Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Peja ( B+ ) -- started off very aggressive (yes, I used that word) if not always effective. Was using the body for once down inside (was being guarded by 6'3" Cat Mobley), grabbing rebounds, and while he flubbed basically all of his layups, Serbian or otherwise, he was drawing fouls on the follow. Oddly kind of reduced to a supporting hustle player role with the Mike and Brad show taking center stage once again. Was having a lot of problems staying in front of Cat defenively, but that's not really any particular indictment of Peja. Cat has that nickname for a reason, and is 6" shorter than Peja. Also had a problem with that quickness on the other end, getting balls repeatedly poked away from behind in the lane. But this was that all too rare game for Peja -- the one where he really wasn't hot offensively, but yet still found a way to contribute with the big board night (beat his previous rebound high on the season by 5). Note: he started that wincing thing he does again in the second half, and whatever it was I wouldn't be surprised to see him out again next game.
Thomas ( D+ ) -- ineffective invisible first half. Early drew the unfair assignment of having to check 7'0" Chris Kaman for chunks of the first quarter, which did not go well. But did not matter who he was guarding, he was just off. No scoring. Not much rebounding. Some dumb mistakes. Got in foul trouble. Came out in the third more focused and had a burst of effective play before picking up his 4th foul and having to go to the bench midway through the quarter. Very few minutes in the second half as Skinner was playing well, and Kenny's 4th and 5th came on tough calls. Overall an imminently forgettable night, but opened the door for Skinner to show his stuff with that big body down the stretch.
Miller ( B ) -- was active offensively early and getting a variety of good looks. Causing the equally slowfooted Kaman (actually not true -- Kaman has amazingly quick feet for such a big guy) lots of problems and picking up right where he left off last game. Which was good, because it was ALL he was doing. 20pts 1reb 2ast in the first half? What is that? SF? OG? In any case, leading scorer in the half, and continues to amaze by somehow getting open looks with less athleticism than Jerry Reynolds. It was pretty much all first half though as the Clippers adjusted and Brad was largely eliminated until he reemerged in the last minute to play the hero, the goat, and then the hero once more in an adventuresome final 60 seconds. Got set up by Mike for the open jumper to put us up four, then got scored on easily by Brand. Then made a great ball fake on Cassel to abruptly free himself for a wide open gallop to the hoop. Instead pulled up at 12 feet and missed the completely wide open jumper to give the Clips the chance to tie. And then finished the sequence off with a little redemption by jumping out at Cassel on the Clips ensuing inbounds play to disrupt their attempt to tie it. 26pts = great. Mostly in the first half with no boardwork and 5 turnovers, not so much. But still one of the guys that won this one for us.
Martin ( A- ) -- got off to another dynamic start against this team. Was being guarded by noted non-defender Sam Cassel, and took advantage. But confidence and aggressiveness from the very start -- seems likely a carryover from the last Clipper game. Difference this time is that down in Clipperland he played a more wild game -- the game of an athletic kid having a breakout night. Tonight it was just smooth and professional. Just settled in and smoothly stroked jumpers. Yes, jumpers. And looked natural doing it. No hesitation, and all net. Made few mistakes, and still made a number of hustle plays tapping balls to other Kings. Slowed down in the second half, and eventually lost time to Jason Hart of all people, who finally gave us a game and was harassing the Clippers small guard lineups. Was not a part of the late game, but a very good smooth outing for Kevin nonetheless. Bet he wishes he could play the Clippers every night.
Bibby ( A ) -- very modest start, especially given the way he went off last game against this team. But after returning in the second quarter got very aggressive and was basically ushered to the hoop by the Clippers unique brand of "D". Scored about 10 pts in 3 minutes to give us the halftime lead. Maintained the aggressive play into the second half and turned in another top flight performance against the Clips. Clippers tried everything against him except for actually guarding him. Got into a little duel with the equally clutch Cassel down the stretch, but it was actually using all the attention he was drawing for a drive and kick to Brad that was the game winner. Drew three people to him and beat the Clippers with the pass. Like Martin, probably wishes he could play the Clippers every night. Be right up there with A.I., Kobe and LeBron.
Cisco ( C+ ) -- came in and immediately drew the all "lanky" (that's the kind word for skinny for those keeping score) matchup with Shaun Livingston, and held his own. Bothered Livingston with his length. Otherwise statistically modest and began to get loose again as the stint wore on. Did not get any minutes in the second half, but more because of circumstance and the number of other Kings feasting on the Clippers non-existent defense than because he had hurt us in his first half minutes.
Corliss ( B- ) -- got the first half rotation nod again at PF with Miller going the whole way basically. Could get little going offensively, but came up with a few hustle plays and tried to bang and make it hard on Brand. Eventually lost the second half minutes to Skinner, who was having himself a game. And with Brad and Peja going almost the whole way, just no minutes to be had.
