Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Artest ( A ) -- big first quarter with Ron in star mode. 11 pts and was hitting shots in the face of strong defense. Provided no offense in the second, but had some good spots of defense vs. Dirk. Should also be noted that Josh Howard could get nothing going, mostly against Ron, all night. Got us a couple of third quarter leads on one on one shots that you would normally call dumb, but that went in. And was big throughout that quarter, including picking Stackhouse's pocket (why exactly do guys still try to dribble across Ron's face considering those hands?). Battled inside ferociously int he 4th. Was not able to close the deal in the end, but was the engine (along with fellow banger Corliss) which drove this big effort. Did all of it playing with a front tooth knocked obviously askew and ready to fall out. Which has to be rather annoying I would think.
Thomas ( C- ) -- gave us a nice hustle boost in the first quarter, and while nothing special was contributing to the energy level. Unfortunately dumb and pouty is never too far away for Kenny, and it reared its ugly head in the third. Got back to back fouls at one point, one defense vs. Dirk, and then one for an illegal screen, that cost us our first tie with the Mavs. We caught back up, only to see Kenny hurt us worse with yet another illegal screen call a few minutes later, after which he went and got himself a technical just to top it off. Think that second illegal screen was a bad call, but ...duh. And of course when you lose by 2, it makes a difference. Particularly when you hit a three to only be behind by 1 in the last 10 seconds. Would have been tied, not had to foul, could play for OT etc. Of course any one play could have turned things, but that one was so unnecessary.
Miller ( B ) -- did very little in the first half and gave way to the more efective bench combo of Reef/Corliss. But came out of the lockerroom after half with a burst of, get this, rebounding and defense in the early third that helped us catch up to and tie the Mavs on several occasions. Was still sitting there with zero points midway through the 4th before he suddenly stepped up to hit his first two shots of the game at a key time, knocking down back to back jumpers to keep the pressure on the Mavs. And then popped up to hit the huge clutch three with 4 seconds to go to make it a 1 pt game and give us a final chance. Tough to grade here, but Brad did a lot of good things after half, and did them at key times.
Martin ( B+ ) -- quiet first quarter, but highlighted by some nice hustle, and one nice take of Devon George on the baseline. Used his quickness to good effect vs. Devon Harris defenisvely this time. Showed more one on one ability in this game than he has in all but a few previoius outings, and created a number of his shots for himself. Hit a big three to close the third and put us up 4. But missed the bigger clutch three to tie with 10 seconds to go. It was set up perfectly, clean look, just did not fall. Pretty much his normal numbers, but better than his normal game.
Bibby ( C ) -- modest first quarter, then sat out the entire second with the Kings bench playing well. Threw some bad bad passes at times, leaving his feet and just throwing the ball directly to Mavs players stepping in the passing lanes. Was kind of the forgotten starter out there, hitting a hsot here, a shot there, until he stepped up and hit a big jumper in the final minute that had us in position to maybe steal one, or at least get to OT. Was also the guy who hit Kevin in the corner for open three that could have potentially tied it with 10 seconds to go. This was not a good effort for Mike, but hit timely shots as he often does.
Reef ( B- ) -- effective off the bench in the first half, where I think he may had all of his numbers. Scored well, and while he looked right on the verge of fumbling away multiple balls, he managed to recover for the shot or the pass. Did nothing after half, did not rebound, but there was a contribution there at one point during a second quarter in which our bench excelled.
Salmons ( ) -- quiet outing, but perhaps more contrbution than the anemic numbers would suggest. Provided length and defense before half, hit an open three, and was a
Cisco ( ) -- length and defense before half
Douby ( INC ) -- came in in what looked to be a shaky substitution with us barely clinging into the game in the early 2nd quarter, but made a couple of hustle plays that helped a strong bench effort. Got a steal, an offensive board. Nothing huge, nothing that earned him any major minutes, but some positive there.
