Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Open up the triage, the Jazz are coming to town!
Artest ( B+ ) -- got off to a slow start to this one and was already waving his arms when called for a foul against Harpring in the late first that had you worried about a repeat of the experience in Utah. Meanwhile, not that Harpring is afraid of much anyway, but he showed no fear or hesitation in going right at Ron and outscored him in the early going 11-2. But Ron finally came up with a burst near the end of the first half including a tomahawk dunk on the break, and he came on very strong in the third though and began to dominate play.
Moore ( B- ) -- started off the game on a shaky note, missing his first three FTs and just feeling that 4th one in before settling in. Mikki Moore vs. Carlos Boozer was never going to go well, but Mikki actually bothered him on a few shots and finished with sort of a low level respectable outing 7pts 7rebs in 30min.
Miller ( B ) -- did not look hindered by the hand when passing or throwing down a dunk after Ron hit him on a cut, but still got into early foul trouble. Returned however and settled down to have a modestly effective game taking advantage of Okur's weakness (this, believe it or not was an "All Star" last year). Did most of his offensive damage at the FT line where we shot an amzing 50 Fts this time out.
Martin ( A- ) -- wasted little time washing off the ick of the terrible Wednesday night performance with 16 first quarter points on a variety of open perimeter looks when the Jazz just refused to stay with him. Always wonder what goes through a guy's head on those things -- how often does Kevin Martin miss an open three pointer? therefore what would possess you to make a half assed move toward the paint in help defense when you are guarding him? In any case, with Brewer out for whatever reason, Miles still a scrub, and Korver just physically unable to matchup, Sloan dug deep on the bench and turned up none other than Ronnie Price as the solution to really contain Kevin late in the half. Price got most of the minutes in the third as well, and Kevin was noticeably hindered by the quick little pest. Still had 27 points by that time however before something interesting happened. Then with Douby going so well in the 4th...regiie just benched Kevin. that was it. No 4th quarte minutes at all after 27 through three. Good thing we got the win, but you have to wonder how that one set.
Bibby ( C+ ) -- still just a shell of his former offensive self, but had some stretches of running the offense well in the first half. Only modestly effective in the third, and gave way to Beno for the 4th in what was almost a 1st/3rd vs. 2nd/4th quarter PG platoon for the night. did not do terrible against Deron, and something that you normally do not notice, but I did this night -- Deron Williams is a wuss on the boards. Guy is built, but he is totally soft and irresponsible there, barely even moving for the ball (sometimes not moving at all) and apparently not feeling that he as a PG has any responsbilty for such matters. That was in considerable contrast to Mike, who gave us some help on the glass as he often does.
Salmons ( B+ ) -- one of the tough grades in this one, as John was doing nothing all game long, and then came on to have himself one of those quarters in the 4th like he was haivng back in December. Perhaps selfish as all hell and totally ignorant of anybody else being on the floor, but did not need them. Smoothly in his rhythm, attacking the rim and never hesitating.
Beno ( B- ) -- effective first half stint off the bench, and was the man running the team for our big 4th quarter charge. I phrase it that way on purpose, because Beno himself didn't really do that much in that quarter. But he was the point getting the ball to Douby and Salmons, and so deserves some level of grade for being the man on the spot despite his modest production.
Cisco ( D ) -- seemed to be pressing and a little...fluttery might be the word in his first stint. Was back in just before half, and then it looked like he either took a knee to the back from Price or just wrenched it, but in either case he went down and never returned.
Hawes ( B ) -- came in and did well off the bench in the first half to help us keep momentum, also made a couple of mistakes, not blocking out and giving up a rebound and fiinish to Harpring at the end of the first, and taking his eye off of a Martin pass and having it fly right thorugh his hands. Returned for another alternately solid/mistake prone stint later.
Douby ( A- ) -- tough + interesting grade here as Quincy Douby, erstwhile scrub, came in to give Kevin a little breather in the laate third....and never relinquished the position on hsi way to basically being the player of the game for us. Hit a big three to put us back up going into the 4th, and then poured it on in the 4th, as a scorer of course (his natural OG rather than trying to run the point), but also coming up with a steal and breakaway on a weak Williams pass.
