Grades v. Lakers 12/26/09

[FaStRmAn]

Are you talking official reports from Kings.com or FullCourtPress or blog entries on other message boards?

Blog entries from other message boards. Just observations that he was limping a little in the fourth. I REALLY hope he is not more seriously injured that the team reports indicate. We really need him to be healthy. I scoured the official injury reports and there is nothing reported about any type of injury for Tyreke.

http://www.nba.com/kings/news/notes.pdf

Not trying to start any rumors. I an very hopeful that he is at full health

 

[VF21]

Evans has already shown that he's resilient. Although he did slip twice, which might have caused a minor tweak, I don't think it's anything serious. I can't be certain, of course, but I'm almost willing to bet it would have leaked out by now if there was anything to be concerned about.

 

[Larry89]

nice bricklayer, nice you somehow managed to put the poll so that if you graph the results it results in a perfect bell curve

BTW CLIPPERS JUST BEAT CELTICS AT BUZZER

 

[Tetsujin]

nice bricklayer, nice you somehow managed to put the poll so that if you graph the results it results in a perfect bell curve

BTW CLIPPERS JUST BEAT CELTICS AT BUZZER

People like to complain about Evans un-clutchness in recent games but Rondo missed TWO free throws to seal the deal and to make matters worse, his man nails the game winning buzzer beater.

 

[Arby's Roast Beef]

Reke was simply tired against the Lakers. Let's start with the good/ordinary--with Hawes taking greater passing duties he didn't stockpile his usual assists, and as was the norm he hit his usual share of layups and mid-range J's. I actually thought the Lakers had a good defensive scheme against him--they prevented Reke from slashing to the basket as much as he wanted, he didn't get to the free throw line at all, and he turned it over frequently. And of course, Reke tried to boast his three point shot at the end, but as we've all seen he doesn't quite have that range as of now. But as Brick said, I mean this seems to be the absolute bottom for Reke--he's likely to hit most of his layups and mid-range shots, and with his usage rate that pretty much guarantees at least 15 points in that fashion. It's probably a combination of fatigue and good Laker D, just look for him to bounce back next time.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

People like to complain about Evans un-clutchness in recent games but Rondo missed TWO free throws to seal the deal and to make matters worse, his man nails the game winning buzzer beater.

Rondo also already has a Championship ring, and is the glue that holds Boston's 'big 4' together and is one of the better well rounded PG's in the league...

 

[Tetsujin]

Rondo also already has a Championship ring, and is the glue that holds Boston's 'big 4' together and is one of the better well rounded PG's in the league...

I'm just saying that every good player can have bad finishes to games. Everyone seems to suddenly expect 'Reke to never ever make a single mistake to close out a game.

 

[rainmaker]

Rondo also already has a Championship ring, and is the glue that holds Boston's 'big 4' together and is one of the better well rounded PG's in the league...

This is one of the few times I disagree with you. I don't think Rondo gets anywhere the attention or accolades he has received thus far if he's not playing with arguably 3 HOF's. There are a number of pg's in this league that could have won a championship with the same boston roster Rondo had. In fact, I don't think rondo was that impressive during their championship run, he has been impressive since their championship run. And part of that was KG being out.

Rondo is definately a talented pg. Let me make that clear. Very impressive on defense and a great rebounding pg. But his shot is terrible. He gets to the rim, but its much easier getting ti the rim when the defense is honed in on Pierce and Allen. Nobody is playing off those two.

There are a number of pg's just as talented as Rondo, if not more, Tyreke definately being one of them. But I would say DWill, CP3, Nash, Parker, Nelson(when healthy), Monta Ellis, D Harris, Baron Davis, Mo Williams, D Rose, and Tyreke. I think anyone of those pg's could have won a ring with the same Boston roster rondo had. Also, put Rondo on New Jersey or Minn, and you will never hear his name mentioned. In general I have never been that impressed with him, and think he just lucked out being a sidekick for the Big 3.

