Grades v. Magic 02/24

[Bricklayer]

Ron Artest ( B+ ) : 31min 23pts (8-15 FG, 2-4 3pt, 5-6 FT) 6rebs 0ast 1stl 0blk 3TO
Got off to the strong start as one of the only three Kings who showed up tonight (well I guess Hawes might be #4), but got into foul trouble which is not something you see often. Limited his first half minutes, and when he retunred in the third, he was mostly quiet. Tried to step up again in the 4th and drained a pair of threes as basically our only response to the big Magic run that broke the game open, but was not nearly enough by himself. Started pressing as nobody was doing anything (nor of course could they really with Ron presing) and finished his night by dribblng the ball off his leg while trying to force up some baseline junk.

Mikki Moore ( F ) -- 25min 2pts (1-5 FG, 0-0 3pt, 0-1 FT) 4rebs 1ast 0stl 1blk 1TO
Whew -- stinky! Just had nothing tonight. Offensively looked lost, and mixed in long jumpers outside his range with completely unnecessary yes I'm Mikki Moore and I will post up Dwight Howard embarrassments inside. On the other end of course had no natural matchup with the Magic's dual-SF lineup, but I thought actually did better against the perimeter people (or at least they didn't exploit him as they could/should) then he did when trying to guard the interior. Did not get on the glass either, and generally racked up his normal 25+ minutes largely because Reggie likes his hair. This was an F performance, and the only thing making me think about bumping it inot the Ds at all is that it was Mikki Moore delivering it.

Brad Miller ( B- ) -- 31min 17pts (7-14 FG, 0-1 3pt, 3-3 FT) 6reb 3ast 0stl 0blk 1TO
Got off to the hot start counterpunching and taking care of the glass, although he was obviously no match for Howard inside again. Nonetheless looked like maybe it was going to be one of those games where everything was flowing for him offensively at least. But slowed in the second after the fast start on the glass and while he continued countering fairly well on the offensive end, his game became increasingly one dimensional. Offense was at least varied -- not as many jumpers as you might think, and scoring on a lot of cuts and whatnot. Began to slip in the late third as Howard kept on banging and attacking and Brad lost his cool. Also quit rebounding after that first quarter and ended up nearly being doubled up by Kevin Martin of all people. One of only three Kings to bring anything tonight, but most of that anything was in the first quarter, and he really wasn't helping at all by the time we started getting blown out in the 4th.

Kevin Martin ( A- ) -- 31min 21pts (8-13 FG, 2-3 3pt, 3-5 FT) 10reb 5ast 0stl 0blk 3TO
Hey, it was The Lightswitch's time to be "on" again, so you knew what was going to happen. Started hot as he sensed predictably it was yin day, and even after he cooled he continued to find ways to contribute in the face of increased Magic defensive pressure. Was passing well to try to counter the added attention, and typical of his "on" days during this siege was simply far more aggressive, tonight on the boards in particular. Was not up to really carrying us alone as we started to fade, but continued to set people up and help on the glass right up to a mysterious disappearance for the entire first half of the 4th as the Magic put us way. And I do not mean Kevin disappeared on the court. I mean he disappeared off of it -- Reggie took him out and did not return him until we had gotten spanked, and hard, and it was an unmaneageble 20pt bulge midway through the final quarter. I sometimes pick on Kevin for lack of all around game, and I should. He puts up pretty offensive numbers without always doing the dirty work that actually wins you games. But tonight was different. Tonight he played a very strong all around game and was clearly our best player, not just our leading scorer. Of course now of course the predictable question in these on/off times is will he manage to break double figures Tuesday in Miami?

