Peja ( B ) -- ok offensive game, and did a nice job on Corey Maggette when he was on him. Showed up every once in awhile just to let you know he was still out there, but never able to sustain much. Made a nice steal in the final minutes and surprised by racing fullcourt into traffic for a very aggressive layup. Rebounding was of course unacceptable again, but the few he did get were good ones in traffic.
Webber ( A- ) -- Another big game for Webb vs. the Clippers. They must be glad that he isn't showing up for a third game. Really bailed us out in the third quarter -- with Brad flipping out and the wheels seeming to fall off Webb stepped forward and was huge, not only scoring, but finally shutting off the defensive glass as well -- 14 rebounds, all of them defensive, were a godsend. Was steady and strong down the stretch. Also has done us a real favor by immediately reaching out to Cat Mobley and developing an instant rapport with him. Clips front line had big nights agiain, and Webb did force a few wild shots for the "-". But he's all kinds of leading us right now.
Miller ( D- ) -- How about a "D" for dumb? Was tempted to go with the "F" for flipped out or ****ed up, but after he got done totally losing his cool and playing like an idiot he made some nice plays down the stretch, including a big rebound and conversion off a missed FT with about 3 minutes to go. Missed his first few jumpers and then just flat out refused to shoot therafter. Worse yet, totally and selfishly lost his cool in the third quarter. Bitched about every non-call. Quit running down court on defense to instead whine to the refs. Forced up dumb shots, made dumb petulant fouls, and then topped it off by getting a technical right in the middle of a big Clippers run where we were struggling to break their momentum. Enough already Brad. Even while not being dumb tonight was being routinely abused by the Clips big men. Is it just me, or did Brad seem more...manly for us out there last year? Just seems to get outmuscled and outfought in there a lot more than I remembered from last year.
Mobley ( A- ) -- Cat sure knows how to get into the good graces of Kings fans, no? Early on was kind of feeling his way again and looking a bit out of rhythm. But mixed in nice plays with miscues, and then really started picking it up in the third quarter on his way to a huge stretch run. Made some great defensive plays, including a great open court steal and layup in the third that was reminiscient of Doug, and combined with Eddie House to double team Rebraca on the fast break with Cat coming up wiht the huge block on the big man. Threw a couple of bad passes where he tried to make a little too much happen. One of them was a bullet to Tag -- hopefully he won't try that one anymore.

Also missed som FTs during a stretch when he kept on hitting 1 of 2. But earned his stripes, and perhaps a warm little corner of every Kings fan's heart, by coming up huge down the stretch, including hitting a giant clutch three that really was the game winner.
Bibby ( B+ ) -- Got off to a dynamic start where it was clear that the ankle was feeling just fine. Was doing it all -- not only offense, but boards and defensive hustle as well. Calmed down therafter, but again just totally outclassed the Clippers HOF Rick Brunson/Darrick Martin duo.

Watching that again hammers home just how spoiled we are as Kings fans. Hit a couple of FTs in the last thirty seconds off of a stupid foul by Maggette to put us up four and more or less ice it. Give him the plus for the hot start and for somehow finding a way NOT to turn Brunson or Martin into an All-Star against us on the other end.
Evans ( B ) -- our only uber-athlete to try to match up with the Clippers live bodies. Played within himself, banged and hustled on the boards. Not a dominant game by any stretch, but a good solid one where he helped us where we were weak.
Ostertag ( B- ) -- short first half stint where he didn't do anything except exactly what we pay him to do. Altered shots. Made a defensive difference. As usual, nonplussed why he did not return, especially with our starting center in full meltdown in the second half.
Songaila ( B ) -- first half stint was ineffective -- just came in, tried to muscle up the Clips frontline, and it was hack, hack, hack, right to the bench. But in the second half had an important stint for us. With Brad in full meltdown mode he first replaced him, and then played alongside him as the steadier member of the duo. Made a couple of nice plays, and grabbed a coyuple of nice boards before handing the baton back off to the rejuvenated Webb.
House ( B- ) -- still having all kinds of problems with his shot, and if you play for the Kings you have to be real careful there because that's like one of our seven deadly sins. Might be #1 actually. But sorry, still like this guys hustle. Made a coupld of GREAT hustle plays in defensive transition, racing back to disrupt sure baskets. Must be the Pat Riley showing up in him (he started with the Heat). On one of them he and Cat raced back to chase down Rebraca -- House harassed him low and when Rebraca hesitated before getting the shot up Mobley came flying by for a spectacular block. Good stuff for a defensive starved team.
Adleman ( C+ ) -- why so low a grade in a victory you might ask? Simply because of his handling of the entire Miller meltdown. Or non-handling as it may be. Short rotation, as per normal for Rick, although perhaps that is partially to help acclimate the new guys and settle the team. Used his timeouts pretty effectively. But we stumbled upon a rough patch in the second quarter when both Webber and Bibby went to the bench. All of a sudden the offense and passing broke down and the value of those guys was really underscored. And I have no idea what happened there in the third. Brad just totally flipped out (the refs really were quite bad) and Rick just seemed to ignore it. Even called a timeout...and just left Brad in. It was really bizarre because it was absolutely clear he was hurting us out there, and its not like he was having any luck slowing down the Clips big men. So why not Tag until Brad settled down? Or if you are pathologically frightened of non-shooters, why not Darius? Just anybody with their head in the game.