Our first meeting against Houston this year is fascinating.  Mainly because most people assumed that without Yao and TMac, the Rockets do not have enough talent to compete night in and night out.  But something about this Houston squad and the way they pushed the Lakers to 7 games last year impressed me.  True they don't have any clear cut "superstar" active on the roster, but they do have alot of complementary young talent and a very underrated coach in Adelman.  Our roster, in comparison, look far superior, even without Blake and Eric.  In a way, if you had to choose between a healthy Yao and a healthy Blake, Yao would win, because he has proven his worth in the NBA.  Same with comparing a healthy TMac against a healthy Gordon.  As promising as Gordon is, he has yet to reach the level of dominance that TMac once achieved on his way up.  Yet Houston, with the loss of their two All-Stars, have a better record than we do.  And on this night, they proved that, as constituted, they are clearly a superior team.

Continue reading this post »

If there is a pattern so far in this disconcerting Clippers campaign; it's that the team has found ways to bounce back after soul crushing losses.  In a perverse sense, the players and coaches deserve some credit for not throwing in the towel and pointing fingers at one another (like in Golden State and Washington).  After the inexcusable loss to a depleted Indiana squad on Wednesday, you get the sense that the team was flat on the mat once again, and a loss tonight against the tiny-toon version of the Detroit Pistons would mean the psychological death of this Clippers squad.  A dejected Dunleavy described Wednesday's loss as "horrible,"  Ralph called it "devastating," and Smith said it was "unacceptable" for the Clippers to lose both games on this road trip.

So with their back to the wall; the Clippers found a way to win against a clearly depleted Pistons team.  But it was a hard fought victory, much closer than it needed to be, despite the fact that the Clippers played relatively well on the offensive end and limited their turnovers.  Defensively, the Clippers allowed another unknown NBA scrub to torch them.  Well, our sole Swedish Clippers fan can enlighten us on the wonders of Jonas Jerebko.  But I, for one, have never heard of the kid who torched us for a career high 22 points on 8-11 shooting. 

More than the blown rotations and our weak perimter defense, however, this game was nearly lost on the defensive glass.  We gave up 19 offensive rebounds to Detroit, most of them to a hustling Ben Wallace.  Maxiell also came up with some big rebounds against our wings.  The fatal flaw of this Clippers squad that some of us have been worrying about since the summer are now coming to fruition: the inability of our wing players to get boards.  Eric, Sebastian, and Baron are a bit too small to grab crucial rebounds, and both Rasual and Thornton are below average rebounders for their position.  Al is doing a better job on the offensive glass, but now he needs to step up on the defensive end for this team to have a chance.  Luckily for us, Ben Gordon, Tayshaun, and Rip were all out, so even when they got three offensive boards to extend a possession, they were not able to cash them in consistently.  We escaped with a win tonight in spite of ourselves.  The plane ride back to LA won't be as morose.  But you get the feeling that this team is still standing on a ledge, on the verge of falling.

Continue reading this post »

There seems to be a chill in the free agency market this off season.  Unlike most  years, we've seen very few inflated long term contracts being awarded and alot of good solid veterans signed for much less money than what they would have earned a few years ago.  Part of this might be due to the big free agency class of next season, where many GM still harbor fantasies of adding Lebron and D-Wade to their franchise.  A bigger factor might be due to the reduced salary cap, which is a concession by the NBA that the recession has impacted league wide revenues. 

Continue reading this post »

After going through some posts on this blog, and talking to our Clippers rep for the upcoming season, it seems to me that many people assume that we have a good chance of making the playoffs next year.  This seems a bit overly optimistic for a team coming off a 19 win season.  Even if we double our wins to 38 next year, which would be a pretty impressive turnaround, that probably won't be enough to snag a spot in the western conference playoff.  Granted the West has gotten weaker than in years past, but of the eight playoff spots in the West, how many are actually up for grabs?

