Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Salmons ( B ) -- got the call to guard Kobe, and did a more than passable job of it early. You never know exactly how seriously Kobe is taking one of these things, but there was no doubt that John was out there to compete. Offensively struggled back the other way, and seems to have made a conscious decision to extend the range from which he'll launch threes all the way up to the angle -- which in the past at least has been beyond his range, and looks to still be now. And on the drive forced a lot and rarely got clean looks, which seems to have become a theme for this preseason for him -- still have a "?" out there about whether this might be the adjustment teams have made to him now that he's entering the season as a starter. An ugly 4-15 for John, but helped hold Kobe to 4-12 back the other way, so that's generally a tradeoff you will take.
Moore ( B- ) -- benefitted from the good ball movement early, finishing off the ggod looks and chipping in a 16 footer from the side. Has the right length to challenge Gasol, and did so sporadically. Not much after the break, when it became more about the kids.
Miller ( B- ) -- hit a three and looked comfortable in the free flowing early game, but again mostly ceded the miutes to Spencer. Had another three after half -- the long chucks being about the extent of his effectieve offense this time out. No real impact, but did fine in there against both an ineffective Bynum before half, and an indifferent Pau after the break.
Martin ( B- ) -- got off to the fast smooth start with the Lakers apparently trying to throw him off by not guarding him at all, then cooled. Was back for a few brief minutes before half in which he didn't do much. Never returned after the break so far as I can recall.
Udrih ( A- ) -- had one of those great quarters he will sometimes in the 1st, and really ran the team well, very active. Slowed down thereafter, but was still torching the Lakers PGs whenever he felt like it (reminiscient of that game late last year where he did the same thing to them), and kept a pass first approach throughout that keyed us to, dum dum DUM!, almost break the 20 assist barrier. Well...one can dream, right?
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Brown ( D+ ) -- still looking for his own shot rather than the pass, but racked up a couple of first half assists anyway. A little out of control this time, and our first half offense was at its worst while he was running the point. Created another shot for himself in the 4th, but was forcing and making poor decisions, leading to a par for the rookie course 1-7 from the field with 4 TOs.
Hawes ( B+ ) -- awful game, great game, and then there was this -- the somewhere in between game, but at least focusing more on the things he sometimes ignores (defense, boardwaork). Offensively the contributions were mild -- made a nice pass from the psot to a cutting Cisco, also threw one of those awful careless ones for a turnover. Defense and activity picked up down the stretch of the half, and while he and Bynum seemed to be struggling against each other, Spencer was winning the battle against Mihm and possibly even bothering Gasol with his length. Active defense after half, which if you can't play dominant interior defense is the next best thing, and fits Reggie's apparent defensive gameplan. Better suited than Brad. Never able to get much going on offense even against the uber-scrubs late in the game, but got his hands on a lot of balls inside during that time. Did of course chuck up another three, largely methinks because Reggie has thus far resisted my suggestion of hiring some big *** thug to slap him every time he does. And on one play late in the game we even had the ultimate nightmare -- our 7'0" C Spencer mysteriously camped out at the 3pt line passing the ball to his left to our 6'11" PF Thompson for a bricked three. That crap is like a disease I tell you -- let it go long enough, and we'll see Shelden camped out there.
Thompson ( B ) -- not as good as the numbers (15pts 8rebs) perhaps, and maybe not the needed breakthrough performance here, but finally an effective one flashing some potential, and maybe setting the stage for more. Started off with another fugly stuggle -- lot of effort, few results, missing jumpers, getting stripped. But seemed to get settled a bit after Quincy hit him on the break for a layup, and looked more competitive therafter, including a nifty open court drive around his defender. Or rather looked less out of control and hyper. He's still playing too fast, and I still have no idea what his game is going to look like once he settles, but he didn't seem to be forcing as badly once he got off the schneid. Was again active on the glass and defense, but at times almost too active, as he bounces aorund so much he seems to be headed away from the play half the time rather than toward it and picks up a lot of his rebounds out on scrambles away from the hoop rather than in wars beneath it. Did quite a bit of his damage in this one late against the scrubs, but still has to be a confidence builder. Chocked two FTs in the final seconds that could have let us steal the all important preseason win. Still nervously waiting to see him as any sort of interior intimidator -- that is one of those things we desperately need him to be, that he was at small school college, but right now he seems too unsettled to protect the paint.
Cisco ( C ) -- mixed bag, in the first half had an airball from outside, then a 2pt hit, and was kind of letting the kids dictate his game rather than other way aorund. Started the second half in place of Kevin, but struggled. Shooting too often, and not terrible accurately, and turning the ball over as well. Non-impact game with a bit of the old Cisco wildness. About the only good/fiery Cisco we saw was after Kobe elbowed him in the belly (maybe, as Cisco seems determined this preseason to wrest away Kevin's acting crown) and he immediately stepped out to hit a three in response.
Douby ( C ) -- maybe not physically ready to go, but I think out there in an emergency effort to keep Bobby Brown from stealing his roster spot. Had one good moment in the first half when he hit Jason Thompson perfectly on the break with a bounce pass for the layup. Pretty sure he did not return for the scond half.
Greene ( D ) -- didn't get in until the 2nd half for whatever reason, and then proceeded to try to make even his late insertion seem too early. Shot was off again, airballed another three and bricked all of his shots from that distance. Did wade inside to grab some offensive rebounds and get some finishes around the rim once he realized his shot was not falling.