Hart ( B+ ) -- in the first half the newly annointed Teflon Man (doesn't matter how much he sucks, the suck won't stick and he apparently cannot be knocked from the lineup) came into the game and actually had a postive impact to justify Rick's continuing, for lack of a better word, "confidence" in him. Got up in Cassel's grill defensively, and took relatively easy shots off of feeds from others rather than forcing spastic jumpers. And continued the solid, disurptive play in the second half. Actually stole Kevin's late minutes and was entrusted to play down the stretch of a tight game.
Really cut down on the mistakes, and maybe as good of an outing as he has given us all year.
Skinner ( A- ) -- got a few minutes late in the first half with Thomas in foul trouble. Not sure why Rick did not go back to Corliss, who was decent. But maybe he wanted to try to get a "cooler" on Brand who was starting to come alive. And it worked out very well for us. Got back in early in the second half with Thomas in foul trouble, and made a real difference with his size and rebounding skills. Checked and disrupted Brand (with help from a lot of doubles), and then battled with Kaman and kept him from killing us on the glass. Generally banged and gave us that big physical guy we seriously lack. Did all you could ask of a banger, and just hope this isn't (but fear it is) a Tag situation, where despite the strong outing it will lead to nothing because of "matchups". As in we don't like to win them.
Adelman ( B+ ) -- Ah, curious times -- wasn't that long ago I would have been upset if we let this team hang within 10 of us through the first half at home, now we come out play them even through two quarters, and I'm thinking we're doing well. Clippers came out having made some defensive adjustments, and it mattered for about 3 possessions before it was right back into who would have the ball the last. Defense? What's that? Let the good teams stress the details, we're just going to run up and down the court and put up some numbers! Woot! Ridiculous stat of the game: in the second quarter, Kings outscored the Clippers 43-35. Rick shuffled through his bench this time and found all kinds of energy and hustle. And yet with the starters scoring with such ease, just was not time for all of them. Still got good bench stints from just about everybody, no matter the minutes. And when's the last time you heard that said about the Kings? May have been forced into his best coaching move of the night, finding and sticking with Skinner in light of Kenny's foul trouble. In fact even got wild and crazy and actually played 6'9" Brian Skinner, a natural PF, at PF there for a while alongside Brad! Man, what a risk taker. Had been routinely trying to hide Brad's defense from Kaman by making Kenny the minature PF try to check him. Not good, but that switch also worked better with the bigger Skinner in the game. In many ways, not much to talk about from a coaching perspective. This was all about the players coming to play with energy. If nothing else these last few weeks have shown that whatever has suppressed this team, it does not appear to have been the coach. He's still there, and yet some guys at least are doing their thing out there.
Thomas ( D+ ) -- ineffective invisible first half. Early drew the unfair assignment of having to check 7'0" Chris Kaman for chunks of the first quarter, which did not go well. But did not matter who he was guarding, he was just off. No scoring. Not much rebounding. Some dumb mistakes. Got in foul trouble. Came out in the third more focused and had a burst of effective play before picking up his 4th foul and having to go to the bench midway through the quarter. Very few minutes in the second half as Skinner was playing well, and Kenny's 4th and 5th came on tough calls. Overall an imminently forgettable night, but opened the door for Skinner to show his stuff with that big body down the stretch.
Miller ( B ) -- was active offensively early and getting a variety of good looks. Causing the equally slowfooted Kaman (actually not true -- Kaman has amazingly quick feet for such a big guy) lots of problems and picking up right where he left off last game. Which was good, because it was ALL he was doing. 20pts 1reb 2ast in the first half? What is that? SF? OG? In any case, leading scorer in the half, and continues to amaze by somehow getting open looks with less athleticism than Jerry Reynolds. It was pretty much all first half though as the Clippers adjusted and Brad was largely eliminated until he reemerged in the last minute to play the hero, the goat, and then the hero once more in an adventuresome final 60 seconds. Got set up by Mike for the open jumper to put us up four, then got scored on easily by Brand. Then made a great ball fake on Cassel to abruptly free himself for a wide open gallop to the hoop. Instead pulled up at 12 feet and missed the completely wide open jumper to give the Clips the chance to tie. And then finished the sequence off with a little redemption by jumping out at Cassel on the Clips ensuing inbounds play to disrupt their attempt to tie it. 26pts = great. Mostly in the first half with no boardwork and 5 turnovers, not so much. But still one of the guys that won this one for us.
