[Grades] Grades vs. A Cheating Flopping Whining Miserable Twit -- 1/16/2016

[Bricklayer]

Hard to say, was this a good win, a bad one? In the end, who cares. We won, smushed that little cheater CP3's face in it as he ran around the court cheating (I counted at least 3 more offensive fouls that went uncalled, wonder what his numbers would look like if he played it straight?) and whining to every ref who wouldn't shy him away, kept pace with the Jazz, and if we just bleeping finally come out and crush a team we should crush, could make it a 3 game win streak on the road come Weds. vs. the Lakers. I'll take it.

Last time we were 17-23 or better through 40 games? 2007-08. The Theus year when we finished with 38 wins.



Boxscore

Stats: 34min 18pts (5-11, 1-4, 7-8) 7reb 1ast 0stl 2blk 2TO
Summary:the numbers look similar, but this was an uncommonly scrappy game from Rudy who provided help defense inside and hustle plays
Gay ( ) --

Stats: 13min 2pts (0-3, 0-0, 2-4) 4reb 1ast 0stl 3blk 0TO
Summary: lots of activity and defensive erasing, but has to slow down enough to finish things inside.
Cauley Stein( ) --

Stats: 33min 19pts (6-14, 1-2, 6-7) 13reb 6ast 0stl 2blk 5TO
Summary:Aldrich remains a problem, but in the first half it looked like another smooth big night was coming. Then aliens stole his mojo at halftime, and sloppy and mistake prone play ensued.
Cousins ( ) --

Stats: 28min 15pts (5-8, 2-4, 3-4) 2reb 1ast 1stl 0blk 2TO
Summary:iFor 3/4 of this game Ben was good. Not good for Ben. Good. He was aggressive, created, competed. Shaky Ben returned in the 4th, but a major contributor before then.
McLemore ( ) --

Stats: 34min 13pts (5-11, 1-2, 2-2) 7reb 10ast 2stl 0blk 4TO
Summary:Paul opened this one up looking like he was going to dominate the matchup, but foul trouble ensued, Rondo steadily controlled the action, and in the end we won the matchup.
Rondo ( ) --

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[Bricklayer]

Bench

Stats: 30min 17pts (6-9, 5-8, 0-0) 4reb 0ast 1stl 1blk 1TO
Casspi ( ) --

Stats: 23min 7pts (3-8, 1-2, 0-0) 4reb 4ast 0stl 1blk 1TO
Belinelli ( ) --

Stats: 31min 17pts (5-9, 2-3, 5-6) 4reb 5ast 1stl 0blk 1TO
Collison ( ) --

Stats: 14min 2pts (1-3, 0-0, 0-2) 7reb 0ast 0stl 0blk 1TO
Koufos ( ) --


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[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Buckle up, Kings Fans; expect a lot of this for the next three months.

 

[nebs]

I liked how we were running things through Cousins tonight and how he was handling it. Good decisions, patience, no hissy fits from him etc. He's my player of the game.

 

[Bosnian Diehard]

That was the toughest decision for Player of the Game in a long time.

 

[Boogie_Fever]

I picked Cousins because he played fairly under control and it was nice to see him pass put of the double team down low. Unfortunately, he was getting roasted on the pick and roll and his man had himself a career night. Chris Paul is really good even though he's so d*** annoying.

 

[Merdiesel]

My instinct was to vote for Casspi purely for the fact that he's hitting the shot we've needed all year...
Then I realized McLemore's +/- was a +17!

 

[VF21]

As much as I've criticized Ben over the years, I had to give him the nod for Player of the Game. He played hard and he didn't flinch away from defense. It gives me hope that there just might be a tw0-way player inside that jersey - which would be interesting since I cannot recall ever having a person wearing #23 play much defense.

 

[theclash4u5]

Casspi's 3s in the 4th saved us so I went with him

 

[KingMilz]

Casspi is the best SF on the team and Ben had a nice game

 

[swisshh]

Collison's defense was key. He has his best games vs Paul and Westbrook.

