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Pio Reina: Air, where do we stand for training?

Air Allnite: Currently, Frias at 37 and Bolibok at 32. Uzek at 16 and Pasman at 11. Start Enfes and Pasman, Frias and Bolibok to back up. Frias should be done tonight, maybe Bolibok if we catch a break, though Pasman and Bolibok might be too close to call. Uzek and Enfes go for the scrimmage Might need Pasman or Bolibok to back them. That should give us Frias done after tonight’s game, Pasman needing about 10-15 minutes Thursday, Enfes needing about 15 Thursday, and Uzek clear his Thursday. That’s if we can clear Frias, Bolibok and Pasman tonight.

PR: Run with it. Marshall, game out small forward with who’s left.

Marshall Richards: Kops would be available, but I suspect there may be other considerations. Byron, thoughts?

BH: Are we trying to win or develop guys?

MR: Who says we can’t do both?

BH: Ok; Marshall’s got a scheme for this. Beko and Stojakovic are in their usual spots?

MR: I wanna tweak that. Give me Beko and Kops tonight. Play with your big rotations. Pio, you’re gonna like this one!

Esben Knudsen: (knocks on door) Excuse me, but I’ve got WINO radio on the line. Says that the pregame spot is up in 10 minutes.

MR: Thanks. My turn this week. Byron, you sitting down with Sam?

BH: Maybe. That may wait awhile.

PR: Air, you wanna wear the wire tonight?

AA: They better have a dump button. I’m not paying the FCC fine on that.

BH: Make it good and we’ll cover it!

AA: Have I told you lately how much I hate the lot of you? I really do, and I want you all to know that. Sincerely.

PR: Esben, let the guys know Air’s wearing the wire.

EK: Will do!

AA: I’m off to get wired up.

BH: I’ll call and have the dump button disconnected!

Ten minutes later...

Happy Ourer: Happy Ourer back with you on the Radio Pregame Show, and today we get to visit with an old friend, Marshall Richards! How are you, Marshall?

MR: Doing well, Happy. How are you?

HO: I’m well, thanks. We’ve seen a lot of roster changes recently. What can you tell us?

MR: Carlos Frias is almost everything that Coach Reina demands from a point guard, and might be more. Leandro Leao looks really nice and Ercan Uzek is an intriguing rookie pickup; it will be fun to see him develop.

HO: Tell us some more.

MR: Keep your eyes on Piotr Bolibok. The guys have already named him Petey Buckets. We’ve never had a guard with his offensive game before. He just needs some fine tuning.

HO: Sounds exciting!

MR: We’re really excited about Walt Pasman and Darko Stojakovic. Walt is defense first and might be the best all around defender on the team. Depends on the day. Darko has the skills we were looking for to complement the versatility of Beko. Defends inside and out, and is a shot blocker. Ondrej Lecian is another two way guy.

HO: Marshall, explain what that means in Linndale parlance.

MR: Sure! When most people say that, they mean a player who can play offense and defense equally well. We have a different view of it. When we call someone a two way player, we mean they can defend the perimeter and the paint. We have a point guard there and may have another soon. Midas Kops is close, Cafer Enfes and Walt Pasman are there. They join Darko, Beko, Lecian, and Hatfield.

HO: That sounds good on the defensive end, but how about putting up points?

MR: Coach Reina, and Linndale, have traditionally been defense first. That doesn’t change, but we expect big things on offense from Carlos Frias, Trenton Tovar, Piotr Bolibok, Cafer Enfes, Midas Kops, Darko Stojakevic, and Pascal Michel Pemwieser.

HO: And here’s where we have to take a commercial break. Marshall, it’s great to see and talk to you. We know you’ve got duties to attend to; don’t be a stranger! Back after the break! This is WINO radio, on the Linndale Basketball Radio Network!

Happy Ourer: Air Allnite is mic’ed up. Parents, be warned, this is not suitable for children. If you’re at work, this is not suitable for work. We’ll get fined for this, but this is so worth it!

Joshua Doe: I can’t wait to hear this.

Sam Dunkley: This ought to be something!

HO: Here he is right before tip off… Roll the tape!

