A Better Weekend.

As Bobby wrote below, we played Osaka at home this weekend. Before this weekend we were 0-4 against Osaka, and only one game was close enough to win. They are a very physical team, which has presented some problems for us in the past.

This weekend we were able to match Osaka's physical presence, and were rewarded with much better outcomes than we had previously attained. Saturday we won, 84-78. It wouldn't have been that close if we could make a few free throws. We shot a combined 12-25 from the free throw line.

Sunday we ended up losing, I believe 82-69. But it was much closer than that. I missed an open three to tie the ball game with about eight minutes to go in the 4th quarter. Osaka hit their free throws at the end of the game.

But 1-1 against the defending champs isn't bad. Coming into the weekend we had been in 5th place, down one game to Fukuoka. But Fukuoka lost both games to Okinawa this weekend, so we moved back into a tie for 4th place. If we end the season on a tie, the tiebreaker is point differential over the entire season. As of right now we are leading Fukuoka in this category.

Oh and I got another technical this weekend. And it's another bullshit technical too. I was in dribbling in the post and got the ball knocked away. I dove for the ball, as did their Japanese point guard. In the ensuing collision the tiny Japanese guy bounced off me (physics 101, thanks Newton!). As we got up, one of their players thought it was appropriate to get in my face as if I just sucker-punched a cheerleader. On his way over to confront me he actually punched Ray in the face. Of course the refs didn't see this because they were looking at me and the little guy getting up. So he gets in my face, waving his finger in my face and yelling.

Since I don't want to get a technical (costs me 50 damn bucks each time!) I slowly back away, looking at the nearest ref the whole time. I keep my mouth shut, just trying to move away from the guy. Somehow the refs think I was escalating the situation and give me and the Osaka player a technical. Upon inquiring as to my offense, I received a blank stare.