Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Artest ( A- ) -- largely passive in the early going despite starting the game with a seemingly built in advantage with the Blazers running three guards and having 6'4" Brandon Roy try to guard him (know they are struggling right now, but that seemed silly with Outlaw available). Got aggressive in the final minutes of the first half however, bull rushing down inside against Aldridge in particular. Also began to get demonstrative and eventually got himself T'd up for something, while he was off on the bench even. Began racking up points int he third, although you rarely noticed it. Played a strong 4th quarter, really locked in defensively and made some muscle plays down the stretch to help seal it. did struggle a bit against Outlaw, which should have been the matchup form the start if Nate had been thinking about it. Otherwise was too big or too quick for the other Blazers. If this was Ron's final game as King, he sure did close this last month with a rush didn't he? But that would be Ron -- always jigs right when you are going left.
Moore ( B- ) -- you barely knew he was out there, and with Spenser giving us some solid minutes, and Shelden in town, Mikki finally began losing some time to young guys. Not a terrible effort though, and outrebounded the even softer on the boards Aldridge. Just largely invisible -- the Blazers were onto his off the ball movement and the backcuts, and so mostly it was goign to be face up jumpers or nothign for Mikki this time out.
Miller ( B ) -- strong start offensively, both knocking down jumpers and getting Pryzbilla to bite on a head fake so he could go around him for a dunk. Got scored on inside back the other way, but that was a temporary phenomenon. Settled in and was solid throughout the game. Solid is a good word for it. I have already forgotten most of his game, and it is less than 24 hours later. When Wiltzilla wasn't in there outmuscled both the Blazers big young softies (Aldridge and Frye). As B a game as B can be.
Martin ( B ) -- and jumped right back in right where he left off -- inconsistent as inconsistent can be. Apparently the break did him no good, as he struggled badly in the first half again, and must really not have ben feeling it because he was quickly reduced to passing it off rather than chuking up any more misses. But he continued the wildly inconsitent play by coming out firing in the third, and while he never really was hot, he began to do the find the ways to score thing (that often involves flops), hit enoguh shots, and was just looking for them, that he racked up 19pts in the second half alone after only 2 in the first half. Did not feel as spectacular as a 19pt half can and he only shot 6-15 on the night, but the points kept on racking up. Made for another tough grade -- these half games he has been having of late leave me scratching my head. At least this time he got the half right.
Beno ( C ) -- active but somewhat erratic first quarter celebrating his return as a starter. Set people up, and had about his season average for assists (4) by the end of the first quarter. Cooled thereafter however, and began to throw up some crazy stuff that really wasn't necessary. Finished a couple of them, missed the rest. Day 1 of return to starterdom: 9ps 6ast on 4-11 shooting in 39 minutes. Which is very Beolike. But we won, and that is the thing -- since he arrived in Sacto it seems like he has often done just enough, just been stablizing enough that we have a chance even if he is nhot having one of his occasional on games.
Hawes ( B+ ) -- gave us a little boost after entering in the late first. Started off in wussy fashion, deciding to show Raef LaFrentz that Raef isn't the only big man too lazy to use his big body inside while bombing away from the corner. But that was not to be the story this time out, as he settled in and started doing some nice work inside. Made a nice pass, and tried to use a crossover to drive from the perimeter (er...no on that one big guy, not in this league, not with that body). Dropped in a nice little post move too after he got the ball back after he almost threw away another pass. Did not accomplsih much in his second stint, but very active in the first and again flashing bits of all court talent, inclduing the welcome post stuff.
Salmons ( D ) -- remains compeltely lost at sea (maybe waiting for Ron to be moved so he can take back the starting position and give us an effort again?), and only bailed out this time because Cisco decided to have an on game. Made some passes to set a few people up, but looked pretty passive, and the Blazers had a lot of hlep in the middle to shut down his penetration -- some of his recent slump hasn't been so mcuh John as teams recognizing him as a threat and adjusting to take away his bread an butter.
Johnson ( D+ ) -- did little or nothing out there in his minutes and appeared primarily interested i staying out of the way -- perhaps not surprising given that the last time he saw a Sacto playbook Clinton was president.
Cisco ( A ) -- came back from the injury firing, and poured in 12pts in the second quarter on 5-6 shooting to push us out to the lead. Hit another three in the 4th coutesy of a Hawes feed, but then a few seconds later rushed one up for a brick, and then had Martell Webster show him how it was done back the other way to finish off our brief lead we had built up. Forced several shots inside that got blocked, and really should have just stayed outisde this time as he drained 5-7 threes and was near automatic with his feet set. Query: you are in the NBA. Theoretically one of the best basketball players in the world, the man you are guarding has been raining threes on you all night. WHY in the hell would you EVER take two steps inward to make some half assed wave at help defense, thus allowing the three point bomber yet another open look?
