Wow, well...we survived. Survived coming out obviously already on vacation at the beginning of the game. Survived some idiotc substitution patterns, including a huge and unnnecessary risk Coach took late in the game where if we'd dropped this, his best players would have been questioning him. And just...survived. But it was a win, and if we're not already out of the playoff running, maybe it keeps a flicker of hope alive as our schedule flips around and we play every game at Arco for 2 months.
Congrats to Reke for a great 25 minutes of action mysteriously ended by his coach. To Thornton who was all guts after half. To IT, who was completely overwhelmed for 2 1/2 quarters, before once again finding the extra gear and pouring it on late. And I guess to Cisco for stopping moaning "Brains!" long enough to give one of those roleplayer efforts we so desperately need. Also congrats to Salmons for finding an excuse to hide out and not be missed, and to Donte, who apparently once again found his way into Mrs. Smart's bed -- how else to explain his completely random appearances and disappearances? Finally congrats to Javale McGee, for being even dumber than the Kings.
Be kinda nice if Geoff could do something significant and get us some help over this All Star break. Ekeing out a come from behind victory agianst the league's worst team while allowing them to score 15pts above their average does not exactly convince me we're fixed.
Boxscore
Evans ( A- ) -- if I projected this game out to where it normally would have ended up, this easily could have been a 30pt 8ast night and a flat A. But on a strange night where our coach was playing minute games, I'll leave it at an A- just for not being there to close it, whether that was his fault or not. For the first half of the game though was our sun and our moon, and just completely carried us on a night when frankly many of our guys did not come out ready to play to start the game. Started to take over in the mid-first and turn the game into his own personal layup drill, getting to the hoop again and again. And was the man tasked, somewhat mysteriously so, with trying to keep us afloat with the 4 struggling backups all in there together for virtually the entire second quarter. Was just overwhelming the Wizards all half long and it looked like summer league out there. Twice misplayed end of quarter possessions, but not by waiting for his shot. Instead both times waited too long to make a pass, and we didn't even get the shots off. Wasn't much else he was doing wrong though as he ended the half 7-9 from the field, only had a single turnover, and had outscored Chris Singleton 20-0. Came right back out and got off to the good start to the 3rd again with a quick layup, then a block inside on defense. But quickly got himself into foul trouble trying to contain Wall, who had killed us in the first half, and then a straoge thing happened. The guy who had carried us all game with 22pts 6rebs 4ast on 8-10 shooting in only 25min went to the bench early in the third...and he was left there. All I have to say to that one is that it is very fortunate for Smart that we pulled out the win. The Wizards has the lead with less than 6 minutes to go and no Reke. It was still only a 1pt lead with 3:45 to go, still no Reke. If things had gone south and we finished the roadtrip 0-6 there would have been some major questions raised, possibly in his own lockerroom. However they did not, and we pulled off the win. But there is no way we do so without Reke keeping us within striking range during a first half where we could easily have been down 20.
Thompson ( C+ ) -- played the most minutes of any King. Why? Well...ask the coach. Jason was solid, but rarely more than that. In the first half actually was somehwat less than that as he seemed to have a case of the Flutters -- I coined the nickname Flutter for Spencer Hawes when he was here for his tendency to flutter around the court not getting much accomplished, and in the early going that was where Jason kind of was in this one. Couldn't quite get the rebound, seemed trapped in space on defense, neither challenging nor being completely blown by, missing layups an flips by being intimidated by McGee. Not awful so much as largely ineffective. But after half as the game slowed down and got more physical, began to come on and be a solid contributor. Boarding picked up ,began to get to people's bodies better on defense, probably merifully was never going to have a chance to shoot as the Thornton and IT show heated up. Better fit next to Hayes than Hickson, as he could cover Hayes' size deficiency better. Ended up with a solid enough 9pts 11reb in 40min night. doing just enough to help without ever doing anything special. Hey, hit his FTs too, so that's something in itself.
