Seems like Stephen Jackson has been relegated to the bench in Milwaukee. Maybe our front office can try to pick him up? He seems like the proud veteran type like KMart that will give more to a contender (like the Clippers) than a team that will likely not get very far in the forseeable future (like the Bucks). Seems to me he could be a better fit than JR Smith with his ability to knock down 3s and play some tough defense. Any opinions?

I don’t imagine any of us would be surprised if many fans around the league would laugh in scorn at the Clippers for passing up a deal that would have had CP3 in his prime dishing up lobs to Griffin, Jordan, and the rest of the superb athletes in a Clippers uniform for the next couple of years. I just wanted to take the opportunity to express how proud I am of the Clippers for walking away from the whole fiasco. Give up EJ, Kaman, Aminu, Bledsoe, and the Minny pick for 2 years of CP3 (and the opportunity to extend him for a longer, more lucrative contract after the 2012-2013 season)? No thanks. If that makes us laughing stocks of the league, I’ll be happy to laugh along side our detractors as long as the Clips front office keeps their word and keeps the young core intact. Kaman, the senior member of the trade, is a legit skilled 7 footer in a league short on effective big men. When healthy, can someone tell me you couldn’t count on him to average at least 18/10 and hit more than 90% of his free-throws? Additionally, whoever gets Kaman gets a chance to offer him a longer, more lucrative contract than he would get elsewhere. His contract would be incredibly attractive by itself come the trade deadline. Bledsoe and Aminu are both on their rookie contracts and have so much talent that they won’t have any choice but to improve with each year of NBA experience. Imagine how good they could be in year three of their contract. Now imagine how much more we could get for one, not both, in a trade at that time. The Minny pick, with Adelman at the helm and some other good pieces in place in Minnesota, would still probably land us one of the top 6 picks in the 2012 draft that some say may compare favorably to the 2003 draft (which brought us LBJ, Melo, Wade, Bosh, DWest, and our very own Kaman). Should we give up a chance to draft (and keep for the remainder of a rookie scale contract) an Andre Drummond, Jeremy Lamb, Anthony Davis, Harrison Barnes, Perry Jones, Thomas Robinson, or Jared Sullinger? No. No. No. Thank you, but no thank you. Throw in EJ, on top of all that? Olshey, should pull down his pants, bend over and tell Stern, "With all due respect, kiss my a**". Before the proposed trade, the future of the Clippers franchise is clear as it is bright--our young talent will blossom and come into their own while contracts for veterans leaving their prime expire and fall off the books. All the while adding new talent from the draft. Before the proposed trade, we would be able to start 4 former all stars and one FIBA gold medalist. We would be the standard on how to rebuild that used to be the Trailblazers and then the Thunder. After the ridiculous trade, at best we would be on borrowed time even if CP3 extends. Let’s be clear: we would not win the NBA championship with Blake and CP3 without at least an EJ in uniform. Much less an empty bench. CP3 will walk. So will Blake. So, why go down this road…? Oh, that’s right, we didn’t. Best of luck to Stern and the Hornets finding a new dance partner. Would like to stay, but all the pointless twirling around made us a little sick.

There are many parallels between our teams.  We each have crafty point guards in Davis and Tinsley.  Future superstar 2-guards in EJ and OJ.  Athletic SF’s in Thornton and Gay.  Talented centers in Kaman and Gasol.  Both of these teams both have loads of talent and neither seem to know how to put together a win.  Both the Clips and the Grizz had question marks re: the team chemistry.   

In the third meeting of the season, our recently 4-1 Clips run into a recently 5-2 Grizz team.   Could we pull it off?

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Is it just me, or does the whole of November seem like the easiest schedule we've ever seen?  2 meetings apiece against Minnesota, New Orleans, Oklahoma City?  3 meetings with Memphis?  The other five games against Denver, Toronto, Indiana, Detroit, and Golden State?  Denver has been a juggernaut, with 'Melo throwing his hat into the MVP race.  Toronto has one of the better records in the league and Chris Bosh and Bargnani may be a tough match up for both Kaman and Camby.But the rest of the teams on the schedule...?  Memphis has more talent than the majority of NBA rosters, just like Golden State.  They have at least 5 players that could be good for at least 30 a game.  BUT just like Golden State, they are a collection of "me-first" players.  AI is playing for his stats and a future contract.  So is Rudy Gay.  OJ Mayo, from what we saw last year, gets his PPG by the sheer volume of shots he throws up.  ZBo doesn't know how to pass or defend.  Neither does AI.  On a positive note, they've got a good player in Pau's brother.  He's the only one who plays any semblance of defense, I think.  Someone commented that if we don't win tonight's game, then our win against Golden State shouldn't count for anything.  I would have to agree.  New Orleans isn't the same team that took the league by storm a couple of years ago.  As good as CP3 may be, he simply doesn't have the running mates to compete.  They're a flawed team that we should toast the minute Paul sits on the bench.  If the Clippers play their game and not play down to the competition, we should handle a scrappy up and coming team Oklahoma as well.  Detroit is on the decline.  Indiana can be dangerous, as the Wizards found out...but we have enough talent to take them down.  Looking further down the road into December, I hope that the our Clippers get the most out of this stretch.  As talented as our team may be, I wouldn't wish consecutive games against Philly, San Antonio, Houston, Phoenix, Boston, Portland, Philly, Portland, Lakers, and finally Miami on anybody...! 

This is going to be fun…

 

I remember thinking that when we signed Baron Davis last summer…presumably to team-up with FElton Brand.  Too bad BD forgot to pack his game along with his tighty-whities when he moved here from San Fran.  Oh well.  Maybe he did us a favor by playing so damn poorly by getting us in the position to draft a more physically gifted-harder working version of Michael Beasley…thought it’s probably insulting to BG to be mentioned in the same sentence as that black hole in a Miami Heat uniform.  Dwight/LeBron-lite, may be a better way to describe the guy.  Unlike BD however, there are no question marks re: Griffin’s character and work ethic.  All of us Clippers fans live off of potential…and if you’re picturing what I’m picturing—a healthier, inspired Baron Davis taking the floor with Eric “The Franchise” Gordon, Al Thornton, Blake Griffin, and (pick any of the three bigs from last year).  Wow.  Give the trophy to LeBron already and lets get the next season underway! 

