SB Nation - Rasual Butler

Preposterous Statements

Stop-n-Pop — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:45:35 -0000

For those of you who are fans of the noon to three program on KFAN you are probably aware of the (in)famous preposterous statement contest where the host and the interim producer gather the silliest and most over-the-top statements from the world of sports and then run them off against each other in a winner-take-all tourney for preposterous statement champion of the world.

During yesterday's pro'grum they added the following statement (from a caller): "If [the Wolves] add a good shooting guard and a center, they'd be a .500 team."

There are two angles to this statement. On one hand, the idea the Wolves are two competent players away from being a .500 team isn't all that far out of an idea. In fact, we here at Hoopus have said over and over that the Wolves need to add a wing player like Rudy Gay and an athletic big like Joakim Noah or Jason Thompson in order to take the next step before hoping that the Sessions/Rubio/Flynn/(Wall?) battle can play itself out at the point.

On the other hand, the idea that the few remaining Wolves fans are in a position to talk excitedly about the addition of 2 more competent players in order to make it to an even split in their record is...well, that's kind of preposterous. It's really preposterous.

What is also preposterous is trying to draw any conclusions about this team from any single game of action. After performing like up-tempo gangbusters against the talented Utah Jazz, the Wolves came out an laid a preposterous egg against the Clips. This team is a whole lot of hit and (mostly) miss right now and if I had to pick one or two angles that would determine whether or not they will win, it would be the play of Jonny Flynn and the nondescript wings. Against Utah, Corey Brewer and Jonny Flynn went off and the team was able to compete. Against the Clips, not so much.

OK, that in mind, and with clear understanding that there are no grand themes you can take away from any of these games other than that Minny is out manned by a mile, let's get around to last night's tilt. It was notable for three reasons:

Effort. Last night the Wolves played like dogs. With OKC/Dallas and Sacramento/Washington on ESPN, there were plenty of other entertaining NBA viewing options last night and yours truly took full advantage of the remote in order to see them. Again, I don't think this effort is indicative of a larger trend (i.e. a team that quits); rather, it was simply a bad night in terms of effort and focus. Who should be blamed for this? Ultimately, the coaching staff but that doesn't really matter. What matters is that I found it pretty damn easy to flip the channel to watch the Thunder and Kings, two teams that were worse than the 2008/09 Wolves and who are now both hugely watchable, entertaining, and competitive. I think the Wolves are filled to the brim with a bunch of fine outstanding citizens who I really want to see succeed (for example: Brewer and Gomes) but ultimately there is a line that I'm not going to cross in terms of watching a bad product. Last night's game was a bad product. Too many blank stares and possessions with no ball movement. The Wolves had a chance to cut the lead below 10 with a few minutes to go in the 3rd. Instead of moving the ball around and attacking the paint like they were in the first quarter and a half of play, they ended the possession with two soul-sucking Al Jefferson 15 foot jump shots that book-ended an offensive rebound to keep the play alive. Each time he got the ball during this stretch, Big Al grinded the possession to a halt, faced his defender, and moseyed around a bit before jacking up a mid range jumper on a night where he wasn't shooting well. During the first quarter and a half, the ball was moving, players were driving and kicking, and the Wolves were scoring in transition. At somewhere during the middle of the 2nd quarter, it seemed like a switch went off and ball movement went out the window.
Shooting. A byproduct of bad ball movement and poor effort was a mountain of long and mid range jumpers from a squad that doesn't have any good shooters. The Wolves ended the game with an eFG of 39%. If you throw out Kevin Love's 7-12 effort, they only posted a 35% eFG while going 0-9 from beyond the arc. It's not just that the Wolves were taking long and mid range jumpers, it's that they were taking contested long and mid range jumpers without making attempts to turn their bad look into something better for a teammate. Again, effort contributed to the poor shooting and it led to many a click over to the Dallas/OKC game where I was almost blinded by the awful orange shoes of the Thunder.
Weak side defense. Ouch. I can't remember how many times during the game where I watched a Clipper player (usually Baron Davis) dribble to the corner, get doubled, and then kick the ball across the court for an open shot and/or drive. It wasn't just that the Wolves were doubling a guy they should have been begging to shoot, it was that the other three puppies on the court seemed hell-bent on drifting towards the double-team, further opening up the weak side of the court. I'm not the only person to notice this:

Minnesota has no orientation whatsoever to their defense. Like a lot of young units, the Wolves’ off-ball defenders overplay the strong side. There are moments when Baron is trapped in the right corner with two other defenders cheating that way (2nd, 3:50). Smart teams beg Baron to shoot from that distance, but for some reason the Wolves think they can beat the Clips by pressuring Davis. This dynamic is one reason Rasual Butler is able to find as many clean looks as he does against Wayne Ellington and Corey Brewer in the second quarter, and why the Clips are able to reverse the ball for easy shots at will.

It was also noticed by the coaching staff:

"Our weakside defense was awful. It was absolutely awful. We were unattentive, we didn't anticipate, we didn't read. Very poor," Rambis said. "We didn't root guys off the post, didn't try to deny post opportunities, and our double teams were sporadic. Getting to cutters, rotating to shooters, the whole thing collapsed. That was a disappointment."

It was atrocious. Aggressive double teaming is one thing, having the other guys on the floor getting locked in on the double team and drifting towards it is another. Again, this is another example of poor effort and a lack of concentration. The Wolves really blew it last night. They had a chance to put together their first winning streak of the season against a below average Clipper squad at home. Instead of taking advantage of an opportunity to (relatively) raise the roof and give their hometown fans something to be excited about, they laid an egg and made them turn the channel. Now that's preposterous.

GameFlow can be found here. Four Factors if you care:

	Pace	Eff	eFG	FT/FG	OREB%	TOr
LA Clippers	98.0	122.4	57.8%	17.8	31.0	10.2
Minnesota		96.9	39.0%	26.4	28.6	12.2

You may notice that today's post was led off with a picture of a Sacramento Monarch. That woman's name is Rebekkah Brunson. She is the 6'3" former All Star forward taken by the Lynx with the 2nd pick in the WNBA dispersal draft. She has a career 18.5 reb% and last year she put up a PER of 19.1. While the Wolves are busy putting up dud efforts on nights where they should be giving their equivalent of a playoff effort, the Lynx are busy putting together one of the best young rosters in all of professional basketball. Is it too late to put Roger Griffith in charge of the Wolves? if you are a fan of great basketball, the best basketball in town for the next few years will indeed be played in the Target Center...by the Lynx. They are putting together a championship caliber squad. Here's hoping David Kahn can follow suit with the guys in the men's locker room.

Women's Sports Round Table on Marion Jones: "If she can perform, why not give her a shot?"

Q McCall — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:25:28 -0000

More photos » by Joe Murphy - NBAE/Getty Images

Is basketball legend Nancy Lieberman's WNBA comeback at age 50 inspiration for Marion Jones or just more proof that the comeback buzz is nothing more than a publicity stunt? (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Browse more photos »

"Come on Marion, are you freaking serious?"

That reaction on yesterday’s Women’s Sports Roundtable online radio show is pretty much representative of the public reaction to the news that former track and field star Marion Jones is working out with a San Antonio Silver Stars staff member in an attempt to make a run at the WNBA.

