Thomas ( C ) -- invisible in the early going, came back in and immediately got completely smoked by Odom at the three point line, and remarkably Odom galloped all the way to the hoop for the big slam wihtout so much as one other King even moving toward him. Ouch. Part of a real first half struggle against Odom who is just too skilled for him. Second game in a row where he was grabbing a lot of rebounds by the stats, and completely carrying us in that aspect, but damn if I really noticed it. If you asked me without a boxscore, I would have said maybe 9. And yet here he was with 13. A number of them on good hustle plays on the offensive glass. And that's where the grade he gets comes from, because certainly ofensively and defensively, he was pretty absent.
Artest ( C ) -- did not really seem to have that same level of energy or pop in this one. Was doing ok to start on Kobe but not slowing him much, and on the other end started out very slowly missing perimeter shot after perimeter shot before finally going down inside to score on the continuation in the post. Best thing he was doing was creating shots for others from the post -- particulary Brad and Mike. But the Lakers adjusted and took that away after the first half. Really took a beating early in this one, getting hit in the face twice, and then at the end of the first quarter getting leveled by a huge pick. Knocking over a PG on a pick is one thing. Decleating Ron Artest is quite another. Began to settle in as the half went along, got more dialed in on Kobe, began to hit shots inside. But it never really led anywhere. Made some special plays, but in between were long stretches of mediocrity and invisibility. Woould make a great stop or two on Kobe, and then have Kobe come back and go band bang on back to backs. Just no real consistency or rhythm, and that kind of mirrored the team effort tonight.
Miller ( C- ) -- in the first hit three consecutive open midrange Js as the Lakers foolishly left him open from his favorite spot. But while he was scoring well, grabbed no rebounds at all. And in the second half he was banging more around the hoop trying to force up layups, it didn't translate to any more boardwork, nor much if any interior presence. 16pts 2rebs from your 7'0" center. That's pretty pukey actually. And then late was losing his cool and gettig frustratred by his inability to jump...er, I mean finish, inside, and started to get really scrappy and chippy as we collapsed in the 4th. Thanks for hte points Brad, but not a good outing regardless.
Martin ( D+ ) -- It was a road game. Nuff said. Struggled off the start, and because of Artest playing Kobe, ended up guarding 6'10" Brian Cook in the early going. Then when he did get switched onto Kobe, he got schooled. Finally got into the game a little with a couple of hustle boards and was able to spot in a couple of hits. Still a mostly invisible outing, but at least was involved in what could have been the most important play of the game for us as he drew the 4th foul on Kobe that let us climb back in it in the 3rd. Unfortunately Kobe returned for the 4th, nobody on our side but Bibby showed up for that quarter, and adios muchachos.
Bibby ( B- ) -- gets this grade almost as much for being competitive and having pride as for actual results. Came out and immediately knocked down his first two shots and was basically the ONLY King fighting back in the first half, and why not? He's the last of the Kings that remembers what this rivalry once meant. The last of the ones who think of this as a championship clash. But he cooled way off and was taking a lot of shots to get those points, with nobody else stepping up at all. Set up Miller for several of his hits with that high pick and pop action, but otherwise never really able to get us into much of an offense. After the cool period started popping them in again as we started to clamber back in it with Kobe out. Even committed a couple of good hard fouls to stop guys from getting open layups. And late it was Mike again trying to match Kobe shot for shot in the 4th. But was just not nearly as hot as Kobe, nor I might mention as good, and so while he led us, was hitting big shots, it was through effort and taking a ton of shots and just not the sort of thing that could carry an otherwise flat team tonight.
Garcia ( B- ) -- came in and immediately showed he wasn't afraid of Kobe again, but unfortunately that just translated into a couple of quick fouls. In the second half was more effective with Kobe on the bench -- provided uis with a little energy spark as we closed the gap. Came up with several blocks of Kobe in the 4th -- continued to compete. Unfortunately it just seemed to make Kobe mad and he really started taking it to us. But that's the Kobe conundrum. Cisco also hit a couple of shots that could have been big if we'd just built off of them, but ended up not mattering. Unfortunately was careless and had turnover problems again. Happy with the effort at least -- looked to be our most competitive camper outisde of Bibby. But results and effectiveness were modest.