 

[Bricklayer]

Beno Udrih ( D- ) -- 36min 2pts (1-6 FG, 0-3 3pt, 0-0 FT) 3rebs 6ast 0stl 0blk 4TO
Quiet quiet game salvaged only by the Magic PGs (Jameer Nelson in particular) being equally inept and missing layup after layup and jumper after jumper for most of the game. When that changed in the early 4th, when Keyon Dooling suddenly exploded to give the Magic effective PG play (started against Douby actually before Beno returned), it was game over. Well that and the appearance of the unstoppable Brian Cook of course. In any case you will notice how little of this paragraph is actually about Beno? Not an accident. He did nothing for us out there. Looked lost, and really did not even run the team that well. His absence, along with the absence of Mikki and anything off the bench really made us a 3-man team. This is also the curious question about Beno Udrih, starting PG of the future in Kingsland. Quality starters in the NBA really don't suddenly have 2pt in 36minute games. Once in a very blue moon. But Beno mixes them in liberally beside his better ones, which may well mean good enough for the moment, for the rebuild, but not the longterm answer.

John Salmons ( D ) -- 25min 4pts (1-3 FG, 0-0 3pt, 2-4FT) 1reb 3ast 1stl 0blk 0TO
Came in initally for Moore, which I understood as a smallball move, but then we almost immediately
went big with a Brad/Hawes combo and switched John back to SF. Began porrly as he badly bricked another outside shot, but finally woke the hell up to give us a little boost in the final minute and a half of the second quarter with a steal, a layup, a defensive stop, and another field goal. But that was it. Another 20+ minute stint, where 2 minutes aside all he did was make a couple of defensive stops. Maybe we can trade him straight up for Trenton Hassel. At some point here I am going to have to shift his grading curve back to the old traditional Salmons standard of "inconsistent jack of all trades master of none 7pts 2reb 2ast irrelevant bencher" rather than continue to grade him as an actual NBA talent gone limp noodle on us.

Spenser Hawes ( B+ ) -- 19min 9pts (4-11 FG, 0-0 3pt, 1-1 FT) 7rebs 0ast 0stl 3blk 2TO
Got off to the shaky start after being introduced, rudely, to the power of Dwight Howard after coming in in the first. It was bump, bump, hello poster as Howard jumped right over and through Spence for the huge jam. But that was not to be the story of this one for Hawes, who competed well and had his moments. Looking more comfortable offensively, although to mixed effect. A post move, a travel on what would have been a nice post move. A missed jumper. But mostly in the flow good or bad. Shot selection remains a concern, as as in summer league Spenser continues to show a propensity to throw up enormouos numbers of shots in limited minutes, which is only cute if they go in. Continues to shuffle his feet on post moves, but thankfully is finally starting to hang in there down in the post rather than giving up and drifting out to the three point line (even in one comical case trying to post up Dwight Howard and having to resort to a turnaround jumper that he threw nearly straight up in the air to get over Howard's arms). Was also able to be effective as a low level shotblocker in this one right around the rim. On the other hand in the 4th was probably the primary guy who got burned by Brian Cook, who might have been the difference maker in this one. Reread that sentence as often as you like. Bring a bucket.

Quincy Douby ( C ) -- 14min 7pts (3-7 FG, 1-1 3pt, 0-0FT) 2reb 0ast 0stl 1blk 1TO
A Douby sighting! Good for him I think, and in ahead of AJ. Did somebody say something to Reggie? Not sure, but either way youth was served. Of course Quincy wasn't playing any more of an actual PG than last time we saw him. Can bring it up, but there is a tunnel between him and the hoop when he has the ball in his hands. Hit a shot near the end of the third to get us back within 6 going into the final quarter. But then unfortunately was the guy running the point as the Magic suddenly clicked into gear and started blowing us off the court. Was pulled, although it did not help, and came back in garbagetime to gun up some shots.

