Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Artest ( B ) -- big defensive start crushing Manu once again, but offensively, it was a moment here or there, but mostly a struggle as neither Ron nor Mike could provide Bonzi with that critical 2nd gun in the early going. In the second half began forcing bad shots as our offense disappeared and the Spurs began to pull away. Looked like it might be one of those games, but finally stepped up to hit a big three at the end of the third quarter to help hold us within megaphone difference, and then it was off to the races. Dominated the first halfd of the 4th quarter and dragged us all the way back before passing the torch back over to Bonzi once again. But I should say dominated the 4th quarter OFFENSIVELY, because despite making a handful of spectacular plays, in the second half in particular Manu Ginobili finally broke away from Ron Artest, starting beating him around the corner and to spots, and had a big half. Good defensive start, great offensive final quarter, but largely struggled otherwise. The late offensive rush was nonetheless the only reason this one was even remotely close by the end. Only guy who, even for a quarter, showed up in support of Bonzi.
Thomas ( D ) -- so much for the big game -- practically an incomplete. Quick foul trouble on some tough calls in the first quarter, and so we went small with Kevin after only 4 minutes, and never came back to Kenny until after half. And it didn't take him long to get number four and end up back on the bench either. Ended up playing a grand total of 10 minutes tonight, and doing nothing in them. Our frontcourt has just been completely worthless this entire series. Reef gave us the one game then disappeared. Brad hit a couple jumpers last time out. KT? Nothing. Nada. Zilch.
Miller ( D- ) -- hit a few early jumpers, and a couple of point blank finishes, otherwise, nothing. Spurs put Horry on him for stretches, but didn't matter who it was, Brad did nothing much against anybody. Amazingly came up with all of 2 rebounds again, dropping his average in this series BELOW 3 rebounds a game!? How is that possible? Of course what he's going to be remembered for here, and what is so widely discussed, is his "defense" after being reinserted in the final 3 minutes of the game. Got completely worked, and the Spurs ability to punish inside with Duncan at will, and either score or draw the double freeing up their shooters was what won the game for them in the final minutes. Not that Brad at any point in his career has been able to stop Tim Duncan. But just a modicum of resistance would have been so critical here. I seriously have no idea where Brad's head is. Where is the effort, even just once as we try to pull the mega-upset?
Wells ( A+ ) -- Kobe who? We passed Bonzi for President time several games ago, now I am thinking it might be about time to start up the Church of Bonzi. This series...just is going to be talked about for a long time. And while it all went for naught this time out, Bonzi may have topped himself again. At this rate he may just pour in 50 in game 7. 38pts 12 rebs 3-3 from 3pt land...we are getting a first hand taste of what its like to have an overwhleming superstar carry you in a playoff series...with the only thing being that coming into the series you would not have said we HAD an overwhelming superstar. Bonzi came out in this one just on the attack once again -- tremendous confidence and starting to believe he is as good as he's been playing. Missed another monster dunk early where he was clearly trying to send a message. But never missed a beat. Was doing it from the outside as well as inside this time, not even hesitating from out beyond the three point stripe. Made a few obvious mistakes on defense, leaving guys open. And slowed down for a while in the 4th. But then after Artest carried us back into it, Bonzi drained the huge three to tie it back up with 3:30 to go and poured in 8pts down the stretch. Not perfect, but incredibly good. Just as good a big game performance as anybody who has worn a Sacto uniform has delivered.
Bibby ( D ) -- and yet another King who just did not show up tongiht. All we needed was ONE of our "supporting cast" to play Robin to Bonzi's Batman and we might have gotten this one. Particularly disappointing because of who it was. Struggled in the first half and picked up his third foul just before halftime. Then got his 4th in the early third. And that could have been a complete disaster as Jason Hart came in and did absolutely nothing. But Mike returned early and managed to play it out. Even hit a big three. But that was about it. An 8pt night on 3-12 in the biggest game of the year. Maybe the elbow was bothering him, not sure. Defense on Parker was hit and miss. Did a good job of keeping Tony in front of him at times, but gave up open jumper after open jumper.
Martin ( C+ ) -- came in early again, this time for Thomas, hit nothing early while often getting unlucky enough to draw Bowen as his defender. Did grab some boards, and while nothing really special there, his 5 were as many as the ENTIRE frontcourt managed.