Air: Byron, which one of you numbskulls did this, you or that idiot Marshall? This is b*******! Pio, why didn’t you f****** tell me about the defensive switches? Who’s harebrained idea was it to put Beko on a point guard? Oh s***, that means Kops is too! You’re gonna have us looking like dog***t! F*** me!

JD: (trying to hold back his laughter) I think that someone forgot they were wearing a live mic.

SD: I don’t think he forgot. It’s either performance art, or he really doesn’t care.

HO: Well, the FCC is gonna be handing out fines for sure. I expect the league will as well.

JD: Well you can’t stop there! The fines are coming, might as well get your money’s worth! Let’s hear more!

HO: I’m told by our legal department we’re only allowed to play audio from the first quarter. On the other hand, if you want to hear the rest of it, tune in to our weekly podcast; next one drops tomorrow!

JD: Are you gonna roll the tape or keep talking about it? I want to hear this! I think we all do!

10:10 first quarter
AA: This defense looks like dogs***, Marshall. They’re gonna carve us up.
MR: The game is 2 minutes old, Air.

8:37 first quarter
AA: Hey ref, you gonna f****** call that the other way right? You blind a** chucklef***!
Referee: Coach Reina, get your guy under control or else.
AA: Or else what? You can’t call f****** fouls right, you sure as h*** can’t see who to T up or toss!
SD: I understand working the refs, but this is over the line.
JD: I don’t know if it’s over the line, but it’s at the line. I’ve heard far worse on the court from coaches.
HO: You gotta admit that was a great comeback by Allnite.

6:42 first quarter
AA: Blow the whistle! That’s a f****** foul!
Referee: (blows whistle, calls foul on Cafer Enfes)
AA: You dips***! Now you’re just f****** with me! F*** you!
HO: What did he expect there? You can't just talk to people like that!
JD: Yeah, but the refs can't let that get to them either. Not saying he's right, but refs aren't perfect, either.

5:50 first quarter
AA: Piotr, what the h*** are you doing? That’s a… F*** me! He made that s***. Kid’s gonna drive me to my grave with that s***!
JD: As a former player, I guarantee you every coach has said this.
SD: I have to agree there.

2:50 first quarter
AA: This defense looks like dogs***, Marshall. So does our offense.
MR: Aren’t you the shooting coach?
AA: Aw f***. We can’t all be perfect.
HO: That’s just two guys busting each other’s chops.
JD: Yeah, but if he keeps that up the whole game, I can see how a problem might occur. Pio’s gonna have to say something about that.

End of first quarter
AA: The f****** turnovers are killing me!
Byron Helm: That’s your thing, man.
AA: F*** outta here! Tell your guys to make shot or grab a rebound then you can talk to me.
MR: Dial it down, man! Same team here!
AA: F*** outta here! S***** a** defense!
JD: Too early in the game to be getting snippy with your own guys. That’s an attitude problem.
HO: That definitely seemed to be hostile over nothing to me.

HO: enough of that, folks. We'll be back with actual game analysis after we return from the break!

Day 14 (Saturday 20 January 2024) : Performances by (https://www.buzzer-manager.com)
Sorry for the delay, gents - was traveling with the fam, but things are back to normal now.

Night results
Dragmort Dragons Utd 126 - VileOnes 101
San Dominica Warriors 133 - Jumpstop Jumpers 86
Lion Rebels 90 - Super Sonics 72
Shandong Golden Lions 98 - Mindless Zombies 🧟‍♀️ 110
F.Day Internet Lovers Club 114 - Fort Wayne Pistons 95
Linndale 100 - Balls to the Walls 98
Muffin Men 95 - CB Bethesdorf 129
209’s MostWanted 94 - Tasty Tardsicles 138

Best collective performance of the evening
Points : 138 : Tasty Tardsicles
Rebounds : 59 : San Dominica Warriors
Assists : 41 : San Dominica Warriors
Steals : 9 : San Dominica Warriors, Linndale
Block Shots : 11 : Dragmort Dragons Utd

Personal best performances of the evening
Points : 57 : J. Bover (VileOnes)
Rebounds : 26 : C. Webber (Muffin Men)
Assists : 16 : L. Petrinski (Dragmort Dragons Utd)
Steals : 3 : M. Tercero (San Dominica Warriors), F. Alidori (San Dominica Warriors), T. Tovar (Linndale)
Block Shots : 5 : M. Watkins (Lion Rebels)