BEST CASE SCENARIO: Randolph finds out that Griffin will likely supplant him in the starting line-up and gets his fat-ass to the gym like he promised.  (He doesn’t realize it yet, but going against Griffin every day in practice and seeing how hard the rookie works at his game will do wonders for Randolph’s game and re-boot his reputation and salvage his NBA legacy as being a cancer to being to a professional NBA player…that is, if he gets out of his own way long enough to do this).   Kaman realizes that the Clippers will become significant in the league again because of all the buzz surrounding Griffin that he’ll stop moping around and gets himself to the gym, along with Randolph.  Baron pictures all of the assist-records he could break with a front court of Griffin and DeAndre Jordan and starts hitting the gym…along with Randolph and Kaman.  Eric Gordon is joined by another professional basketball player from the mid-west with the same work ethic and they quickly form a 1-2 punch that will rival that of Penny-Shaq; Kobe-Shaq; Wade-Shaq; Jordan-Pippen—this will be THE duo to re-boot this sorry franchise of ours.  Al Thornton finds out that he will even be more forgotten next season than he was last season after the emergence of EJ and sets out to show the world that he is worthy of being spoken of in the same sentence as Durant and that he doesn’t need to take a back-seat to EJ or Griffin.  Again, wow… 

IF MDSr decided to go with the youth movement/full-rebuild mode, our youth roster is complete: Mike Taylor at PG; Eric Gordon at SG; Al Thornton at SF; Blake Griffin at PF; and DeAndre Jordan at C.  Personally, I’d like to see Baron, EJ, Blake at SF, Zach at PF, and Kaman 2.0 at C.  Coming off the bench: Mike T & Mardy C at PG; Fred Jones & Alex Acker at SG; Al Thornton & (insert veteran free agent here) at SF, Novak at PF; Camby and DeAndre Jordan at C.  I think that Acker, like a lot of NBA players, can play the game, he just needs playing time. 

All that talent with a season of getting to know each other and a long summer to stew about getting humiliated last year…the best recipe to develop that hunger and turn things around.  We’ll see.  Regardless…this’ll be fun. 

(This is really just a follow-up to my previous post, but it was getting long so I just did it here.)

 

When I made the point that no one can break into the line-up next season, it's because the Clippers really DO NOT have a gaping hole at any position...so why bother picking up anyone from picks #3-#10 if there's a way to convert the pick to multiple first-round and multiple second-round picks?

 

Try to follow my reasoning:

1) The Clippers starting line-up is pretty much set in stone. (Davis, Gordon, Thornton, Randolph, Kaman)

2) Retained players (MTaylor-PG, Novak-PF, DeAndre-C)  RickyD but he should be bought out & I won't count him...

3) Collective bargaining agreement dictates: MINIMUM # of players on an NBA roster = 14.

4) 14 - 8 = We need another 6 players.

5) Rookie salary depends on their draft position.

6) Incoming rookies will not pull an EJ and break into the starting line-up.

 

6a) The pecking order of a team is usually pretty simple to figure out.  Look at the Lakers.  It begins with Kobe.  Followed by Gasol.  Maybe Bynum.  Then Odom.  Maybe the last two can be switched, but the pecking order is clear.  Portland is Roy and Aldridge.  There's LeBron & Mo.  Carmelo & Billups.  Our pecking order is far from obvious.  EJ is supposed to be the best player we have…but when Baron is healthy and motivated, it isn’t so clear.  If Zach comes back healthy and motivated…  If Thornton comes back stronger and smarter…  If Kaman comes back healthy and motivated… If Mike Taylor comes back more disciplined and stronger… If DeAndre comes back and becomes a force in the low block…  You see what I mean?  Each and every single one of our starting five have the potential of making the claim that they are THE MAN.  Adding another one into that mix could be disastrous—I’m sure Thornton feels slighted that he’s been forgotten one year after being drafted by the Clips.  See what I mean?

 

My suggestion:

 

7) Take non-#1 pick and trade down to get multiple picks from a team for THIS DRAFT....

8) Pick up potential diamonds in the rough (Kobe was drafted #13, I think)--not wallflowers (Sam Young, Greg Monroe may still be available.  Short PG's like Lawson may still be available in the middle of the draft).

9) Make sure you draft players that have the following mixture of characteristics: 1) Character 2) work-ethic 3) team-mentality 4) hunger.

10) RESULT: a) We get what we NEED—multiple guys who know they have to be the bench players but have the talent (and the luxury of time) to develop into solid bench players. 

 

b) By using the draft to get closer to the minimum 15 players, we save money$$$:  Lower draft picks are much less expensive and better for our bottom line.  Also, some more talented ones can be packaged with one of our vets so we can get out of bad contracts (double-bonus!!!!)

 

11) We still have multiple #1 picks coming in a future draft when there is more talent out there…  2012, here we come!

BOTTOM LINE: WE NEED SOLID CONTRIBUTORS—NOT SUPERSTARS.  

There are ways to contribute to the team other than being the starter and being the go-to scorer.  We have plenty of those guys, at this time, though it seemed many times that we didn't have two...  Teams need role players too...!

Sometimes what we want and what we need are two different things.

What do we want?  We want the first pick in the coming draft .

What do we need?  We need a HIGHLY skilled, athletic, physically and mentally tough player who works hard, competes, plays smart, and plays TEAM basketball.

The first pick is easy: We get Blake Griffin who is a hard worker, grounded, physically superior, and plays team ball.  Like I said...this choice is EASY.

Problem is, beyond the first pick, I don't really see anyone that we can say we need...  And it's not as if anyone beyond Griffin can break into the Clipper lineup next season anyway.  No matter what want to happen, it will be Baron at 1, EJ at 2, Thornton at 3, Randolph at 4, and Kaman at 5.  The bench players are Mike Taylor, Marcus Camby, DeAndre Jordan.  That's 8 players.  Collective Bargaining Agreement says we have to have a minimum 14 players.  That was 9.  Who gets the contracts?  I say our draft pick should be one--but can we find someone more accomplished than our current bench players.   No matter who this guy is, he will be a bench player if your last name is not Griffin and he will be WILDLY OVERPAID because of this draft position.  Why keep a pick so high when we cannot afford to pay someone to sit on the bench for that kind of cash.)  So let's bet low: really LOW and try to get more than one rookie next year.  I say get the last remaining piece for our "Youth Movement": A power forward who is athletic enough to play either the 3, the 4, or the 5.  My take: we need good character guys a la Duncan and EJ who just put their heads down and go to work.  If we get anything beyond the #3 draft pick, I sincerely hope the Clips trade down and try to get 2 picks.  Outside of Griffin and maybe Harden (Rubio seems like fool's gold--no athleticism, not a solid shooter, and small: 6'4" and 180) there's no one that's really all that.  I'd want to use the lower picks to get a Greg Monroe, Stephen Curry, a Sam Young, or a Tyler Hansbrough via trading down our pick.  Think about it: We get more players & we pay less money.  How will a top pick break into the line-up, realistically, anyway?  I just can't see it....

I've been thinking about the last few offseasons with this team and I have to say that each one had been better than the season itself.  The summer after the our playoff run, I remember picturing a seasoned Shaun Livingston asserting his place as the starting point guard on this team and becoming one of the more talked about players in the league.  I pictured the Clippers getting back into the playoffs and at least repeating their performance and making it as far as the second round and maybe even the Western Conference finals depending on how the seedings go.  The following year didn't go as we hoped because we lost Shaun early in the season and barely missed the playoffs.  That summer, I remember looking forward to Brand and Kaman's play as both worked very hard in the offseason to get in phenomenal shape.  Unfortunately, one of those practice sessions resulted in Brand's injury.  Kaman had a monster season, and I thought that Kaman 2.0 and Brand, along with the impending return of Livingston & Maggette...and our rookie (Thornton) just had an outstanding season.  I started to hope again.  Then Brand pulled a Boozer...BUT we had just signed Baron (and later Camby) along with a trio of rookies named Gordon, Jordan, and Taylor.   I dared to dream of great things...again.  Now the season is over and I have to say that I'm looking for something to get excited about again. 

