IT’S EASY AS 1,2,3…OR IS IT?

The history of pick up basketball goes back to times before harwood courts, concrete jungles, and sport court country clubs. Before rules, refs, and numbered jerseys. A time when a 2 was a 2 was a 2, even when 2's are a 1. The math was simple. The game was pure. But times evolve. The game evolves. Certain 2's became 3's. Rules became rigid. Math became important. Because before Latin, Chinese, Spanish or English the universal language of math was it. Numbers never lie. Strangers can speak, games can play out, and arguments can be settled, thanks to the purity of truth that math provides. As pure as Shai Gilgeous-Alexanders middy game or Nikola Jokic's pass package, as pure as Kobe's fade away or Curry's last 2:51 in the Olympic Championship game, math has always been there. Silently calculating the averages and odds. Defying the probabilities and angles. And so we stand in the truth of math to evolve the pick up basketball game. When 2 is 1 and 3 is 2 the math speaks loudly, stating only a fool would shoot a 2 when a 3 is worth twice as much. 42% is the game play probability of a 2 and 28% is the average for a 3. So 56% is the predictable payoffs of a 3 and 42% is the average predicted payoff of a 2. What would you do? Surely you'd hoist a 3 says the math. But when you multiply the payoffs to true value look what happens!

2x.42=.84 and 3x.28=.84 They achieve the same payoff value. Math. Pure. Chaotic. Honest.

Here at Santa Fe Swish we believe in math, we believe in truth and we believe in you! Free Open Gym hours this coming week are Monday 5-8pm and Thursday 5:30-8pm and we will be playing with 3's and 2's in honor of math. Games to 21, first game of night and last game of night to 25, win by 2, all games capped at 30. Respect the sign up sheet and if there are 10 players waiting then after 2 wins for the same team both teams off, 2 new teams on. We also believe in fairness. Please respect our rules and wishes.

On to Week 7 Recap:

Tuesday Comp League started with Mario Archuleta up to his same ol' tricks, dropping a 30 ball with 31 pts 4 rebs 7 dimes and 2 steals, leading Degenerates (3-1) over Dad Bods (0-4) and Nathaniel Naranjo's double double, 18 pts 12 rebs, he dished out 5 dimes as well in the 79-66 defeat.

Lethal Injection (2-2) and Alex Gutierrez's 30 ball 12 rebs and 2 dimes put it on Team Nuevo (2-2) 83-72. Matt Brito led Nuevo with 21 pts 6 rebs 4 dimes 4 steals.

The night cap gave us a mercy rule score with Mob (3-1) dominating Heatwave (1-4) 81-51. Matt Jackson was too much inside with 17 rebs and a post game pounding effecient 19 pts. Dom Roybal added a 30 ball for Mob. Fidel Gutierrez was the only sign of life for Heatwave, tallying 20 pts and 11 rebs.

In Wednesday's Rec League action 2nd Stringers (2-3) and Bailey Lozada got us going with a big win and the first triple double of our young season with an 80-64 win and 10 pts 10 rebs 12 dimes. Shawn Daniels 33 pts 5 rebs 4 dimes 4 steals out dueled Zia Elite's (0-4) Oscar Nunez's effecient but not enough 14 pts 4 rebs 6 dimes and 3 thefts.

Dad Bods (2-2) and Jassen Lopez's 34 pts put on a 3 point show with a 88-72 victory over the sliding Flash Floods (2-2). Bard Edrington 12 pts 11 rebs 5 dimes a steal 2 Mutumbo's and Dom Roybal 32 pts 10 rebs 4 dimes, were impressive in the loss.

To end the night IPS (2-2) bested Medium Kings (1-4) 70-58. Gabe Serrano was doing a little of everything for IPS with a line of 16 pts 11 rebs 2 dimes 1 steal and solid defense. Alan Loya played well in the loss with 17 pts 3 rebs 5 assists 1 theft and 1 Mutumbo.

On Thursday the 35 Over League saw 505 Unit (5-1) beat SF Elite (1-5) 65-49. Mario Montano is back baby and had 23 pts in the win. Welcome back brother!

Nothing But Net (3-1) and Brian Fairchild's 25 pts were too much fire power for the improving Meyers Bros (0-6) 74-65.

Mob (5-0) showed no mercy to Zia Elite (2-3) with a 74-44 shalacking. Matt Jackson was once again unstoppable down low and basically everywhere else with 23 pts.

Thanks for a great week of hoops fam. Remember to check the website www.santafeswish.com for all updated schedules, stats, and rankings.

Respect the game, Santa Fe Swish