Just what the doctor ordered:
Peja ( A- ) -- this is not really there in the numbers, but it needs to be said that this grade stems from Peja putting aside the lacy dress for a night and really playing his butt off. Many of the same drawbacks could be said about this game as of his previous ones, and once again he was absent in the 4th as we started to struggle. But the effort he put forth made ALL the difference, numbers or not. Got off to an excellent start, and for Peja anymore that means that the scoring was only the highlight, but not the whole story. Showed uncommon hustle for him, and made a couple of solidly aggressive drive attempts against short and portly Voshon Lenard. Its not all there in the stats, but in many ways did not look like the same player tonight -- was not shying from contact, was standing in on defense, lurking around for boards. Even delivered fouls on help defense and battled well against Melo when he was on him. The front heavy production, midrange numbers for him, and quiet fourth once again combine to bring down his grade a bit, but I thought of giving him the "A" anyway. Peja loses credit in these grades on an almost nightly basis for playing a soft prima donnaesque game -- never breaks a sweat for the team, never does the little things. Tonight, numbers or not, that was NOT so. He was out there working as hard as anybody, helping teammates, and generally being the real deal. In a lot of ways his best overall effort since Game 5 against the Sonics. With the key word being "effort".
Reef ( B ) -- nondescript first half outing. One of the forgotten men as Peja, Bonzi, and the bench carried the bulk of the load and was still a bit shaky with his free throws. But Rick called a backdoor play for him to start the second half, and it got him going a bit. Still a modest game without huge impact, but did not make many errors, and did not hurt us. Not sure that he upped his intensity as much as some of the other Kings did -- it was kind of the same ole SAR out there while you were seeing the extra effort from Brad, Peja etc.
Miller ( A- ) -- in the first half wasn't picking up much in the way of numbers, but was actually using that big body to block people out and obstruct the lane. And that was a strong base of effort and hustle to complement the rest of his game once he finally got it rolling in the second half. Started really passing well in the third, and from that point onward really controlled what offense we were able to muster (we began to fade badly in that respect as the game went along). On offense, mixed in a few of the uncommon -- post moves, an ugly spinning drive, with the normal jumpers. Came within 1 rebound of a triple double. On the other end shocked by actually getting back in transition defense and delivering fouls rather than letting guys just lay it up, and along with Peja, was NOTICEABLY tougher than he has been thus far in the season. Camby had the big statistical game against him, but never seemed to really dominate despite the numbers, and Brad was getting his. Rick left him in for virtually the whole game -- another sign we needed this one. And so the rebounding is a little deceptive -- grabbed 9, but its 9 in 46 min which actually isn't that hot. Even with the effort, still can't jump and is not quick. An important key to our victory nonetheless, but only really big for a half.
Bonzi ( B- ) -- fast offensive start, but a bad turnover and a couple of quick fouls landed him on the bench. Threw away a couple of puzzlingly awful turnovers where you just wonder what he could be looking at. Went soaring in for an attempted monster dunk at about the five minute mark of the 4th. Got fouled to throw him off, but just the attempt was something we haven't enough of from the Kings in recent times. Started off with good energy to help his get off to the fast start, but overall game was just a shrug.
Bibby ( D+ ) -- in the first quarter a couple of quick fouls sent him to the bench, where he watched Jason Hart really run the team well in his absence. And even after he returned, really just stayed out of the way for the rest of the half while other guys were carrying us. The shot though....just not there. Again. Was one desperation three against the shot clock away from being 1 for 9 again. Made the important ones though -- with us fading late Rick actually drew a play up for him out of a timeout and Mike smoothly stroked it in, and then came back with a three to help ice it. This was in no way a good effort, but what contributions he did make were well timed.
Hart ( A- ) -- early appearance due to Bibby's foul trouble, and easily the best stint he's had since early in the preseason. Very aggressive defensively, later began to make some offensive plays too. really did exactly what we wanted him to do when we brought him here -- changed things up. Brought great defensive pressure, and was severely harassing little Earl Boykins, and even pickpocketed him on one play. Made a major contribution tonight.
