First of all, before getting started wiht the grades I'd just like to take a moment to post this little trade idea that I worked out at RealGm... 
Note: These grades as a group feel too high given our defense once again. But I can't decide who to dock down the most, so they are what they are.
Barnes ( A- ) -- good Matt was back tonight, and while this is not a real compliment for the Kings as an elite squad, I'm not at all sure we beat the Hawks without him. Hustle hustle and hustle, and gave us that critical scrappy roleplayer that we otherwise lack. Did all of the little things and came up with a double double. Still made some of his overeager mistakes, but can't fault the effort. Caught a case of Kings disease in the last few minutes as he started throwing up softie flips toward the hoop just begging for Josh Smith to swat them out of the building.
Webber ( B+ ) -- played a smart in control first half, with the one demerit being that he wasn't showing up much on the boards (part of that was that the Hawks were going small so he was on the perimeter a lot, but part of it was just a certain sluggishness too). Was passing well, and very efficient on offense. Began to force shots unnecessarily in the third, but came back strong in the 4th with a burst that opened the game back up for us and steady play down the stretch. Eyes opened up wide as suacers every time he saw Drobnjak come into the game to guard him. Scoring oriented tonight, although when you have Webb's talent scoring oriented means only coming up with 30pts 6rebs 7ast 2stl as well as one important block late in the game to help secure things.
Miller ( A- ) -- started off the game in shaky fashion, as it was another one of those matador nights for Brad where every man, woman or newborn child born with at least one leg was running right at him without the least bit of fear. But eventually settled in and gave us a nice battling game. Was big on the glass, which is as always critical for us, and passed well. On offense eschewed the jumper for most of the night to try to charge inside. Had a few nice conversions, but as a rule the strategy did not work very well and he had a lot of balls knocked away. Finally found a guy he could guard who wouldn't just go right over him in Al Harrington, but then of course Al just went around him instead. I'm not really sure this is an A- against this team, but given our extreme and desperate need for somebody to step up on the glass, if ANY King grabs 14 rebs in a game its an A of some sort.
Mobley ( B ) -- came out very aggressive in this one. Was forcing a little, but hitting most his shots inside the three point line. Remained active, but offense fell off as the game went along. Jusdt very little to say about this game. 20pt scoring guard's night as we once again dropped 114 on an opponent. But lacked "flavor".
Bibby ( B+ ) -- started off the game a little overeager on offense -- was taking too many shots. But he was also doing other things from the very start of the game (boards and even coming up with steals). And settled down as the game went along and started to really run the offense. Made some bad turnovers again in the 4th -- a terrible habit he seems to be developing.
Evans ( D+ ) -- there was a time there in December when just about every game Mo played was very very consistent. But he's had the occassional bad ineffective game here in the last month, and this was one of them. Looked just a little off in everything he was doing. A step slow, a little off balance, head not quite in the game. Made an early steal, but otherwise really quiet.
Songaila ( A- ) -- Darius gave us a nice nice game tonight. Not just the normal passive little jumper game, but a lot of hustle around the hoop and some strong boardwork that was really absent in recent games. The one negative he had was problems trying to guard the variety of smallish players the Hawks were throwing out there at us at the PF.
House ( B ) -- made a couple of nice assists in the 4th quarter
Adelman ( B ) -- Well, we won. Getting this Kings team to actually put anybody away seems impossible at this point, so I guess we have to just settle for staying just a few steps ahead all night. Jumped up early, and really never relinquished the lead. Bit deceptive, as they were numerous points where it felt like we just might relinquish the lead, but this was pretty much a wire to wire job. Went with the 8 man rotation, which was reasonable enough with all of our main players playing more or less well and one of the reserves already starting.
ArcoCrowd ( Ugh ) -- do they still have that retired jersey up in the rafters for the fans? Somebody want to pull it down next time they are there. Don't worry, there's not likely to be anybody else in the arena to see you, and if they are there they certainly won't make any noise to alert anyone. Well, might boo you a little, but that's about it.