Dunleavy promises no major shakeup on the way for the roster...  Great.  I think I saw ClipperChuck saying that he'd like to introduce some anarchy and blow things up just a little...  Been there, done that this season already...  Stability.  Familiarity.  Camaraderie.  Chemistry.  All great things to strive for.  Is it time for a new coach?  Maybe.  Don't laugh.  I'm actually being serious.  No, really.  Yes, really!  Before all you form a lynch mob, just hear me out a little.  Yes, it IS true that maybe the change in coaching may very well be needed because the players may have already stopped believing in Dunleavy and his staff.  I've previously made my interests in getting a Flip Saunders to coach the team, personally.  BUT the reason I'm not going there at this time is this:  Dunleavy and his coaching staff, as bad of a fit as he may be at this time, really has BEEN THERE and DONE THAT so he has as impressive a resume, if not more so, than the remaining coaches out there:  He's taken 3 of his 4 NBA teams to the playoffs.  His Lakers went to the playoffs twice and lost in the Finals to Jordan's Bulls.  His Blazers made the playoffs four years in a row and were in the Western Conference Finals against the Lakers.  His 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years with Clippers resulted in a reasonable number of wins and we almost made it into the Western Conference Finals.  I AGREE WITH ALL OF YOU that putting a inexperienced guard without the height or reach advantage who also hadn't played the whole game on Raja Bell was a dumb, dumb, dumb thing to do.  BUT in the same game, a proven veteran like Sam Cassell shouldn't be caught with a half-court-violation when we were comfortably in the lead by 3 points AND the ball with less than 24 seconds from the Western Conference finals.  The point I am making is that there COACHING can only take a team so far. 

I AM NOT SAYING THAT DUMBLEAVY NEVER HAS BRAIN FARTS.  Not at all.  What I am saying, and the point of all this, is that there's always two sides to a story.  Always.  Whether we like it or not.  Whether we feel like our girlfriend was lying, cheating, b*tch...there's always her side claiming that we were always too busy watching our Clipper games driving her to cheat and b*tch about us not giving her enough attention.  You get the drift...  I believe DUMBleavy when he says that he and his staff never take the day off.  I do.  I believe his claims that he and his staff are available for extra coaching sessions.  I do believe that has done his part.  He prepared for his opponent.  He prepared the gameplan.  He coached.  In short: DUMBleavy and his staff delivered their end of the bargain.  They showed up.  Maybe not with the right gameplan, but he developed one regardless.  Maybe not with the right use of personnel, but he coached, regardless.  HE AND HIS STAFF, COMPETENT OR NOT, DID THEIR PART.  Could we say the same of the players?  Gordon?  Yes.  The rest of the team...?  You see, I don't put the blame on this ridiculous joke of a season on the coach.  Even our beloved Ralph and Mike would likely argue that they hear Dunleavy identifying plays and opportunities on the court, as they develop and BEFORE any of his players figure it out for themselves, and calls it out to his players all through the game.  Yes, they tuned him out.  But, again, he did his part. 

I BLAME THE PLAYERS.  I blame Baron.  I blame Ricky Davis.  I blame Zach Randolph.  I blame Tim Thomas.  I blame all of the FAT, OUT OF SHAPE, UNPROFESSIONAL, UNMOTIVATED, LAZY, SPOILED, and OVERPAID players on the roster.  Each of them needs to take a long look in mirror and, for once, just BE REAL.  I call it as I see it.  There was no effort on the court.  There was even less effort off of it.  To all of those players--damn you all to hell, you ungrateful (CENSORED)!!!!  You can sit in your mansions and drive around in your Bentleys/Royces/Benzes and not putting in any hard work while the rest of us work our assess off to make a living and spend our hard-earned money buying tickets to watch a little quality basketball with friends and family...but none of could be bothered to try to even put on a good showing.  Getting paid millions to play a game...and can't even be bothered to show up and play...!?  WTF?  You may as well have mugged us on the street and taken what money we had in our wallets--we could have very well come out ahead because we wouldn't have had time to go to the bank to get more money for parking and food. (and maybe spent more time with the aforementioned gf/spouse/lover/friend, etc...LOL)

I'm pissed off...  Can you tell?  We lost our KTLA games because these MULTImillionaires couldn't be bothered.  We lost our AM710 because these MULTImillionaires couldn't be bothered.  Dumb (CENSORED)!!!  So, here I am again, along with all  you GREAT GREAT LOYAL (to a fault) FANS...looking for something to look forward to.  I'd love to get Griffin...but I'd convert him to a small forward a la LeBron and keep Randolph at 4.  If we fall outside of the top 2 picks, I stand by my previous blog to get more players in the first round by trading away Kaman to the Thunder for both of their picks.  I'd use our first pick to get Rubio or Harden (IF and ONLY IF Griffin was unavailable).  I'd use the second and third picks for role players: Sam Young & Tyler Hansborough.  OR I'd package both picks and one more player from our roster (Camby) for GREG MONROE and his sky high potential...! 

Best of luck to all of us and let us all hope that Baron, Zach, Kaman, and Ricky D all get off their respective assess and do some P90X.  Fred Jones and Mardy Collins--same thing.  Mike Taylor.  You have the physical tools.  Work on the mental aspect of the game a la Rajon, Parker, and CP3.  DeAndre...umm...where to start?  Get on the court.  Work on positioning and boxing out.  Shoot LOTS and LOTS and LOTS  and yet more free throws because with your game, you will be fouled a lot.  Someone blogged about more repetitions with other shots as well--good tip.  Then hit the gym:  HIGH WEIGHT, LOW REPS.  RINSE.  REPEAT.  DAILY.  NIGHTLY.  Etc.  Do it and you will make tens of millions of dollars in the NBA.  I guarantee it.  Al Thornton.  Learn from Pippen.  Learn from Jordan/Dominique.  Hit the weight room when DeAndre goes.  Eric Gordon.  Speak up in the locker room. Don't defer to our higher draft pick from this season, because no matter who it is,  (and that includes the #1 pick) you are the franchise, whether you like it or not.  And, finally, take the league by the balls next season. 

Happy offseason to all of us...may we all dream of better days ahead for our club...and may we all see the Lakers be humbled and sent to their inevitable spiral down the toilet if they somehow manage to NOT win it all this season...because at 74 million committed to only 8 players out of the minimum REQUIRED by the collective bargaining agreement (and none of the money earmarked for Odom OR Ariza...) they will have a REALLY REALLY interesting summer if Kobe doesn't win the championship and opts out of his contract ...

