Boogie for me. Tonight was his first real test against an upper-echelon frontcourt to show he turned a corner and he faltered again. Being able to only Feast on the Aaron Gray's and Tyler Zeller's of the world won't make us a playoff team and won't help Boogie's cause to be a franchise player. He's got to learn how to deal with physicality and fast.
In fairness, except for Salmons and JT, the whole team played like they were in a fog. As a result I'm going to draw more conclusions from the five good games by Cuz, than the one bad one. The whole team looked very tired to me. While you get paid the same, regardless, it does happen. Your mind says one thing and your body says, go to hell! Lets remember that in the five game span, Cuz went up against Chandler, and then played well against the Celts. And while we didn't win against the Nets and Lopez, Cousins had a good game. So I'm more inclined to just write it off as one of those, got up on the wrong side of the bed games. It happens to everyone. I watched Webb go 2 for 22 one night.
Not just Cuz, but just about everyone except Salmons, was leaving their shots short. Thats usually a sign of tired legs. I'd also like to point out that Memphis is a very good basketball team. You have to bring your A game to beat them, and I think the Kings brought their D game, and I'm being kind.
On another note, Fredette learned from last season and improved in necessary areas. Now the league has taken note, and the league has adjusted, and their paying more attention to Jimmer. As a result, he's finding it tougher to score, and when he does get an open shot, he's missing. Probably because he's starting to press again. Magic Johnson once said, that I have to bring something new to my game every year, because the league is going to take away what I've been doing. The NBA is a league of adjustments. If you can't adjust, then eventually your playing in the D-League, or europe.
So I think Jimmer has to step back, take a deep breath, and realize that he needs to readjust his game. If not now, then in the off-season. He needs to take what the defense gives him, and if he can't score, then make them pay for their attention. He's a hard worker, so I think he'll adjust and be fine. It takes time. I'm sure its been a difficult adjustment for him. He's gone from being the giver, to the reciever. At BYU, he was the one with the ball in his hands, and he was the one that decided what play was going to be run. Now he's depending on someone else to get him the ball when and where he needs it. He's gone from taking 22 shots a game, to hoping someone notices when he's open. He's gone from being the man, to an afterthought.
Not an excuse, just pointing out the difficult adjustment he's had to make. T. Robb showed in the 4th quarter last night what he's capable of if he just stays with what he's good at. I know it was garbage time, but there's no reason he can't do that in crunch time as well. Instead, last night early in the game, when it was still a game, he looked like a bull in a china shop. Out of control, and turning the ball over. You can see the potential there. Lets hope he begins to see it as well.
