Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
So...more solid looking, and at least this time it was against a good team. But again, 24pts for Tyreke, 23 points for Kevin, and yet we score only 97 as a team. And it only got up to 97 thx to some last minute garbagetime padding by Omri.
Greene ( D ) -- got the start off of the strong work in Charlotte and...well, let's put it this way: I have two lines of notes on his game. Two. Got in quick foul trouble, sat the rest of the half. A wild drive to start the third, but otherwise became the latest SF victim of the shotmunching backcourt unbable to find an offensive role. Lingered for a bit, but with no impact whatsoever. 16+min 0pts 2rebs 3fls. There was of course a little defense mixed in, but in general might as well have not shown up.
Thompson ( C+ ) -- better than his recent performances, but that says a lot more about his recent performances than the one tonight. Started off the game looking aggressive on offense. A good full speed running finish on the break, barely dribbled in a layup, a little jumper, a follow of a Casspi miss, an active post move, then got his shot blocked up against the 24 second clock after Kevin took too long swinging the ball. Turnover out of the timeout at the 4:00 mark of the 2nd quarter, then lost his man for an alley oop before repsonding with another strong post move. But you could almost seee where this one died, and it was right in the big echo chamber between Jason's ears. Got a lane violation givng the Hawks another FT, and then a few seconds later finally got a T for complaining to the refs. Finished off the half getting the shot blocked in the post. And meanwhile Josh Smith and friedns were repeatedly getting aroudn him to score at the rim. JT wrapped up a 12pt first half playing aggressively until the end of the 2nd quarter, but given his frustration what were the odds he was going to repeat the performance? Not high. At all. Almost completely disappeared after the break, scoring 2 pts and after picking up an offensive foul in the late 4th off of a Reke dropoff, getting yanked for Brockman for the stretch run. So...something at least. Good offense for a half, but never a factor on the glass and deemed not reliable enough to get the stretch minutes.
Brockman ( B- ) -- got the start and felt like a typical rough and tumble Brockman game, but not nearly as productive as he has been. Fouled Smith on the high flying dunk attempt, mopped up on a missed Reke layup, but got two quick fouls that slowed him. Returned and stopped a score on the break by racing back to challenge Smith, who became overconscious of him and blew the finish. Showed us something (a very little something) new, with a little 16ft baseline jumper. Undersized and overpowered by a physical adn aggressive Horford in the third. Suffered a cut over the eye on an extremely aggressive offensive rebound battle where he crashed to the baseline and smacked his head into a camera. Picked up a steal up top and charged down the floor on the break for the flying dunk. Was fouled from behind too, but showed real footspeed in staying ahead and not getting run down. Despite spectacular plays, not a factor at the bread and butter tonight -- only 3 rebounds. Got reinserted late in place of JT for the stretch run, but did little. Added a turnover in garbagetime.
Martin ( B+ ) -- and if last time out was the worst Kevin has looked since coming back, this was probably the best, not least because for a half he didn't actually look that much like Kevin Martin. Missed a three to start as we wasted 20 seconds getting him a shot, then a second possession where we stopped everything to get him going again, and yes, I was watching closely to see why +20pt scorer = -20pts of offense. But finally drew a foul, then stepped in a passing lane for a steal and +1 breakaway. Wasn't exactly facing top of the line resistance as he was guarded by Mike Bibby, although I suppose Bibby at least knows his game. Was back to start the second and started with a bad pass thrown out of bounds past Beno. Missed a corner three, but worked the backdoor cut and got the dunk along the baseline and started his best spell of basketball during the game. A jumper on the break, and continued to show that Spencer is the guy he works with best ala the old Vlade/Peja tandem with Spencer as his personal assistman. Hit a three, got in front of Crawford for the charge. Played some good defense on JJ staying down on one possession. Did not seem to have the suppressing effect on Beno this time, and finished up the first half with something that looked suspiciously like a real all around basketball player's statline: 11pts 4rebs 4ast 2stls. Got his points, but also played the game when he wasn't shooting. And at that point we were hanging in there. A little activity in the early 3rd, but the fell of his game changed, and it was mostly jsut the scoring after half. Got really shaked and baked by a very aggressive Crawford in the early 4th. Got mushed on the break by Mo Evans and came up holding his wrist. Well...on defense. Quickly hit a three afterward as the feel of leather worked its magical healing powers. At the 4 minute mark got a take +1 on one of those questionable little touch fouls he draws. Bricked the jumper at the 2:30 mark out of the timeout with us down 11. Best game since his return, and for a half at least felt like we were playing solid if unspectacular basketball, wihtout the depressed chemistryless gloom that has hung over this roadtrip. First signs that this could work at all with Kevin doing the things he needs to do for at least part of the game. And yet in the end...it didn't. We again were sitting at 90pts with under a minute to go, and again lost. 1-8 now, with a likely 1-9 coming up in Orlando.