Williams ( B ) -- not in until the 4th, did a pretty good job of pushing around the Lakers scrubbies
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Felix ( INC ) -- woohoo! Now I know what a Noel Felix looks like! Somehow I am betting it was my last opportunity to do so.
Jones ( INC ) -- just a few seconds late. Nice knowing you Bobby.
Moore ( B- ) -- benefitted from the good ball movement early, finishing off the ggod looks and chipping in a 16 footer from the side. Has the right length to challenge Gasol, and did so sporadically. Not much after the break, when it became more about the kids.
Miller ( B- ) -- hit a three and looked comfortable in the free flowing early game, but again mostly ceded the miutes to Spencer. Had another three after half -- the long chucks being about the extent of his effectieve offense this time out. No real impact, but did fine in there against both an ineffective Bynum before half, and an indifferent Pau after the break.
Martin ( B- ) -- got off to the fast smooth start with the Lakers apparently trying to throw him off by not guarding him at all, then cooled. Was back for a few brief minutes before half in which he didn't do much. Never returned after the break so far as I can recall.
Udrih ( A- ) -- had one of those great quarters he will sometimes in the 1st, and really ran the team well, very active. Slowed down thereafter, but was still torching the Lakers PGs whenever he felt like it (reminiscient of that game late last year where he did the same thing to them), and kept a pass first approach throughout that keyed us to, dum dum DUM!, almost break the 20 assist barrier. Well...one can dream, right?
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Brown ( D+ ) -- still looking for his own shot rather than the pass, but racked up a couple of first half assists anyway. A little out of control this time, and our first half offense was at its worst while he was running the point. Created another shot for himself in the 4th, but was forcing and making poor decisions, leading to a par for the rookie course 1-7 from the field with 4 TOs.
Hawes ( B+ ) -- awful game, great game, and then there was this -- the somewhere in between game, but at least focusing more on the things he sometimes ignores (defense, boardwaork). Offensively the contributions were mild -- made a nice pass from the psot to a cutting Cisco, also threw one of those awful careless ones for a turnover. Defense and activity picked up down the stretch of the half, and while he and Bynum seemed to be struggling against each other, Spencer was winning the battle against Mihm and possibly even bothering Gasol with his length. Active defense after half, which if you can't play dominant interior defense is the next best thing, and fits Reggie's apparent defensive gameplan. Better suited than Brad. Never able to get much going on offense even against the uber-scrubs late in the game, but got his hands on a lot of balls inside during that time. Did of course chuck up another three, largely methinks because Reggie has thus far resisted my suggestion of hiring some big *** thug to slap him every time he does. And on one play late in the game we even had the ultimate nightmare -- our 7'0" C Spencer mysteriously camped out at the 3pt line passing the ball to his left to our 6'11" PF Thompson for a bricked three. That crap is like a disease I tell you -- let it go long enough, and we'll see Shelden camped out there.
Thompson ( B ) -- not as good as the numbers (15pts 8rebs) perhaps, and maybe not the needed breakthrough performance here, but finally an effective one flashing some potential, and maybe setting the stage for more. Started off with another fugly stuggle -- lot of effort, few results, missing jumpers, getting stripped. But seemed to get settled a bit after Quincy hit him on the break for a layup, and looked more competitive therafter, including a nifty open court drive around his defender. Or rather looked less out of control and hyper. He's still playing too fast, and I still have no idea what his game is going to look like once he settles, but he didn't seem to be forcing as badly once he got off the schneid. Was again active on the glass and defense, but at times almost too active, as he bounces aorund so much he seems to be headed away from the play half the time rather than toward it and picks up a lot of his rebounds out on scrambles away from the hoop rather than in wars beneath it. Did quite a bit of his damage in this one late against the scrubs, but still has to be a confidence builder. Chocked two FTs in the final seconds that could have let us steal the all important preseason win. Still nervously waiting to see him as any sort of interior intimidator -- that is one of those things we desperately need him to be, that he was at small school college, but right now he seems too unsettled to protect the paint.
Cisco ( C ) -- mixed bag, in the first half had an airball from outside, then a 2pt hit, and was kind of letting the kids dictate his game rather than other way aorund. Started the second half in place of Kevin, but struggled. Shooting too often, and not terrible accurately, and turning the ball over as well. Non-impact game with a bit of the old Cisco wildness. About the only good/fiery Cisco we saw was after Kobe elbowed him in the belly (maybe, as Cisco seems determined this preseason to wrest away Kevin's acting crown) and he immediately stepped out to hit a three in response.
Douby ( C ) -- maybe not physically ready to go, but I think out there in an emergency effort to keep Bobby Brown from stealing his roster spot. Had one good moment in the first half when he hit Jason Thompson perfectly on the break with a bounce pass for the layup. Pretty sure he did not return for the scond half.
Greene ( D ) -- didn't get in until the 2nd half for whatever reason, and then proceeded to try to make even his late insertion seem too early. Shot was off again, airballed another three and bricked all of his shots from that distance. Did wade inside to grab some offensive rebounds and get some finishes around the rim once he realized his shot was not falling.
Williams ( B ) -- not in until the 4th, did a pretty good job of pushing around the Lakers scrubbies
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Felix ( INC ) -- woohoo! Now I know what a Noel Felix looks like! Somehow I am betting it was my last opportunity to do so.
Jones ( INC ) -- just a few seconds late. Nice knowing you Bobby.
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