Reef ( D ) -- got the early call and came up with a power move and authoritative finish. But that was quite literally IT. Did very little else for the entire rest of the game and when moved to center alongside Kenny our lane just became wide open. Pretty sure I saw free-range buffalo out there in the paint grazing. Disappointing effort after a couple of strong ones off the bench recently.
Price ( INC ) -- garbagetime
Williamson ( INC ) -- garbagetime
Sampson ( INC ) -- garbagetime
Hart ( INC ) -- garbagetime
Adelman ( C ) -- early on it looked like we might really be in this one coaching wise as well as player wise. Rick had made a switch and put Ron on Kobe -- a logical move obviously even if it did leave kevin wihtout anybody to guard (6'10" Lamar Odomo or 6'10" Brian Cook). And on the other end were were gettign some good looks off of Ron in the post kicking it out to Brad and Mike. But the Lakers made adjustments, Ron never really did settle in against Kobe, and it kind of fell apart for us. Topped off of course by another 4th quarter collapse. A few weaknesses were brought very much to the fore this time -- not just the Miller rebounding issues, interior defense problems, road focus etc., but also our vulnerability if one of the two bench guys in our 7-man rotation has a bad night (in this case Reef), and a team beign aggressive defensively and applying fullcourt pressure and traps against Mike/Ron/Cisco to slow our offense. And of course ron or no Ron we may still not have a #1 option on this team worthy of the name. Add it all up and you get a bad loss. Rick's own role in the loss was negligible. Hart is out of the rotation. Kids like Price and Sampson are non-possibilities basically. So that leaves only Corliss, and with Artest/Garcia/Kenny/SAR he is just buried now. Biggest thing was just that we had an early gameplan, but were unable to really execute it, and not able to make adjustments after the Lakers made their own. And of course the terrible lack of confidence we show on the road. Its not even remotely the same team. And with one of the worst road recors in the league its absolutely why we may miss the playoffs despite recent fool's gold performances at home.
Artest ( C ) -- did not really seem to have that same level of energy or pop in this one. Was doing ok to start on Kobe but not slowing him much, and on the other end started out very slowly missing perimeter shot after perimeter shot before finally going down inside to score on the continuation in the post. Best thing he was doing was creating shots for others from the post -- particulary Brad and Mike. But the Lakers adjusted and took that away after the first half. Really took a beating early in this one, getting hit in the face twice, and then at the end of the first quarter getting leveled by a huge pick. Knocking over a PG on a pick is one thing. Decleating Ron Artest is quite another. Began to settle in as the half went along, got more dialed in on Kobe, began to hit shots inside. But it never really led anywhere. Made some special plays, but in between were long stretches of mediocrity and invisibility. Woould make a great stop or two on Kobe, and then have Kobe come back and go band bang on back to backs. Just no real consistency or rhythm, and that kind of mirrored the team effort tonight.
Miller ( C- ) -- in the first hit three consecutive open midrange Js as the Lakers foolishly left him open from his favorite spot. But while he was scoring well, grabbed no rebounds at all. And in the second half he was banging more around the hoop trying to force up layups, it didn't translate to any more boardwork, nor much if any interior presence. 16pts 2rebs from your 7'0" center. That's pretty pukey actually. And then late was losing his cool and gettig frustratred by his inability to jump...er, I mean finish, inside, and started to get really scrappy and chippy as we collapsed in the 4th. Thanks for hte points Brad, but not a good outing regardless.
