arena.

Arrived about an hour early but not early enough to see the Blazers work out.  Jack was the only one on the floor and he was getting quite a bit of play from the fans who fondly remember his Georgia Tech Days.  Kevin Pritchard was pounding away at his Blackberry (wouldn't you love to see some of those missives!).

Game under way and the starters looked like they had lead in their shoes.  Atlanta was very aggressive both on the defense and the offensive ends of the court thus the early lead.  We went to the zone defense late in the first and you could see it changing the course of the game.  Things still didn't look good for the good guys.

Second quarter was all about the reserves.  Travis hitting, Sergio driving and taking a page out of Roy's book, by being patient and taking what was given him, including shooting!  Jones was hitting, Channing looked better than he has in a few games and the zone defense confused Atlanta except for Tyronne Lue.   Balance restored at halftime with a Blazer lead.

Comparing the Atlanta crowd to ours really isn't a comparison.  I can't remember any extended cheers from the home crowd even when the Hawks were playing well.  All (and I mean All!) of the chants, cheers etc... were brought on by prodding from the Jumbtron operators.  Made me appreciate the Rose Garden even more.  Also the graphics in and around the arena were dismal compared to the Rose Garden.  Be very thankful of what we have, it is amazing!

Second half started just like the first.  The starters were half a step slow, Martell couldn't hit from the broad side of the barn and Lamarcus continued to be abused by Josh Smith.  I wonder if Lamarcus has hit the Rookie wall (I know he isn't a rookie, but he missed so many games last year and wasn't a factor in quite a few others).  Seeing Josh Smith in person is quite a treat.  He needs work on his shot, but he really got into Aldridge's head and blocked quite a few of his shots.  His hustle was great as well as evidenced by his 17 rebounds.

Martell found his stroke at the end of the third and we crept back into the game.

Fourth quarter and the white unit lead by Sergio (yes I said Sergio) took control of the game.  Roy was Mr. 4th quarter with some strong drives and the game was ours to take.  3:50 seconds to go and we are up 94-87 (I think) and the fans started to leave.  Yes they started to leave.  Even when we were up 100-96 they were still leaving.  This isn't a bad young team and they weren't playing that bad, yet they seemed to know their fate!  I didn't and was having Toronto flashbacks....Atlanta ties and we are in overtime.  

Travis takes over and we jump out quick.  The fans in front of me were amazed at Travis.  Super Trout to the rescue!  But then Josh Smith rebounds like a fiend, they pull ahead and it is back and forth.  When Travis got the ball, I was a bit surprised, but I knew he could do it (really I was thinking he would).  He did and we win!

Stayed after the game for a bit and my son was able to get Mike Barrett and Mike Rice's autograph.  Both were very gracious and commented on Sergio's strong game.  We thanked them and headed home with the sweet taste of victory guiding us through the nightmare of Atlanta traffic.  Another beautiful day!

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that alanta crowd
is still in day dreaming about the dominique wilkins teams..and they really didnt set the world on fire then..they belong to the braves.. i would have loved to be ther though
if it can be conceived it can be achieved

by lyfefindsaway on Jan 21, 2008 5:01 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

thanks....
for the first-hand account m32! It was great to see Outlaw get the call and drain it. B-Roy had a tough one for sure but Sergio's step-up more than made up for it. Thanks again,

--dc

"I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany."

by dcblazer on Jan 21, 2008 5:27 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Thanks friend, I like these
I've been in that traffic at 9:00 PM.  I did not like it.  I liked Buckhead a lot and the Chattahoochee.  Mostly because I like the word.
Our blog administrator could beat up your blog administrator.

by tominhawaii on Jan 21, 2008 5:31 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Thanks for the report
Funny that you got the Mikes' autographs because they had been laughing earlier about "announcer groupies" - only it was said in a way that you knew there were no such things.

They were commenting on Channing's refusal to sign anything picturing him in a Knick's uniform and Mike Rice commented he'd sign anything - and then the laughter about "announcer groupies".  And you proved they exist.

Hope you thanked them for answering the questions from BE!    

"They were playing the game with a great deal of passion and excitement and it was a real bear's den to be involved in." - Jerry Sloan on the Blazers, 01/05/08

by jorga on Jan 21, 2008 6:07 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Great first hand recap...
very well written and thanks for listing all of reasons that we didn't know about yet, why our house is greatest house of them all.

Anyone for a rousing round of CSN's classic "Our House"? Hmmm...maybe I should alter the lyics. I feel a rewrite coming on...huh? Oh, yeah...basketball.

How about a diary called "Sergio's Redemption!". Now thats what I am talkin' about!

"We just took the Jazz out behind the woodshed and tanned them twice for every single thing they've ever done wrong. " - Dave

by LaMarvelous on Jan 21, 2008 7:18 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Entertaining and well written Maniac
but this was an interesting take on an old saying: "Martell couldn't hit from the broad side of the barn". Had me kinda confused there for a moment :)

by t jay on Jan 21, 2008 7:57 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

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