Artest ( C ) -- Ah...that wacky Ron. A game after scoring 36pts on 15-23 shooting, Ron comes back to score 9 on 4-13. Struggled vs. Mason on defense in the early going -- Mason was out of control, but scored with quickness. Gave us pretty much nothing offensively tonight, not only missing but also forcing stuff inside that was effectively turnovers. But contributed a big rebounding effort. A fortunate thing considering that our "bigs" all looked as if they were flat out running away from the ball off the boards. But much as I would love to have a 9pt 12reb 1blk a game PF on this team, I would prefer it didn't come attached to 4-13 shooting and 5 TOs, and its not enough out of a major SF that we count on for scoring. Gets his grade for showing strength and guts on the glass. In short supply in Kingsland.
Thomas ( D ) -- had trouble scoring inside to start the game, and seemed to simply disappear after that did not work. Like Ron followed up a strong effort wiht nothing at all. 2pts 3rebs in 19min. Fortunately for him Reef stunk the joint up too, so maybe he gets to keep that oh so coveted starter by default position.
Miller ( C- ) -- did little individually, and his defense was as bad as ever, but was nonetheless effective helping others to score in the first half with a number of assists and good solid picks. Subtle contributions that nonetheless made Mike and Kevin in particular look better. Missed open shots throughout the third though, and his subtle contributions largely became so subtle as to be actually nonexistent. Even got backed down by Tyson Chandler -- he of the 5pt scoring average -- on one play. Did little down the stretch, and was part of a fugly play to close the game as we were were completely disorganized and threw up complete garbage. Scariest part -- he was the GOOD big tonight.
Martin ( B ) -- hit his first shot, and looked solid in the first quarter. Slowed down in the therafter, but was still efficient. Showed a little aggression in the early 4th to help keep us close, but it did not last. Rest of his game was ok. Not bad, but nothing special. Falls in the realm of solidly productive evenings. No huge impact, but no real downside either.
Bibby ( B- ) -- opened the game by missing a technical FT, but settled in and began to spash in shots as the half wore on. 10 pts at half, although not much else. Was quiet for a long stretch in his matchup with BJax, but stepped up to hit big shots down the stretch that threatened to win this one for us. Made up for it though by throwing up a wild would be hero three pointer again. Become such an obvious trend this season --
Salmons ( B ) -- came in off the bench to contribute 6 quick points at the end of the first quarter to keep it close; and repeatedly got to the line throughout the game with the Hornets never seeming to be able to find the right matchup.
Reef ( D+ ) -- gave us almost nothing on a night when we needed just anything. Shot looked flat and forced. Recovered from another rebounding is anathema start to grab a few in his second stint, albeit as usual many of them were offensive boards to assist in his scoring effort rather than cleaning up the defensive glass. In the second quarter dropped in a nice little assist to Kevin along the baseline ala Peja to Webb (without the flair), and benefitted from David West's incompetence tonight.
Cisco ( C+ ) -- short first half stint, did nothing. Came back in the 4th and seemed to be helping with his hustle and bal pressure. Nothing in the numbers, but was disrupting the Hornets a bit (well..maybe, the Hornets were pretyy much disrupted even if you didn't guard them at all). There is a capper on how higg I am willing to on a 0pt 2reb 0ast in 13min night, but better than the numbers this time I think.
Corliss ( B- ) -- got into the game for the first time to start the 4th quarter, and sparked us with some of his easy inside offense. Unfortunately on the other end got worked over by Tyson Chandler, who obviously towers over him, and grabbed exactly zero rebounds as our PF.
Muss ( ) -- We did not deserve to win this. Yet another injury ravaged team missing its star. Yet another ridiuclous struggle to beat them even though we are at full strength. Only difference this time is that there was no Mike or Ron heroics to bail us out. And of course that the game was played in their gym. Well..kinda. Even there, it was at the Hornets alternate New Orleans site instead of in front of the lively Oklahoma fans. Let's see, how to sum up this "lin": THIRD QUARTER. As in outscored 10-0 in the first 6 minutes. Miserable. Muss even tried to break this one up. Tried 2 timeouts. Got a technical. Nothing worked. Made a good move with consequences when he inserted Corliss to start the 4th and got the expected burst of offense out of him. Of course on the other end of the floor he looked every bit the midget as Chandler loomed over of scores and Corliss was unable to compete on the glass. Looked like Mike might shoot us into stealing this one, but we got ugly in the final seconds, wiht Mike in particular forcing bas shots. Probably got screwed by the refs too on a blown 24 secoind call (should have been one, was not called, and the three went in to open the lead up to 5). Tried to do the quick shot and foul thing, but looked terribly disorganized in so doing and mjust slipped away. I am no longer terribly perturbed. If we play an actual good game one of these days I'll feel like we should win it just as a form of positive reinforcement. But we played like garbage against a ruined shell of a team tonight, and losing was our just dessert. Of course I've discussed the woss/lin dichotomy before, and tonight that muddle makes what in other years would have been a disheartening and disastrous loss into a shrug.