Martin ( D+ ) -- It was a road game. Nuff said. Struggled off the start, and because of Artest playing Kobe, ended up guarding 6'10" Brian Cook in the early going. Then when he did get switched onto Kobe, he got schooled. Finally got into the game a little with a couple of hustle boards and was able to spot in a couple of hits. Still a mostly invisible outing, but at least was involved in what could have been the most important play of the game for us as he drew the 4th foul on Kobe that let us climb back in it in the 3rd. Unfortunately Kobe returned for the 4th, nobody on our side but Bibby showed up for that quarter, and adios muchachos.
Bibby ( B- ) -- gets this grade almost as much for being competitive and having pride as for actual results. Came out and immediately knocked down his first two shots and was basically the ONLY King fighting back in the first half, and why not? He's the last of the Kings that remembers what this rivalry once meant. The last of the ones who think of this as a championship clash. But he cooled way off and was taking a lot of shots to get those points, with nobody else stepping up at all. Set up Miller for several of his hits with that high pick and pop action, but otherwise never really able to get us into much of an offense. After the cool period started popping them in again as we started to clamber back in it with Kobe out. Even committed a couple of good hard fouls to stop guys from getting open layups. And late it was Mike again trying to match Kobe shot for shot in the 4th. But was just not nearly as hot as Kobe, nor I might mention as good, and so while he led us, was hitting big shots, it was through effort and taking a ton of shots and just not the sort of thing that could carry an otherwise flat team tonight.
Garcia ( B- ) -- came in and immediately showed he wasn't afraid of Kobe again, but unfortunately that just translated into a couple of quick fouls. In the second half was more effective with Kobe on the bench -- provided uis with a little energy spark as we closed the gap. Came up with several blocks of Kobe in the 4th -- continued to compete. Unfortunately it just seemed to make Kobe mad and he really started taking it to us. But that's the Kobe conundrum. Cisco also hit a couple of shots that could have been big if we'd just built off of them, but ended up not mattering. Unfortunately was careless and had turnover problems again. Happy with the effort at least -- looked to be our most competitive camper outisde of Bibby. But results and effectiveness were modest.
Reef ( D ) -- got the early call and came up with a power move and authoritative finish. But that was quite literally IT. Did very little else for the entire rest of the game and when moved to center alongside Kenny our lane just became wide open. Pretty sure I saw free-range buffalo out there in the paint grazing. Disappointing effort after a couple of strong ones off the bench recently.
Price ( INC ) -- garbagetime
Williamson ( INC ) -- garbagetime
Sampson ( INC ) -- garbagetime
Hart ( INC ) -- garbagetime
Adelman ( C ) -- early on it looked like we might really be in this one coaching wise as well as player wise. Rick had made a switch and put Ron on Kobe -- a logical move obviously even if it did leave kevin wihtout anybody to guard (6'10" Lamar Odomo or 6'10" Brian Cook). And on the other end were were gettign some good looks off of Ron in the post kicking it out to Brad and Mike. But the Lakers made adjustments, Ron never really did settle in against Kobe, and it kind of fell apart for us. Topped off of course by another 4th quarter collapse. A few weaknesses were brought very much to the fore this time -- not just the Miller rebounding issues, interior defense problems, road focus etc., but also our vulnerability if one of the two bench guys in our 7-man rotation has a bad night (in this case Reef), and a team beign aggressive defensively and applying fullcourt pressure and traps against Mike/Ron/Cisco to slow our offense. And of course ron or no Ron we may still not have a #1 option on this team worthy of the name. Add it all up and you get a bad loss. Rick's own role in the loss was negligible. Hart is out of the rotation. Kids like Price and Sampson are non-possibilities basically. So that leaves only Corliss, and with Artest/Garcia/Kenny/SAR he is just buried now. Biggest thing was just that we had an early gameplan, but were unable to really execute it, and not able to make adjustments after the Lakers made their own. And of course the terrible lack of confidence we show on the road. Its not even remotely the same team. And with one of the worst road recors in the league its absolutely why we may miss the playoffs despite recent fool's gold performances at home.
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