Martin ( A- ) -- got off to another dynamic start against this team. Was being guarded by noted non-defender Sam Cassel, and took advantage. But confidence and aggressiveness from the very start -- seems likely a carryover from the last Clipper game. Difference this time is that down in Clipperland he played a more wild game -- the game of an athletic kid having a breakout night. Tonight it was just smooth and professional. Just settled in and smoothly stroked jumpers. Yes, jumpers. And looked natural doing it. No hesitation, and all net. Made few mistakes, and still made a number of hustle plays tapping balls to other Kings. Slowed down in the second half, and eventually lost time to Jason Hart of all people, who finally gave us a game and was harassing the Clippers small guard lineups. Was not a part of the late game, but a very good smooth outing for Kevin nonetheless. Bet he wishes he could play the Clippers every night.
Bibby ( A ) -- very modest start, especially given the way he went off last game against this team. But after returning in the second quarter got very aggressive and was basically ushered to the hoop by the Clippers unique brand of "D". Scored about 10 pts in 3 minutes to give us the halftime lead. Maintained the aggressive play into the second half and turned in another top flight performance against the Clips. Clippers tried everything against him except for actually guarding him. Got into a little duel with the equally clutch Cassel down the stretch, but it was actually using all the attention he was drawing for a drive and kick to Brad that was the game winner. Drew three people to him and beat the Clippers with the pass. Like Martin, probably wishes he could play the Clippers every night. Be right up there with A.I., Kobe and LeBron.
Cisco ( C+ ) -- came in and immediately drew the all "lanky" (that's the kind word for skinny for those keeping score) matchup with Shaun Livingston, and held his own. Bothered Livingston with his length. Otherwise statistically modest and began to get loose again as the stint wore on. Did not get any minutes in the second half, but more because of circumstance and the number of other Kings feasting on the Clippers non-existent defense than because he had hurt us in his first half minutes.
Corliss ( B- ) -- got the first half rotation nod again at PF with Miller going the whole way basically. Could get little going offensively, but came up with a few hustle plays and tried to bang and make it hard on Brand. Eventually lost the second half minutes to Skinner, who was having himself a game. And with Brad and Peja going almost the whole way, just no minutes to be had.
Hart ( B+ ) -- in the first half the newly annointed Teflon Man (doesn't matter how much he sucks, the suck won't stick and he apparently cannot be knocked from the lineup) came into the game and actually had a postive impact to justify Rick's continuing, for lack of a better word, "confidence" in him. Got up in Cassel's grill defensively, and took relatively easy shots off of feeds from others rather than forcing spastic jumpers. And continued the solid, disurptive play in the second half. Actually stole Kevin's late minutes and was entrusted to play down the stretch of a tight game.
Really cut down on the mistakes, and maybe as good of an outing as he has given us all year. Skinner ( A- ) -- got a few minutes late in the first half with Thomas in foul trouble. Not sure why Rick did not go back to Corliss, who was decent. But maybe he wanted to try to get a "cooler" on Brand who was starting to come alive. And it worked out very well for us. Got back in early in the second half with Thomas in foul trouble, and made a real difference with his size and rebounding skills. Checked and disrupted Brand (with help from a lot of doubles), and then battled with Kaman and kept him from killing us on the glass. Generally banged and gave us that big physical guy we seriously lack. Did all you could ask of a banger, and just hope this isn't (but fear it is) a Tag situation, where despite the strong outing it will lead to nothing because of "matchups". As in we don't like to win them.
Adelman ( B+ ) -- Ah, curious times -- wasn't that long ago I would have been upset if we let this team hang within 10 of us through the first half at home, now we come out play them even through two quarters, and I'm thinking we're doing well. Clippers came out having made some defensive adjustments, and it mattered for about 3 possessions before it was right back into who would have the ball the last. Defense? What's that? Let the good teams stress the details, we're just going to run up and down the court and put up some numbers! Woot! Ridiculous stat of the game: in the second quarter, Kings outscored the Clippers 43-35.
Rick shuffled through his bench this time and found all kinds of energy and hustle. And yet with the starters scoring with such ease, just was not time for all of them. Still got good bench stints from just about everybody, no matter the minutes. And when's the last time you heard that said about the Kings? May have been forced into his best coaching move of the night, finding and sticking with Skinner in light of Kenny's foul trouble. In fact even got wild and crazy and actually played 6'9" Brian Skinner, a natural PF, at PF there for a while alongside Brad! Man, what a risk taker. Had been routinely trying to hide Brad's defense from Kaman by making Kenny the minature PF try to check him. Not good, but that switch also worked better with the bigger Skinner in the game. In many ways, not much to talk about from a coaching perspective. This was all about the players coming to play with energy. If nothing else these last few weeks have shown that whatever has suppressed this team, it does not appear to have been the coach. He's still there, and yet some guys at least are doing their thing out there.
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