Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Well, that was disappointing.
Boxscore
Nocioni ( C ) -- pretty much got every bit of grade he did for a 5 minute stretch of the second quarter. Wasn't even much point in givng Noc a first half grade until the 15 minute mark --just sucked. Until about the midpoint of the 2nd when it looked like he made a conscious decision to take advantage of the silly refs to get a three point play against Gay, then draw the third on Randolph -- even on bad days knows how to bait a ref. Seemed to wake him up, as he was strong down the stretch of the quarter, hit a three, had a follow, a good lead pass to Casspi on the break. Made into a smallball PF against Randolph after half, but that did not really work at all for any long stretch and we lost ground.
Thompson ( D ) -- bad, and considerably worse than the numbers indicate (althought my standard notation applies here that a guy who can put up numbers even on a crappy day is probably pretty good). After 4 or 5 strong game in arow during the long homestand, we went on the road and Jason turend back into a pumpkin. You name the problem he had it this time out. Offense, defense, foul trouble...got off to a slow start and never did recover. A lot of it was just unnecessary too -- hyperactive fouls, the missed gimmes again, just stuff that you are supposed to clean up sooner or later. After having to sit down the stretch of the second quarter with 3 fouls, came out to start the third and laid another egg, ragged offensively missing and getting his shots tipped and blocked. And is far too common wiht him, frustration led to even more foul trouble, and ended up taking a seat over next to Westphal with a towel over his head until the final minutes. Made just enough plays here, and by the end put up just enough numbers, to stay out of the cellar gradewise. But he kind of went AWOL on us this trip, and tonight in particular was nowhere to be found in a winnable game where Reke needed a wingman.
Hawes ( D ) -- sigh. Did not take long to figure out whether Specner was going to follow up his big game or not. Actually started off the game on his first two possessions at least TRYING to post up, but was the victim of back to back bad entry passes for turnovers. Then tried to force something weak into Gasol and got it smushed into his face, and that was kind of that for aggression inside. Had a few little bright spots fluttering about, followed the smush back in his face with a block of his own on a driving guard, had a nice high post pass to a cutting Beno (in fact some good passing on the night was maybe his highlight). But in general, this sucked. Faced with a physical frontline, he just wants no part of it. I don't even know what to say about that. But here it was again, and I don't know if that can be taught. He and May both played terrible high pick and roll defense as Gasol rolled unimpeded. Of course came out in the third and responded to pressure by chucking a three. That's the way to punch them in the nose Spence! Picked up several 3 second violations on the ngiht, which was surprising given how little damage he did in there. Lost a lot of minutes to various smallball lineups, and at the end of the game to his old college teammate Jon Brockman, who has no right to be playing in the NBA given his size, but has something Specner has yet to grow: cahones. I just don't get it. Talentwise, Spencer Hawes is better than Brockman, JT, Marc Gasol, and 3/4 of the other big men in the NBA. But if he doesn't get a grip and toughen up here its all going to go to waste.
Udrih ( D+ ) -- fairly considerable letdown game here. Once upon a time you wouldn't have said that. Last year he might have had 30 of these. But this season he has legitimately been good on most nights, and he and JT were the most consistent guys helping out Tyreke. Not tonight. Started off the game looking sluggish and it was kind of downhill from there. Outside shot was off, and defensively neither controlled Conley's quickness nor able to handle Tinsely in the post. Lost his minutes to Sergio tonight, including the entire stretch run.