 

This was a roller coaster ride of a game, if ever there was one. The first quarter was UGLY. (Best left forgotten, if you ask me.) Two professional basketball teams--one playoff-bound and a serious contender to come out of the Western Conference--and neither scored 10 points until after almost 8 minutes of the game had passed. The quarter ended with the score tied at 17 after the 55th overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft by these same Portland Trailblazers, Mike Taylor, hit a 25-foot 3-point shot. I can just picture the Lakers, sitting at home, watching this game and scratching their heads, going: “we lost to this team?” It would have been less ugly if ex-Clipper Spirit Taylor had attended the game, but I digress…

Second quarter. Przybilla. Aldridge. Roy. Veterans on championship-caliber teams step up for their team. The game was tied at 25 a piece with 6:50 remaining in the quarter when Przybilla enters the game for Greg Oden and Aldridge comes in to relieve Sergio Rodriguez. Brandon Roy immediately draws a foul and shoots free throws. The next Portland possessions looked like this: Przybilla made lay-up. Przybilla defensive rebound leading to Roy slam dunk. Aldridge defensive rebound leading to Przybilla lay-up. Aldridge draws the foul and gets two free throws. Aldridge offensive rebound and put-back. Aldridge layup. Roy draws the foul and shoots free throws. Roy steals the ball and makes a lay-up on the other end. Cap it off with five quick points by Rudy Fernandez with only 21 seconds left in the half and the Blazers are ahead by 15 (10 of which came in a minute and a half span).

Third quarter. Whatever was said in the locker room during halftime must have hit home, because the Clippers (with really nothing to play for and seemingly everything to gain by just laying down and letting the Blazers roll over them) decide to try to make the game respectable. They start the third with a 10-3 run and finish the quarter down by only 7 points.

Fourth quarter. “Fasten your seatbelt, folks!” ESPN highlights of this game all came from this quarter, I bet. Skinner, still with some leftover Brand-mojo spray picks up where he left off yesterday night and puts on a show. Down 66-58, Skinner gets a hook shot to go in. Two possessions later, he gets a block on Greg Oden. E.J. serves notice that he belongs in the same category of athleticism as Westbrook with a vicious dunk with 8:49 on the clock. (The Blazers were so flustered that they turned the ball over in-bounding the ball on the ensuing possession.) 8:24. Skinner-time, again. This time with a miss, rebound, and put-back. And yet another block at 8:02. This time against Outlaw. The block results in Eric Gordon getting 2 points in the other end. 10 point Clipper run and they led 68-66 with 7:43 left in the game. Staples center crowd were up on their feet cheering! We hadn’t seen so many block parties since before “He-who-must-not-be-named” pulled a Boozer…

It was about this time that the Clippers came to their senses and smartly allowed the Blazers to go on an 18-0 run to secure the loss. 87-72 final score with the Blazers scoring 21 out of the last 25 points. Whew! That was a close one. Much too close, really. If Randolph and Kaman had accidentally made all of those point-blank gimmes under the basket (about 9 total, if I counted properly), the Clippers would have won by 3! (*gasp*).

All kidding aside, this was a game that was the Clippers’ for the taking. The Blazers played down to the Clippers’ level more than the Clippers elevated their play. Its hard to rave about the improved defense and keeping four consecutive opponents below 90 points when you allow the opposing team to go on crushing double-digit runs, which they allowed the Blazers to do at the end of both halves tonight. Oh well. Despite another notch in the loss column, this loss was really a win-win for both teams involved: The Blazers keep their hopes alive in getting home court in the first round of the playoffs and the Clippers increase their odds in drawing the first pick in the 2009 Blake Griffin Sweepstakes.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT: Eric Gordon’s highlight dunk in the 4th with 8:49 on the clock.  WITH.  AUTHORITY.  WOW.  'nuff said.

BENCH PLAYER OF THE GAME: Rudy Fernandez. Five points with 21 seconds remaining in the first half? Back-to-back made 3-point attempts, along with 2 foul shots to put the game away in the fourth? Are you kidding me?

THE BEGINNING OF THE END WAS WHEN: Greg Oden was benched and Joel Przybilla entered the game with the score tied at 68. Przybilla promptly takes the next four consecutive rebounds and adds a basket as icing on the cake. No wonder this Blazer team is one of the best rebounding teams in the league.

BEST CLIPPER ON THE FLOOR: Eric Gordon. 8-14 shooting. 2-2 from the free throw line. 5 rebounds. 3 assists. Helped keep Steve Blake to 3-10 shooting and only 5 assists. (The same Steve Blake that tied a league assist record for a quarter one of the last times he played the Clippers and was guarded by some guy that looked like he ate Baron Davis and put on his uniform. ) He made things happen with the ball in his hands…his attacking style can be grating on the defender’s nerves. One thing he needs to work on: He always seems to wait one beat before charging to the basket. It’s somewhat predictable…maybe he needs to vary it a little to keep the defenders guessing. Keep attacking, EJ…just don’t always do it after 1-Mississippi…

THE CLIPPER WHO LAID THE NOT-SO-GOLDEN EGG: Z-BO, wherefore art thou? 38 points in the Clipper victory at Portland (where, I should mention, the Lakers have failed to win the last 8 times or so they have played against the Blazers) and only 13 points in this game--making only 6 of 18 attempts? It would have been okay if those remaining 12 attempts were far from the basket, but I think over half of those misses were from below the rim.

CLIPPER(S) WHO CASHED-IN TONIGHT: Skinner. Skinner did himself a favor with his job auditions the last couple of nights. There should be a few playoff teams that can come up with a little cash to pay him to come off the bench. Better than being home watching the game. Just ask Fred Jones. Oh, and let’s not forget Camby, who is $500,000 richer for playing in his 60th game. Half a million for 18 minutes of playtime: 2-4 shooting, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block. Not bad…

KAMAN 2.0 SIGHTING OF THE EVENING: It looked like Kaveman…but several pounds lighter (possibly due to the mystery flu). Stats were definitely Kaveman-like with 8 points, 8 rebounds and 1 block in 21 minutes of play.

SCARY THOUGHT OF THE NIGHT: My cousin asked me this question tonight on the way to their house for Easter festivities: What if the Blazers had drafted Durant, instead? OMFG. Roy at 2. Durant at 3. Aldridge at 4. Usually teams focus on getting a 1 and a 5, but you could argue that Przybilla was plenty talented enough. He’s certainly far more talented than some Australian guy named Longley that used to play with a guy named Michael in Chicago.

BIGGEST QUESTION MARK REGARDING THE 2009 DRAFT: With KevMart at 2, Nocioni/Garcia at 3, Thompson at 4, and Hawes at 5--I’d be really curious to see what the Kings would do with that #1 pick if they get it. Will the Kings draft based on talent or based on need? Seriously. Despite this latest loss, the Kings, followed closely by the Wizards, have the inside-track of getting the number one pick. If the Kings do get the number one pick, would they get Griffin and jettison a promising and very talented Jason Thompson who plays the same position, has a good solid frame, and has developed an NBA game with a steady outside shot OR would they draft based on need and get the point guard they are SORELY lacking…? Surely they wouldn’t get try to keep both Griffin and Thompson--they wouldn’t be able to develop either one properly. If anything, they ought to trade the #1 pick with Udrih for the #2 overall pick which they could turn into Rubio.

COMFORTING THOUGHT OF THE NIGHT: This same Portland team only won 21 games three years ago. And another team wearing Celtic green one of the worst records in the league two seasons ago.

With that, I bid you good-night ladies and gentlemen. And, ladies and gentlemen, I bid you good-night.

P.S. Hope you’re enjoying your vacation, CaboSteve…!