Hit a three late in the half and again earned more minutes than both our PFs combined as we smallballed it. In fact may have been better on the glass and defense than if we had played our putative bigs. Not a great effort, and little impact. But may have been steadier than anybody but Bonzi and Ron.
Reef ( D+ ) -- did next to nothing for us out there besides foul, and so stinky were his frontcourt mates that Reef was the "star". 5pts 1reb 1ast 2 TO 5fls in 16min. Some star. Has now managed to grab a grand total of 4 rebounds in the last 3 games for us.
Hart ( INC ) -- briefly inserted to close the first half after Bibby picked up his third, and then in the third quarter with Bibby in significant foul trouble, all of a sudden we had to insert Hart in the middle of a crucial strtech and actually RELY on him.
A worst nightmare. We ground to a halt, and Rick simply could not hold Bibby out for even the remainder of the quarter, and had to risk slipping him back in at the 2 minute mark as we faded away.
Cisco ( INC ) -- came in to start the second quarter, but we went cold and silent with him out there and he was quickly gone. Did not return until garbagetime.
Price ( INC ) -- :30 of garbagetime
Potapenko ( INC ) -- :30 of garbagetime
Adelman ( B- ) -- A big big game, and a lot going on. Bonzi had to be getting lonely out there -- by the end of the third he had scored three times as many points as the next highest King (30 to 10 for Ron/Brad), and grabbed more than twice as many rebounds (9 to Ron's 4). He was Kobe. Unfortunately, like Kobe he was surrounded by Kwame Brown, Smush Parker, Luke Walton and Brian Cook. Wasn't until the final quarter when Ron finally emerged to try to help bring this one home. Rick became a more active participant in the outcome of this one as the game went along. Went to our smallball strategy very very early in this one. Kenny got in quick foul trouble, and there was no delay. Right to Kevin. Foul trouble to both Kenny and Mike in the third had us quickly running smalball again, but with Hart as the PG. That did not work at all, and Rick was forced into the risky but necessary move of reinserting Bibby with 3 minutes to go in the quarter still carrying those 4 fouls. Rick also called a good timeout during that stretch with us slipping down 10 with 2 minutes to go in the third. Questions would be should we have tried to mix it up, go more conventional rather than becoming an almost pure smallball team? With us struggling for offense in the late third should we have gone to Reef quicker? And of course the biggee -- should Rick have reinserted Brad with 3 minutes to go to get worked over by Duncan? Of course arguing against all of that is this fact: the frontcourt gave us 5 boards in 57 minutes COMBINED. There were no good options up front. We came oh so close to pulling this one off, but in many ways all of our faults were on full display. The lack of shotblockers or defensive stalwarts inside. The lack of a backup PG. Bonzi was magnificent. But he could not do it alone.
Thomas ( D ) -- so much for the big game -- practically an incomplete. Quick foul trouble on some tough calls in the first quarter, and so we went small with Kevin after only 4 minutes, and never came back to Kenny until after half. And it didn't take him long to get number four and end up back on the bench either. Ended up playing a grand total of 10 minutes tonight, and doing nothing in them. Our frontcourt has just been completely worthless this entire series. Reef gave us the one game then disappeared. Brad hit a couple jumpers last time out. KT? Nothing. Nada. Zilch.
Miller ( D- ) -- hit a few early jumpers, and a couple of point blank finishes, otherwise, nothing. Spurs put Horry on him for stretches, but didn't matter who it was, Brad did nothing much against anybody. Amazingly came up with all of 2 rebounds again, dropping his average in this series BELOW 3 rebounds a game!? How is that possible? Of course what he's going to be remembered for here, and what is so widely discussed, is his "defense" after being reinserted in the final 3 minutes of the game. Got completely worked, and the Spurs ability to punish inside with Duncan at will, and either score or draw the double freeing up their shooters was what won the game for them in the final minutes. Not that Brad at any point in his career has been able to stop Tim Duncan. But just a modicum of resistance would have been so critical here. I seriously have no idea where Brad's head is. Where is the effort, even just once as we try to pull the mega-upset?