Top 5 of the evening
Point Guard : J. Bover (VileOnes) (57 Points, 5 Rebounds, 2 Assists, 1 Steals, 0 Block Shots) : Efficiency : 44
Shooting Guard : L. Baião (San Dominica Warriors) (33 Points, 3 Rebounds, 6 Assists, 1 Steals, 1 Block Shots) : Efficiency : 38
Small Forward : T. Cartaxo (CB Bethesdorf) (26 Points, 7 Rebounds, 3 Assists, 1 Steals, 2 Block Shots) : Efficiency : 33
Power Forward : C. Webber (Muffin Men) (33 Points, 26 Rebounds, 6 Assists, 2 Steals, 0 Block Shots) : Efficiency : 51
Center : Q. Yu zi (Dragmort Dragons Utd) (24 Points, 12 Rebounds, 1 Assists, 2 Steals, 2 Block Shots) : Efficiency : 35

MVP of the evening
C. Webber (Muffin Men) (33 Points, 26 Rebounds, 6 Assists, 2 Steals, 0 Block Shots) : Efficiency : 51

The bad performance of the evening
J. Zhizhuo (Shandong Golden Lions) (6 Points, 0 Rebounds, 3 Assists, 2 Steals, 0 Block Shots) : Efficiency : -8

All kinds of statistics
The player who forgot to remove his mittens : A. Venslauskas (Super Sonics), T. Tovar (Linndale), E. Dickens (Tasty Tardsicles) : 4 Turnovers

Player targeted by the referees : L. Baião (San Dominica Warriors) : 6 Personnal Fouls

The iron-man : J. Bover (VileOnes), J. Valentin (Jumpstop Jumpers), S. Hollins (Lion Rebels), R. De Calice (Shandong Golden Lions), A. Suprianto (Shandong Golden Lions), L. Melucci (F.Day Internet Lovers Club) : 48 Minutes

The shooter : J. Bover (VileOnes) : 6 Three points

The best performer : K. Brown (Lion Rebels), T. Freeman (Mindless Zombies 🧟‍♀️) : Rating : 17.5

The worst performer : F. Chongwen (VileOnes) : Rating : 5.0

Day 15 (Tuesday 23 January 2024) : Performances by (https://www.buzzer-manager.com)

Night results
Jumpstop Jumpers 63 - Dragmort Dragons Utd 89
Super Sonics 79 - San Dominica Warriors 94
Mindless Zombies 🧟‍♀️ 77 - Lion Rebels 117
Fort Wayne Pistons 106 - Shandong Golden Lions 122
Balls to the Walls 66 - F.Day Internet Lovers Club 129
CB Bethesdorf 102 - Linndale 104
Tasty Tardsicles 101 - Muffin Men 77
VileOnes 91 - 209’s MostWanted 128

Best collective performance of the evening
Points : 129 : F.Day Internet Lovers Club
Rebounds : 63 : San Dominica Warriors, F.Day Internet Lovers Club
Assists : 47 : F.Day Internet Lovers Club
Steals : 10 : Lion Rebels, 209’s MostWanted
Block Shots : 19 : F.Day Internet Lovers Club

Personal best performances of the evening
Points : 34 : J. Zhizhuo (Shandong Golden Lions)
Rebounds : 20 : M. Otçigin (San Dominica Warriors)
Assists : 12 : G. Izaza (Fort Wayne Pistons), D. Gay (Shandong Golden Lions)
Steals : 4 : S. Huerta (Lion Rebels), L. Melucci (F.Day Internet Lovers Club)
Block Shots : 7 : I. Tabrizi (F.Day Internet Lovers Club)

Top 5 of the evening
Point Guard : D. Gay (Shandong Golden Lions) (21 Points, 1 Rebounds, 12 Assists, 0 Steals, 0 Block Shots) : Efficiency : 24
Shooting Guard : J. Zhizhuo (Shandong Golden Lions) (34 Points, 6 Rebounds, 6 Assists, 1 Steals, 1 Block Shots) : Efficiency : 38
Small Forward : L. Melucci (F.Day Internet Lovers Club) (14 Points, 8 Rebounds, 11 Assists, 4 Steals, 6 Block Shots) : Efficiency : 39
Power Forward : C. Webber (Muffin Men) (27 Points, 10 Rebounds, 7 Assists, 1 Steals, 2 Block Shots) : Efficiency : 35
Center : E. Dickens (Tasty Tardsicles) (32 Points, 14 Rebounds, 3 Assists, 0 Steals, 0 Block Shots) : Efficiency : 45