 

With the season winding down, I was really looking forward to seeing a healthy Clipper team playing the role of spoiler in the Western Conference.  I figured, being the optimistic fan that I am, that the playoff bound teams that had laughers against us earlier this season would be quaking in their Nikes at having to play the full-strength Clips this late in the season when getting in the playoffs and their subsequent positioning could come down to precious wins and losses...and the now mighty Clips positioned to tear their hearts out and knock one of them out of the race.  Hmm.  Not going to happen, I guess.  What else to look forward to...?  The rookie of the year race is almost a foregone conclusion that the award WILL NOT be given to EJ due mostly to his late season slump.  Being the optimistic fan that I am, I guess I could look forward to maybe EJ making a better impression against these same playoff bound teams than he did earlier in the season when he seemed to disappear . Yeah, I know these teams are playoff bound because they know to key in on players like EJ but the truly special players still have a strong game here and there against these teams.  Oh well.  I guess the only thing guaranteed is that we will have one of the three worst records in the league at the end of the season.  We'll likely land 2nd, which is horrible for three reasons:  1) we have a losing record against the team with THE WORST RECORD in the league (the Sacramento Kings) and 2) because we'll have the 2nd worst record, we don't have the inside track at getting the #1 pick in the draft.  3) This draft is so shallow that likely only the #1 pick will make an impact in the NBA.  So, assuming that the Clippers do end up with the number 2 pick, who should the Clips get?  I know I've posed this question before...but now we have the benefit of the having watched these players in the tournament.  Griffin will clearly be the #1 overall pick, so the question is who should go next with (likely) the Clippers' pick?  During our last go around, there was a lot of votes for Harden, DeRozan, and Jennings.  I've personally sung the praises of Harden and Monroe.  Harden was all but a non-factor during the tournament and even prior to it with the loss to USC.  Monroe's team didn't even make the tournament and he'll hopefully do the smart thing and stay in school one more year.  So what do you guys think...?

“The character of any team is reflected in the standards it sets for itself.”

During the post-game wrap-up, Don MacLean spoke about the team leaders taking it upon themselves to help change the culture of this team for the better .  In doing so, he referenced the team that I respect above all others in all of professional sports: The San Antonio Spurs.  He said that Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili practice every day and added that all players that join the Spurs follow the lead of the team leaders:  working hard both individually and as a team to earn their success over the years.  True enough, but it should be mentioned that they’ve never been guilty of adding guys to their roster that get insulted when talking about practice (AI), take swings at other players (Melo), or wear bright colored nail polish & white wedding gowns (Rodman).  The Spurs bring in players with good character and veterans who (to quote, I think, either Ralph or Mike) are “over themselves” and just play the game.  I think their personnel guys understand that you can’t turn lead into gold—no matter how talented the player, if they have bad character, the team ultimately suffers for it.  Where is the character of our Clippers team?  What are the standards that our Clippers are setting for themselves?  The last time I wrote a fanpost, I lambasted the character of this team because, quite frankly, they deserved it.  So many words to describe the team who fell far short of everyone’s expectations.  But as Clippers fans, we are ever optimists…and one doesn’t have to think too far back for examples when teams turn things around in a hurry.  The Spurs did it when they drafted Duncan.  The Celtics did it when they traded for Garnett and Ray Allen.  Maybe next year, we can say that our Clippers played with…

STRENGTH.  This year, our Clippers were far from being in peak physical conditioning.  A lot were physically not strong enough and got pushed around by other players:  Zach Randolph, Chris Kaman, and even DeAndre Jordan.  Camby has always been very lanky, but the other guys are big: yet lose the rebounding battle night-in and night-out.  I’ve never seen a team with so little lift off the ground, either:  Kaman proves without a shadow of a doubt that White Men Can’t Jump.  Zach gets off the ground maybe six inches, if he’s lucky.  And I know EJ is short, but a lot of his misses at the rim was because he just didn’t elevate high enough—maybe just the rookie wall more than anything…

Also, a lot were overweight and couldn’t compete the entire four quarters: Tim Thomas, Baron Davis, Ricky Davis, Chris Kaman, Randolph, & Fred Jones (likely because he was out of the league).  How are you going to play defense when you’re carrying too much weight to move around the court as quickly as you need to?  And for the periods of time that you’re required to?

WISDOM.  The great teams know how to attack and, equally important, when to attack.  My favorite example of this Jordan during his time with the Bulls.  He knew when he had to score a lot of baskets, when to stop the other team from making baskets, and when to change the tempo of the game so that the other team never becomes confortable in what they want to do.  Great teams also know how to take something away and force another player on a team beat you.  The Pistons did this against MJ.

DISCIPLINE.  Mikki Moore, formerly of the Clippers, spoke about the difference between playing for the Celtics vs playing for other teams in the league: he said that when he picks up an offensive player, he had to learn to commit fully and KNOW that his other teammates had his back.  The top teams have players that know their assignments, know their roles, and stick to it or they know they don’t get to play the next game. 

To become respectable, our Clippers need all three…

Where is strength without wisdom?  The easiest example I could think of is MJ and Kobe during their early years…as physically gifted as can be, but didn’t know how to translate this physical ability into championships.

Where is wisdom without strength?  It would be like MJ in his later years—the COMPLETE understanding of the game, but no longer with the raw physical ability to execute.  Actually, closer to home, a lot of our vets know how to play the game but just couldn’t play the way they expect to because of health/weight issues…

Where is wisdom and strength, without the discipline?  The Lakers, unfortunately for L.A., are the best example of this—their players are mostly physically fit athletes, wise in their understanding of the game d/t some great coaching and because the Laker organization likes to bring in smart players as much as the Spurs like to bring in character players…BUT they don’t have the discipline that the Spurs have or the Celtics had last year...and I think they’re looking at another LOOONG offseason thinking about what could have been…

Frankly, I think it would be a start if our Clippers could be described as having even one of the above characteristics.  Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

UNWATCHABLE.  UNPROFESSIONAL.  SORRY.  WEAK WILLED.
DISORGANIZED.  PATHETIC.  LACKING PRIDE.  DISGRACEFUL.

One word that can not be used to describe these Clippers:

TEAM.

A fan, speaking for myself, needs something to latch on to...something to anchor us to this team.  Last year it was the teaser of FElton & Shaun going through some practice drills and hinting at a future when the Clippers would be complete again.  FElton even came back in the final few games and showed us a future where the floor leader leaves everything out on the floor...and as long as we had a leader that would challenge his teammates to perform, we would be okay.  This year, our roster is far more loaded with talent than any Clipper fan could have dared to dream about.  Davis, Gordon, Thornton, Randolph, and Kaman/Camby.  Combined with absolutely brilliant prospects in the form of Mike Taylor and DeAndre Jordan.  Would the group led by Cassel, Mobley, Maggette, Brand, and Kaman have stood a real chance in a seven game series against these current Clippers?   Yes.  But not because of talent.  It would be because of heart and professionalism.  Brand had heart.  Cassel had swagger.  Mobley was a professional.  Maggette believed he is a difference maker.  In contrast, Davis is out of shape and has no heart.  Gordon disappears during the biggest games of the year against the best competition such as the Lakers and the Celtics.  In addition, he doesn't know how to demand the ball and demand the best from his teammates...  He doesn't demand to be put back in the game nor does he demand to stay in when asked to come out.  Thornton took almost the whole season for the lights to turn on.  Randolph absolutely demands his 20/10 average and gets them by taking JUST A FEW MORE SHOTS...and playing no defense so that the team can go back to offense and he could get another shot to get him his 20/10.   Kaman openly whines about being a Clipper and can't keep his diet straight during the long layoff.  Ugh.  I'm done with the free agent fiasco.  The most joy I've had in watching these Clippers were when the bulk of their high-priced talent sat on the bench and the scrubs actually made games competitive.  They may not have won, but I didn't feel sick to my stomach of the loss because they put up a valiant effort.  And occasionally, they did manage to pull out a win.  I need an anchor to remain a fan.  At this time, the only thing keeping me around are Ralph & Mike, who are UNQUESTIONABLY SUPERIOR IN EVERY RESPECT to their hallway series counterparts and the play of Marcus Camby, Al Thornton, Fred Jones, Novak, and all three rookies from this season.  Forget about getting Zach, Baron, and Kaman fully healthy.  I'd rather seen the young guns try to scrap out a win.  The line-up on MTaylor, Gordon, Thornton, (Griffin, Monroe, or DeJuan Blair), and DeAndre Jordan will anchor me to this team.  The Clippers need to forget about the "win now' plan they got going and just go with the youth movement.  It's time.  They may not win many games, but I'm sure they would at least make the games respectable because of the effort I could see them putting in...

