Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Much to say here, but its late so let me lead off with something that would normally come at the end. We need to sign Billy Jo Cuthbert.. Oh, er....let me say something else before getting started:
Officials ( F ) -- good lord, this was ridiculous. Not that they favored either side in the first half -- indeed the two teams shot roughly equal amounts of FTs and had 19fls a piece. It was that they must have set some sort of NBA record by whistling up 57 first half Fts. 57. That's a game's worth. By half. Needless to say there was no rhythm to the game. How could there be? And then the second half...what a travesty. We shot 56 FTs in regulation tonight, and as I am not nearly the apologist that your average Lakers fan is, I cannot defend that, so I'm not going to try. At one point in the late 4th we'd shot 12 FTs, the Lakers zero. And then we get to OT and the B.S. reverses. The Lakers shoot 11, we get 2 and you can even throw in a critical uncalled travel on Kobe for good measure. The whole thing was immensely distracting. I felt icky down the stretch, like a Lakers fan with integrity would have in Game 6 years ago (I do not opine whether those exist). Not at all sure we were really earning the comeback or just being handed it. And then we get to OT, and it reverses, and it all just sucked and took away from an otherwise fun game. 102 FTs were shot in this game. 102. Just...ick. Let them decide it on the floor please. And Bavetta -- retire already. Okay, enough rant. Onto the game:
Artest ( B- ) -- started strong, and at least somebody did as we got in a big hole early. Kobe did not score against him in the early going, but did repeatedly give it up on nice looks to help the Lakers offense hum along. It was unclear how much of it was Ron's absence with the all encompassing foul trouble everybody was in, but during the second quarter, most of which Ron missed with 3 fouls, Kobe exploded and lit up anybody we had guarding him. Ron got very quiet after that early surge, but lurched back to life in the 4th and began to press the issue, for better and worse, down the stretch Making some, but forcing some bad shots too. Fouled out with a minute and a half to go in regulation after he had, along with double team help, really disrupted Kobe's late game heroics with aggressive trapping defense. That hurt in OT as his replacement, Cisco, did nothing.
Thomas ( C ) -- and as it turns out the biggest mismatch in the early going? Brian Cook lighting up Kenny Thomas for a season high 13pts....in the first 7 minutes. Kenny got into quick foul trouble, but was not really missed. Came back after half to at least give us a little boardwork -- a rare commodity tonight. But we were clealry better after we just said screw it and went to the mighty mini lineup with Corliss at C and Ron at PF for much of the stretch run.
Reef ( C+ ) -- in the first quarter got killed by Bynum inside and was pulled after not being able to do anything against the big kid on either end of the floor. Finally got a little something going after returning late in the second, but had it cut short by the all pervasive foul trouble. Helped pull us back in the third by abandoning the post and taking up position as Brian Cook lite, hitting three straight face up jumpers from the same spot near the top of the key. Unfortunately never did give us any work on the glass, and with little Corliss playing well in the 4th, disappeared from the lineup without much fuss.
Martin ( C+ ) -- the numbers look familiar, but the game? Not a good one really. Got worked over by Luke Walton early. And was very quiet offensively on the other end of the floor. We even temporarily went away from him after half in favor of a big experimental lineup, and it wasn't until the stretch that he reemerged. No idea was it Kobe? The game? Still being miffed over last game? In any case was a primary beneficiary of the foulfilled FTfest we had there down the stretch, but was way off his 91% free throw shooting game, and missed FT after FT, including a huge clutch one which opened the door for the Lakers to tie it and force OT. About as quiet a 21pt game as you are likely to see, and no impact.
