Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Casspi ( D ) -- just did not have it from the start in this one. Airballed his first shot, then bricked his first two FTs, was fumbling balls and involved in numerous miscommunication turnovers with teammates. Game 1 went to Omri, Game 2 to Donte in the SF battle.
Whiteside ( C ) -- early on had a couple of nice offensive moments with a nice facing bankshot, then a nice post move, but that was really kind of that and would play another 25 minutes without getting much done. Altered some shots that were not blcoked, but not able to get his one trick tricking, and again not a facrot on the glass. Got muscled out of a couple of late scoring opportunities. No impact.
Cousins ( A- ) -- an incredibly impressive outing that could almost serve as that "uh oh he's gonna be real good" moment that it took until Reke's 2nd game of the regular season against CP3 for him to have (or for us to notice -- with the scary financial withdrawal last year we were locked out from seeing most ofthis stuff last year). There was looseness, there was slop, but shining through all over was offensive talent the likes of whiich I don't think any other center n the league has right now. The big guy has a handle, as in a serious take guys off the dribble lead the break type handle, he has great court vision and some nifty on his passes, and this time out he didn't settle and used that big body again and againl slamming inside. Much credit too has to go to Mario Elie who is coaching him like a star big and repeatedly demanding our guards and forwards get him in the ball and let him got to work. There were probably 3 or 4 shots here that were forces, a few loose turnovers, but nothing that maturity and getting into an actual organized basketball setting won't fix. Ther was also a nifty no look pass to Omri, a center boarding at one end and leading the break on the other, a beautiful up and under, hook shots, snap passes to cutters, spin moves, and a constant relentless attack in the post and paint. And with his dribbling ability was able to maneuver down in there himself even when the d-league guards could not deliver it. No it was not NBA level competition, but he was matched up against Derrick Character all night, and Character has only been the best player in d-league until DeMarcus arrived, averaging something like 20-10 and chekcing in at 275 himself.
Landesberg ( B ) -- impressed with length and athletism and was attacking the rim consistently for most of the night. Got involved in a fun play in the first half when both he and Whiteside went up for the same flying tip duunk, and both guys ended up hanging off the rim. There have been numerrous Kings teams of recent vintage where we might not have had two guys on the whole roster capable of doing that, loet alone at one time.
Sloan ( D ) -- did a nice job on his first possession working to feed Cousins in the post, but the rest of his game was a struggle. Offense was forced and out of control, and he struggled against pressure bringing it up.
Downey ( B+ ) -- in the early going the notes could just have been "midget, no hope", but as the game wore on he began to have an impact with his quickness, and critically with his quickness on defense where he wwas able to pressure the ball and come up wiht open court steals. Unfortunately for him 5'9" is the average height for American maless, not for NBA basketball players, but to whatever degree it is actually inriguing, managed to add a little intrigue to our SL PG competition
Greene ( A ) -- played a very strong game looking like a man amongst boys on his way to 17pts in 16min. Was knocking down the open threes, and mixing in some real nice physical drives finishing throgh contact.
Thompson ( D ) -- largely invisible, only bucket woukld have missed if not for the Lakers tipping it into their own hoop. Late had a wild iopen court force but redeemed himself by gettign it back on defense
Chism ( A- ) -- just rock solid again. showing good range on his jumper, added a good
little post move as well. Just looked polished amongst the raggedness.
Whiteside ( C ) -- early on had a couple of nice offensive moments with a nice facing bankshot, then a nice post move, but that was really kind of that and would play another 25 minutes without getting much done. Altered some shots that were not blcoked, but not able to get his one trick tricking, and again not a facrot on the glass. Got muscled out of a couple of late scoring opportunities. No impact.
Cousins ( A- ) -- an incredibly impressive outing that could almost serve as that "uh oh he's gonna be real good" moment that it took until Reke's 2nd game of the regular season against CP3 for him to have (or for us to notice -- with the scary financial withdrawal last year we were locked out from seeing most ofthis stuff last year). There was looseness, there was slop, but shining through all over was offensive talent the likes of whiich I don't think any other center n the league has right now. The big guy has a handle, as in a serious take guys off the dribble lead the break type handle, he has great court vision and some nifty on his passes, and this time out he didn't settle and used that big body again and againl slamming inside. Much credit too has to go to Mario Elie who is coaching him like a star big and repeatedly demanding our guards and forwards get him in the ball and let him got to work. There were probably 3 or 4 shots here that were forces, a few loose turnovers, but nothing that maturity and getting into an actual organized basketball setting won't fix. Ther was also a nifty no look pass to Omri, a center boarding at one end and leading the break on the other, a beautiful up and under, hook shots, snap passes to cutters, spin moves, and a constant relentless attack in the post and paint. And with his dribbling ability was able to maneuver down in there himself even when the d-league guards could not deliver it. No it was not NBA level competition, but he was matched up against Derrick Character all night, and Character has only been the best player in d-league until DeMarcus arrived, averaging something like 20-10 and chekcing in at 275 himself.
Landesberg ( B ) -- impressed with length and athletism and was attacking the rim consistently for most of the night. Got involved in a fun play in the first half when both he and Whiteside went up for the same flying tip duunk, and both guys ended up hanging off the rim. There have been numerrous Kings teams of recent vintage where we might not have had two guys on the whole roster capable of doing that, loet alone at one time.
Sloan ( D ) -- did a nice job on his first possession working to feed Cousins in the post, but the rest of his game was a struggle. Offense was forced and out of control, and he struggled against pressure bringing it up.
Downey ( B+ ) -- in the early going the notes could just have been "midget, no hope", but as the game wore on he began to have an impact with his quickness, and critically with his quickness on defense where he wwas able to pressure the ball and come up wiht open court steals. Unfortunately for him 5'9" is the average height for American maless, not for NBA basketball players, but to whatever degree it is actually inriguing, managed to add a little intrigue to our SL PG competition
Greene ( A ) -- played a very strong game looking like a man amongst boys on his way to 17pts in 16min. Was knocking down the open threes, and mixing in some real nice physical drives finishing throgh contact.
Thompson ( D ) -- largely invisible, only bucket woukld have missed if not for the Lakers tipping it into their own hoop. Late had a wild iopen court force but redeemed himself by gettign it back on defense
Chism ( A- ) -- just rock solid again. showing good range on his jumper, added a good
little post move as well. Just looked polished amongst the raggedness.
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