Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Okie Dokie...
Salmons ( B ) -- kind of quietly racked up points in the first half, many of them off of the break. Noticed him more after half, probably because nobody else was doing anything at all. A little more passing than is his wont, but struggled a bit with Desmond Mason in the post -- be one of those minor little stories to watch this season as John is an excellent perimeter defender, but will be down inside a lot more as a SF.
Mikki ( C- ) -- active but largely ineffective in the first half. Got into position for shots, but missed everything except the perfect gimme by Kevin. Lost even the activity after half, and finished with one of those nothing Mikki games -- 4pts 2rebs in 17min. Did have one shining moment when he stole an open court pass that would have led to an OKC dunk seconds after the Thunder had stolen it from Kevin.
Miller ( INC ) -- barely knew he was out there in his first half minutes. Set Kevin up once, otherwise just stayed out of the way. Very little to grade a major player on here, so INC seems appropriate. Just started for show, but it was Spencer's night.
Martin ( B ) -- modest first half numbers, but easily dominated in his short time in there, not only with the score, but also once running a textpook pick and roll with Mikki. Not as good after half when he looked like he wanted to attack, but just did not. Handle was looking a little better, but then got picked clean trying to split a double up top on one play, but got lucky and was bailed out by Mikki taking the ball right back and hitting him for an open jumper from the side.
Brown ( A ) -- showed some nice scoring ability throughout this one, both with the jumper, and on one nifty drive from the perimeter changing directions in midair and finishing around one of the OKC bigs. Was clearly our best (and pretty much only) weapon down the stretch. Continues to show very limitied PG skills -- looks for his shot first, second, and sometimes third. But looked smoooth and professional doing it, and considerably outplayed an awful looking Russel Westbrook. I would be very concerned (spelled disaster) with him as a starter -- some of our offensive struggles tonight might well be laid at the feet of not having a PG out there. But you don't have to squint too hard to see him in a BJax role coming off the bench.
Thompson ( D- ) -- quiet first half and almost compeltely ineffective after the break. Repeatedly tried to dirve it insice, or finish inside, and had everything blocked or stripped. Using a handful of defensive rebounds as my excuse not to slap him with his first career F in only his second game for us, but was obviously completely ineffective this time out.
Cicso ( D+ ) -- struggled most of the night in the ways that Cisco will struggle -- forcing too much, in the first half in particular, and having a hard time getting around his man. Had one bright moment when a ball got slapped out to him for a wide open three in the 4th, but that was it.
Hawes ( A ) -- in the first half responded almost exactly how you would have wanted him to to the debacle in Portland. Started off with a jumper, which made you nervous that he was going to wimp out again and just start chucking to prove he could, but followed that up with one of those nifty post moves he seems so reluctant to use and then dominated the remainder of the half inside, finishing with 16 points in about 12 minutes. Did it mostly from where he should -- down in the block with a variety of moves and finishes over the small groundbound OKC frontline (no, there are no Oden's in OKC, and they are undersized, but it was still mostly against a trio of solid NBA veteran PF/Cs in Joe Smith, Nick Collison, and Chris Wilcox). Did little after half, in fact so little that at one point there had not only lost the "+" off his A, but was headed for a "-". Woke up very late however, and while unfortunately it was with a three, soon therafter he had a nice little finish inside off a Salmons feed I think. Obviously not a dominant performance on the glass, and defensively was indifferent -- showed some activty at times, rolled out the red carpet to drivers at others. But this was the offensive potential that is talked about with Spencer, if he ever figures it out.
BJax ( C ) -- had a few classic BJax hustle play moments in the first half, but never able to get anything going offensively, and was pretty much just playint he old wizened caddy to Brown's breakthrough game this time out
Greene ( D ) -- came back to earth with a thud. Airballed his first shot, and was invisible therafter. Combined with Thompson and Williams for some extremely sloppy play in the third in particular. Was nonetheless contributing just enough in non-scoring ways to stay on the floor deep into the game. Had a couple of assists. Defense was on and off -- one second looking like he had played it his entire life, the next having mysterious breakdowns. Still doesn't know how to use his size to full advantage either on the glass, or defensively in the post, where he should be able to hold his ground against almost any SF, and loom over most.
