I know this may come as a shock, but I'm not a big fan of New Year's Eve. I'm not much for organized revelry and, anyway, my year runs from October to June, so December 31 is just another day on the calendar for me, and it's usually one that has some serious NBA action that requires my attention.
Here are some notes:
- You got the Spurs tonight and it won't be fun. Don't be surprised to see a lot of Aron Baynes and Nando De Colo. I can't think of one good reason why Pop would play Duncan and Parker and, hell, even Tiago Splitter for more than a quarter.
- I'm starting to get the hang of this country living. What's important is to have a routine. You gotta make sure you have your food and wood ready for the night before noon and, if you're planning to hunt and ice-fish, your gear needs to be ready to go at first light. The sun goes down quick and early up here. You don't want to get to 2:30 in the afternoon and be standing around like a sailor waiting for hardtack and salted pork.
- If you got time, maybe go and sit in the Alamo for an hour or two this afternoon. I always find that quiet reflection in national historic places really helps me to clear my head.
Win or lose, don't get too crazy tonight. Time to soak some lentils.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Another Report from the Woods
I'm not sure how much longer I can last here in the woods. I'm really starting to miss all those wonderful North Jersey amenities. Do you know how much work it takes just to get a wood stove going? Of course you don't.
Anyway, here are some pre-game notes:
- Thoroughly decent win last night against Milwaukee. Shaun Livingston as starting shooting guard? I guess that's why you get paid the big bucks.
- I heard the news about Bynum earlier today and it really makes you think. If you got Andrew's number, text it over to me. I got an extra bedroom here at the cabin and I feel like I could help him sort through a few things. Plus, there's actually a really nice bowling alley just about a half-hour up the road.
- Somehow you're up against the Pacers tonight for the 16th time this season. I got nothing. Vogel's got those guys playing like the '85 Royals. Just sit back and try to soak it all in and use it as a learning experience.
My cable's a little spotty so I might not be able to watch tonight's beatdown. But I found an apple at the bottom of my backpack, so that's a plus.
Anyway, here are some pre-game notes:
- Thoroughly decent win last night against Milwaukee. Shaun Livingston as starting shooting guard? I guess that's why you get paid the big bucks.
- I heard the news about Bynum earlier today and it really makes you think. If you got Andrew's number, text it over to me. I got an extra bedroom here at the cabin and I feel like I could help him sort through a few things. Plus, there's actually a really nice bowling alley just about a half-hour up the road.
- Somehow you're up against the Pacers tonight for the 16th time this season. I got nothing. Vogel's got those guys playing like the '85 Royals. Just sit back and try to soak it all in and use it as a learning experience.
My cable's a little spotty so I might not be able to watch tonight's beatdown. But I found an apple at the bottom of my backpack, so that's a plus.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Christmas Report
I'm not a big holiday guy and you and I have had our differences the last few months, but nevertheless I hope you're having a decent Christmas.
Anyway, in between cutting wood, foraging for walnuts, and searching for my soul, I caught a few minutes of that horrible game at my cable-equipped cabin out here in the forest. Here are some notes:
- With all the sleeves and those striped socks, I felt like I was watching Barnum & Bailey's circus. This isn't the NBA I grew up with.
- I really like the way that Jimmy Butler kid carries himself. I feel like he could be a senator when his playing days are over, or at least a state senator.
- I think we can all agree that this season is a lost cause. For the rest of the way, I got two words for you: Mason Plumlee. He didn't play his best today, but he's the future of the Nets.
Back to chopping wood for the fire. It's a cold one.
Anyway, in between cutting wood, foraging for walnuts, and searching for my soul, I caught a few minutes of that horrible game at my cable-equipped cabin out here in the forest. Here are some notes:
- With all the sleeves and those striped socks, I felt like I was watching Barnum & Bailey's circus. This isn't the NBA I grew up with.
- I really like the way that Jimmy Butler kid carries himself. I feel like he could be a senator when his playing days are over, or at least a state senator.
- I think we can all agree that this season is a lost cause. For the rest of the way, I got two words for you: Mason Plumlee. He didn't play his best today, but he's the future of the Nets.
