Grades v. Timberwolves 12/10

[Mad D]

Webber *1st 3 quarters <B+> *4th <D->
Was having a pretty good game until the 4th, came out playing aggresive and dunking in the paint. He was also playing some pretty good D on KG early in the game causing him to travel 3 times. He was shooting 50% until he started chucking up a few desperation 3's during the last 3 minutes. That missed alleyoop must have bothered him a lot mentally, because it was all down hill from there.

Stojakovic *1st 3 quarters <B> *4th <D+>
Quiet forth, was not getting the ball and then he became stagnant because of that. Needs to become more agressive and start screaming if no one gets it too him. When he did get the ball he didn't even bother to create space, instead he just faded away to shoot.

Bibby *1st 3 quarters <A> *4th <C->
Started out pretty well but just was part of that breakdown in the 4th. Came out with a shooting well (late night practices looked like it helped) and he also was setting up his team.

Christe *1st 3 quarters <C-> *4th <C->
Was invisible on both sides of the court except for that hustle play with Barnes.

Miller *1st 3 quarters <INC> foul trouble *4th <C> Rebounded and went hard to the basket to score. Missed a lot of FTs. Also it looks like he is doing a better job at sheilding the ball when he goes into the lane.

Bobby *1st 3 quarters <A> *4th <D> Like Webber he was having a good game until the forth then he starting making mistakes like turning over the ball... (maybe I'm too frustrated to remember correctly). Had a few dagger 3's during the 3rd when we had the lead but that meant notthing in the end.

Ostertag (INC) Played just enough to get dunked on. Did play some decent D on KG (on one possesion) by staying in front of him.

Barnes (C) His hustle was nice to see in the third.

Songalia (C+) Had some nice plays and played some pretty good D on KG but for some reason he continues to be the refs whipping boy.

 

[Ryan]

I just got in from a film shoot....I take it by these grades that we didn't win...just remember that out 12 of 13 wins were mostly against poor teams. This should be a wake up call.

 

[piksi]

I just got in from a film shoot....I take it by these grades that we didn't win...just remember that out 12 of 13 wins were mostly against poor teams. This should be a wake up call.

we choked

 

[sloter]

So what do you think will happen when we wake up ?

 

[AriesMar27]

shouldnt this be our second wake up call from the wolves this season?

 

[Heuge]

So what do you think will happen when we wake up ?

play 48 minutes

 

[piksi]

So what do you think will happen when we wake up ?

We will not. We will win all the games till we play SAS at home and the same thing will happen again

 

[Mad D]

The only way I will see redemption is if we slit the series or if we win the series against another elite team... but if we do that feeling might only hold over until the playoffs.

 

[Andriod_KiNg]

whats up with these 4th Q's ? do the guys need more rest or what ?

 

[Bricklayer]