Damn, I hate it when a team just rolls over.  I know this is the Griffin sweepstakes, but even if they win the number one draft pick, they won't have any fans to showcase his talents in front of if they keep playing this way.  Pathetic effort.  Why even bother showing up...?

 

I actually do like Dunleavy as the GM.  In the perfect world, we'd have a Joe Dumars at GM and maybe a Flip Saunders for coach (I would have preferred Stan Van Gundy when he was available)...and maybe a Jerry Buss as owner while we're at it.  But we're far from being in the perfect world so I have to try to find the best about our current situation. 

My own humble opinion is that we've really got the best of both worlds here:  Young talent that aren't expected to fully hit their stride for at least 2-3 (maybe 4) more seasons AND fairly young (~27 y.o. to early 30's) veterans that can shoulder the load in the meantime (and maybe accidentally get us challenging for playoff spots) and after those 2-3 (maybe 4) years, those same veterans, would then be older and would be contributors from the bench supporting the younger peaking superstars on the floor (like Derek Fisher's role in Utah backing up Deron).

The problem is direction and leadership.  The talent is there, but Dunleavy is not the coach to lead them next year and beyond.  It isn't a question on whether or not he is a really good coach, because arguments may be made that he is a good coach and arguments could be made that he belongs coaching the D League.  I think the question is whether or not he is a good "fit" as coach for THIS team...  Correction: it's not really a question, is it?  It's more a statement of fact.  The Clips need a new voice in the locker room and I hope they find one soon.  If not from a new coach, then maybe one of the younger players need to pull a Brandon Roy/ Dwayne Wade and take the leadership role in the team...

The best free agents will NEVER sign with the Clippers.

Perhaps FElton was the last best player to voluntarily sign with the team.  (BD doesn't count with all his primadonna-ness/moodiness).  As much as we dislike what he did, at least we could never accuse FElton of just going through the motions--he played the game how it should be played by a professional.  After he left town in the rush that he did, I think that just about kills any future shot we may have had with talent of his caliber.

There was a strange draft a long time ago when Clipper draftees were actually HAPPY to have been drafted by the Clippers.  DMiles and QRich were GENUINELY all smiles on the podium hearing their names called.  And what they did that season was unexpected--winning far more games that this group of superstars did.  And I remember they had fun out there...  Maybe the Clips could consider revisiting that and just start over with their young guys.  They'll lose a lot...that's for sure.  Would they lose more than they did this year?  I doubt it.  And any losses will at least be on their terms--that they PLAYED HARD AND CAME UP SHORT & not because some future hall of famer or some overweight superstar is just going through the motions.  EJ is "The Franchise", not "The Hobbit".  Give him the ball and throw him out there with Mike Taylor, Al Thornton, Steve Novak (until the 2009 draft pick shows up who is hopefully a power forward like Griffin or Monroe) and DeAndre Jordan and let them take their lumps and be embarrased for several weeks in a row to the point where they'll get on each other to get better by spending more time in the weight room, more film study, more skills drills, and more 5 on 5 in the gym.   Mike and EJ have the speed & skill to put a lot of pressure on the opposing defense.  Al will have his nights where he is on center stage but on other nights will be that 2nd or 3rd scoring option.  DJ will develop improve at getting rebounds and blocking shots.  Their PF (hopefully Monroe) will showcase his own ball handling, passing, and scoring skills along with his length and athleticism in blocking his share of shots and rebounding.  Mike and EJ will master the feed to DJ or Monroe for the alley oop dunk.   Mike and EJ will learn to drive and dish out to any of their other teammates for the easier two pointer or to Novak in the corner...

One of the top 3 or 4 PF in the nation will be available in the draft by the time the Clippers make their selection.  They could draft a potential superstar PF and go to the youth movement I had mentioned above OR continue with their current experiment and try to win now with their collection of near allstars.  Unfortunately, they risk teaching the younger guys all the wrong things about being a PROFESSIONAL basketball player.  And by the time these near superstars' brilliance have faded, these (formerly) young guys' optimism and promise may have faded along with.  I hope the future GM will have the vision to figure out which direction to go...

CORRECTION:  Elton was traded to the Clippers by the Bulls for Brian Skinner & draft rights to Tyson Chandler.  So I guess the my first sentence is correct: The best free agents will NEVER sign with the Clippers.

Remember that game earlier this season when the Lakers put about $72 million dollars worth of talent on the floor against our measley $10 million?  They beat us, of course, but not as much as one would expect.  The margin was only 11 points--though looking at the line-ups, it would have been reasonable to expect a number closer to 60.  It would have been about 60 if the Lakers hadn't treated it more like an exhibition game actually played hard.  It was fun watching Bynum and DJ both have career games, but it was clear from Odom's crotch grab during a dunk what he and perhaps the rest of the Lakers thought about our team.  That night (and most nights in the last umphteen million seasons) the Lakers have had the superior personnel in the hallway series.  But with superior personnel comes the larger payroll.  And with the economy being what it's been, the Lakers and their seeming disregard for the salary cap may soon be reminiscing about  better days. 

$53,135,000: The salary cap number for the 2006-2007 season.

$55,630,000: The salary cap number for the 2007-2008 season.

$58,680,000: The salary cap number for the 2008-2009 season.

$52,012,623: The salary cap number for the 2009-2010 season...?  No.

That's the amount of money the Lakers have already committed in 2009 to three players:  Kobe, Gasol, & Bynum.  Add another $22,092,468 worth of contracts to the other players on the team and what do they have?  $74,105,091 committed to a total of 8 players on their roster.  Unfortunately, the collective bargaining agreement requires all NBA team rosters to carry a minimum of 14 players.  To make matters MUCH, MUCH worse for our co-tenants down the hall...absolutely none of that money (zero. zip. nada.) is tied up with either Lamar Odom or Trevor Ariza.  (Not a penny is tied up with Shannon Brown either.)  At least they got Adam Morrison tied up with a guaranteed contract.  *chuckle*. 

