[Grades] Grades v. Wizards 12/8/10

Kings Player of the Game

  • Jason Thompson

    Votes: 54 68.4%
  • Beno Udrih

    Votes: 6 7.6%
  • Omri Casspi

    Votes: 6 7.6%
  • Pooh Jeter

    Votes: 13 16.5%

  • Total voters
    79

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Kings win! Kings win!

Mercifully no theme tonight. Bad team on the 2nd night of a back to back missing probably 2 of its top 3 players, but we just needed to beat somebody, anybody. Convincingly too.

If there was a dark lining to our silver cloud tonight it was just this: Reke goes in for an MRI tommorow. Fingers crossed.


Official Boxscore

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Greene ( B- ) -- hit a three on a kickout early, and then proceeded to do nothing the rest of the quarter, and watched Casspi take over for the 2nd. Played pretty good defense on Thornton, but Al scored on him anyway. Cranked it up in the third though as we put the game away, and came up with several spectacular scores. Was running some smallball PF at times, which makes this final note all the more significant -- Donte, you are 6'11". 0 rebounds is not acceptable. You've got great size -- use it!

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Thompson ( A ) -- banged around, but not much in the early going, with part of the problem being some more of his terrible touch around the hoop -- I think he should just start aiming 6 inches off of wherever he normaly would and more things might fall. But he never let off the hustle accelerator, and came up with big hustle plays and defensive challenges in the 2nd, and just kept on trucking into the second half, dominating the Wizards inside (get this, Flip Saunders thought his best chance at winning this one was to start a Kevin Seraphim/Trevor Booker frontline??). While several other guys (Beno, Pooh) had big games, and Reke surprsingly had a huge +/- as well, there was little doubt that JT's was the dominant player in this one with his activity. In his 38+ minutes we outscored the Wizards by, get this, 45 points. Given that we only won the game by 25 that means that n the 10 minutes he wasn't on the floor we in turn got outscored by 20. Hey, I've got an idea -- let's move him to SF!

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Cousins ( C ) -- not all bad, but I think rather less than the numbers. Despite having what appeared to be an obvious interior advatange over Seraphim, in the early going we were not posting him but rather having him attack from up top as a driver? Managed to avoid foul trouble for a while -- critical with Daly out -- before he did his stupid take a charge thing right at the first quarter buzzer putting the Wizards on the line to take the lead going into the second quarter. Immediately picked up another cheapie to start the 2nd, and went straight to the bench. Was pressing in the third with bad shots and TOs, and I got the distinct feeling that DeMarcus thought he should be having a bigger game and was frustrated -- whether at us for not feeding him or himself it was not clear. Maybe wanted to impress Wall, not sure. Got into a little you dunk on me I'll dunk on you back and forth with McGee in the 4th before picking up his 5th and sitting for the last time.

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Udrih ( A- ) -- tried to make up for last game with a strong burst, including knocking down a pair of threes, which he hadn't done all year. And again, who can explain these wild swings we have had this year? Two entirely different players suited up for us in two back to back games. Began to have some ballhandling adventures up top as the quarter wore on, but carried us throughout the quarter, before sitting out almost the entire 2nd with Pooh and Reke playing well together as we opened up the big lead. Came back in with 2 minutes to go, got out on the break and picked right back up with the scoring. After half a similar pattern occurred, with Beno continuing his hot shooting, showing energy and effort on defense, and largely flipping roles with an obviously hobbled Reke before taking a seat as the blowout got as high as 30 points. This was a really good effort by Beno. I pondered A, but JT was even better, and I am reluctant to hand out multiple straight As in any case, and almost certainly not in a waxing of a team half defeated before it even took the floor. He, JT, and Jeter were all excellent though.
 