Peja ( C- ) -- was rendered invisible again vs. the Wolves. An old story. But with a new twist -- this time Peja wasn't harrassed into a horrendous shooting night. This time he never even got the shots off. Which of course raises the eternal question of why -- was it the Wolves defense denying him the ball, sometimes even doubling him without it, and using his lack of athleticism against him? Was it the Kings themselves not recognizing and/or looking for him, and possibly even being conscious of his history against this team? Was it Peja himself just quitting after a while? Giving up and not moving or making the sharp cuts? Or a combination of all of the above? I vote for the combination myself. But one way or the other, another game against the Wolves. Another game when Peja plays major minutes with little production. Played good defense for 3 quarters, but came suspiciously close to quitting there in the 4th.
Webber ( C+ ) -- weird game by Webb really messed up by the ending. Legs looked wobbly to start the game, and was struggling to get up and down the court. Was also taking too many shots, but they were shots within the offense -- basically Minnesota was daring him to shoot. But mixed in some very aggressive drives with the open jumpers, making the former, missing the latter. And then in the second half came out smoking and was hitting everythig inside and out. Made a number of nice assists, but never had the legs to do much on the glass. Really marred his effort late in the game by getting desperate and stupid down the stretch -- began making dumb plays and forcing up dumb shots. As the team fell apart around him, Webb only made it worse. On the other side of the court Garnett was just out of his mind. Not even sure how much of that to blame on Webb. Best player in basketball played like it and just kicked our ***.
Miller ( B- ) -- got in early foul touble and was a non-factor in the first half. Was shaky with the shot, ineffective on the boards. But one of those games where he came out after halftime and was a new player. Got much more aggressive on both ends of the court, and gave us a welcome shot of boardwork. Managed to stay out of the way during our messy collapse late, but badly missed FTs all game long that really hurt.
Christie ( D+ ) -- oh, did he play? Got into early and unnecessary foul trouble, and was never heard from agin. Too bad too because he started off the game looking spry and coming back to help crash the boards. I had hope that he was channeling his playoff performance last year and was going to come up big. No such luck. A couple of good passes. But did not have the usual positive effect on Peja's game.
Bibby ( B- ) -- played a good first half, and was easily wining the matchup with Cassel. Playing with a lot of confidence, and almost singlehandedly held off the charging Wolves during the late 2nd quarter. But Cassel came out gunning in the second half, and down the stretch it was the same old story again -- Bibby's defense sucks, an Cassel is a big-tme clutch player. Overall grade takes a significant hit for his role in the late collapse.
BJax ( B- ) -- kind of an Oreo game -- entered he game in bizarre fashion. Just looked incredibly distratced or something. On one memorable play simply was not watching the ball at all on a Bibby pass and did not even twitch until it bounced off his chest out of bounds. But stablized thereafter, and began to provide us with the sort of big shots that can turn a game like this. Was huge in the early 4th when we were dueling with the Wolves and going back and forth. But then we hit the other cookie side of the Oreo, and got sloppy again and contributed to our collapse.
Songaila ( D+ ) -- just looked short, white, and overmatched in there today. Was battling against Garnett, but not effectively -- KG just played right over the top of him. Picked up a lot of fouls. Did hit a few shots.
Ostertag ( C- ) -- don't think we wanted to use him in there today, but were forced into it by foul trouble. He did nothing during his minutes to give us any reason to change our mind. Just kind of there.
Barnes ( B- ) -- entered the game very sloppy -- along with Bobby came in very scattered. But collected himself, and then showed the yin of his game with some nice hustle plays. Always the story with him -- slop vs. hustle. Today the balance was somwhere in the middle.

Adelman ( D ) -- This was not a good game for Rick, on a number of levels. We did come out ready to play, and there seemed to be a designed plan to attack the Wolves inside with Webb, backcutters, anybody at the rim. But foul trouble disrupted that, our bench came in and was really sloppy, and Rick briefly resorted to a terrible lineup experiment with Peja, a guy who has ben rebounding like a PG this year, playing PF and tryign to guard Garnett, who leads the league in rebounds. Furthermore, after a hot start by Peja, we never did for the rest of the game figure out or design a way to get him shots. And of course down the stretch we completely collapsed again. The wheels fell off in every conceivable fashion. And when that happens for the 2nd time in a month vs. the same team, its the coach as much as anyone who has to look in the mirror. The Wolves are a great team, and our worst nightmare. And they have taken to squeezing and squeezing us in 4th quarters, and watching us collapse. That's three straight times in the regular season now (remember they did it the last game at Arco last year too).

I will say this now -- I fear the Wolves more than any other team in the league at this point. If we met them in the playoffs and you forced me to bet my life savings, well sorry guys, my money's on the Wolves. Not that they are necessarily the best team in the league. But they are our worst matchup. They are us. But us with a ferocious legaue MVP and athleticism. We need a new plan against them in the worst way. Must find a way to contain Garnett (good luck). Must find a way to make Peja more valuable than Fred Hoiberg. Until we do...

 

[Mad D]

whats up with these 4th Q's ? do the guys need more rest or what ?

thats what the guys at NBA fastbreak think

 

[4cwebb]

What in the heck happened? Did Peja pull a Kobe with onlyl 8 shots? Is he trying to prove something?

And why the heck is CWebb shooting the ball 27 times? Seriously.

