Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Peja ( B- ) -- was a struggle all night long for Peja, but in the end he got to be a hero. Came out looking passive on offense, although there was no discernible limp with the bum knee. And was just getting killed by Desmond Mason's superior athleticism all night long on defense. Unclear how much of that was the knee, and how much of that was just a really difficult athletic matchup for Peja on the best of nights. But in the last minute, with the Kings in dire straits and down 4, it was Peja with a huge three and a fast break layup to put us up by 1 with 9 seconds to go. There was much drama thereafter, but those two hoops were what pulled us back fromt he dead and put us in position to win it. Overall, not a very good game for Peja, but have to give him the bump for his timing.
Webber ( B- ) -- All that anybody is going to remember is the desperation three to win it, but I'll go ahead and analyze the whole thing anyway. Played a strong first 18 minutes, and appeared well on his way to a strong game. But made a few shaky decisions going into halftime, and then came out in the third and just got stupid. Started settling for jumper after jumper, and missing them. Came back in late in the game after the bench had brought us back, and it was some good some bad -- made some good passes, a nice hook in the post and didn't settle for the elbow jumper. But then turned it over, and committed what looked to be a potential game-costing foul on Mike James with 9 seconds to go (not entirely sure it was a foul, but whatever). But of course its all redeemed by the big time clutch three to win it. Can't give Webb a huge grade for this one, but like Peja he came through when it mattered, so gets the bump.
Miller ( B ) -- almost a stylistic grade as much as a contribution grade. He was just a maniac out there scrapping, clawing, hitting the floor time and again. Had to love the effort. Now the problem comes if you scratched the surface. Because the truth is that Brad was passing up shots, missing the ones he did get, and had all 11 of his rebounds in the first three quarters. So not a great game really. But a spirited one. And on an ugly night like this, it was that fighting spirit which kept us alive.
Christie ( D ) -- awful game until the very end of the 4th quarter when he found a niche teamed with a group composed mostly of our bench, hit a shot, and brought the hustle. But the rest of the game was just a terrible terrible struggle from the very beginning. Appeared to briefly be bothering Redd, but otherwise missed shot after shot, threw careless turnovers, and was not only not helping, was actually hurting us.
Bibby ( A+ ) -- one of the very best games Mike Bibby has ever played for us. For a night, he was a superstar. Damn near had a triple double, threw in 4 steals, and was all over the floor. He was just flat out carrying a struggling and flat Kings squad all night long. Forced a couple of shots, but whatever. When a guy is going like he was, you take that. He was good enough, not even really sure what else to say. He was even the guy who set up Peja for his two big shots to draw us back. Just The Man for a night.
BJax ( D ) -- oh boy, just came out and laid a turd tonight. For 3 1/2 quarters, not sure he did one good thing. I mean literally. Missed just everything he shot. Turned the ball over. Got schooled by Mike James at the end of the third quarter in a critical stretch which opened the game up for the Bucks, and then repeatedly stripped by him in the 4th. But then a funny thing happened. With a patchwork lineup that included our two worst players of the night and our backup frontcourt, suddenly something clicked. We began hustling all over the floor, Bobby hit a three (courtesy of Bibby of course). still a terrible game for Bobby. But like the rest of the team, what little he had to give he gave in timely fashion.
Ostertag ( B+ ) -- played a critical role in our resurrection in the 4th. Ironically it was his response to his worst play of the night that may have turned things. He checked in and had his pocket picked from behind, and it looked like off to the races for the Bucks. But Greg didn't give up, and the big galoot galloped down court, caught up to the ball, and came up with the huge flying block on the layup. From that point on, that crew of backups and struggling players hustled and scrapped us right back into the game when it looked like we might be ready to fold.
Barnes ( C+ ) -- decent stint in the first half. Nothing spectacular, but he was solid.
Songaila ( B ) -- was ineffective in a first half stint, but came in with Tag in the 4th quarter and helped bring us back from the dead. Nothing spectacular in his case. But just did the solid things he can do. Hit his shots (something that nobody else seemed able to do), grabbed a ocuple of boards. Just a breath of fresh, stable, solid air after Webb and Miller were both having their own issues.
Adelman ( B+ ) -- well we came out stinking the place up again. Flat and out of synch. In the first half, we really only had two guys carrying us in Mike and Webb (with Brad providing some scrap on the boards). But Rick did a smart thing coming out of halftime -- there was a concerted effort to get Peja involved, on one play Webb actually passed the ball to him three seperate times until he finally hoisted the shot (and missed it unfortunately). An unlikely Bibby/Bobby/Doug/Darius/Tag lineup (unlikely in that it was two backups, our two worst players tonight, and Mike) brought us roaring back in the 4th. Scared me by pulling those guys and returning with Miller and Webb with about 3 minutes to go. But it worked. So hard to argue with. Game winning play was actually designed for Bibby, not Webb. But hey, it worked.