Felt Cousins was a little lost out there tonight. Had more mental lapses from him than I've seen all year.

The 'Great Mystery of The McLemore' is why he shows up on the road and vanishes at home.

 

[mac]

I would love to have little cheater on our team though. Yay Kings win!!!

 

[Bricklayer]

I would love to have little cheater on our team though. Yay Kings win!!!

I wouldn't.

Fortunately if we ever traded for him Boogie would probably shoot down the plane he was arriving on, so my patience needs never be tested.

 

[KingsFanSince85]

Fortunately if we ever traded for him Boogie would probably shoot down the plane he was arriving on

Oddly, Cuz and CP3 had a postgame embrace -- which saddened me. I hope DMC isn't softening his stance.

 

[VF21]

Oddly, Cuz and CP3 had a postgame embrace -- which saddened me. I hope DMC isn't softening his stance.

They've been "friendly" since the All-Star game.

 

[mac]

They've been "friendly" since the All-Star game.

Also team USA I think where Cousins got to hear of Paul's leadership etc. Recall him saying something of that sort indirectly

 

[mac]

I wouldn't.

Fortunately if we ever traded for him Boogie would probably shoot down the plane he was arriving on, so my patience needs never be tested.

One of the top PGs in the league who's a great PnR player, also a scoring threat and a good defender and you wouldn't want him on the team? Put him and Cousins together you have an instant core for a contender.

 

[206Fan]

Casspi and Ben were close. Picked Casspi because he was the real game changer for me.

Knocked down 3s when we needed them and he was 100% hustle all night. Was great to see him dust a little rust too.

Something weird I saw today was Cuz? passing to Ben for a wide open corner 3..he misses and the Clippers score. Next possession, Cuz immediately looks for Ben AGAIN. I don't remember the result, but his teammates showed a lot of confidence in him. I even remember Belinelli trying to get him the ball too.
Even though he only attempted 10 shots(8 fgs and 4FTs), it felt like a ton for him.

This team desperately needs Ben to step up. If he can play like he did tonight for the rest of the season, we're locked for playoffs. Won't keep my hopes up on him doing that though.

Great game

 

[The Hammer]

I liked how we were running things through Cousins tonight and how he was handling it. Good decisions, patience, no hissy fits from him etc. He's my player of the game.

It really seems like a change has been made somehow in the offense and perhaps the authority over it. Just such a distinct difference, and it's to the one that we saw flashes of earlier in the season, then the Karlball bs, and then poof, back through Cuz down low, and a bit through Rondo. Drawing double teams, kicking out to Casspi or Ben, etc.

Cousins only had 19, but his impact was much greater. 6 assts for the big man. And he got key buckets on his own when we needed them, and in general, the offense just felt much less fragile tonight, because FINALLY we were using our best strength. Compare it in your mind to something like, oh, a game where Cousins is camping out at the three point line or driving almost exclusively... it was just such a marked change.

 

[Siranthony]

I picked Cousins because he played fairly under control and it was nice to see him pass put of the double team down low. Unfortunately, he was getting roasted on the pick and roll and his man had himself a career night. Chris Paul is really good even though he's so d*** annoying.

Ya I agree. When Cousins just does his job like a pro I really like him. Great player!

 

[sono]

My vote goes to Casspi, he kept the lead going throughout the game.

Boogie almost got my vote, giving Paul a taste of his own medicine in the 2nd quarter, grabbed up his arm and let him do his thing, acting . That was Paul's 3rd foul against Boogie and pretty much kept him on the bench sulking and licking his wounds.

 

[Im Still Ballin]

Everytime Casspi throws up a 3 I feel like it's going to go in

Love his game

 

[King Baller]

Ben was handling the ball a couple of times bringing it down the court Then he drove to the hoop a few times. His activity puts pressure on the opposing teams defense. Ben is one of the fastest players in the NBA.