How much are the extra six players going to add to their payroll?  Well, the highest team payroll is $94 million this season courtesy of the NY Knicks.  If the Lakers follow their lead, they'd have about $20 million to offer six players.  They could...but they won't.  I'm thinking that, more likely, they'll be looking to dump salaries much like the Knicks and the Nuggets this season.  Last year's starters in exchange for draft picks...!  Bad timing with this season being such a shallow draft.  And with other teams around the league having similar financial issues, would there be any takers?

2009 will be a different year.  BD made mention of it--saying that he's learned he needs to assert his will on this team from the opening tip.  Even Zach said that, for the first time in his career, he would use the off season to get himself in better physical shape.  Hopefully, both Fred Jones and Mardy Collins will be in game shape themselves instead of being asked to play after being out of the league and being buried in the bench, respectively.  Al Thornton, for the last several games, may have figured out what he needs to do to be the consistent 20ppg scorer and contributor.  EJ will have realized that he was beaten out of the rookie of the year by a player he completely outclassed in their meetings this season and (hopefully) will come out with a chip on his shoulder next season.  2009 will be a different year indeed, if the Clippers recognize that Los Angeles may very well be theirs for the taking.  Of course, the Lakers being the Lakers, I'm sure they could magically get out of this mess they've created and I, along with everyone else who is watching, will try to figure out how they managed to avoid having to rebuild all over again and remain relevant in the league...  Yes, they could, but I wouldn't hold my breath.  As sqrebck puts it: Lakers look likely to implode.

All season long, MDSr draws up the plays and tries to convince his players that his way is the right way…but they’re just not buying it.  The players go through the motions and the Clipper offense seem uninspired and largely predictable.  Not tonight.

In an interview MDSr said, in effect,  that if we give him his top guys healthy he’d be happy to play any other starting five fully healthy.  Tonight (in the second half, at least) they pretty much proved GM/Coach Dunleavy right (for better or worse) that this line-up, when healthy and given a chance to play together and learn each other's tendencies, have exactly the personnel  they need to be competitive night in and night out.  The players themselves just need to believe.

Frankly, the only way to beat the Clips when they play together this way is to outscore them.  Forget about defending them because who do you guard?  When Washington tightened up their interior defense, the Clips starting dropping 3’s from Novak, Gordon, and Jones.  Washington adjusts by sending help to the perimeter, but then gets stomped on by Kaman under the basket.  They pick up Kaman, but then get abused by mid-range jumpers from Al and Zach.  They attempt to adjust to that, then Zach, Al, Gordon, Davis drive past them.  Then the 3’s start coming again.  Opposing NBA teams, please pick your poison.  The Clips were a nightmare to defend tonight and they could be every night if they play together.  I think the turning point was the game against the Nets.  Why?  Because the Clips won the game because of the pass BD chose to make—he would never have given up a chance for the game winner early on in the season, agree?

BD is exactly the player the Clips need because he can BOTH run when he needs to AND manage the game when he needs to.   One night he can score over 20 points.  The next he can give 20 assists.

I just hope that the Clips can keep this group together.  It would be sad if Novak OR Freddy Jones left after the season…and I’m sure they will be tempted to take up other offers.  Hopefully though, they’ll come to realize what I think BD figured out while sitting out injured on the bench while watching the scrubs picking up enough valuable experience to become contributors: that while the grass may seem greener on the other side, this team has enough talent to be competitive and they have the best situation in the league: 1) playing with zero pressure/ zero expectations because their co-tenants are the Lakers and 2) they have the greatest challenge in the world: to take the city of LA away from the Lakers.

(I've had the last three fanposts...I hope nobody minds. It took me a while to get the horrid loss out of my head...tonight's game helped a lot).

Let’s play a game called pretend.  Pretend we’re the Clippers GM (Mike...DSr.) and we’re responsible for putting together the best  2009-2010 Los Angeles Clippers on the floor.  For the sake of simplicity, we don’t have to work out all the math, but at least try to keep it within the realm of plausibility…

Ok.  Me first.

Our 2008-2009 Los Angeles Clippers:

PG: Baron Davis

SG: Eric Gordon

SF: Al Thornton

PF: Zach Randolph

C: Chris Kaman

As GM, I’d make sure to resign both Steve Novak and Fred Jones and I will end up with the following bench players :

PG: Mike Taylor

SG: Fred Jones

SF: Mardy Collins

PF: Steve Novak

C: Marcus Camby, DeAndre Jordan

Removing  "chemistry" from the equation, I think the Clippers (when healthy and inspired to play) have as potent a starting five as you can find anywhere in the league and I would like to keep everyone together for now.  I know Kaman has fallen out of favor with a lot of us.  His negative comments (whining) about the team early in the season PO’d me as much as it did any of you.  But despite his rust, he is a warrior under the basket.  He defends the pick and roll, blocks shots, rebounds, and averages double-digits in points.  Plus, he’s a fairly talented passer.  Camby, as hard a worker as he is, is substandard in defending the pick and roll and is too light to bang under the basket as effectively as Kaman.  I would have a difficult time finding another center with his level of skill and relatively cheap salary. Centers with length and athleticism (DJ) are easier to find than a center that knows how to play the position (Kaman).  Next, Bdavis’ talent is all-NBA, despite what he’s shown us this season.   Besides, I think his level of success (failure may be the better term) was likely due to the passes he DID NOT CHOOSE TO MAKE early in the season.  Tonight, however, he made that extra pass to an open teammate to win the game.  If he trusts his teammates more, maybe he’ll just learn to enjoy the game again…then the rest of the league needs to watch out.

Moving on…

Then I would waive Alex Acker.  (Nothing against the guy, but I need the roster spots to do what I need to do. ) Brian Skinner and Ricky Davis both have player options that they can pick up (which they likely will because there may not be too many teams interested in their services).  As GM, I’d try to trade both their expiring contracts for cash considerations and a conditional second round draft pick ala NY and Denver.

That being done, the Clips will have room for a total of 4 other players on the team, though they will likely settle for a max of 14 in order to: 1) save money and 2) allow them to pick up players during the season in the event of injuries (knock on wood).

I’ll shoot for 3…players that is.  We all have the following choices to make:  Talent vs Character & Work Ethic; Youth (Draft) vs Experience (Trades/Free Agency).   The Clippers will likely get either the 3rd or 4th pick with our luck.  First off the board via consensus is Griffin.  #2 is more of a toss-up, but the pick getting the most buzz after Griffin is currently Ricky Rubio.  As GM, I’m intrigued by the following players:  James Harden from Arizona State (he reminds me of a mix between Paul Pierce and Brandon Roy, not to insult either All-Star), Greg Monroe (this guy looks like he can become a monster PF) and to a slightly lesser degree, DeRozan and  Brandon Jennings.

If I get the third pick, I’d like go after Monroe.  The reason being we don’t have a solid reliever for the Power Forward position.  Zach will start, primarily because he is one of a few 20/10 players in the league.  Greg will come right along though and will very shortly become a force off the bench.  Besides, a combination of Greg and DJ will just absolutely gobble up all the rebounds available and promise lots of block parties to come.