Sports of The Times - Marion Jones Aims for a Comeback, in Basketball - NYTimes.com
Jones, who at the time was eight months’ pregnant with her third child, said she thought about it and talked with her husband, Obadele Thompson.

"I thought it would be an interesting journey if I decided to do this. It would give me an opportunity to share my message to young people on a bigger platform. It would give me an opportunity to get a second chance. I think I can be an asset to a franchise, so it comes down to, Why not? Really. Why not?"

Given a WNBA climate in which the Sacramento Monarchs just folded on the heels of a season in which rosters were cut to 11 leaving talented players without a team, the idea that Marion Jones could make a team after being away from the game for so long seems ridiculous to many people.

After panelist David Siegel backed off of his initial hyperbole comparing his chances of making the New York Knicks to Jones’ chance of making the WNBA, he probably made the statement that best characterizes the challenge Jones faces.

"If Sheryl Swoopes can’t get a job, Marion Jones damn well better not get a job," said Siegel of retired WNBA star Swoopes who was unable to earn a roster spot last year despite starting for a playoff team the previous year with averages of 7.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, and 2.1 apg.

Given that a) Swoopes was unable to make a team due to roster cuts and b) the fact that the talent level in women’s basketball has increased immensely in women’s basketball since Jones last played, it’s justifiably difficult for us to imagine the 34-year-old Jones making a team months after having her third child. With the combination of the difficult task and the hit Jones’ image took after her steroids scandal, it’s commonly assumed that it’s nothing more than a publicity stunt for both the league and Jones.

"I think if a WNBA team wants to waste one of their tryout spots for Marion Jones to try and rehabilitate her sports image go right ahead," said panelist Tammy Garner. "The flip side is she’s got as much chance of making a freaking team in this climate as Dave does making the Knicks. Like Jayda said, you go ahead and try to get yours girl, I’m not getting in your way – I’m gonna make jokes, but I’m not gonna get in your way."

It’s all lighthearted -- though perhaps fair -- commentary directed at a relatively easy target.

However, although it’s certainly possible that this is merely a publicity stunt, I really appreciated a blog by Mechelle Voepel that actually sought to contextualize Jones’ comeback attempt rather than making derisive comments about it.

What if Jones had stuck with hoops? " Mechelle Voepel
At the U.S. outdoor track championships several years back - before the BALCO scandal blew up – I asked Jones her thoughts on the WNBA. And her eyes lit up; she spoke about her love for hoops and her desire, even then, to maybe still give pro basketball a chance.

Her plans at that time, she said, were to compete in track through the 2008 Beijing Olympics, then see if maybe there was still any chance for her in hoops. It sounded to me like kind of a nice fantasy for a superstar, but figured by that point, she’d be far past the point of seriously trying it. Of course, when she said that, she wasn’t envisioning that one day she’d need athletic salvation.

What I most appreciate about Voepel’s commentary is that she reminds us that Jones was a not just a contributor to a NCAA championship team, but a lightning fast starter as a freshman on the 1993-94 University of North Carolina team. Voepel’s point, counter-factual as it may be, was that Jones might have been a pretty good basketball player had she not made the rational decision to pursue track. As a fan of the game, why wouldn’t she wonder what could have been having watched Jones closely at the time?

I suppose that in the process of placing our athletic heroes on a superstar pedastol, it’s easy to forget that occasionally have dreams of their own independent of advancing their celebrity status or meeting our expectations as observers. But Voepel’s article caused me to reflect on the issue a little bit differently, both trying to better understand where Jones is coming from and finding a more accurate comparison.

"The ultimate price is to have your name, your reputation, and everything you’ve stood for ripped away."

In October 2008, Marion Jones had an interview with Oprah Winfrey in which she did in fact imply that she was searching for some sort of redemption -- strikingly similar to a quote in the New York Times article -- regardless of whether it is "athletic salvation" as phrased by Voepel.

"There’s a bit of sadness because I love to compete, but on the same token I am energized by this next chapter," said Jones with her eyes lit up similar to what Voepel described in response to how she feels about not running again. "I think really it’s gonna be bigger and better than that last chapter. And so my goal now is how to connect with people on now a much bigger level – how can I help young people make certain choices and not make certain bad choices like I did?

"I do not want for the legacy of Marion Jones Thompson now to be this – I want it to be something bigger and better and something for my kids to be proud of. That’s what really now it’s all about."

Of course, any of us would want that after making a very public mistake that cost us everything that we’ve built our identity upon. When someone has spent their life hiding behind an athletic persona, as described by Jones, suddenly they are forced to look at themselves and interrogate their true identity, true feelings and true dreams. Whether merely out of guilt or an appreciation of the opportunity to improve oneself as a person, that usually includes working on one’s flaws.

For Jones, one of those flaws was apparently connecting with people. In her commentary on Jones’ April speech at the University of Pennsylvania’s "Race and Sports" series, Salamishah Tillet of theRoot.com describes how connecting with other female athletes to create a dialogue about the advancement of women’s sports was one of Jones’ major flaws as a high profile female athlete and something she’s trying to rectify now.

Former WNBA draft pick (and Olympian) Marion Jones on Title IX & race
But she also highlights how Jones apparently spoke of her failure to leverage her sports celebrity even to help other address the gender inequalities in sports.

Instead of creating a dialogue with her fellow female celebrity athletes, such as Mia Hamm, Lisa Leslie, and Venus and Serena Williams, she said, she squandered her national media platform, engaging in behind-the-scenes competition for endorsement deals, magazine covers and interviews.

Yet, although Jones was not able to create a dialogue with her fellow female celebrity athletes, Tillet does mention a connection she has made with John Carlos, a black track and field athlete. Carlos and Tommie Smith, best known for raising their fists with black gloves on the medal stand at the 1968 Summer Olympics, spoke the previous night. Carlos and Jones embraced briefly near the end of the event.

The problem is that it may be perceived as presumptuous to believe that one could do that by leveraging the growing spotlight on the WNBA. Such an attitude might be explained partially by a lingering competitive and a feeling that athletic salvation is actually the most accessible form of redemption available to her.

"How can we trust anything Jones says knowing that she's already lied to us?"

"I think an athlete on the highest level, Oprah, you know your body," said Jones with the tenacity that helped her become an Olympic gold medalist after Winfrey commented that Jones’ story was hard to believe. "Nothing felt different. I felt strong, I felt powerful - I do all the time - but this is the Olympic year. I know I’m supposed to feel a little bit stronger, a little bit faster. I’m preparing on the track, I’m preparing in the weight room, the supplements are together. Everything is coming together. I’m *supposed *to be better this year. So that’s the difference that I felt. And I attributed that to everything, putting everything together. You know, you when a gold medal, you break world records because everything worked that year."

Independent of the fact that she did take performance enhancing drugs, it’s clear that her competitiveness is natural – as Evans said on the WSR show, you don’t even make it as far as she did without some natural effort and ability.

What’s also evident however is the sense of entitlement that appears to come along with being an athlete at the top of her sport. I don’t know if it’s arrogance as much as a supreme belief in oneself that precludes the possibility of not feeling "a little bit stronger, a little bit faster." For someone that competitive who works that hard, the possibility of failure simply cannot enter their mind.