Evans ( B ) -- the numbers were there tonight, but the game lacked that punch he has had in his better ones. Speaking of numbers BTW, our superrook merely averaged 28.5pts 5.5reb 7.0ast in the two games of the roadtrip he played in, and my grades, hohum, are A- for one and B for the other. Because of course 20yr old rookie's do that all the time. Don't be couting that rookie of the year race over just yet. But tonight, big though the numbers were, it just felt more individualistic and did not inspire a response from his teammates. Of course given that said teammates were largely incompetent perhaps I'm pointing the finger at the wrong person tonight -- tonight Reke scored 28, and all 4 other starters....scored 28. Lovely. Reke picked up two early ticky tack fouls but Westphal let him play through it, and he did his best to avoid that 3rd despite the refs apparently having bets down on who coul make the most ridiculous touch foul call. Was not able to get into any real offensive rhythm in the early going either. Beat his man at the end of the first and dashed in for a layup...and then Thabeet came out of nowhere to block it from behind. Thought Memphis, numbers aside, actually looked pretty good on defense at times, and had a pretty good scheme to make Reke uncomfortable both on the drive and when getting chances to post Conley. Second defender shifted over halfway and just lurked back there maybe 8-10 feet away. Just close enough to be able to help if necessary, but far enough to avoid setting his own man free on the true double. Reke was still the best/only thing we had going in the first half and got up to 10 points before the tweet happy zebras gave him his third, but it was a sloppy feeling 10 points. Lot of tipped balls on the drive, turnovers, blown assists by teammates, and just generally 10 points that was just 10 points, without any further impact. Started off the 3rd missing his first shot and getting the 2nd one blocked, but with nobody else doing anything really started to have to try to do it himself as the quarter wore on. Began to time the Memphis defense and the drives looked stronger and steadier, but again, just seemed to be isolated points without bringing any of his teammates along for the ride. Not sure of the body language when Bedno or Sergio took the ball to the other side of the court -- just sort of stopped and stood there with his hands at his sides. Not a new phenomenon, just mroe noticeable in a game that felt as disjointed and chemistryless as the body language sometimes suggests. Also one of those reasons that having a PG beside him (especially a non shoter like Rodriguez) feels like taking turns. Seems like we run plays with the Beno/Sergio PG dribbling directly away from Reke across the top of the key, leaving our best scorer, who is ot a spot shooter anyway, just standing there looking at their back. After Casspi got kicked late in the game, came on to pour in points down the stretch and continue his streak of 20+pt games -- he still has scored 20 or more in every game that Kevin has missed. Too little too late however, and while the minutes were not garbagetime and both teams had their best units out there (in Memphis's case their starters, in ours, basically Reke and the hustling bench guys who outplayed the starters), the game was probably over by the time Reek really got crunching.
Boxscore
Nocioni ( C ) -- pretty much got every bit of grade he did for a 5 minute stretch of the second quarter. Wasn't even much point in givng Noc a first half grade until the 15 minute mark --just sucked. Until about the midpoint of the 2nd when it looked like he made a conscious decision to take advantage of the silly refs to get a three point play against Gay, then draw the third on Randolph -- even on bad days knows how to bait a ref. Seemed to wake him up, as he was strong down the stretch of the quarter, hit a three, had a follow, a good lead pass to Casspi on the break. Made into a smallball PF against Randolph after half, but that did not really work at all for any long stretch and we lost ground.
Thompson ( D ) -- bad, and considerably worse than the numbers indicate (althought my standard notation applies here that a guy who can put up numbers even on a crappy day is probably pretty good). After 4 or 5 strong game in arow during the long homestand, we went on the road and Jason turend back into a pumpkin. You name the problem he had it this time out. Offense, defense, foul trouble...got off to a slow start and never did recover. A lot of it was just unnecessary too -- hyperactive fouls, the missed gimmes again, just stuff that you are supposed to clean up sooner or later. After having to sit down the stretch of the second quarter with 3 fouls, came out to start the third and laid another egg, ragged offensively missing and getting his shots tipped and blocked. And is far too common wiht him, frustration led to even more foul trouble, and ended up taking a seat over next to Westphal with a towel over his head until the final minutes. Made just enough plays here, and by the end put up just enough numbers, to stay out of the cellar gradewise. But he kind of went AWOL on us this trip, and tonight in particular was nowhere to be found in a winnable game where Reke needed a wingman.
