Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Artest ( B+ ) -- nice debut for Ron at Arco, and I'm once again going to go with the familiar "B+" for his effort. Effort being a key tonight as we actually won a game on hustle despite our only hot offensive player being a 2nd year guy off the bench. Defensively, maybe not Ron's true A game as he was not able to slow down Melo much early, got into early foul trouble, and actually backed off at times therafter to stay on the floor. As usual, got his hands on a ton of balls, but wasn't able to come up with them cleanly and picked up several hustle fouls (good fouls in other words) in the process. Was not hot from outside, but had a number of highlight moments to keep the Arco fans pumped. Played some PG in the 2nd and 4th quarters with Rick showing tremendous confidence in him as a playmaker backing up Bibby. Also provided the ironic psycho moment of the night, with Ron Artest running over to pull Bonzi away from the ref after Bonzi was stripped on the break and went over to argue. Opened the 4th with a great hustle play that got the Arco crowd on its feet hurdling the first row of seats while chasing after a loose ball. And down the strecth really began to show the thing the great players do -- created shot after shot for his teammtes. Was doubled and made all kinds of dumpoff and shovel passes inside. Also made a number of late power drives to keep us afloat. I've seen Artest play before he hit the Kings. He can play better. He can hit his outside shots better, lock up the guy he is facing better, dominate inside and score 30 for you while holding his opponent to 30% shooting on his best nights. This wasn't one of them. But he played well, picked up the energy level in the building enorrmously, played off Bonzi and the hustlers to give us something we've very rarely had in recent years -- a victory won on heart and hustle rather than hot shooting. So good debut. Now let's just wait until he's actually in shape and knows the plays.
Thomas ( B ) -- gave us nothing offensively early, but was at least giving us nice work on the glass, and his energy there was a nice complement to what the rest of the guys were bringing. In the second half started to get on the offensive glass and score on followups, and Artest made him look good down the stretch as all Kenny had to do was cut toward the hoop with his hands up and he was hit repeatedly for layups and fouls. Kenny didn't create many of his own opportunities tonight, but that was a good thing as that often has rather dubious results. What he did do was settle in and play the good hustling roleplayer, which was exactly what we needed with our suddenly postalicious offense full of guys looking to score at the hoop.
Reef ( C- ) -- in the early going able to hit some outside shots for an effective offensive half, but struggled inside against the bigger Camby, and still gave us nothing on the glass. Was having some problems on the other end against Marcus as well, but then again should not normally have to guard guys that big. Started to labor in the second half and was not effective. Sat out for a long stretch and only returned to the game for the stretch run. Think we got zero points 1 rebound out of him after the break, and was an afterthought for most of the game.
Bonzi ( B- ) -- really tough one to grade. First of all it was simply great to have Bonzi back. And he came in and growled his way to a major board night again in his first game in a month. Not only that, but his hustle was contagious and seemed to help pick the whole team up to another level. But of course the flipside was that he was missing his shots. Not just a few shots. But really almost all of them. Was powering into the post, but just not able to finish. One of the better 3-16s you are likely to see, but 3-16 still it was, and only 1-4 from the line as well, with all the FTs in the 4th. The potential there for Bonzi and Artest was obvious, and the enthusiasm of the kids kept it rolling. But much as I was actually happy with his effort despite the shooting, he missed so many shots, so many gimmes, that there is no question it was hurting us.
Bibby ( D+ ) -- Game started off with Mike back on the downswing once more. It looked like Boston all over again, but the difference was this time Mike being an afterthought was ok because everybody else came to play. Made some sloppy early passes, and never was able to get his shot going. Looked like he was kind of disconnected from the team, and again you have wonder how much not having Miller (or an adequate substitute) effects Mike's game. Opened the second half with a three and was able to pepper in points here and there thereafter. But never any runs, or anything that really mattered. Capped the night by getting a stupid technical in the late going. Finally meandered up to a 15pt outing, but it was never smooth or terribly effective, and probably a night Mike would just as well like to forget.
Martin ( A+ ) -- ok, there are actually a couple of reasons why I could have left off the "+" off this grade -- first, Kevin quieted down in the second half, and secondly it was really a fairly one dimensional effort. 25pts 1reb 0ast. But those reasons pale in comparison to the impact Kevin had offensively off the bench. Just came in and exploded off the bench with Artest in early foul trouble. One of those games where he was able to make an immediate splash just by running the floor for transition dunks, and then everything seemed to open up. Splashed in two of those newfound threes, and finished with 20pts by halftime, off the bench!
Only five points after half as somebody in the Nuggets lockerroom at half obviously suggested that maybe they should try guarding him. But still hit the two shots he did take and finished up with 25pts in 18min for what clearly has to be the best effort off our bench since Bobby was patrolling those waters. Kevin's sporadic passivity has had me openly questioning whether he can be effective off the bench backing up better/more established players. But tonight it was take no prisoners as a bench sparkplug and the A+ was well earned.