"I still think I would’ve won, but just the fact that there’s a question mark, to me is not fair," said Jones about whether she thinks she would have won without the drugs. "It’s not fair for anybody that I ran against. It’s not fair for the women who ran with me on the relay. Just the fact that there’s a question mark is not fair."

Stripped of her opportunity to compete and her legacy on the track tarnished, a return to basketball could therefore be as much an outlet for that competitive spirit as a publicity stunt – a new frontier to try to bring things together and reach the top.

As such, the comeback could be seen as a character flaw rather than merely a publicity stunt – the idea that someone could even think that they deserve a second chance in another sport after violating the rules in another sport and lying about it (which is what landed her in prison) smacks of an arrogant sense of entitlement that is at once disturbing and unsurprising. She’s apparently a person that believes she’s supposed to succeed and stubbornly refuses to let go of that opportunity to compete, even if it seems like more of a fantasy (as Voepel interpreted it as) than a real opportunity. It’s especially tough to swallow given that most of us would not get a second chance to pursue a fantasy opportunity after blatantly violating the rules of our profession.

However, there’s another angle that I believe Voepel hits on – basketball is something she’s really wanted to pursue and perhaps less an example of arrogant entitlement and simply a very talented person trying to pursue a path she let go of over a decade ago.

It's not exactly unprecedented for a star athlete to have a lasting desire to play another professional sport

While Siegel compared Jones to Swoopes and Bobbitt and others briefly joked about Nancy Lieberman’s comeback attempt at age 50 in the summer of 2008, a better way to contextualize Jones’ return to basketball might be a pro athlete who actually made the attempt to cross sports: Atlanta Falcons and former Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez who tried to make the NBA.

Tony Gonzalez' fun-filled three-week stay in fantasy camp is about | Topeka Capital-Journal
You can't criticize the guy.

Why, some men would pay thousands of dollars to do do what Gonzalez did: work out with the Miami Heat, play in some summer-league games, rub elbows with Pat Riley, get a lot of good press for doing it.

Not that Gonzalez did this as a publicity stunt. Like, this guy who has posed with swimsuit models in Sports Illustrated and appeared in United Way spots needs air time? If Tony Gonzalez ever needs more exposure, the Speedo rep will take a meeting anytime, anywhere. Cosmo is holding on line 2.

Similar to Jones, Gonzalez was a starter on a NCAA tournament team that included future NBA stars before leaving college early to choose the sport that would reap him far greater rewards, both in terms of fame and finance. Like Jones, he’s broken records in his chosen sport and has established himself as one of the best of all-time at his position. And as Voepel said about Jones, Gonzalez had a longing to return to the court.

Gonzalez Shows Defense In Debut - Sun Sentinel
"I've been waiting for this opportunity for a long time," Gonzalez said. "It's fun. I had a great time. I was a little nervous at first."

While Gonzalez had played with NBA players at the Southern California Pro Summer League in past years, this was his first action wearing an NBA uniform in an NBA setting.

"I wanted to concentrate on one specific thing," he said. "I wanted to play good defense, and I wanted to get rebounds. That's pretty much all I'm thinking a team would want from me."

For the most part, the large group of NBA scouts, coaches and executives in attendance at the Magic's practice facility (the event is closed to spectators) was bemused by Gonzalez's effort.

"Somebody asked me the other day, `Is it like fantasy camp or are you pretty serious about it?'" Gonzalez said. "And I can honestly say it's both. I get to come out here and play against these guys, NBA talent, and also, at the same time, I am serious about it."

Again similar to Jones, he did have physical tools that helped him on the basketball court – strength and leaping ability. The problem was that he also had severe limitations working against him – standing 6’4" he was an athletic specimen in the NFL, but against NBA competition, he was below average. Despite his strength that probably allowed him to get position for rebounds, he neither had the ability to compete against NBA power forwards nor the perimeter skills to play as an undersized 3 or 2.

For Chiefs' tight end, life is a bowl of cherries
He also knows the odds would be long. Standing 6 feet 4 inches on a football field, he's tall. That same height amid a forest of NBA veterans might make a non-guard feel short. And just imagine the mental and physical drain of playing both football and basketball at the highest level. ''I'm realistic about it. It's highly unlikely it will happen,'' Gonzalez said. ''But hey, if it does, I'm going to be there and I'm going to try to take advantage of it.''

In other words, although he played another sport at the highest level, none of the things that made him successful in football made him successful in professional basketball. After earning a spot on the Miami Heat summer league team in 2002, he played in only 2 of 5 games, effectively ending his NBA fantasy.

Jones of course is probably a relatively better women’s basketball player than Gonzalez was in men’s basketball: as previously stated, Jones was a freshman starter on an ACC and NCAA tournament champion who may still be faster than any of her competition even at 34 after three children. As a guard, there would probably be less physical demands on Jones, though a higher emphasis on the quality of her skills.

The challenge that will likely be much tougher for Jones is that Gonzalez had been playing in the California Summer Pro League prior to making a real run at making a NBA team. According to Evans, Jones "hasn’t picked up a basketball seriously since 1997." That and the fact that the competition has changed so much more since she last played seems to stand in her way.

And of course, Gonzalez never had to deal with the perception that his decision was a publicity stunt for athletic salvation either, making the situations not entirely analogous.

Nevertheless, Gonzalez's effort to make the NBA brings to mind the possibility of Jones finding a path to work her way into the league slowly, as Gonzalez tried to do. Of course, the NBA has a far more extensive structure of opportunities for a player like Gonzalez (or Terrell Owens…or Master P) to take a shot at the NBA with multiple summer leagues and, now, a Developmental League. What Jones might have is Euroleague.

"Go ahead, play overseas"

Siegel brought up the example of Kerri Gardin, who was cut from the Chicago Sky and Seattle Storm before going to Europe to work on her skills, returned to the WNBA and started 15 games for the Connecticut Sun, a playoff team.

While women do not have the opportunity to play in a WNBA-sanctioned league as Gonzalez did, Euroleague is a way for a player like Jones to get her feet wet and re-learn how to play the game…or figure out if her body can hold up over the course of a full basketball season. In the current WNBA context with teams limited to 11 players (the NBA had almost three times as many teams with 15 spots each when Gonzalez tried out) and surplus talent, going to Europe first might be the right decision for Jones. In William C. Rhoden’s New York Times article that described her decision make a run at the WNBA, a winter stint in Europe was part of the plan.

So she might go to Europe this winter, sign with a team and comeback ready to play. If so, why begrudge her doing that? If she can get herself into playing shape and prove herself good enough to contribute to a WNBA team, why not? In a way, it would be a testament to her greatness as an athlete to pull off something like that. The possibility of a team signing her merely for publicity with only 11 roster spots available seems slim – she would have to earn herself a spot.

Conversely, as WSR panelist Tammy Garner points out, there could also be a silver lining to Jones going to Europe, trying out of for a team and still being cut.

"If an athlete who has the star power and the credibility [of Jones]– even though she was busted for ‘roids at a different time – but in the American sports fans’ eye, if she tries out for a WNBA team and does not make it and is told that she needs to go back and develop her skillset, will that bring actually some credibility to the league?"