 

[Bricklayer]

Francisco Garcia ( C- ) -- 20min 4pts (1-3 FG, 1-2 3pt, 1-2FT) 2reb 1ast 1stl 3blk 1TO
And poof, just like that there went the hot streak. Of course really we may want to grade the end of the hot streak an incomplete, because there was never much chance for it this time out. Myseteriously dropped further and further in the rotation the better he plays, maybe this was the sort of slumping performance he needs to get back in Reggie's good graces. Struggled in there defensively against the much bigger Hedo and racked up foul after foul, eventually fouling out in garbagetime. Never really much of a threat offensively, at least in part becuase those pesky unaccomodating Magic largely refused to leave him standing alone with nobody wihtin 10 feet of him to shoot his jumpers. There were some brief flashes of what you could call competitive spirit, but did not have it tonight and did not help much at all. From a 23pt outing down to 4pts, and a similar comment to that for Beno, maybe the difference between a high quality NBA guy and a mediocre one is that ability to play at your level every single night. If not, if you're inconsistent, then your true level is probably somewhere between your highs and your lows and its hard to rely on major production from you.

Shelden Williams ( C- ) -- 8min 4pts (1-4 FG, 0-1 3pt, 2-4 FT) 1reb 0ast 0stl 1blk 0TO
Did nothing of note in his first half stint. Missed that little elbow jumper which I am still not 100% confident is a good shot for him, and then in garbagetime threw up a three pointer which I KNOW is not a good shot for him. If he starts joining the rest of our "bigs" in chucking up those garbage shots I am going to throw something at the TV.

Reggie Theus ( ) --
I rarely throw in comments here, but Reggie's performance, this time deserves some note if not a grade. There was a welcome early development as we went with youth, even in tweener OG form, at the backup point rather than pointlessly playing a 33yr old vet. Unfortunately he also made some odd choices, continuing to slide Cisco further and further back in the rotation the better he plays, and then making a nice contribution to our blowout loss by keping Kevin (our best player tongiht) pinned to the bench throughout the early 4th as we were completely blown off the floor. By the time he returned he could ahve been Jordan and it would not have mattered. Was glad to see him actually wave a white flag and put our kids in for a good stretch of minutes after the game was over -- 4 or 5 minute of garbagetime. Was less amused to see him grandstand in "look I am coaching!" manner by calling a ridiculous timeout wiht 35 secdonds to go in a 21 point blowout to draw up a play. Get over yourself Reggie. Act like you've been there before, let the game go and prepare for the next one.

 

[6th]

Reggie's grade...Not so hot

How can you bring Salmons in first? Douby? Where the heck was Garcia tonight? He's been our hottest player and Salmons, who has been awful of late, hits the floor 1st. I don't get it.

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

better douby than aj

 

[Bballkingsrock]

I think Reggie put in Salmons to stop Hedo, since Garcia would be having a tough time to guard Hedo. But I still agree, Hedo was not on top of his game, therefore he should of put Garcia in longer.

 

[SLAB]

Salmons should be sitting on the Inactive List with Kenny Thomas with these miserable performances.

He's hurting the team, and holding back others.

Heaven forbid we hurt his poor little ego some more by making him second option of the bench, though.

Overreacting? Yes. But Im tired of him.

 

[BuenoBeno]

Salmons should be sitting on the Inactive List with Kenny Thomas with these miserable performances.

He's hurting the team, and holding back others.

Heaven forbid we hurt his poor little ego some more by making him second option of the bench, though.

F

I thought Salmons played well defensively, I know you don't like Salmons but come on it isn't his descision when he plays it is the coach.

 

[Bricklayer]

I thought Salmons played well defensively, I know you don't like Salmons but come on it isn't his descision when he plays it is the coach.

au contraire -- John has shown that it is very much his decision when he is going to play or not.

 

[fnordius]

Reggie's grade...Not so hot

How can you bring Salmons in first? Douby? Where the heck was Garcia tonight? He's been our hottest player and Salmons, who has been awful of late, hits the floor 1st. I don't get it.

Brad, Kevin and Ron: 61-22-8, 55% shooting, in 92 minutes.
7 other guys: 32-20-11, 30% shooting, in 148 minutes.

