SE Washington, DC – It was billed as Durant vs. P Shiddy III, a trilogy in the ongoing epic saga that spilled over from last summer’s two classic duels between two Goodman League superstars that made worldwide headlines.  Durant’s second half push propelled his team A Wash Assoc to victory over P. Shiddy led HOBO 117-108.

Kevin Durant, the NBA’s 5^th leading scorer, coming off his second season and just completing a stint in summer school at the University of Texas showed up to face none other than West Baltimore’s Gerald “Gee” Brown, known the world over as “P. Shiddy.”

While not the classic high drama of the first battle, both still gave the Goodman crowd plenty to oooh and ahhh about.   The game produced a “new” crop of rising superstars in Duke junior Nolan “The Escalade” Smith and former GW superstar Rob “Sky” Diggs while solidifying a legend in Hugh “Baby Shack” Jones. 

The weather conditions couldn’t have been better as the long anticipated rematch on the Friday of Father’s Day weekend attracted front row celebrities such DC area native and former North Carolina All American point guard Ty Lawson who is awaiting his status at the NBA draft on Thursday.  Mike Beasley couldn’t bear sitting the sidelines for this one and donned a uniform to join KD in battle for the A Wash team.

P. Shiddy answered all questions in his first game back in the gates this summer and sported his signature freshly manicured Mohawk and true to form, custom gold and burgundy adidas.  P. Shiddy said he has a closet full of custom shoes for every occasion.

Kevin Durant, Mike Beasley, Baby Shack, Chucky Booker and D Pain represented a sick lineup for A Wash Assoc that could probably give the Memphis Grizzlies a run but HOBO brought P “Mama here comes that man again” Shiddy, Nolan Smith, “Sky” Diggs, and a super quick guard nicknamed “Duck.”  Trust me he doesn’t play like a duck.

Unlike last year’s classic, Durant coming off a layoff, started slow.  He missed a few shots early as he was trying to get his “swagga” and find his rythmn but former GW forward Rob Diggs was ready for primetime.  Diggs was a force from start to finish and played spectacularly the entire game.  Diggs’ game starts on the 4^th floor and works it way up from there.

HOBO guard Nolan “The Escalade” Smith, who will entering his junior year at Duke was the most improved by far.  The Escalade was resigned to being primarily a slasher last summer but this year his game is making a major transformation.  Smith’s jumper was wetter than a monsoon in India and his crossover dribble was borderline “stupid.”  Before the summer is over, some defenders may need knee and hip replacements guarding him.

HOBO opened up a slight lead in the first half mainly because Durant started slow but P Shiddy was well, P Shi**y. He did his thing early and often.  P Shiddy controlled the first half while Durant subsequently dominated the second.

P Shiddy used a succession of patented hesitation and stepback moves to gain separation and started to get his “stat game” going.  P Shiddy gives you more in two minutes than most cats give you in three years and he’s scary as hell to guard.  He hypnotizes you with a melodic dribble then explodes to basket or changes direction on you in a heartbeat.  The result can be the defender flat on his a**.

Even Durant has to hunker down to guard him.  I watched KD’s eyes and the look on his face was like “Oh s**t, here we go again."  Durant doesn’t stop and he showed why he’s NBA All Star material as he overcame a slow start to let the Goodman crowd know who he is.

Durant abandoned the back down game he was trying to employ and went back to the old KD in the second half.   The score was tied 57-57 at the half.  Baby Shack carried the A Wash team as he took advantage of a mismatch. 

Nolan Smith continued on a tear in the second half with two three’s but KD said enough of this and started “putting the babies to bed.”

HOBO did manage to open up a small lead but Durant started playing like the top predator he is and started covering the entire length of the court in what seemed like five long strides to finish at will.   He also started raining shots from Suitland Parkway and it was over.

Baby Shack, Mike Beasley, D Pain, and Cliff provided the body blows to Durant’s jabs and took the victory over HOBO.

Rob “Sky” Diggs powered in 32 on power dunks off rebounds and jumpers from the outside.  P Shiddy finished with 29 but was relatively quiet in the second half.  Nolan Smith finished with a strong 25 and Baby Shack 20.   A Wash’s D Pain finished with 17.

17:32 - Rob Diggs throws a no look pass to his teammate Proctor for two.

13:40 –  HOBO’s P Shiddy does a beautiful hesitation move and finishes with a layup

10:27 – Nolan Smith crosses a defender and converts on a bucket

9:18 – Baby Shack converts on an NBA max contract post up move. Credit his teammates for recognizing the mismatch opportunity

2:00 - Baby Shack does a sweet crossover move to the basket

1:30 - Durant throws down a thunderous alley op dunk

13:19 -  “Sky” Diggs throws down a monster jam

6:80 – Nolan Smith converts on a beautiful hanging jumper ala MJ himself.

3:35 – Nolan Smith does one of the most beautiful hesitation moves in the history of the Goodman but fails to convert.

3:29 – Mike Beasley throws down a 360 degree dunk.

1:31 – Kevin Durant throws down a windmill dunk.

 He hasn’t lost a step or fell off any on his explosiveness

 Winner – Kevin Durant

While P Shiddy got off early, K Durant finished stronger and his team won.

Goodman Rising Star – Nolan “The Escalade” Smith

P Shiddy after the game – “ We gave the crowd what they wanted but their were some questionable calls but it’s all good.”

Ty Lawson – “I always come down here to the Farms. I grew up here. I love it here”

Lawson looks to go in the first 12 picks. 

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