Cousins ( C ) -- you know, maybe of all our guys, I felt that Boogie was the most mentally checked out for the All Star break to start this one. Hit his first jumper, but then back the other way oddly stepped away from challenging Wall's penetration after he beat IT baseline -- maybe a gift there to his buddy. Was still having problems with the shotblocking, and it made him resort to flips rather than going inside. And when he did go inside to do his pound the glass until it goes i thing, it almost semed too easy. Rather than muslcing attempt after attempt over/through guys, he was just missing easy open ones and sort of casually reaching up with one hand and playing pattycake until something finally found the middle of the rim. Big raw stats, but just felt very inefficient and loose like this was one of those summer league exhibitions. Came on a bit down the stretch before half...on offense at least. Defense on Mcgee was just horribly casual, again almost exhibition like as he just wasn't moving his feet at all and didn't seem inclined to bother recovering. Some big rebounds, but the decisionmaking was let's say shaky all night long. Kinda capped that theme by picking up another technical foul for no apparent reason, and has to be careful now. Depsite his rep actually picked up very few of those until recently, but has been getting one here or there now, and doesn't want to get that rep. So 16pts 16rebs...and yet i did not really feel it was a very good game for him. Didn't feel intense or focused, was throwing up a shot a minute and not hitting many of them, looked disinterested defensively. This was just the escape day effort. Funny thing is that having seen how easy it was, I am more convinced than ever that DeMarcus could just destroy these guys in epic breakout game fashion if he came with his game face on. But this just wasn't that day.
Thornton ( B+ ) -- one of several players, our next two in particular, who basically had radically different halves. Got off to the slow start on both ends -- although he had a few nice hustle plays the shot wasn't falling and he was often late on defensive rotations. Then in another one of those odd subtitution patterns of Smart's tonight, Marcus mysteriously sat the entire 2nd quarter so that Jimmer could show him how really getting lit up was done. And even came out to start the third struggling and not getting much accomplished. But then in true Microwave fashion (because you know inevitably when you have Isiah Thomas, then Reke will be Dumars and Thornton Vinnie Johnson) came up with back to back to back jumpers in the mid 3rd jarring us back to life, and tying the game with the last one. And from that point on was maybe the best player on the floor and extremely aggressive getting to the hoop and coming up with a series of big offensive rebounds and finsihes off of IT misses. Once again that same dynamic with Marcus, where no matter how bad he is going, you just keep him on the floor because he's points in a bottle, and you never know when the stopper is going to pop out. And when it does he can be a game changer.
Thomas ( B+ ) -- into quick foul trouble against Wall, and having problems challenging his dribble or keeping him from going wherever he wanted. Also was ineffective as a closeout defender on the numerous open jumpers the Wizards were getting. Had 1 or 2 nice plays, including a nifty behind the head pass to Cousins off the drive, but capped things by being unable to get his own offense going at all, and had to watch Jimmer tale all his second quarter minutes. By halftime Wall had 15pts and 5ast to IT's 2pts 1ast. But like Thornton things would change after half. Actully the moment when things began to turn was the same. IT started the thrid with an assist on Reke's final hoop, but then disppeared again doing nothing as Wall headed toward a triple double, and throwing a couple of bad passes. But then he got the assist on the first of Thronton's hits, then the assist on the second of Thornton's hits, and he began to remember that hey, he was Isiah Thomas, mighty mite extraordinaire, and he wasn't going to take crap from anybody. Got consistently stronger from there on out, feisty on both ends, and if intiially Thornton was bailing him out a lot by collecting his misses and putting them back through the hoop, by the end of the game IT was the closer as the Wizards just kind of collapsed from exhaustion as much as anything else. So going to peg his grade along with Thornotn's -- IT is forming up a Lin-like cultish presence now that will have anything he does be an A. But I don't do cults. Far from perfect and Wall had one of his best game's of the season against him, but it was a scrappy late game performance stepping up when needed for us to get the victory, and back to back games where all three guards were major contributors.
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Bench
Hayes ( C+ ) -- well except for those minor areas of basketball like scoring and rebounding, has begun to play a little better. During a long shaky first half stint alongside Hickson was so offensively lacking confidence that he turned the ball over trying to throw it back to Reke immediately after Reke dropped it off to him, hot potato style. Wanted no part of it. Repeatedly rebounded over in that first stint as his lack of height killed him, and while I've seen it before I am beginning to forget how he ever was an effective rebounder. Finally did something right with back to back nice passes to Reke and Cisco on the cuts. Hey, maybe he should be a guard. In the second half ended up being part of the mixed crew that eventually pulled the game out. Did little statistically in those minutes, although did have a follow and a pair of FTs, but on that doing subtle things theory, he was making some good defensive plays that won't apepar anywhere in a boxscore. Right place and right time. Able to handle switches onto perimeter personnel, and to ride penetrators without picking up fouls.
