Grades v. Clippers 12/21/2012

[Bricklayer]

Sigh. Sigh. SIGH.

The loss was predictable. The Clippers toyed with us like grandpa giving Jr. a queen and rook and then playing him at chess. But, we knew that was probably going in. On the other hand, the annual Boogie blowup was the unneeded cherry on top. Oh, and then there was Walton.

Sigh.

Still not bad enough for girls. They just kind of held us at arms length, but there was a pretense of a game going on for most of it. Don't think we ever went down 20. A few times we even cut it under 10. We were no threat, but we'll do a normal theme instead.


Boxscore

Stats: 29min 5pts (2-6, 1-2, 0-0) 2reb 4ast 0stl 1blk 1TO
Salmons ( C- ) -- nice pass on the break to Boogie for a dunk in the early going as he was playing the willing ball mover again to start this one. But unfortunately that was pretty all he was able to do, as he had almost no productivity of his own. On the positive side, neither did Caron Butler. We got in trouble in our smallball lineup late in the half where we were repeatedly treated to the spectacle of John Salmons trying to keep Blake Griffin off the boards. Hit a three early in the third, but too small to stop Odom at SF, and completely disappeared from the statsheet soon therafter.

Stats: 27min 10pts (5-7, 0-0, 0-0) 8reb 2ast 0stl 2blk 3TO
Thompson ( B- ) -- was into quick foul trouble against Griffin and barely got to play in the first half. Think he had somehting like 7 minutes for the whole half to go with his 3 fouls. Stepped forward after the break with Cousins suddenly not with the team. Never a huge impact, but gave us a Jason Thompson half of efficient scoring, solid rebounding, and a couple of good help blocks inside, while guarding centers and mostly letting Chuck get his face on Blake Griffin posters. Also helped get us going in the early third with some solid passing, and in general if he had played the entire game at his second half level would likely be looking at a B or B+ type grade. Alas, we only had him for a half.

Stats: 20min 9pts (4-9, 0-0, 1-2) 5reb 3ast 2stl 1blk 2TO
Cousins ( ) -- so...was going along playing a fairly mediroce low impact first half. Had a few moments flashing the talent around the hoop, made a nice give an go pass to Thornton etc. Was virtually the only guy rebounding before half as we were getting crushed. But he didn't look comfrotable, made several bad passes trying to do too much and triggering Clippers breaks, missed more jumpers than he hit, and even on the glass where he was our only guy, he seemd to be losing more battles than he won. And then...well, check the rest of the board for the and then.

Stats: 25min 11pts (4-9, 2-5, 1-1) 4reb 1ast 1stl 0blk 1TO
Thornton ( C ) -- started the game hot as it looked like there was going to be a little hope of a Thornton/Cuz teaming to make a game of things. Barely rippled the net with a three to start things, scored on a give and go from Boogie, then added another three. But in our normal chciken and the egg stuff, either he quit trying to work wihtin the system as the system broke down, or the system broke down because he quit trying to work in it. Either way, as the half wore on he quit taking shots off the catch and started gunning 1 on 1 jumpers. And missing. Thx Marcus. Came out in the third missing shots that we needed and actually ended up being repalced for most of the second half as we figured Jimmer could chuck up bad shots just as easily. Didn't feel this was a terrible game form Marcus so much as just an unnecessary struggle after a while. Done in by his own inner selfish which he falls back upon when times get tough.

Stats: 21min 6pts (2-6, 1-4, 1-1) 0reb 2ast 0stl 1blk 3TO
Brooks ( D ) -- got almost nothing accomplished out there in the first half against CP3. Passes and dropoffs were repeatedly getting tipped for turnovers early, and no other productivity. Returned in the second and immediately bricked another 3. Finally got a drive and dish to Couins late in the half. A little more effective in the early 3rd, hit a three, but then got in foul toruble and was not missed as we threw out the mini chuckers and let them gun at will the rest of the way.