Theus ( ) --
Artest ( B+ ) -- got off to a slow start to this one and was already waving his arms when called for a foul against Harpring in the late first that had you worried about a repeat of the experience in Utah. Meanwhile, not that Harpring is afraid of much anyway, but he showed no fear or hesitation in going right at Ron and outscored him in the early going 11-2. But Ron finally came up with a burst near the end of the first half including a tomahawk dunk on the break, and he came on very strong in the third though and began to dominate play.
Moore ( B- ) -- started off the game on a shaky note, missing his first three FTs and just feeling that 4th one in before settling in. Mikki Moore vs. Carlos Boozer was never going to go well, but Mikki actually bothered him on a few shots and finished with sort of a low level respectable outing 7pts 7rebs in 30min.
Miller ( B ) -- did not look hindered by the hand when passing or throwing down a dunk after Ron hit him on a cut, but still got into early foul trouble. Returned however and settled down to have a modestly effective game taking advantage of Okur's weakness (this, believe it or not was an "All Star" last year). Did most of his offensive damage at the FT line where we shot an amzing 50 Fts this time out.
Martin ( A- ) -- wasted little time washing off the ick of the terrible Wednesday night performance with 16 first quarter points on a variety of open perimeter looks when the Jazz just refused to stay with him. Always wonder what goes through a guy's head on those things -- how often does Kevin Martin miss an open three pointer? therefore what would possess you to make a half assed move toward the paint in help defense when you are guarding him? In any case, with Brewer out for whatever reason, Miles still a scrub, and Korver just physically unable to matchup, Sloan dug deep on the bench and turned up none other than Ronnie Price as the solution to really contain Kevin late in the half. Price got most of the minutes in the third as well, and Kevin was noticeably hindered by the quick little pest. Still had 27 points by that time however before something interesting happened. Then with Douby going so well in the 4th...regiie just benched Kevin. that was it. No 4th quarte minutes at all after 27 through three. Good thing we got the win, but you have to wonder how that one set.
Bibby ( C+ ) -- still just a shell of his former offensive self, but had some stretches of running the offense well in the first half. Only modestly effective in the third, and gave way to Beno for the 4th in what was almost a 1st/3rd vs. 2nd/4th quarter PG platoon for the night. did not do terrible against Deron, and something that you normally do not notice, but I did this night -- Deron Williams is a wuss on the boards. Guy is built, but he is totally soft and irresponsible there, barely even moving for the ball (sometimes not moving at all) and apparently not feeling that he as a PG has any responsbilty for such matters. That was in considerable contrast to Mike, who gave us some help on the glass as he often does.
Salmons ( B+ ) -- one of the tough grades in this one, as John was doing nothing all game long, and then came on to have himself one of those quarters in the 4th like he was haivng back in December. Perhaps selfish as all hell and totally ignorant of anybody else being on the floor, but did not need them. Smoothly in his rhythm, attacking the rim and never hesitating.
Beno ( B- ) -- effective first half stint off the bench, and was the man running the team for our big 4th quarter charge. I phrase it that way on purpose, because Beno himself didn't really do that much in that quarter. But he was the point getting the ball to Douby and Salmons, and so deserves some level of grade for being the man on the spot despite his modest production.
Cisco ( D ) -- seemed to be pressing and a little...fluttery might be the word in his first stint. Was back in just before half, and then it looked like he either took a knee to the back from Price or just wrenched it, but in either case he went down and never returned.
Hawes ( B ) -- came in and did well off the bench in the first half to help us keep momentum, also made a couple of mistakes, not blocking out and giving up a rebound and fiinish to Harpring at the end of the first, and taking his eye off of a Martin pass and having it fly right thorugh his hands. Returned for another alternately solid/mistake prone stint later.
Douby ( A- ) -- tough + interesting grade here as Quincy Douby, erstwhile scrub, came in to give Kevin a little breather in the laate third....and never relinquished the position on hsi way to basically being the player of the game for us. Hit a big three to put us back up going into the 4th, and then poured it on in the 4th, as a scorer of course (his natural OG rather than trying to run the point), but also coming up with a steal and breakaway on a weak Williams pass.
Theus ( ) --
