Garcia ( B ) -- got the start and was very active. Not spectacular, and just simply cannot shoot for whatever reason, but was disruptive and really helped with his athleticism. Also got back into the paint to grab some boards and deliver some fouls. Basically for a night played the role of the hustling roleplayer that we have been lacking all year. Not everybody has to score for a team to do well.
Thomas ( C+ ) --first start of the season, but came out very quietly and never did get much going either offensively or on the glass. With all of the other starters making major contributions, Kenny looked like he was just kind of feeling his way upon his return to the starting lineup. Still not an awful effort, and his quickness and athleticism fit well with the team we were fielding out there. But we lost the PF battle 25 to 8 and had to win this game elsewhere (not that KT was expected in any way to match Brand coming in).
Miller ( A ) --big big game in support of Bibby, started out mostly just jumpers (which weren't being guarded), but then began to mix in inside work and even threw down an exclamation drive and dunk (yes he can dunk) near the end of the first half. Only caught him doing his stupid hesitation thing a couple of times -- for the most part attacked and shot in rhythm and quit overthinking. Also battled on the boards and generally pretended to play center for the evening. Like Bibby, seemed freed up for the night just to play and not overthink himself into passivity, and the result was his first 20pt 10reb game since last winter sometime. Been nearly a year.
Nice to see.
Martin ( A- ) --active from the very start and maybe the best, most legitmate, game of his career so far. Played a complete game and even hit a pair of threes. Was smoothly integrated and contributing rather than an awkward ill-fitting piece finding his way. Hustled, got back on the glass, and played solid defense on Cat Mobley, who was trying too hard to be the hero. There were some mistakes along the way, and a few times late when Kevin kind of fell in love with that jumper after he suddenly realized he had one for the night. But an excellent energetic game as the third leg of the tripod tonight, and one where he felt more like a real NBA player and less like a kid playing above his head than perhaps any game to date for him. Gets the minus really as a way of clarifying the degrees of good tongiht -- Mike was "GREAT" and carried the team, Brad was merely "great" as a second fiddle, while Kevin was "very very good" in the prime support role.
Bibby ( A+ ) -- Had one of those games that just makes you smile. Came out like it was last year, and for a night it WAS his team. Handled the ball a lot more than normal. Obviously had a green light to shoot whenever he wanted to, or pass whenever he wanted to. And had Sam Cassel wrapped up on defense as well (well Sam kind of had himself wrapped up, but Mike didn't make it easy at least). Reminscient of the way Mike played during his career-best streak last February. Gets the "+" for what was really basically a superstar performance for the night. He's not this good, but for a night he was everything that we have been missing this year -- a great heady leader with supreme confidence having fun out there.
Skinner ( B ) --unremarkable first half stint, but helped keep the energy high, and other than getting posterized once by Boniface N'Dong on the drive and slam was able to repeat the performance in the 4th. Not great, but a good energetic bench big man performance. Just the kind of thing you need off the bench.
Corliss ( INC ) --short first half stint, got into quick foul trouble trying to guard Brand and that was that.
Hart ( C ) --came in during the second quarter as usual -- STILL ahead of Price -- and did not hurt us at least. Hit a shot. Second half did not even do that. Impact free game this time, thankfully EITHER way.
Price ( INC ) -- garbagetime
Sampson ( INC ) -- garbagetime
Adelman ( A ) -- In what may have been a job-saving performance for Rick with the Maloofs sitting courtside for this one, he had the team ready to go in the face of all adversity and with the axe ready to fall. Its amazing what difference a little effort and athleticism can make. The dynamic reminded me a bit of the Mike & Brad outing in Golden State last year in late Jan/early Feb when both guys stepped up huge with all the other stars out for the game. If you look at it, Rick has not changed. He rode his 5 starters the entire game, barely touched the bench (of course the bench was starting), but this time the starters actually WANTED it and flew up and down the court with amazing energy. And this was instructive -- this group is NOT going to do this every time out, but for a night you could just feel the tension lifted and the freedom with which Mike and Brad were operating. There was no competition for shots. No worry about messing up the offense or denying other guys shots who needed them. They had to be the men, and they knew it. And it made all the difference. They understood their roles, and so did the various replacements. KT looked humble for once and just trying to fill in. The kids both hustled their butts off and just tried to bring energy and prove themselves. The chemistry was SO much better because everybody wasn't worried about stepping on the other guys' toes and the team seemed to come out with a carefree "let's shock the world" type of approach. The malaise was lifted for a night. And while no, the answer is not to go all scrubby the rest of the year and depend on Mike to be 40-10 and Brad 20-10 every evening, it was educational watching what guys are capable of when they are not being strangled by, and strangling, their own teammates. When they are on a balanced team with roles. Hope you were watching Geoff. Fix it please.
