[Grades] Grades v. Heat 1/12/13

[Bricklayer]

Um...

Could have sworn the schedule said we had a game on tonight. But one never broke out. There was just some ugly beatdown instead.

All hail the lone Grading Consortium member to join me tonight: Bajaden. Trust me, I've seen the grades he submitted -- he's bitter too. Heh.

Boxscore


Stats: 19min 0pts (0-3, 0-0, 0-0) 2reb 3ast 0stl 0blk 2TO
Salmons ( D- ) -- When a player starts the game and plays 19 minutes, and you want to give him a INC, that speaks volumes about how badly he played. He started the game by fumbling a pass and turning the ball over. That was his highlight, and it was all downhill from there. He scored no points. He did have 2 assists but for some reason I don't even remember them. All in all it was a terrible game for John, and thats two in a row. The only comfort he can take from the game is that he wasn't alone. Sadly, I had to watch it. --Baja

Gia Ott

Stats: 22min 2pts (1-3, 0-0, 0-0) 4reb 2ast 0stl 1blk 1TO
Thompson ( D ) -- you know he heard us right? He heard us talking about how consistent and solid he has been all season, and he promptly set out to prove us wrong in spectacular fashion. I can't think of a better explantion for his sudden reversion. Was just rushing everything early, which in some cases can mean hyped up, but in this one might very well have been playing scared. Had to get those shots up absolutley as quickly as possible you see or the varsity guys would race over and take the ball from him. Finally hit a facing jumper in the early third for his only points, but it led to nothing. Just a waste of 6'11" tonight. --Brick

Amit Friedman -- for Slim.

Stats: 33min 11pts (4-11, 0-0, 3-3) 8reb 4ast 1stl 0blk 3TO
Cousins ( C- ) -- ok start doing the bulk of our scoring and rebounding, but forcing and looking awfully groundbound in there againt the high flying stars. Boxing out and strong on the glass in the early 2nd, and when he returned to the game later dropped a good post move. Bu there was no real plan of attack, and his off and on jumper (mostly off) was particularly problematic with no teammates able to compete in there for rebs (for the second game in a row Reke and TRob off the bench were the only other Kings to provide any rebounding support). And thing was, as much as he at least looked like he could har the floor with the Heat, distinguishing himself from most of his teammates, this was really more of one of his old style sloppy games. His passes kept getting picked off (although notably he kept trying them and set IT up several times), his shots did not fall. You can see him conscioulsy staying out of foul trouble, but unfortunately you can normally see it when he visibly backs off of people slashing to the rim. A problem for your center. Came up with a fierce drive and reverse dunk in the early third that made the hihglight shows, but that was it. And I do mean it when I say that was it -- I don't think he got a single point or rebound after that point, despite being out there for another 6-8minutes. Anyway, by Kings standards tonight he was better than most. But by his standards, and certianly any standards of what we would have needed to compete, he just wasn't ready to win a showdown against the Heat stars. I wavered on D+/C- here and bumped it to the higher grade largely to separate it from all the D guys tonight who were markedly inferior.--Brick

Sara Jean Underwood

Stats: 14min 3pts (1-4, 1-4, 0-0) 3reb 0ast 0stl 1blk 1TO
Garcia ( D ) -- game pretty much consisted of spotting up, and bricking, threes. And getting beat back in transition. Slightly less ahtletic than the Miami wings. Not much to say here. Has played exactly one good quarter in his last 4 games, and the bloom is so far off this rose that the stalk is rotting at this point. High time we just quit playing games and put Reke back in the linuep and try to play some basketball.--Brick

