Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Peja ( C- ) -- okay -- what the hell was that? Minnesota is one thing. Do it to him every time. But Indiana? Started out hitting a few shots. But then went ice cold, and it wasn't because of lack of shots -- he was tied for the team lead in the first half with 10. Then in the second half just fell entirely off the map. Was totally out of rhythm, passing up shots he should have taken, taking shots he should have passed, spacing seemd off all night long. Down the stretch reappeared a little bit, but results were decidedly mixed. Got matched up on Fred Jones, who obviously had the tremendous athletic advantage. Got burned, and on one critical play, even rebounded over by Jones. Did grab a couple of rebounds this time out -- 6 tonight. Hardly remarkable except that I think that's his second best total this season -- he helped here and there. Went out at the end of regulation with what seemed to be a charlie horse above the knee.
Webber ( B ) -- looked pretty good physically on the back to back -- actually was probably moving more naturally than he was in the Minnesota game. Teetered on the edge of having a good game all night long, but like the rest of the team was erratic and mistake prone. Picked up his 4th foul on a ticky tack early in the 3rd, but Rick left him out there, and he managed to avoid getting his 5th until late int he game. Problem was that that made him have to be passive on defense and the glass, and Foster in aprticualr took advantage. Down the stretch in the 4th Webb stepped forward and started knocking down big shots, but in the final two minutes and overtime made some shaky plays and forced shots once again. By the end of the game had really filled up the boxscore with 26pts on 50% shooting 10rebs 6ast, but it was not a smooth effort.
Miller ( B ) -- scrappy erratic effort (gee, who would have guessed tonight). Was just getting worked on the boards by Foster for the first 30 minutes, but seemed to finally tire of it in the late third quarter and started to hit the glass aggressively. Got into a running dispute with Dan Crawford, who made a string of terrible calls against the Kings at one point in the 3rd. Made an absolutely atrocious turnover in the last 30 seconds of regulation, but made partial amends by grabbing some big rebounds therafter. Stepped up and hit all the clinching FTs in the final 10 seconds of OT (4 of 4).
Christie ( C+ ) -- a true giventh and taketh away game for Doug. In the first half he was getting his hands on a lot of balls and came up with 3-4 steals. But was also making terrible unforced turnovers all game long, of the "here, let me throw the ball right into the opponent's hands" variety. Made some key passes in the 4th quarter, and hit big FTs late in regulation, and then again late in OT to help secure the victory.
Bibby ( C+ ) -- Got off to a terribe start to this one -- was just fumbling the ball all over the court, LITERALLY dribbling the ball off his own foot etc. very strange. Was also getting punished by Anthony Johsnon and Fred Jones at the defensive end. Came out in the second half and looked much more confident. Started hitting shots, slowed down the TO parade. But still made an inexplicable turnover in the last 5 seconds when he passed up a wide open jumper to win it and instead threw a stupid turnover in the corner trying to hit Doug for some reason. Tried a little too hard to make up for it in OT with some quick shots, but eventually hit a couple of big ones there, and even played some nice defense on Reggie on an attempted 3-ptr to tie it. Gave us another boost on the boards -- getting to almost expect it anymore.
BJax ( C- ) -- started off this one playing like he had had a lobotomy on the plane ride into town. Just stupid, stupid play. Forcing selfish shots. Throwing the ball around randomly. He and Bibby just really stank it up in the first 24 min. When he returned in the second half, he was much better. But it wasn't his usual offensive spark, but rather some intense defense which was his main contribution to our victory tonight. Fouled out on a dumb little touch foul in the opening minute of OT, and we ahd to go with Barnes the rest of the way.
Songaila ( C ) -- had a first half stint. And to tell you how well it went all I have to say is that he never appeared in the second. We were totally out of rhtyhm, and Darius doesn't function well in that sort of environment. Gave us nothing on the boards.
Ostertag ( B- ) -- gave us some pretty good minutes tonight. Helped restore a little order inside, and was working hard on the offensive glass. Was our 4th big man in the first half, but our third int he second half. Might have gotten even more minutes, except Rick elected to gamble and leave Webb in with foul trouble, and just when it seemed putting Tag in to slow down Foster might have been smart, Miller started to board.
Barnes ( C- ) -- short first half stint when he contributed a couple of sloppy fouls (which may or may not have been fouls -- they were off the ball). Then was called upon in OT and kind of more of the same. Did play some solid defense in the extra minutes. But mostly, just did not mess anything up.
