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For those who got an oooooohhhh of pleasure watching the Pierce to Ricky alley oop
The most impressive moment of a really ugly game wasn't then. It was
actually before the game, right after the national anthem. When Ricky took
two strides away from the team line up towards the hoop, as if he was
circling around to the bench. But instead casually, effortlessly glided up
in the air to lightly grasp the rim with one hand on his way to floating up
further to tap the top of the backboard. Before landing equally
effortlessly and simply continuing on to the bench. I think a lot of people
missed it because there wasn't any blatant show off about it, but I know
everyone in the group of people around me at the game just sort of looked
at each other, jaws dropped, before babbling an awed "did I really just see
that"? Driving into power dunks is one thing, but this was from nearly flat
footed with effortless grace. And exuberance - not show off so much as
just enjoying his own athleticism, like a high school kid casually jumping
up to tap the landing above him on his way down a flight of stairs.
Not anything important, just thought I'd share it in case anyone not at the
game to see it might enjoy the mental image. Still brings me a smile. As I
suspect Ricky will at least once or twice a game. I knew he was quick and
athletic, but I didn't see him enough to appreciate the grace and purely
awesome hops that unlike Kedrick, he knows how to use. Also some nice court
awareness with his passing. We'll see how long the determination to fit in
lasts and hope it works to everyone's benefit. While I'm at it and speaking
of passing, I get enormously frustrated by much of Pierce's play, but props
to him for making the pass that created that gorgeous in game alley oop.
It's still going to take a while for the dust to settle, and I wish I
thought there was a real leader on this team for the times when we need
one, but I think we're going to see some fun hoops by the time we're moving
toward the playoffs. And pure fun to watch is not something the Cs have
been much the past few years even when they won. Especially for someone
like me, who hates the 3 point shot, even when it goes in (no, I don't love
Waltuh, although I'm sure he's a very nice man).
Kim