Grades v. Jazz 11/07/09

[kupman]

May I suggest that Brick start adding a grade for team defense since we have sucked in that area for a very longtime. Tonight was different. Especially in the 3rd quarter. It was good to see the hustle and scrappiness on the defensive end tonight.

 

[OptimusRhyme]

I voted Udoka. He played incredible defense beside Reke.

 

[OptimusRhyme]

I voted Udoka. He played the Christie role tonight, initiating offense and feeding Tyreke off curls/posts, and just hounding the ball on defense.

And props to Westphal for the switch to zone and the first insert of Udoka, and using him with Tyreke like that. Udoka had a +19 in 20 minutes of play.

Udoka played the lead guard on one single play lol. Tyreke was the lead guard 90 % of the time. yea after watching the game for a second time Tyreke was definitley the PG tonight.

 

[King Baller]

I voted for Ime Udoka, because his defensive presence totally turned the momentum of the game in the Kings favor in the 2nd quarter, setting the table for their big run. I loved the line-up with Evans, Udoka, Greene, Thompson, and Hawes. A hearty blend of length, activity, rebounding, shooting, and inside-out play! Go Kings!

I voted for JT but I agree with you that Udoka's defense triggered the comeback! I loved that line up to. I did not know Udoka's game, but if this is representitive of what he brings night in night out, WOW, 3 steals and a disruptive force who can hit the 3, are you kidding me

KB

 

[fnordius]

Right, but I was just saying it's something he needs to work on. I can list the good things he did in the game but that's not what I'm trying to do. I'm just suggesting JT needs to work on that a little bit so things like wide open layups dont happen so often

Yeah, it's annoying. Like with Tyreke's recent shooting slump, I think it's something in the realm of morale/psychology. Hopefully he'll pull out of it quickly, because we know he can shoot better than that.

 

[exGrizzly]

I love the name Havoc, and mildy dislike Reke (bleah). That said it's hard to win in SLC -- way to go Kings.

 

[CruzDude]

I knew this would be the spin, but he was at PG as much as he was at SG, and his best stretch may actually have been next to Udoka.

And a very covert situation that combo was. Udoka had 3 steals, 3 rebs, blk, ast and 5 pts in 20 really good minutes.........for his first game. And he had the biggest "+" of all at +19 (Tyreke was only a +11). He did REALLY good, and it was only his first game as a King.

All in all can't agree that all except Tyreke were B+ or less beating a good team as the Jazz on their home court. Plus Donte stepped up for the first time.

 

[stevetaebo]

We're a half game out of the 8th seed.

With this team, I believe.

 

[Bricklayer]

We're a half game out of the 8th seed.

With this team, I believe.

No.

And thank god no too. We really do need another ncie lottery pick. But THEN, if we can nab another talented kid, and maybe a good FA...I will begin to have expectations again next season as we start the climb.

 

[Eclipse]

I would've chosen Westphal if he was listed. No more do the players look like headless chickens out there. I mostly credit him for the win tonight.

 

[VF21]

Evans ( A ) -- /Queue gush: now of course this was the big one, not only the big one for the night but potentially another important one for us as Kings fans. Because our rook just flat out went off out there, and its the way he goes about it that is so eye opening. This game inspired a lot of emotions in people I am sure, but for me it was mostly amusement. I spent most of the second and third quarters just laughing because there was simply absolutely nothing the Jazz could do to stop the onslaught. In the post, off the drive, critically tonight hitting a decent percentage of his jumpers? Reke brought the ball down the court, and you would see him just dip his head a bit, and you can just see here it comes, and bam, just left Deron in the dust play after play. Completely wrecked the Jazz defense as the interior guys had to scramble play after play. Kid goes in there hard and fast. And so the Jazz put in Ronnie Price, we remember Ronnie Price -- great athlete, tough defender, and Reke just takes him down in the post and flat beats him up. Chased him from the game he beat him so bad. The kid is a matchup nightmare. In the early going he was still struggling with efficiency, hit and miss with his jumpers, and got called for palming again -- obviously a point of emphasis for him with the refs. But he was aggressive and you sensed there was a chance for something big there -- he showed no hesitation on the jumpers, hit an early three, and outmuscled a strong opponent in Ronnie Brewer. And then he began to really punish the Jazz in the second quarter (were Havoc not such a good nickname I might suggest The Punisher for his style of play), attacking and attacking, posting up, drawing fouls (he fixed his FT woes for this one as well, hitting 16-19), and got back to back open court steals and dunks off of Jazz turnovers up top (part of a great defensive stint by the pairing of Reke and new King Ime Udoka in the second). Perhaps just as important his post work was creating all kinds of open shots for Kings in the same way that a Tim Duncan or Dwight Howard's does -- the Jazz could not handle him in the post and were having to run people at him, and Reke showed he knows how to play that better than most bigs, instantly snapping crosscourt passes to all the Kings left open around the perimeter. There was a great sequence there in the second half when he initiated a pass to Hawes in the post, who quickly snapped a pass to a cutting Thompson for the foul. Got hit in the face near the end of the third + had to go into the locker room to get his mouth patched up. Was slowed in the 4th, but don't think it was the injury. Think it was largely inexperience, by both the Reke and hte Kings as a whole. The Jazz suddenly bore down, paid Reke a lot of attention, and our offense collapsed into a long ugly series of one on one plays and 24 second violations. Reke still contributed several hoops/FTs and an assist, but that iron grip he had on the game during the explosive 2nd and 3rd quarters wasn't there anymore, and it was left up to our middling backup PG and our fumblethumby PF (Reke again was cheated of several assist by Jason's inability to finsih nice setups at the rim) to seal it in the final minute. And that was enough there for me to not go with the "+" to the A. 32 and 7 is a big game for anyone, let alone a 20yr old rook in his 6th game playing against one of the league's best at his position. But I think he's still got another gear. Which is scary. Should be fun finding out if I'm right. /End gush.