Is flash in the pan publicity for Jones with the ultimate message that WNBA talent is too good even for one of the best female athletes of all-time to make it good for the league’s image? Maybe. Maybe not.

But perhaps instead of ridiculing her for trying, we should just wait to see if a team picks her up. If she can make it onto a roster, it would be quite a feat of athleticism, albeit a second chance that many of us might still legitimately hold against her for being undeserved.

Video: Marion Jones Interview w/ Oprah Winfrey

Former WNBA draft pick (and Olympian) Marion Jones on Title IX & race

Marion Jones, Role Model?

Transition Points:

The 2002-03 Miami Heat team that Gonzalez did not make ended up missing the playoffs with a 25-57 record. The rookies who made the team ahead of Gonzalez were fellow Cal alum Sean Lampley, Ken Johnson, Rasual Butler, and future all-star Caron Butler (who I badly wanted the Warriors to draft that year).
For some reason, Marion Jones' attempt to return to the WNBA reminds me of comedian Chris Rock's commentary on former DC mayor Marion Barry, only in a very, very abstract sense of course: public figure loses their job because they used drugs and manages to get a second chance to return to public life, something that the average person would likely not have the opportunity to do (audio available here):

“How the hell did Marion Barry get his job back? Smoked crack and got his job back. How the hell did that happen? I mean, if you get caught smoking crack at McDonald’s, you can’t get your job back. … Marion Barry! Come on, how you gonna tell little kids not to get high when the mayor’s on crack?” (text via theRoot.com)

Poll

Should Marion Jones continue her attempt to make the WNBA?

Gameday Preview Charlotte Bobcats at San Antonio Spurs

David Arnott — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:06:23 -0000

Pump Up Music: Sponge -- "Plowed"

The Big Picture: What happened to the San Antonio Spurs? If the season ended today, they'd be a half game out of the playoffs. Part of it is probably injury. Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker have both missed time already, and Manu, especially, just hasn't been himself, his field goal percentage falling through the floor. But even that doesn't explain the Spurs' shakiness, seeing as Tim Duncan is as steady as ever.

It's probably the defense. They don't have a perimeter stopper, and that has a cascade effect on everyone else. Sure, Richard Jefferson is far from embarrassing on D. Same goes for Roger Mason, Jr. and Keith Bogans. But the formula kind of breaks down without that perimeter defender. Yes, Duncan is still an anchor in the paint, but when the opponent's go-to guy -- usually a wing player that Duncan can't guard one on one -- doesn't have to deal with Bruce Bowen harassing him all night (in ways both legal and gray area), it magnifies the others' defensive weaknesses, and suddenly Matt Bonner's ability to stretch the D on the offensive end of the floor doesn't seem like such a great advantage when he has to help more on slashers. It's not too late to correct this. Someone like Rasual Butler might be a great acquisition for them down the line.

Key to Victory: Tyson Chandler has to stay in the game. If he can avoid foul trouble and make life difficult for Timmy, the Spurs will have a really difficult time scoring on the Bobcats' defense. Secondarily, here's hoping Boris Diaw can punish San Antonio for playing either Matt Bonner or DeJuan Blair (a.k.a. Thabeet Killer) with his inside-outside game.

Detail That May Interest .08% of You: Larry Brown lasted 3 1/2 years as Spurs coach in the late 80s and early 90s. He was replaced by Bob Bass, apparently on an interim basis, for the rest of the 1991-92 season. But then, to start the 1992-93 season, somehow Jerry Tarkanian(!) lasted only twenty games before getting canned.

This loss raises a few red flags... (Nuggets/Clippers recap)

Andrew Feinstein — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:11:25 -0000

LOS ANGELES - Simply put, last season we didn't lose games like this. It just didn't happen. And thus, what will hopefully be a just brief aberration in the middle of an otherwise great season raises several red flags.

First off, let's be clear about one thing: tonight's lethargic and often lazy performance by the Nuggets isn't a cause for panic or alarm. It's still too early in the season for that. That said, our two greatest offseason concerns finally reared their ugly heads tonight: the lack of a true big man and the absence of a no-one-believes-in-us spirit, the latter being of biggest worry for me.

The Nuggets had (semi) legitimate excuses for their first three losses at Miami, at Atlanta and at Milwaukee. Those were all tough, playoff bound teams (yes, it looks like the Bucks may be playoff bound) who had the advantage of catching the Nuggets on either back-to-back nights or just generally fatigued from having to play multiple back-to-backs within a few weeks.

But while sitting in the Staples Center stands watching our Nuggets waltz through three-and-a-half quarters, I couldn't figure out what the Nuggets excuse for a bad effort was tonight. After all, since returning to Denver from that six-game road trip, the Nuggets had a walkover victory against the Lakers, three full days rest followed by another walkover victory - this time against the Raptors - followed by two full days rest leading into tonight's affair against the injury-riddled, struggling Clippers. And then it hit me: the Nuggets had NO excuse for a bad effort tonight and served one up nonetheless.

In fact, the only person on the Nuggets side of the affair exhibiting any emotion tonight was head coach George Karl (maybe I got to Karl about the whole working-the-refs thing, because he's been visibly more animated with the officials since our lunch last week...I'm just saying) who pulled several Norman Dale impersonations, desperately trying to get tossed on at least two occasions as assistant coach John Welch fought to hold him back. As I was yawning midway through the second quarter, I was secretly hoping someone would toss me out of there, too.

But Karl's much welcomed outbursts at the refs weren't enough to salvage one of the more poorly played Nuggets games in some time. And even though the Clippers tried desperately to hand this game to our Nuggets in the fourth quarter (they are, after all, the Clippers), the Nuggets wanted nothing to do with securing a victory tonight. Worse, they ran away from victory, allowing the Clippers to steal a win they should have never been in a position to take in the first place.

For those who didn't see the game and will only read the box score, you'll wonder how the Nuggets lost. After all, Carmelo Anthony shot a splendid 12-20 from the field and 12-13 from the free throw line (when Melo shoots over 50% and gets to the line over 10 times, the Nuggets are usually assured of a victory). The field goal percentage was fairly even. As was the rebounding. And of course you'll note that the three-point shooting was dominated by the Clippers while the Nuggets shot themselves out of the game with a four-of-17 night behind the arc.

What the box score won't tell you is that J.R. Smith rushed a lot of bad shots. That Melo was routinely late to close out on Rasual Butler (pronounced "Russell" by the Clippers inept P.A. announcer) who ultimately smoked us. And that the Nuggets never had a defensive presence inside whatsoever, mustering just three blocks - all from Kenyon Martin - and none from the center position. (To be fair, Nuggets backup center Chris "Birdman" Andersen wasn't even there but this game again showed us that Nene belongs at the four-spot, not the five.)

But more than anything, the box score won't show you that the Nuggets - with the exception of a quick burst in the opening minutes - never owned the energy of this game. The "every game is important" and "no one believes in us" swagger that had this team playing hard and competitively on a nightly basis for the first half and then the latter part of last season was completely absent tonight.