MVP of the evening
E. Dickens (Tasty Tardsicles) (32 Points, 14 Rebounds, 3 Assists, 0 Steals, 0 Block Shots) : Efficiency : 45

The bad performance of the evening
T. Hearn (Super Sonics) (3 Points, 2 Rebounds, 1 Assists, 0 Steals, 0 Block Shots)C. Pla Llorente (Balls to the Walls) (0 Points, 1 Rebounds, 5 Assists, 0 Steals, 1 Block Shots) : Efficiency : -3

All kinds of statistics
The player who forgot to remove his mittens : M. Johnson (Jumpstop Jumpers), L. Praznik (Jumpstop Jumpers), C. Rankin (Balls to the Walls), T. Cartaxo (CB Bethesdorf), J. Graf (VileOnes) : 4 Turnovers

Player targeted by the referees : R. Singh (Lion Rebels), E. Diršliokas (CB Bethesdorf) : 6 Personnal Fouls

The iron-man : S. Ofome (Jumpstop Jumpers), A. Suprianto (Shandong Golden Lions), A. Durham (VileOnes) : 48 Minutes

The shooter : M. Craig (Super Sonics), S. Aranda (Fort Wayne Pistons) : 5 Three points

The best performer : K. Brown (Lion Rebels) : Rating : 19.0

The worst performer : V. Horner (Shandong Golden Lions), F. Chongwen (VileOnes) : Rating : 5.0

Press Release

Subject: Fines and Suspensions

In what was an expected step, due to language on last night's broadcast, the Linndale basketball organization has been fined an undisclosed amount by The League. In addition, the FCC has fined WINO radio station for re-broadcasting parts of last night's game specifically without editing or otherwise censoring language used. The League also took the step of suspending Linndale assistant coach Air Allnite for a minimum of 2 games, or until he completes sensitivity training; whichever is longer. Air Allnite may have no contact with the organization, its players, staff or other personnel until reinstated by The League. Furthermore, Air Allnite has been suspended 2 games by the organization. The suspensions are not concurrent and shall be served consecutively. In related news, Happy Ourer has been suspended by WINO radio for his role, and will not return until such time that Air Allnite returns. His role will be filled by Joshua Doe, with Sam Dunkley and Jimmy Buckitts also assisting.

Linndale Basketball and WINO radio both accept these penalties, and offer their deepest apologies to The League and the fans.

Esben Knudsen, Linndale PR-Manager

Charles:
I’m Charles Sanborn and I have here with me the entire gang. We got Bret Rodrigues, Double D, Pete, Sam and of course Hunt. And the reason all of us are here because this a special show. Interconference play is over and now comes the final stretch of the regular season. Tonight we’re going to deliver what we call the State of the Big Eight in which we look at the 7 teams the Warriors have left on their schedule and give our take on the state of each team, their possible role in the playoff hunt. Now with that we start off with the Muffin Men. Hunt you wanna get us started?

Hunt:
Look the Muffin Men are one of those teams that were just victims of bad luck. Look we’ve all seen it before. You make it to D.III or D.II and you’re handling business and then you look around and see this other league and you’re like Oh thank god I didn’t end there or I would have been eaten alive. I firmly believe that if the Muffin Men had gone to the Great 8, they would probably have 5 wins.

DD
I don’t agree with that. I’m with you I think the Muffin Men are victims of bad luck but I don’t think being in Redland would have made their lives that much easier.

Hunt:
But you have to admit it would have been easier. It’s not like the Muffin Men have nothing but when you land in a conference where 7 of the teams involved are either very talented and/or very well coached. It’s gonna be hard. But yeah, hmm not much hope for the Muffin Men. It’s just gonna be one those you come here you get the money, get the experience, go back to DIV, apply all the lesson and hope you luck out the next promotion.