Amanda Gallo

Stats: 33min 34pts (13-22, 6-8, 2-3) 2reb 5ast 1stl 0blk 3TO
Thomas ( A- ) -- was out of control in the early going, and a contributing cause of our coked up gerbil playstyle. Had misses on the break, missed an open jumper, got stupidly selfish on a break, going for his own rather than dumping it to the wide open Thornton trailing, and getting his shot blocked as a result. He'd gotten the steal to start the break, and I think he was just determined to finidh it himself. But despite the ragged and selfish play early, by the end of the quarter he'd discovered something that never stopped the entire game: they couldn't, or wouldn't, guard him. He was able to penetrate repeatedly down open lanes to the hoop, get around corners wihtout a problem. Unfortunately things the other way were not going so well, as Mario Chalmers just completely lit us up. In franchise record tyiing, career record sort of way, bombing 10 threes, scoring 34 points, doing my fantasy teams a lot of good, but just embarrassing us. Was not all on IT however. Half the time he was practically unguarded. Our switches and rotations were so messed up and scrambled it was chaos. And then IT continued his recent trend of getting lost behind every screen or even shadow of a screen on the court, and so again Chalmers was just wide open for anything he wanted. IT was also helpless on thr break as he took his 5'9" elite athleteness up in the air against Dwayne Wade and LeBron James and founf out that size does in fact matter (sorry guys, you've been lied to). But then the third quarter rolled around. And things turned into wacky, complrtely irrelevant, garbagetime shootout fun. Well, fun is the wrong word, but a shootout broke out as IT had another one of "those quarters" like he did in OKC. Suddenly he just got scorching hot. And why not since the Heat quite literally stopped guarding him entirely at the three point line. So he hit 1, 2, 3, 4...5 threes in a row over the space of about 5 minutes. And barely dented the Heat lead as Chalmers and crew bombed back the other way. It was silly. But IT continued taking all of our shots, hitting most of them, and pouring in points until he was taken out with the garbagetime in full nearly 40pt blowout effect in thr 4th. It was a career high for IT. It was a career high for Chalmers. I am not sure either guarded the other well once all game. It was wild bombs from every angle. In a close game it would have been stupid, but fun. In a blowout? Meaningless, but still you gotta give grades for career games. And IT's explosion here would have been very impressive under different circumstances, defense or no. Scored 34pts, nobody else scored more than 11. --Brick

 

[Bricklayer]

Bench

Stats: 25min 8pts (2-9, 0-0, 4-6) 7reb 2ast 1stl 0blk 3TO
Evans ( D+ ) -- in the game and immediately gave us a lift with some nice passses including a behind the back one handed save to Boogie on the break resulting in free throws. Was playing some tremendous defense as well. But it didn't last. His shots inside and out were in and out, he had several turnovers getting mugged, tried a crosscourt pass that clipped the bottoom of the backboard instead, was having that problem with hyper athletes chasing him down for flying blocks from behind on his slashes (call it the Gerald Wallace effect) and was stuggling being played out of postion at SF against much bigger players, including some 6'8" 260lb monster. Coach Smart is truly a genius. Was helping on the boards on the weakside but not able to finish inside and I think his confidence was shaky by the time he pulled up and airballed a three in the late garbagetime. For a few minuts at the start thoguht maybe Boogie and Reke would actually compete agianst the Miami star. Were flashes. But it all got swept away and not a good game. Hey Coach Numbnuts, how about starting the guy at his natural positon where he was playing so well rather than continuing to fart around game after game? --Brick

Jamie Chung -- caused me to have one of those "who dat?" moments when she appeared onscreen in Hangover II.

Stats: 21min 5pts (2-8, 1-4, 0-0) 0reb 0ast 1stl 0blk 1TO
Thornton ( D- ) -- stilll not looking even remotely back, although this time there were at least a couple of flashes. Soon after entereing bit badly on a Wade fake and fouled him. But got his two highlights back to back as he knocked down his first jumper -- a three -- and got a tough post move on Ray Allen in the early 2nd. But then gave it right back gambling for a steal on Allen on the other end and sending him to the line. In first off the bench in the third quarter ahead of Reke (and causing Reke to get shoved over to SF the whole night). Immediately stopped a ball swinging sequence to put his own shot up. And bricked it. In fact nothced neither an assist nro a rebound in 21 minutes. Combined with poor defense and 2-8 shooting...no, he's not all the way back, or close. --Brick

