Okay, time to do these. The 4th quarter collpase was depressing enough that I had a hard time motivating, and I thought to myself, so self, what DO we do around here to bring the sparkle back to life when we get blown out in depressing fashion? And self came up with an answer:
Pretty Girls -- The First 2010 Thread
Casspi ( B- ) -- missed his shots in the early going, but was on the d-boards. Scored on the exact same move Tyrkee used to win the game the other night, except the other side of the lane, in the 2nd. Followed that with the jumper. Hit a three to start the third off a nice 3 pass sequence around the perimeter -- well coached. Sticking his nose in on defense eventually had a cost when he took an elbow to the face from Dwight. By far our best defensive rebounder on the night, and with our big men in full flight in the face of Superman, it was largely left to OMri to dive back in and keep some sense of order in there. Blew a number of open threes set up by Reke on another crappy shooting night -- 1-6 from downtown -- so turned the tables around and set up Reke for one, which Reke drained. Maybe we have just had it backward. And on the night Omri led the team with 5 assists, if only because the guys he was passing to were actually hittng their shots. The offense which had been shaky all night finally compeltely collapsed in the 4th, and had to wait until finally getting a tip in garabgetime to get him into double figures.
Erica Leerhsen -- making a career out of playing victim #2 in a long list of Grade B horror films, if I hadn't tagged Ms. Leerhsen here, you probably would not know who she was.
Greene ( C- ) -- got the start as Westpahl continues to experiment on a nightly basis with new lineups (a tactic I am developing quibbles with), and was Rashard's designated defender. And while I am not sure Rashard deserves a designated defender at this point in his career, looking strictly at the numbers I suppose you'd have to call it a success -- Lewis scored 7pts ont he night and was not remotely a factor. Unfortunately that does not mean Donte had a good game. Had a corner three to start, and then a great help block to save a hoop, but then picked up a couple of quick reach in fouls, and went to the bench as we chose to get very small with Beno. Returned and slashed well with Reke, but wild shots were mixed in all night. Then threw a bad crazy crosscourt pass over Udoka's head. Came back for the third and was again throwing up wild shots, although late in the quarter forced a drive into a triple team, including Howard, but was still able to bank it home. Did a good job poking a ball away when he was caught with Howard in the post. Returned one last time in the mid 4th and quickly put up a tough shot, got the o-board, missed it too, bricked a three, and just generally was wild enough ot make a signmificant contribution to our meltdown before Westphal quickly pulled him back out. Some defense on the night, a few highlight pays, but mostly just trying to make up for the two games he missed all at once and trying to do too much too fast.
Sophie Monk -- Aussie pop princess turned scream queen, and pretty enough to catch Jude Law's eye (of course apparently who isn't).
Thompson ( D- ) -- and wow -- tonight Westphal, perhaps having watched old tapes of Dwight just beating Spencer like the proverbial red headed stepchild everytime they have met, decided to get clever, inserted Donte, and gave Jason the responsibility of mtaching up with the big guy. Of course that's the thing. They are both 6'11". Not as if Dwight looks down on Jason. But he probably looks down on his game/talent after this one. It was a complete wipeout, complete domination. Howard had 15pts by the end of the first quarter. He finished with 30pts and 16rebs. Jason...finished with 6pts and 5rebs. JT got beat on the very opening play by Howard, but Howard blew layup and JT took it the opther way to force the break. About the only hgihlight of the whole night. An ill conceived attempt to post Dwight resulted in a quick TO. Came back in the second with two o-rebs and three blown layups on one possession. Started the third with another TO. Then a wild shot over Howard. Picked up a foul trying to roughhouse with Dwight, and left the game. We brought him back to start the 4th and it got no better. Started the 4th airballing a jumper, but next time down knocked the same shot down. Unable to get the post move to go over local boy Ryan Anderson. Added a side jumper in garbagetime. Just a miserable performance again. I'm going to use the Dwight Howard excuse here to bump this up half a grade above another F, but it really was F worthy again. Slumping, sure. But no starting PF should ever slump so bad you'd rather see Kenny Thomas out there. And it carries forward the question of Jason eventual status in the league. Dwight Howard is great, but a legitimate 14 and 9 players hould be able to stay on the same floor with him. Get beat, but not destroyed. But tonight Dwight mae JT look like a complete scrub.
Jessica Lowndes -- Canadian actress unfortunately wiht bad enoug taste to be apparently be involved in the new 90210 reboot or whatever, but I caught in a grade B lead role and she was solid.
Udoka ( C ) -- got the spot start here, adn really not sure what his special matchup was supposed to be. Think Westpahl is outthinking himiself sometimes here now with all there bodes in and out of the lineup. Did nothing at all before half and got very limited minutes. In the third got upended flying over to foul Dwight and took a bad fall. Came back with a nice running hook off the glass. Got fouled on the 3pt shot by Barnes and hit 2 of 3. And that was really it. Not terribly effective or noticeable on either end of the floor. 23 minutes, 4pts 3rebs. Guess you could note that JJ Reddick was awful tonight, but he often is anyway, and tonight he was jsut missing open threes. So...eh.
