By Mike Ainger
After standing in solidarity with the Writers Guild, who were on strike from May to September, the 705 Spruce League is thrilled to announce a return to the quality sports reporting fans of the league have come to know and love.
Building on last year’s dedicated documentation of the exploits of the upstart amateur basketball league, both the players and its resident journalist are back in action.
The annual off-season expansion draft yielded a promising cohort of new young players, some barely into their 40s. Their additions have elevated the quality of competition beyond that of the previous two seasons, a feat that many regarded as insurmountable.
While the ambitious play of rookies to the league has been inspiring, the consistent and savvy gamesmanship displayed by the league’s grizzled veterans has continued to pave the way early on in the 2023-24 season.
In-game analysis of the 705 is often a difficult task to sufficiently capture. Thus, it is perhaps best to borrow a quote from one of the great coaches of the 705’s sister league (the NBA’s Larry Brown), “They play unselfish, they play together, and they play hard.” This selfless approach was evident in the first games of the season, as witnessed in the players’ willingness to take extended turns sitting on the bench, so their teammates could capitalize on floor time.
With regards to the stat line, Team Black has asserted its dominance early on, taking the better of the nightly contests in weeks 1, 2, and 4, with Team Red grinding out a rare overall win in week 3. Shooting percentages league-wide present an opportunity for growth, lingering around 21%. Conversely, a mark of early season success can be found in the turnover-to-possession ratio, which has dropped to 1:2, the lowest of any point throughout last season.
On a closing note, when asked for comment about the extension of the league’s arena deal (Spruce Glen Public School), the Commissioner said “Thanks.”
Nights without serious injury is now at 4, with play scheduled to resume next Wednesday barring a snow day.
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