Esha Gupta

Stats: 16min 11pts (5-8, 0-0, 1-3) 2reb 1ast 0stl 0blk 1TO
Johnson ( C- ) -- JJ scored 11 points in 16 minutes, which would be somewhat impressive except all of them came with the Kings down by 30 points or so. In the second quarter, when he actually had a chance to make a difference, he did nothing offensively, and lost his man on defense several times. On one occasion he simply stood and watched as Ray Allen pranced right by him on the right baseline for a uncontested layup. I don't know if he paid for a ticket or not. All his scoring came in the 4th quarter when the game was basicly over. It was nice to see him making shots, but I can't give him a higher grade when his shots were meaningless, and he only seemed interested in scoring the ball. --Baja

Kristen Bell

Stats: 15min 9pts (3-7, 1-1, 2-2) 0reb 1ast 0stl 0blk 1TO
Fredette ( D+ ) -- there is an appearance vs. stat thing here methinks. Just looked very very slow out there against the flying athletes. And joined IT in the hopeless defensive effort. You see, in order to make room for the brilliant strategy of having both Reke and Thornton coming off the bench, Coach "Smart" had to play both Reke (at SF) and Jimme (at PG) out of position essentially. Thornton was like abowling ball scattering rotations left and right. Got a few hoops and hit his only three, but was just woefully outmatched athletically, and not able to get us into much of anything organized. We were down 9 when he took over in the 2nd quarter. We were down 20 and the game was over by the time IT returned back for him wiht under a minute to go in the half. Giving some little grade here for the scoring and some sympathy for being thrown back at the PG. But his minutes were not good for us out there.--Brick

Lily Collins

Stats: 14min 2pts (1-1, 0-0, 0-0) 1reb 2ast 1stl 0blk 0TO
Hayes ( D ) -- some good body defense on Bosh, but not on the glass. Even shot over by Joel Anthony. His complete collapse of late is approaching disastrous levels given that contract we gave him. Is averaging 1.2pts 1.2rebs in 8.0min/gm over the last 5 games on .286 shooting. Its 1.4pts 2.3rebs in 10.8min/gm on .250 shooting over the past 10. I mean, WTH? Does anyone around the league want a 6'6" nonscoring nonreboudning big? Anybody? Please? --Brick

Emmanuelle Beart

 

[Bricklayer]

Stats: 24min 10pts (4-8, 0-0, 2-2) 10reb 2ast 0stl 0blk 1TO
Robinson( B- ) -- If this had been a normal game where everyone played well, I'm not sure I'd give him a B-. But in this game, his energy, and his results stood out, so I think he deserves a B-. He ended up with 10 rebounds in 24 minutes. He also had 10 points on 4 of 8 shooting. Twice in the game he spun past his defender for a quick score. He also scored on a nice pullup at the top of the key. He got a little full of himself in the 4th quarter when he decided he was going to score in the post and almost screwed himself into the floor, and finally traveled with the ball. He played decent to good defense and battled under the basket for rebounds the entire time he was in the game. Just one game, but it appears that little by little, he's starting to figure things out.
--Baja

Stephen Moyer

Stats: 4min 4pts (2-3, 0-1, 0-0) 0reb 0ast 0stl 0blk 2TO
Honeycutt ( INC ) -- his two buckets came on completely meaningless plays in the final 30 seconds, first on an alley opp from Jimmer, then a breakout dunk to beat the ending buzzer. Otherwise just a couple more turnovers, and had Chalemrs drop his 10th three, tying a franchse record, in his face. --Brick

George Maloof

 

[lwc]

T-Rob was a shining star tonight. I know people will go nuts over IT's 34 points and nobody poops through 34. He earned it, but T-Rob showed just what he can do. I would gladly take 10-10 from him every night. Especially so many offensive boards.

 

[Kingster]

Three guys had an advantage in matchups for this game: Cousins with his strength, Tyreke with his strength, and IT with his quickness. IT was the only guy that played to his strength. Cousins posted up ONCE in the 1st half with 4 minutes, 55 secs left in the first half. Tyreke posted ZERO times. Heck, it was Thornton that posted up on Allen before anybody else. Stupid, stupid, stupid basketball. There is not one chance in infinity to win against Miami if you have Cousins 17-20 ft from the hoop and Tyreke out there dribbling away at the 3 point line. Miami is weak in the interior and totally superior on the exterior, yet we played from the exterior. This game was over before it started.

