Last night I woke up at 1am to watch the game and offer observations. I was hoping to that I would get away with not doing it and that one of the guys here would but it's 4:14 est and still no real observations,so here goes. Starters: Phil started PG-Smush SG-Kobe PF-Kwame SF-Lamar and C-Chris A) Smush - Looked like he was out there as "the 5th player", Diddy had a field day with him, and it did not seem that he was understanding of what kind of offense was being run. In his defense in the 1st quarter GS jumped on top of them and no one looked like they knew what they were doing. Later in the game it seemed as if "Diddy", baited him into a street ball confrontation "cali vs ny". Smush played defense too agressively and was whistled for fouls to Baron's "Delight". You live and you learn....I would hope that he spends time with Craig Hodges to learn how to hit the open shot. > C Grade Kobe-Kobe was chillin the first quarter you could see he was thrown off by the freestylin play of G.S., I think that they thought the Warriors would run an offense that "Stanford", is used to running.He looked as if he wasn't sure who to guard the pg or sg. His hesitation approach on the defensive end made Jason Richardson look good last night. "The Striker" position seemed to suit him perfect when they ran plays that accomidated it...........Kobe is the best player in this league,the way he turned up his intensity last night really did look jordan-esque. I aint talkin about moves I mean the man turned on takeova mode.His defense especially in the second half was entertaining although he was a little overly agrresive on some plays against the point guard. I hope that (and it looked like it would) hsi ballhawking nature rubs off on his teammates.He seemed to have a personal thing against Diddy after he was playin Smush out by putting him in foul trouble. His 28points came with ease after he got hot. You could see his conditioning in effect because he ran strong on both ends. I do wonder if he can keep this pace up the full 82 games. I think that it could hurt him throughout the year to play so many min at a high level, and if he and Phil a underlying goal to capture M.V.P. then they should look take anothe rstong look at Sprewell to help with the burdan or maybe see (and this is a stretch) if Scottie Pipen could asume a player/coach role. >B+ grade C) Kwame- (this ones for you shpecity) I know it was preseason and the triangle and blah,blah,blah. I was throughly throughly dissapointed in Kwame. <If don't want your stomach to turn in knots don't read the following lines> Kwame sucked last night, now that statement had nothing at all to do with his box scores, he just looks like he has noo clue on how to play professional b-ball. The strange thing is that i've seen him play(plenty) before so I know that;thats not true. I am a hughmongus Kwame Brown supporter, but he was so bad last night. This is what he did do good (against Adonyal Foyle & Troy Murphy) he got great post postion and BEGGED for the ball,but for some reason I think that was a triangle decoy. Here is what he did wrong.........A. his passing out of the post was weak,B.He held the ball to low when he tried to turn inside to score,C. No post moves or fakes just turn inside or outside to score.D. No attempt to put the ball on the floor and be a dribbling threat. E. NO attempt at all in attacking the boards, fans on at least 5 occasions Kwame was bout 3 feet away and no blockout or hands up or nothin, he saw the ball go up and turned to go back down court. When he got cut under his eye he looked like he could not wait to get off the floor. He looked like Brian Cook in his rookie year when he tried to be a post player(no lie)... Here is the contrast= the 2 or so min Adam Parada was in the game was the best big man play all night. He was boxing out,check defending,running through lanes with his hands outto defelect passes...oh yeah he was sprinting to his position and up and down the court, he was contesting shots, Not swatting at shots after they left the shooters hand(kwame), this in the span of 2 to 3 min. >Kwame grade a generous D D) Lamar= He was fantastic he looked like Phil has been in his ear instiling confidence galore in him. He pused the ball without hesitation like he did at Rhoder Island, when i thought he was the best college player I had ever seen after watching one game. Moving on he was terrific great decisions,above avg defense, he even d'ed up Monta Ellis(who also was inpressive), the transition game took a hit when he left the floor.He played a little too much for my taste,putting his should in harms way a couple of times. He did have his left hand taken away once or twice, but he did show that if need be they can start Luke(grade c+) sf and really put Lamar at point,althought i still think that Latrell would be a benifite. Lamar grade>A- E) Chris Mihm= Ah Chris, I for one really like CM but he souldn't be starting on this team.I't aint too much to say, looked like he did at the end of last year. I do think that he played with a look of disrespect, he looked like he was mad from being pushed around,dunked on. Chris Mhim grade>Brian Grant=D Bench: McKie:Agressive in the second half on D swarming the ball when Kobe turned it up.Missed open shots. not a lot of time>grade=C- Cook: I just dont know how he got ten points, he is just seems to be getting a check, a real waste of height,he refuses to play D.>grade C- Luke: Good stuff from look,he looks confident again,he is bulked up too. Looks like Phil forgot about him, should have started.(see prev grade) JJ: Picked up where he left off last year, seems to come from no where, his attitude looks funky,like he is playing even thogh he dosn't want to. Still very solid and even looked like the best laker on the floor at times.>grade=c+ Bobbit:Not a factor but not to shabby, he was playing like he already has a spot on the time. Solid for a preseason bum. grade C Sashaoor guy,can't get no respect. He still gets forgotten on the bench. I don't think they recognize his position yet.He put on weight and muscle. not much of a presence:grade=c Devin George: He benifited more than anyone from Shaq, but i think he blinded us. No small talk Deven to me played awful, it would be grat to know that he can be relied on to come off the bench and spark the team, but i just was so very dissapointed. He looked like he was on coke, overly agressive,like he had no discipline.He still looked out of shape even tough I know hes not.>grade D Von Wafer: Looked lost and mad, like sombody told him he wasn't good enough.I'm sure he'll play better tonite.It wouldhave been good to see him play with the confidence of Monte Ellis. (MY NEW MISSION IS TO FIND OUT WHO VON WAFERS AGENT IS AND WHO HE REPRESENTS IN THE LEAGUE...BECAUSE HE OWES US A FREE AGENT IN 2007&2008) Mitch is gonna regret not drafing Blatch or Ukic MIllie Elli,or Ezram Lorbeck...Von grade>D(poor guy) Finally because this is so long let me say, we look bad, and a simplier version of the triangle would be benifical. Too many new faces to get this running at a sufficent pace. Phil need to find out in these next 2 games who the staring guard will be. Mitch needs to hit the waiver wire hard(mikki morre is available). And especially take a long look at Christian Lattner and Latrell Sprewell. Send Wafer to the d-league and let us watch Bynum grow you owe us that much. If we had Ronny I would feel so much better .......
Helped reformat it, thanks for the breakdown, brotha, especially the sad truth about Kwame Brown. He's already making excuses for his performance last night. Ugh. Actually the Sonics picked up Mikki Moore. But I agree they should take a look at Laettner or Gugliotta. Sprewell would be a great pickup as well especially if they plan on playing more uptempo and using traps on defense.
Their triangle is most likely going to look like they'e new to it, and probably due to the fact that it is new to them; most of them at least... But their defense is MUCH better...
I totally agree with your review Mr Bryant (other than Odom, I dont think he was that great but he was solid). Mihm really was bad out there, I think he recieved 2 or 3 of Foyle's 4 blocked shots. I'm sure he wasnt happy about that or that Troy Murphy was sucking up every rebound in sight. I was surprised at how little they played McKie. I thought he would be the starting PG but he only got a few minutes even in preseason.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I was surprised at how little they played McKie. I thought he would be the starting PG but he only got a few minutes even in preseason</div> Being that he's 35 they are probably saving him for the season, old knee's tend to flare up easily, there's no reason for him to be playing substantial minutes.
