Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Well, in just about the world's most mediocre victory, we managed to slip out with a victory over nobody in particular led by nobody in particular. But hey, its us. We need wins no matter what shape or form they come in. So...yay and all that. We win. Woot. Woot. Just kindly don't go bragging to anybody at work Monday about this one (or Tuesday as may be).
Highlights:
The grading consortium will be short a member tonight as Bajaden has company visiting, and they are out streaking Southern Mexico somewhere. So:
The Grading Consortium is:
Bricklayer
Capt. Factorial
Boxscore
Stats: 26min 4pts (2-4, 0-1, 0-0) 2reb 1ast 0stl 0blk 3TO
Salmons ( D+ ) -- nothing to see here. Very quiet first half with only a single bucket late in the first quarter, and Johnson and Thornton's hot second quarter kept him on the bench throughout. Was back in for the final defenive possession of the half, and got beat to the hoop as the Cats scored. In the third missed an open corner three as we missed opportunity after opportunity to open this up and put them away. Had a terrible sequence that started wiht him standing flatfooted on a rebound and getting boarded over, then eventually fouling Haywiood to give him the +1. Added a terrible pass from the corner up top that was picked off to start a Bobcats break, as we gave away our modest lead. Best that can be said for this was that MKG did no damage the other way, but then again MKG isn't that type of player. In any case 4pts 2reb 1ast and 3TOs in 26min isn't getting it done. Just one of several guys who may have played tired out there tonight. Of course its always hard to tell when you are talking about the Great Snooze himself.--Brick
Stats: 32min 11pts (5-6, 0-0, 1-2) 4reb 2ast 1stl 0blk 0TO
Thompson ( C+ ) -- maybe Jason is studying up to be a ninja spy, as he is already mastering the art of invisibility. That said, this was much better than the last 5 or 6 games, by not being terrible. He was efficient tonight, just never at any point felt like he was having an impact. He was just "guy who hit random jumpshot" every 5 minutes or so. He got one solid little post move early, where he looked very comfortable and took his time against the Cats' excuse for a frontline. He got a quick little dunk in the early third when the Cavs defense mysteriously left him. There was a long jumper against the clock late that actually helped bail us out. But it was all just random, nothing sustained. And on the other end he still isn't rebounding. There just is no doubt Reke is the #2 rebounder on the team right now, which is scary (TRob would have that title with PT). Jason is just, again, invisible on the glass. Its hard to even diagram. Just wherever the ball is, he isn't, and he's not winning any scrums. Let Warrick get a few of his jumpers the other way, and more or less played him to a draw. That's not a compliment or what you want out of Jason, but like I say, this was better than what we have seen, and at least he slowed down and was efficient on his offensive attemtps this time. He was playable.
--Brick
Stats: 38min 17pts (8-19, 0-0, 1-2) 10reb 4ast 1stl 0blk 5TO
Cousins ( B- ) -- and the beat goes on for DeMarcus. This was not a huge game for him, but it was a solid one further cementing the Good Boogie numbers we have seen ever since "The Incident" nearly a month ago now. The funny thing is how in just amonth its now DeMarcus who looks like the guy who knows how to play, and who looks bemused as our chuckers run arounf making selfish plays. Got off to a pretty good styart as long as he didn't settle for the jumper, which was not on, and per usual spotted in some brilliant Boogie-only plays including a beautiful one handed bounce pass with english from the 3pt line to a cutting MT. When he returned late in the half was not as involved, as guys like MT and JJ are not conducive to offensive focuses elsewhere. Started the thrid with a traveling call in the paint, but got multiple dunks behind Biyoombo as IT just threw it over the top, and the Cats did not react. Wasn't really creating his own shots, but did have another one of those special plays with a great catch and quick spin finsish. Had too many bad pass turnovers thoughout as he repeatedy tried to throw it out of doubles through traffic. When he returned in the late 4th immediately missed a turnaround jumper leaving the door open for the Cats, and forced a tough tough shot at the 2min mark that was blocked. But was strong on the d-boards and anchored us as the starting backcourt came back in to win it. --Brick
Stats: 26min 16pts (6-10, 0-0, 4-4) 3reb 4ast 2stl 0blk 2TO
Evans( C+ ) -- seemed to be pressing early. Mixed in strong plays, a steal up top and breakaway, some assists, with forced shots and passes. When he returned in the late half (too alte again as Smart just cannot figure out how to give him minutes) largely frozen out by MT's presence, but did set up Cuz on a pick and roll. The other way he was not exceptional. Guys were getting little scores on him in various ways. Just looked a little unsettled there, and did not start locking in until after half. Was quiet in the third until he was forced to throw up a long off balance jumoer against the clock late in the quarter, but he hit it and imemdiately followed it with a quick take along the baseline the enxt time down the floor. But just as we got a burst out of him, picked up his 4th foul, and the genius coach AGAIN takes that as a sign to play any and every borderline scrub on the roster as the Cats came back