Bibby ( A ) -- Along with Ron, only guy giving us a game early, and basically seeing the purple and gold show up in town threw Mike back into a time machine to 2002 or some such. Aggressive, confident, and got whatever offense he wanted. Not enough alone for much of the night, but after the Lakers opened the door for us with some stinky erratic play, Mike hit the huge three pointer to put us in position to win it in the final minute. Unfortunately he followed that by missing a FT we needed, and then maybe blew the last second defensive assignment to let the Lakers tie it and send it to OT. Did not quit though, and came back in OT to try to singlehandedly bail us out again. Hit one more ridiculous three when we were down by 4 with 12 seconds left to draw us back within 1. But it was a last gasp as Muss drew up the play to tie or win for Corliss rather than Mike. Not a perfect outing, but a huge one matching Kobe shot for shot and recalling the glory days of this rivalry.
Salmons ( B- ) -- in the early going brought in basically as a PF(!) to try to deal with the Brian Cook problem. Had a little burst to open the 2nd quarter to give us a jolt and help us pull closer. Was getting to the rim with the first step, but not always able to finish. Also was staying with Kobe at times, but Kobe's offense > Salmons defense. Benefitted from the foul fest and got points from the line before landing in foul trouble himself. Continued in a similar vein after half, stying with Kobe, but not able to stop him. Getting to the rim in spots. Seemed always to be on the verge of breaking out and making an impact, but never quite did so, and was having to try to check a guy who is frequently uncheckable.
Taylor ( INC ) -- in the early going brought in in place of Reef as Bynum was killing us inside. Which likely marks the first time in Mo's long career that he has ever been brought into a game for defensive purposes. It went predictably, and he did not return.
Corliss ( B+ ) -- in the first half schooled the big kid (Bynum) on a "and 1" inside, but otherwise little besides smacking Kobe a few times on hard fouls, which is always a good thing. Got surprising minutes in the 3rd quarter, as we benched Kevin in favor of a big Ron/Corliss swingman combo, and Corliss responded well to give us a boost. And down the stretch found himself playing center -- maybe we should rechristen him "The Versatile One"? -- and scored a bunch of hoops and drew fouls as sort of the designated outlet man on the ball movement. Third pass always seemed to end up in his hands, and he took advanatage of the slow footedness of the Lakers bigs by rumbling toward the hoop (and the breathing fouls being called by the refs to get to the line). Was a major offensive factor as we drew back near even with the Lakers late, and also started doing the saavy vet frusration thing to the young kid Bynum as he repeatedly pulled the chair out from under him, and stepped away from the kid's body and let him stumble, travel and turn it over. Gets dropped down from an A- type grade first for predictable rebounding issues, but more importantly for blowing several coulda shoulda been layups, including heartbreakingly the huge game tieing opportunity with 6 seconds to go as Muss got cute on our last gasp. It was there, Corliss got right to the riim, but no finish, and no win.
Garcia ( D- ) -- a bad effort after showing signs of life recently. Was in there for Ron a lot with his constant foul trouble, and did nothing. We tried him on Kobe where maybe Muss had watched last year's tapes, but it did not work at all and Kobe just ignored him. And after he got back in the game late with Ron fouled out, he forced several bad misses in OT that hurt the cause. 2pts 2rebs 0ast 2TO 5fls 1-5 shooting and 0-4 from 3pt land. Maybe Muss is right -- sometimes stats DO tell the story.
Douby ( INC ) -- got a minute at the end of the first half, just because of foul trouble. Not in the rotation with the completely untenable matchup with Kobe looming at OG. And then abruptly out of nowhere got reinserted with under a minute to go in OT, and asked to hit a three out of a timeout as Muss wildly outsmarted himself once again? WTF?
Price ( INC ) -- got inserted for the first and only time with 12 seconds to go in OT for an automatic foul situation
Hart ( INC ) -- see Price
Muss ( D+ ) -- in later post due to post length limitations...
Barkley ( B ) -- pretty good, for a half. I am almost a convert. He was MUCH better as a color guy then he has ever been in the studio where he only too obviously plays video games rather than watching the NBA, and thus is perhaps the least qualified guy in the country to be making comments ont he night's action. But tonight, at least before his attention began to wander after half, he was actually pretty good. Having to pay attention. Having something to say (although one suspects if he did this regularly he would say the same things again and again every night), and of course he was entertaining. Not bad for a lazy, rotund idiot living on past glory.
