EXCELSIOR, Minn. — As the final minutes ticked off of what looked to be a huge upset loss to the Colorado Hilltoppers in the first round of the COMO Classic, Shorewood GM Alex Smith collected himself and put his trust in the hands of the boys in on the floor.
A strong start by Steph Curry on Sunday paved the way for LaMarcus Aldridge and Gorgui Dieng to nibble away at the Hilltoppers' lead, and then ultimately overcome a tremendous effort from a Greeley squad that finally realized its burgeoning potential. The Show, last year's COMO champions, showed they've learned a thing or two about clutch situations. "Of course you have faith in your guys," Smith said afterward. "But sometimes you start thinking it's not your day." It would've been a somewhat crushing blow for Shorewood's regular season title hopes if Colorado somehow scavenged a win. But now, the Bobby Finstock-coached squad advances to the Christmas semifinals, and much of the credit belongs to Curry, who posted a 34.5-bone average over four starts. "He was incredible to watch," Smith said. "Especially that first night. [James] Harden and the Hilltoppers gave us a good scare, but only an idiot would've counted out Steph and the gang." --- Here is the semifinals schedule (Dec. 22-Dec. 28): Hollywood Hornets @ Chaska Moose [semifinal] Minnesnowta Chill @ Shorewood Show [semifinal] Colorado Hilltoppers @ Rio Rainmakers Newport Beach Grizzlies @ Duval United Minneapolis Player Haterzz @ Kansas City Monarchs
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Kansas City Monarchs vs. Chaska Moose Chaska, Minn. @ Hazeltine Court The Moose have been duking it out at the top of the standings with the Hollywood Hornets, but the Monarchs have been sneakily hanging with the playoff pack. KC is a rag-tag bunch led by several non-stars could pull a fast one on DeMarcus Cousins, Tim Duncan and the rest of Chaska’s loaded frontcourt. Hollywood Hornets vs. Minneapolis Player Haterzz Minneapolis, Minn. @ The Funhouse My, how the mighty have fallen. LeBron James and Minneapolis are completely out of the playoff picture four weeks in, and they’ve showed few signs of righting the ship and returning to last year’s postseason form. Meanwhile, Hollywood looks like the odds-on favorite to challenge Chaska for the regular season title. Colorado Hilltoppers vs. Shorewood Show Excelsior, Minn. @ Big Reggie’s Danceland Kevin Love, James Harden and Kyrie Irving have yet to make it click in Greeley, while defending champion Shorewood looks to be on cruise control for a playoff spot. Star power abounds in this matchup, but don’t expect Colorado to put up much of a fight. Minnesnowta Chill vs. Newport Beach Grizzlies Newport Beach, Calif. @ Cohen Arena The Chill are picking up where they left off at midseason last year, and look like a prime playoff candidate. Remember when they were on top of the standings last December? No? It’s been a long road back to the upper tier for Minnesnowta, whose only roadblock in this one is a notoriously rowdy beach crowd. Death Cab for Cutie will play the halftime show. Rio Rainmakers vs. Duval United Jacksonville, Fla. @ House of Shad Per owner Shad Khan’s policies, this one will be blacked out and played in front of the Khan family and members of the Duval front office. Rio will be in very unfriendly confines, but at least the Bold City Brigade is still missing 2013-2014 MVP Kevin Durant. Anthony Davis wins fourth straight POW award, Hollywood reclaims sole possession of first place11/24/2014 HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Anthony Davis had a down week.
His average of 40.25 bones over four starts was below his season number of 40.6, so MAYBE HE IS DECLINING. THIS COULD BE OUR CHANCE. HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Curt Clauss is unraveling.
The Hollywood GM sits in his swivel chair on One Hornets Drive and can't stop drawing up doomsday scenarios. Never mind that his team is tied for first place with Chaska. Never mind the fact that his young star, Anthony Davis, just collected his third straight Player of the Week award to open the season (41.00 bones in three contests). Clauss can already see the end. "Three-peat," he says, uttering the syllables with a frightened delivery. "Just like the 1999-2002 Lakers... and we all know how that turned out. Looks like I'm about to get 'Smush-ed.'" The 23-year-old executive is scared of failure. Perhaps that's why he did not invest any time or effort into the 2013-2014 version of this team outside of a brilliant auction draft to begin the year. This year, he's putting forth an in-season charge, and while the Hornets have been scorching hot, they only managed a fourth-place finish in Week 3. "This week was foreshadowing," he says. "So much hope, but tough, sneaky competition. Like the 2004-2005 Pistons." Clauss' similes are both obnoxious and very much unrelated to anything he's currently dealing with in Hollywood. But keep a close eye on the Hornets in coming weeks — if the team shows the slightest hint of slowing down, the league's itchiest trigger finger might be here in southern California. HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Maybe things will be different this year.
Hornets big man Anthony Davis just collected his second straight COMO Player of the Week award (the fourth of his career), and Hollywood currently sits one point ahead of Shorewood in the league standings. "No Shave November is clearly Davis' time to shine," Hornets GM Curt Clauss said. "Davis hasn't shaved the brow since Halloween and he's playing better than ever as a direct result." The 21-year-old averaged 35.67 bones in three contests, including 47 on Saturday. The young'n already has four 39+ bone games under his belt in five tries. But Hollywood started out hot last year, too, before an epic collapse that ended up landing them Andrew Wiggins with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. The mess was created by front office laziness, but Clauss seems to have revised history a bit. "My #2014Tank4Wiggs campaign is playing out splendidly, even if McSwiggins isn't T-Mac quite yet," he said. "I welcome y'all to buckle up and come along for the ride." HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — The sour taste in Hornets fans' mouths hasn't exactly disappeared, but Anthony Davis is doing his best to make sure the Hollywood faithful forget about a lost season that featured two All-COMO players and zero playoff games.
The early MVP favorite averaged 47.5 bones in two contests during Week 1, and guided the Hornets to a second-place finish. "I'm very proud of Anthony, really living up to his potential," embattled Hollywood GM Curt Clauss said from the comfort of his spacious office on 1 Hornets Way. "I do think there needs to be a vote to change the POW acronym. Don't want people to misinterpret it as prisoner of war." That's funny, because that's basically what Davis is while he wears a Hornets uniform. |
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