 

[Bricklayer]

Three guys had an advantage in matchups for this game: Cousins with his strength, Tyreke with his strength, and IT with his quickness. IT was the only guy that played to his strength. Cousins posted up ONCE in the 1st half with 4 minutes, 55 secs left in the first half. Tyreke posted ZERO times. Heck, it was Thornton that posted up on Allen before anybody else. Stupid, stupid, stupid basketball. There is not one chance in infinity to win against Miami if you have Cousins 17-20 ft from the hoop and Tyreke out there dribbling away at the 3 point line. Miami is weak in the interior and totally superior on the exterior, yet we played from the exterior. This game was over before it started.

Should be noted Reke came inot the game paired with Thornton and thus playing SF across from LeBrion, and then Miller for the entire first half. His advantage there wasn't going to be strength.

No idea at all what the gameplan was though. We started the game so wild and hyper it may not have mattered because gerbils on crack can't run anything.

 

[KingMilz]

Surely we are going to make some sort of trade before the deadline, I mean come on we need to do something to shake things up, ethier go get players or do a youth movement and play the likes of TRob and Honeycutt more, I don't see how playing Salmons/Hayes/Garcia is going to help us a year or two from now and its barley helping in the current situation.

 

[The_Jamal]

T-Rob was a shining star tonight. I know people will go nuts over IT's 34 points and nobody poops through 34. He earned it, but T-Rob showed just what he can do. I would gladly take 10-10 from him every night. Especially so many offensive boards.

He's finding a comfort level in the NBA with him now getting consistent playing time and it shows. His early struggles were highly predictable as young bigs who don't get a lot of playing time will struggle early. Not only is he doing the big time energy/hustle player thing, but he's getting a much larger comfort level offensively as well and is showing some of his offensive skill-set.

Trob's last 5 games:

19.4 MPG
6.6 PPG
8.4 RPG
2.0 TO
51% FG

Too many turnovers and fouls still, but these sorts of numbers+ his defense and energy is something we can work with

 

[KingsFanSince85]

Per usual, many fans expect instant success and, when it doesn't happen, are far too quick to apply the "bust" label. Robinson is 2 1/2 months into his rookie season. People need to relax and not expect Rome to be built in a day. The kid is a bit unrefined, but has the athleticism and potential to develop into a good player. We've seen flashes of it the past couple games - even if some of it occurred in garbage time. Besides, it's not how you start, it's how you finish. If Robinson is a double-double guy by year 3, his struggles this season will be completely forgotten and nobody will admit that they gave up on him less than half way through his rookie season.

 

[Section 101]

He's finding a comfort level in the NBA with him now getting consistent playing time and it shows. His early struggles were highly predictable as young bigs who don't get a lot of playing time will struggle early. Not only is he doing the big time energy/hustle player thing, but he's getting a much larger comfort level offensively as well and is showing some of his offensive skill-set.

Trob's last 5 games:

19.4 MPG
6.6 PPG
8.4 RPG
2.0 TO
51% FG

Too many turnovers and fouls still, but these sorts of numbers+ his defense and energy is something we can work with

Mostly against 2nd teamers and garbage time. He's had very poor judgement with the ball in his hands. He needs to stick to rebounding and defense.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

Kings did a terrible job getting the ball the Cousins in a position to be affective. He was getting position and calling for it all game long.

 

[spudfan]

Should be noted Reke came inot the game paired with Thornton and thus playing SF across from LeBrion, and then Miller for the entire first half. His advantage there wasn't going to be strength.

No idea at all what the gameplan was though. We started the game so wild and hyper it may not have mattered because gerbils on crack can't run anything.

Gameplay was to work our offense, as you can't defend a team like Miami. Or something to that extent is what Smart said in the pregame interview.

 

[The_Jamal]

Mostly against 2nd teamers and garbage time. He's had very poor judgement with the ball in his hands. He needs to stick to rebounding and defense.

He's a bench big. Of course he's going to be playing against 2nd teamers.

 

[The_Jamal]

Gameplay was to work our offense, as you can't defend a team like Miami. Or something to that extent is what Smart said in the pregame interview.

