Tyreke Evans: 29pts 7reb 10ast
Brandon Jennings: 29pts 4reb 7ast
The way a rookie of the year race should be.
Nocioni ( B ) -- a legitimately tough game to grade for Noc. I think the key question of course is how much effect his tough defense on Dirk had on Dirk having a (relatively speaking) off game. Over the years I've heard all kinds of silly cliams about how this King or that King were Dirk stoppers (Peja, K9, Mikki etc.), and I have a hard time believing that a stumpy guy like Noc is that elusive answer. But answer or not, he did play him tough, and that forms the core of this grade, with the rest just being flavor. The flavor mostly lowering rather than raising the grade. Started the game way off with his shot, but eventually settled in as a spot shooter. Made some terrible passes in the third, once overthrowing his target by a good 5 feet (vertically). Got frustrated and made some dumb errors forcing shots. Pesky defense on Dirk kept him on the floor, but down the stretch Westphal actually went with Casspi instead -- I think more of a confidence builder for Casspi than an indictment of Noc, but an indication Westphal didn't consider Noc the key to victory here.
Thompson ( B ) -- was the frist player to get going after our flat start that saw the Mavs jump out 7-0. Came out of the quick Westphal timeout and immediately converted two layups courtesy of Noc + Evans, then stepped out and hit a jumper. But an old foe was about to rear its head, as he was in foul trouble by the end of the quarter and would have to fight that for the rest of the game. At least this time most of the fouls were of a reasonable sort that guys pick up all the time -- offensive fouls charging into peole (twice), fouls trying to block shots etc. After the little burst wasn't able to get much else done in the first half because of the fouls, but came back and played a solid game after the break. Critically did something uncharacteristic -- hit his layups. On defense never really had to guard anybody dangferous -- we obviously did not like the Dirk/JT matchup and had Noc on Dirk for most of the night. JT meanwhile was at times guarding non scoring swingmen like Quinton Ross, and at others was playing smallball center against the likes of Drew Gooden and Kris Humphries. Had several hustle blocks in there saving layups. Never dominated the glass -- that was left up to KT and Drew Gooden, but got his share. Had a spectacular breakway layup in the final two minutes, but generally not much of a factor late. Far from a great game, but 18 and 8 isn't bad by any stretch, and actually hitting his layups had both a beneficial effect on his shooting (9-13) this time out, while perhaps costing him 1 or 2 of those Moses Malone rebounds. I'll take the tradeoff.
Hawes ( C+ ) -- this grade largely reflects the fact that Spencer got absolutely killed on the glass by undersized Drew Gooden. It wasa wipeout -- think Goodne had 10 by the end of the first quarter and he was just pushing Spencer under the hoop and getting whatever rebunding position he wanted on his way to 9 offensive rebounds. Yet this grade is not catastrophic because aside from that minor little detail Spencer looked ok. He stayed in the post to battle, and had a few nice offensive moments, most prominently a nifty spinning finish off a high pick and roll with Evans in the third. Got pushed around perhaps, but tonight looked like he knew how to play the position. I still have no idea why we have to go through all this remedial crap wiht a guy who seemed to be figuring things out last season, but there we are. This minor little 6pts 6rebs in 24min outing was better than most of his efforts this season.
Udrih ( B ) -- another 20pt outing as Reke's wingman, although this one might need a bit of an asterisk as the last 5 all came in the final 30 seconds of a night quite decided game (we refused to give up and actually got it to within 3 where a miracle steal and three could have let us force OT). After getting blown by by Dallas's own rookie PG Rodrique Beaubois (actually Dallas's entire backcourt is nothing but Pgs and PG combos) started racing out on the break for layups down the stretch of the first as we started clicking. Began picking up turnovers repeatedly trying to dribble through traffic in the third, but came on to play a strong 4th hitting his spots and shots, and making some nice passes, not all of which were converted. Not his best defensive night as his quickness issues were put on display, and as mentioned his final 5 points came with the game largely done, but it was still another night serving a critical role asour #2 offensive weapon, and keeping things rolling every once in a while when Reke took a breather.
