Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Pretty much a classic inside power team vs. perimeter team matchup, with the usual result of such things:
Salmons ( A ) -- about the only thing keeping the Kings within shouting distance in the early going, not only with his own offense, but repeatedly setting up Kings off the drive and dish, which is not something he typically looks to do much of. After a stretch of selfish play in the late 3rd/early 4th, came back on strong during the final minutes and was probably our best overall player tonight (was more complete than Kevin). First really strong game of the preseason.
Moore ( B- ) -- modestly effective for much fo the nght in his roleplayer/mopping up role. Of course was not slowing Aldrige at all the other way, and Oden just sent him flying. To the degree we cared about winning, a pair of bricked FTs late hurt our cause.
Hawes ( F ) -- Oden Pt. Deux. Could end this by just saying: saw Oden. Got obliterated. Again. But we'll try a bit more: didn't look as scared, in the early going at least. But no more effective as he picked up three fouls in six minutes and sat out the rest of the half. Was in there late, as technically he was our starter, but again just reduced himself to a 3pt jumpshooter to avoid the big man inside. Somewhere buried in the back of Oden's locker is a deed of ownership with Spencer's name on it right now.
Martin ( A ) -- got off to a slow start in this one, mostly just contributing turnovers in the first. But came on in the second with some spectacular plays, the highlight of which had to be a flying two handed dunk before Oden could rotate over. Fernandez burned him for back to back threes the other way, but the second one wasn't really Kevin's fault as Oden had Thompson pinned one on one and Kevin had to crash down on the double, leaving Rudy open (the classic advantage of the big post player making others better). Uncharacteristically had a bunch of turnovers, but was otherwise extremely efficient even by his (sometimes overstated by underheighted white haired French Lick hicks) standards. Benefitted as he always does by the refs turning this one into a two hand touch tweetfest. There were 65 FTs attempted, and other than Oden deciding on one play to just clear out the entire Kings frontline, the game was not that rough. Was doing little else but score however. Nabbed 1 rebound. Dished off one assist (and could have had a second were it not for the foul). Best quarter was the second, but generally stayed with it until the end, getting a late burst as he took advantage of the opportunity to school young Euro rookie Nicholas Batum, and having no problem going around Rudy Fernandez (some problem stopping him the other way however). Did ponder the minus here, as lots of pts with only 1 reb and 1 ast in a double figure loss looks suspiciously like a Michael Redd at his most irrelevant line, but the game felt better than that, and the extreme efficiency and basically two man team nature of our effort tonight was enough for the straight A.
Brown ( C- ) -- erratic effort tonight in a starting role in a game being taken somewhat seriously by both sides. In the early going was being subjected to traps and fullcourt pressure, and we did not handle it well. Some of that was on him, although his speed and ball handling should make those tactics difficult. Made a good defensive play in the second with an open court steal, and generally did not have too many problems with the largely punchless Portland PGs except when Roy was handling the ball. Was maybe at his best in the early 4th quarter against Sergio Rodriguez. Got into his scoring rhtyhm again, but did commit a killer turnover in the mid quarter and then quit looking for teammates again, leading to his final replacement by Bobby (Jackson). This is one of those C- grades that takes into account the player and experience. Beno gives this same performance he's in the D's somewhere.
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Miller ( INC ) -- not terribly effective in a short 6 minute stint in the late first/early second. While I think it had more to do with us intentionally limiting Brad's minutes than his poor play, we went the rest of the half with Thompson at center (even against Oden for a spell) and the great and holy KT at PF. Brad never returned.
BJax ( B- ) -- not amazing, but maybe his best appearance of the preseason. Got off to a good start hitting his first shot, and then almost beating the buzzer at the end of the first quarter with a second attempt. Was good again working with Bobby Brown in the early 4th, and then took over for the younger Bobby down the stretch after the kid showed his kidness with some selfish play. Too much shouldn't be made of this as it was still only a 7pt 4ast 3TO in 28min type performance, but on a night when it was John, Kevin, and then a whole lot of nothing, at least Bobby's nothing was respectable.