I voted for Casspi as his three point shot was money

 

[Bricklayer]

One of the top PGs in the league who's a great PnR player, also a scoring threat and a good defender and you wouldn't want him on the team? Put him and Cousins together you have an instant core for a contender.

He's a blatant cheater, and a slimy political operator. If he goes on a fishing trip tomorrow and his tiny boat is lost, I would say good riddance. He can go **** himself.

 

[Sac.Kings]

He's a blatant cheater, and a slimy political operator. If he goes on a fishing trip tomorrow and his tiny boat is lost, I would say good riddance. He can go **** himself.

I for one would rather watch yet another Clippers collapse in the playoffs. Way more enjoyable that way!

 

[Tetsujin]

I for one would rather watch yet another Clippers collapse in the playoffs. Way more enjoyable that way!

It is astounding how much CP3's inability to win in the playoffs reminds me of T-Mac's sad postseason failings.

 

[Blob]

Ben was handling the ball a couple of times bringing it down the court Then he drove to the hoop a few times. His activity puts pressure on the opposing teams defense. Ben is one of the fastest players in the NBA.

Marco is one of the slowest so I guess they complement each other well

Just when I am ready to throw the towel in on Ben he looks like a legitimate SG. It is easy to forget what a great athlete Ben is when he is running around like a headless chicken on roller skates then he pulls out a game like last night and hope is resuscitated from the ashes of Jimmer and T-Rob's press clippings.

Karl said recently how a lot of observers take confidence for granted and an NBA player automatically has it in sufficient dose. Actually it ebbs and flows within a range that correlates to quality of play.

I think he was referring to Ben, Rudy and even Boogie since player operates on a positive (negative) feedback loop system in which a good (bad) play perpetuates good (bad) play, with confidence primary variable that feeds the machine (with skill and focus....or tangible and intangible variables).

When a player has confidence in himself, teammates have confidence in him. They may look to get him the ball more. This is especially considerate since Kings don't run set plays except out of TOs. When Curry was making everything in spot minutes teammates would get out their seats from bench when he was launching. They had confidence in his confidence.

With Ben, his feedback loop has sputtered in which his waning confidence (not saying he doesn't have any but that it was not at peak level), translates into passivity which translates into teammates and coaches feeling similarly. Passes go away from him instead of to him. He passes on a driving lane instead of attacking. A negative feedback loop exists. Then a corner 3 falls. He makes a lay-up. Confidence goes up and feedback loop spins more favorably.

Omri turned a corner as a player IMHO when he went toe-to-toe against Curry. He was shooting the ball great leading into that game then when he hit even loftier plateau it affirmed he's not a fringe or role player but legitimate starting caliber player. He knew this already but also needed to prove it to himself.

This is an example of a positive feedback loop with confidence as variable that perpetuated from that career night to last night. There is a collective confidence too within the team that ebbs and flows and right now with team health at 100% and two game road win streak (about to be three ) it is as high as it has been all year.

 

[HndsmCelt]

One of the top PGs in the league who's a great PnR player, also a scoring threat and a good defender and you wouldn't want him on the team? Put him and Cousins together you have an instant core for a contender.

Dude has the killer instincts of burrowing rodent. Heck every year Adam Silver watches the Clippers die in the play offs in order to predict at least 3 more weeks of basketball.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

It is astounding how much CP3's inability to win in the playoffs reminds me of T-Mac's sad postseason failings.

I don't know about all that: Paul definitely has POS-tendencies, but he's also led two different teams out of the first round. In fact, I think that he's something like 4-1 for his career in playoff series where his team had the higher seed; very un-McGrady-like, IYAM.

 

[Bricklayer]

Dude has the killer instincts of burrowing rodent. Heck every year Adam Silver watches the Clippers die in the play offs in order to predict at least 3 more weeks of basketball.

I liked your post because it was clever, but not sure I agree with your assessment of CP3's killer instinct. The Clippers as a whole? No doubt.