Martin ( B+ ) -- came in early with Wells in foul trouble and gave us a major boost with easily his best stint of the young season. Finally seemed to be able to score, and score well, inside the system rather than with ragged one on one play. And part of that was his out of character shooting from the outside. Knocked down two threes, and just set up and took them in rhythm without hesitating and stuttering into a drive. Second half stint was shakier as we began to lose control of things. Made a dumb turnover out top. Then clearly traveled on a breakaway dunk early in the 4th, but got lucky on the noncall. Took away from his early play somewhat, but still easily the best he's looked, and the most impact he's had on a regular season game this season.
Thomas ( B- ) -- some better minutes offensively. Finally looked aggressive out there, driving and drawing fouls. Unfortunately was also picking up fouls left and right and turning the ball over. Put up a lot of numbers in a short period of time, but not all of them were good. But that was fine tonight. Tonight the theme was effort and pride, and Kenny was certainly trying even if it wasn't all good. A bit difficult to grade, but I went on the high side for the effort.
Adelman ( A- ) -- the team meeting looms large here. That's can be a high risk crisis-type event, but it looks like it provided just what the doctor ordered tonight. Effort was there from the start. Rick shortened the bench to a mere trio -- Hart, Martin, Thomas -- and all three of them responded. Putting the heat back on the Nuggets as the team suffering from the unfortunate malaise. Rick called some good aggressive timeouts to break up Nuggets mini-runs (Denver had little life, but would run off 5 or 7 every once in a while), and his plays out of timeouts worked nicely tonight as well. Played Brad 46 minute in a classic "whatever it takes" maneuver. Not about establsihing a rotation so much as just finding a way to win this time out. We didn't exactly show much of a killer instinct in the 4th, but luckily the Nuggets showed little or no interest in actually stealing this one from us (which would have really hurt after we played so much better for most of the game). As usual, Rick's grade will tail along with the team's grade. Liked the way he coached this one -- he did what he could -- but have a feeling it may have been the players themselves much more responsible for their pisspoor efforts thus far, as well as the far better effort tonight. Far from perfect, and the opponent struggled, but much much better. Even if we had lost this one, off of this effort you could have seen hope. Now we've got some relative patsies coming up on our home court -- if we can just bottle this type of effort, we have a definite chance to right the ship. Not beat the world. But right the ship and settle in ratehr than spiral down the drain.
Peja ( A- ) -- this is not really there in the numbers, but it needs to be said that this grade stems from Peja putting aside the lacy dress for a night and really playing his butt off. Many of the same drawbacks could be said about this game as of his previous ones, and once again he was absent in the 4th as we started to struggle. But the effort he put forth made ALL the difference, numbers or not. Got off to an excellent start, and for Peja anymore that means that the scoring was only the highlight, but not the whole story. Showed uncommon hustle for him, and made a couple of solidly aggressive drive attempts against short and portly Voshon Lenard. Its not all there in the stats, but in many ways did not look like the same player tonight -- was not shying from contact, was standing in on defense, lurking around for boards. Even delivered fouls on help defense and battled well against Melo when he was on him. The front heavy production, midrange numbers for him, and quiet fourth once again combine to bring down his grade a bit, but I thought of giving him the "A" anyway. Peja loses credit in these grades on an almost nightly basis for playing a soft prima donnaesque game -- never breaks a sweat for the team, never does the little things. Tonight, numbers or not, that was NOT so. He was out there working as hard as anybody, helping teammates, and generally being the real deal. In a lot of ways his best overall effort since Game 5 against the Sonics. With the key word being "effort".
Reef ( B ) -- nondescript first half outing. One of the forgotten men as Peja, Bonzi, and the bench carried the bulk of the load and was still a bit shaky with his free throws. But Rick called a backdoor play for him to start the second half, and it got him going a bit. Still a modest game without huge impact, but did not make many errors, and did not hurt us. Not sure that he upped his intensity as much as some of the other Kings did -- it was kind of the same ole SAR out there while you were seeing the extra effort from Brad, Peja etc.
