White Trees

“… back with you here, folks, live at the NBA Finals. For those of you just tuning in, you have stumbled onto a mother of a nail-biter. It’s Game Seven, with the Portland Trailblazers ahead by one over the Atlanta Hawks, and Atlanta just called a time-out before the commercial break to get the ball at half-court. The clock is stopped at five seconds, and the atmosphere here at Phillips Arena is simply electric, one of unbelievable tension and excitement. And for the entirety of this year’s playoffs, that’s how it’s been; thrilling close-calls, down to the wire finishes, and amazing examples of what top of line, playoff basketball is all about.  In particular, as always, the Finals, where not only has it been another case of exhilaration to the nth degree, but it has also been a study of contrasts. On one end, you have the Trailblazers. They came into the season loaded to the brim with talent, coming oh-so-close to winning the championship last year, were it not for a few unfortunate injuries and suspensions. This superstar team has been favored to win it all this year since the preseason.
And on the other end, you have the Hawks: the plucky underdog team, barely getting a bottom seed into the playoffs by the skin of their teeth. While they did not look to be the most superior team on paper, they came into the post-season guns blazing, managing to sweep the first three rounds on their way to the Eastern championship. Many experts point to the influence of the man who has become the story of the year, small forward rookie sensation Danny Green. The story, I am sure you’re probably all familiar with at this point, particularly since Hollywood is getting ready to turn it into a film. This young man was a janitor here at Philips Arena, until he got picked up as a free agent following what the Hawks described as a ‘jaw-dropping’ display at an open tryout before the season started this year. Green has set a few team and single season records in scoring, assists, and steals this year; in addition, Green is the first player in over 40 years to win Rookie Of the Year and regular season M.V.P.
This series has been a back and forth struggle, no game won by more than three points for the duration of the series, and neither team taking more than a one game lead. And as the Hawks get set to throw the ball in, we look to see what will happen. Will the superstars on the ‘Blazers turn the Cinderella carriage that is the Hawks title hopes back into a pumpkin? Or can Danny Green will this team to its first championship since the team moved from St. Louis to Atlanta, well over 50 years ago.
All right, here we go ladies and gentlemen; Hawks have the ball at half court, and they look ready to inbound it. Henderson, the power forward, set to throw it in for the Hawks. Blazers and Hawks players all around, jockeying for position, looking to make either turn the tide or- and Henderson inbounds it to Rutledge. Three seconds, Rutledge gets it over to Green. Green, with a crossover on Lynsom. One second left, Green pulls up behind the three-point line. Gets it off just before the buzzer! And it’s- BZZZ! BZZZ! BZZZ! BZZZ! BZZZ! BZZZ! BZZZ! BZZZ!”


Danny rolled off his couch, face hitting the floor. Groaning, he reached up and shut off the alarm on his phone. He rubbed his face, wincing a little as he touched the now-tender bridge on his nose. Danny let out a little yawn, and then looked at his phone. 8 A.M. He had been asleep for fourteen hours. “Damn,” he said with a laugh as he got to his feet, adjusting the old ratty pajama bottoms he had on.  He looked at the remnants of the blunt that was on the coffee table next to the couch. “No wonder Marcus called that shit the ‘Sleeper Hold.” Danny looked at the phone again, and began debating in his head whether it was better to call out from his job at Captain McShanty’s Fish Shack, or just sit back and assume his manager, Belinda would cover for him. After contemplating it for all of twenty seconds, he turned the TV on and sat back down on the couch. “Ooh, Hong Kong Phooey. Hong Kong Phooey, number one super guy...”