Evans ( B+ ) -- got into an impressive and occasionally spectacular back and forth duel with Joe Johnson in the first half. First shot was actually a desperation super high arcing three against the shotclock that bounced off the rafdters before swishing through. But then the battle began. A power drive, another drive, got posted by Johnson back the other way, another post drive, another score for Johnson. Added in several drive and kicks to open shooters as well. Big first quarter, but forgotten about for a long time in the second with Kevin and Beno playing well. Finally back in with 4 minutes to go and immediately had another nice take as Johnson could not stay in front of him, and the Hawks lack of size up front wasn't intimidating enough to make him back off. Followed with a very impressive overpowering drive banging through two Hawks and still finishing over the top of them. Got his knee banged in the early third and missed some time as the Hawks began to extend. Returned with a drive but got it swatted by Smith as the Hawks tried to close down that lane to him. Actually got a technical foul in the late 3rd -- first of his career and almsot hard to imagine givenhis demeanor. Followed that with an aggressive drive, then an amazing drive through three guys on the left side. Several mistakes down the stretch of the quarter however, and great as the driving game looked, the obligatory jumpers were mostly bricks again. I sentence you to 1000 jumpers a day every day over this summer kid. Hit the J and you get your own shoe. Fouled the 3pt shooter at the 7:00 mark in the 4th for a 4pt play, got to the line several times down the stretch, and seemed to be taking particualr care to try to get Omri going late even as the game slipped out of reach. Strong game, fun duel with Johnson, but not able to make the superstar run again to make it really interesting. Had zero rebounds in this one BTW -- do not remember if he's ever done that before. Normally you don't even mention a PG's rebs, but Reke isn't just any PG and seeing him with the bagel there is odd -- with the bigs struggling again, we needed the help he normally gives there.
Greene ( D ) -- got the start off of the strong work in Charlotte and...well, let's put it this way: I have two lines of notes on his game. Two. Got in quick foul trouble, sat the rest of the half. A wild drive to start the third, but otherwise became the latest SF victim of the shotmunching backcourt unbable to find an offensive role. Lingered for a bit, but with no impact whatsoever. 16+min 0pts 2rebs 3fls. There was of course a little defense mixed in, but in general might as well have not shown up.
Thompson ( C+ ) -- better than his recent performances, but that says a lot more about his recent performances than the one tonight. Started off the game looking aggressive on offense. A good full speed running finish on the break, barely dribbled in a layup, a little jumper, a follow of a Casspi miss, an active post move, then got his shot blocked up against the 24 second clock after Kevin took too long swinging the ball. Turnover out of the timeout at the 4:00 mark of the 2nd quarter, then lost his man for an alley oop before repsonding with another strong post move. But you could almost seee where this one died, and it was right in the big echo chamber between Jason's ears. Got a lane violation givng the Hawks another FT, and then a few seconds later finally got a T for complaining to the refs. Finished off the half getting the shot blocked in the post. And meanwhile Josh Smith and friedns were repeatedly getting aroudn him to score at the rim. JT wrapped up a 12pt first half playing aggressively until the end of the 2nd quarter, but given his frustration what were the odds he was going to repeat the performance? Not high. At all. Almost completely disappeared after the break, scoring 2 pts and after picking up an offensive foul in the late 4th off of a Reke dropoff, getting yanked for Brockman for the stretch run. So...something at least. Good offense for a half, but never a factor on the glass and deemed not reliable enough to get the stretch minutes.