Hawes ( D ) -- sigh. Did not take long to figure out whether Specner was going to follow up his big game or not. Actually started off the game on his first two possessions at least TRYING to post up, but was the victim of back to back bad entry passes for turnovers. Then tried to force something weak into Gasol and got it smushed into his face, and that was kind of that for aggression inside. Had a few little bright spots fluttering about, followed the smush back in his face with a block of his own on a driving guard, had a nice high post pass to a cutting Beno (in fact some good passing on the night was maybe his highlight). But in general, this sucked. Faced with a physical frontline, he just wants no part of it. I don't even know what to say about that. But here it was again, and I don't know if that can be taught. He and May both played terrible high pick and roll defense as Gasol rolled unimpeded. Of course came out in the third and responded to pressure by chucking a three. That's the way to punch them in the nose Spence! Picked up several 3 second violations on the ngiht, which was surprising given how little damage he did in there. Lost a lot of minutes to various smallball lineups, and at the end of the game to his old college teammate Jon Brockman, who has no right to be playing in the NBA given his size, but has something Specner has yet to grow: cahones. I just don't get it. Talentwise, Spencer Hawes is better than Brockman, JT, Marc Gasol, and 3/4 of the other big men in the NBA. But if he doesn't get a grip and toughen up here its all going to go to waste.
Udrih ( D+ ) -- fairly considerable letdown game here. Once upon a time you wouldn't have said that. Last year he might have had 30 of these. But this season he has legitimately been good on most nights, and he and JT were the most consistent guys helping out Tyreke. Not tonight. Started off the game looking sluggish and it was kind of downhill from there. Outside shot was off, and defensively neither controlled Conley's quickness nor able to handle Tinsely in the post. Lost his minutes to Sergio tonight, including the entire stretch run.
Evans ( B ) -- the numbers were there tonight, but the game lacked that punch he has had in his better ones. Speaking of numbers BTW, our superrook merely averaged 28.5pts 5.5reb 7.0ast in the two games of the roadtrip he played in, and my grades, hohum, are A- for one and B for the other. Because of course 20yr old rookie's do that all the time. Don't be couting that rookie of the year race over just yet. But tonight, big though the numbers were, it just felt more individualistic and did not inspire a response from his teammates. Of course given that said teammates were largely incompetent perhaps I'm pointing the finger at the wrong person tonight -- tonight Reke scored 28, and all 4 other starters....scored 28. Lovely. Reke picked up two early ticky tack fouls but Westphal let him play through it, and he did his best to avoid that 3rd despite the refs apparently having bets down on who coul make the most ridiculous touch foul call. Was not able to get into any real offensive rhythm in the early going either. Beat his man at the end of the first and dashed in for a layup...and then Thabeet came out of nowhere to block it from behind. Thought Memphis, numbers aside, actually looked pretty good on defense at times, and had a pretty good scheme to make Reke uncomfortable both on the drive and when getting chances to post Conley. Second defender shifted over halfway and just lurked back there maybe 8-10 feet away. Just close enough to be able to help if necessary, but far enough to avoid setting his own man free on the true double. Reke was still the best/only thing we had going in the first half and got up to 10 points before the tweet happy zebras gave him his third, but it was a sloppy feeling 10 points. Lot of tipped balls on the drive, turnovers, blown assists by teammates, and just generally 10 points that was just 10 points, without any further impact. Started off the 3rd missing his first shot and getting the 2nd one blocked, but with nobody else doing anything really started to have to try to do it himself as the quarter wore on. Began to time the Memphis defense and the drives looked stronger and steadier, but again, just seemed to be isolated points without bringing any of his teammates along for the ride. Not sure of the body language when Bedno or Sergio took the ball to the other side of the court -- just sort of stopped and stood there with his hands at his sides. Not a new phenomenon, just mroe noticeable in a game that felt as disjointed and chemistryless as the body language sometimes suggests. Also one of those reasons that having a PG beside him (especially a non shoter like Rodriguez) feels like taking turns. Seems like we run plays with the Beno/Sergio PG dribbling directly away from Reke across the top of the key, leaving our best scorer, who is ot a spot shooter anyway, just standing there looking at their back. After Casspi got kicked late in the game, came on to pour in points down the stretch and continue his streak of 20+pt games -- he still has scored 20 or more in every game that Kevin has missed. Too little too late however, and while the minutes were not garbagetime and both teams had their best units out there (in Memphis's case their starters, in ours, basically Reke and the hustling bench guys who outplayed the starters), the game was probably over by the time Reek really got crunching.
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