Back to chopping wood for the fire. It's a cold one.
Monday, December 23, 2013
Daily Report - 12/23/2013
I gotta be honest with you, I'm having something of an existential crisis here. I've been on the NBA sidelines virtually every night for the last 16 years and now here I am sitting on a couch or a chair or sometimes on the floor watching the games on TV. Do you realize how many commercials there are? I really had no idea. It's downright sickening. All this "buy, buy, buy" "spend, spend, spend." I'm just not sure I'm cut out for this 21st century consumer culture.
So, I have decided to head out to the woods to do some soul-searching maybe for a week, maybe two weeks, maybe for months, maybe for years (probably not years). I'm not exactly going off the grid, but maybe to the edge of the grid, the fringe of the grid. I'll still be filing my reports, if not daily then bi-daily or tri-daily. If you could tell Prokhorov and Billy for me, it would be much appreciated. Billy is still not returning my texts and last I heard from Proky, he said he would only be available via messaging drone after December 20.
Anyway, good luck against Indy tonight and Chicago on Christmas. As for the Pacers, your goal tonight should be making sure that Lance Stephenson does not get a triple-double. As for Chicago, I hope you've been practicing with all types of sleeves.
I'm having a good, hearty breakfast of steak and eggs before heading out on the road. My diet will mainly consist of nuts and berries for the foreseeable future.
So, I have decided to head out to the woods to do some soul-searching maybe for a week, maybe two weeks, maybe for months, maybe for years (probably not years). I'm not exactly going off the grid, but maybe to the edge of the grid, the fringe of the grid. I'll still be filing my reports, if not daily then bi-daily or tri-daily. If you could tell Prokhorov and Billy for me, it would be much appreciated. Billy is still not returning my texts and last I heard from Proky, he said he would only be available via messaging drone after December 20.
Anyway, good luck against Indy tonight and Chicago on Christmas. As for the Pacers, your goal tonight should be making sure that Lance Stephenson does not get a triple-double. As for Chicago, I hope you've been practicing with all types of sleeves.
I'm having a good, hearty breakfast of steak and eggs before heading out on the road. My diet will mainly consist of nuts and berries for the foreseeable future.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Daily Report - 12/22/2013
Between the 85-degree weather and Lopez's devastating injury, I'm all out of sorts today.
Just some short notes today:
- I really can't get over this weather. I guess this is what Christmas is like in Jacksonville.
- I hope you got all your Christmas shopping done. I just went out to get almond milk and it's insane out there. Insane.
- As we talked about yesterday, you have a probable loss against Indy coming up tomorrow. Normally I wouldn't suggest this, but, seriously, put as little preparation into that game as you can. Trust me. Vogel knows the moves you're gonna make. In this league you have to know when to wave the white flag.
-This Lopez injury has really got me down. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. I'm sending a box of comic books over to Barclays.
Just some bagels and lox this morning. No big deal.
Just some short notes today:
- I really can't get over this weather. I guess this is what Christmas is like in Jacksonville.
- I hope you got all your Christmas shopping done. I just went out to get almond milk and it's insane out there. Insane.
- As we talked about yesterday, you have a probable loss against Indy coming up tomorrow. Normally I wouldn't suggest this, but, seriously, put as little preparation into that game as you can. Trust me. Vogel knows the moves you're gonna make. In this league you have to know when to wave the white flag.
-This Lopez injury has really got me down. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. I'm sending a box of comic books over to Barclays.
Just some bagels and lox this morning. No big deal.
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Daily Report - 12/21/2013
UPDATE (11:21 AM): I was just getting my French toast batter ready when I saw the sad, sad news about my man Brook Lopez. Hang in there, big guy.
Well that's a kick in the pants. You're on nice little run, got some quality wins under your belt, and then, boom!, two losses to two pretty horrible teams. At least last night you put on a good show for the fans. And as long as you hover around .350 you'll have a chance for home-court advantage in the terrible East if you can win three or four in a row in March or April.
Here are today's notes:
- Alan Anderson looks like a young Jim Jackson out there. Keep giving him minutes.