Webber ( B- ) -- All that anybody is going to remember is the desperation three to win it, but I'll go ahead and analyze the whole thing anyway. Played a strong first 18 minutes, and appeared well on his way to a strong game. But made a few shaky decisions going into halftime, and then came out in the third and just got stupid. Started settling for jumper after jumper, and missing them. Came back in late in the game after the bench had brought us back, and it was some good some bad -- made some good passes, a nice hook in the post and didn't settle for the elbow jumper. But then turned it over, and committed what looked to be a potential game-costing foul on Mike James with 9 seconds to go (not entirely sure it was a foul, but whatever). But of course its all redeemed by the big time clutch three to win it. Can't give Webb a huge grade for this one, but like Peja he came through when it mattered, so gets the bump.
Miller ( B ) -- almost a stylistic grade as much as a contribution grade. He was just a maniac out there scrapping, clawing, hitting the floor time and again. Had to love the effort. Now the problem comes if you scratched the surface. Because the truth is that Brad was passing up shots, missing the ones he did get, and had all 11 of his rebounds in the first three quarters. So not a great game really. But a spirited one. And on an ugly night like this, it was that fighting spirit which kept us alive.
Christie ( D ) -- awful game until the very end of the 4th quarter when he found a niche teamed with a group composed mostly of our bench, hit a shot, and brought the hustle. But the rest of the game was just a terrible terrible struggle from the very beginning. Appeared to briefly be bothering Redd, but otherwise missed shot after shot, threw careless turnovers, and was not only not helping, was actually hurting us.
Bibby ( A+ ) -- one of the very best games Mike Bibby has ever played for us. For a night, he was a superstar. Damn near had a triple double, threw in 4 steals, and was all over the floor. He was just flat out carrying a struggling and flat Kings squad all night long. Forced a couple of shots, but whatever. When a guy is going like he was, you take that. He was good enough, not even really sure what else to say. He was even the guy who set up Peja for his two big shots to draw us back. Just The Man for a night.
BJax ( D ) -- oh boy, just came out and laid a turd tonight. For 3 1/2 quarters, not sure he did one good thing. I mean literally. Missed just everything he shot. Turned the ball over. Got schooled by Mike James at the end of the third quarter in a critical stretch which opened the game up for the Bucks, and then repeatedly stripped by him in the 4th. But then a funny thing happened. With a patchwork lineup that included our two worst players of the night and our backup frontcourt, suddenly something clicked. We began hustling all over the floor, Bobby hit a three (courtesy of Bibby of course). still a terrible game for Bobby. But like the rest of the team, what little he had to give he gave in timely fashion.
Ostertag ( B+ ) -- played a critical role in our resurrection in the 4th. Ironically it was his response to his worst play of the night that may have turned things. He checked in and had his pocket picked from behind, and it looked like off to the races for the Bucks. But Greg didn't give up, and the big galoot galloped down court, caught up to the ball, and came up with the huge flying block on the layup. From that point on, that crew of backups and struggling players hustled and scrapped us right back into the game when it looked like we might be ready to fold.
Barnes ( C+ ) -- decent stint in the first half. Nothing spectacular, but he was solid.
Songaila ( B ) -- was ineffective in a first half stint, but came in with Tag in the 4th quarter and helped bring us back from the dead. Nothing spectacular in his case. But just did the solid things he can do. Hit his shots (something that nobody else seemed able to do), grabbed a ocuple of boards. Just a breath of fresh, stable, solid air after Webb and Miller were both having their own issues.
Adelman ( B+ ) -- well we came out stinking the place up again. Flat and out of synch. In the first half, we really only had two guys carrying us in Mike and Webb (with Brad providing some scrap on the boards). But Rick did a smart thing coming out of halftime -- there was a concerted effort to get Peja involved, on one play Webb actually passed the ball to him three seperate times until he finally hoisted the shot (and missed it unfortunately). An unlikely Bibby/Bobby/Doug/Darius/Tag lineup (unlikely in that it was two backups, our two worst players tonight, and Mike) brought us roaring back in the 4th. Scared me by pulling those guys and returning with Miller and Webb with about 3 minutes to go. But it worked. So hard to argue with. Game winning play was actually designed for Bibby, not Webb. But hey, it worked.
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after playing without much until that point. Good grades Brick.