Also, when looking at young pg's with good all-around games, Tyreke, Jennings, and Westbrook all have more talent than Rondo. Rondo is horrible on offense. It just gets hidden because he's surrounded by so much talent. Try having Rondo go 1 on 1 in an iso situation to win a game and see where it gets you. Sure, you would rather have him pass. But its a lot easier whe your passing to allen and pierce. Try replacing Rose with Rondo and see if the bulls get any better with him passing to Salmons instead of a few career allstars. Or replace DWill with Rondo, and have him kick the ball to Andre K or Okur for the win. Or even worse, replace CP3 with Rondo, and have him attempt to make a play with the game on the line. Point being, IMO, Rondo is one of the luckiest pg's in the league when you look at the talent that surrounds him.

 

[Bricklayer]

Rondo also already has a Championship ring, and is the glue that holds Boston's 'big 4' together and is one of the better well rounded PG's in the league...

Evans >>>>>>>>>>> Rondo, or will be

That said nobody complains about Rondo being unclutch because Rondo is a secod tier player. A very useful roleplayer, but he's not the man nor close to it on his team. Its an entirely different set of expectations form those thrown upon our rookie.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

In fact, I don't think rondo was that impressive during their championship run, he has been impressive since their championship run. And part of that was KG being out.

I actually agree with a lot of your post, but disagree with this. Rondo's O was up and down that season, but his defense was spectacular. I watched all 6 games of the Lakers-Celtics series (some multiple times) and I can pretty much guarentee that without Rondo's D and rebounding, the Celtics probably lose that series. His contributions should not be underestimated.

 

[drboiffard]

I really don't get the point.

It will always be better that a open guy throws the clutch shot that a overdefended superstar. It won't be as spectacular and mythic and epic and nike-spot-ready but it will work better most cases. Appart from that, having the 5 guys ready to make a clutch shot is the way to win play off matches. One-man offense has never worked to won a ring. And, for a guy only as talented as Brandon Roy, it hasn't work for win a play-off series neither.

I'm really a fan of Evans, he's a beast and a hard worker. But sometimes it feels like if everyone cared more about him than about the Kings winning, and every critic make to the kid going all-star and his ability to run the team as PG is taken as a offense...It will be fantastic if the guy comes into a LeBron lite, it seems he can do it, but for God's sake this is a sport team, and the point is to win, not to develop an epic player to bright in highlights but never wins anything important.

I understand it can also be more exciting if it's the superstar who makes the clutch shot, but I think it's ridiculous to pretend that only superstars can make clutch shots.

 

[FaStRmAn]

Evans has already shown that he's resilient. Although he did slip twice, which might have caused a minor tweak, I don't think it's anything serious. I can't be certain, of course, but I'm almost willing to bet it would have leaked out by now if there was anything to be concerned about.

VF I am hoping you are right. But Tyreke is listed as Questionable on tonights NBA Game Notes:

http://www.nba.com/kings/news/notes.pdf

I am hoping that it is just a minor ankle tweek. With 'Reke's speed, he needs healthy ankles to really do his stuff. I think he is good enough to play well even on a bum ankle, but I would rather he get rested and make sure that ankle doesn't become an ongoing problem. I am torn, because I would love to see what Tyreke can do against Billups.

(3:41pm) According to KHTK, Billips is out because of a Groin Injury and Evans is Doubtful because of the ankle. I am bummed out because that was the matchup I was looking forward to. This might turn out to be good for the Kings overall, because Billups is more important to the Nuggets than Evans is to the Kings. So for the Kings as a team, this might turn out helping Sacramento. I hope they rest Evans as long as necessary and not try to rush him back in ANY WAY. The Kings have a lot of good guards (none better than Evans though ) where the Nuggets do not have a lot of depth at Guard, and Billups is the heart and soul of the Nuggets. I just hope that holding Evans out of the game is precautionary and he can take a game or 2 off and come back with the same fire he has had since the season started.

 

[Asaf]

I really don't get the point.