Thompson ( C+ ) -- solid work as a garbageman after coming in in the late first, and finally hit one of those short jumpers from the side too. Was tried over at center next to Kenny Thomas (yes, we were running a JT/KT frontline there for while) but was largely overwhelmed in there late in the 2nd quarter when trying to match Oden's power. Ineffective in a brief 4th quarter stint before the teams tried to win it and we went to our main guys.
Thomas ( C+ ) -- batton down the hatches, it seems increasingly obvious that come the start of the regular season, none other than Kenny Thomas has a real shot at rotation minutes (meaning 2 of Douby, Sheldon, Brown, Greene and Thompson will not be on the 12 man roster). And why not after he showed today that he could be our designated Joel Wiltzbilla answer. Yes, that Kenny Thomas went right at him for 4 points quick points in the second quarter, and was battling pretty well in there for a vertically challenged person. Did throw one of his bonehead outlet turnovers, but hey, that's why we love him so much. As was the case the last game out, however, he began to grow progressively invisble the longer he was on the court. His second half minutes were particularly pointless. Seemed somewhat more effective than his numbers alone would indicate.
Williams ( C- ) -- in for the first time in the third quarter in a good move to try to match Oden with some brawn. Was overwhelmed as well of course, but held his own much more than anybody else was able to. Unfortunately that was pretty much all he did. Hi, I am Shelden Williams. I am holding my own. Please feel free to run right on by me with that funny orange ball while I stand here and hold my own.
Greene ( INC ) -- into the game briefly in the 4th quarter, made an aggressive follow which got him to the line, but otherwise looked shaky on defense and handling the ball. Then both teams decided they wanted to win (I suspect reggie would have anyway, but Portland started it by putting back in 3 starters), an there was no more time for Donte development. Of course there was plenty of time earlier inthe game, and why we did not, I do not know. Can only figure Donte is not in the plans at all for the regular season right now. In any case, Donte in, Donte shaky while in, Donte out.
Salmons ( A ) -- about the only thing keeping the Kings within shouting distance in the early going, not only with his own offense, but repeatedly setting up Kings off the drive and dish, which is not something he typically looks to do much of. After a stretch of selfish play in the late 3rd/early 4th, came back on strong during the final minutes and was probably our best overall player tonight (was more complete than Kevin). First really strong game of the preseason.
Moore ( B- ) -- modestly effective for much fo the nght in his roleplayer/mopping up role. Of course was not slowing Aldrige at all the other way, and Oden just sent him flying. To the degree we cared about winning, a pair of bricked FTs late hurt our cause.
Hawes ( F ) -- Oden Pt. Deux. Could end this by just saying: saw Oden. Got obliterated. Again. But we'll try a bit more: didn't look as scared, in the early going at least. But no more effective as he picked up three fouls in six minutes and sat out the rest of the half. Was in there late, as technically he was our starter, but again just reduced himself to a 3pt jumpshooter to avoid the big man inside. Somewhere buried in the back of Oden's locker is a deed of ownership with Spencer's name on it right now.
Martin ( A ) -- got off to a slow start in this one, mostly just contributing turnovers in the first. But came on in the second with some spectacular plays, the highlight of which had to be a flying two handed dunk before Oden could rotate over. Fernandez burned him for back to back threes the other way, but the second one wasn't really Kevin's fault as Oden had Thompson pinned one on one and Kevin had to crash down on the double, leaving Rudy open (the classic advantage of the big post player making others better). Uncharacteristically had a bunch of turnovers, but was otherwise extremely efficient even by his (sometimes overstated by underheighted white haired French Lick hicks) standards. Benefitted as he always does by the refs turning this one into a two hand touch tweetfest. There were 65 FTs attempted, and other than Oden deciding on one play to just clear out the entire Kings frontline, the game was not that rough. Was doing little else but score however. Nabbed 1 rebound. Dished off one assist (and could have had a second were it not for the foul). Best quarter was the second, but generally stayed with it until the end, getting a late burst as he took advantage of the opportunity to school young Euro rookie Nicholas Batum, and having no problem going around Rudy Fernandez (some problem stopping him the other way however). Did ponder the minus here, as lots of pts with only 1 reb and 1 ast in a double figure loss looks suspiciously like a Michael Redd at his most irrelevant line, but the game felt better than that, and the extreme efficiency and basically two man team nature of our effort tonight was enough for the straight A.