Well, it's somewhat true. That doesn't mean Smart should go to junkball mode though. Guys like Trob and JJ have the athleticism/size to hang with LeBron and Reke is a good enough defender to body up Wade. He just chose to be stupid and go small

 

[KingsCitizen]

Well, it's somewhat true. That doesn't mean Smart should go to junkball mode though. Guys like Trob and JJ have the athleticism/size to hang with LeBron and Reke is a good enough defender to body up Wade. He just chose to be stupid and go small

Ditto!!! Smart is the idiot here again and again!

 

[HereWeBoogie]

the worst part about this whole thing is that Keith Smart will wake up tomarrow and still have a job.......

cant wait for this team to have owners that CARE

 

[panda]

Smart was Mr Helpless and who is that girl in first post?

 

[Glenn]

I have been a Tyreke fan from the beginning and have dutifully defended him. After watching the 49ers today, I realize what a ***** he is. I know there are differences in how the sports are played. Justin Smith had a brace on his left elbow because he has a torn tendon. Staley was in obvious pain from I don't know what. I am guessing a broken bone in one of his hands, perhaps his right. Makes no difference. He was noticed once screaming in pain but quickly want back to blocking an all pro line backer. It's all in the name of football. Except for a play off here or there - I honestly don't think either player took time out. Maybe comparing football pain tolerance and basketball pain tolerance is not proper but I'd like to know why not.

Evans on the other hand has some mysterious bruise or is it jumper's knee and the coach has to ask him if he is ready to play. Apparently Tyreke doesn't feel ready to start yet.

Tyreke is an important part of the Kings or should be. He should start and if he can't play long, come out of the game after a few minutes. Does Tyreke need to be begged? He is no leader. On this team he has no position which is no fault of his own but as time has passed I think something has to be done.

He has no position which I do not blame on him. He is mismanaged to the verge of lunacy which is clearly not his fault. Trade him for some one we can use properly. Trade him for a warrior and no, not those guys down the road. I mean a man willing to fight and not need to be coddled. He has a high powered agent and a brother looking after him. Neither are interested in the Kings but are interested in making sure that Tyreke's career is successful. That may be at odds with the team's needs. I give him credit for battling though a lot of pain his second year so I don't think I am being one-sided in what I think of Tyreke's pain threshhold. It cost him a lot of stats. I'm not sure it gained him anything.

I am tired of this team and the attitudes of some of the players who revert so quickly to the me-first attitude. Blame it on the coach, I suppose. Sure they are discouraged by lack of whatever they think their millions entitle them to.

At what point to we call this ****, ****? What grade is **** worth? I think an overall grade should be given to the team and the coaching staff. As to the team, it is not whether they were spectacular but whether they were functioning as a team or at least trying. As to the coach, figure out for yourself what he should be graded on but I suggest rotations might be a start. Granted he has been given a strange collection of very small people. I don't think that's his only problem.

What Brick does with his grading is wonderful. It isn't easy to do this over and over and over. I would like to see a team and coach grade. Perhaps someone else should do it unless Brick wants to. I would love to read what someone interested in team basketball has to say and also what someone interested in the coaching shenanigans has to say. I can't analyze these things but our team is at a point where these two grades would be very interesting. It would be a semi-scientific way of tracking the team's progress or lack of progress.

My props to TRob. Maybe picking him at #5 wasn't so stupid, eh? Give him a couple years and lets see what his grades are.

I am sick of the Kings and am very discouraged. I am not going to watch them much longer as having just spent 3 days in the hospital has made it very clear that spending my time on things that bring little joy is not time well spent. Thank goodness I got out in time to watch the Niners as they show what having great leaders on the field and a great coach can do. This team needs both.

 

[Bricklayer]

Smart was Mr Helpless and who is that girl in first post?

That, beleive it or not, is my old friend Leigh, who I helped with her music/modleing career for a number of years. And believe me when I tell you I could do a pretty girls theme just with pictures of her.

 

[Kingster]

Should be noted Reke came inot the game paired with Thornton and thus playing SF across from LeBrion, and then Miller for the entire first half. His advantage there wasn't going to be strength.

No idea at all what the gameplan was though. We started the game so wild and hyper it may not have mattered because gerbils on crack can't run anything.

Yeah, which is ridiculous. Tyreke could have pounded little Wade and Allen all night long if the coach had a clue.

