We couldn't even win the All-Disappointing Bowl!!!
How to grade this horrible collapse...
Peja ( C+ ) -- good defenisve energy in the first, banked in his first three (luck). Briefly thought he might be able to slow TMac, but lost control of him quickly as the half went along. Good offensive start, but got quiet in the second and was rarely heard from for the rest of the game. Even in the first half, did most of his damage at the line, only hoisted up 3 official first half shots, and finished with 8 total. As much as he has seemed to have been overplayed in recent games -- getting more minutes than he deserved -- in this one it almost seemed the opposite, although the reality was he still played a healthy 34. Problem was that Garcia was just horrid off the bench, and the rest of the starters all ended up playing even more minutes than he did. Curious game for Peja, because he just simply did not matter. Grabbed some boards in there for us, and is at least reviving to shrughood in that aspect, but just was mostly a spectator, both when we were going well, and especially when we weren't. And I guess that was the one consistent Peja thing that we saw once again -- the 4th quarter came around, and Peja was just absent. People try to blame that on everybody else not passing it to him for 7 straight years. But I'll tell you my theory -- he doesn't want it, doesn't cut as hard, doesn't call for it, gives it up too easily. In any case, gave us nothing as the team collapsed except an airballed three with three minutes to go which was really Brad's fault for passing up an open 18ftr. Despite all that, still maybe Peja's best game since pinkygate.
Reef ( D ) -- also active to start, and actually caught him swooping in for a rebound or two early. Had less luck against Swift inside than Howard. But then...went completely invisible on offense after the first. Early on it was just because everyone else was going so well that he was just the fogotten man more than incompetence. But as things began to fall apart, nothing changed with Reef. He had 8 pts 12 minutes into the game. And 8 pts 36 minutes later. Amazing. Got switched onto McGrady a few times late in the third quarter and TMac lit him up for crucial buckets to start the Rockets comeback. Late in the game found himself guarding Yao, and while he did not do horribly, obviously it was a bad matchup that saw the big center combine with TMac to control the late game. 37min 8pts 6rebs of irrelevancy. Very disappointing after what I thought was a pretty strong and active start.
Miller ( B ) -- started off the game in style, surprising Yao with a quick post move in the first. Was having one of those ultra efficient games for him where he was rarely guarded by anybody able to keep pressure on him, and he just made everything look easy. But as the wheels fell off for us, suddenly that seeming mastery he had over the game began to evaporate. Got into foul trouble and missed some cruical minutes. And then when he returned made some dubious decisions with the ball leading to turnovers Topped it off by making his classic pass up the open shot error at a terrible point for us with 3 minutes to go, instead dumping the ball to Peja at the last second for an airballed three. This has to go right down there as one of the most disappointing losses of the season because of HOW we lost, and so the tendency is to want to give everybody Cs and Ds. But Brad really was playing a good game through 3/4. The devil coming when it mattered most unfortunately.
Bonzi ( B ) -- Through three quarters was playing an extremely efficient game, taking only his good power shots inside and largely forgoing the jumpers and forces. Think he had 19pts on 7-8 shooting there at the end of the third. But finished 8-13 for 21pts. Tells you what you need to know about his fourth. For most of the game was not exactly stopping TMac, but after seeing Cisco get completely schooled, it was nice to have Bonzi come back in and restore some order by at least making Tracy work for them. Able to use his size and strength in spots against the Rockets endless parade of old undersized guards, which they collect the way we do tweener forwards. Unfortunately began to lose it all in the 4th, missed shots, turned it over. Missed a pair of crucial free throws as the pressure mounted and you could see us begin to stagger. Not a big boarding game, but this was a damn efficient and very GOOD game for Bonzi...through 3/4. Unfotrunately that was a common and ugly theme for us tongiht.