Ah, come on Brickie. Don't be so reserved. Tell us what you really think of the rook...

 

[Kingsguy881]

Right, but I was just saying it's something he needs to work on. I can list the good things he did in the game but that's not what I'm trying to do. I'm just suggesting JT needs to work on that a little bit so things like wide open layups dont happen so often

He's not even 2 years in the league. Do you think when he is a 5 year vet he will be doing the same things?

 

[Bricklayer]

Ah, come on Brickie. Don't be so reserved. Tell us what you really think of the rook...

For a night at least. Then tommorow night he'll look like a rookie again.

 

[Insomniacal Fan]

Westphal does seem to have esteem for Donte's defense; he subbed him at the end of the 3rd quarter when the the Jazz had 24 seconds and possession.

 

[bajaden]

I voted for JT but I agree with you that Udoka's defense triggered the comeback! I loved that line up to. I did not know Udoka's game, but if this is representitive of what he brings night in night out, WOW, 3 steals and a disruptive force who can hit the 3, are you kidding me

KB

Udoka is very similar to Christie in that he's a very good on the ball defender and help defender. Offensively he's a pretty good shooter as long as he's set. Which is also similar to Christie. However Christie was a better passer and ball handler. I'm by no means saying that Udoka is a bad ball handler or passer, just that Christie was better.

 

[sono]

Evans ( A ) -- ......... But I think he's still got another gear. Which is scary. Should be fun finding out if I'm right. /End gush.

What is it, Brick?

No grades for Omri or did he play?

 

[Nighthawk1]

What is it, Brick?

No grades for Omri or did he play?

Omri didn't play... I agree though I think Evans has another gear... I think the whole team is still learning their new offense at times which slows them down quite a bit

 

[bloom]

EEEK…Tyreke Evans. He’s really going to be fun watching this season.

Finally! Donte was getting some minutes and using them to his advantage. I would like him to be more active (more cutting and on one play he stood around while the ball was coming off the rim) but it’s a good start for Donte.

Beno. This is what I like, he was cutting, moving and getting others involved. I’m glad that this Beno is starting to re-appear this year.

Does Sean May scare anyone else? Seriously, the guy just scares me and not in a good way.

I wish Jon Brockman got to see some floor time instead of May, hopefully next game.

Loving what I’m seeing from Jason, but I can’t wait till he starts making those easy buckets.

And the best of all, it seems that this team is coming together. I love the way Cisco and Kevin starting “chest” bumping the other players and near the end of the 4th.

 

[dbfish]

Unbelievable game

I was waiting for Reke to get schooled by Deron Williams, but I think Williams learned more this time.
I had my DVR on and had to watch the game over this morning to be sure it really happened. A real confidence builder.

 

[OptimusRhyme]

I was waiting for Reke to get schooled by Deron Williams, but I think Williams learned more this time.
I had my DVR on and had to watch the game over this morning to be sure it really happened. A real confidence builder.

lol same i just finished watching it for my third time.

 

[VF21]

I think I'm going to save it to disk...just to have to put along with Webber's jersey retirement game, Vlade's jersey retirement game, and a couple of other games that really make me smile.