Evans ( A- ) -- note that I have just given a 20yr old rookie playing in his 11th game an A- on a night he threatened to put up a 30-10-10 night (eventually "only" put up 29pts 7rebs 10ast on 13-21 shooting). That alone should tell you what I think of this kid. Actually got off to a relatively slow start to this (statistically at least -- his impact was enormous from the opening tip). Immeditately picked up a foul going inside trying to help the interior defense. Can't afford that, and you could see him being careful for the rest of the quarter therafter. Amazingly got the true NBA superstar treatment from the beginning of the game, and was getting doubled and trapped as soon as he crossed the halfcourt line before he'd even taken a shot -- that's how scared Dallas was of him. Really came on down the stretch of the first passing ahead on the break for assist after assist and blowing by or through various Dallas PGs. Despite the fine shooting line, actually missed several layups he should have had again, and had several had several turnvoers late in the half. Was just getting started however, as he poured in 21 after the break, becoming just about unguardable when he started to measure JKidd and use the intimidation of his driving ability to shoot jumpers over him at will. In fact fell in love with the jumper after he discovered he could hit it, and started pouring them in from all over the court. Picked up several fouls fighting through screens, but those are good fouls, effort fouls. Had a really nifty finish down the stretch, but also briefly lost control of Jason Terry, who hit three straight jumpers to hold us off ata critical juncture. Reke was there, but just fooled enough to be a step late, took a gamble and missed etc. -- seems to be one mini stretch agame where an explosive mini-twerp will get a run of points agisnt him before he resets. Was Pargo alst time out, Terry this time. Made a poor play when he stumbled and fell out of a timeout at the 3 minute mark for a turnover thta really hurt, but came back with a big steal and open court layup. Came up with another turnover off the pass when he tried to post up JKidd, and Kidd held his gournd and forced him into a otuhg crosscourt ill considered prayer (on the night in fact, while Dallas was scared of his post ability, it was an inefficient weapon, leading mostly to turnovers and blown layups). Closed the game by stepping up to bury a three off the mad scramble play by Casspi with 2 seconds to go in the game. Game was probaly over, but Reke's shot brought us within 3 and miracle distance. The miracle of course evaporating when we had to foul Jason Terry and he went to the line and calmly sank two.
Now some numbers...let's call them food for thought. Since Kevin Martin went down, Tyrke Evans is averaging 24.0ppg on.485 shooting, 6.0reb 5.8ast. He is doing this in the face of incredible defensive pressure normally reserved for the likes of Kobe Bryant. He is doing it at age 20, as a rookie. Dwayne Wade was a 22yr old rookie. His rookie numbers? 16.2pts 4.0reb 4.5ast on .465 shooting. LeBron James wasa a 19yr old rookie. His rookie numbers? 20.9pts 5.5reb 5.9ast on .417 shooting. I won't even bother with Kobe's rookie numbers as an 18yr old, ebcause they sucked. But Kobe as a 20 yr old? 3 years in the league? 19.9pts 5.3reb 3.8ast on .465. Brandon Roy, age 22, 16.8pts 4.4reb 4.0ast. Last year's ROY Derrick Rose? 16.8pts 3.9reb 6.3ast on .475. So the question becoems, jsut what have we found ourselves here?
Brandon Jennings: 29pts 4reb 7ast
The way a rookie of the year race should be.
Nocioni ( B ) -- a legitimately tough game to grade for Noc. I think the key question of course is how much effect his tough defense on Dirk had on Dirk having a (relatively speaking) off game. Over the years I've heard all kinds of silly cliams about how this King or that King were Dirk stoppers (Peja, K9, Mikki etc.), and I have a hard time believing that a stumpy guy like Noc is that elusive answer. But answer or not, he did play him tough, and that forms the core of this grade, with the rest just being flavor. The flavor mostly lowering rather than raising the grade. Started the game way off with his shot, but eventually settled in as a spot shooter. Made some terrible passes in the third, once overthrowing his target by a good 5 feet (vertically). Got frustrated and made some dumb errors forcing shots. Pesky defense on Dirk kept him on the floor, but down the stretch Westphal actually went with Casspi instead -- I think more of a confidence builder for Casspi than an indictment of Noc, but an indication Westphal didn't consider Noc the key to victory here.
Thompson ( B ) -- was the frist player to get going after our flat start that saw the Mavs jump out 7-0. Came out of the quick Westphal timeout and immediately converted two layups courtesy of Noc + Evans, then stepped out and hit a jumper. But an old foe was about to rear its head, as he was in foul trouble by the end of the quarter and would have to fight that for the rest of the game. At least this time most of the fouls were of a reasonable sort that guys pick up all the time -- offensive fouls charging into peole (twice), fouls trying to block shots etc. After the little burst wasn't able to get much else done in the first half because of the fouls, but came back and played a solid game after the break. Critically did something uncharacteristic -- hit his layups. On defense never really had to guard anybody dangferous -- we obviously did not like the Dirk/JT matchup and had Noc on Dirk for most of the night. JT meanwhile was at times guarding non scoring swingmen like Quinton Ross, and at others was playing smallball center against the likes of Drew Gooden and Kris Humphries. Had several hustle blocks in there saving layups. Never dominated the glass -- that was left up to KT and Drew Gooden, but got his share. Had a spectacular breakway layup in the final two minutes, but generally not much of a factor late. Far from a great game, but 18 and 8 isn't bad by any stretch, and actually hitting his layups had both a beneficial effect on his shooting (9-13) this time out, while perhaps costing him 1 or 2 of those Moses Malone rebounds. I'll take the tradeoff.