West ( A- ) -- never been a fan -- always thought he should be a King as yet another undersized nonrebounding finesse "power" forward. And tonight he played like he was on our payroll. Godawful + maybe the best King.
Thomas ( D ) -- had trouble scoring inside to start the game, and seemed to simply disappear after that did not work. Like Ron followed up a strong effort wiht nothing at all. 2pts 3rebs in 19min. Fortunately for him Reef stunk the joint up too, so maybe he gets to keep that oh so coveted starter by default position.
Miller ( C- ) -- did little individually, and his defense was as bad as ever, but was nonetheless effective helping others to score in the first half with a number of assists and good solid picks. Subtle contributions that nonetheless made Mike and Kevin in particular look better. Missed open shots throughout the third though, and his subtle contributions largely became so subtle as to be actually nonexistent. Even got backed down by Tyson Chandler -- he of the 5pt scoring average -- on one play. Did little down the stretch, and was part of a fugly play to close the game as we were were completely disorganized and threw up complete garbage. Scariest part -- he was the GOOD big tonight.
Martin ( B ) -- hit his first shot, and looked solid in the first quarter. Slowed down in the therafter, but was still efficient. Showed a little aggression in the early 4th to help keep us close, but it did not last. Rest of his game was ok. Not bad, but nothing special. Falls in the realm of solidly productive evenings. No huge impact, but no real downside either.
Bibby ( B- ) -- opened the game by missing a technical FT, but settled in and began to spash in shots as the half wore on. 10 pts at half, although not much else. Was quiet for a long stretch in his matchup with BJax, but stepped up to hit big shots down the stretch that threatened to win this one for us. Made up for it though by throwing up a wild would be hero three pointer again. Become such an obvious trend this season --
Salmons ( B ) -- came in off the bench to contribute 6 quick points at the end of the first quarter to keep it close; and repeatedly got to the line throughout the game with the Hornets never seeming to be able to find the right matchup.
Reef ( D+ ) -- gave us almost nothing on a night when we needed just anything. Shot looked flat and forced. Recovered from another rebounding is anathema start to grab a few in his second stint, albeit as usual many of them were offensive boards to assist in his scoring effort rather than cleaning up the defensive glass. In the second quarter dropped in a nice little assist to Kevin along the baseline ala Peja to Webb (without the flair), and benefitted from David West's incompetence tonight.
Cisco ( C+ ) -- short first half stint, did nothing. Came back in the 4th and seemed to be helping with his hustle and bal pressure. Nothing in the numbers, but was disrupting the Hornets a bit (well..maybe, the Hornets were pretyy much disrupted even if you didn't guard them at all). There is a capper on how higg I am willing to on a 0pt 2reb 0ast in 13min night, but better than the numbers this time I think.
Corliss ( B- ) -- got into the game for the first time to start the 4th quarter, and sparked us with some of his easy inside offense. Unfortunately on the other end got worked over by Tyson Chandler, who obviously towers over him, and grabbed exactly zero rebounds as our PF.
Muss ( ) -- We did not deserve to win this. Yet another injury ravaged team missing its star. Yet another ridiuclous struggle to beat them even though we are at full strength. Only difference this time is that there was no Mike or Ron heroics to bail us out. And of course that the game was played in their gym. Well..kinda. Even there, it was at the Hornets alternate New Orleans site instead of in front of the lively Oklahoma fans. Let's see, how to sum up this "lin": THIRD QUARTER. As in outscored 10-0 in the first 6 minutes. Miserable. Muss even tried to break this one up. Tried 2 timeouts. Got a technical. Nothing worked. Made a good move with consequences when he inserted Corliss to start the 4th and got the expected burst of offense out of him. Of course on the other end of the floor he looked every bit the midget as Chandler loomed over of scores and Corliss was unable to compete on the glass. Looked like Mike might shoot us into stealing this one, but we got ugly in the final seconds, wiht Mike in particular forcing bas shots. Probably got screwed by the refs too on a blown 24 secoind call (should have been one, was not called, and the three went in to open the lead up to 5). Tried to do the quick shot and foul thing, but looked terribly disorganized in so doing and mjust slipped away. I am no longer terribly perturbed. If we play an actual good game one of these days I'll feel like we should win it just as a form of positive reinforcement. But we played like garbage against a ruined shell of a team tonight, and losing was our just dessert. Of course I've discussed the woss/lin dichotomy before, and tonight that muddle makes what in other years would have been a disheartening and disastrous loss into a shrug.
West ( A- ) -- never been a fan -- always thought he should be a King as yet another undersized nonrebounding finesse "power" forward. And tonight he played like he was on our payroll. Godawful + maybe the best King.
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