Like their football-playing brethren in Denver, the Nuggets need to get their mojo back...and fast. Oh, and just for fun, when the Bulls come into Pepsi Center to face the Nuggets tomorrow night, it will be our Nuggets fourth back-to-back affair out of 13 total games played. Had the Nuggets played the right way tonight, they might have had a legitimate excuse to lose tomorrow. But given that they exerted as little effort as possible, whatever excuses remained are no longer on the table.

Some quick observations from the not-so-cheap seats...

...I haven't seen Karl this hot with the officials in years. Literally years. I don't know if it was caught on TV or not, but at one point Karl threw such a tantrum that he slipped and fell over (belly first) onto the scorer's table and almost knocked some fans food over. It was pretty funny.

...J.R. Smith's 360-degree layup was totally unnecessary, totally unreal and totally amazing.

...What's it going to take to get the Clippers DeAndre Jordan into a Nuggets jersey? The guy has a giant wingspan and giant hands. Oh, and he's a legit 6'11" to boot.

...Melo hurt his hand during the first half and was continually shaking it throughout the game while grimacing, too. Did they mention on the broadcast what happened there? We couldn't tell from the stands.

Photo courtesy of AP Photos: Mark J. Terrill

Give Me Two: Grizzlies vs. Clippers Preview

djturtleface — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:05:09 -0000

by David Zalubowski - AP

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Tonight the Grizzlies will get their first second look at a team when the Los Angeles Clippers visit Memphis. Chris Kaman is eating a rack of ribs as I speak. Baron Davis is trying to get the sauce out of his beard.

Get over the jump for my preview, and stop by Clips Nation for their rather comprehensive look.

I don't believe in Coach Hollins, but I also don't believe that you can truly judge a coach until you see how he reacts to playing a team the second time. Hollins has slowed down the Grizzlies in the past few games, which has caused their efficiency on the offensive end to plummet and hasn't addressed the defensive issues either.

With team like last year's Magic and this year's Suns proving that pace and defense aren't inversely correlated, I'd like to hope that Hollins sticks with his intuition and lets the bulls run tonight. Let Rudy do his thing against Al Thornton and Rasual Butler, Zach Randolph doing what he wants whether Hollins likes it or not, and maybe let O.J. Mayo try to be the primary ball handler with Butler matching up against him.

Defending the Clips should be much easier tonight, with them coming off a long loss last night and Eric Gordon, who is every bit as much a franchise player as O.J., out still. Baron Davis will be a gamebreaker. By my estimation a nice night from Boom Dizzle will probably win it, a bad game will lose it.

Look for all the Grizzlies to have another nice night offensively, but for Rudy Gay to bounce-back in particular. Marc Gasol should have a bit of a down night dealing with Chris Kaman and Marcus Camby, both of whom are effective against players like himself, but if Zach Randolph has a heart, he'll play it out tonight.

As much as I hate to knock on what little wood the Grizzlies have left, I'm going to stick my neck out and predict a Grizzlies win in this one. The team has said the right things to the media in the wake of Iverson-gate, and I like their chance to be focused after this long break in the schedule.

Game 10 Preview: Los Angeles Clippers at Oklahoma City

Zorgon — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:48:41 -0000

More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

Can Russell Westbrook become the next Baron Davis? Well, he has to get past him first.

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This also counts as an open thread, so feel free to post your thoughts during the game here.

Time: 6:00 PM Central Standard Time

Place: The Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

TV: Fox Sports Oklahoma, Fox Sports Net Prime Ticket

Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1)

Enemy Blog(s): Clips Nation, ClipperBlog

Backstory: We're almost an eighth of the way there, and things are looking good!

Since we've last seen the Clippers, they've lost to Toronto in an embarrassing fashion. Now they're on a 3 game losing streak, and seeing how badly they've played lately, I really , really doubt the Thunder have much of a chance of losing this one. Nobody has come back from injury, Russell Westbrook (our worst performer of last time) has beaten Tony Parker in a fierce battle, and it's in our house this time.

Below: Matchups, Prediction

Matchups:

Center: Nenad Krstic vs. Chris Kaman

Last time, Chris Kaman had a better game overall than Krstic, but he was much less efficient. I mean, 9-26 shooting is pretty unacceptable for a center by my standards. I'll say that the same goes for this game, with Kaman scoring more points and grabbing more rebounds, but with Nenad Krstic doing less with less minutes and less opportunities.

Power Forward: Jeff Green vs. Marcus Camby

This will be a defensive battle, for sure. Last game, neither of them was able to score on a consistent basis, and Camby won the battle of the intangibles. If Green wants to win this game, he's going to have to get a 3 point shot going.

Small Forward: Kevin Durant vs. Al Thornton

Al Thornton is probably the most efficient Clippers player, but I doubt he'll have a better performance than Kevin Durant. Expect him to get roughly half of KDs numbers.

Shooting Guard: Thabo Sefolosha vs. Rasual Butler

Thabo Sefolosha had a horrible night last time, but at least Rasual Butler was able to rebound the ball for his team. I'd like to think that Sefolosha will do better this time, but there's no big scoring threat for him to stop, so I think we might even be better off starting James Harden at this point. Rasual Butler will outperform him by a bit.

Point Guard: Russell Westbrook vs. Baron Davis

This is the matchup I want to see again. Last time, Westbrook got injured, and Baron Davis outperformed him in every single way. But, Russell Westbrook had a great game against Tony Parker, doesn't seem any worse for the wear, and probably wants to show his stuff against this Clipper team. I'll give Baron Davis the win, but I still truly hope that Westbrook can rebound from his bad performance last time.

Battle of the Benches

Last time, the only players who mattered on the bench were James Harden and Kevin Ollie. I wouldn't expect that to change for us, as Collison and Thomas aren't huge game changers, but I'd expect more out of Craig Smith and Sebastian Telfair on the Clippers side of things. Smith is a nice inside scorer and rebounder, while Telfair can distribute just as well as Baron Davis can.

Coaching and Intangibles

The Thunder are on a two game winning streak, have beaten this team before at home, and are at home themselves. The Clippers are without two of their best players, on the road, have lost 3 straight, and have only beaten the lowly Timberwolves, Warriors, and Grizzlies. I'd say the intangibles are in our favor.

Bottom Line

If the Thunder can get solid production from the guards, make sure that guys like Chris Kaman, Marcus Camby, and Craig Smith don't have productive games inside, and drop a few threes, then they can win this game. It may sound like a lot, but it's no herculean task. Again, these are the Clippers we're talking about.

Prediction: Thunder 95, Clippers 90

6-4? Like Kevin Garnett, anything is possible!

How do you think the game will go? Vote in the Poll!

And, again, feel free to drop any comments you might have during, before, or after the game below. I'll be in the Ford Center cheering the team on, but I'll be back to write a recap later tonight. Go Thunder!

Poll

Who's going to win tonight?

The Oklahoma City Thunder

16 votes

The Los Angeles Clippers

10 votes

26 votes | Poll has closed

Game 8 Preview: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles Clippers

Zorgon — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:58:45 -0000

More photos » by Noah Graham - NBAE/Getty Images

We probably won't see D.J. White tonight, but that doesn't make his, "Puffer Fish" dunk any less hilarious.

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This also counts as an open thread, so feel free to post your thoughts during the game here.