- So, Brook, Paul, Deron, the aforementioned Alan all had great offensive games last night. This one really seems like a missed opportunity. I know you gave up on actual defensive schemes about three weeks ago, but I think it could have helped in a game like last night's. (Joke!)
- Another DNP for Reggie? What are you doing? This man needs his basketball. And if you don't give him some good, hard-nosed hoops action, he'll go out and find it on his own and then you'll get a call at four in the morning and have to drive out to some court in Flatbush with a blanket and a canteen of hot tea. Don't say I didn't warn you.
- I know you got Indy on Monday, but we can just pencil in a loss for that one. I'd already start looking ahead to the Christmas game against Chicago. It's a national audience, so you'll want to get your beard in order.
- Also, speaking of the Christmas game, I think you'll be wearing sleeves for some strange, marketing-related reason? Start practicing with sleeves today. Actually, just go for long sleeves or turtlenecks. It's like warming up for an at-bat with a doughnut.
Time for French toast and homemade pumpkin spice latte. I'm not playing around this morning.
Well that's a kick in the pants. You're on nice little run, got some quality wins under your belt, and then, boom!, two losses to two pretty horrible teams. At least last night you put on a good show for the fans. And as long as you hover around .350 you'll have a chance for home-court advantage in the terrible East if you can win three or four in a row in March or April.
Here are today's notes:
- Alan Anderson looks like a young Jim Jackson out there. Keep giving him minutes.
- So, Brook, Paul, Deron, the aforementioned Alan all had great offensive games last night. This one really seems like a missed opportunity. I know you gave up on actual defensive schemes about three weeks ago, but I think it could have helped in a game like last night's. (Joke!)
- Another DNP for Reggie? What are you doing? This man needs his basketball. And if you don't give him some good, hard-nosed hoops action, he'll go out and find it on his own and then you'll get a call at four in the morning and have to drive out to some court in Flatbush with a blanket and a canteen of hot tea. Don't say I didn't warn you.
- I know you got Indy on Monday, but we can just pencil in a loss for that one. I'd already start looking ahead to the Christmas game against Chicago. It's a national audience, so you'll want to get your beard in order.
- Also, speaking of the Christmas game, I think you'll be wearing sleeves for some strange, marketing-related reason? Start practicing with sleeves today. Actually, just go for long sleeves or turtlenecks. It's like warming up for an at-bat with a doughnut.
Time for French toast and homemade pumpkin spice latte. I'm not playing around this morning.
Friday, December 20, 2013
Daily Report - 12/20/2013
Philly again. It must get tiring preparing for sub-.500 teams night after night, knowing that there is a real chance you could lose and could lose horribly.
Here are some notes to get you going:
- You played the Sixers earlier in the week and it was a joke for everyone involved. If I remember correctly, you almost dropped 200 on them and Joe shot something like 23 for 25 from the three-point line. Just do everything exactly the same tonight.
- I've always had good luck buying shoes in Philly for some reason. It's usually tough for me to go to a store in New York and walk out with a good pair of sneakers. I wear a size 10 and those fly off the shelf like Bernard King rookie cards. In Philadelphia, though, it's not the case.
- You see the weather report? It'll be almost 70 on Sunday! There are few things I hate more than freakishly unseasonably warm temperatures in December. It's always nice to walk around town in a light windbreaker, but these types of weather patterns just confuse me.
Just some oatmeal with strawberries and brown sugar for me. Have fun tonight.
Here are some notes to get you going:
- You played the Sixers earlier in the week and it was a joke for everyone involved. If I remember correctly, you almost dropped 200 on them and Joe shot something like 23 for 25 from the three-point line. Just do everything exactly the same tonight.
- I've always had good luck buying shoes in Philly for some reason. It's usually tough for me to go to a store in New York and walk out with a good pair of sneakers. I wear a size 10 and those fly off the shelf like Bernard King rookie cards. In Philadelphia, though, it's not the case.
- You see the weather report? It'll be almost 70 on Sunday! There are few things I hate more than freakishly unseasonably warm temperatures in December. It's always nice to walk around town in a light windbreaker, but these types of weather patterns just confuse me.
Just some oatmeal with strawberries and brown sugar for me. Have fun tonight.
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