Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
okay, now note on these that I was so in and out distracted by politics + life tonight that I may or may not have seen half of this one, so these grades may be provisional to the point of possibly being inaccurate:
Cisco ( B ) -- a foot soldier in the smooth passing high efficiency running offense of the first half, did not have much impact after being held over to steady the kids late in the game. Think was intended to be a defensive cooler on Eric Gordon, but Gordon lit him, and us, up like a Christmas tree.
Thompson ( C+ ) -- got the start, and it was briefly yay! However nothing much changed with his game -- still playing too fast, out of control, flying around like a chicken with his head cut off. Had the huge quickness advantage over Paul Davis, who the Clips started in place of Camby tonight, and tried to use it a few times only to suffer his normal problems finishing inside -- in the end it might be nothing more complex than him being a small school guy not used to anybody inside being big enough to slap the ball away from him. In any case, solid numbers again, no defense again, lots of motion and slop, little impact again. What I don't know (debate) is why he did not play more minutes? Just his perfromance? Or were we really that desperate to get Kenny Thomas some time?
Miller ( A- ) -- not only did not get slapped around by Caveman Kaman this time (who did nothing all night), but was largely able to do whatever he wanted to out there and play into his comfort zone. Which always means for Brad jumpshots and freewheeling passing, and when he is able to slide into one of those grooves (rare since the Adelman years) the offense inevitably hums. Caught the Clippers napping on one play (okay, they were pretty much napping on every play), throwing the ball ahead on an out of bounds play 3/4 of the court to a wide open Kevin who coasted in for the slam.
Martin ( A+ ) -- let's see, a preseason run n' gun game where defense is a dirty word and Kevin is being checked by Ricky Davis?? Gee, this grade is a shocker. Not that Kevin appeared to be playing any better defense than anybody else, but he was scoring so easily it did not matter this time out. Got into the passing column as well as everybody joined the act.
Udrih ( B+ ) -- has run the offense so well these last couple of games, and this time had help setting therun and pass tone by Brad, Kevin, Cisco, and the entire Clippers defense. On the other end it was adifferent story, as it sometimes is. Beno vs. Jason Hart (Baron did not play)? Went about as you would expect. But one of the stories of the Clippers night was the mighty mite Mike Taylor, who ran around like a complete idiot out there as only a kiddie can do, but was highly effective with it while running circles around not just Beno, but everybody we put on him.
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Brown ( C- ) -- showed flashes of his quickness and offensive potential slashing to the hoop, and once dropped off a nifty behind the back pass in the paint on the way through. But also turned it over a bunch again, and got out mighty-mited by Mike Taylor who lit him up along with everyone else and raised some questions about that defense again.
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yes...the other grades I left off due to sleep/life:
Kenny ( A++ ) -- player of the game right here. Kevin was/is NOTHING compared to this man, and I look forward to seeing KT steal all of our kids' time and play the bulk of the PF minutes this year. His impact was palpable -- as soon as he came in, we went on a run, and it was Kenny playing Steve Nash who made the offense really heat up. Without him I doubt Kevin breaks double figures, and we likely lose by 30. Oddly did not board, which is strange given that that is kind of his thing, and he was playing far above Kenny Thomas standards in most other areas.
BJax ( B ) -- kind of a turn back the clock game in some ways, and kind of evidence why you can't turn back the clock in others. Was active and aggressive on offense in the old Bobby style, and got a little involved in the passing game as well on our best pasinig night in forever. Settled for too many jumpers, and forced some tough shots. Competed well on defense, but results were mixed. Not able to really slow either of the Clippers rookie guards who did all the damage.
Hawes ( ) --
Cisco ( B ) -- a foot soldier in the smooth passing high efficiency running offense of the first half, did not have much impact after being held over to steady the kids late in the game. Think was intended to be a defensive cooler on Eric Gordon, but Gordon lit him, and us, up like a Christmas tree.
Thompson ( C+ ) -- got the start, and it was briefly yay! However nothing much changed with his game -- still playing too fast, out of control, flying around like a chicken with his head cut off. Had the huge quickness advantage over Paul Davis, who the Clips started in place of Camby tonight, and tried to use it a few times only to suffer his normal problems finishing inside -- in the end it might be nothing more complex than him being a small school guy not used to anybody inside being big enough to slap the ball away from him. In any case, solid numbers again, no defense again, lots of motion and slop, little impact again. What I don't know (debate) is why he did not play more minutes? Just his perfromance? Or were we really that desperate to get Kenny Thomas some time?
Miller ( A- ) -- not only did not get slapped around by Caveman Kaman this time (who did nothing all night), but was largely able to do whatever he wanted to out there and play into his comfort zone. Which always means for Brad jumpshots and freewheeling passing, and when he is able to slide into one of those grooves (rare since the Adelman years) the offense inevitably hums. Caught the Clippers napping on one play (okay, they were pretty much napping on every play), throwing the ball ahead on an out of bounds play 3/4 of the court to a wide open Kevin who coasted in for the slam.
Martin ( A+ ) -- let's see, a preseason run n' gun game where defense is a dirty word and Kevin is being checked by Ricky Davis?? Gee, this grade is a shocker. Not that Kevin appeared to be playing any better defense than anybody else, but he was scoring so easily it did not matter this time out. Got into the passing column as well as everybody joined the act.
Udrih ( B+ ) -- has run the offense so well these last couple of games, and this time had help setting therun and pass tone by Brad, Kevin, Cisco, and the entire Clippers defense. On the other end it was adifferent story, as it sometimes is. Beno vs. Jason Hart (Baron did not play)? Went about as you would expect. But one of the stories of the Clippers night was the mighty mite Mike Taylor, who ran around like a complete idiot out there as only a kiddie can do, but was highly effective with it while running circles around not just Beno, but everybody we put on him.
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Brown ( C- ) -- showed flashes of his quickness and offensive potential slashing to the hoop, and once dropped off a nifty behind the back pass in the paint on the way through. But also turned it over a bunch again, and got out mighty-mited by Mike Taylor who lit him up along with everyone else and raised some questions about that defense again.
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yes...the other grades I left off due to sleep/life:
Kenny ( A++ ) -- player of the game right here. Kevin was/is NOTHING compared to this man, and I look forward to seeing KT steal all of our kids' time and play the bulk of the PF minutes this year. His impact was palpable -- as soon as he came in, we went on a run, and it was Kenny playing Steve Nash who made the offense really heat up. Without him I doubt Kevin breaks double figures, and we likely lose by 30. Oddly did not board, which is strange given that that is kind of his thing, and he was playing far above Kenny Thomas standards in most other areas.
BJax ( B ) -- kind of a turn back the clock game in some ways, and kind of evidence why you can't turn back the clock in others. Was active and aggressive on offense in the old Bobby style, and got a little involved in the passing game as well on our best pasinig night in forever. Settled for too many jumpers, and forced some tough shots. Competed well on defense, but results were mixed. Not able to really slow either of the Clippers rookie guards who did all the damage.
Hawes ( ) --
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It was one thing to say that C-Webb could bring the ball up, but each long dribble looked like even money whether or not it would make it back up from the floor to his hand; by contrast, JT's dribble looks as smooth as a guard's. Improvement in finishing I think will come with experience and confidence. Defense is a work in progress, but with his quickness and length there's no reason he can't become a good defender. He just needs to learn about NBA defense and get stronger which will come with time, and it looks to me like he can carry a lot more muscle comfortably on his frame. It shows that he went through those recent growth spurts, and I would guess that the 6'11" measurement is closer to reality than the 250 lbs.