Corliss ( A- ) -- came in and gave us a big offensive boost off the bench in the second quarter, carrying us and helping us keep it close through half. Came back in the third and immediately hit a 15 footer, and hung around in the 4th to provide another one of those Ron/Corliss games reminscient of the Ron/Bonzi combo last year with two big burly bodies banging around inside. Of course Corliss's banging is as usual largely related to his scoring -- nothing on the glass again, or much in any other area. But he was fearless, competent, and the Mavs never did really find the right matchup for him. Gave us a big boost.
Muss ( ) --
Thomas ( C- ) -- gave us a nice hustle boost in the first quarter, and while nothing special was contributing to the energy level. Unfortunately dumb and pouty is never too far away for Kenny, and it reared its ugly head in the third. Got back to back fouls at one point, one defense vs. Dirk, and then one for an illegal screen, that cost us our first tie with the Mavs. We caught back up, only to see Kenny hurt us worse with yet another illegal screen call a few minutes later, after which he went and got himself a technical just to top it off. Think that second illegal screen was a bad call, but ...duh. And of course when you lose by 2, it makes a difference. Particularly when you hit a three to only be behind by 1 in the last 10 seconds. Would have been tied, not had to foul, could play for OT etc. Of course any one play could have turned things, but that one was so unnecessary.
Miller ( B ) -- did very little in the first half and gave way to the more efective bench combo of Reef/Corliss. But came out of the lockerroom after half with a burst of, get this, rebounding and defense in the early third that helped us catch up to and tie the Mavs on several occasions. Was still sitting there with zero points midway through the 4th before he suddenly stepped up to hit his first two shots of the game at a key time, knocking down back to back jumpers to keep the pressure on the Mavs. And then popped up to hit the huge clutch three with 4 seconds to go to make it a 1 pt game and give us a final chance. Tough to grade here, but Brad did a lot of good things after half, and did them at key times.
Martin ( B+ ) -- quiet first quarter, but highlighted by some nice hustle, and one nice take of Devon George on the baseline. Used his quickness to good effect vs. Devon Harris defenisvely this time. Showed more one on one ability in this game than he has in all but a few previoius outings, and created a number of his shots for himself. Hit a big three to close the third and put us up 4. But missed the bigger clutch three to tie with 10 seconds to go. It was set up perfectly, clean look, just did not fall. Pretty much his normal numbers, but better than his normal game.
Bibby ( C ) -- modest first quarter, then sat out the entire second with the Kings bench playing well. Threw some bad bad passes at times, leaving his feet and just throwing the ball directly to Mavs players stepping in the passing lanes. Was kind of the forgotten starter out there, hitting a hsot here, a shot there, until he stepped up and hit a big jumper in the final minute that had us in position to maybe steal one, or at least get to OT. Was also the guy who hit Kevin in the corner for open three that could have potentially tied it with 10 seconds to go. This was not a good effort for Mike, but hit timely shots as he often does.
Reef ( B- ) -- effective off the bench in the first half, where I think he may had all of his numbers. Scored well, and while he looked right on the verge of fumbling away multiple balls, he managed to recover for the shot or the pass. Did nothing after half, did not rebound, but there was a contribution there at one point during a second quarter in which our bench excelled.
Salmons ( ) -- quiet outing, but perhaps more contrbution than the anemic numbers would suggest. Provided length and defense before half, hit an open three, and was a
Cisco ( ) -- length and defense before half
Douby ( INC ) -- came in in what looked to be a shaky substitution with us barely clinging into the game in the early 2nd quarter, but made a couple of hustle plays that helped a strong bench effort. Got a steal, an offensive board. Nothing huge, nothing that earned him any major minutes, but some positive there.
Corliss ( A- ) -- came in and gave us a big offensive boost off the bench in the second quarter, carrying us and helping us keep it close through half. Came back in the third and immediately hit a 15 footer, and hung around in the 4th to provide another one of those Ron/Corliss games reminscient of the Ron/Bonzi combo last year with two big burly bodies banging around inside. Of course Corliss's banging is as usual largely related to his scoring -- nothing on the glass again, or much in any other area. But he was fearless, competent, and the Mavs never did really find the right matchup for him. Gave us a big boost.
Muss ( ) --
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This is why Sacramento is special.