Time: 9:30 PM Central Standard Time

Place: The Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

TV: KSBI-TV 52, Fox Sports Net Prime Ticket

Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1)

Enemy Blog(s): Clips Nation, ClipperBlog

Backstory: More than anything else, the Los Angeles Clippers are known as the unluckiest team in the NBA. That moniker continues into this season, as they've had recent injuries to Black Griffin and Eric Gordon, all leading to an underwhelming start of 3-5. I mean, if I told you a team had a lineup of Marcus Camby, Chris Kaman, Blake Griffin, Craig Smith, Al Thornton, Rasual Butler, Eric Gordon, Ricky Davis, Baron Davis, and Sebastian Telfair along with a Championship Coach in Mike Dunleavy Sr. and the 2nd largest market in the US, you'd think I was talking about a championship winning Lakers team, right? Wrong. I'm talking about just another sub-.500 Clippers team.

Despite the talent-laden roster, this is a very winnable game. The Clippers have only won against the Timberwolves, Warriors, and Grizzlies, who are possibly the 3 worst teams in the West. They've lost to the Lakers, Suns, Jazz, Mavericks, and Hornets. This game will determine exactly where we will be on the map for this season. Will we be lurking around the 12th or 11th seed, waiting for the lottery and mired in mediocrity, or will we be around the 10th-8th seed, fiercely competing for a playoff spot? Lets hope it's the latter.

Below: Matchups, Prediction

Matchups:

Center: Chris Kaman vs. Nenad Krstic

Chris Kaman is a better inside banger, and will probably get some crucial points against Krstic inside. Hopefully Krstic can pay him back with his mid-range jumper, but all of that will depend on if he's feeling hot or cold tonight. Still, I'd tend to think that Chris Kaman will have the better day.

Power Forward: Marcus Camby vs. Jeff Green

A mismatch if I ever saw one. Camby is a good ball handler for his size, but if Green can get hot from the perimeter, then it will be all over. If the Clippers can slow our game down I'd give the win to Camby, but otherwise, I think Green gets the win.

Small Forward: Al Thornton vs. Kevin Durant

Al Thornton is and will be a solid player, but he's no Kevin Durant. Thornton has been cold so far this season, so lets hope Durant can take advantage of that and exploit him.

Shooting Guard: Ricky Davis vs. Thabo Sefolosha

Ricky Davis is a good name, but he's not much more than a streaky shooter. He might drop more points than Sefolosha, but Sefolosha will beat him in every other area of the stat sheet.

Point Guard: Baron Davis vs. Russell Westbrook

Ah, the young versus the old. I used to watch Baron Davis on the Warrior teams of old, and it was good times. But now, he's trapped on one of the unluckiest organizations in history, and his scoring production has seen a serious hit. He'll beat Westbrook in assists, but it will be interesting to see who gets more rebounds and who can score more points, especially after Westbrook's cold performance last night.

Battle of the Benches

The Clippers have a deeper and more talented bench than we do for sure, but we have a more cohesive unit. Still, I think talent wins in this case.

Coaching and Intangibles

The Clippers have played 4 games in 6 days, and the Thunder are on the second game of a back-to-back, so both teams will be tired. The Clippers are at home, but they've had two crucial injuries, so I'd say this category is about even for both of us, unless you're counting the style points brought on by the suit of Mike Dunleavy Sr. In that case, the Clippers win.

Bottom Line

The Clippers are more talented, but they're older and bigger, so if the Thunder can exploit bad matchups, then they'll have a serious advantage. Remember when I said that if the Thunder lost to the Kings, it wouldn't matter that much? Well, if the Thunder lose here, it will put us 2 games in the hole, and it will matter.

Prediction: Thunder 97, Clippers 95

I feel like a homer here, but somehow I think that we can pull this one out against the Clippers, since their main scorer in Eric Gordon is out, and they have a lack of athleticism on their front line.

How do you think the game will go? Vote in the Poll!

And, again, feel free to drop any comments you might have during, before, or after the game below. I might be here during the game to drop my thoughts as well. Go Thunder!

Dragon's Breath: Grizzlies Lose to Clippers 113-110

djturtleface — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:55:16 -0000

More photos » by Gus Ruelas - AP

about 1 month ago: Doubled teamed by Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33), of Spain, and Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (11) Los Angeles Clippers guard Baron Davis (1) drives to the basket in the first half of a NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, in Los Angeles. nam bk(AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)

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Told you the Clippers would go over 100. Hell, the Grizzlies would probably give the Bobcats 100 at this point. Anyhow, in this one the interior defense was obviously exposed, with Chris Kaman and, uh, Craig Smith going nuts all over the Grizzlies.

Not that it's all bad news. Again the Grizzlies looked exceptional offensively, shooting 46% from the field with lots of points despite a relatively off night from Zach Randolph and O.J. Mayo. Some even played well defensively, especially O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay. Those two held their opponents to low efficiency while firing up lots of shots, which is always good news. Also the Grizzlies bigs did well on the boards, despite their lackluster defensive effort.

Check out Clips Nation for another version of the recap, or hop over the jump for a little extra coverage.

Rockness Monster- Rudy Gay not only dropped 33 points at a high efficiency, but also held Rasual Butler to subpar numbers on the other end of the floor. I called that Rudy would dominate, but I couldn't have expected this good of a game from him, especially in terms of jumpshooting.

U-Turn- Without Allen Iverson around to distract him, Mike Conley turned in a positively mediocre performance. Sadly this is a major step forward for Conley, who has been generally terrible so far this season. I expected Baron Davis to bowl Conley over, but the little man played solid defense and distributed the ball where it needed to be.

Bitter Lemon- Allen Iverson's leaving the team is a sad moment no matter how you perceive the acquisition of the former All-Star. I was looking forward to seeing A.I. suiting up in a Grizzlies uniform, but I think there is definitely a chance that he's gone home for the last time. Chad Ford agrees that A.I. might just be retiring.

Sleeping With the Enemy- Chris Kaman went nuts. When he's healthy, this dude is the real deal. With this year's crop of centers, Kaman is easily All-Star material. His range might not be great, but his post moves are incredible from a technical standpoint. Color me impressed. As for the rest of the Clippers, it wasn't their best performance, but they looked like a low seed playoff team. This is a squad that is one trade -- for a small forward, Rasual Butler and Al Thornton don't cut it -- from becoming well above average.

3 In The Key: Toronto Raptors Game Day Preview vs. New Orleans

RaptorsHQ - Franchise — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:15:27 -0000

More photos » by Julie Jacobson - AP

Paul has already taken his frustrations out on a few players this season - the Raptors hope he doesn't do that statistically this evening to them.

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In his preview of tonight's match against New Orleans, Franchise turns to the blogosphere for some insight on the opponent in the first of the season's weekly, "Blogging With the Enemy" features...

So now we get to find out just how ready this Raptor team is.

Seven of the next eight on the road, many of these against the league's elite, and not much of a chance to work on the finer aspects of getting nine new players involved at both ends of the court.

Yes, life in the NBA...

...or should we say, life in the NBA for the Toronto Raptors, who always seem to kick off their season with a merciless schedule up until the New Year.

No excuses however, as their first opponent on small 3 game Western swing is having issues itself, starting the season with a 1 and 3 record before grabbing a big W Wednesday night in an OT win over Dallas.

