Jammers Int. Weekend League, Season 12
Game 3, 09.01.16
UWC Dover Campus

ENTOURAGE BBALL INC vs. JAMMERS: 36 – 45

Team Entourage’s first practice in the New Year was a somber affair due to the fact that 2 veterans were absent because of injuries/illness. Mark, reliable stalwart at the Shooting Guard position and Forward Sebastien would be missing from the team for a while: in Mark’s case, a bone spur in his shoulder meant his season was over.

The practice session was still well received: skills were improved, strategy was discussed. In the mean time, Management decided to bring in new players to bolster the squad, Gerry at forward and Anthony to replace Mark on the wing. Both newcomers are well known in S’pore’s leagues and are expected to fit in nicely.

Because of Jammers League’s increasingly frustrating lack of communication and a league website that has not posted any schedule updates since Season 12 began last November, the opposing team for Game 3 was only announced 30 mins before Gametime (starting time was announced 2 days earlier!). Entourage Bball Inc were to face Team Jammers, a squad that tends to get much more benefit of the doubt calls from the referees.

Entourage Bball’s players continued their worrying trend of sleepwalking through the 1st quarter and were soon in yet another 0-8 hole to start the game. There was a sharp rise in miscommunication on offense, leading to a bunch of turnovers, some of them unforced. No blame could be placed on the new additions either, since the starting five was Evan, Terence, Dave J, Dave O and Tony; all but one, Entourage vets and regular practice attendees.

After Ronnie mercifully ended the scoring drought with a midrange jumper late in the 1st quarter, the teams settled into a more balanced game.

The second Unit, led by the always energetic Chi at Point Guard, chipped away at their opponents lead, finally taking the lead midway through the third quarter. Entourage managed to increase their own lead to four points before losing focus and conceeding 3 wide-open fastbreak baskets to give Jammers the advantage heading into the 4rd quarter.

Mounting yet another comeback came at a high cost for the black and green, with Chi suffering a bad calf sprain late in the game and Entourage down 4 points. The ensuing long break to attend to the team’s number one sparkplug took all the wind out of their sails, the loss was inevitable.

What is this, middle school?

A 45-36 score would be any Basketball defensive specialist’s dream result (hi Mr. Riley), yet the high amount of unforced errors, missed shots and hesitant play were unusual for the team.

Playing without their most athletic big men, Tolga and Sébastien, Entourage seemed flat-footed and slightly lost at different stages of the game. Jammers were able to get easier baskets, often outplaying Entourage in dead-ball situations (side-outs, Freethrows etc.). Focus was more than lacking.

Here’s hoping that this was the offensive low point of the season as Entourage Bball Inc. prepare for game 4 this Saturday; opponent unknown as of today.

Performance rating

Backcourt 
Hesitant, over-reliant on outside shooting, unfocused. Without the energy infusion Chi and newcomer Anthony provided, this would have been a dismal 1 star performance by the Entourage guards. Time to step it up.
Standout players: Chi, Anthony

Frontcourt 
Strong on the defensive boards. No-show in the scoring department with too many passes slipping through fingers plus defensive lapses. Dave J. was the saving grace with timely baskets and big Tony more than held his own on defense. Player-Coach Dave O. coming off a 16 point outing in game 2, was awol on offense and above average on D.
Tolga and Séb were most definitely missed.
Standout players: Dave J, Tony

Overall 
Worst offensive performance of the still-young season. Too much complaining; wasted energy. Team needs to hit the ground running from the jump-ball on or risk being too frustrated to make up enough ground against teams like Jammers. Positive; lots of passing this game, but pass precision was lacking.
Standout player: Chi