[Bricklayer]

Bench

Stats: 25min 2pts (1-3, 0-0, 0-0) 7reb 3ast 0stl 0blk 2TO
Hayes ( C ) -- in quickly with the eaely foul trouble on JT. Defensively ineffective as Griffith shot and jumped over him. Getting smotherd on offense as well. Which inspired Walton to ask "where would the Kings be without Chuck Hayes?" Had a turnover and just looked out of place in the first half. With Cousins gone after the break played long minues in the second half, with better results. At least got on the glass a little, and his passing and picks helped the mini-chuckers.

Stats: 27min 12pts (4-13, 2-7, 2-2) 2reb 1ast 0stl 0blk 2TO
Thomas ( C ) -- came in and quickly hit a high teardrop, getting off to the good offensive start. and continuing to score while nobody else was in the early 2nd quarter. The other direction Paul generally ran over him too, and hti a three over him to close the first quarter, but there were a few good possessions where IT got into him. Unfortunately there wasn't much positive to talk about after hte initial burst. Played long minutes in the second half alongside Jimmer, played hard, but other than a three to cut the lead to 7 in the mid-4th, there were few bright moments, either as a scorer or passer.

Stats: 23min 16pts (4-10, 2-3, 6-7) 0reb 2ast 3stl 0blk 0TO
Fredette ( B ) -- nothing in his first stint, did stay in front of Crawford on one possession. But after the break when we just sort of said screw it and threw out a crew of mostly reserves and let them fire away to see what might happen, Jimmer logged heavy minutes alongside IT and did well with them. Hit a couple of threes off of broken plays in the third that actually cut the lead to 6 at one point. Missed more than he hit thereafter, including being blocked on the break from behind as an automatic layup got wiped away, and chucking up a terrible wannabe hero 30 foot three with us down 7 at the 6:00 mark -- we'd never get as close again. But he did get a nice fake and score on the drive in the 4th, and surprisingly was actually popping into passing lanes and disrupting sloppy Clippers plays on defense.

Stats: 18min 4pts (2-4, 0-0, 0-0) 1reb 0ast 1stl 1blk 1TO
Robinson ( D ) -- hit an open side jumper on a pass from Hayes, otherwise ineffective in short first half minutes. Had a long opportunity in the second half with Cousins gone, but just got little accomplished, was losing the hustle battles, even got a dunk on the break blocked form behind...by a PG (although the PG was physical freak Bledsoe). Finally got his second shot to go when he forced a bad long jumper with 3 miinutes to go...and it fell in. Should never have taken it, but gave us a few extra seconds of pretense in this one. 4pts 1reb looks better as a 2nd round guy than a #5 pick. Wiht Cousins out now, needs to step up in a big way to turn his rookie season.

Stats: 23min 10pts (5-12, 0-1, 0-3) 3reb 0ast 0stl 3blk 0TO
Johnson ( B- ) --this marks several games of showing real life in the last few weeks. Left open several times inteh early going as the lane opened right up, and got one dunk out of it. Aggressive but not always effective going to the hoop, but ina surprising and promising development pulled up and knocked down several jumper like it was a nromal part of his offense. Caught playing PF as we went small late in the first half, and not effective on the glass. Guarded by Griffin during those minutes and ketp trying to drive on him, which was good idea, decidely mixed results. And wasn't doing his best defensive job during those minutes either, although did come up with sevral help blocks. Lost offensive effectiveness after half as those attacks at the rim frequently turned into smuhses in his face. Did however close on the right note, hitting a jumper off the dribble in the final seconsd again, as that shot definitely looked better (well, at least until he went to the line, where he missed all of them). Again could make a difference for him and us longterm.

Stats: 2min 0pts (0-0, 0-0, 0-0) 0reb 0ast 0stl 0blk 1TO
Outlaw ( INC ) -- came in, turned it over on a stupid play, left. You would have to ask Smart what the hell he was doing in there in the first palce.

[LWP777]

Sigh. Sigh. SIGH.

The loss was predictable. The Clippers toyed with us like grandpa giving Jr. a queen and rook and then playing him at chess. But, we knew that was probably going in. On the other hand, the bi-weeklyBoogie blowup was the unneeded cherry on top. Oh, and then there was Walton.

Sigh.

Still not bad enough for girls. They just kind of held us at arms length, but there was a pretense of a game going on for most of it. Don't think we ever went down 20. A few times we even cut it under 10. We were no threat, but we'll do a normal theme instead.