We would have been okay in a 3-on-3 game. I don't think anything else would have helped. Nobody else was playing well enough to matter.

 

[BMiller52]

au contraire -- John has shown that it is very much his decision when he is going to play or not.

Yeah, ever since he got taken out of the starting line up for Ron and then Kevin he's been horrible. He doesn't have the same energy, he doesn't take open shots, he goes 1 on 1 too much, his defense isn't as good, he's just not doing anything. Like he doesn't care. He's turning into the SF version of Kenny, which is bad.

 

[BuenoBeno]

I don't understand why people attribute Salmons play lately with a lack of caring. He is still hustling on the defensive end, he had 3 assits, 0 turnovers and overall tonight I thought he showed alot of effort. I guess im the minority.

 

[ZZE916]

He's turning into the SF version of Kenny, which is bad.

Spot on, unfortunately. I am almost dreading the Heat game...

 

[BawLa]

How about Hawes with 3 blocks off the bench!

I think there are many who thought he would never get 3 blocks in a game, let alone off the bench. The kid has been bringing rebounds and blocked shots for the last couple games, hope he keeps it up.

 

[Gary]

How about Hawes with 3 blocks off the bench!

I think there are many who thought he would never get 3 blocks in a game, let alone off the bench. The kid has been bringing rebounds and blocked shots for the last couple games, hope he keeps it up.

I am all for the "Hawes starting at PF" project just for giggles. See if it works. Seems like Spencer has improved vastly this year. Might as well reward him with minutes over a guy that has somewhat flatlined in Moore.

 

[km23]

I am all for the "Hawes starting at PF" project just for giggles. See if it works. Seems like Spencer has improved vastly this year. Might as well reward him with minutes over a guy that has somewhat flatlined in Moore.

eh i 100% agree, except wouldnt u rather wanna put miller at the PF and start hawes at C?

 

[fnordius]

eh i 100% agree, except wouldnt u rather wanna put miller at the PF and start hawes at C?

Do you think their games are so different that it would really matter?

 

[km23]

Do you think their games are so different that it would really matter?

no but hawes will be our future center one would be to believe.. so i would play him at center but thats just my opinion

 

[Glenn]

I am not sure that the making Hawes a starter would do much more than be a slap in the face to Mikki. That might please some but I doubt it would be good for the team.

I think Reggie has been bringing him along at a nice rate. What's the payoff in rushing it?

 

[km23]

I am not sure that the making Hawes a starter would do much more than be a slap in the face to Mikki. That might please some but I doubt it would be good for the team.

I think Reggie has been bringing him along at a nice rate. What's the payoff in rushing it?

yeah, coach Theus has been bringing himm along nice, but it would be nice to see what he would do if he started, like start him if mikki or miller get injured.

 

[Kingster]

Reggie's grade...Not so hot

How can you bring Salmons in first? Douby? Where the heck was Garcia tonight? He's been our hottest player and Salmons, who has been awful of late, hits the floor 1st. I don't get it.

I don't have a problem with Theus. Theus couldn't play Garcia as much as he wanted because Garcia couldn't guard Hedo. Salmons did. I'm glad Douby and Hawes got some decent minutes. I definitely want Douby to get minutes over AJ. I hope Theus keeps it up with playing the young guys.

 

[Merdiesel]

Salmons should be sitting on the Inactive List with Kenny Thomas with these miserable performances.

He's hurting the team, and holding back others.

Heaven forbid we hurt his poor little ego some more by making him second option of the bench, though.

Overreacting? Yes. But Im tired of him.

Seriously...
What would have been even better is if we traded these two at the deadline.