Wells ( A+ ) -- Kobe who? We passed Bonzi for President time several games ago, now I am thinking it might be about time to start up the Church of Bonzi. This series...just is going to be talked about for a long time. And while it all went for naught this time out, Bonzi may have topped himself again. At this rate he may just pour in 50 in game 7. 38pts 12 rebs 3-3 from 3pt land...we are getting a first hand taste of what its like to have an overwhleming superstar carry you in a playoff series...with the only thing being that coming into the series you would not have said we HAD an overwhelming superstar. Bonzi came out in this one just on the attack once again -- tremendous confidence and starting to believe he is as good as he's been playing. Missed another monster dunk early where he was clearly trying to send a message. But never missed a beat. Was doing it from the outside as well as inside this time, not even hesitating from out beyond the three point stripe. Made a few obvious mistakes on defense, leaving guys open. And slowed down for a while in the 4th. But then after Artest carried us back into it, Bonzi drained the huge three to tie it back up with 3:30 to go and poured in 8pts down the stretch. Not perfect, but incredibly good. Just as good a big game performance as anybody who has worn a Sacto uniform has delivered.
Bibby ( D ) -- and yet another King who just did not show up tongiht. All we needed was ONE of our "supporting cast" to play Robin to Bonzi's Batman and we might have gotten this one. Particularly disappointing because of who it was. Struggled in the first half and picked up his third foul just before halftime. Then got his 4th in the early third. And that could have been a complete disaster as Jason Hart came in and did absolutely nothing. But Mike returned early and managed to play it out. Even hit a big three. But that was about it. An 8pt night on 3-12 in the biggest game of the year. Maybe the elbow was bothering him, not sure. Defense on Parker was hit and miss. Did a good job of keeping Tony in front of him at times, but gave up open jumper after open jumper.
Martin ( C+ ) -- came in early again, this time for Thomas, hit nothing early while often getting unlucky enough to draw Bowen as his defender. Did grab some boards, and while nothing really special there, his 5 were as many as the ENTIRE frontcourt managed.
Hit a three late in the half and again earned more minutes than both our PFs combined as we smallballed it. In fact may have been better on the glass and defense than if we had played our putative bigs. Not a great effort, and little impact. But may have been steadier than anybody but Bonzi and Ron.Reef ( D+ ) -- did next to nothing for us out there besides foul, and so stinky were his frontcourt mates that Reef was the "star". 5pts 1reb 1ast 2 TO 5fls in 16min. Some star. Has now managed to grab a grand total of 4 rebounds in the last 3 games for us.
Hart ( INC ) -- briefly inserted to close the first half after Bibby picked up his third, and then in the third quarter with Bibby in significant foul trouble, all of a sudden we had to insert Hart in the middle of a crucial strtech and actually RELY on him.
A worst nightmare. We ground to a halt, and Rick simply could not hold Bibby out for even the remainder of the quarter, and had to risk slipping him back in at the 2 minute mark as we faded away.Cisco ( INC ) -- came in to start the second quarter, but we went cold and silent with him out there and he was quickly gone. Did not return until garbagetime.
Price ( INC ) -- :30 of garbagetime
Potapenko ( INC ) -- :30 of garbagetime
Adelman ( B- ) -- A big big game, and a lot going on. Bonzi had to be getting lonely out there -- by the end of the third he had scored three times as many points as the next highest King (30 to 10 for Ron/Brad), and grabbed more than twice as many rebounds (9 to Ron's 4). He was Kobe. Unfortunately, like Kobe he was surrounded by Kwame Brown, Smush Parker, Luke Walton and Brian Cook. Wasn't until the final quarter when Ron finally emerged to try to help bring this one home. Rick became a more active participant in the outcome of this one as the game went along. Went to our smallball strategy very very early in this one. Kenny got in quick foul trouble, and there was no delay. Right to Kevin. Foul trouble to both Kenny and Mike in the third had us quickly running smalball again, but with Hart as the PG. That did not work at all, and Rick was forced into the risky but necessary move of reinserting Bibby with 3 minutes to go in the quarter still carrying those 4 fouls. Rick also called a good timeout during that stretch with us slipping down 10 with 2 minutes to go in the third. Questions would be should we have tried to mix it up, go more conventional rather than becoming an almost pure smallball team? With us struggling for offense in the late third should we have gone to Reef quicker? And of course the biggee -- should Rick have reinserted Brad with 3 minutes to go to get worked over by Duncan? Of course arguing against all of that is this fact: the frontcourt gave us 5 boards in 57 minutes COMBINED. There were no good options up front. We came oh so close to pulling this one off, but in many ways all of our faults were on full display. The lack of shotblockers or defensive stalwarts inside. The lack of a backup PG. Bonzi was magnificent. But he could not do it alone.
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