Hawes ( C+ ) -- this grade largely reflects the fact that Spencer got absolutely killed on the glass by undersized Drew Gooden. It wasa wipeout -- think Goodne had 10 by the end of the first quarter and he was just pushing Spencer under the hoop and getting whatever rebunding position he wanted on his way to 9 offensive rebounds. Yet this grade is not catastrophic because aside from that minor little detail Spencer looked ok. He stayed in the post to battle, and had a few nice offensive moments, most prominently a nifty spinning finish off a high pick and roll with Evans in the third. Got pushed around perhaps, but tonight looked like he knew how to play the position. I still have no idea why we have to go through all this remedial crap wiht a guy who seemed to be figuring things out last season, but there we are. This minor little 6pts 6rebs in 24min outing was better than most of his efforts this season.
Udrih ( B ) -- another 20pt outing as Reke's wingman, although this one might need a bit of an asterisk as the last 5 all came in the final 30 seconds of a night quite decided game (we refused to give up and actually got it to within 3 where a miracle steal and three could have let us force OT). After getting blown by by Dallas's own rookie PG Rodrique Beaubois (actually Dallas's entire backcourt is nothing but Pgs and PG combos) started racing out on the break for layups down the stretch of the first as we started clicking. Began picking up turnovers repeatedly trying to dribble through traffic in the third, but came on to play a strong 4th hitting his spots and shots, and making some nice passes, not all of which were converted. Not his best defensive night as his quickness issues were put on display, and as mentioned his final 5 points came with the game largely done, but it was still another night serving a critical role asour #2 offensive weapon, and keeping things rolling every once in a while when Reke took a breather.
Evans ( A- ) -- note that I have just given a 20yr old rookie playing in his 11th game an A- on a night he threatened to put up a 30-10-10 night (eventually "only" put up 29pts 7rebs 10ast on 13-21 shooting). That alone should tell you what I think of this kid. Actually got off to a relatively slow start to this (statistically at least -- his impact was enormous from the opening tip). Immeditately picked up a foul going inside trying to help the interior defense. Can't afford that, and you could see him being careful for the rest of the quarter therafter. Amazingly got the true NBA superstar treatment from the beginning of the game, and was getting doubled and trapped as soon as he crossed the halfcourt line before he'd even taken a shot -- that's how scared Dallas was of him. Really came on down the stretch of the first passing ahead on the break for assist after assist and blowing by or through various Dallas PGs. Despite the fine shooting line, actually missed several layups he should have had again, and had several had several turnvoers late in the half. Was just getting started however, as he poured in 21 after the break, becoming just about unguardable when he started to measure JKidd and use the intimidation of his driving ability to shoot jumpers over him at will. In fact fell in love with the jumper after he discovered he could hit it, and started pouring them in from all over the court. Picked up several fouls fighting through screens, but those are good fouls, effort fouls. Had a really nifty finish down the stretch, but also briefly lost control of Jason Terry, who hit three straight jumpers to hold us off ata critical juncture. Reke was there, but just fooled enough to be a step late, took a gamble and missed etc. -- seems to be one mini stretch agame where an explosive mini-twerp will get a run of points agisnt him before he resets. Was Pargo alst time out, Terry this time. Made a poor play when he stumbled and fell out of a timeout at the 3 minute mark for a turnover thta really hurt, but came back with a big steal and open court layup. Came up with another turnover off the pass when he tried to post up JKidd, and Kidd held his gournd and forced him into a otuhg crosscourt ill considered prayer (on the night in fact, while Dallas was scared of his post ability, it was an inefficient weapon, leading mostly to turnovers and blown layups). Closed the game by stepping up to bury a three off the mad scramble play by Casspi with 2 seconds to go in the game. Game was probaly over, but Reke's shot brought us within 3 and miracle distance. The miracle of course evaporating when we had to foul Jason Terry and he went to the line and calmly sank two.
Now some numbers...let's call them food for thought. Since Kevin Martin went down, Tyrke Evans is averaging 24.0ppg on.485 shooting, 6.0reb 5.8ast. He is doing this in the face of incredible defensive pressure normally reserved for the likes of Kobe Bryant. He is doing it at age 20, as a rookie. Dwayne Wade was a 22yr old rookie. His rookie numbers? 16.2pts 4.0reb 4.5ast on .465 shooting. LeBron James wasa a 19yr old rookie. His rookie numbers? 20.9pts 5.5reb 5.9ast on .417 shooting. I won't even bother with Kobe's rookie numbers as an 18yr old, ebcause they sucked. But Kobe as a 20 yr old? 3 years in the league? 19.9pts 5.3reb 3.8ast on .465. Brandon Roy, age 22, 16.8pts 4.4reb 4.0ast. Last year's ROY Derrick Rose? 16.8pts 3.9reb 6.3ast on .475. So the question becoems, jsut what have we found ourselves here?
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