 

[Bricklayer]

What in the heck happened? Did Peja pull a Kobe with onlyl 8 shots? Is he trying to prove something?

And why the heck is CWebb shooting the ball 27 times? Seriously.

He was 11-22 and looking like he might carry us to victory, then the Wolves charged, we panicked, and Webb started throwing up stupid shots in some sort of desperate attempt to stem the tide.

 

[Zyphen]

Webb was looking for a breakout game against a title contender. He started slow but then started making em and even hit .500 around the 3rd. However, at the end of the game (from what I saw), he just kinda broke down mentally and tried to force up Mcgrady-like shots. Unfortunately, Peja, who was supposed to take a good chunk of Webb's shots, was nowhere to be found. He kind of just settled into the background and made no real effort to get open. This became only more apparent as the game progressed. They made a real effort (very obvious effort) to get him going at one point late into the game but he just took very sluggish looking shots and continued his plodding jog up and down the court.

If I didn't watch the game, I woulda very easily blamed most of it on Webb according to the stat sheet but the sheet doesn't tell you about **** like Peja pulled. We need to just promise him a trade in the offseason if he brings his entire game every night for this season.

Webb was the best option on the floor for most of his shots.

 

[Andriod_KiNg]

Adelman didnt conduct this game the right way, called timeouts in wrong times , let players rested for too long/too short , i didnt even know what we were trying to do with all the switching goin on.

 

[AleksandarN]

Question: If Pedja can not get open with a man stuck to him why not set more screeens. We need to set more plays for Pedja not just run him on the weak side and let the others players take over the offense so much. I can see why Rick does this sometimes because it does open up the game because the person guarding him does not leave him for help defense. But you have to look at it this way we need to ball in hands of people who can make the shot. If we get him involved more the more aggressive he is. The biggest weakness on this team is not the CWebb or the other players but the coaching this year. We run the same system year in and year out the proiblem is the defenses has evolved and our offense has sadly not.

 

[Bricklayer]

Quick note: we scored 105pts in this game. The offense was NOT the problem, whatever the odd balance. Only 1 team in the league averages more than 105 -- that's Phoenix at 107.


We allowed 37pts int he 4th quarter. 113 for the game on 51% shooting. Got creamed on the boards etc. If you can't win consistentyl scoring 105pts and shooting a good % (47), then you've got problems.

 

[bozzwell]

Question: If Pedja can not get open with a man stuck to him why not set more screeens. We need to set more plays for Pedja not just run him on the weak side and let the others players take over the offense so much. I can see why Rick does this sometimes because it does open up the game because the person guarding him does not leave him for help defense. But you have to look at it this way we need to ball in hands of people who can make the shot. If we get him involved more the more aggressive he is. The biggest weakness on this team is not the CWebb or the other players but the coaching this year.

Well, you kind of answered your own question there. Jerry kept repeating throughout the broadcast that more plays have to be run for Pedja when Szcerbiak is on him (in fact, it was one of his Key's to the game at half-time) and I thought - Not while CWebb and Miller are taking the ball inside as if there is nobody guarding the paint and shots are dropping elsewhere. Pedja was hot in the first quarter and that created more space and opportunities for other players. Theories abound why Pedja never got more involved later in the game...

 

[AleksandarN]

Quick note: we scored 105pts in this game. The offense was NOT the problem, whatever the odd balance.


We allowed 37pts int he 4th quarter. 113 for the game on 51% shooting. Got creamed on the boards etc. If you can't win consistentyl scoring 105pts and shooting a good % (47), then you've got problems.

I am not only talking about this game I talking about the whole season and the playoffs last year. We need a coach who can adapt to changes within the flow of the game which is not Ricks strong suit. See the problem aswell is we leak out on defense way to much in order to set up our offense. I see this everytime, We play good defense and then the other team throws up a shot and we stand around watch them get the rebound that is how they get so many second chance points.

P.S. we also need athletes.

