Game Thread: 1/14/08 (Monday)

[dingclancy]

Yes I think PJ Carlesimo is just dumb training a kid that way. I do not want him to be a waste of talent.

But Durant is still young and sky is the limit as long as he stops developing bad habits...

[Griever24]

Cant believe people are discrediting kobe for how many shots he took .. not only were his teammates playing zero D and Brincking every shot ... but Kobe managed to hit the game winner and shutdown Durant pretty well ...thats takes a lot to do it on both ends ...

and his made shots came more in the clutch to btw ... he started kinda cold in the first then went off 4th and OT

not to mention only 1 Turnover

[Ballings7]

Freaking insane game and win by the Kings - best game of the year for them, right next to the Spurs win.

Salmons and Kevin Martin were off the charts good, for real

I'm so happy for and impressed by John Salmons, not just for that GW-er and his game tonight, but how he's emerged steadily as an all-star-caliber and two-way basketball player in this league. People who haven't seen the guy much since Philly probably won't believe it - but it's just the way it's gone. I didn't expect him to be as good as he has proven to be since around mid-winter last season. Thank you God (Salmons said God told him to sign with Sac) and Philly.

If the Kings do lose Ron Artest after the season, it sure is good to have Salmons around. As well as Garcia.

Martin was just unstoppable tonight, 39 pts in 27 minutes? Jesus. 2nd game back from injury, as well.

Jason Terry just went off, continuing to be a Kings killer. Dallas just got outplayed though, and didn't quite bring their A-game.

-------

Saw the last seconds of the Lakers game there, Kobe with the big-time GW shot over Green. Must be an interesting experience for Durant.

[TMACFORMVP]

Kevin Martin was insane, 39 points on 14-16 shooting? Was this is first game back?

Salmons has been extremely under the radar this season. He's essentially been a 20 point per game scorer when starting and tonight with 22. On the season he's giving you 17, 5, and 3 on fantastic percentages (50 and 40).

Wow Kobe with 44 shots tonight, seems like they needed every one of too, since Fisher and Odom were off.

[RobertGlory]

?????? why are sunday and tuesday game threads still stickied right now and today isn't??????

[Ballings7]

Nobody got to it.

[KF10]

Kevin Martin was insane, 39 points on 14-16 shooting? Was this is first game back?

Salmons has been extremely under the radar this season. He's essentially been a 20 point per game scorer when starting and tonight with 22. On the season he's giving you 17, 5, and 3 on fantastic percentages (50 and 40).

Wow Kobe with 44 shots tonight, seems like they needed every one of too, since Fisher and Odom were off.

Nah, this is his 2nd game back... He scored 25 points on 7-9 FG on his 1st game in limited minutes....(Martin scored 39 points only in 27 minutes! Crazy)

Yeah, Salmons is been GREAT for us...Should be one of the contenders of the MIP IMO....

[RIPskaterdude]

-= original quote snipped =-



Nah, this is his 2nd game back... He scored 25 points on 7-9 FG on his 1st game in limited minutes....(Martin scored 39 points only in 27 minutes! Crazy)

Yeah, Salmons is been GREAT for us...Should be one of the contenders of the MIP IMO....

If Salmons or Beno doesn't get recongized for MIP, that will be two years in a row that the Kings got screwed for that award

[Ballings7]

Kevin Martin was insane, 39 points on 14-16 shooting? Was this is first game back?

2nd game. Just played 27 minutes tonight, too.

Salmons has been extremely under the radar this season. He's essentially been a 20 point per game scorer when starting and tonight with 22. On the season he's giving you 17, 5, and 3 on fantastic percentages (50 and 40).

Yeah, I bring up the guy every time he has a good game. Despite playing on a middle-pack-team at best, he still deserves to be mentioned and known about. He's really not the same player he was in 2006 and prior.

[RIPskaterdude]

Yeah, I bring up the guy every time he has a good game. Despite playing on a middle-pack-team at best, he still deserves to be mentioned and known about. He's really not the same player he was in 2006 and prior.

And Salmons might not even be starting for the Kings next week since Artest is coming back on Wednesday...

[Ballings7]

-= original quote snipped =-



If Salmons or Beno doesn't get recongized for MIP, that will be two years in a row that the Kings got screwed for that award

I doubt they'll be able to beat out Bynum with what he's done and how good the Lakers have been, though. As well as them making the playoffs. The former goes for Kaman, too. Bynum being on the Lakers because of the media attention helps as well.

The player's team that is successful has proven to be a factor the last two years. That would go with Bynum for this year. If team success wasn't ever a factor, then West and K-Mart would of won it instead of Diaw and Ellis the last two years. Both having better overall numbers and improvements, from the previous season, than Diaw and Ellis.

I think all three of those guys are in the conversation, though.

[KF10]

-= original quote snipped =-



I doubt they'll be able to beat out Bynum with what he's done and how good the Lakers have been, though. As well as them making the playoffs. The former goes for Kaman, too. Bynum being on the Lakers because of the media attention helps as well.

The player's team that is successful has proven to be a factor the last two years. That goes with Bynum for this year. If team success wasn't ever a factor, then West and K-Mart would of won it instead of Diaw and Ellis the last two years. Both having better overall numbers and improvements, from the previous season, than Diaw and Ellis.

I think all three of those guys are in the conversation, of course, though.

IMO Bynum's absence (Injury) will cost him the MIP...IIRC he is out to 4-8 weeks....This will let other players to have an opportunity to shine...

[TMACFORMVP]

-= original quote snipped =-



Nah, this is his 2nd game back... He scored 25 points on 7-9 FG on his 1st game in limited minutes....(Martin scored 39 points only in 27 minutes! Crazy)

Ahh I see, still pretty impressive showing.