Officials ( F ) -- good lord, this was ridiculous. Not that they favored either side in the first half -- indeed the two teams shot roughly equal amounts of FTs and had 19fls a piece. It was that they must have set some sort of NBA record by whistling up 57 first half Fts. 57. That's a game's worth. By half. Needless to say there was no rhythm to the game. How could there be? And then the second half...what a travesty. We shot 56 FTs in regulation tonight, and as I am not nearly the apologist that your average Lakers fan is, I cannot defend that, so I'm not going to try. At one point in the late 4th we'd shot 12 FTs, the Lakers zero. And then we get to OT and the B.S. reverses. The Lakers shoot 11, we get 2 and you can even throw in a critical uncalled travel on Kobe for good measure. The whole thing was immensely distracting. I felt icky down the stretch, like a Lakers fan with integrity would have in Game 6 years ago (I do not opine whether those exist). Not at all sure we were really earning the comeback or just being handed it. And then we get to OT, and it reverses, and it all just sucked and took away from an otherwise fun game. 102 FTs were shot in this game. 102. Just...ick. Let them decide it on the floor please. And Bavetta -- retire already. Okay, enough rant. Onto the game:
Artest ( B- ) -- started strong, and at least somebody did as we got in a big hole early. Kobe did not score against him in the early going, but did repeatedly give it up on nice looks to help the Lakers offense hum along. It was unclear how much of it was Ron's absence with the all encompassing foul trouble everybody was in, but during the second quarter, most of which Ron missed with 3 fouls, Kobe exploded and lit up anybody we had guarding him. Ron got very quiet after that early surge, but lurched back to life in the 4th and began to press the issue, for better and worse, down the stretch Making some, but forcing some bad shots too. Fouled out with a minute and a half to go in regulation after he had, along with double team help, really disrupted Kobe's late game heroics with aggressive trapping defense. That hurt in OT as his replacement, Cisco, did nothing.
Thomas ( C ) -- and as it turns out the biggest mismatch in the early going? Brian Cook lighting up Kenny Thomas for a season high 13pts....in the first 7 minutes. Kenny got into quick foul trouble, but was not really missed. Came back after half to at least give us a little boardwork -- a rare commodity tonight. But we were clealry better after we just said screw it and went to the mighty mini lineup with Corliss at C and Ron at PF for much of the stretch run.
Reef ( C+ ) -- in the first quarter got killed by Bynum inside and was pulled after not being able to do anything against the big kid on either end of the floor. Finally got a little something going after returning late in the second, but had it cut short by the all pervasive foul trouble. Helped pull us back in the third by abandoning the post and taking up position as Brian Cook lite, hitting three straight face up jumpers from the same spot near the top of the key. Unfortunately never did give us any work on the glass, and with little Corliss playing well in the 4th, disappeared from the lineup without much fuss.
Martin ( C+ ) -- the numbers look familiar, but the game? Not a good one really. Got worked over by Luke Walton early. And was very quiet offensively on the other end of the floor. We even temporarily went away from him after half in favor of a big experimental lineup, and it wasn't until the stretch that he reemerged. No idea was it Kobe? The game? Still being miffed over last game? In any case was a primary beneficiary of the foulfilled FTfest we had there down the stretch, but was way off his 91% free throw shooting game, and missed FT after FT, including a huge clutch one which opened the door for the Lakers to tie it and force OT. About as quiet a 21pt game as you are likely to see, and no impact.
Bibby ( A ) -- Along with Ron, only guy giving us a game early, and basically seeing the purple and gold show up in town threw Mike back into a time machine to 2002 or some such. Aggressive, confident, and got whatever offense he wanted. Not enough alone for much of the night, but after the Lakers opened the door for us with some stinky erratic play, Mike hit the huge three pointer to put us in position to win it in the final minute. Unfortunately he followed that by missing a FT we needed, and then maybe blew the last second defensive assignment to let the Lakers tie it and send it to OT. Did not quit though, and came back in OT to try to singlehandedly bail us out again. Hit one more ridiculous three when we were down by 4 with 12 seconds left to draw us back within 1. But it was a last gasp as Muss drew up the play to tie or win for Corliss rather than Mike. Not a perfect outing, but a huge one matching Kobe shot for shot and recalling the glory days of this rivalry.
