Random musings (so far) about this season...
OK… I said that a playoff team was going to miss the playoffs in the Great 8. I also said this was a meat grinder. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I don’t know if Anderson Alligators and Duke Devilz are fighting to make the playoffs or avoid Organization XIII. Due to my long held historical hate of all things Duke University (Grant Hill excepted), and an equal desire to not be eaten by alligators, I’m rooting for the Alligators. Plus, I just really hate Duke...
I said we’re gonna have to win 4 against the Big 8 ourselves. We’ve got 3 wins with one game left, and that one is a tall task. Just on principle, Defenseless Babies has to win because The Dachsunds (+19), GloryBoyz (+12), Anchorage Allstars (+17), and Las Vegas (+7) all beat us.
Those Defenseless Babies are about to beat the brakes off of us, aren’t they?
I was wrong about a playoff quality team in the Great 8 missing the playoffs. I was wrong about the Great 8 being a meat grinder. There’s the top two, then a few steps below is my team, then a chasm away are the rest. (I get to talk crap to all the teams below me because at the time of this I’m undefeated against ya’ll. Also, gonna talk crap about Duke because, well, Duke. Did I mention I really hate Duke?) I’d normally talk crap against my rival, but Nanooks of the North only have 1 win. Guess I’m looking for a new rival… (I hate you Duke. I remember 1991… Danny effin’ Ferry... Laettner… I will always have hate in my heart for Duke. It is the way...) I’ve been told it’s not a rivalry until the other team has won at home and on your floor. We’ll see, but I will never not be happy about beating any team calling itself Duke. Or the Yankees...
So we’re a middle of the road 8-6. How did we get here? It’s simple; we beat the teams that are worse than us, and none of the teams that are better. We don’t shoot particularly well, we don’t rebound particularly well, we don’t share the ball well, we don’t protect the ball, we don’t generate steals or blocks, and we don’t score particularly well. So how did we get here? Well, we have the second best defense (measured by points allowed) in the Great 8, but that’s only good for 6th best in the league. Compared to what the teams ahead of us are doing, not particularly well. However, we’re really good at doing just enough to get by. We beat EVERY team currently at .500 or worse and NONE of the teams better than .500; we are clearly not a good or elite team. We aren’t merely mediocre; we’re the kings of mediocrity this season.
That’s not good enough. We want more. We want to be considered good. Then, we want to chase greatness, and catch it. You have to win the title to be called great. We’re just building the foundation for that chase. I suppose that means I should pay more attention to the Big 8, but I’ve got my own problems in the Great 8, and if I can solve them, I’ll take my chances against the Big 8.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I gotta go try and bully some babies for a win. I hear they’re defenseless...