F'N REFS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Peja ( D- ) -- just had nothing tonight. Whether it was the back tightening up on the back to back (hope not), tired legs, or just one of those mysterious games where he gets passive, just was totally impotent. Summoned up one little burst of energy down the stretch, hitting a big three and playing strong defense on Dirk. But otherwise what a disappointing followup to his best game in weeks. Just a total nonfactor.
Webber ( B ) -- solid game with good moments and bad, but nowhere near as good as his others since coming off the injury. Did not work the post as much as he perhaps should have, but late in the game his post game was again critical for us -- becoming an increasingly common story. Teams have to react to his game defensively and it opens up the floor. Opened up the wide open three by Bibby to win it...but no. Of course much of this would have been moot if Webb had not choked two FTs with a minute to go. We got royally screwed by the refs in the worst way tonight, but should have iced the game earlier.
Miller ( B+ ) -- strong game in his return. Got off to a big start after the night off, but quieted down as the game went along. Had some defensive struggles against Dampier, but generally outplayed him. Rattled in a couple of big FTs late and was generally our steadiest player down the stretch. Didn't feel like he was as strong as his numbers, but still a very good outing for him.
Mobley ( B ) -- started off very very quietly -- think he had no points after the first quarter. But energy and effectiveness picked up as the game went along. This game also marked the return of shotblocking Cat as he had 2 or 3 of them, one on a recovery play after he was beat, and then another couple diving down to try to help Brad with Dampier. Made a couple of bad decisions in the stretch run again, but should have been the hero and sealed the game with a layup with twelve seconds to go, but unbelievably the refs blew a SECOND goaltending call this week!!! And this one was not in any way questionable -- the ball had already hit the backboard, which makes the call AUTOMATIC. Not even sure what to say, such a screwjob.
Bibby ( B ) -- big scoring game, but grade shrinks because of his 4th quarter. Late third/early 4th was adventursome: missed two more FTs -- a little scary to have one of your best clutch players all kinds of shaky on the line -- then hit two huge DEEP threes, and then tried to singlehandedly keep Dallas in it by making a whole series of turnovers -- think he had 4 in the game, and all 4 were in the fourth. Finsihed things off by missing the open three to win it.
Evans ( A- ) -- huge energy game for Mo -- best he's looked since coming off the injured list. Flew up and down the court, and worked particularly well with Barnes to create havoc all over the court.
Songaila ( C- ) -- did very little statistically, what little impact he had he had defensively where he rotated well, and at least tried to stay with Dirk. But while Darius moved well on defense, Dirk beat him pretty much at will. And Darius simply HAS to get on the damn boards. He's played 47 minutes in the last two games and grabbed all of 4. Does not cut it for a PF.
Barnes ( A ) -- GREAT 2nd quarter stint where he worked beautifully with Mo, setting him up time and time again for dunks and layups. Also scrambled and disrupted on defense to ignite our fast break.
House ( INC ) -- hustled on defense during a second quarter stint. Again never returned in the second half.
Adelman ( B+ ) -- NOW I'm upset. It happened again. Just unbelievable. This one is not a judgment call -- the refs flat blew the call. There is no question when it hits the backboard first + obviously had a chance to go in. That's an embarrassment, and frankly on this one the NBA DOES owe us an apology. Might get one too -- think I've seen/heard that before. But maybe I'm confusing my sports. In any case, we won this game. Everywhere but the scoreboard. But even so, played another shaky 4th quarter. Turned the ball over, missed FTs. Did everything wrong. And now after another excruciating loss, have to wonder where the team's head is. Where can it be? Rick has done a great job keeping the guys in and fighting. But this is going to be a real challenge for him now. Brutal week. In game Rick did a nice job finding Matt and Mo as a hustle tandem off the bench. But he may have overplayed a flat and ineffective Peja -- maybe should have been MORE Matt & Mo. Also went with an ineffective Darius as the thrid big man. Predictable against the mobile Mavs. But when Darius is doing nothing you always start looking down that bench and wishing you had a 7'2" player in there doing the nothing -- at least he might clog the lane and keep yet ANOTHER team from shooting 54% against you. In any case, brutal "loss". But Rick did pretty well. He can't go out there and make FTs for the guys or make them take care of the ball in the stretch. He had us in position to win the game. But our guys choked it, and then the refs blatantly stole it. Heck of a way to kick off the weekend.