Adleman ( B- ) -- we only too obviously did not come out ready to compete tonight. Had a heavy duty T-Wolf hangover (as did the Wolves themselves BTW). Standout coaching moment of the night was when he elected to keep Webb in the game with 4 fouls early in the third. One of those things that could have backfried, but because it worked you tip your cap to him. made the right call as well going with tag over darius in the second half. We needed the size and shotblocking. Called some good plays tonight out of timeouts, but our execution was just terrible. Most of our turnovers were just 100% unforced. This was an ugly ugly victory, but a victory still. Nothing to crow about, but losig it would have been worse still. Hate to give wins away to bad teams (which indiana unquetionably is rihgt now).
Webber ( B ) -- looked pretty good physically on the back to back -- actually was probably moving more naturally than he was in the Minnesota game. Teetered on the edge of having a good game all night long, but like the rest of the team was erratic and mistake prone. Picked up his 4th foul on a ticky tack early in the 3rd, but Rick left him out there, and he managed to avoid getting his 5th until late int he game. Problem was that that made him have to be passive on defense and the glass, and Foster in aprticualr took advantage. Down the stretch in the 4th Webb stepped forward and started knocking down big shots, but in the final two minutes and overtime made some shaky plays and forced shots once again. By the end of the game had really filled up the boxscore with 26pts on 50% shooting 10rebs 6ast, but it was not a smooth effort.
Miller ( B ) -- scrappy erratic effort (gee, who would have guessed tonight). Was just getting worked on the boards by Foster for the first 30 minutes, but seemed to finally tire of it in the late third quarter and started to hit the glass aggressively. Got into a running dispute with Dan Crawford, who made a string of terrible calls against the Kings at one point in the 3rd. Made an absolutely atrocious turnover in the last 30 seconds of regulation, but made partial amends by grabbing some big rebounds therafter. Stepped up and hit all the clinching FTs in the final 10 seconds of OT (4 of 4).
Christie ( C+ ) -- a true giventh and taketh away game for Doug. In the first half he was getting his hands on a lot of balls and came up with 3-4 steals. But was also making terrible unforced turnovers all game long, of the "here, let me throw the ball right into the opponent's hands" variety. Made some key passes in the 4th quarter, and hit big FTs late in regulation, and then again late in OT to help secure the victory.
Bibby ( C+ ) -- Got off to a terribe start to this one -- was just fumbling the ball all over the court, LITERALLY dribbling the ball off his own foot etc. very strange. Was also getting punished by Anthony Johsnon and Fred Jones at the defensive end. Came out in the second half and looked much more confident. Started hitting shots, slowed down the TO parade. But still made an inexplicable turnover in the last 5 seconds when he passed up a wide open jumper to win it and instead threw a stupid turnover in the corner trying to hit Doug for some reason. Tried a little too hard to make up for it in OT with some quick shots, but eventually hit a couple of big ones there, and even played some nice defense on Reggie on an attempted 3-ptr to tie it. Gave us another boost on the boards -- getting to almost expect it anymore.
BJax ( C- ) -- started off this one playing like he had had a lobotomy on the plane ride into town. Just stupid, stupid play. Forcing selfish shots. Throwing the ball around randomly. He and Bibby just really stank it up in the first 24 min. When he returned in the second half, he was much better. But it wasn't his usual offensive spark, but rather some intense defense which was his main contribution to our victory tonight. Fouled out on a dumb little touch foul in the opening minute of OT, and we ahd to go with Barnes the rest of the way.
Songaila ( C ) -- had a first half stint. And to tell you how well it went all I have to say is that he never appeared in the second. We were totally out of rhtyhm, and Darius doesn't function well in that sort of environment. Gave us nothing on the boards.
Ostertag ( B- ) -- gave us some pretty good minutes tonight. Helped restore a little order inside, and was working hard on the offensive glass. Was our 4th big man in the first half, but our third int he second half. Might have gotten even more minutes, except Rick elected to gamble and leave Webb in with foul trouble, and just when it seemed putting Tag in to slow down Foster might have been smart, Miller started to board.
Barnes ( C- ) -- short first half stint when he contributed a couple of sloppy fouls (which may or may not have been fouls -- they were off the ball). Then was called upon in OT and kind of more of the same. Did play some solid defense in the extra minutes. But mostly, just did not mess anything up.
Adleman ( B- ) -- we only too obviously did not come out ready to compete tonight. Had a heavy duty T-Wolf hangover (as did the Wolves themselves BTW). Standout coaching moment of the night was when he elected to keep Webb in the game with 4 fouls early in the third. One of those things that could have backfried, but because it worked you tip your cap to him. made the right call as well going with tag over darius in the second half. We needed the size and shotblocking. Called some good plays tonight out of timeouts, but our execution was just terrible. Most of our turnovers were just 100% unforced. This was an ugly ugly victory, but a victory still. Nothing to crow about, but losig it would have been worse still. Hate to give wins away to bad teams (which indiana unquetionably is rihgt now).