Miller ( A- ) -- in the first half wasn't picking up much in the way of numbers, but was actually using that big body to block people out and obstruct the lane. And that was a strong base of effort and hustle to complement the rest of his game once he finally got it rolling in the second half. Started really passing well in the third, and from that point onward really controlled what offense we were able to muster (we began to fade badly in that respect as the game went along). On offense, mixed in a few of the uncommon -- post moves, an ugly spinning drive, with the normal jumpers. Came within 1 rebound of a triple double. On the other end shocked by actually getting back in transition defense and delivering fouls rather than letting guys just lay it up, and along with Peja, was NOTICEABLY tougher than he has been thus far in the season. Camby had the big statistical game against him, but never seemed to really dominate despite the numbers, and Brad was getting his. Rick left him in for virtually the whole game -- another sign we needed this one. And so the rebounding is a little deceptive -- grabbed 9, but its 9 in 46 min which actually isn't that hot. Even with the effort, still can't jump and is not quick. An important key to our victory nonetheless, but only really big for a half.
Bonzi ( B- ) -- fast offensive start, but a bad turnover and a couple of quick fouls landed him on the bench. Threw away a couple of puzzlingly awful turnovers where you just wonder what he could be looking at. Went soaring in for an attempted monster dunk at about the five minute mark of the 4th. Got fouled to throw him off, but just the attempt was something we haven't enough of from the Kings in recent times. Started off with good energy to help his get off to the fast start, but overall game was just a shrug.
Bibby ( D+ ) -- in the first quarter a couple of quick fouls sent him to the bench, where he watched Jason Hart really run the team well in his absence. And even after he returned, really just stayed out of the way for the rest of the half while other guys were carrying us. The shot though....just not there. Again. Was one desperation three against the shot clock away from being 1 for 9 again. Made the important ones though -- with us fading late Rick actually drew a play up for him out of a timeout and Mike smoothly stroked it in, and then came back with a three to help ice it. This was in no way a good effort, but what contributions he did make were well timed.
Hart ( A- ) -- early appearance due to Bibby's foul trouble, and easily the best stint he's had since early in the preseason. Very aggressive defensively, later began to make some offensive plays too. really did exactly what we wanted him to do when we brought him here -- changed things up. Brought great defensive pressure, and was severely harassing little Earl Boykins, and even pickpocketed him on one play. Made a major contribution tonight.
Martin ( B+ ) -- came in early with Wells in foul trouble and gave us a major boost with easily his best stint of the young season. Finally seemed to be able to score, and score well, inside the system rather than with ragged one on one play. And part of that was his out of character shooting from the outside. Knocked down two threes, and just set up and took them in rhythm without hesitating and stuttering into a drive. Second half stint was shakier as we began to lose control of things. Made a dumb turnover out top. Then clearly traveled on a breakaway dunk early in the 4th, but got lucky on the noncall. Took away from his early play somewhat, but still easily the best he's looked, and the most impact he's had on a regular season game this season.
Thomas ( B- ) -- some better minutes offensively. Finally looked aggressive out there, driving and drawing fouls. Unfortunately was also picking up fouls left and right and turning the ball over. Put up a lot of numbers in a short period of time, but not all of them were good. But that was fine tonight. Tonight the theme was effort and pride, and Kenny was certainly trying even if it wasn't all good. A bit difficult to grade, but I went on the high side for the effort.
Adelman ( A- ) -- the team meeting looms large here. That's can be a high risk crisis-type event, but it looks like it provided just what the doctor ordered tonight. Effort was there from the start. Rick shortened the bench to a mere trio -- Hart, Martin, Thomas -- and all three of them responded. Putting the heat back on the Nuggets as the team suffering from the unfortunate malaise. Rick called some good aggressive timeouts to break up Nuggets mini-runs (Denver had little life, but would run off 5 or 7 every once in a while), and his plays out of timeouts worked nicely tonight as well. Played Brad 46 minute in a classic "whatever it takes" maneuver. Not about establsihing a rotation so much as just finding a way to win this time out. We didn't exactly show much of a killer instinct in the 4th, but luckily the Nuggets showed little or no interest in actually stealing this one from us (which would have really hurt after we played so much better for most of the game). As usual, Rick's grade will tail along with the team's grade. Liked the way he coached this one -- he did what he could -- but have a feeling it may have been the players themselves much more responsible for their pisspoor efforts thus far, as well as the far better effort tonight. Far from perfect, and the opponent struggled, but much much better. Even if we had lost this one, off of this effort you could have seen hope. Now we've got some relative patsies coming up on our home court -- if we can just bottle this type of effort, we have a definite chance to right the ship. Not beat the world. But right the ship and settle in ratehr than spiral down the drain.
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