It will always be better that a open guy throws the clutch shot that a overdefended superstar. It won't be as spectacular and mythic and epic and nike-spot-ready but it will work better most cases. Appart from that, having the 5 guys ready to make a clutch shot is the way to win play off matches. One-man offense has never worked to won a ring. And, for a guy only as talented as Brandon Roy, it hasn't work for win a play-off series neither.

I'm really a fan of Evans, he's a beast and a hard worker. But sometimes it feels like if everyone cared more about him than about the Kings winning, and every critic make to the kid going all-star and his ability to run the team as PG is taken as a offense...It will be fantastic if the guy comes into a LeBron lite, it seems he can do it, but for God's sake this is a sport team, and the point is to win, not to develop an epic player to bright in highlights but never wins anything important.

I understand it can also be more exciting if it's the superstar who makes the clutch shot, but I think it's ridiculous to pretend that only superstars can make clutch shots.

I agree 100%.

 

[kennadog]

I really don't get the point.

It will always be better that a open guy throws the clutch shot that a overdefended superstar. It won't be as spectacular and mythic and epic and nike-spot-ready but it will work better most cases. Appart from that, having the 5 guys ready to make a clutch shot is the way to win play off matches. One-man offense has never worked to won a ring. And, for a guy only as talented as Brandon Roy, it hasn't work for win a play-off series neither.

I'm really a fan of Evans, he's a beast and a hard worker. But sometimes it feels like if everyone cared more about him than about the Kings winning, and every critic make to the kid going all-star and his ability to run the team as PG is taken as a offense...It will be fantastic if the guy comes into a LeBron lite, it seems he can do it, but for God's sake this is a sport team, and the point is to win, not to develop an epic player to bright in highlights but never wins anything important.

I understand it can also be more exciting if it's the superstar who makes the clutch shot, but I think it's ridiculous to pretend that only superstars can make clutch shots.

I've read all the comments and I don't think anybody argued that only a superstar can make clutch shots. A superstar may make the clutch assist or rebound, too. What people are saying is that most, if not all, championship teams have or have had a superstar and usually at least one star as a very important piece. I think most people are saying those teams hhave a sup[erstar who will have the ball in their hands in clutch moments, because they are trusted to make the right decision, most of the time and have also have the ability to get their own shot if necessary. For the first time in a long time we finally have a player with that potential.

You know whose going to get the ball in crucial situations for the Lakers, or Cleveland, or Spurs, etc. Nothing wrong with that. If I really needed a basket for a win, I'd put the ball in the hands of those players anytime. Reke will learn to make better decisions. He's only 20 with about a third of an NBA season under his belt.

 

[VF21]

VF I am hoping you are right. But Tyreke is listed as Questionable on tonights NBA Game Notes:

http://www.nba.com/kings/news/notes.pdf

I am hoping that it is just a minor ankle tweek. With 'Reke's speed, he needs healthy ankles to really do his stuff. I think he is good enough to play well even on a bum ankle, but I would rather he get rested and make sure that ankle doesn't become an ongoing problem. I am torn, because I would love to see what Tyreke can do against Billups.

(3:41pm) According to KHTK, Billips is out because of a Groin Injury and Evans is Doubtful because of the ankle. I am bummed out because that was the matchup I was looking forward to. This might turn out to be good for the Kings overall, because Billups is more important to the Nuggets than Evans is to the Kings. So for the Kings as a team, this might turn out helping Sacramento. I hope they rest Evans as long as necessary and not try to rush him back in ANY WAY. The Kings have a lot of good guards (none better than Evans though ) where the Nuggets do not have a lot of depth at Guard, and Billups is the heart and soul of the Nuggets. I just hope that holding Evans out of the game is precautionary and he can take a game or 2 off and come back with the same fire he has had since the season started.

All I know is that the word around the ol' water cooler is that Evans is a game-time decision. And based on recent memory, when it's a game-time decision it generally means the player is part of the lineup.