Bibby ( B ) -- efficient offensive first half marred by some turnovers, and had no real problem beating David Wesley on defense. Continued to just have it dialed in right through...you guessed it, the end of the 3rd. But this is a new year for us. And one where we find that even our most relaible clutch guy doesn't seem to be able to take over games late when we are struggling. Rather he seems to go with the rest of the team. Even joined the missfest at the line in the early 4th. Made some bad decisions down the stretch, and did not show he had full control of the team. Nonetheless wish he could have just played 48min tonight becuase whenever Rick tried to buy him just the littlest rest, Hart continued to give us absolutely nothing. Funny thing is we might have had 3 A type grades, or at least B+/A- grades, if the game had just been called after 3/4. Instead we get this.
Skinner ( D ) -- finally got the early call as the first big off the bench and pissed me off by again not doing much. Overmatched in there against Yao of course, but you just have to take advantage of these opportunities to prove you belong there. Got his only point on a lane violation FT. And as yet another 0 rebound effort off the bench proves, Brian remains as puzzling as any of our non-prroducing benchers.
Hart ( INC ) -- hit an early jumper, but then wildly charged right into Deke's waiting arms and it was no coincidence that the few minutes we tried to buy Bibby with Jason in there resulted in a terrible +/- for us. His one saving grace was that he fell below my 6 minute grading cutoff, so he avoids what otherwise would have been an unkind grade.
Garcia ( F ) -- and I bet Cisco wishes he could have had fewer minutes. Just a disaster out there this time. Came into the game in the second quarter, threw up a wild shot, and everybody went right at him on defense -- TMac's eyes in particular got big as saucers whenever Cisco came into the game. Was a disaster in the 4th. Threw up another real stupid three at a bad time. Reminded me of the game that almost benched Martin up in Seattle where Kevin got schooled by Ray Allen. Well, tonight it was Cisco's turn against TMac.
Thomas ( D ) -- entered the game late for him behind Reef rather than next to him, but ended up outlasting the Skinner/Corliss combo as we tried he and Reef together with Reef on Yao, and even gave Kenny a little run at SF across from McGrady. But wherever he played, he gave us nothing at all on offense and looked even shorter than normal in there against the Houston trees. Grabbed a few boards, but none of the notable ones he is capable of grabbing. Our bench is just such a disaster.
Corliss ( INC ) -- got the call on a deep bench night, but while he was physical, its only real experession was in a bunch of fouls. Credit for energy, but it was just energetic offensive fouls and he earned no 2nd half minutes with that.
Adelman ( C+ ) -- this one hurts. Maybe moreso than just about anything since the opening eye-opener in Oklahoma City. This was our game, the starters were clicking, we had the good energy that has been lacking recently, we were shooting a ridiculous 60%, were up by 14 and trying to put the game away, and then the wheels fell totally and completely off. Would say it was a shocking collapse if we hadn't collpased so often in recent games. It really all seemed to start when TMac hit a huge three in Reef's face to close the 3rd and drop the lead from 9 to 6, and we never recovered. Just have no confidence and no heart right now. A team squeezes, and we just panic and hide. Got real ugly there in the 4th. Went for an amazing 8 minute stretch in the final quarter without a field goal. A huge issue, as always, was the total crap that is currently our bench. We can't even buy short spurts of time with them anymore. Rick played his startes huge minutes again, and if there would be a complaint after this one, it would be that he didn't play them the whole 48. Rick went 5 deep into the pine looking for help, and everytime they hit the floor the momentum fell apart and the Rockets statrted to move on us. Even if only necessitated by the giant Ming in the middle, was nice to see Rick try Skinner first off the bench to give us some size. But of course Brian squandered the opportunity again. In what seems inconsequential now, early in the game I thought Rick called a good early timeout when the Rockets were starting to open up a 2nd quarter lead. Broke up the momentum. But nothing he tried in the 4th seemed to matter. Have no idea what the answer is right now. We were playing well. We weren't flat. We had the game. Tried almost the entire bench and they started to suck, so we go back to the starters, and then they panic and suck as well? What do you do as a coach when that happens? Who's left? Not mad at coach for this one. Blame lies elsewhere. Help is needed.
TNT Announcers ( A ) -- Not going to hear me say this often, but the Harlan/Collins/Miller trio were just dialed in all night and had their fingers right on the pulse of the game.