 

[Spike]

Gameplay was to work our offense, as you can't defend a team like Miami. Or something to that extent is what Smart said in the pregame interview.

There's an offense to work to? What happened to preaching defense?!
Sigh. Thank goodness the niners are still playing.

 

[jcassio]

Seems like the Kings are always looking up at their opponents. Hmm... curious.

 

[LWP777]

I have been a Tyreke fan from the beginning and have dutifully defended him. After watching the 49ers today, I realize what a ***** he is. I know there are differences in how the sports are played. Justin Smith had a brace on his left elbow because he has a torn tendon. Staley was in obvious pain from I don't know what. I am guessing a broken bone in one of his hands, perhaps his right. Makes no difference. He was noticed once screaming in pain but quickly want back to blocking an all pro line backer. It's all in the name of football. Except for a play off here or there - I honestly don't think either player took time out. Maybe comparing football pain tolerance and basketball pain tolerance is not proper but I'd like to know why not.

Evans on the other hand has some mysterious bruise or is it jumper's knee and the coach has to ask him if he is ready to play. Apparently Tyreke doesn't feel ready to start yet.

Tyreke is an important part of the Kings or should be. He should start and if he can't play long, come out of the game after a few minutes. Does Tyreke need to be begged? He is no leader. On this team he has no position which is no fault of his own but as time has passed I think something has to be done.

He has no position which I do not blame on him. He is mismanaged to the verge of lunacy which is clearly not his fault. Trade him for some one we can use properly. Trade him for a warrior and no, not those guys down the road. I mean a man willing to fight and not need to be coddled. He has a high powered agent and a brother looking after him. Neither are interested in the Kings but are interested in making sure that Tyreke's career is successful. That may be at odds with the team's needs. I give him credit for battling though a lot of pain his second year so I don't think I am being one-sided in what I think of Tyreke's pain threshhold. It cost him a lot of stats. I'm not sure it gained him anything.

I am tired of this team and the attitudes of some of the players who revert so quickly to the me-first attitude. Blame it on the coach, I suppose. Sure they are discouraged by lack of whatever they think their millions entitle them to.

At what point to we call this ****, ****? What grade is **** worth? I think an overall grade should be given to the team and the coaching staff. As to the team, it is not whether they were spectacular but whether they were functioning as a team or at least trying. As to the coach, figure out for yourself what he should be graded on but I suggest rotations might be a start. Granted he has been given a strange collection of very small people. I don't think that's his only problem.

What Brick does with his grading is wonderful. It isn't easy to do this over and over and over. I would like to see a team and coach grade. Perhaps someone else should do it unless Brick wants to. I would love to read what someone interested in team basketball has to say and also what someone interested in the coaching shenanigans has to say. I can't analyze these things but our team is at a point where these two grades would be very interesting. It would be a semi-scientific way of tracking the team's progress or lack of progress.

My props to TRob. Maybe picking him at #5 wasn't so stupid, eh? Give him a couple years and lets see what his grades are.

I am sick of the Kings and am very discouraged. I am not going to watch them much longer as having just spent 3 days in the hospital has made it very clear that spending my time on things that bring little joy is not time well spent. Thank goodness I got out in time to watch the Niners as they show what having great leaders on the field and a great coach can do. This team needs both.

Great post. I can't agree more about Tyreke. The team has played very poorly since he came back. I think if they can get a good player or 2 in return for Tyreke they do it. I just don't see him being the star everybody thought he'd be.

I hope everything went okay with your hospital stay...

 

[Chupacabra]

The defense has really regressed since the beginning of the season. For shame!

 

[Bricklayer]

Great post. I can't agree more about Tyreke. The team has played very poorly since he came back.

If I hadn't seen so many posts I would swear you were trying to be funny.

 

[Kingster]

I have been a Tyreke fan from the beginning and have dutifully defended him. After watching the 49ers today, I realize what a ***** he is. I know there are differences in how the sports are played. Justin Smith had a brace on his left elbow because he has a torn tendon. Staley was in obvious pain from I don't know what. I am guessing a broken bone in one of his hands, perhaps his right. Makes no difference. He was noticed once screaming in pain but quickly want back to blocking an all pro line backer. It's all in the name of football. Except for a play off here or there - I honestly don't think either player took time out. Maybe comparing football pain tolerance and basketball pain tolerance is not proper but I'd like to know why not.