Congrats to Reke for a great 25 minutes of action mysteriously ended by his coach. To Thornton who was all guts after half. To IT, who was completely overwhelmed for 2 1/2 quarters, before once again finding the extra gear and pouring it on late. And I guess to Cisco for stopping moaning "Brains!" long enough to give one of those roleplayer efforts we so desperately need. Also congrats to Salmons for finding an excuse to hide out and not be missed, and to Donte, who apparently once again found his way into Mrs. Smart's bed -- how else to explain his completely random appearances and disappearances? Finally congrats to Javale McGee, for being even dumber than the Kings.
Be kinda nice if Geoff could do something significant and get us some help over this All Star break. Ekeing out a come from behind victory agianst the league's worst team while allowing them to score 15pts above their average does not exactly convince me we're fixed.
Boxscore
Evans ( A- ) -- if I projected this game out to where it normally would have ended up, this easily could have been a 30pt 8ast night and a flat A. But on a strange night where our coach was playing minute games, I'll leave it at an A- just for not being there to close it, whether that was his fault or not. For the first half of the game though was our sun and our moon, and just completely carried us on a night when frankly many of our guys did not come out ready to play to start the game. Started to take over in the mid-first and turn the game into his own personal layup drill, getting to the hoop again and again. And was the man tasked, somewhat mysteriously so, with trying to keep us afloat with the 4 struggling backups all in there together for virtually the entire second quarter. Was just overwhelming the Wizards all half long and it looked like summer league out there. Twice misplayed end of quarter possessions, but not by waiting for his shot. Instead both times waited too long to make a pass, and we didn't even get the shots off. Wasn't much else he was doing wrong though as he ended the half 7-9 from the field, only had a single turnover, and had outscored Chris Singleton 20-0. Came right back out and got off to the good start to the 3rd again with a quick layup, then a block inside on defense. But quickly got himself into foul trouble trying to contain Wall, who had killed us in the first half, and then a straoge thing happened. The guy who had carried us all game with 22pts 6rebs 4ast on 8-10 shooting in only 25min went to the bench early in the third...and he was left there. All I have to say to that one is that it is very fortunate for Smart that we pulled out the win. The Wizards has the lead with less than 6 minutes to go and no Reke. It was still only a 1pt lead with 3:45 to go, still no Reke. If things had gone south and we finished the roadtrip 0-6 there would have been some major questions raised, possibly in his own lockerroom. However they did not, and we pulled off the win. But there is no way we do so without Reke keeping us within striking range during a first half where we could easily have been down 20.
Thompson ( C+ ) -- played the most minutes of any King. Why? Well...ask the coach. Jason was solid, but rarely more than that. In the first half actually was somehwat less than that as he seemed to have a case of the Flutters -- I coined the nickname Flutter for Spencer Hawes when he was here for his tendency to flutter around the court not getting much accomplished, and in the early going that was where Jason kind of was in this one. Couldn't quite get the rebound, seemed trapped in space on defense, neither challenging nor being completely blown by, missing layups an flips by being intimidated by McGee. Not awful so much as largely ineffective. But after half as the game slowed down and got more physical, began to come on and be a solid contributor. Boarding picked up ,began to get to people's bodies better on defense, probably merifully was never going to have a chance to shoot as the Thornton and IT show heated up. Better fit next to Hayes than Hickson, as he could cover Hayes' size deficiency better. Ended up with a solid enough 9pts 11reb in 40min night. doing just enough to help without ever doing anything special. Hey, hit his FTs too, so that's something in itself.