 

[AleksandarN]

Well, you kind of answered your own question there. Jerry kept repeating throughout the broadcast that more plays have to be run for Pedja when Szcerbiak is on him (in fact, it was one of his Key's to the game at half-time) and I thought - Not while CWebb and Miller are taking the ball inside as if there is nobody guarding the paint and shots are dropping elsewhere. Pedja was hot in the first quarter and that created more space and opportunities for other players. Theories abound why Pedja never got more involved later in the game...

You see that is good untill the other team adjusts and sends other players to help who are not guarding Pedja. We need to mix it up, there is no balance.

 

[bozzwell]

You see that is good untill the other team adjusts and sends other players to help who are not guarding Pedja. We need to mix it up, there is no balance.

Normally, I would agree with you and pour some scorn on Adelman, but seeing Pedja pull a Darko (Milicic) in the 4th completely killed that argument.

 

[AleksandarN]

Normally, I would agree with you and pour some scorn on Adelman, but seeing Pedja pull a Darko (Milicic) in the 4th completely killed that argument.

where was the plays called for Pedja in the forth and where were the screens?
This is what I mean,. This game makes me mad. I hate losing to the Timberwiolves. I hate losing period. One thing is for sure Pedja better rebound or I would ship him to the Suns myself for Marion.

 

[Kev.in]

I'm getting sick of seeing us play like a bunch of morons against the Timberwolves. We're a veteran team, but we keep playing like a bunch of rookies out of high school.

 

[Zyphen]

Whatever we say about Adelman, I don't think there are too many other coaches that are as good a fit for his players than he is. His replacement has to be good at running the same up-tempo offense. We've seen what happens when you don't play to your players' strengths with Van Gundy in Houston. They are the pinnacle of underachievement in the league (with the Grizzlies running close).

Peja got plays called for him in the 3rd and he did a sloppy job on each one. Adelman took him out and said something to him in the 4th and he continued his half-hearted performance. This does not inspire a coach to run plays for you and I'll back Adelman on that even though he coached a sub-par game overall.

 

[AleksandarN]

Whatever we say about Adelman, I don't think there are too many other coaches that are as good a fit for his players than he is. His replacement has to be good at running the same up-tempo offense. We've seen what happens when you don't play to your players' strengths with Van Gundy in Houston. They are the pinnacle of underachievement in the league (with the Grizzlies running close).

Peja got plays called for him in the 3rd and he did a sloppy job on each one. Adelman took him out and said something to him in the 4th and he continued his half-hearted performance. This does not inspire a coach to run plays for you and I'll back Adelman on that even though he coached a sub-par game overall.

This is not just a one game occurance this happens in alot of games. We need to do a better job period and that is up to the pklayers and mainly the coach to do it. Even if you say the players do not listen to the coach then it is time we find a new coach and new system for the players to play in, because as we are right now (this year and including last couple of years) we are not going to win a campionship, unless we change how we play.

 

[gixxerR6]

Question: If Pedja can not get open with a man stuck to him why not set more screeens. We need to set more plays for Pedja not just run him on the weak side and let the others players take over the offense so much. I can see why Rick does this sometimes because it does open up the game because the person guarding him does not leave him for help defense. But you have to look at it this way we need to ball in hands of people who can make the shot. If we get him involved more the more aggressive he is. The biggest weakness on this team is not the CWebb or the other players but the coaching this year. We run the same system year in and year out the proiblem is the defenses has evolved and our offense has sadly not.

im going to say this once and for all you want to hate me call me a not kings fan but Rick Adelman is and will be resposnible why we always choke in play offs he is the WEAKEST player on the team rick in my opinion is one of the worst coaches in the NBA period. IF you want to make an argument, that adelman lead us to the Play offs each year and that we are always have the best records during regualr season you have no clue about basketball coaching. The Kings have AWSOME PLAYERS THE LAST 4 YEARS WHICH means if they had no COACH AT ALL they still would have made it to the playoffs simple as that. Best example Adelman with Portland late 80's and early 90's similar to the king the Blazers had great players and a poor coach (rick) which fell 3 times in NBA finals. (lets not mention the bad team he coached) I've notcied long ago that adelman is the recepit of Faliure. Most people who know somewhat of basketball know that Adelman is avery poor coach, until the kings get a new coach we will always go through it every year.

ps: i might get chewed up by VF21 for this but please be at least honost about adelman.