Bret:
I agree just too much of an uphill climb for the Muffin Men. Not enough depth. Too much Carlos Webber has to do just for the Muffin Men to level with the door knockers of the Big 8, ie Linndale and Dragmort, to say nothing of the inner four. I agree the Muffins should look to the future. Get some help for Webber and Lal and hopefully luck out next go round.

Charles:
All right. The next team we have to look at, the Outlaws that make up the 209’s Most Wanted. Pete!

Pete:
The 209’s issue this year I think was just this being a bad market season. We’ve heard from their main office and the coaching staff and its not like the Outlaws don’t understand what they need. But how do you get it without overextending yourself on the economic end?

Sam
And how do you get it without having to start trading the chicken for the egg?

Pete:
Right. Its not like the 209 doesn’t have talent. We’ve seen this team, it has talent. Kavoukas! To paraphrase Coach: he’s a silverback. They have been able to hang with some of the major players in the conference they just can’t seem to get over the hump and make that next step as contenders.

Hunt:
But that’s the issue. Why? Why haven’t they made it over the hump? That’s the question they’re asking around the Playground?

Charles:
Sometimes you just have rough years. I mean the Warriors seasons 56 & 57 were some tough seasons. Now I think that many around the Playground are trying to compare apples and oranges. I’ve heard some of them. “Oh it must be the coaching, Stephenson was able to turn it around in two years. Coach Baine turned it around in 2 years back in 58 and 59. Must be the coaching. Get a new coach.” Now I understand the frustration. Five years in the league and not one sniff of the playoffs but to simply think its merely coaching and not consider the other factors is insane. Now the 209 are gonna put a scare and prevent one of the big six from a potential early clinch of a playoff spot. Is it the same scare that the 59 209 Squad had on the conference? No.

DD:
I agree, the 209 need more depth if they’re going to make that next step and that’s a money problem and money problems as everyone can atest are not easy ones to solve. But related to that. We haven’t brought up the loss of Ariel Ziółkowski. It’s hard to rebound from a loss of player of that caliber.

All:
Amen to that.

Charles:
When we come back we look at the next two teams. This is the State of the Big 8 Show.

Charles:
This is Charles Sanborn, welcome back to the Warrior’s Den and our special on the State of the Big 8. We previously discussed the Muffin Men and the 209 Most Wanted. None of us believe either team are in a position to disrupt the playoff picture. However our next two teams have inspired different feelings. First up a team pretty familiar to all of us. Hunt we’ll start with you because I’m sure you have a lot to say.

Hunt:
Normally I don’t say this. You guys know how I feel about Linndale. They’re dreaded rivals. Not as dreaded as those d**n Rebels but rivals all the same. That said, I feel for Pio Reina, I really do. I mean if I had to work with the insanity that is their GM office. I’d be … (sighs) You thought what Air Allnite said last week was bad, that would be me every day! The man has no stablity roster wise. Every time we turn around somebody’s been moved!

Sam:
And not just any players. You can understand scrub players or bench players but they’ve moved some major pieces.

Hunt:
Hearn, gone. MacNeur, gone. Koncki, gone. Knowles, gone. Genipabu, gone! And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Some of them I undersand. Not to name any name but if you’re getting over a hundred grand, you gotta wreck.

Bret:
It’s almost to the point where Reina is putting lineups together with duct tape.

Sam:
Cheap duct tape. We’re not even seeing the duck on the duct tape.

Pete:
And yet they’re 6-9 and still in the hunt for the playoffs.

Hunt:
Exactly! Despite all that they’re still a dangerous team. Everyone who is on the inside, the Warriors, the Agency, the Golden Lions, and that other team. You cannot give this team any hope. You are hoping the Warriors win Saturday. You can’t give this team any hope. The odds are not in their favor. 11 losses put them out of it I believe. The sooner you get this team to 11 losses the easier everyone in the top four can breathe.

DD:
I agree this is a team you can’t judge on based on record. They’re well coached despite what one one the outside could believe the GM’s attempt to sabotage the team, but …

Charles:
It’s not easy being a GM. There are nasty decisions that they have to make. Many of them unpopular decisions.