Skinner ( B- ) -- came in in the first half and was immediately aggressive, drawing two inside fouls, but throwing up 3 hilariously awful bricks on the FTs. Before smoothly swishing #4 of course. Pretty good energy stint off the bench. Came back in place of the ineffective Reef in the late third and got a long stint out there. Got outhustled by Najera at times, and never had any great impact. Overall a solid bench big man contribution, and had the right energy for the game. Nothing to write home about though.
Garcia ( C+ ) -- solid all around first half effort off the bench. Did nothing spectacularly, but joined in the parade of energetic Kings. In his second stint began to get a little wild with some of those ill conceived patented "Garcia passes" in the 4th and was quickly replaced by Bibby.
Corliss ( C- ) -- got a semi-surpise call off the bench in the second quarter, and immediately struggled with Kenyon Martin. Got his postup turnaround packed right back in his face, then was scored over on the other end. Eventually settled in and started banging with Kenyon, but still not a very effective stint, and led to no minutes in the second half.
Adelman ( A- ) -- hey hey, a little hope emerged! The Arco advantage was back for a nigt in response to Ron's first appearance, as well as the first appearance of 48 minutes of hustle from the team in a long time. Was a bit annoyed with Rick right off the bat as Reef predictably appeared in the starting linup as a "center" despite the fact he never has been, and is as far from a center as he's ever been right now with the broken jaw and wright loss. But I quickly set that aside as we came out with some interesting offensive changes right from the beginning and went with a variety of postups being employed all over the court looking for the mismatch. Also wee working a lot of Artest/Bonzi tow man game to go at the Nuggets' guards in the post. Very tough to guard, but of course Bonzi could not hit anything in his first game back. Rick also played Artest some essentially at PG in the second and 4th quarters, showing tremendous confidence in Ron as well as offensive versatility. He played everybody but Price and Sampson off the bench, and found a gem in Martin who just exploded in that second quarter. No more Peja, no Brad, Bonzi just back, Artest in his third game, Reef out of position, and a lineup that had never taken the floor together. All of that could easily have added up to a complete disaster, but Rick really deserves and A+ for making major offensive adjustments on such short notice. Maybe he really does know every offense that has been run in the league in the last 20 years. Because this was very abruptly something we have not seen before from the Kings. Of course we actually did struggle a bit on offense, despite the points. We were just bailed out by a huge unexpected bench effort from Kevin. But the gameplan was solid, palyed to our newfound strngths, and the beauty of the lineup tongiht was that we had so many hustlers and athletes on the court that we could win a game where we wern't shooting very well. Win it on effort and grit and hustle. And that's a tremendous thing to see. Still a long way to go to make the payoffs. Still mismatched pieces and a gigantic shotblocking hole up front. But we got one back ont he homecourt, and Ron had a very successful debut in front of the home fans. So, so far, so good.
Thomas ( B ) -- gave us nothing offensively early, but was at least giving us nice work on the glass, and his energy there was a nice complement to what the rest of the guys were bringing. In the second half started to get on the offensive glass and score on followups, and Artest made him look good down the stretch as all Kenny had to do was cut toward the hoop with his hands up and he was hit repeatedly for layups and fouls. Kenny didn't create many of his own opportunities tonight, but that was a good thing as that often has rather dubious results. What he did do was settle in and play the good hustling roleplayer, which was exactly what we needed with our suddenly postalicious offense full of guys looking to score at the hoop.
Reef ( C- ) -- in the early going able to hit some outside shots for an effective offensive half, but struggled inside against the bigger Camby, and still gave us nothing on the glass. Was having some problems on the other end against Marcus as well, but then again should not normally have to guard guys that big. Started to labor in the second half and was not effective. Sat out for a long stretch and only returned to the game for the stretch run. Think we got zero points 1 rebound out of him after the break, and was an afterthought for most of the game.
Bonzi ( B- ) -- really tough one to grade. First of all it was simply great to have Bonzi back. And he came in and growled his way to a major board night again in his first game in a month. Not only that, but his hustle was contagious and seemed to help pick the whole team up to another level. But of course the flipside was that he was missing his shots. Not just a few shots. But really almost all of them. Was powering into the post, but just not able to finish. One of the better 3-16s you are likely to see, but 3-16 still it was, and only 1-4 from the line as well, with all the FTs in the 4th. The potential there for Bonzi and Artest was obvious, and the enthusiasm of the kids kept it rolling. But much as I was actually happy with his effort despite the shooting, he missed so many shots, so many gimmes, that there is no question it was hurting us.