How to grade this horrible collapse...
Peja ( C+ ) -- good defenisve energy in the first, banked in his first three (luck). Briefly thought he might be able to slow TMac, but lost control of him quickly as the half went along. Good offensive start, but got quiet in the second and was rarely heard from for the rest of the game. Even in the first half, did most of his damage at the line, only hoisted up 3 official first half shots, and finished with 8 total. As much as he has seemed to have been overplayed in recent games -- getting more minutes than he deserved -- in this one it almost seemed the opposite, although the reality was he still played a healthy 34. Problem was that Garcia was just horrid off the bench, and the rest of the starters all ended up playing even more minutes than he did. Curious game for Peja, because he just simply did not matter. Grabbed some boards in there for us, and is at least reviving to shrughood in that aspect, but just was mostly a spectator, both when we were going well, and especially when we weren't. And I guess that was the one consistent Peja thing that we saw once again -- the 4th quarter came around, and Peja was just absent. People try to blame that on everybody else not passing it to him for 7 straight years. But I'll tell you my theory -- he doesn't want it, doesn't cut as hard, doesn't call for it, gives it up too easily. In any case, gave us nothing as the team collapsed except an airballed three with three minutes to go which was really Brad's fault for passing up an open 18ftr. Despite all that, still maybe Peja's best game since pinkygate.
Reef ( D ) -- also active to start, and actually caught him swooping in for a rebound or two early. Had less luck against Swift inside than Howard. But then...went completely invisible on offense after the first. Early on it was just because everyone else was going so well that he was just the fogotten man more than incompetence. But as things began to fall apart, nothing changed with Reef. He had 8 pts 12 minutes into the game. And 8 pts 36 minutes later. Amazing. Got switched onto McGrady a few times late in the third quarter and TMac lit him up for crucial buckets to start the Rockets comeback. Late in the game found himself guarding Yao, and while he did not do horribly, obviously it was a bad matchup that saw the big center combine with TMac to control the late game. 37min 8pts 6rebs of irrelevancy. Very disappointing after what I thought was a pretty strong and active start.
Miller ( B ) -- started off the game in style, surprising Yao with a quick post move in the first. Was having one of those ultra efficient games for him where he was rarely guarded by anybody able to keep pressure on him, and he just made everything look easy. But as the wheels fell off for us, suddenly that seeming mastery he had over the game began to evaporate. Got into foul trouble and missed some cruical minutes. And then when he returned made some dubious decisions with the ball leading to turnovers Topped it off by making his classic pass up the open shot error at a terrible point for us with 3 minutes to go, instead dumping the ball to Peja at the last second for an airballed three. This has to go right down there as one of the most disappointing losses of the season because of HOW we lost, and so the tendency is to want to give everybody Cs and Ds. But Brad really was playing a good game through 3/4. The devil coming when it mattered most unfortunately.
Bonzi ( B ) -- Through three quarters was playing an extremely efficient game, taking only his good power shots inside and largely forgoing the jumpers and forces. Think he had 19pts on 7-8 shooting there at the end of the third. But finished 8-13 for 21pts. Tells you what you need to know about his fourth. For most of the game was not exactly stopping TMac, but after seeing Cisco get completely schooled, it was nice to have Bonzi come back in and restore some order by at least making Tracy work for them. Able to use his size and strength in spots against the Rockets endless parade of old undersized guards, which they collect the way we do tweener forwards. Unfortunately began to lose it all in the 4th, missed shots, turned it over. Missed a pair of crucial free throws as the pressure mounted and you could see us begin to stagger. Not a big boarding game, but this was a damn efficient and very GOOD game for Bonzi...through 3/4. Unfotrunately that was a common and ugly theme for us tongiht.