Evans on the other hand has some mysterious bruise or is it jumper's knee and the coach has to ask him if he is ready to play. Apparently Tyreke doesn't feel ready to start yet. Tyreke is an important part of the Kings or should be. He should start and if he can't play long, come out of the game after a few minutes. Does Tyreke need to be begged? He is no leader. On this team he has no position which is no fault of his own but as time has passed I think something has to be done.

He has no position which I do not blame on him. He is mismanaged to the verge of lunacy which is clearly not his fault. Trade him for some one we can use properly. Trade him for a warrior and no, not those guys down the road. I mean a man willing to fight and not need to be coddled. He has a high powered agent and a brother looking after him. Neither are interested in the Kings but are interested in making sure that Tyreke's career is successful. That may be at odds with the team's needs. I give him credit for battling though a lot of pain his second year so I don't think I am being one-sided in what I think of Tyreke's pain threshhold. It cost him a lot of stats. I'm not sure it gained him anything.

I am tired of this team and the attitudes of some of the players who revert so quickly to the me-first attitude. Blame it on the coach, I suppose. Sure they are discouraged by lack of whatever they think their millions entitle them to.

At what point to we call this ****, ****? What grade is **** worth? I think an overall grade should be given to the team and the coaching staff. As to the team, it is not whether they were spectacular but whether they were functioning as a team or at least trying. As to the coach, figure out for yourself what he should be graded on but I suggest rotations might be a start. Granted he has been given a strange collection of very small people. I don't think that's his only problem.

What Brick does with his grading is wonderful. It isn't easy to do this over and over and over. I would like to see a team and coach grade. Perhaps someone else should do it unless Brick wants to. I would love to read what someone interested in team basketball has to say and also what someone interested in the coaching shenanigans has to say. I can't analyze these things but our team is at a point where these two grades would be very interesting. It would be a semi-scientific way of tracking the team's progress or lack of progress.

My props to TRob. Maybe picking him at #5 wasn't so stupid, eh? Give him a couple years and lets see what his grades are.

I am sick of the Kings and am very discouraged. I am not going to watch them much longer as having just spent 3 days in the hospital has made it very clear that spending my time on things that bring little joy is not time well spent. Thank goodness I got out in time to watch the Niners as they show what having great leaders on the field and a great coach can do. This team needs both.

It is odd. If you're ready to come of the bench to play, why aren't you ready to start? I don't get it.

 

[Andre87]

Amit Friedman daaaamn...

 

[steelevt]

Great post. I can't agree more about Tyreke. The team has played very poorly since he came back. I think if they can get a good player or 2 in return for Tyreke they do it. I just don't see him being the star everybody thought he'd be.

sometimes i dont understand why people post about how the team does with a player out. theres more to it than wins and losses while a player was out. you do know that the teams we beat were a knicks team without melo, felton, amare (and we almost lost if not for JJ making a shot he hasnt made all season), a boston team in a slump coming off a b2b, and 2 bottom dwellers in cleveland and toronto. now you are comparing that to when he plays with us against memphis dallas and miami and its his fault we are losing?

 

[mac]

It is odd. If you're ready to come of the bench to play, why aren't you ready to start? I don't get it.

I don't know what was said on the Kings broadcast, but on the Heat one they said that Smart asked him if he wanted to start. Evans told Smart to put him in as a starter when (Smart) thought he was ready.

 

[Glenn]

Great post. I can't agree more about Tyreke. The team has played very poorly since he came back. I think if they can get a good player or 2 in return for Tyreke they do it. I just don't see him being the star everybody thought he'd be.

I hope everything went okay with your hospital stay...

That isn't what I meant at all. I was questioning the competitive nature or lack thereof of Tyreke and the lack of leadership of the coach.

Being in the hospital is a bad sign for a person my age. This was not elective hence my introspection towards the priorities of my life. Now if the Maloofs should divorce themselves from this team, my priorities could change again. I love basketball. I hate what the Kings are doing.