Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Well turnips.
Self inflicted wounds, selfishness, and youth as we made the Hawks look better than they are. Not a talent problem tonight per se, although I think we really only have 3 starters and then its a scramble. I noted just earlier today that Boogie was the one guy who hadn't played well for us this month. So he finally shows up...and the rest of the team promptly dives behind the nearest couch. Sigh.
Also, I'd wager a stale doughnut from Friday's office party that Sun Tzu probably had something to say about he who does not rebound and defend, as in they get their teeth kicked in and kinda ask for it.
Boxscore
Evans ( C- ) -- forcing his early drives, but doing a nice job rebounding and creating easy shots for others though. Very physical battle in there with the bigger Johnson, but had him contained for an half at least. Was basically the only one of the starters setting up teammates as he notched 7 of the starting lineups 9 assists, but the offense never came. Kept on backing off and shooting threes as the Hawks had him well defended. Layups rolling off and getting blocked again with all the long atheltes along the Hawks' forntline.. Trying to do the right thing again int he third and about the only guy passing out there, but just not efficient and far too many errors. Just looked a little out of synch all night. Still, one of those games where he was making contributions in every way BUT scoring, so not as bad as an 8pt night would otherwise be.
Thompson ( D+ ) -- a couple of offensive follows early but looked shaky trying to contend with Smith. Returned late in the second and no more able than anybody else to slow the Zaza train. Giving Smith too much space on his jumper in the third and got subbed out for Donte as we tried to stamp out the fire. His own contributions were a shrug, but just got lit up by everybody he played tonight, and that has to predominate in this grade.
Thornton ( D+ ) -- hitting his early shots, but having troubles fumbling the ball all over the court. Did not get back in the game until the final minute of the half when he actually did a nice job on Williams in the post on defense. That was an isolated occurence to say the least. Turnaround in the high post to start the 3rd but somehow it never led anywhere as he rarely got the ball and didn't do much when he did. Mostly he just settled for threes. It was hard to tell how much was good Hawks defense (Hinrich was especially a pain) and how much was just a flat game by Marcus, among others. In any case, wasn't passing and was ineffective on defense to round out the subpar game. Did hit a big three in the late 4th to cut it to 5. But this time it was his turn to struggle in the final minutes, getting a drive swatted out, and forcing and missing a contested three.
Thomas ( D ) -- struggled in the early going, notching no points or assits but 2 fouls and 2 turnovers getting stripped once and with a really soft pass that was easily picked off. Had a brief burst to start the third with a good dive on the floor for a loose ball and then back to back threes. But notably it was Reke who set him up for one of those threes not the other way aroudn as he managed to notcha grand total of zero assists on the night, and he was not containing Teague the other way. By the end of the quarter Smart has seen enoguh and the reserves took over for the 4th.
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Bench
Garcia ( C- ) -- and then right back to Cisco the invisible this time out. Looking small and weak on the glass against the Hawks bevy of big athletic SFs. Got his hands on several balls on defense in the 4th and finally added a three in the final seconds after the game was decided, but this was an ineffective effort.
Fredette ( B ) -- hit a three against the clock off his dribble to close the first quarter and give us the lead going into the 2nd. Offensively aggressive in the 2nd and doing a nice job passing as well, setting up several backups for open shots. Three from Cousins as we surrounded him with shooters in the 4th. Didn't stop anybody, but then again neither did anybody else, so did not particularly stand out this time.
Greene ( C- ) -- came in and once again began things with a tough rurnaround in the post. Was doing a nice job swtiching onto guards and stopping them on the perimetere. But disappointingly was not able to slow his own men as first Marvin Willimas flashed skills he did not even know he had against Donte, and then when Donte was brought back in in the 3rd fro Jason in order to guard Josh Smith, which should ahve been a good matchup, Smith didn't even blink. On the last play of the third just before the buzzer was out on the break with Reke and Reke tried to drop him the pass at the last second but Donte has already left his feet looking for the follow if Reke missed, and we got nothing out of it. Missed both threes again, but the larger issue is that he is mostly used as a defensive stopper, or at least slower, and tonight that did not work.
Salmons ( B+ ) -- knocking down his early jumpers as he worked more off the ball this time, but also forced a dumb post attempt. Tough selfish shot in the 4th but followed it by knocking down a three from Reke. In the 4th had several just terrible bad pass turnovers trying to throw it ahead through three Hawks. Late 4th open court steal and layup helped cut it to 8. Didn't actualy notice him getting his assists, but the on target shooting was again just such an obvious 180 from his early season work.
Hayes ( D+ ) -- too groundbound to rebound at all agains thte atheltic Hawks and failed to come up with several that jsut any frontcourt guy has to grab for you. Took a terrible shot at a terrible time going 1 on 4 for no reason after we had just lost the lead in the second. Did make 1 good pass and eventually 2 layups, but unable to slow Pachulia, unable to board, and these are the things he's supposed to be able to do.
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