Continue reading this post »

For those fans who don't approve of changes in either coaching/personnel (40% of respondents), this should warm your hearts:

Los Angeles Clippers Getting Inside
SportsXchange
Apr. 16, 2009 09:40 AM

In limping to the finish line with their poorest record since the 1999-2000
season, the nagging question is this: Can the Clippers satisfy their long
suffering fan base by promising that an injury-free season next year with the
same cast of players will produce a playoff team? Clippers coach and general
manager Mike Dunleavy could be banking on that risky platform because when asked recently if he expected an overhaul of this year's team, his answer was that he did not think so, pointing out that of the 15 players currently on the team,
only two could claim to be Clippers in 2007-2008.

The makeover began in the offseason, which featured the ballyhooed signing of free agent guard Baron Davis, and it continued into the season, when Dunleavy sent veterans Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas to the New York Knicks in exchange for high-scoring forward Zach Randolph and sparingly-used swingman Mardy Collins. The trade did little to affect the Clippers' fortunes for this year. Time will tell if it is to have any future positive effect, other than opening up a starting position for potential star Eric Gordon, the 20-year old guard, whom the Clippers
selected seventh overall in the 2008 NBA draft.

Throughout this season, Dunleavy has used the same excuse that he offered for the team's debacle the previous year -- injuries. No doubt the team was decimated by injuries, with not one player able to stay healthy enough to play all 82 regular-season games. But it is possible that even if all the players would have remained healthy that the squad Dunleavy assembled was a combustible one.Randolph and free agent acquisition Ricky Davis came dragging baggage and both had episodes that gave credence to their wayward past. Ricky Davis had to serve a suspension for violating terms of the NBA's substance abuse policy, while Randolph was docked with a two-game team suspension for being arrested on a suspicion of DUI.

Clippers assistant general manager Neil Olshey said recently that it would be
difficult for whomever the Clippers draft to break into the rotation.  (As their roster is already loaded with talent and lacks only chemistry to be successful).

So it seems that we will have more of the same next year, an encore of this season.  Dunleavy still believes that he has assembled a very talented squad: as Ricky Davis, Zach, & Baron are capable of going off for 30 points on any given night.  They didn't do so very often this season, but just wait till next year.

I'm interested to see if fan opinion on this website has changed with regards to Baron.  Earlier in the season, when sentiments turned against Baron at Staples, it seemed that his popularity held up relatively well online.  The first poll, if memory is correct, gave Baron 85% approval.  By mid season, the second poll gave Baron a 60% approval, so there were some decline, though the majority still believe that he is the team's leader and future.  I would like to see if there's any further changes in opinion regarding Baron's leadership and role with this team going forward.

Ok, I'm pretty exhausted as after the game as we spent a few too many hours at the Roosevelt afterwards, but this is too good to pass up.  I've been watching Dunleavy's reaction to fans heckling and chants throughout the season and for the most part, the man has kept his composure.  But tonight, at half time against Portland, he finally lost his cool.

One of the season ticket holder in my section is a pretty vocal guy.  He's a big dude, with a deep baritone, who yells some pretty funny and sometimes derogatory things to opposing players to knock them off their game.  This season, his ire has also turned to Dunleavy, Baron, Zach, or Kaman depending upon their level of ineptitude.  Earlier in the season, he brought along signs and tried to lead the crowd in chants of "Pat Summit" to replace Dunleavy...which I thought was pretty funny, if you knew who Pat Summit was.

Well tonight, after a dismal second quarter, he was yelling at Dunleavy again.  He wasn't the only one, as there were others yelling at Dunleavy to fire himself and of course, the now constant "Fire Dunleavy" chants reverberating in different part of the arena.  But tonight, as Dunleavy was walking off the floor, he seemed more agitated than usual, and he turned to our section's human megaphone, grabbed his crotch and yelled back in very clear term to "kiss my ass."  The redness in his face and his anger was palpable and made it clear that he wasn't joking around.

