A Theory of Pick-Up Basketball

Dragged myself out of bed to Church by 10:35. Perfect timing. I'm the tenth man and it's time to shoot for teams.

A theory about about pick-up basketball: the players who don't make the shot (if you're shooting free throws or 3's for teams) usually win. They've got a grudge that they didn't make the shot and they want to show the world that they can play.

Time for me to test the theory. I'm a non-maker and I've got a good team. Another Russ and some speedy guys. But I've got to guard the A-Train, who likes to spin right into me, knock me backward and then score point-blank.

Today, this happens a few times, but I pretty much shut him down. This would be an achievement but, in the first game, I have at least four turnovers on offense.

First game: 27-30 Makers
Second game: 30-28 Non-makers
Third game: Makers win, but the third game is horrible, best consigned to the dustbin of Church of Hardwood History. Let's forget it.

Still, this gives the Non-Makers a 2-1 edge. My theory holds up for the time being.

The Church is getting testy. Two years ago, when it first started meeting, it was a basketball utopia: Everyone got along, the basketball was decent, hard-played, but not super-aggressive.
No one complained about fouls or score totals.

Now, it's in disarray: People are chirping, getting injured, and some members have fallen from the rolls. It's a kind of sad time for the Church of the Hardwood.