Salmons ( B- ) -- in the early going brought in basically as a PF(!) to try to deal with the Brian Cook problem. Had a little burst to open the 2nd quarter to give us a jolt and help us pull closer. Was getting to the rim with the first step, but not always able to finish. Also was staying with Kobe at times, but Kobe's offense > Salmons defense. Benefitted from the foul fest and got points from the line before landing in foul trouble himself. Continued in a similar vein after half, stying with Kobe, but not able to stop him. Getting to the rim in spots. Seemed always to be on the verge of breaking out and making an impact, but never quite did so, and was having to try to check a guy who is frequently uncheckable.
Taylor ( INC ) -- in the early going brought in in place of Reef as Bynum was killing us inside. Which likely marks the first time in Mo's long career that he has ever been brought into a game for defensive purposes. It went predictably, and he did not return.
Corliss ( B+ ) -- in the first half schooled the big kid (Bynum) on a "and 1" inside, but otherwise little besides smacking Kobe a few times on hard fouls, which is always a good thing. Got surprising minutes in the 3rd quarter, as we benched Kevin in favor of a big Ron/Corliss swingman combo, and Corliss responded well to give us a boost. And down the stretch found himself playing center -- maybe we should rechristen him "The Versatile One"? -- and scored a bunch of hoops and drew fouls as sort of the designated outlet man on the ball movement. Third pass always seemed to end up in his hands, and he took advanatage of the slow footedness of the Lakers bigs by rumbling toward the hoop (and the breathing fouls being called by the refs to get to the line). Was a major offensive factor as we drew back near even with the Lakers late, and also started doing the saavy vet frusration thing to the young kid Bynum as he repeatedly pulled the chair out from under him, and stepped away from the kid's body and let him stumble, travel and turn it over. Gets dropped down from an A- type grade first for predictable rebounding issues, but more importantly for blowing several coulda shoulda been layups, including heartbreakingly the huge game tieing opportunity with 6 seconds to go as Muss got cute on our last gasp. It was there, Corliss got right to the riim, but no finish, and no win.
Garcia ( D- ) -- a bad effort after showing signs of life recently. Was in there for Ron a lot with his constant foul trouble, and did nothing. We tried him on Kobe where maybe Muss had watched last year's tapes, but it did not work at all and Kobe just ignored him. And after he got back in the game late with Ron fouled out, he forced several bad misses in OT that hurt the cause. 2pts 2rebs 0ast 2TO 5fls 1-5 shooting and 0-4 from 3pt land. Maybe Muss is right -- sometimes stats DO tell the story.
Douby ( INC ) -- got a minute at the end of the first half, just because of foul trouble. Not in the rotation with the completely untenable matchup with Kobe looming at OG. And then abruptly out of nowhere got reinserted with under a minute to go in OT, and asked to hit a three out of a timeout as Muss wildly outsmarted himself once again? WTF?
Price ( INC ) -- got inserted for the first and only time with 12 seconds to go in OT for an automatic foul situation
Hart ( INC ) -- see Price
Muss ( D+ ) -- in later post due to post length limitations...
Barkley ( B ) -- pretty good, for a half. I am almost a convert. He was MUCH better as a color guy then he has ever been in the studio where he only too obviously plays video games rather than watching the NBA, and thus is perhaps the least qualified guy in the country to be making comments ont he night's action. But tonight, at least before his attention began to wander after half, he was actually pretty good. Having to pay attention. Having something to say (although one suspects if he did this regularly he would say the same things again and again every night), and of course he was entertaining. Not bad for a lazy, rotund idiot living on past glory.
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