Yeah, I bring up the guy every time he has a good game. Despite playing on a middle-pack-team at best, he still deserves to be mentioned and known about. He's really not the same player he was in 2006 and prior.

Yeah I love his game and from what I've heard and seen, he's also an above average defender. I've said it a bunch of times, but his game really reminds me of Josh Howard. I'd kill for him on the Rockets haha.

[Ballings7]

IMO Bynum's absence (Injury) will cost him the MIP...IIRC he is out to 4-8 weeks....This will let other players to have an opportunity to shine...

I disagree.

If he's out that long then that that will help things to an extent. But even so, thats 1-2 months, leaving significant time for him to play again. Plus what he's already done up to the point of the injury.

[KF10]

-= original quote snipped =-



I disagree.

If he's out that long then that that will help things to an extent. But even so, thats 1-2 months, leaving significant time for him to play again. Plus what he's already done up to the point of the injury.

True, Bynum's game has been EXCELLENT...Even for me, I didnt expect that he will improved that much but IMO that missed time will be significant on choosing for the MIP, at least...

[Ballings7]

Yeah I love his game and from what I've heard and seen, he's also an above average defender. I've said it a bunch of times, but his game really reminds me of Josh Howard. I'd kill for him on the Rockets haha

Yeah.

I actually think he's an All-NBA-level defender. Again, people might think that's overrating him, but this goes back to last season. He didn't show as much as consistently overall last season, not having as much as an oppurtunity. Defensively though, he was there as a constant all last season. But it's come to be that his total play in the 2nd half last season, was a preview of what he'd be doing this season with an even larger oppurtunity.

He reminds me of a Howard-type, also. And look similar in terms of body, hair, and the headband.

[Monsters Inc.]

-= original quote snipped =-



IMO Bynum's absence (Injury) will cost him the MIP...IIRC he is out to 4-8 weeks....This will let other players to have an opportunity to shine...

Can't forget Rudy Gay and Aldridge (though I don't know how the MIP works with only 2nd year guys). Then there's also Dwight Howard, who has made his way into dominant-status.

As for Salmons, the guys has been great. And for the Josh Howard comparison, it's not bad. Howard is a lot more athletic (John is more of a finesse player and has average athleticism -- well, leaping ability) and Salmons has better handles. The way he controls his body and hangs in the air to get his shots off is amazing.

I don't know about All-NBA defending level, but he's getting there. He's a very good man-on-man defender (has done solid jobs guarding guys like Redd and Nash) and a solid help defender (knocks the ball out of posting players hands quite a bit).

[RIPskaterdude]

-= original quote snipped =-



I disagree.

If he's out that long then that that will help things to an extent. But even so, thats 1-2 months, leaving significant time for him to play again. Plus what he's already done up to the point of the injury.

If Bynum comes back and the Lakers keep the #1 seed, he will definately get MIP. However...

Comparing each of the three players (Bynum, Beno, and Salmons) from last season and this season...granted, all three have started/played more than last year but...

Bynum: (7.8 ppg/5.9 rpg) vs 13.1/10.2

Salmons: (8.5 ppg) vs 17.1 ppg (as well as his rebounds, assists, steals AND blocks per game have increased)

Beno: (4.7 ppg/1.7 apg) vs 14.1/4.7

I think Beno is the most impressive because he was cut and tossed away from the T-Wolves...and out of no where, became so effective in the Kings system.

[Ballings7]

I don't know about All-NBA defending level, but he's getting there. He's a very good man-on-man defender (has done solid jobs guarding guys like Redd and Nash) and a solid help defender (knocks the ball out of posting players hands quite a bit).

Well, I don't know if you saw him as much as I did last season, but he cooled off several players when they were having good games against Bibby or Martin. Came in off the bench, and changed the game defensively. Playing down the stretch because of that, either Bibby or Martin were benched or came back in later with Salmons still in the game. And he at least did a decent job on star players numerous times when Artest wasn't on that player. Aside from in general playing good defense in various ways all season, and this season.

He also has a habit of stripping the ball from his man or somebody near-by. Either getting the deflection or forcing a jumpball.

I think he'd possibly make, or at least be considered, for the All-NBA-2nd defensive team if the Kings were a more popular, better team.

[Ballings7]

If Bynum comes back and the Lakers keep the #1 seed, he will definately get MIP. However...

Comparing each of the three players (Bynum, Beno, and Salmons) from last season and this season...granted, all three have started/played more than last year but...

Bynum: (7.8 ppg/5.9 rpg) vs 13.1/10.2

Salmons: (8.5 ppg) vs 17.1 ppg (as well as his rebounds, assists, steals AND blocks per game have increased)

Beno: (4.7 ppg/1.7 apg) vs 14.1/4.7

I think Beno is the most impressive because he was cut and tossed away from the T-Wolves...and out of no where, became so effective in the Kings system.

Oh yeah

But regardless of the Lakers playoff seed, I think Bynum's probably going to get it. Assuming he doesn't drop off noticably.

Now if the Kings make the playoffs, too? Well, I still would side with Bynum to get it, but to a lesser degree. Beno/Salmons having a significantly better chance, in that case.

As for Salmons, the guys has been great. And for the Josh Howard comparison, it's not bad. Howard is a lot more athletic (John is more of a finesse player and has average athleticism -- well, leaping ability) and Salmons has better handles. The way he controls his body and hangs in the air to get his shots off is amazing.

Yup. Howard's also a better shooter and rebounder. They have some similarities, though.