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Evans ( C- ) -- I think my grade here may be influeced a bit by all the plantar fasciatis/MRI talk now swirling about Reke, confirming a lot of what we have suspected, and I certainly think if we had lost I would not be this generous for these numbers from this player. But we didn't lose, we won, and Reke's huge +/- numbers I don't think were entirely accidental. He clearly did not have it this time, looked sluggish and had to settle for jumpers again, but he stepped back with grace and really played pretty much of a support/glue role himself this time, and everytime he was on the court we did well. A major part of that was the defense, which after he got called for a couple of cheap little fouls challenging Arenas on the perimeter in the early going was very active and harassing. Its notable that as soon as he left we fell apart and blew an 11 point early lead. Worked well with Jeter in the 2nd as we opend the lead and made a difference in the third with defense and by pushing the ball. His own offense was moribund, with nary a highlight reel play to be seen, but he got a few little things to rattle in, including the jumper that bounced around and fell right at the buzzer to put us up an insurmountable 22 going into the 4th. Overall one of the least productive games of Reke's career, and yet it felt like he was still helping and may have some considerabel excuse for this type of output.

Bench

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Cisco ( D+ ) -- you know...this was actually a pretty poor performance again, and it maeks you wonder how Cisco can be a veteran leader for us playing like this and getting these irrelevant minutes. Came in and hit a couple of little midrange jumpers, which was good, but tried to bring the ball up late in the quarter and strugged mightily before turning it over on a bad pass. Couldn't stay in front of Arenas in the early 4th either, and while he ony played 10 1/2 minutes, it felt like we significantly decelerated with him in there. Not good for a guy who traditionally would be energy or scrap if nothing else.

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Landry ( D ) -- nothing at all in the early going s he was not involved, and with Jason playing his best game of the year, did not get back in until the 4th. Hit a single shot, bricked both his FTs, and racked up 4fls 2 TOs and 1reb before he banged a knee and had to go to the bench with almost nothing. And other than the Reke MRI, the other thing nagging about this win was again some of our vets who should be stabilizing playing like they weren't checked in.

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Casspi ( B+ ) -- in late in the first and came up with two offensive rebounds and missed follow attempts on one possesion in the last minute, which while lacking in efficiency kind of showed the scrap he was going to bring to this one all game. Had one Casspi moment, getting annoyed that he didn't get the ball on the break, so got the offensive rebound and quick shot a forced bricked jumper. But mostly this was a positive one despite the 5-15 shooting. Good hustle on defense, was running the break...and yes, cherry picking at times. Missed the wide open corner three at the halftime buzzer after Pooh penterated and kicked, showing at least that he doesn't seem to like that shot no matter who does the kicking. Things got a little chippy in the 4th, and he got flagrantly fouled by Nick Young in the open court and came up unamused. Was active and involved up top on defense, and got credited with 6 steaks not by just taking them away form guys, but from banging, poking, and winning all the races to balls once they hit the floor.
 
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Jeter ( A- ) -- in to start the second and knocking down his jumpers from the beginning. Arenas couldn't seen to figure out how to take adavantage of him the other way, and he pushed the pace all quarter and worked well alongside Reke as we blew the game open. Hit his first career 3ptr on a Reke drive and kick in the late third. Then it was some fun with Pooh all over the floor in the 4th. See what I did there? I guess the one thing we need to see now is if he can sustain, and if other teams adjust. We have had rotating scrubs of the moment (Jackson, Head) shine brightly for brief moments before falling back off. Now its Pooh's turn, but unlike the others he has noi history of being less in previous stops, so maybe this is less illusory.

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Jackson ( B ) -- in for the final couple of minutes of the first half. Got his first hit in the mid 4th after coming in for Landry, and played aggressively through the garbagetime getting on the glass and banging inside.

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Head ( INC ) -- brought in for the final 40 seconds of the half just so Westphal could get the high school play everybody credit and give me an extra guy to grade. Later played solidly if uneventfully in the garbagetime.
 
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Jeter has made a positive difference. Now the question is why it took so long to give him a chance.

From our SF spot this game: 24 pts, 6 rebounds, 4 asts and 8 steals.Though Casspi had a lot of garbage time steals, it was a rare game where both SFs scored double digits.
 