Brockman ( B- ) -- got the start and felt like a typical rough and tumble Brockman game, but not nearly as productive as he has been. Fouled Smith on the high flying dunk attempt, mopped up on a missed Reke layup, but got two quick fouls that slowed him. Returned and stopped a score on the break by racing back to challenge Smith, who became overconscious of him and blew the finish. Showed us something (a very little something) new, with a little 16ft baseline jumper. Undersized and overpowered by a physical adn aggressive Horford in the third. Suffered a cut over the eye on an extremely aggressive offensive rebound battle where he crashed to the baseline and smacked his head into a camera. Picked up a steal up top and charged down the floor on the break for the flying dunk. Was fouled from behind too, but showed real footspeed in staying ahead and not getting run down. Despite spectacular plays, not a factor at the bread and butter tonight -- only 3 rebounds. Got reinserted late in place of JT for the stretch run, but did little. Added a turnover in garbagetime.
Martin ( B+ ) -- and if last time out was the worst Kevin has looked since coming back, this was probably the best, not least because for a half he didn't actually look that much like Kevin Martin. Missed a three to start as we wasted 20 seconds getting him a shot, then a second possession where we stopped everything to get him going again, and yes, I was watching closely to see why +20pt scorer = -20pts of offense. But finally drew a foul, then stepped in a passing lane for a steal and +1 breakaway. Wasn't exactly facing top of the line resistance as he was guarded by Mike Bibby, although I suppose Bibby at least knows his game. Was back to start the second and started with a bad pass thrown out of bounds past Beno. Missed a corner three, but worked the backdoor cut and got the dunk along the baseline and started his best spell of basketball during the game. A jumper on the break, and continued to show that Spencer is the guy he works with best ala the old Vlade/Peja tandem with Spencer as his personal assistman. Hit a three, got in front of Crawford for the charge. Played some good defense on JJ staying down on one possession. Did not seem to have the suppressing effect on Beno this time, and finished up the first half with something that looked suspiciously like a real all around basketball player's statline: 11pts 4rebs 4ast 2stls. Got his points, but also played the game when he wasn't shooting. And at that point we were hanging in there. A little activity in the early 3rd, but the fell of his game changed, and it was mostly jsut the scoring after half. Got really shaked and baked by a very aggressive Crawford in the early 4th. Got mushed on the break by Mo Evans and came up holding his wrist. Well...on defense. Quickly hit a three afterward as the feel of leather worked its magical healing powers. At the 4 minute mark got a take +1 on one of those questionable little touch fouls he draws. Bricked the jumper at the 2:30 mark out of the timeout with us down 11. Best game since his return, and for a half at least felt like we were playing solid if unspectacular basketball, wihtout the depressed chemistryless gloom that has hung over this roadtrip. First signs that this could work at all with Kevin doing the things he needs to do for at least part of the game. And yet in the end...it didn't. We again were sitting at 90pts with under a minute to go, and again lost. 1-8 now, with a likely 1-9 coming up in Orlando.
Evans ( B+ ) -- got into an impressive and occasionally spectacular back and forth duel with Joe Johnson in the first half. First shot was actually a desperation super high arcing three against the shotclock that bounced off the rafdters before swishing through. But then the battle began. A power drive, another drive, got posted by Johnson back the other way, another post drive, another score for Johnson. Added in several drive and kicks to open shooters as well. Big first quarter, but forgotten about for a long time in the second with Kevin and Beno playing well. Finally back in with 4 minutes to go and immediately had another nice take as Johnson could not stay in front of him, and the Hawks lack of size up front wasn't intimidating enough to make him back off. Followed with a very impressive overpowering drive banging through two Hawks and still finishing over the top of them. Got his knee banged in the early third and missed some time as the Hawks began to extend. Returned with a drive but got it swatted by Smith as the Hawks tried to close down that lane to him. Actually got a technical foul in the late 3rd -- first of his career and almsot hard to imagine givenhis demeanor. Followed that with an aggressive drive, then an amazing drive through three guys on the left side. Several mistakes down the stretch of the quarter however, and great as the driving game looked, the obligatory jumpers were mostly bricks again. I sentence you to 1000 jumpers a day every day over this summer kid. Hit the J and you get your own shoe. Fouled the 3pt shooter at the 7:00 mark in the 4th for a 4pt play, got to the line several times down the stretch, and seemed to be taking particualr care to try to get Omri going late even as the game slipped out of reach. Strong game, fun duel with Johnson, but not able to make the superstar run again to make it really interesting. Had zero rebounds in this one BTW -- do not remember if he's ever done that before. Normally you don't even mention a PG's rebs, but Reke isn't just any PG and seeing him with the bagel there is odd -- with the bigs struggling again, we needed the help he normally gives there.
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