Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Hide the women and children -- this ain't going to be pretty:
Peja ( C- ) -- 5 games into the season now, and still waiting to see Peja show up. Tonight did not stand out in his badness, but instead joined the rest of the team in a curious malaise. Would make the occasional shot, a good play here and there, and then come back and make a dumb mistake or miss a chippee next time down the floor. Just no flow, no rhythm.
Webber ( D ) -- did not look good on the second night of the back to back. In the first half actually had a number of good shots, but they just wouldn't fall. Everything was in and out. Thankfully realized he was ice cold and quit shooting the ball after awhile. Did not compound his lack of production with lack of intelligence. Briefly seemed to get inspired by Brad's effort and joined him in some tough play underneath. A few good passes, but just looked tired, uninspired and terribly groundbound all night long.
Miller ( B ) -- ony King to really bring any sort of game tonight. Sonics big men were playing really rough and Brad, at least, started playing burly ball in response. Lost his cool a little bit, but at least was banging around and trying on a night when nobody else could seem to summon up any energy.
Christie ( C- ) -- getting a little concerned about Doug. Had no training camp of course, but is the foot truly healed? And of course at his age you always worry is this the year he gets old? Maybe too early for that yet, but we're 5 games into the season now and Doug isn't giving us much of anything. Leaving a big hole in our lineup over at OG. No offense at all. Was off and on with his defense vs. Allen. Made a couple of good hustle plays, but like the rest of the team could not sustain.
Bibby ( D ) -- frustrated me so much with his bleeping free throw shooting that I wanted to just give him an "F". While we had all sorts of other problems, he and Brad missing FT after FT whenever we were trying to make a move really hurt. Just ugly. Particularly when you are an 80%+ shooter. Also had serious defensive issues with Luke Ridnour. Did bring some effort, and was making smart/saavy plays in order to get to the line. Unfortunately the way he was shooting FTs, him going to the line was almost like a TO for us.
BJax ( C- ) -- did not play particualrly well, and yet was one of the more effective Kings. In the first half gave us no offensive spark at all when we desperately needed it, but did do a good job of harassing Ray Allen on defense. In the second half hit an occassional shot, but again, and stop me if you've heard this before, could not sustain. No rhythm.
Barnes ( C- ) -- ah, the bubble bursting game for Matt. Still had pretty good energy, but on tonight looked like a camp invitee who made the team. energy, but no polish. Bad mistakes.
Tag ( F ) -- ugly ugly ugly. Think we need to vote him "out of shape guy most in need of training camp". Just did nothing except stick his arm out to pick up fouls.
Songaila ( D ) -- paging Darius! yoohoo! Gave us nothing on a night when we desperately needed somebody to give us a shot in the arm. You know it sucks when you're looking for Darius to bail you out. In any case, just wasted floor time. No better or worse than most of the rest of the team.
Evans ( D+ ) -- did nothing in a short first half stint when it mattered. Made a play or two in the second half, but not much production. Kind of been that way so far -- will give you a good game, and then just a scrub game. This was the scub game.
Martin ( INC ) -- finally made a good move in the last minute of the game. Might be his first in real NBA action. Otherwise, same deal. does nto look ready.
Daniels ( INC ) -- grabbed a few boards, and then threw the ball all over the court. Looked like an undrafted rookie 12th man.
Adleman ( D ) -- let me say this -- its hard to directly pin this one on Rick. There was exactly one player on the entire Kings squad who showed up to play today. It wasn't Rick's rotations -- there were no players to call upon and tonight the bench situation looked as dire as could possibly be. Wasn't play calling -- whatever we called was irrelevant. But for whatever reason we did not just show up to play. Even when we seemed to be trying in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, we simply had no focus. And rightly or wrongly that falls on the coach's lap. So this is really the team grade with a little bump for Rick for not doing anything obviously wrong himself.
Peja ( C- ) -- 5 games into the season now, and still waiting to see Peja show up. Tonight did not stand out in his badness, but instead joined the rest of the team in a curious malaise. Would make the occasional shot, a good play here and there, and then come back and make a dumb mistake or miss a chippee next time down the floor. Just no flow, no rhythm.
Webber ( D ) -- did not look good on the second night of the back to back. In the first half actually had a number of good shots, but they just wouldn't fall. Everything was in and out. Thankfully realized he was ice cold and quit shooting the ball after awhile. Did not compound his lack of production with lack of intelligence. Briefly seemed to get inspired by Brad's effort and joined him in some tough play underneath. A few good passes, but just looked tired, uninspired and terribly groundbound all night long.
Miller ( B ) -- ony King to really bring any sort of game tonight. Sonics big men were playing really rough and Brad, at least, started playing burly ball in response. Lost his cool a little bit, but at least was banging around and trying on a night when nobody else could seem to summon up any energy.
Christie ( C- ) -- getting a little concerned about Doug. Had no training camp of course, but is the foot truly healed? And of course at his age you always worry is this the year he gets old? Maybe too early for that yet, but we're 5 games into the season now and Doug isn't giving us much of anything. Leaving a big hole in our lineup over at OG. No offense at all. Was off and on with his defense vs. Allen. Made a couple of good hustle plays, but like the rest of the team could not sustain.
Bibby ( D ) -- frustrated me so much with his bleeping free throw shooting that I wanted to just give him an "F". While we had all sorts of other problems, he and Brad missing FT after FT whenever we were trying to make a move really hurt. Just ugly. Particularly when you are an 80%+ shooter. Also had serious defensive issues with Luke Ridnour. Did bring some effort, and was making smart/saavy plays in order to get to the line. Unfortunately the way he was shooting FTs, him going to the line was almost like a TO for us.
BJax ( C- ) -- did not play particualrly well, and yet was one of the more effective Kings. In the first half gave us no offensive spark at all when we desperately needed it, but did do a good job of harassing Ray Allen on defense. In the second half hit an occassional shot, but again, and stop me if you've heard this before, could not sustain. No rhythm.
Barnes ( C- ) -- ah, the bubble bursting game for Matt. Still had pretty good energy, but on tonight looked like a camp invitee who made the team. energy, but no polish. Bad mistakes.
Tag ( F ) -- ugly ugly ugly. Think we need to vote him "out of shape guy most in need of training camp". Just did nothing except stick his arm out to pick up fouls.
Songaila ( D ) -- paging Darius! yoohoo! Gave us nothing on a night when we desperately needed somebody to give us a shot in the arm. You know it sucks when you're looking for Darius to bail you out. In any case, just wasted floor time. No better or worse than most of the rest of the team.
Evans ( D+ ) -- did nothing in a short first half stint when it mattered. Made a play or two in the second half, but not much production. Kind of been that way so far -- will give you a good game, and then just a scrub game. This was the scub game.
Martin ( INC ) -- finally made a good move in the last minute of the game. Might be his first in real NBA action. Otherwise, same deal. does nto look ready.
Daniels ( INC ) -- grabbed a few boards, and then threw the ball all over the court. Looked like an undrafted rookie 12th man.
Adleman ( D ) -- let me say this -- its hard to directly pin this one on Rick. There was exactly one player on the entire Kings squad who showed up to play today. It wasn't Rick's rotations -- there were no players to call upon and tonight the bench situation looked as dire as could possibly be. Wasn't play calling -- whatever we called was irrelevant. But for whatever reason we did not just show up to play. Even when we seemed to be trying in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, we simply had no focus. And rightly or wrongly that falls on the coach's lap. So this is really the team grade with a little bump for Rick for not doing anything obviously wrong himself.
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