Briana Evigan -- Professional hip hop dancer turned star of the immortal Step Up 2 -- The Streets, where she of course did all her own dancing.
Pretty Girls -- The First 2010 Thread
Casspi ( B- ) -- missed his shots in the early going, but was on the d-boards. Scored on the exact same move Tyrkee used to win the game the other night, except the other side of the lane, in the 2nd. Followed that with the jumper. Hit a three to start the third off a nice 3 pass sequence around the perimeter -- well coached. Sticking his nose in on defense eventually had a cost when he took an elbow to the face from Dwight. By far our best defensive rebounder on the night, and with our big men in full flight in the face of Superman, it was largely left to OMri to dive back in and keep some sense of order in there. Blew a number of open threes set up by Reke on another crappy shooting night -- 1-6 from downtown -- so turned the tables around and set up Reke for one, which Reke drained. Maybe we have just had it backward. And on the night Omri led the team with 5 assists, if only because the guys he was passing to were actually hittng their shots. The offense which had been shaky all night finally compeltely collapsed in the 4th, and had to wait until finally getting a tip in garabgetime to get him into double figures.
Erica Leerhsen -- making a career out of playing victim #2 in a long list of Grade B horror films, if I hadn't tagged Ms. Leerhsen here, you probably would not know who she was.
Greene ( C- ) -- got the start as Westpahl continues to experiment on a nightly basis with new lineups (a tactic I am developing quibbles with), and was Rashard's designated defender. And while I am not sure Rashard deserves a designated defender at this point in his career, looking strictly at the numbers I suppose you'd have to call it a success -- Lewis scored 7pts ont he night and was not remotely a factor. Unfortunately that does not mean Donte had a good game. Had a corner three to start, and then a great help block to save a hoop, but then picked up a couple of quick reach in fouls, and went to the bench as we chose to get very small with Beno. Returned and slashed well with Reke, but wild shots were mixed in all night. Then threw a bad crazy crosscourt pass over Udoka's head. Came back for the third and was again throwing up wild shots, although late in the quarter forced a drive into a triple team, including Howard, but was still able to bank it home. Did a good job poking a ball away when he was caught with Howard in the post. Returned one last time in the mid 4th and quickly put up a tough shot, got the o-board, missed it too, bricked a three, and just generally was wild enough ot make a signmificant contribution to our meltdown before Westphal quickly pulled him back out. Some defense on the night, a few highlight pays, but mostly just trying to make up for the two games he missed all at once and trying to do too much too fast.
Sophie Monk -- Aussie pop princess turned scream queen, and pretty enough to catch Jude Law's eye (of course apparently who isn't).
Thompson ( D- ) -- and wow -- tonight Westphal, perhaps having watched old tapes of Dwight just beating Spencer like the proverbial red headed stepchild everytime they have met, decided to get clever, inserted Donte, and gave Jason the responsibility of mtaching up with the big guy. Of course that's the thing. They are both 6'11". Not as if Dwight looks down on Jason. But he probably looks down on his game/talent after this one. It was a complete wipeout, complete domination. Howard had 15pts by the end of the first quarter. He finished with 30pts and 16rebs. Jason...finished with 6pts and 5rebs. JT got beat on the very opening play by Howard, but Howard blew layup and JT took it the opther way to force the break. About the only hgihlight of the whole night. An ill conceived attempt to post Dwight resulted in a quick TO. Came back in the second with two o-rebs and three blown layups on one possession. Started the third with another TO. Then a wild shot over Howard. Picked up a foul trying to roughhouse with Dwight, and left the game. We brought him back to start the 4th and it got no better. Started the 4th airballing a jumper, but next time down knocked the same shot down. Unable to get the post move to go over local boy Ryan Anderson. Added a side jumper in garbagetime. Just a miserable performance again. I'm going to use the Dwight Howard excuse here to bump this up half a grade above another F, but it really was F worthy again. Slumping, sure. But no starting PF should ever slump so bad you'd rather see Kenny Thomas out there. And it carries forward the question of Jason eventual status in the league. Dwight Howard is great, but a legitimate 14 and 9 players hould be able to stay on the same floor with him. Get beat, but not destroyed. But tonight Dwight mae JT look like a complete scrub.
Jessica Lowndes -- Canadian actress unfortunately wiht bad enoug taste to be apparently be involved in the new 90210 reboot or whatever, but I caught in a grade B lead role and she was solid.
Udoka ( C ) -- got the spot start here, adn really not sure what his special matchup was supposed to be. Think Westpahl is outthinking himiself sometimes here now with all there bodes in and out of the lineup. Did nothing at all before half and got very limited minutes. In the third got upended flying over to foul Dwight and took a bad fall. Came back with a nice running hook off the glass. Got fouled on the 3pt shot by Barnes and hit 2 of 3. And that was really it. Not terribly effective or noticeable on either end of the floor. 23 minutes, 4pts 3rebs. Guess you could note that JJ Reddick was awful tonight, but he often is anyway, and tonight he was jsut missing open threes. So...eh.
Briana Evigan -- Professional hip hop dancer turned star of the immortal Step Up 2 -- The Streets, where she of course did all her own dancing.
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