Williams ( B- ) -- finally got in off the bench at the very close of the first half and made an instant impact. Knocked down a 15 ft jumper (not his strength one would normally say), blocked a shot, and then banged aorund inside trying for an offensive stop (which he could not get). Some good in the 4th, but also displayed some of his limitations, turned it over, did not finish. Intriguing introduction, adn energetic (no doubt wanting to show off for the new team/fans).
Theus ( ) -- beginning to sound a little chippy towards Geoff is he not? He wants to win now and seems to be having a little trouble adjusting to the idea of a rebuild and the short term sacrifices that have to be made.
Moore ( B- ) -- you barely knew he was out there, and with Spenser giving us some solid minutes, and Shelden in town, Mikki finally began losing some time to young guys. Not a terrible effort though, and outrebounded the even softer on the boards Aldridge. Just largely invisible -- the Blazers were onto his off the ball movement and the backcuts, and so mostly it was goign to be face up jumpers or nothign for Mikki this time out.
Miller ( B ) -- strong start offensively, both knocking down jumpers and getting Pryzbilla to bite on a head fake so he could go around him for a dunk. Got scored on inside back the other way, but that was a temporary phenomenon. Settled in and was solid throughout the game. Solid is a good word for it. I have already forgotten most of his game, and it is less than 24 hours later. When Wiltzilla wasn't in there outmuscled both the Blazers big young softies (Aldridge and Frye). As B a game as B can be.
Martin ( B ) -- and jumped right back in right where he left off -- inconsistent as inconsistent can be. Apparently the break did him no good, as he struggled badly in the first half again, and must really not have ben feeling it because he was quickly reduced to passing it off rather than chuking up any more misses. But he continued the wildly inconsitent play by coming out firing in the third, and while he never really was hot, he began to do the find the ways to score thing (that often involves flops), hit enoguh shots, and was just looking for them, that he racked up 19pts in the second half alone after only 2 in the first half. Did not feel as spectacular as a 19pt half can and he only shot 6-15 on the night, but the points kept on racking up. Made for another tough grade -- these half games he has been having of late leave me scratching my head. At least this time he got the half right.
Beno ( C ) -- active but somewhat erratic first quarter celebrating his return as a starter. Set people up, and had about his season average for assists (4) by the end of the first quarter. Cooled thereafter however, and began to throw up some crazy stuff that really wasn't necessary. Finished a couple of them, missed the rest. Day 1 of return to starterdom: 9ps 6ast on 4-11 shooting in 39 minutes. Which is very Beolike. But we won, and that is the thing -- since he arrived in Sacto it seems like he has often done just enough, just been stablizing enough that we have a chance even if he is nhot having one of his occasional on games.
Hawes ( B+ ) -- gave us a little boost after entering in the late first. Started off in wussy fashion, deciding to show Raef LaFrentz that Raef isn't the only big man too lazy to use his big body inside while bombing away from the corner. But that was not to be the story this time out, as he settled in and started doing some nice work inside. Made a nice pass, and tried to use a crossover to drive from the perimeter (er...no on that one big guy, not in this league, not with that body). Dropped in a nice little post move too after he got the ball back after he almost threw away another pass. Did not accomplsih much in his second stint, but very active in the first and again flashing bits of all court talent, inclduing the welcome post stuff.
Salmons ( D ) -- remains compeltely lost at sea (maybe waiting for Ron to be moved so he can take back the starting position and give us an effort again?), and only bailed out this time because Cisco decided to have an on game. Made some passes to set a few people up, but looked pretty passive, and the Blazers had a lot of hlep in the middle to shut down his penetration -- some of his recent slump hasn't been so mcuh John as teams recognizing him as a threat and adjusting to take away his bread an butter.
Johnson ( D+ ) -- did little or nothing out there in his minutes and appeared primarily interested i staying out of the way -- perhaps not surprising given that the last time he saw a Sacto playbook Clinton was president.
Cisco ( A ) -- came back from the injury firing, and poured in 12pts in the second quarter on 5-6 shooting to push us out to the lead. Hit another three in the 4th coutesy of a Hawes feed, but then a few seconds later rushed one up for a brick, and then had Martell Webster show him how it was done back the other way to finish off our brief lead we had built up. Forced several shots inside that got blocked, and really should have just stayed outisde this time as he drained 5-7 threes and was near automatic with his feet set. Query: you are in the NBA. Theoretically one of the best basketball players in the world, the man you are guarding has been raining threes on you all night. WHY in the hell would you EVER take two steps inward to make some half assed wave at help defense, thus allowing the three point bomber yet another open look?
Williams ( B- ) -- finally got in off the bench at the very close of the first half and made an instant impact. Knocked down a 15 ft jumper (not his strength one would normally say), blocked a shot, and then banged aorund inside trying for an offensive stop (which he could not get). Some good in the 4th, but also displayed some of his limitations, turned it over, did not finish. Intriguing introduction, adn energetic (no doubt wanting to show off for the new team/fans).
Theus ( ) -- beginning to sound a little chippy towards Geoff is he not? He wants to win now and seems to be having a little trouble adjusting to the idea of a rebuild and the short term sacrifices that have to be made.
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