Peja ( D- ) -- just had nothing tonight. Whether it was the back tightening up on the back to back (hope not), tired legs, or just one of those mysterious games where he gets passive, just was totally impotent. Summoned up one little burst of energy down the stretch, hitting a big three and playing strong defense on Dirk. But otherwise what a disappointing followup to his best game in weeks. Just a total nonfactor.
Webber ( B ) -- solid game with good moments and bad, but nowhere near as good as his others since coming off the injury. Did not work the post as much as he perhaps should have, but late in the game his post game was again critical for us -- becoming an increasingly common story. Teams have to react to his game defensively and it opens up the floor. Opened up the wide open three by Bibby to win it...but no. Of course much of this would have been moot if Webb had not choked two FTs with a minute to go. We got royally screwed by the refs in the worst way tonight, but should have iced the game earlier.
Miller ( B+ ) -- strong game in his return. Got off to a big start after the night off, but quieted down as the game went along. Had some defensive struggles against Dampier, but generally outplayed him. Rattled in a couple of big FTs late and was generally our steadiest player down the stretch. Didn't feel like he was as strong as his numbers, but still a very good outing for him.
Mobley ( B ) -- started off very very quietly -- think he had no points after the first quarter. But energy and effectiveness picked up as the game went along. This game also marked the return of shotblocking Cat as he had 2 or 3 of them, one on a recovery play after he was beat, and then another couple diving down to try to help Brad with Dampier. Made a couple of bad decisions in the stretch run again, but should have been the hero and sealed the game with a layup with twelve seconds to go, but unbelievably the refs blew a SECOND goaltending call this week!!! And this one was not in any way questionable -- the ball had already hit the backboard, which makes the call AUTOMATIC. Not even sure what to say, such a screwjob.
Bibby ( B ) -- big scoring game, but grade shrinks because of his 4th quarter. Late third/early 4th was adventursome: missed two more FTs -- a little scary to have one of your best clutch players all kinds of shaky on the line -- then hit two huge DEEP threes, and then tried to singlehandedly keep Dallas in it by making a whole series of turnovers -- think he had 4 in the game, and all 4 were in the fourth. Finsihed things off by missing the open three to win it.
Evans ( A- ) -- huge energy game for Mo -- best he's looked since coming off the injured list. Flew up and down the court, and worked particularly well with Barnes to create havoc all over the court.
Songaila ( C- ) -- did very little statistically, what little impact he had he had defensively where he rotated well, and at least tried to stay with Dirk. But while Darius moved well on defense, Dirk beat him pretty much at will. And Darius simply HAS to get on the damn boards. He's played 47 minutes in the last two games and grabbed all of 4. Does not cut it for a PF.
Barnes ( A ) -- GREAT 2nd quarter stint where he worked beautifully with Mo, setting him up time and time again for dunks and layups. Also scrambled and disrupted on defense to ignite our fast break.
House ( INC ) -- hustled on defense during a second quarter stint. Again never returned in the second half.
Adelman ( B+ ) -- NOW I'm upset. It happened again. Just unbelievable. This one is not a judgment call -- the refs flat blew the call. There is no question when it hits the backboard first + obviously had a chance to go in. That's an embarrassment, and frankly on this one the NBA DOES owe us an apology. Might get one too -- think I've seen/heard that before. But maybe I'm confusing my sports. In any case, we won this game. Everywhere but the scoreboard. But even so, played another shaky 4th quarter. Turned the ball over, missed FTs. Did everything wrong. And now after another excruciating loss, have to wonder where the team's head is. Where can it be? Rick has done a great job keeping the guys in and fighting. But this is going to be a real challenge for him now. Brutal week. In game Rick did a nice job finding Matt and Mo as a hustle tandem off the bench. But he may have overplayed a flat and ineffective Peja -- maybe should have been MORE Matt & Mo. Also went with an ineffective Darius as the thrid big man. Predictable against the mobile Mavs. But when Darius is doing nothing you always start looking down that bench and wishing you had a 7'2" player in there doing the nothing -- at least he might clog the lane and keep yet ANOTHER team from shooting 54% against you. In any case, brutal "loss". But Rick did pretty well. He can't go out there and make FTs for the guys or make them take care of the ball in the stretch. He had us in position to win the game. But our guys choked it, and then the refs blatantly stole it. Heck of a way to kick off the weekend.
Last edited:
