Grades v. Timberwolves 10/29

[Kingzrool]

OK. There have been 98 votes in this poll already. There are only 17 votes in our rock band poll so far and there were 16 participants.

http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29168

Please go here and vote. It is a close race between Bricklayer and Francisco d'Anconia.

/plug

Go Thompson!

 

[Gary]

That big ZERO from Moore on the rebounds is why Thompson should be starting now. Or at least getting the majority of the minutes at PF.

Just to follow up on my comment, I do like Moore.. Just off the bench as an energy player.. Read comments this morning in the paper, and they pretty much were the same thing I said. Theus is going to reward rebounding with more playing time, so I think we will be seeing more and more of Thompson.

 

[Kings Faithful]

I'm starting to tingel thinking about the potential of Hawes and Thompson. Just imagine if Thompson plays consistently like he did last night....yeah i know its only one game, but how often do "duds' come out and get those kind of numbers in a debut. Every good player in the league started out with just 1 good game which started off their careers..so thats im gonna look at this. And Hawes is a beast, he just needs to get a fire lit under him like he had last night and we are looking at someone special.

 

[quick dog]

I very much enjoyed last night's game, despite the loss. I will enjoy many more this season. Watching young guys play hard and excell is satisfying.

Perhaps I am wrong, but I have been a little skeptical of Kevin Martin. I think he could be getting too arrogant before his time, not like Kobi, but not charming either.

That said, I think Kevin, and especially the team, might benefit from Kevin's modest failure last night. The sterling play of two really young guys, and the balls-out performance of their team mates, ought to fortify their common bond. Kevin needs these guys, and they need him. It's obvious. These guys are building spree de corp, an it will get better as the season moves on. It's all good.

 

[Arby's Roast Beef]

I'm starting to tingel thinking about the potential of Hawes and Thompson. Just imagine if Thompson plays consistently like he did last night....yeah i know its only one game, but how often do "duds' come out and get those kind of numbers in a debut. Every good player in the league started out with just 1 good game which started off their careers..so thats im gonna look at this. And Hawes is a beast, he just needs to get a fire lit under him like he had last night and we are looking at someone special.

I'm glad Thompson played well in his first game, sticking to one particular area (that of fulfilling the garbage man role--rebounding, hustling and sticking in jumpers) while not getting overly passive or overly out of control. He does have that big man speed going for him, but keep in mind this is against Minnesota, the home of plodding big men types (Craig Smith, Al Jefferson, and Kevin Love are all considered average-sized to undersized big men with huge weight and huge speed/athletic deficiencies) so this more than likely won't happen any given night. It's a great confidence booster, that's for sure, though. As for your argument, even bad players can start out with good games; Olowokandi had 14 pts and 6 rebs on 5-9 shooting in his first game, so that's not exactly a good barometer--it's about momentum and matchups for Thompson. We'll see how it goes from here.

 

[Bricklayer]

I'm starting to tingel thinking about the potential of Hawes and Thompson. Just imagine if Thompson plays consistently like he did last night....yeah i know its only one game, but how often do "duds' come out and get those kind of numbers in a debut. Every good player in the league started out with just 1 good game which started off their careers..so thats im gonna look at this. And Hawes is a beast, he just needs to get a fire lit under him like he had last night and we are looking at someone special.

Note that while I do not particularly believe in either player nor think either will be as good as Thompson, since you asked, just last night:

Mark Gasol 12pts 12rebs 2blk
Farrel Arthur 11pts 15rebs

Let;s see what the kid does for the rest of this road trip. Since he still doesn't have any organized game to speak of there really isn't much teams can do to key on stopping him other than telling their guys to get a body on him, so let's see if he can sustain the same level of production (ok -- no he can't, nobody can) against the rest of the undersized PFs on this trip (Haslem/Beasley, Hedo, Brand etc.).

 

[VF21]

I very much enjoyed last night's game, despite the loss. I will enjoy many more this season. Watching young guys play hard and excell is satisfying.

Perhaps I am wrong, but I have been a little skeptical of Kevin Martin. I think he could be getting too arrogant before his time, not like Kobi, but not charming either.

Arrogant? Martin? sorry, qd, but I have to disagree MOST vehemently. I cannot imagine where you would get that idea...but I guess to each his own opinion.

That said, I think Kevin, and especially the team, might benefit from Kevin's modest failure last night. The sterling play of two really young guys, and the balls-out performance of their team mates, ought to fortify their common bond. Kevin needs these guys, and they need him. It's obvious. These guys are building spree de corp, an it will get better as the season moves on. It's all good.

I do agree, however, that building an espirit de corps is essential to the eventual success to the team. Kevin, like any other player in the league, is going to have off nights and seeing another team mate or two step up is most likely not only a relief but a motivator for players like Martin whose goal to continue to improve is well known.

 

[Bricklayer]

Arrogant? Martin? sorry, qd, but I have to disagree MOST vehemently. I cannot imagine where you would get that idea...but I guess to each his own opinion.

Oh, I've seen the beginning of that, and even mentioned it. I just haven't necessarily seen it as all a bad thing. Less likable perhaps, but almost all great players evntually develop a level of cocksure arrogance, or in Kevin's case, a sense of his significance. As long as it does not spill over into mistreatment of people around them, its just part of the package.

 

[VF21]

I guess it's semantics but I see a "sense of significance" as totally different than arrogance. Kevin is becoming more confident and more aware of the role he is expected to play for the team, but I don't see that as arrogance.

Po-tay-toes, po-tah-toes perhaps...

 

[Dime Dropper]

Po-tay-toes, po-tah-toes perhaps...

I think you mean "spuds"

 

[kupman]

I think that Kmart has always been a little cocky. I remember some in the media pointing this out when he first arrived in Sactown. I think he is cocky as a player and humble as a citizen. That is my 2 cents.

 

[CruzDude]

Just love how JT has instincts for rebounding and trying to be in the right place. His numbers vs. Mikki are embarrassing for the 10 yr vet. And his speed...... seems he has to slow down just to not run or dribble past everyone. A great natural talent that has us looking for the next game.

Voted for Hawes over JT tho' as Spencer had the type of game you are starting to expect and is getting more in control every game. The end of game hesitancy is too bad but he learns from every game as well.

 

[Jespher]

Hey Brick, you should make the polls public next time around.

 

[Bricklayer]

Hey Brick, you should make the polls public next time around.

Never.

Never ever.