and actually took the lead at one point. Finally returned to the game just in the nick of time with 3 minutes to go. Made a mistake trying to drive it 1 on 3 ont eh break and got it salapped away off his knee, but also drew a foul at the 2:40 mark on a drive to retie it at 90, got the conversion on the break from IT at the 1:20 mark, grabbed a big defenisve board to close the next defensive possesion, and then went down the other way and got the layup on the pass from Cuz. Was not a great game for Reke, but the flurry at the end helped us close it (note mostly as a finisher, whihc is easier than being a creater), and its the damn minutes again as much as anything. Consider this: 2 games ago Reke played 40 minutes and put up 21pts 8reb 8ast. If he had played 40 min tonight he was on pace to put up 25pts 5reb 6ast. But he didn't he played 26min. Some of that is foul trouble, some of it Smart, and overall just an ok game for him. --Brick
Stats: 30min 15pts (4-11, 0-0, 7-8) 5reb 7ast 2stl 0blk 0TO
Thomas ( B ) -- Thomas definitely got a bump in his grade for the final 1:30 of the game. First, he came up with a loose ball and got it to Tyreke on the break to give us a two-point lead, a bit later he managed to draw a bail-out foul on a jumper to get us 3 points up, then he contested Kemba's attempt to tie it from 3, forcing an air ball which led to him hitting the icing free throw. He ran the offense pretty well on top of that, and there was a stretch in the early third quarter where for about four minutes it seemed like he was hitting the open man on every single possession. And he has continued to be effective when going to the basket, especially at the end of the first quarter, when he did his best Tyus Edney impression and drove the length of the floor in 5.7 seconds to get a layup. Still, there are down bits to his game. His jumper has been absolutely terrible lately, to the point that I don't think he has hit a single one in the past two games. In addition, his defense leaves something to be desired. I heard Grant on the telecast say that IT could put some defensive pressure on Kemba Walker when he came back in halfway through the fourth quarter, but for the entire game I saw it the other way. I was thinking that as an opponent, it must be nice to know that all you've got to do is set a token screen - any screen - up top and you can shake IT loose of the ballhandler. As a result (and let's not discount that Kemba is a notorious gunner) the Bobcats attempted 17 shots on IT's defense. Luckily, they only connected for 14 points - I say luckily because IT only effectively contested 2 of those 17. Most of it was just that Kemba reverted to the 37% shooting that he flashed for his rookie season. So tonight was a mixed bag for IT, but as I said he distributed the ball well and made several key plays down the stretch to get us the win. --Capt.
Highlights:
The grading consortium will be short a member tonight as Bajaden has company visiting, and they are out streaking Southern Mexico somewhere. So:
The Grading Consortium is:
Bricklayer
Capt. Factorial
Boxscore
Stats: 26min 4pts (2-4, 0-1, 0-0) 2reb 1ast 0stl 0blk 3TO
Salmons ( D+ ) -- nothing to see here. Very quiet first half with only a single bucket late in the first quarter, and Johnson and Thornton's hot second quarter kept him on the bench throughout. Was back in for the final defenive possession of the half, and got beat to the hoop as the Cats scored. In the third missed an open corner three as we missed opportunity after opportunity to open this up and put them away. Had a terrible sequence that started wiht him standing flatfooted on a rebound and getting boarded over, then eventually fouling Haywiood to give him the +1. Added a terrible pass from the corner up top that was picked off to start a Bobcats break, as we gave away our modest lead. Best that can be said for this was that MKG did no damage the other way, but then again MKG isn't that type of player. In any case 4pts 2reb 1ast and 3TOs in 26min isn't getting it done. Just one of several guys who may have played tired out there tonight. Of course its always hard to tell when you are talking about the Great Snooze himself.--Brick
Stats: 32min 11pts (5-6, 0-0, 1-2) 4reb 2ast 1stl 0blk 0TO
Thompson ( C+ ) -- maybe Jason is studying up to be a ninja spy, as he is already mastering the art of invisibility. That said, this was much better than the last 5 or 6 games, by not being terrible. He was efficient tonight, just never at any point felt like he was having an impact. He was just "guy who hit random jumpshot" every 5 minutes or so. He got one solid little post move early, where he looked very comfortable and took his time against the Cats' excuse for a frontline. He got a quick little dunk in the early third when the Cavs defense mysteriously left him. There was a long jumper against the clock late that actually helped bail us out. But it was all just random, nothing sustained. And on the other end he still isn't rebounding. There just is no doubt Reke is the #2 rebounder on the team right now, which is scary (TRob would have that title with PT). Jason is just, again, invisible on the glass. Its hard to even diagram. Just wherever the ball is, he isn't, and he's not winning any scrums. Let Warrick get a few of his jumpers the other way, and more or less played him to a draw. That's not a compliment or what you want out of Jason, but like I say, this was better than what we have seen, and at least he slowed down and was efficient on his offensive attemtps this time. He was playable.