Hunt:
Look I just remember when playing Linndale was scary. You saw them coming or you had to go to the Speedway and you were in sheer panic. This team isn’t that due to being gutted and its tragic because they’re … they’re …

Sam:
They’re wasting a good coach.

Hunt:
Thank you

Brett:
We better move on Charles. Hunt might have an aneurysm if we keep talking about Linndale.

Charles:
So this brings us to the Dragmort Dragons

Pete:
Oh yeah the Dragon Maffia.

Hunt:
Look I just wanna know where the hell they found those two muscle hamsters.

Pete:
Yeah, I mean we saw first hand how much beast, Pakzat and Yu Zi are.

Sam:
Is it Yu Zi, or is the last name just Zi

Pete:
Doesn’t matter when a guy is leaving your court with more boards than a lumber company and is basically a walking flyswatter. But if we’re saying how the inner four need to be concerned about Linndale, they really need to be concerned about the Dragons. I mean Pakzat and Yu Zi gives them so many second chance opportunities and force teams to only one opportunity. They probably need a bit more firepower from outside to really scare the heck out of teams like the Lion Rebels and the Agency but they could be problematic for the Warriors as we saw and the Golden Lions

Sam:
I’m with Pete. Of the two, the ability of the Dragon Maffia hitmen in the paint, gives the Dragons a more likely ability to maybe take a playoff spot. Sidney Kang some would say this is unfair but he needs to give a little more. But they definitely will need more from Petrinski and Pessen

Pete:
That’s Efe Pessen to you young lady

Sam:
Efe Pessen if they really want to make a run for the playoffs.

Hunt:
He’s shorter than Begin

Charles:
When we come back we look at the top four when we come back to our State of the Big 8 show.


Last edited by Coach Stephenson at 1/25/2024 5:04:02 PM

Charles:
We’re back and now we’re down to the top four in the Big 8.

Sam:
Look I just want to say before you go onto the Golden Lions. In my defense Pete, the stat sheet show him as Pessen.

Pete:
That’s to the stat sheet. To us he is Efe Pessen

Sam:
You better not be in drunkencaster mode

Pete:
On national radio after what happened to those poor blokes at WINO back in Speedville! No way! I’m just hoping we don’t get fine because of Hunt!

Charles:
So the Shandong Golden Lions? Double D, what’s your take

DD:
To me the Shandong Golden Lions go as far as Daniel Gay takes them. Which is not a bad thing because Daniel Gay is one heck of a player. I think he can be the difference maker when the Golden Lions have to take on the Lion Rebels. If he falters, the Shandong Golden Lions playoff dreams falter. He gets hot and elevates things a bit higher, the Golden Lions maybe the Lions we talk about when we’re discussing the finals.

Bret:
I have to disagree with that sentiment Charles, I think for the Golden Lions Cheung Choi Kwan is the piece you have to discuss. He’s the number 1 rebounder in the league but more importantly he’s number 2 in field goal percentage. I really truly believe that if the Golden Lions want to punch a ticket into the finals, they are gonna have to go to Hong Kong and find the best sauce they have to put on the ball because they are gonna need to keep feeding that silverback the ball and letting him eat. I like Daniel Gay as a player but it’s gonna come down to silverback play if you’re going to take down the Lion Rebels and the Agency so first and foremost give the silverbacks their due and let ‘em feast.

Charles:
What about the rest of you guys? What's your view on this?

Pete:
I’m with Bret, if Choi Kwan elevates his game, it frees up Gay to elevate his but it goes to Choi Kwan.

Sam:
I’m with Double D. Daniel Gay has to take it to the next level if the Golden Lions want to do things in the playoffs but I think most of us agree if neither of those two things happen, then the Shandong could find themselves outside looking in.

Charles:
Now this brings us to our own San Dominica Warriors.

Sam:
Everyone will agree that the Warriors are probably the deepest team in the league. They have one of the most dangerous, if not the most dangerous bench in the league. But the problem has been consistency with the first five particularly with the three through five spot.

Pete:
Yeah the question isn’t really a matter of talent especially now that the Southpaws are gone but that scoring leader just hasn’t popped up and the doing it by committee just hasn’t worked this season. Now I think they’ve solved the frontcourt issues but O’Brien’s tendency to get into foul trouble is still an issue.

Bret:
I think this weekend a lot of questions will be answered and I think a lot of new questions will be formed.

