16/11/2013 –
Indoor game 2: Oost-Arnhem 2 vs. DOS ’46 4
The countdown is underway until Coops’ departure, less than two weeks left and our first away game would be her penultimate game for DOS ’46.
DOS ’46 4 began the away game ritual, meeting at De Eendracht and then departing in convoy to our destination. This convoy consisted of our team of 10 squeezing into three tiny hatchbacks, Coops taking the wheel of our car (which we have been very kindly lent from Nico and Lamitta). Coops and I are both well adjusted to driving on the right side of the road from the left side of the vehicle, even on highways with 130km/h speed limits. No longer am I trying to indicate my cornering intentions with the wiper blades or reaching for the seatbelt over my right shoulder instead of the left!
As we neared Arnhem to the south, the fog began to engulf us often reducing visibility and most definitely reducing the temperature! This temperature drop was most evident when upon opening the car doors we were greeted with an icy hug from the outside air.
Many of the other teams in our pool are the second team from their clubs; we are the only fourth team. When playing at home, most clubs will produce a small brochure about the matches of their first and second teams, including team lists from both sides. It was a bit of entertainment to see our team list printed up for this game, and no doubt odd for many to see non-Dutch names appearing in this as well! It was also entertaining to try and decipher some of the Dutch filling the rest of the brochure, it takes a while but there are some sentences that can be translated now. Playing against a second team also means a bit more excitement and attention from the home club than I have become accustomed to with the fourth team. At Oost-Arnhem, this meant more spectators and a giant drum that was regularly pounded.
The game did not begin well for our side. With Coops beginning in attack and myself in defence, we went down a few goals early as the strength of the oppositions females players became clear, as they were able to score from medium distances and close to the basket. I also had quite a battle on my hands, as my opponent was a similar player to myself. This meant my usual speed advantage was negated and I had difficulty getting past him on attack for short shots or to free up Kelvin for short shots as well. Kelvin continued to use his height advantage to control rebounds well and as the defenders pushed the ball lines early, I often also ended up doing some work around the korf. Both our vak were able to score with Niek and Jarolien converting most of the free pass chances we were given. Unfortunately we had difficulty scoring from all other areas, often forced into low percentage long distance shots. Disruptive defence from Oost-Arnhem also meant we did not create much flow on attack, often playing at a too slow tempo. Coops managed to score one of her trademark goals from behind the korf half way through the first spell. Defensive errors also allowed the home side too many short opportunities through penalties, free passes and running in shots. With the finally act of the first half, I scored from ten metres to leave the score 13-7 at ruststand.
Opening the scoring in the second half was about as good as it got for DOS ’46 4. The fog from outside seemed to descend on our team, although there were some patches where we could create multiple attacking sequences, these patches and the goals were all to infrequent. The beating drum and cheering from the home crowd lifted Oost-Arnhem more as the game wore on. Their scoring percentages went up and they just kept widening the gap further and further. I subbed off after 45 minutes with my problematic Achilles starting to cause me some problems. Admittedly I am happy to have got through two trainings and 45 minutes of game time this week after not being able to run three weeks ago (all that daily yoga/stretching and massage while watching movies must be paying off). Coops continued through, completing her first full game of the indoor competition. Unfortunately it was not a winning one with Oost-Arnhem having little difficulty defending their home court 25-11.
More interesting challenges popped up from this game for both the team and myself. As a team we must find a way to create more flow on attack and create more short chances instead of being forced into low percentage shots. No doubt as the season progresses this will happen as we become more familiar with each others playing styles. Personally, I need to make life easier for my teammates by slowing down and making it easier for them to read my on-court movements. I also need to improve my ability to attack when a defender is pressing the ball line and my ability to create more options for myself when faced with a fast a mobile defender.
Plenty of time to think this over and many other things on the train to Berlin via Hamburg. Time for some currywurst, weiner schnitzel, Ritter Sport chocolate, amazing history and German bier!