--Brick
Stats: 38min 17pts (8-19, 0-0, 1-2) 10reb 4ast 1stl 0blk 5TO
Cousins ( B- ) -- and the beat goes on for DeMarcus. This was not a huge game for him, but it was a solid one further cementing the Good Boogie numbers we have seen ever since "The Incident" nearly a month ago now. The funny thing is how in just amonth its now DeMarcus who looks like the guy who knows how to play, and who looks bemused as our chuckers run arounf making selfish plays. Got off to a pretty good styart as long as he didn't settle for the jumper, which was not on, and per usual spotted in some brilliant Boogie-only plays including a beautiful one handed bounce pass with english from the 3pt line to a cutting MT. When he returned late in the half was not as involved, as guys like MT and JJ are not conducive to offensive focuses elsewhere. Started the thrid with a traveling call in the paint, but got multiple dunks behind Biyoombo as IT just threw it over the top, and the Cats did not react. Wasn't really creating his own shots, but did have another one of those special plays with a great catch and quick spin finsish. Had too many bad pass turnovers thoughout as he repeatedy tried to throw it out of doubles through traffic. When he returned in the late 4th immediately missed a turnaround jumper leaving the door open for the Cats, and forced a tough tough shot at the 2min mark that was blocked. But was strong on the d-boards and anchored us as the starting backcourt came back in to win it. --Brick
Stats: 26min 16pts (6-10, 0-0, 4-4) 3reb 4ast 2stl 0blk 2TO
Evans( C+ ) -- seemed to be pressing early. Mixed in strong plays, a steal up top and breakaway, some assists, with forced shots and passes. When he returned in the late half (too alte again as Smart just cannot figure out how to give him minutes) largely frozen out by MT's presence, but did set up Cuz on a pick and roll. The other way he was not exceptional. Guys were getting little scores on him in various ways. Just looked a little unsettled there, and did not start locking in until after half. Was quiet in the third until he was forced to throw up a long off balance jumoer against the clock late in the quarter, but he hit it and imemdiately followed it with a quick take along the baseline the enxt time down the floor. But just as we got a burst out of him, picked up his 4th foul, and the genius coach AGAIN takes that as a sign to play any and every borderline scrub on the roster as the Cats came back and actually took the lead at one point. Finally returned to the game just in the nick of time with 3 minutes to go. Made a mistake trying to drive it 1 on 3 ont eh break and got it salapped away off his knee, but also drew a foul at the 2:40 mark on a drive to retie it at 90, got the conversion on the break from IT at the 1:20 mark, grabbed a big defenisve board to close the next defensive possesion, and then went down the other way and got the layup on the pass from Cuz. Was not a great game for Reke, but the flurry at the end helped us close it (note mostly as a finisher, whihc is easier than being a creater), and its the damn minutes again as much as anything. Consider this: 2 games ago Reke played 40 minutes and put up 21pts 8reb 8ast. If he had played 40 min tonight he was on pace to put up 25pts 5reb 6ast. But he didn't he played 26min. Some of that is foul trouble, some of it Smart, and overall just an ok game for him. --Brick
Stats: 30min 15pts (4-11, 0-0, 7-8) 5reb 7ast 2stl 0blk 0TO
Thomas ( B ) -- Thomas definitely got a bump in his grade for the final 1:30 of the game. First, he came up with a loose ball and got it to Tyreke on the break to give us a two-point lead, a bit later he managed to draw a bail-out foul on a jumper to get us 3 points up, then he contested Kemba's attempt to tie it from 3, forcing an air ball which led to him hitting the icing free throw. He ran the offense pretty well on top of that, and there was a stretch in the early third quarter where for about four minutes it seemed like he was hitting the open man on every single possession. And he has continued to be effective when going to the basket, especially at the end of the first quarter, when he did his best Tyus Edney impression and drove the length of the floor in 5.7 seconds to get a layup. Still, there are down bits to his game. His jumper has been absolutely terrible lately, to the point that I don't think he has hit a single one in the past two games. In addition, his defense leaves something to be desired. I heard Grant on the telecast say that IT could put some defensive pressure on Kemba Walker when he came back in halfway through the fourth quarter, but for the entire game I saw it the other way. I was thinking that as an opponent, it must be nice to know that all you've got to do is set a token screen - any screen - up top and you can shake IT loose of the ballhandler. As a result (and let's not discount that Kemba is a notorious gunner) the Bobcats attempted 17 shots on IT's defense. Luckily, they only connected for 14 points - I say luckily because IT only effectively contested 2 of those 17. Most of it was just that Kemba reverted to the 37% shooting that he flashed for his rookie season. So tonight was a mixed bag for IT, but as I said he distributed the ball well and made several key plays down the stretch to get us the win. --Capt.
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