Hunt:
I don’t think the issue is can these Warriors make the playoffs, the real question is what can they do in ithe playoffs.

DD:
You can’t even take that for granted. Linndale has gone from outside looking in to being in and putting some else out. You have to play these seven games with that kind of mindset or you will be outside looking in.

Sam:
Versatility and depth will get them in, but I don’t know if the talent is enough to win it.

Charles:
When we come back we take a look at the final two teams in our State of the Big 8 countdown and then we’ll listen to you the fans viewpoint. We’re back after this commercial break.

Pio Reina: Air’s gone for awhile, Marshall you know what he was working on, right?

Marshall Richards: Already ahead of you. I ran the scrimmage. He did get the lineup set before the suspension came down. Piece of cake!

PR: Two days. What are we doing, Byron?

BH: The bigs need rebounding, inside defense, and inside offense. We’re going defense for the week.

MR: Pio, these kids need to see what this game is all about. Nothing fancy, no tricks or gimmicks. Keep things simple. This is your assignment. Go out and execute.

PR: Marshall, are you of all people telling me not to run any games? (laughs)

MR: Nah; I’m just kidding! (laughs)

PR: What are we thinking for defense?

BH: Man to man. It’s the only way.

MR: Who’s the focal point?

BH: Doesn’t matter. They have 5 point guards and 2 small forwards to run through three spots. They have depth. They have 5 guys to run up front through 2 spots. That depth will show up. Our kids will need to step up, especially up front.

PR: What I’m hearing is ball security will be at a premium and so will rebounding and post play. Byron is right. Man to man is the only way. Shorten the bench up front?

BH: I think so. Pemwieser’s gonna have to earn his keep.

PR: What do we want to do in the back court, Marshall?

MR: This might be a game you throw Bolibok to the wolves, though. Let’s see if he shrinks from this moment.

BH: Marshall, that boy is gonna get cooked on defense.

MR: Maybe, but if he gets his points and gets someone in foul trouble, I’d take that.

PR: What about the wing? We always have trouble with LAB, and we don’t have a Knowles to duel with him.

MR: We have a guy there who we brought in for defense. I think we have that covered.
LAB always seems to get what he needs against us anyway.

Carlos Frias (barging in the office): Coach, we got a problem.

PR: Talk to us. What’s the problem?

Walt Pasman: (walking behind Frias) We feel like you guys have been babying us. We don’t like it. You said we’d do the lockdown thing on defense and figure out the points.

PR: I did. Carlos, since your arrival, we’ve given up 116 in a 2 point loss, 98 in a 2 point win, and 102 in a 2 point win. Walt, your first game was the 15 point loss before Carlos got here.

CF: Coach, you gotta turn us loose. Vamos cozinhar!

PR: I don’t know Portuguese, but I distinctly heard some Spanish sounding stuff. Sounds like you said to let you cook, is that right?

WP: Coach, that’s what I heard. Let us do what we were brought here for.

PR: Marshall, Byron, I think we got us a couple of leaders in the locker room. Let the kids cook and we’ll see exactly what we have.

(shouts from outside the office) YEAH!!!!!

BH: (looking out the doorway) Marshall, I don’t think we’re running a short bench anymore. They’re all here. Everyone. The whole roster.

Trenton Tovar: All right fellas; we got what we came for. Let’s get back to work.

MR: Shooter, practice isn’t until tomorrow. You guys just had a scrimmage.

TT: Coach Richards, didn’t you get the memo? The 27th is two days away. That game means something! 19 points, man. 19 mutha---

CF: SHOOTER!!! (grabs Tovar with Damian Hatfield and carries him out)

Joy Beko: Coach, this is not the same team from that first game. We heard about it; Shooter won’t shut up. Coach Allnite didn’t shut up. You don’t say much about it but your demeanor has changed. We know it means something. To you, to the staff, to the secretaries, to the janitors who mop the courts, to the fans and everyone. We going to cook now, OK?

PR: Just make sure you guys are ready to burn the place down in 2 days.

JB: Coach, we will be. We have matches!

MR: We don’t need no stinkin’ matches. Byronm get the flamethrowers!

BH: You really gotta stop watchin' that tv rasslin', man!