Indeed the New Orleans Hornets have not started the season perhaps the way they expected, but as we hear from Hornets Hype.com's leading lady, Sarah Tolcser, aka ticktock6, the media is blowing the slow start way out of proportion. She leads off our first "Blogging With the Enemy" of the season...

1) RaptorsHQ: So obviously one of the hot-button topics in the NBA right now is Chris Paul, and his frustration with what's going with his team. Give us your take on this and the Hornets, in particular regarding where you see the club finishing in the West if the roster stays status quo?

HornetsHype: I feel two ways about this. First, I believe it's all being blown way out of proportion by the national media, trying to create a stir where there's not necessarily something there. Just for an example, Chris gave a quote over the summer saying, fairly generically, "I think it's stupid to say that any player in the NBA is ever safe from being traded" and it generated a week of headlines like "CHRIS PAUL THINKS HE IS LIKELY TO BE TRADED BY CASH-STRAPPED HORNETS." He said he regretted that Tyson Chandler and Rasual Butler had to go, because they were friends, and we got "CHRIS PAUL UPSET WITH MANAGEMENT OVER TRADES". I'm sure Raptors fans go through a certain amount of this with Chris Bosh. Is Chris Paul upset that the Hornets are 2-3? Yes. Is he going to throw the guys on the team-- including six new guys-- under the bus this early? No, because he's just not that kind of guy. Blowing up incidents with Rajon Rondo and Al Harrington might be fun for media members looking for a story, but if you watch a lot of Chris Paul you know he's really not acting any different than he usually acts on the court. All these "CHRIS PAUL'S SMILE IS GONE" articles kind of overlook the fact that... has CP ever smiled on a court? Second, I just fail to see how Chris Paul, David West, and Emeka Okafor alone wouldn't carry a team to at least a playoff spot. They won't look this bad all year. I'm looking at a lower playoff seed.

2) RHQ: Does Byron Scott last the season? Or is he simply the scapegoat for an ownership that's pinching pennies and not giving CP3 enough help?

HH: I think Byron Scott probably will last the season, unless the team goes into a serious freefall, but they just won't renew his contract, which is up at the end of the year. My Byron Scott issue stems from a certain stubbornness that he's always had, especially when it comes to rookies and young players. He's a player's player, a veteran's man. He never saw a hard-working 32-yr-old journeyman he didn't like. And fans are worried because, seeing as this is not a championship year, there's no reason not to be developing the team's 2 draft picks, who have yet to see game minutes. As far as the ownership goes, they made several savvy moves to get almost under the luxury tax, and will probably try to dump a bench guy by the deadline to get all the way under. You can blame ownership for not spending, but it is just a reality that no one is going to take the $15M Peja is owed for the next two seasons. Or James Posey or Morris Peterson at $5M-ish each. There's all this pinching pennies talk, but what would these people suggest the Hornets do? They didn't have cap space to sign a good free agent. They tried to trade those contracts and couldn't. I think CP3 and everyone else is aware that the team's in a holding pattern, waiting for the time when Peja's expiring contract can be turned into a young athletic shooting guard who can take CP & company to the next level.

3) RHQ: Keys to tonight's game. What do the Hornets need to do to get the W?

HH: Play with the fire they had against Dallas Wednesday night. It was one of those miraculous tie-it-at-the-buzzer overtime wins, and I'm glad they got it, because it was the best they've looked yet. The defense, which had been giving up points in the paint like freebies, looked sharper. The Hornets usually shoot the3-ball bizarrely well against Toronto for whatever reason, so clearly they should go ahead and do that again. (Haha!) David West and Emeka Okafor will have to communicate better, because the match-up of the bigs will be key. Bobby Brown, CP's backup/shooting guard hybrid/fellow short person, will need to be restrained from gunning and focus himself on getting Peja involved early. And finally the Hornets will have to be at home-- and oh hey, fortunately they are!-- since they're 0-3 on the road.

Thanks to Sarah for her take on all things New Orleans, especially the reality check on the Chris Paul situation. As she noted, this is something us Raptor fanatics have had to deal with for quite some time regarding Chris Bosh, so we probably understand all too well where she's coming from.

But now let's take a look at the Raptors' side of the coin as they try to start the 3-game western trip with a W. And to do that, here are our 3 keys.

1) Control the Paint:

Bargnani looked good against Detroit on Wednesday night, dominating on offense, and more than holding his own on the glass and on D. However that was also against an aging Ben Wallace, a nearly invisible Charlie Villanueva, and the biggest lottery bust of all time, Kwame Brown. It will be quite a different challenge to face the shot-blocking Emeka Okafor and the low-post bulldog known as David West. Both he and Bosh should have their hands full and whoever comes out on top in this battle I predict will determine the game's outcome. Bargs needs to take advantage of his quickness and range to draw Okafor away from the rim, while Bosh needs to keep West on his toes with both an inside and outside offensive arsenal.

Interestingly, the Hornets despite West and Okafor (and Paul, a great rebounder for his position) are one of the league's worst on the glass so there's no excuse for Toronto to allow numerous second-chance opportunities.

2) Pick up the Pace:

Despite having Mr. CP3 running the show, the Hornets actually play at a relatively slow pace. The team many times prefers to set-up in half-court allowing West to work off the low blocks, hopefully opening up 3-point looks for Peja Stojakovic and former Rap, Morris Peterson.

My hope tonight is that Toronto therefore gets out and runs, using the likes of Hedo Turkoglu and DeMar DeRozan to get easy baskets in transition before New Orleans can set up defensively. Toronto used this type of attack effectively in wins over both Detroit and Cleveland, and I'm hoping to see more of it tonight.

Of course this means doing a good job on the glass and on D in order to get stops and head back the other way, and of course this means keeping Chris Paul in check. Like Lebron James, you're never going to stop Paul completely, but it's paramount that Jose Calderon and Jarrett Jack keep CP3 from constantly getting into the paint and getting Toronto's defence back on its heels.

3) Bench Play:

Outside of the match-ups down low, I think this is going to be the biggest key to a Raptor victory. Yes, it would be nice if Calderon and Jack outplayed Chris Paul, but based on what we've seen so far this season, I can't see that happening. Instead, Toronto needs to take advantage of its depth to secure this W, much like they did against Detroit two nights ago. Players like Jack, Amir Johnson and Marco Belinelli came off the pine to give Toronto some very efficient minutes, and that needs to continue, especially with Reggie Evans still out due to injury. New Orleans just doesn't have much of a bench right now, relying on the likes of Hilton Armstrong, Bobby Brown, rookie Darren Collison, James Posey, and Devin Brown (although Posey and Brown have been thorns in the Raptors' sides in past matches.) The Dinos need to take advantage in this area and give the team a lift when the starters are taking a break.

And besides, doesn't everyone want to see the real marquee match-up tonight?

The one that pits Hilton Armstrong against Patrick O'Bryant?

We'll have our live game-feed dialed in for the tip-off so drop by if you feel like talking some Raps, or venting about anything else going on in the league.