Boxscore


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Fixed your post.

[Reke 13 Havoc]

annual blowup? more like weekly

[LWP777]

annual blowup? more like weekly

I was being nice when I said bi-weekly.

[mac]

Hmm .. Cousins will apologize through the media, Smart will give some talk about how he's trying to grow the team and the players need to learn that and to trust each other. Reke will continue sitting out games because he's found a way to not have to play under Smart until he gets traded before the deadline, after which point his knee will miraculously heal and he'll continue playing well for another team. We may suspend Cousins for a game, but whatever it is we'll just continue on with Smart with no changes made, continue losing games and Cousins will have another blowup sometime later in the season. At which point we'll probably trade Cousins for basically nothing because he's lost all his trade value, we'll have a roster with even less potential and Keith Smart will still be "growing" our team for the next 5 years as we miss the playoffs year after year trying to build a team around a core of Isaiah Thomas and Marcus Thornton.

But hey, Cousins has issues and stuff, we're fortunate that we have such a reliable rock of a coach in Keith Smart.

[LWP777]

Hmm .. Cousins will apologize through the media, Smart will give some talk about how he's trying to grow the team and the players need to learn that and to trust each other. Reke will continue sitting out games because he's found a way to not have to play under Smart until he gets traded before the deadline, after which point his knee will miraculously heal and he'll continue playing well for another team. We may suspend Cousins for a game, but whatever it is we'll just continue on with Smart with no changes made, continue losing games and Cousins will have another blowup sometime later in the season. At which point we'll probably trade Cousins for basically nothing because he's lost all his trade value, we'll have a roster with even less potential and Keith Smart will still be "growing" our team for the next 5 years as we miss the playoffs year after year trying to build a team around a core of Isaiah Thomas and Marcus Thornton.

But hey, Cousins has issues and stuff, we're fortunate that we have such a reliable rock of a coach in Keith Smart.

Lol. This was pretty funny. Sadly, you may be right about Reke but I think we can get a couple of nice players for DMC. They won't have the upside as DMC but I think they could help plug some holes in the team. I also think we would see other players start to play better with DMC gone. Kind of like what happened in the 2nd half tonight.

[sdballer]

Lol. This was pretty funny. Sadly, you may be right about Reke but I think we can get a couple of nice players for DMC. They won't have the upside as DMC but I think they could help plug some holes in the team. I also think we would see other players start to play better with DMC gone. Kind of like what happened in the 2nd half tonight.

Really, you think this team would be better with a couple role players instead of Cuz? Based on one decent half of basketball in a game we lost.

[LWP777]

Really, you think this team would be better with a couple role players instead of Cuz? Based on one decent half of basketball in a game we lost.

Role players? I think we would need a little better than that. I suggested Gortat and Dragic before and got laughed at. The funny thing is the Suns would never do it. The point is we are not going to be a championship contender with DMC as the cornerstone. He's not THAT good and he's a cancer to the team.

[sdballer]

Role players? I think we would need a little better than that. I suggested Gortat and Dragic before and got laughed at. The funny thing is the Suns would never do it. The point is we are not going to be a championship contender with DMC as the cornerstone. He's not THAT good and he's a cancer to the team.

No, the point is you will only be a championship contender with real star talent, which Cuz has. It isn't harnessed yet and his immaturity plays a big part in that but you don't turn a franchise around by trading a 22 year old center with his potential for guys like Gortat and Dragic. You stick with it, bring in the right kind of coach and veteran leaders.

Your way is proven way to continue circling the toilet the next 10 years. Pass

[Bricklayer]

Role players? I think we would need a little better than that. I suggested Gortat and Dragic before and got laughed at. The funny thing is the Suns would never do it. The point is we are not going to be a championship contender with DMC as the cornerstone. He's not THAT good and he's a cancer to the team.

If you were in charge we would literally no longer exist. There would be no point. They would contract us, and I'd vote yes with them.

You don't win in the NBA wihtout great players. Plural. Without them there is no point in even fielding a team. You're gonna lose. You wil;l ntoice all the awesome success Dragic and Gortat are haivng in Phoenix. They are nothing without a great player next to them. Now as support personnel, they can have success. Without it, you're just playing to lose.

