Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Ron Artest ( A- ) : 38min 23pts (10-21 FG, 1-2 3pt, 2-4 FT) 7rebs 2ast 0stl 0blk 1TO
good offensive start until about the midpoint of the first quarter, when he abruptly left the court and headed to the locker room with some sort of back problem? Returned a few minutes later though, and not only with no apparent ill effects, but just compeltely overpowering and dominating the Spurs inside physically. So who knows what it was or how much was more drama queening. Regardless, he was almost the only thing we had going in the first half as he channeled the old Artest/Bonzi bump and thump problems we caused the Spurs a few years back and just tortured them inside and out. Came at a price though, as he had more shots at half (13) than anybody else chalked up for the whole game (although here the normal observation that Kevin's FTs are not magic and actually represent shot attempts should be mentioned -- Kevin only took 12 "shots" but got about 20 total shot attempts himself by the end if you factor in his 17 FTs). Ron began to cool in the third however, and may not have been able to sustain that energy as he tailed away badly and largely disappeared other than an occasional forced shot. 17 points in the first half, a couple more hoops in the early third, and then just 2 more points the whole rest of the way. As usual the Spurs do not give Ron a natural matchup on defense, but even with that said he was no factor on that end this game against much of anyone. Grade is higher than normal for a low 20pt game with a bad fade after half and not much going on defensively, but Ron dominated and led to SUCH a degree before the break that I decided he held onto the A-..barely.
Mikki Moore ( B- ) -- 31min 7pts (2-6 FG, 0-0 3pt, 3-4 FT) 9rebs 0ast 0stl 1blk 1TO
Was missing jumpers in the early going as he was apparently thinking of himself as an offensive player now, but calmed down and returned to his normal game. Except of course the Spurs rarly allow you to play your normal game, and certianly aren't going to allow you to just run to the front of the rim the way the Warriors do. End result = not much offense. Grabbed some boards, and had a few moments of respectable defense on Duncan, but less effective than his numbers this time, and beaten inside by not only duncan, but Kurt Thomas as well. Best stint was in the second quarter as a center as Ron went wild at the PF.
Brad Miller ( D+ ) -- 22min 2pts (1-8 FG, 0-0 3pt, 0-0 FT) 6reb 3ast 0stl 1blk 1TO
Shot was way off early, including an early airball. No idea to what defreee the elbow issues may have played a role. The ineffectiveness may have led Reggie to use Mikki Moore a lot at center in the second quarter. Came out to play much more in the third, but much of it got expressed in chippiness, including a hard foul on Manu that led to a confrrontation, flagrant, technical etc. This grade was accurate as far as it goes (losuy numbers, but a burst of second half competitiveness), but I could have bumped it a little if there was actualy a physical issue. If not, then 3pts 6rebs on 1-8 shooting isn't getting it done.
Kevin Martin ( C- ) -- 37min 20pts (2-12 FG, 1-4 3pt, 15-17 FT) 2reb 1ast 1stl 0blk 2TO
well, we've seen this several times before. Another one of those ugly terrible shooting/all FT nights. Came out missing several early open looks, and they would about the last ones he got for the game. Really smothered by Bowen in the latter stages of the first half (after the Spurs re-figured out that he was not strong enoguh to guard Ron), but still worked himself to a bunch of trips to the FT line. Obviously frustrated though, and not getting much done in any other aspect of the game either. Came out in the third wiht a lot more energy and got some open court looks courtesy of AJ, and one good free look courtesy of a Brad pick. But still not able to get anything consistent going, and then Bowen reappeared to hound him, and aside from a single three in the early going of the 4th, that was that. Along the way spent a lot of time at the line, but mostly legitimate stuff tonight -- the Spurs would rather foul than let you get an easy look, and there was only one time that Kevin threw himself into his guy looking for a call. Gets a little bump here for the energy he came out with after half in particular -- did not just go meekly away on his own, had it taken away by the defense. On the other hand loses a tic for letting the offensive struggle bleed over and really not doing much in any other aspect of the game tonight.
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