“We are who we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be,” penned Kurt Vonnegut, an author known for satire, off-beat humor, and science fiction passages.
Considering what is going on across the globe with all of the pretenders and what they pretend to be, one thing is sure in this little niche sports world: the Bandits are for real.
“We are the Bandits, the mighty, mighty Bandits” is a motto that has been refrained for 32 seasons, win or lose, true to the bone, and no pretending.
History Books
Last Friday’s historic 5-4 victory over San Diego was another endorsement of how true this team is, starting with goaltender Matt Vinc.
Making his 14th post-season appearance in his 19th season, Vinc was masterful in turning aside 48 Seals shots, posting a .923 save percentage, and pushing his playoff record with the Bandits to 17-5!
“He’s in phenomenal shape and can play many more years if he wants. I am glad he is on our team,” Bandits head coach John Tavares said he had a phenomenal game during his post-game presser last Friday night.
On the ready
And for Vinc, there is no pretending. It’s about hard work to achieve victory, starting right after the last game.
“It’s a routine for sure. Every single day, it’s about making sure you’re ready to go for the next game, dotting all your I’s and crossing your T’s,” said Vinc, who has five championship rings.
“I’m able to work out with the young guys at the high school where I teach physical education. That keeps me young, and it’s the drive and competitive nature that I want to be at my best.”
Vinc is the first to step forward and compliment his troops in front of him, who, as a standard operating procedure, soaked 17 shots last Friday, tying a season-high.
“You can’t say enough about those guys. They have been doing it for a long time. Guys are willing to sacrifice their bodies, and that is contagious. This makes it really tough on their shooters with guys in the lanes.
“We have a great group of guys and leaders. We have some of the best players in the NLL on both sides of the ball. They are not only great players but also great teammates. We have many unsung heroes, which builds a great locker room,” Vinc said.
Coach talk
Tavares echoed Vinc’s remarks about the players soaking shots, emphasizing it’s a part of the club’s defense and the style in which they play, committed to maintaining their composure and not to panic.
On the other side of the floor, the Bandits’ offense knows precisely who and what they are and is committed to the game plan.
“We have two of the best players in the league, Dhane and Josh, but they have a great supporting cast; sometimes, they don’t get enough credit. Nick Weiss scored a huge transition goal (as an example). If you’re going to be successful, you need that extra help,” said Tavares.
More than extra
That extra help covers the entire roster through goals and assists. From Smith’s NLL regular-season assist record of 102 to Zack Belter’s two, Kyle Buchanan’s career-high 34 goals, Ian MacKay’s career-high 54 points, and;
Nick Weiss’s 26 points, 138 loose balls, 27 caused turnovers, 13 soakers, Connor Farrell’s 53 percent faceoff proficiency, and Paul Dawson’s league-leading 53 blocked shots. The list goes on.
“Guys want to do whatever it takes, like extending resets late in the fourth, digging, and finding a way to get the ball, and that goes a long way in order for us to preserve a win,” Vinc said.
Stand behind the yellow line
It’s on to the NLL Semifinals of the most anticipated playoff series in the league, the Bandits and Vancouver Warriors in a best-of-three match-up, starting Friday night in Banditland.
Finishing the regular season with a 6-0 run, another playoff victory was added last Saturday night in Vancouver with a decisive 15-10 first-round win over Rochester. This team is red hot, from goaltending, defense, and offense.
“They’ve found their stride, and their offense is unpredictable. Delbs (goaltender Christian Del Bianco) has helped them a ton, and their defense is really big and aggressive,” said Bandit’s Ian MacKay.
Warriors
From a 5-7 record in early March (read familiar?) to where they stand overall today, 12-7, the Warriors have rallied off the heels of their coach’s questioning their will and want to compete following their sixth loss in eight games.
Vancouver’s GM and head coach, Curt Malawsky, is one of the game’s most innovative and demanding coaches today. He expects commitment and composure in every role and will not tolerate pretenders.
“You’ve got to bend, don’t break mentality, and you really need that in the playoffs. I am proud of how hard they battle for the guy next to them. I could see it in their eyes. I always say belief is in a man’s eyes, and you can’t fake that,” lifting quotes from Malawsky in his post-game presser last Saturday night.
Between the pipes
Malawsky’s best move came at the trade deadline when he acquired an idle goaltender, Christian Del Bianco, from Calgary.
In his six games, the nine-year pro posted a .821 save percentage. Armed with a dart for an outlet pass, Del Bianco added six assists to his 96-career total, including two last Saturday night.
Winds of change?
With the Bandits and Warriors coaching prowess, we might see a different gameplan that includes significant offensive and defensive systems changes. Moreover, it’s going to be very physical.
“It’s playoff lacrosse, physical on both sides of the ball with hard picks, getting pushed off your line, getting pushed off the ball, getting hit off-ball—the atmosphere and intensity of the game; it’s just so much more fun to play,” MacKay said.
The bottom line
“Minimize the mistakes; the team that makes the least mistakes usually wins the game. We need to learn how to break a press and deal with the pressure from the game. It comes down to speed and athleticism,” said Tavares.
Ain’t no pretending here.
Broadcast Information
Television coverage for Friday night’s game will be on TSN, CW23, ESPN+, TSN+, and NLL+ starting at 7:30 pm. Steve Bermel will join me in the Ted Darling Memorial Press Box booth, while Dave Buchanan will be between the benches with updates and interviews.
Radio coverage Friday and Sunday night will be on WGR Sports Radio 550. The pregame show Friday will start at 7 p.m., and Sunday night, from Vancouver, the pregame show will start at 8:30 p.m.
Sunday night’s television coverage will be on TSN, CW23, ESPN+, TSN+, and NLL+. The broadcast time is 9 p.m.