Shelden ( B+ ) -- in the first half showed some power on the glass, but otherwise contributed little. came on a bit in lengthy second half minutes though. Had a couple of nice blocks in there in the 3rd, when we completely stopped playing offense, so any stops we could get were critical. And used his body well on the glass. Likely showing off for the gf, who had courtside seats
Salmons ( B ) -- kind of quietly racked up points in the first half, many of them off of the break. Noticed him more after half, probably because nobody else was doing anything at all. A little more passing than is his wont, but struggled a bit with Desmond Mason in the post -- be one of those minor little stories to watch this season as John is an excellent perimeter defender, but will be down inside a lot more as a SF.
Mikki ( C- ) -- active but largely ineffective in the first half. Got into position for shots, but missed everything except the perfect gimme by Kevin. Lost even the activity after half, and finished with one of those nothing Mikki games -- 4pts 2rebs in 17min. Did have one shining moment when he stole an open court pass that would have led to an OKC dunk seconds after the Thunder had stolen it from Kevin.
Miller ( INC ) -- barely knew he was out there in his first half minutes. Set Kevin up once, otherwise just stayed out of the way. Very little to grade a major player on here, so INC seems appropriate. Just started for show, but it was Spencer's night.
Martin ( B ) -- modest first half numbers, but easily dominated in his short time in there, not only with the score, but also once running a textpook pick and roll with Mikki. Not as good after half when he looked like he wanted to attack, but just did not. Handle was looking a little better, but then got picked clean trying to split a double up top on one play, but got lucky and was bailed out by Mikki taking the ball right back and hitting him for an open jumper from the side.
Brown ( A ) -- showed some nice scoring ability throughout this one, both with the jumper, and on one nifty drive from the perimeter changing directions in midair and finishing around one of the OKC bigs. Was clearly our best (and pretty much only) weapon down the stretch. Continues to show very limitied PG skills -- looks for his shot first, second, and sometimes third. But looked smoooth and professional doing it, and considerably outplayed an awful looking Russel Westbrook. I would be very concerned (spelled disaster) with him as a starter -- some of our offensive struggles tonight might well be laid at the feet of not having a PG out there. But you don't have to squint too hard to see him in a BJax role coming off the bench.
Thompson ( D- ) -- quiet first half and almost compeltely ineffective after the break. Repeatedly tried to dirve it insice, or finish inside, and had everything blocked or stripped. Using a handful of defensive rebounds as my excuse not to slap him with his first career F in only his second game for us, but was obviously completely ineffective this time out.
Cicso ( D+ ) -- struggled most of the night in the ways that Cisco will struggle -- forcing too much, in the first half in particular, and having a hard time getting around his man. Had one bright moment when a ball got slapped out to him for a wide open three in the 4th, but that was it.
Hawes ( A ) -- in the first half responded almost exactly how you would have wanted him to to the debacle in Portland. Started off with a jumper, which made you nervous that he was going to wimp out again and just start chucking to prove he could, but followed that up with one of those nifty post moves he seems so reluctant to use and then dominated the remainder of the half inside, finishing with 16 points in about 12 minutes. Did it mostly from where he should -- down in the block with a variety of moves and finishes over the small groundbound OKC frontline (no, there are no Oden's in OKC, and they are undersized, but it was still mostly against a trio of solid NBA veteran PF/Cs in Joe Smith, Nick Collison, and Chris Wilcox). Did little after half, in fact so little that at one point there had not only lost the "+" off his A, but was headed for a "-". Woke up very late however, and while unfortunately it was with a three, soon therafter he had a nice little finish inside off a Salmons feed I think. Obviously not a dominant performance on the glass, and defensively was indifferent -- showed some activty at times, rolled out the red carpet to drivers at others. But this was the offensive potential that is talked about with Spencer, if he ever figures it out.
BJax ( C ) -- had a few classic BJax hustle play moments in the first half, but never able to get anything going offensively, and was pretty much just playint he old wizened caddy to Brown's breakthrough game this time out
Greene ( D ) -- came back to earth with a thud. Airballed his first shot, and was invisible therafter. Combined with Thompson and Williams for some extremely sloppy play in the third in particular. Was nonetheless contributing just enough in non-scoring ways to stay on the floor deep into the game. Had a couple of assists. Defense was on and off -- one second looking like he had played it his entire life, the next having mysterious breakdowns. Still doesn't know how to use his size to full advantage either on the glass, or defensively in the post, where he should be able to hold his ground against almost any SF, and loom over most.
Shelden ( B+ ) -- in the first half showed some power on the glass, but otherwise contributed little. came on a bit in lengthy second half minutes though. Had a couple of nice blocks in there in the 3rd, when we completely stopped playing offense, so any stops we could get were critical. And used his body well on the glass. Likely showing off for the gf, who had courtside seats
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