 

[Zyphen]

Then we'd have to change the players too. All of the starters are too established in this system to suddenly change to a Detroit Pistons type of game. Rebuilding is a bold move and may work in the long run but takes a long time and is a really big gamble. When you're so close to being at the top, it's wiser to make smaller adjustments like player trades or change of minutes. Also, there comes a certain point where the coach really can't do that much more and it's up to the players to exert their wills over the opposing players.

We need to motivate Pedja somehow because he would have been the deciding factor and I definitely believe we could have beaten the wolves if he was more into the game.

I think we've proven with how close we've come in previous years that this system will bring the team within striking distance of a championship. I'd rather find that one extra piece rather than bet it all on a brand new system.

 

[Zyphen]

im going to say this once and for all you want to hate me call me a not kings fan but Rick Adelman is and will be resposnible why we always choke in play offs he is the WEAKEST player on the team rick in my opinion is one of the worst coaches in the NBA period. IF you want to make an argument, that adelman lead us to the Play offs each year and that we are always have the best records during regualr season you have no clue about basketball coaching. The Kings have AWSOME PLAYERS THE LAST 4 YEARS WHICH means if they had no COACH AT ALL they still would have made it to the playoffs simple as that. Best example Adelman with Portland late 80's and early 90's similar to the king the Blazers had great players and a poor coach (rick) which fell 3 times in NBA finals. (lets not mention the bad team he coached) I've notcied long ago that adelman is the recepit of Faliure. Most people who know somewhat of basketball know that Adelman is avery poor coach, until the kings get a new coach we will always go through it every year.

ps: i might get chewed up by VF21 for this but please be at least honost about adelman.

The Grizzlies, who virtually all NBA analysts had said are going to have a break-out season, are loaded with talented players. Their season has been horrible so far. Their former coach, Hubie Brown, was having health problems through the start of the season and recently retired. His replacement is a rookie. According to your theory, they should have just got it together on talent alone...

Plenty of coaches in NBA history have come close but failed at getting a championship. Did the existence of Michael Jordan prevent anyone but Phil Jackson from being considered a "good coach" for their 6 years? A lot more have never come close to championships at all. Saying Adelman is among the worst in the league is an exaggeration at best. Name the dozen or so coaches that are so much better than him?

 

[AleksandarN]

Their former coach, Hubie Brown, was having health problems through the start of the season and recently retired. His replacement is a rookie.

A rookie since when is Mike a rookie coach?

 

[gixxerR6]

The Grizzlies, who virtually all NBA analysts had said are going to have a break-out season, are loaded with talented players. Their season has been horrible so far. Their former coach, Hubie Brown, was having health problems through the start of the season and recently retired. His replacement is a rookie. According to your theory, they should have just got it together on talent alone...

Plenty of coaches in NBA history have come close but failed at getting a championship. Did the existence of Michael Jordan prevent anyone but Phil Jackson from being considered a "good coach" for their 6 years? A lot more have never come close to championships at all. Saying Adelman is among the worst in the league is an exaggeration at best. Name the dozen or so coaches that are so much better than him?

hm how about give me any coach right now in the nba is better than rick adelman im not going to go through that but he is a very bad coach and please don't bring that M. jordan stuff every idiot knows IN 1991 THE BLAZERS hadthe best Team BETTER than the Bulls! they were unstopable during regualr season and lost to UNDER DOGS LAKERS IN Confrence finals! Due POOR COACHING! and Phill jackson is a master mind of a coach you know a good coach when you see the tactics he plays when to call a time out and when to bring sub players in( forget jordan and kobe and o'NEAL). Adelman has nothing of that he doesn't know when to call a right time OUT he has no tricks no surprises every choach knows he is going to play same Tactics EVERY YEAR, I've seen it so many times that adelman calls poor plays ECt. right now we would be better of having any asistant coach then adelman