Sam Cassel ( A+ ) -- Thanks Alien! Almost as good as Bibby for us tonight.
Thomas ( C+ ) --first start of the season, but came out very quietly and never did get much going either offensively or on the glass. With all of the other starters making major contributions, Kenny looked like he was just kind of feeling his way upon his return to the starting lineup. Still not an awful effort, and his quickness and athleticism fit well with the team we were fielding out there. But we lost the PF battle 25 to 8 and had to win this game elsewhere (not that KT was expected in any way to match Brand coming in).
Miller ( A ) --big big game in support of Bibby, started out mostly just jumpers (which weren't being guarded), but then began to mix in inside work and even threw down an exclamation drive and dunk (yes he can dunk) near the end of the first half. Only caught him doing his stupid hesitation thing a couple of times -- for the most part attacked and shot in rhythm and quit overthinking. Also battled on the boards and generally pretended to play center for the evening. Like Bibby, seemed freed up for the night just to play and not overthink himself into passivity, and the result was his first 20pt 10reb game since last winter sometime. Been nearly a year.
Nice to see.Martin ( A- ) --active from the very start and maybe the best, most legitmate, game of his career so far. Played a complete game and even hit a pair of threes. Was smoothly integrated and contributing rather than an awkward ill-fitting piece finding his way. Hustled, got back on the glass, and played solid defense on Cat Mobley, who was trying too hard to be the hero. There were some mistakes along the way, and a few times late when Kevin kind of fell in love with that jumper after he suddenly realized he had one for the night. But an excellent energetic game as the third leg of the tripod tonight, and one where he felt more like a real NBA player and less like a kid playing above his head than perhaps any game to date for him. Gets the minus really as a way of clarifying the degrees of good tongiht -- Mike was "GREAT" and carried the team, Brad was merely "great" as a second fiddle, while Kevin was "very very good" in the prime support role.
Bibby ( A+ ) -- Had one of those games that just makes you smile. Came out like it was last year, and for a night it WAS his team. Handled the ball a lot more than normal. Obviously had a green light to shoot whenever he wanted to, or pass whenever he wanted to. And had Sam Cassel wrapped up on defense as well (well Sam kind of had himself wrapped up, but Mike didn't make it easy at least). Reminscient of the way Mike played during his career-best streak last February. Gets the "+" for what was really basically a superstar performance for the night. He's not this good, but for a night he was everything that we have been missing this year -- a great heady leader with supreme confidence having fun out there.
Skinner ( B ) --unremarkable first half stint, but helped keep the energy high, and other than getting posterized once by Boniface N'Dong on the drive and slam was able to repeat the performance in the 4th. Not great, but a good energetic bench big man performance. Just the kind of thing you need off the bench.
Corliss ( INC ) --short first half stint, got into quick foul trouble trying to guard Brand and that was that.
Hart ( C ) --came in during the second quarter as usual -- STILL ahead of Price -- and did not hurt us at least. Hit a shot. Second half did not even do that. Impact free game this time, thankfully EITHER way.
Price ( INC ) -- garbagetime
Sampson ( INC ) -- garbagetime
Adelman ( A ) -- In what may have been a job-saving performance for Rick with the Maloofs sitting courtside for this one, he had the team ready to go in the face of all adversity and with the axe ready to fall. Its amazing what difference a little effort and athleticism can make. The dynamic reminded me a bit of the Mike & Brad outing in Golden State last year in late Jan/early Feb when both guys stepped up huge with all the other stars out for the game. If you look at it, Rick has not changed. He rode his 5 starters the entire game, barely touched the bench (of course the bench was starting), but this time the starters actually WANTED it and flew up and down the court with amazing energy. And this was instructive -- this group is NOT going to do this every time out, but for a night you could just feel the tension lifted and the freedom with which Mike and Brad were operating. There was no competition for shots. No worry about messing up the offense or denying other guys shots who needed them. They had to be the men, and they knew it. And it made all the difference. They understood their roles, and so did the various replacements. KT looked humble for once and just trying to fill in. The kids both hustled their butts off and just tried to bring energy and prove themselves. The chemistry was SO much better because everybody wasn't worried about stepping on the other guys' toes and the team seemed to come out with a carefree "let's shock the world" type of approach. The malaise was lifted for a night. And while no, the answer is not to go all scrubby the rest of the year and depend on Mike to be 40-10 and Brad 20-10 every evening, it was educational watching what guys are capable of when they are not being strangled by, and strangling, their own teammates. When they are on a balanced team with roles. Hope you were watching Geoff. Fix it please.
Sam Cassel ( A+ ) -- Thanks Alien! Almost as good as Bibby for us tonight.
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