Cousins ( C ) -- you know, maybe of all our guys, I felt that Boogie was the most mentally checked out for the All Star break to start this one. Hit his first jumper, but then back the other way oddly stepped away from challenging Wall's penetration after he beat IT baseline -- maybe a gift there to his buddy. Was still having problems with the shotblocking, and it made him resort to flips rather than going inside. And when he did go inside to do his pound the glass until it goes i thing, it almost semed too easy. Rather than muslcing attempt after attempt over/through guys, he was just missing easy open ones and sort of casually reaching up with one hand and playing pattycake until something finally found the middle of the rim. Big raw stats, but just felt very inefficient and loose like this was one of those summer league exhibitions. Came on a bit down the stretch before half...on offense at least. Defense on Mcgee was just horribly casual, again almost exhibition like as he just wasn't moving his feet at all and didn't seem inclined to bother recovering. Some big rebounds, but the decisionmaking was let's say shaky all night long. Kinda capped that theme by picking up another technical foul for no apparent reason, and has to be careful now. Depsite his rep actually picked up very few of those until recently, but has been getting one here or there now, and doesn't want to get that rep. So 16pts 16rebs...and yet i did not really feel it was a very good game for him. Didn't feel intense or focused, was throwing up a shot a minute and not hitting many of them, looked disinterested defensively. This was just the escape day effort. Funny thing is that having seen how easy it was, I am more convinced than ever that DeMarcus could just destroy these guys in epic breakout game fashion if he came with his game face on. But this just wasn't that day.
Thornton ( B+ ) -- one of several players, our next two in particular, who basically had radically different halves. Got off to the slow start on both ends -- although he had a few nice hustle plays the shot wasn't falling and he was often late on defensive rotations. Then in another one of those odd subtitution patterns of Smart's tonight, Marcus mysteriously sat the entire 2nd quarter so that Jimmer could show him how really getting lit up was done. And even came out to start the third struggling and not getting much accomplished. But then in true Microwave fashion (because you know inevitably when you have Isiah Thomas, then Reke will be Dumars and Thornton Vinnie Johnson) came up with back to back to back jumpers in the mid 3rd jarring us back to life, and tying the game with the last one. And from that point on was maybe the best player on the floor and extremely aggressive getting to the hoop and coming up with a series of big offensive rebounds and finsihes off of IT misses. Once again that same dynamic with Marcus, where no matter how bad he is going, you just keep him on the floor because he's points in a bottle, and you never know when the stopper is going to pop out. And when it does he can be a game changer.
Thomas ( B+ ) -- into quick foul trouble against Wall, and having problems challenging his dribble or keeping him from going wherever he wanted. Also was ineffective as a closeout defender on the numerous open jumpers the Wizards were getting. Had 1 or 2 nice plays, including a nifty behind the head pass to Cousins off the drive, but capped things by being unable to get his own offense going at all, and had to watch Jimmer tale all his second quarter minutes. By halftime Wall had 15pts and 5ast to IT's 2pts 1ast. But like Thornton things would change after half. Actully the moment when things began to turn was the same. IT started the thrid with an assist on Reke's final hoop, but then disppeared again doing nothing as Wall headed toward a triple double, and throwing a couple of bad passes. But then he got the assist on the first of Thronton's hits, then the assist on the second of Thornton's hits, and he began to remember that hey, he was Isiah Thomas, mighty mite extraordinaire, and he wasn't going to take crap from anybody. Got consistently stronger from there on out, feisty on both ends, and if intiially Thornton was bailing him out a lot by collecting his misses and putting them back through the hoop, by the end of the game IT was the closer as the Wizards just kind of collapsed from exhaustion as much as anything else. So going to peg his grade along with Thornotn's -- IT is forming up a Lin-like cultish presence now that will have anything he does be an A. But I don't do cults. Far from perfect and Wall had one of his best game's of the season against him, but it was a scrappy late game performance stepping up when needed for us to get the victory, and back to back games where all three guards were major contributors.
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Bench
Hayes ( C+ ) -- well except for those minor areas of basketball like scoring and rebounding, has begun to play a little better. During a long shaky first half stint alongside Hickson was so offensively lacking confidence that he turned the ball over trying to throw it back to Reke immediately after Reke dropped it off to him, hot potato style. Wanted no part of it. Repeatedly rebounded over in that first stint as his lack of height killed him, and while I've seen it before I am beginning to forget how he ever was an effective rebounder. Finally did something right with back to back nice passes to Reke and Cisco on the cuts. Hey, maybe he should be a guard. In the second half ended up being part of the mixed crew that eventually pulled the game out. Did little statistically in those minutes, although did have a follow and a pair of FTs, but on that doing subtle things theory, he was making some good defensive plays that won't apepar anywhere in a boxscore. Right place and right time. Able to handle switches onto perimeter personnel, and to ride penetrators without picking up fouls.
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