Game Preview: Los Angeles Clippers

C.A. Clark — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:11:39 -0000

More photos » by Mark J. Terrill - AP

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Just a few short hours from now, your World Champion Los Angeles Lakers will finally take the court for the opening game of the regular season. Despite the fact that our fan base had a shorter summer than all the others, I think everyone would agree with me that it has been too long. For me, the months between an old season's ending and a new season's beginning pass like gall stones, slow and painful, and nothing can be better than the return of the NBA to my life.

So, without further ado, here are some quick thoughts regarding the Lakers and their upcoming opponents in tonight's contest, our cross-arena foes, the Los Angeles Clippers.

How do the two teams look coming into tonight's contest?

Since both teams have identical 0-0 records coming into the game, there isn't a whole lot to say about how the teams have fared recently. But I guess they play those preseason games for a reason, so we'll glean what we can from the 0th season. The Clippers had a very successful preseason, going 6-2 with standout victories against the Spurs, Hornets, Jazz, Trailblazers, and of course, Maccabi Tel Aviv. Since Israel is a couple seasons away from having an NBA franchise, it's clear that the actual results of these games don't matter. However, there are a few things that can be learned about the Clippers this season.

Baron Davis is in fantastic shape. I have no idea whether his new fitness regime will translate to him deciding to actually drive to the basket instead of simply hoisting another 3 point shot. I have no idea if his new found figure is a commitment to turning the Clippers into a successful team, or just part of his master plan to get more sponsorships for diet plans. But Davis has shown in the past that he can be an elite player when his heart is into it, and if his commitment to fitness this season is any indication, he's ready to reaffirm his elite status.
What about the rest of his team? They were a motley group last season, thrown into a funk by the betrayal of Elton Brand, and coached into the 7th circle of hell by Mike Dunleavy. I don't ever remember a team quitting on the season as early as the Clippers seemed to ... or was that just Baron Davis. Regardless, the Clippers have a fair amount of talent. Kaman has shown that he's one of the few true centers in the league, and he's got a decent array of post moves. Eric Gordan looks like a real winner. And Blake Griffin has shown glimpses of a tremendous amount of athleticism and ability. In short, the Clippers future is bright ... or at least it would be, if they weren't cursed worse than the Pirates of the Caribbean. Which brings us to our next point.
Blake Griffin blew out his knee. Not to get to Simmons-esque on you here, but what percentage of people saw Blake Griffin's inevitable injury coming? 50%? 80%? 100%? Simmons himself predicted it. As tragic as it is, there can't be a single person surprised by it. Clippers fans should unfortunately know better than to believe in their team. There is always something that will screw up this franchise. If they aren't willing to do it themselves with poor play, poor coaching, and poor personnel decisions, then God has repeatedly proven to be willing to pick up the slack in keeping the Clippers' franchise down. It brings me no joy to see this happen to that franchise time and time again. I'd love for the Clippers to be good. If nothing else, a serious cross-town rivalry would add a unique flair to our experiences as fans. But the writing is on the wall, and its been there for the entirety of the Clippers existence.

After the jump, some Lakers thoughts, and the matchups for tonight's game.

We've already given you much more information than you needed to know about how the Lakers look coming into this season, so these thoughts are specifically related to what should be a special night in Staples Center

The main event for Lakers fans tonight isn't even the game itself, but the ring ceremony which will precede the game. We already know just how special this championship was for the team, especially the team leaders: Phil Jackson, Derek Fisher, and of course, Kobe Bryant. While it won't have quite the same magical feel to it as when the team held up the Larry O'Brien while Kobe lifted his first Finals MVP, tonight will be a re-affirmation of all the hard work the Lakers went through last year, and it should be a relatively emotional night. Besides, any time you get a chance to see ridiculous amounts of bling, it's always a good time.
There's a potential for a letdown tonight, with the double dose of getting championship rings and playing the lowly Clippers. But it's the first game of the season, a season in which the Lakers know a very strong start is mandatory in order for them to set the pace for the rest of the league, so it seems nearly impossible that the Lakers start the season off flat.
Pau Gasol might miss tonight's season opener. It's a game time decision, but it looks more and more likely that El Spaniard will sit this one out. Since the Clips front line is also depleted with the loss of Griffin, it shouldn't cause too much trouble for the Lakers tonight

Matchups

With Griffin out, the Clippers will likely move Marcus Camby into the starting lineup, giving the Clippers a starting 5 of Baron Davis, Eric Gordan, Rasual Butler, Marcus Camby, and Chris Kaman. The obvious strength of the lineup is the backcourt, as Davis and Gordan are probably the two best players on the team, without Griffin. Assuming Gasol also doesn't play, the Lakers will trot out Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, and Andrew Bynum. It's the first game of the season, so forgive me for not knowing exactly what kind of rotations the teams will use, but the Clippers are likely to bring Ricky Davis, Al Thornton, Anthony Roberson, and Craig Smith (who absolutely killed the Lakers in the preseason) off the bench. For the Lakers, you'll see the usual suspects, Farmar, Brown, Vujacic, Walton, and a little bit of Mbenga and Powell thrown in for good measure.

Obviously, the matchups favor the Lakers, since they have a pretty large talent advantage over the Clippers. With Gasol out, you can count on a large early dose of feeding Bynum in the post and on the secondary fast break to start the game. The coaches will be looking to set Bynum up with the same kind of starts he's been seeing all preseason, and it should come as no surprise if Bynum is in double figures by the end of the 1st quarter. Other then that, Odom should have a significant speed advantage over who ever is guarding him, as the Clippers don't have any other athletic 4s waiting behind Griffin. The Clips also don't have an elite perimeter defender, so Kobe will get whatever Kobe wants, or the Clips will be forced to double team, leaving wide open shots for the rest of the team. The only matchup that will cause the Lakers problems is the point guard position. Baron Davis' new, svelte, body should have no problem getting by Fisher's old bones, and it'll be important for Odom and Bynum to protect the rim without picking up fouls, because foul trouble for either one causes the Lakers to have to use Josh Powell or DJ Mbenga for significant amounts of time, and the drop off in talent there is tremendous. Also, Kobe needs to just stay home on his man tonight. I don't like Gordon's chances to blow by Kobe, but if Kobe leaves his man, Gordon will drain the open 3.

Off the bench, it'll be important for Powell (or Walton if the Lakers go smaller) to focus all of his energy on boxing out Craig Smith so that Smith doesn't repeat his ridiculous preseason line of 26-7 in 22 minutes. Other than that, the Clippers bench looks pretty ugly, and the Lakers bench should theoretically have an easy time dominating this rag-tag group. In other interesting bench news, tonight will be our first real glimpse of how PJ intends to handle the rotation in a game that actually counts. After the questions about Ron Artest fitting in, and Bynum achieving results in line with his potential, the bench rotations qualify as the 3rd biggest question surrounding the team this year. Who's the first guard off the bench? Do the Lakers go small with Brown and Farmar together? Do they go really small with Brown, Farmar, and Sasha? These questions won't be answered definitively tonight, but we'll at least catch a first glimpse of reality instead of grasping at straws from meaningless preseason games.

In the end, this should be a comfortable Lakers victory, and I expect nothing less on Ring Night.

FYI, since it's the first night of the season, and there happens to be a pretty fantastic opening game, and we'd like to give you all the time you need to re-adjust to live blogging the games, our game thread will start with the first game at 5 P.M.