Bibby ( D+ ) -- Game started off with Mike back on the downswing once more. It looked like Boston all over again, but the difference was this time Mike being an afterthought was ok because everybody else came to play. Made some sloppy early passes, and never was able to get his shot going. Looked like he was kind of disconnected from the team, and again you have wonder how much not having Miller (or an adequate substitute) effects Mike's game. Opened the second half with a three and was able to pepper in points here and there thereafter. But never any runs, or anything that really mattered. Capped the night by getting a stupid technical in the late going. Finally meandered up to a 15pt outing, but it was never smooth or terribly effective, and probably a night Mike would just as well like to forget.
Martin ( A+ ) -- ok, there are actually a couple of reasons why I could have left off the "+" off this grade -- first, Kevin quieted down in the second half, and secondly it was really a fairly one dimensional effort. 25pts 1reb 0ast. But those reasons pale in comparison to the impact Kevin had offensively off the bench. Just came in and exploded off the bench with Artest in early foul trouble. One of those games where he was able to make an immediate splash just by running the floor for transition dunks, and then everything seemed to open up. Splashed in two of those newfound threes, and finished with 20pts by halftime, off the bench!
Only five points after half as somebody in the Nuggets lockerroom at half obviously suggested that maybe they should try guarding him. But still hit the two shots he did take and finished up with 25pts in 18min for what clearly has to be the best effort off our bench since Bobby was patrolling those waters. Kevin's sporadic passivity has had me openly questioning whether he can be effective off the bench backing up better/more established players. But tonight it was take no prisoners as a bench sparkplug and the A+ was well earned.Skinner ( B- ) -- came in in the first half and was immediately aggressive, drawing two inside fouls, but throwing up 3 hilariously awful bricks on the FTs. Before smoothly swishing #4 of course. Pretty good energy stint off the bench. Came back in place of the ineffective Reef in the late third and got a long stint out there. Got outhustled by Najera at times, and never had any great impact. Overall a solid bench big man contribution, and had the right energy for the game. Nothing to write home about though.
Garcia ( C+ ) -- solid all around first half effort off the bench. Did nothing spectacularly, but joined in the parade of energetic Kings. In his second stint began to get a little wild with some of those ill conceived patented "Garcia passes" in the 4th and was quickly replaced by Bibby.
Corliss ( C- ) -- got a semi-surpise call off the bench in the second quarter, and immediately struggled with Kenyon Martin. Got his postup turnaround packed right back in his face, then was scored over on the other end. Eventually settled in and started banging with Kenyon, but still not a very effective stint, and led to no minutes in the second half.
Adelman ( A- ) -- hey hey, a little hope emerged! The Arco advantage was back for a nigt in response to Ron's first appearance, as well as the first appearance of 48 minutes of hustle from the team in a long time. Was a bit annoyed with Rick right off the bat as Reef predictably appeared in the starting linup as a "center" despite the fact he never has been, and is as far from a center as he's ever been right now with the broken jaw and wright loss. But I quickly set that aside as we came out with some interesting offensive changes right from the beginning and went with a variety of postups being employed all over the court looking for the mismatch. Also wee working a lot of Artest/Bonzi tow man game to go at the Nuggets' guards in the post. Very tough to guard, but of course Bonzi could not hit anything in his first game back. Rick also played Artest some essentially at PG in the second and 4th quarters, showing tremendous confidence in Ron as well as offensive versatility. He played everybody but Price and Sampson off the bench, and found a gem in Martin who just exploded in that second quarter. No more Peja, no Brad, Bonzi just back, Artest in his third game, Reef out of position, and a lineup that had never taken the floor together. All of that could easily have added up to a complete disaster, but Rick really deserves and A+ for making major offensive adjustments on such short notice. Maybe he really does know every offense that has been run in the league in the last 20 years. Because this was very abruptly something we have not seen before from the Kings. Of course we actually did struggle a bit on offense, despite the points. We were just bailed out by a huge unexpected bench effort from Kevin. But the gameplan was solid, palyed to our newfound strngths, and the beauty of the lineup tongiht was that we had so many hustlers and athletes on the court that we could win a game where we wern't shooting very well. Win it on effort and grit and hustle. And that's a tremendous thing to see. Still a long way to go to make the payoffs. Still mismatched pieces and a gigantic shotblocking hole up front. But we got one back ont he homecourt, and Ron had a very successful debut in front of the home fans. So, so far, so good.
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But I expect that to change after he plays a couple of more games. Ron was great tonight. We wasn't scared to take the clutch shots in the end of the game. SAR did pretty good considering he is playing with a wired shut jaw. He knew he could't post up Camby so he used his jump shot to take advantage. Kevin played his best game I've seen this year. He had a lot of cofidence and really sparked the team with his effort and athleticism. Everyone on the team contributed well for us tonight.