Tot volgende week
Lorenzo
Indoor game 2: Oost-Arnhem 2 vs. DOS ’46 4
The countdown is underway until Coops’ departure, less than two weeks left and our first away game would be her penultimate game for DOS ’46.
DOS ’46 4 began the away game ritual, meeting at De Eendracht and then departing in convoy to our destination. This convoy consisted of our team of 10 squeezing into three tiny hatchbacks, Coops taking the wheel of our car (which we have been very kindly lent from Nico and Lamitta). Coops and I are both well adjusted to driving on the right side of the road from the left side of the vehicle, even on highways with 130km/h speed limits. No longer am I trying to indicate my cornering intentions with the wiper blades or reaching for the seatbelt over my right shoulder instead of the left!
As we neared Arnhem to the south, the fog began to engulf us often reducing visibility and most definitely reducing the temperature! This temperature drop was most evident when upon opening the car doors we were greeted with an icy hug from the outside air.
Many of the other teams in our pool are the second team from their clubs; we are the only fourth team. When playing at home, most clubs will produce a small brochure about the matches of their first and second teams, including team lists from both sides. It was a bit of entertainment to see our team list printed up for this game, and no doubt odd for many to see non-Dutch names appearing in this as well! It was also entertaining to try and decipher some of the Dutch filling the rest of the brochure, it takes a while but there are some sentences that can be translated now. Playing against a second team also means a bit more excitement and attention from the home club than I have become accustomed to with the fourth team. At Oost-Arnhem, this meant more spectators and a giant drum that was regularly pounded.
The game did not begin well for our side. With Coops beginning in attack and myself in defence, we went down a few goals early as the strength of the oppositions females players became clear, as they were able to score from medium distances and close to the basket. I also had quite a battle on my hands, as my opponent was a similar player to myself. This meant my usual speed advantage was negated and I had difficulty getting past him on attack for short shots or to free up Kelvin for short shots as well. Kelvin continued to use his height advantage to control rebounds well and as the defenders pushed the ball lines early, I often also ended up doing some work around the korf. Both our vak were able to score with Niek and Jarolien converting most of the free pass chances we were given. Unfortunately we had difficulty scoring from all other areas, often forced into low percentage long distance shots. Disruptive defence from Oost-Arnhem also meant we did not create much flow on attack, often playing at a too slow tempo. Coops managed to score one of her trademark goals from behind the korf half way through the first spell. Defensive errors also allowed the home side too many short opportunities through penalties, free passes and running in shots. With the finally act of the first half, I scored from ten metres to leave the score 13-7 at ruststand.
Opening the scoring in the second half was about as good as it got for DOS ’46 4. The fog from outside seemed to descend on our team, although there were some patches where we could create multiple attacking sequences, these patches and the goals were all to infrequent. The beating drum and cheering from the home crowd lifted Oost-Arnhem more as the game wore on. Their scoring percentages went up and they just kept widening the gap further and further. I subbed off after 45 minutes with my problematic Achilles starting to cause me some problems. Admittedly I am happy to have got through two trainings and 45 minutes of game time this week after not being able to run three weeks ago (all that daily yoga/stretching and massage while watching movies must be paying off). Coops continued through, completing her first full game of the indoor competition. Unfortunately it was not a winning one with Oost-Arnhem having little difficulty defending their home court 25-11.
More interesting challenges popped up from this game for both the team and myself. As a team we must find a way to create more flow on attack and create more short chances instead of being forced into low percentage shots. No doubt as the season progresses this will happen as we become more familiar with each others playing styles. Personally, I need to make life easier for my teammates by slowing down and making it easier for them to read my on-court movements. I also need to improve my ability to attack when a defender is pressing the ball line and my ability to create more options for myself when faced with a fast a mobile defender.
Plenty of time to think this over and many other things on the train to Berlin via Hamburg. Time for some currywurst, weiner schnitzel, Ritter Sport chocolate, amazing history and German bier!
Tot volgende week
Lorenzo