In my Gameday post, I predicted the Jays would fold like a cheap suit and lose at Evansville Tuesday night. Not surprisingly, the reaction from my readers was outrageous. Several of them asked me what took so long; several more asked me what the hell was wrong with me. Hell, the editor of CollegeHoops.net even sent me an email linking me to their preview, making sure to point out they predicted a big Jays win and expressing surprise at my prediction.
Alright, alright, I get it. But you have to admit, this is a tough team to figure, isn't it? One night, they play poorly but manage to scrap and claw their way to an overtime win against Southern Illinois. The next night, they put no effort in and get blown out of the gym by the worst team in the Valley. Then they come back and blow out one of the best teams in the league at home this season.
Can you figure it out? Because I sure as heck can't. Oh, you can cop out and answer "inconsistency", but doesn't that seem like too easy of an answer? It does, but its sure as hell the only thing that makes sense.
Here's how messed up this season is: ordinarily when a 4-3 team goes on the road and beats a solid opponent by 22, you'd think the team had turned the corner and was about to reel off a winning streak. But I honestly don't have any better read on what happens next than I did before. Each game is a singular event at this point, offering almost no predictive ability for the next one. Your guess is as good as mine as to what happens against Drake on Saturday. At this point I'd believe almost any outcome up to and including Antoine Young tearing off his jersey to reveal Superman's cape and a red S on his chest.
Here's what we know for sure: in this game, there were three Jays in double figures, they got over 30 points from their bench, had 21 assists on 30 made baskets, and they were +8 on the glass. That's a genius formula for success, is what that is: Spread the ball around, box your man out and get contributions from your bench.
More important to me was that both the execution and the energy were much better in this game, and the players played much tougher. Now, as I've said all season, lets see if they can do it twice in a row. With a three-game home stand, the Jays are in excellent position to reel off some wins and get to 8-3 in the league before their next road trip.
For my part, I am pledging to not gripe or complain about any player by name during the home stand, no matter how bad things get. That is my promise to you.
*****
During tonight's game, I was thoroughly enjoying the first half, during which the Jays jumped out to a 46-29 lead on the back of 17-5 run to close the half. Then at halftime, I had a golden opportunity to finally catch the dog owner who's been allowing her dog to take craps under my deck. See, when I was unemployed during December, I was home during the day and filled my days with silly tasks like spying on neighbors who allowed their dogs to make fecal contributions to my garden. I'd always wondered who the culprit was, but since it always happened when I was at the office, I could never catch them in the act.
Well, I figured out who it was the week before I started my new job, but it was colder than the dickens that day and I decided it wasn't worth the fight on such a cold day. Tonight, I emerged from my basement, looked out my kitchen window, and saw 40 pounds of rudeness going on a crash diet in the relative privacy of the underside of my deck. I decided it was Go Time, Jays game or no.
I won't transcribe what was said, but suffice it to say I didn't offer to buy her a bag of mini donuts any time soon. I will however be leaving my own special recipe of mini donuts, using only the finest all natural waste product ingredients, on her doorstep the next time it happens. So, you know, that will be fun.
And when I emerged from that uncomfortable confrontation, I looked at the TV and...the Jays were ahead 63-33. Thirty points! On the road! They were scoring, they were playing defense, they were rebounding, and for the time being I had no more dog crap under my deck! Good times.
Of course, there is that little matter of the Aces outscoring the Jays 24-16 the rest of the way, but lets not get picky here.
*****
Grosser story: dogs taking craps under my deck, or that student reporter on ESPNU eating a pork brain sandwich? Here's the really scary thing: that thing looked enough like a tenderloin that you could ostensibly convince someone to eat it without telling them it was, well, brains. Of course, I'm pretty sure once they found out, they'd stick their foot so deep up your ass that your breath would smell like shoe polish, but still, it'd be pretty hilarious up to the point where you needed to buy a case of Scope.
*****
Tonight's Polyfro Player of the Game is brought to you by Binaca. Excuse me...care if I ass you a few questions? Oh, that's it, you've done it now...you've pissed him off!
Casey Harriman. Apparently Ace Ventura, or his esteemed colleague Mr. Marino, told Harriman that some female police chief who used to be a dude and once shanked a game winning field goal in the Super Bowl has now kidnapped Snowflake, who's a mammal and not a fish, thank you very much, and now that Roger Podactor found Captain Winky and subsequently fell to his demise from the balcony of a high rise, the only way to save Snowflake is to rebound like a mad man, throw assists like they're going out of style, and block shots. Bravo, sir, bravo.
Harriman had 11 points on 2-3 from behind the arc, grabbed four tough boards, dished out five assists, and had two blocks. Add in Justin Carter's solid play (14 points, 6 boards and a steal) and for one of the first times all year, the power forwards came to play. I like it!
Harriman saved Snowflake, which is this cockamamy allegory is an analogy for the season. He saved the season! And he's the Player of the Game to boot! Cans of Heee-Haw for everyone!
You bet.