Note: These grades as a group feel too high given our defense once again. But I can't decide who to dock down the most, so they are what they are.
Barnes ( A- ) -- good Matt was back tonight, and while this is not a real compliment for the Kings as an elite squad, I'm not at all sure we beat the Hawks without him. Hustle hustle and hustle, and gave us that critical scrappy roleplayer that we otherwise lack. Did all of the little things and came up with a double double. Still made some of his overeager mistakes, but can't fault the effort. Caught a case of Kings disease in the last few minutes as he started throwing up softie flips toward the hoop just begging for Josh Smith to swat them out of the building.
Webber ( B+ ) -- played a smart in control first half, with the one demerit being that he wasn't showing up much on the boards (part of that was that the Hawks were going small so he was on the perimeter a lot, but part of it was just a certain sluggishness too). Was passing well, and very efficient on offense. Began to force shots unnecessarily in the third, but came back strong in the 4th with a burst that opened the game back up for us and steady play down the stretch. Eyes opened up wide as suacers every time he saw Drobnjak come into the game to guard him. Scoring oriented tonight, although when you have Webb's talent scoring oriented means only coming up with 30pts 6rebs 7ast 2stl as well as one important block late in the game to help secure things.
Miller ( A- ) -- started off the game in shaky fashion, as it was another one of those matador nights for Brad where every man, woman or newborn child born with at least one leg was running right at him without the least bit of fear. But eventually settled in and gave us a nice battling game. Was big on the glass, which is as always critical for us, and passed well. On offense eschewed the jumper for most of the night to try to charge inside. Had a few nice conversions, but as a rule the strategy did not work very well and he had a lot of balls knocked away. Finally found a guy he could guard who wouldn't just go right over him in Al Harrington, but then of course Al just went around him instead. I'm not really sure this is an A- against this team, but given our extreme and desperate need for somebody to step up on the glass, if ANY King grabs 14 rebs in a game its an A of some sort.
Mobley ( B ) -- came out very aggressive in this one. Was forcing a little, but hitting most his shots inside the three point line. Remained active, but offense fell off as the game went along. Jusdt very little to say about this game. 20pt scoring guard's night as we once again dropped 114 on an opponent. But lacked "flavor".
Bibby ( B+ ) -- started off the game a little overeager on offense -- was taking too many shots. But he was also doing other things from the very start of the game (boards and even coming up with steals). And settled down as the game went along and started to really run the offense. Made some bad turnovers again in the 4th -- a terrible habit he seems to be developing.
Evans ( D+ ) -- there was a time there in December when just about every game Mo played was very very consistent. But he's had the occassional bad ineffective game here in the last month, and this was one of them. Looked just a little off in everything he was doing. A step slow, a little off balance, head not quite in the game. Made an early steal, but otherwise really quiet.
Songaila ( A- ) -- Darius gave us a nice nice game tonight. Not just the normal passive little jumper game, but a lot of hustle around the hoop and some strong boardwork that was really absent in recent games. The one negative he had was problems trying to guard the variety of smallish players the Hawks were throwing out there at us at the PF.
House ( B ) -- made a couple of nice assists in the 4th quarter
Adelman ( B ) -- Well, we won. Getting this Kings team to actually put anybody away seems impossible at this point, so I guess we have to just settle for staying just a few steps ahead all night. Jumped up early, and really never relinquished the lead. Bit deceptive, as they were numerous points where it felt like we just might relinquish the lead, but this was pretty much a wire to wire job. Went with the 8 man rotation, which was reasonable enough with all of our main players playing more or less well and one of the reserves already starting.
ArcoCrowd ( Ugh ) -- do they still have that retired jersey up in the rafters for the fans? Somebody want to pull it down next time they are there. Don't worry, there's not likely to be anybody else in the arena to see you, and if they are there they certainly won't make any noise to alert anyone. Well, might boo you a little, but that's about it.
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