Well, you asked for it – a singing recap! (Edit: sorry for the quality of the video. I had literally no way to make something better)

Actually, it’s not a recap – I will write a few notes about the game after the “lyrics” – but it’s something nonetheless, right? Anything to wake up from this basketball induced coma.

***

Lyrics to “My Way (of tanking)”

I wish the end was near

Eighty-two games already gone by

My friends, you know how dear

I hang onto my coronaries

I saw quite a few games

And I’ve searched through every nook and cranny

To write things not too bleak

But suck was uncanny

Good games, we’ve had a few

But then again, too few to mention

Cause Fiz did what he do

And played THJ until exhaustion

He chucked and chucked again

While Dot was there, riding the bench

And Frank, while bad as hell

Sit down for Mudiay

Yes there were times, I’m sure you knew

When Knox was good and Zo was too

But through it all when there was hope

The dungeon came and Fiz said nope

“Enes and Mario I have to play

Let’s suck it my way”

We knew, the tank was on

We’ve had our fill, our share of losing

We tried Vonleh and Kornet

And when it worked

It was amusing

To think that Ron was paid

And may I say not in a bad way

To play, and badly at that

And was cut to keep Trey

Know what is a foul, what is a block?

Don’t ask Mitch Rob, for he does not

But he’s our sun, our moon our stars

Until KP will get the max

The record shows we took the blows

And tanked our way

(Don’t extend Mudiay)

*****

With this thing out of the way, let’s write a bit about the game.

– There’s a certain comfort, as a fan, in knowing that you’re up against one of the league’s powerhouses. Unless they take things too lightly, you’re almost assured a pro-tank night and can concentrate on other things – just after the team has finished getting down by 20 in the first ten minutes. It’s a glorified exhibition game, where maybe you’ll be able to see something from the hopefuls and less than something from your “veterans”. Last night, it was pretty much this. The team as a whole played badly, but a few individual performances (and the fact that Fiz elected to play a lineup of Frank-Trier-Dotson-Knox-Mitch, which he should do as much as possibile for the next thirty-something games) gave me a little hope. Frank + Mitch = great defensive combo. Trier is slowly getting out of his doldrums and it showed.

– Nights like these are where your veterans’ performances evaporate in a blur. I mean, I had the feeling that THJ was terrible throughout the whole game. I checked the boxscore and he scored 23 points on 14 shots and turned the ball over just once. Is good THJ just an invisible THJ? It’s possible.

– Mudiay putting up ugly plus/minus games like they’re getting out of date. 14 points on 11 shots, 2 assists, no turnovers, and still a not healthy -21. Do you think it has to do with his horrendous defense? I do.

– Frank was assertive but still shot 4-for-12. Dude looks like he just lacks athletic strength to be a passable player. He moves well horizontally, has mile-long limbs and is interested in playing a team game. He just thinks too much and is a bad athlete. He’s slow. He jumps little. His arms don’t throw the ball to people quickly enough. It’s more than a season and a half, and I don’t know what to make of him. I still prefer him to Mudiay without a doubt (cost-controlled reasons included).

– My boy Mitch is a marvel of chaos and efficiency. He plays too recklessly, but how can you not love him? 8 points, 6 boards, 2 blocks, 1 assist and 1 steal. And 6 fouls. In 15 minutes. Mitch makes the game +300% enjoyable as soon as he steps into the court. I hope he learns to restrain himself before the end of the season, I’d like to see him putting 20/15 on some fool in April.

– Some might say Knox has crashed into the rookie wall. I say Knox has crashed into playing with Mudiay and THJ, who are allergic to passing the ball. To wit: THJ + Mudiay: 5 assists in 45 minutes combined. Frank + Trier: 13 assists in 49 minutes. And Trier is not one to look for others, normally. But the starting five is a terrible environment right now for people who need others to pass them the ball aside from Vonleh.

– Kornet’s night was cut short by an ankle injury, but his only two points came on a super-gorgeous turnaround 15-footer that I hope he will dust off more often in the future.

– Without Kanter, we are a terrible rebounding team. I’ll still take my chances this way.

See you on Wednesday to witness Harden rain hell on poor Mud!