We thought it was amusing, though I'm sure that if this were New York and Dunleavy were Isiah, there would be an uproar about the coach cursing out his season ticket holders.  I feel a bit sorry for the man though.  Dealing with hecklers and unhappy fans is part of the job of being an NBA coach.  But I get the feeling that the facade cracked a bit tonight.  The season has been terrible and the toll is heavy for all involved...perhaps more on Dunleavy most of all.  Perhaps relieving Dunleavy of his duties now would be the humane thing to do, though I doubt it will happen due to Sterling legendary miseriness.  It will be an interesting off season to say the least.

Is the Clippers entire organization completely tone deaf?  With better teams than us slashing ticket prices for next year, did Andy Roeser confuse our team with the Lakers?  Yes, the Lakers announced that they won't raise ticket prices next year due to the economy and their fans take it in stride...because they're close to 60 wins and are favored to win the championship AGAIN.  Our team on the other hand has the inverse record of the Lakers and we're going to hit 60 losses.  We're the laughingstock of the league and the city.  And Andey Roeser has the balls to tell us that he understands our pain and will not raise ticket prices.  Gee thanks.  What an idiot.  What a completly dysfunctional, tone deaf, incompetent organization.  The Staples Center crowd is going to look like a girls high school basketball game next year for Clippers games.  What a way to destroy what is left of the season ticket holder base.  This is the last handful of dirt on the grave of Clippers Nation.

Here's the email that we got today from the Clippers:

We want to personally thank you for your loyal support as a Clippers Season Ticket Holder. We understand times are tough and appreciate your commitment to the team.

We recognize the effect the economy is having on our fans. More than ever, we understand that investing your hard-earned dollars in season tickets is a big commitment.

To help make your renewal decision a little easier, we are pleased to announce that there will be no price increase in the lower level for the second consecutive year. In addition, we think you'll be excited to learn about the new benefits, flexible payment options, and tenured Season Ticket Holder programs we have added. You've maintained the kind of enthusiasm we admire in Clippers fans and we are grateful for your dedication.

We remain optimistic regarding our core of young players combined with the experienced leadership of our veterans. We will also have the advantage of one of the top lottery picks in the upcoming NBA Draft, who should give us a boost next season as well.

We need your support more than ever and encourage you to remain loyal for the better times ahead. Your 2009-10 Season Ticket renewal kit will arrive in the mail next week.

We look forward to seeing you next season!

Sincerely,

Andy Roeser
President

Ok, so I'm just reading the Isiah GM rumors and I'm shocked beyond words.  If this were to happen, then I'm done with this franchise.  Never mind renewing season tickets, I will never watch another Clippers game again.  As a matter of fact, I will be tempted to put my fist through every TV screen showing a Clippers game.

Is this Dunleavy's ruse to freak out the fans and remind us that there are worst alternatives than him?  After all, the articles seem to suggest that it was Dunleavy who set up the meeting between Isiah and Sterling.  Perhaps all of us have underestimated Dunleavy.  Perhaps he is much more than inept, he might be one of those rare, truly evil men (Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot) who plans nefarious deeds for the satisfaction of seeing everything burn, wither, and die.  Ok, maybe he's not that evil, but he's at least on par with Manson or Charles Starkweather.

At any rate, bringing in Isiah is the equivalent of calling in a nuclear strike on your own position.  The devastation would be total and there won't be a soul left standing.  With a franchise as moribound as the Clippers, this can be construed as a good thing, I suppose. 

We Clippers fans are gluttons for punishment.  We've taken alot over the years.  But this might be the greatest indignity of all.  It just might be the final fatal blow. 

Read this on my mobile phone's SportsXchange page, though strangely, you have to be a paid member in order to access their website via a computer....It will be interesting to see which Clippers team show up on Wednesday against the Celtics.  The one that played well against Golden State or the one that the Portland players described below:

Los Angeles Clippers Notes, Quotes
--Right or wrong, the Trail Blazers thought they detected some early quit in the
Clippers during what eventually resulted in a 116-87 Portland victory Sunday.
According to Blazers forward-center Channing Frye, Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy
kept calling the same plays over and over. In addition, several Portland players
said after the game that it seemed apparent to them that there was a lot of
bickering among Clippers players on the floor and it appeared that the players
didn't really like each other.