[LWP777]

No, the point is you will only be a championship contender with real star talent, which Cuz has. It isn't harnessed yet and his immaturity plays a big part in that but you don't turn a franchise around by trading a 22 year old center with his potential for guys like Gortat and Dragic. You stick with it, bring in the right kind of coach and veteran leaders.

Your way is proven way to continue circling the toilet the next 10 years. Pass

I just don't agree that he has "star talent" and that's why we see it different. The dude is 7 feet tall and shoots 41% from the floor. Sure it's great that he can do some things on the basketball floor that most big guys can't but he doesn't do ONE THING great.

[LWP777]

If you were in charge we would literally no longer exist. There would be no point. They would contract us, and I'd vote yes with them.

You don't win in the NBA wihtout great players. Plural. Without them there is no point in even fielding a team. You're gonna lose. You wil;l ntoice all the awesome success Dragic and Gortat are haivng in Phoenix. They are nothing without a great player next to them. Now as support personnel, they can have success. Without it, you're just playing to lose.

I don't disagree. The problem is DMC will never be "great." Sorry, but you've never been a great judge of talent.

[sdballer]

I just don't agree that he has "star talent" and that's why we see it different. The dude is 7 feet tall and shoots 41% from the floor. Sure it's great that he can do some things on the basketball floor that most big guys can't but he doesn't do ONE THING great.

He's 22, playing in on a team with no offensive structure, parts that don't fit and a coach that is completely lost.

[LWP777]

He's 22, playing in on a team with no offensive structure, parts that don't fit and a coach that is completely lost.

Stop with the excuses. It's his 3rd year now of playing at the highest level in basketball. He should be making progress by now but he's getting worse on and off the floor.

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I just don't agree that he has "star talent" and that's why we see it different. The dude is 7 feet tall and shoots 41% from the floor. Sure it's great that he can do some things on the basketball floor that most big guys can't but he doesn't do ONE THING great.

I prefer to think of it as Cousins being born in wrong era: Bob Pettit shot .436 for his career. Dolph Schayes shot .380. George Mikan shot .404. The greatest winner of all time, Mister William Felton Russell, shot .440.

Cousins was just born sixty years too late, that's all.

[andremiller07]

Wow the sad thing was DMC was not even playing badly 4/9 (took a few to many jumpers) 5boards 3 assists and other than one lob to DJ shut him down as well as Blake on a couple possesions. I don't get why he went off, like I've said before I don't want to trade him but it might be in HIS best interest to go elsewhere.

[sdballer]

Stop with the excuses. It's his 3rd year now of playing at the highest level in basketball. He should be making progress by now but he's getting worse on and off the floor.

What's the difference to you between an excuse and a reason?

[VF21]

Hmm .. Cousins will apologize through the media, Smart will give some talk about how he's trying to grow the team and the players need to learn that and to trust each other. Reke will continue sitting out games because he's found a way to not have to play under Smart until he gets traded before the deadline, after which point his knee will miraculously heal and he'll continue playing well for another team. We may suspend Cousins for a game, but whatever it is we'll just continue on with Smart with no changes made, continue losing games and Cousins will have another blowup sometime later in the season. At which point we'll probably trade Cousins for basically nothing because he's lost all his trade value, we'll have a roster with even less potential and Keith Smart will still be "growing" our team for the next 5 years as we miss the playoffs year after year trying to build a team around a core of Isaiah Thomas and Marcus Thornton.

But hey, Cousins has issues and stuff, we're fortunate that we have such a reliable rock of a coach in Keith Smart.

You forgot one thing. The Maloofs will find a way to move the team to South Dakota where they'll play in a brand-new arena funded by Native American tribal casinos.

[LWP777]

I prefer to think of it as Cousins being born in wrong era: Bob Pettit shot .436 for his career. Dolph Schayes shot .380. George Mikan shot .404. The greatest winner of all time, Mister William Felton Russell, shot .440.

Cousins was just born sixty years too late, that's all.

Lol. That's actually pretty interesting. I wonder why all those guys shot such a low percentage. I guess the athletes these days are just so much better.