Awesome game by JT. Beno chipped in with his 20 something as well. Omri with 6 steals was nice but he took 14-15 shots off the bench, really? Ehh..none the less, I'm not going to take too much from this one. The Wiz are injury depleted and they are missing 3 starters, hopefully the next time they play each other atleast two will or should be back. Miami should be an interesting one.
 
As I said, The Pivot of: Jetter-Thompson-Casspi rebuilds the team again. These are the most group-oriented players. The game tonight was fun. Beno Udrich also, is now less under pressure of managing alone the game (because what evans do is not managing the game at all), and therefore he can express himself more freely. Evans has to go back and to do his homework. Players from other teams have learnt him and it will be much more difficult to express himself. Wastphal finally understood that only playing as a group is the solution. The question is for how long? because WP next game will try "new things" and will roll down the team again.
 
Can't choose a player of the game. Pooh has been bringing so much to these games....and JT had an insane +45. Then beno bounced back...casspi was fierce. Dunno. Great game.
 
Beno was solid, especially key in first half. JT consistent, boarding, and out on the fast break which was fun to see. Casspi fabulous, intense and focused like a laser every second - sort of his M.O. Jeter under control brilliant and may be getting big minutes going forward if Reke has to rest due to his foot. Err, Dalembert player of the game? I have no idea - all around great team win for a change.
 
+45 for JT tonight? Wow! Also, interestingly enough Cousins was -5 in his 23 minutes. I'm not insinuating anything. It's just weird.
 
That failed dunk by McGee gave my family a good laugh. Someone please post a youtube link.
Please westphaul. I know jeter played well for the last three games but Please do not start jeter. He's perfect off the bench. And sorry Head, but yuck. I say stick with our starting lineup, please. No more moving people around. Let's get something consistent going! Go kings :) GO KINGS!!!
 
Voted JT but there needs to be an all of the above option :P. JT Beno and Jeter A tonight.

All of above and then some, a team win when most of the play was good. I was there and it was fun. Big Gary Gerrold night. Gary St. Jean was sitting there beside him with earphones on for the whole game. Great broadcaster, great win for his night.
 
That failed dunk by McGee gave my family a good laugh. Someone please post a youtube link.
Please westphaul. I know jeter played well for the last three games but Please do not start jeter. He's perfect off the bench. And sorry Head, but yuck. I say stick with our starting lineup, please. No more moving people around. Let's get something consistent going! Go kings :) GO KINGS!!!

McGee's dunk...err...attempt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOB04HvFewA
 
Beno was solid, especially key in first half. JT consistent, boarding, and out on the fast break which was fun to see. Casspi fabulous, intense and focused like a laser every second - sort of his M.O. Jeter under control brilliant and may be getting big minutes going forward if Reke has to rest due to his foot. Err, Dalembert player of the game? I have no idea - all around great team win for a change.

Sorry, M.O.? What's that? /blonde moment

Player of the game...JT, then Pooh, then Omri. They were all awesome. Crazy hustler, hitting the important shots, and just being effective. I love it.
 
A win. A rare and exciting win!
But I cannot let this go: Landry has got to be the worst rebounder of all time for a power forward. He managed one whole rebound tonight, which is about par for the course (his course, of course). Yes, he undersized, but so was Larry Smith (aka Mr. Mean), who was Landry's size and yet one of the best rebounders basketball has ever seen. Landry has got to become a 6th man who gets minutes only if he's hitting his shots.
 
Didn't vote because doing so would do a disservice to the rest of the team. Team win and the guys you list were great/
 
Didnt vote since I was not able to watch the game.
I reloaded the espn page twice to be sure we really won.
JT +45 is it a typing mistake??

Happy we finally won. As I mentioned in the last post we can only win as a team since
we are individually too weak.
Nice to see Donte and Omri getting both playing time!
GO KINGS!!
 
Whats that sick fetish where you like to get Pooh'd on? That's what the Wizards wanted tonite.

Reke's foot/ankle are definitely bothering him. He needs to shut it down for 15-20 games. Remember how much time Peja needed to heal from that?

McGee tried to jump from the free throw line. Would have been sick if he'd have made it, but the reality is probably more entertaining.
 
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