Bibby ( B ) -- efficient offensive first half marred by some turnovers, and had no real problem beating David Wesley on defense. Continued to just have it dialed in right through...you guessed it, the end of the 3rd. But this is a new year for us. And one where we find that even our most relaible clutch guy doesn't seem to be able to take over games late when we are struggling. Rather he seems to go with the rest of the team. Even joined the missfest at the line in the early 4th. Made some bad decisions down the stretch, and did not show he had full control of the team. Nonetheless wish he could have just played 48min tonight becuase whenever Rick tried to buy him just the littlest rest, Hart continued to give us absolutely nothing. Funny thing is we might have had 3 A type grades, or at least B+/A- grades, if the game had just been called after 3/4. Instead we get this.
Skinner ( D ) -- finally got the early call as the first big off the bench and pissed me off by again not doing much. Overmatched in there against Yao of course, but you just have to take advantage of these opportunities to prove you belong there. Got his only point on a lane violation FT. And as yet another 0 rebound effort off the bench proves, Brian remains as puzzling as any of our non-prroducing benchers.
Hart ( INC ) -- hit an early jumper, but then wildly charged right into Deke's waiting arms and it was no coincidence that the few minutes we tried to buy Bibby with Jason in there resulted in a terrible +/- for us. His one saving grace was that he fell below my 6 minute grading cutoff, so he avoids what otherwise would have been an unkind grade.
Garcia ( F ) -- and I bet Cisco wishes he could have had fewer minutes. Just a disaster out there this time. Came into the game in the second quarter, threw up a wild shot, and everybody went right at him on defense -- TMac's eyes in particular got big as saucers whenever Cisco came into the game. Was a disaster in the 4th. Threw up another real stupid three at a bad time. Reminded me of the game that almost benched Martin up in Seattle where Kevin got schooled by Ray Allen. Well, tonight it was Cisco's turn against TMac.
Thomas ( D ) -- entered the game late for him behind Reef rather than next to him, but ended up outlasting the Skinner/Corliss combo as we tried he and Reef together with Reef on Yao, and even gave Kenny a little run at SF across from McGrady. But wherever he played, he gave us nothing at all on offense and looked even shorter than normal in there against the Houston trees. Grabbed a few boards, but none of the notable ones he is capable of grabbing. Our bench is just such a disaster.
Corliss ( INC ) -- got the call on a deep bench night, but while he was physical, its only real experession was in a bunch of fouls. Credit for energy, but it was just energetic offensive fouls and he earned no 2nd half minutes with that.
Adelman ( C+ ) -- this one hurts. Maybe moreso than just about anything since the opening eye-opener in Oklahoma City. This was our game, the starters were clicking, we had the good energy that has been lacking recently, we were shooting a ridiculous 60%, were up by 14 and trying to put the game away, and then the wheels fell totally and completely off. Would say it was a shocking collapse if we hadn't collpased so often in recent games. It really all seemed to start when TMac hit a huge three in Reef's face to close the 3rd and drop the lead from 9 to 6, and we never recovered. Just have no confidence and no heart right now. A team squeezes, and we just panic and hide. Got real ugly there in the 4th. Went for an amazing 8 minute stretch in the final quarter without a field goal. A huge issue, as always, was the total crap that is currently our bench. We can't even buy short spurts of time with them anymore. Rick played his startes huge minutes again, and if there would be a complaint after this one, it would be that he didn't play them the whole 48. Rick went 5 deep into the pine looking for help, and everytime they hit the floor the momentum fell apart and the Rockets statrted to move on us. Even if only necessitated by the giant Ming in the middle, was nice to see Rick try Skinner first off the bench to give us some size. But of course Brian squandered the opportunity again. In what seems inconsequential now, early in the game I thought Rick called a good early timeout when the Rockets were starting to open up a 2nd quarter lead. Broke up the momentum. But nothing he tried in the 4th seemed to matter. Have no idea what the answer is right now. We were playing well. We weren't flat. We had the game. Tried almost the entire bench and they started to suck, so we go back to the starters, and then they panic and suck as well? What do you do as a coach when that happens? Who's left? Not mad at coach for this one. Blame lies elsewhere. Help is needed.
TNT Announcers ( A ) -- Not going to hear me say this often, but the Harlan/Collins/Miller trio were just dialed in all night and had their fingers right on the pulse of the game.
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