The Assist 71-140

Summary
First game started. Charlestown was playing against Peabody, where O'Brien was smiling as he entered a school he remembered. Before the game, O'Brien says his prayers with the team, to give hope and faith to the players and the past. During the tip-off, the Peabody players begun with force and took advantage of Charlestown. Peabody scored the first shot. O'Brien was furious. Charlestown always ran a full-court press, which pressure the ball handler from forcing a turnover. It was a smart strategy, but the players will tire out easily, thats what suicides are for. As the game progressively continued, Charlestown dominated the game. They won by 30. As they went back to the locker room after the game, O'Brien was outraged by all the mistakes that happened on the court. Even with a blowout, O'Brien criticized the team harshly, like they lost.

Then there was a game versus East Boston. It was a rivalry game, a game that Charlestown needed a win. It was not about the school, ethnicity, or geography, it was about pure sports. In the beginning of the game, Eastie was embarrassing Charlestown by a 23 point lead. Charlestown managed to improve during the second half, but Eastie won by 10 points. It was Charlestown's first lost on its home court for six seasons.

It was already January 4th, 2005, where they are playing against the undefeated Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. This was an important game for Spot, as he was in the starting lineup because Spot was born in Cambridge where his family grew up on and all showed up to watch the game. All players contributed to the game, where Charlestown dove for every loose ball, and contested every rebound. Charlestown beat Cambridge 58-51. Not all played, where Lorenzo, a Charlestown basketball player left the team because O'Brien had not given any game time for him.

"The assist-the basketball term for the last pass leading directly to a score-was one of the most important metrics in O'Brien's world"(Swidey 94). An assist can show players unselfishness to the team, where it's their trust and willingness to put the team with a glorious win.


Quote
"I've got to start enjoying this more. Before you know it, they'll be gone" (Swidey 83).

Reaction
With all the success O'Brien has contributed to the Charlestown basketball team, he didn't get appreciated as much as he should. O'Brien feels that his appreciation is from his players, where he should be enjoying their winnings and not criticizing every move. Since most players are seniors, he will never be seeing and teaching the players anymore. O'Brien's bond with his players is all he needs, to be enjoying every moment till its gone.