 

[SacTownKid]

Spenser Hawes ( B+ ) -- 19min 9pts (4-11 FG, 0-0 3pt, 1-1 FT) 7rebs 0ast 0stl 3blk 2TO
Got off to the shaky start after being introduced, rudely, to the power of Dwight Howard after coming in in the first. It was bump, bump, hello poster as Howard jumped right over and through Spence for the huge jam. But that was not to be the story of this one for Hawes, who competed well and had his moments. Looking more comfortable offensively, although to mixed effect. A post move, a travel on what would have been a nice post move. A missed jumper. But mostly in the flow good or bad. Shot selection remains a concern, as as in summer league Spenser continues to show a propensity to throw up enormouos numbers of shots in limited minutes, which is only cute if they go in. Continues to shuffle his feet on post moves, but thankfully is finally starting to hang in there down in the post rather than giving up and drifting out to the three point line (even in one comical case trying to post up Dwight Howard and having to resort to a turnaround jumper that he threw nearly straight up in the air to get over Howard's arms). Was also able to be effective as a low level shotblocker in this one right around the rim. On the other hand in the 4th might have been the primary guy who got burned by Brian Cook, who might have been the difference maker in this one. Reread that sentence as often as you like. Bring a bucket.

But, I'll be darned if that shot didn't just about go in!

 

[VF21]

Was less amused to see him grandstand in "look I am coaching!" manner by calling a ridiculous timeout wiht 35 secdonds to go in a 21 point blowout to draw up a play. Get over yourself Reggie. Act like you've been there before, let the game go and prepare for the next one.

I did hear Grant and Jerry mention they thought the time out might have been to draw a specific play up for one of the kids, but even Jerry wasn't too happy with the time out. And that's saying something since Jerry usually worships at the feet of Coach Theus.

 

[Jechtsphere]

I don't understand why people attribute Salmons play lately with a lack of caring. He is still hustling on the defensive end, he had 3 assits, 0 turnovers and overall tonight I thought he showed alot of effort. I guess im the minority.

Effort is great if it equals production but John hasn't been productive.

When he comes on the floor now it makes me think well there goes 25 minutes down the drain as I'm not surprised when he does nothing.

 

[Packt]

It looks like Theus is still learning, thank goodness for Salmons. I wanted to trade for Cook, but not this Cook.

NBA... where tanking happens.

 

[RunNGun]

Couldn't play Miller at PF after he's played C for nearly 10 years. He just wouldn't perform as well. Spencer is more athletic and would be a slightly better fit at the PF. However I would sooner start Williams over Hawes at the PF because that is what his position is and needs to learn how to play it. Hawes needs to get PT at the center (at least how the Kings run the center) if he's going to develop in our system.

Hawes looks like he might be some kind of player. Once he gets just enough bulk to get into the post-up range before getting the pass then I'm confident that he'll already have the footwork and skill to be a nasty cover in the NBA.

 

[LA King Fan II]

[QUOTE=Bricklayer - Regarding Garcia

"From a 23pt outing down to 4pts, maybe the difference between a high quality NBA guy and a mediocre one is that ability to play at your level every single night. If not, if you're inconsistent, then your true level is probably somewhere between your highs and your lows and its hard to rely on major production from you."

Disappointed that Garcia couldn't continue it. And yet K-Martin landed an enormous contract despite a tendency toward very similar ups and downs.
I think it would help Garcia, Martin and Salmons obviously to not be so "replaceable" in the lineup (in other words they could all benefit from not having each other as teammates). Especially now that Ron-Ron is a fixture, the looking over the shoulder will increase and the flip-flop production will escalate.

 

[Rockmeister]

I am not sure that the making Hawes a starter would do much more than be a slap in the face to Mikki. That might please some but I doubt it would be good for the team.

How would that be a slap on the face to Mikki? How would that not be good for the team? As much as I get on Mikki, I don't think he would be bothered if he came off the bench or not. He very much is a team player.

 

[tyrant]

yeah. if he was a team player like most of you say then he'll be fine coming of the bench. the guy stinks. i could think of 100 things that would be more productive than his 25 minutes a game. WAKE UP THEUS.