Brown ( C- ) -- erratic effort tonight in a starting role in a game being taken somewhat seriously by both sides. In the early going was being subjected to traps and fullcourt pressure, and we did not handle it well. Some of that was on him, although his speed and ball handling should make those tactics difficult. Made a good defensive play in the second with an open court steal, and generally did not have too many problems with the largely punchless Portland PGs except when Roy was handling the ball. Was maybe at his best in the early 4th quarter against Sergio Rodriguez. Got into his scoring rhtyhm again, but did commit a killer turnover in the mid quarter and then quit looking for teammates again, leading to his final replacement by Bobby (Jackson). This is one of those C- grades that takes into account the player and experience. Beno gives this same performance he's in the D's somewhere.
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Miller ( INC ) -- not terribly effective in a short 6 minute stint in the late first/early second. While I think it had more to do with us intentionally limiting Brad's minutes than his poor play, we went the rest of the half with Thompson at center (even against Oden for a spell) and the great and holy KT at PF. Brad never returned.
BJax ( B- ) -- not amazing, but maybe his best appearance of the preseason. Got off to a good start hitting his first shot, and then almost beating the buzzer at the end of the first quarter with a second attempt. Was good again working with Bobby Brown in the early 4th, and then took over for the younger Bobby down the stretch after the kid showed his kidness with some selfish play. Too much shouldn't be made of this as it was still only a 7pt 4ast 3TO in 28min type performance, but on a night when it was John, Kevin, and then a whole lot of nothing, at least Bobby's nothing was respectable.
Thompson ( C+ ) -- solid work as a garbageman after coming in in the late first, and finally hit one of those short jumpers from the side too. Was tried over at center next to Kenny Thomas (yes, we were running a JT/KT frontline there for while) but was largely overwhelmed in there late in the 2nd quarter when trying to match Oden's power. Ineffective in a brief 4th quarter stint before the teams tried to win it and we went to our main guys.
Thomas ( C+ ) -- batton down the hatches, it seems increasingly obvious that come the start of the regular season, none other than Kenny Thomas has a real shot at rotation minutes (meaning 2 of Douby, Sheldon, Brown, Greene and Thompson will not be on the 12 man roster). And why not after he showed today that he could be our designated Joel Wiltzbilla answer. Yes, that Kenny Thomas went right at him for 4 points quick points in the second quarter, and was battling pretty well in there for a vertically challenged person. Did throw one of his bonehead outlet turnovers, but hey, that's why we love him so much. As was the case the last game out, however, he began to grow progressively invisble the longer he was on the court. His second half minutes were particularly pointless. Seemed somewhat more effective than his numbers alone would indicate.
Williams ( C- ) -- in for the first time in the third quarter in a good move to try to match Oden with some brawn. Was overwhelmed as well of course, but held his own much more than anybody else was able to. Unfortunately that was pretty much all he did. Hi, I am Shelden Williams. I am holding my own. Please feel free to run right on by me with that funny orange ball while I stand here and hold my own.
Greene ( INC ) -- into the game briefly in the 4th quarter, made an aggressive follow which got him to the line, but otherwise looked shaky on defense and handling the ball. Then both teams decided they wanted to win (I suspect reggie would have anyway, but Portland started it by putting back in 3 starters), an there was no more time for Donte development. Of course there was plenty of time earlier inthe game, and why we did not, I do not know. Can only figure Donte is not in the plans at all for the regular season right now. In any case, Donte in, Donte shaky while in, Donte out.
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