Otherwise, I’d likely go after Harden.  He just has a great feel for the game and I can see him contributing immediately and even challenging Al Thornton for the SF position.  There’s more than enough room for both to coexist though—because he handles the ball very well, he and EJ could switch off between PG and SG as well.  DeRozan is a talent who could also play both SG and SF position.  He can defend, but doesn't have the same bball IQ and handle as Harden.

If I could trade Camby to get both of the above, I’d do it in a heartbeat.  But out of gratitude for what he’s done, I’d try to trade him to a championship caliber team like the Lakers (so that his kids can stay in their new schools…you gotta consider the kids, guys...that way we’ll have good karma…!)

Finally, I’d fill the 14th roster spot with none other that Shaun Livingston…currently of the Tulsa 66ers.  I know that Rubio is good.  I know that Jennings is good.  However, Livingston’s talent is all NBA if healthy.  He is tall and skilled enough to be a passing SF if need be.  Anyway, we have a lot of players that can play point guard (between BD, MT, EJ, Fred & Mardy).  With that flexibility, I’d risk the 14th roster spot on Shaun because the risk is minimal compared to the potential rewards.  If he’s not healthy enough to play, it’s fine: I can only suit up 12 players per game anyway.

Oh, and I’d fire the coach and hire Flip Saunders.  LOL.

Your turn.

ADDENDUM: The Clips' second round pick would be the THIRD player added, rounding out the roster to the 14 I had intended to have (thanks CS).  Historically, talent is not as widely available in the second round and I wouldn't waste time looking for potential.  I'd look for proven character guys/glue guys in the mold of Shane Battier and, interestingly enough, DeAndre Jordan.  All locker rooms need folks with positive attitudes or "the glass is half-full" type of guys.  Players that have good work ethic and push other players in practice.  Who knows?  Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll develop into a rotation player.

Thanks to everyone who gave some feedback to a previous blog re: the coming draft.  Since that time, I’ve actually started to tune in to some college games to watch some of the players you’ve touted as the best player to try to add to the Clips’ roster.  Yesterday, there was a game featuring USC’s DeRozan and Arizona State’s James Harden.  I have to say that I didn’t know what the big deal was re: DeRozan until I saw how easily the guy could score.  James Harden, however, seems like the way to go.  He seems to have a complete game—he can handle the ball, pass, attack the basket, rebound, and score.  Etc.  Etc.  I’m thinking he’d be a great addition to the roster—and getting more than enough minutes of playing time because he’s able to relieve EITHER Thornton or Gordon during the game.  Maybe eventually replacing AT if Al never gets around to developing better court sense and defense.  He’s not the most athletic, but he seems to have good basketball IQ.  I’m wondering if he has the competitive fire though—I don’t think he asserted himself and allowed DeRozan and USC to win the game.  I worry about that because too many Clips players seem too laid back...even “couldn’t care-less BD” (someone here used this term but can’t find where I saw it...sorry) noted it in his conversation with that Skeeter fellow...?  Oops.  Streeter.  (Anyone else get the chills after reading that statement coming from BD?)  With March Madness upon us, I’d really appreciate the ClipsNation citizens to point me in the direction of “games not to be missed”.  I have my TIVO ready to go...

"Regretting Devin Harris.  You think the Clippers are sad that they drafted Shaun Livingston (of the Tulsa 66ers) ahead of Devin Harris in 2004?  Imagine how Dallas feels?  They had the guy, and then traded him for Jason Kidd, at the same time giving away 2 first round picks, $3M in cash, and an actual ton of cap space.  All Harris did was immediately prove to be better than Kidd and make the All Star team.  He's averaging 22.7 points and 7.1 assists per game - oh, and he's 9 years younger than Kidd."--CS Clips vs Nets game preview 3/15/09.

Thirty three minutes played.  Finishing the game with fourteen points after having attempted eleven shots (making six) and hitting two of three free throws.  Two rebounds and fourteen assists.  Shaun Livingston’s performance in his last complete game as a Los Angeles Clipper showed us a glimpse of what’s to come.  We...every one of us...all knew that Sam I Am will soon be coming off the bench.  It was only a matter of time...but it was going to happen sooner, rather than later.  We knew that a healthy Cassell will help us during the playoffs, but we also knew that it was Livingston, not Cassell, who would have to play the most minutes in every game to get us there.  And once Sam I Am decided to retire (or coach), we knew we were going to be alright.  Were the Clippers sad that they drafted Livingston ahead of Devin Harris?  At the time, I seriously doubt it.  At 6’7”, he towered over every point guard in the league.  His court vision had been likened to Magic with excellent ball-handling skills, passing ability, and speed.  He and Quinton Ross shared the responsibility of guarding the opposing team’s best player because of his quick hands and good lateral movement.  All he had to do was 1) grow into his body and 2) believe what we all knew: that if he played with confidence and asserted himself in every game, he would be the most dangerous weapon on the Clipper’s roster.  How many rosters in today’s NBA have the players that would be able to guard him...?  Dallas should regret letting Harris go.  To break up a core of Nowitzki, Howard, and Harris was just utter folly.  (I would call it karma catching up to one of the more obnoxious owners in the NBA.)  The Clippers regretting having drafted Livingston?  I hope not.  I don't think they should regret drafting Livingston over Al Jefferson (#15 to the Celtics) either.  They have other, worse drafts to regret....like drafting Korolev ahead of Danny Granger in 2005 (WTF???!!!).  Or maybe even drafting Lionel Chalmers in the second round instead of Chris Duhon or Trevor Ariza.  BTW, Livingston has been playing some decent minutes with the Tulsa 66ers:  24, 30, and 34 minutes in his last three games.  Am I alone in thinking that the Clips should bring back Livingston, risking maybe the league minimum salary, and give him the opportunity to finish what he started?

to one of the most disappointing collapses we have seen from our team to date.  

Ouch.  That one really hurt...!  I guess we could take solace in the thought that we played them that well despite the fact that Kaman was FAR from being himself, Mardy was physically unable to contribute, and Camby was not completely recovered from his ear infection.  We could also think about those extra pingpong balls we get this summer for tanking a game we knew we already won...  On second thought, no.  It hurt that the team collapsed down the stretch.  (And what was up with Gordon inbounding the ball towards the end of the game?  Thornton usually takes that responsibility because Gordon is better at getting separation from his defender).  We really could have used that win to help make sense of this lost season.  I'm telling you folks that my mind was spinning at which of the many highlight plays from the Clips when they show the recap on ESPN.  (My TIVO rewind button was worn out from just watching some of those plays over and over again.)  I was imagining what Thorpe would be saying about EJ in his contribution towards tonight's win.  Instead, the focus of the ESPN recap would be either all about the phenom that is Lebron James or the ineptness of the OTHER LA team.  Thorpe would likely say that EJ doesn't deserve to be in consideration for ROY because he isn't able to close out games like this for his team.  Damn it.  (I would have preferred my first line on this blog to read as follows:

to the coming out party of the best player in this year's draft.)

The team play for the first 3 1/4 quarters was a site to behold.  At an earlier post I was rooting for EJ to have a special individual game, but I'd take those 3 1/4 quarters any time.  (Not that EJ didn't provide us with several memorable moves--his quick first step and that developing crossover is formidable.)  Al did his thing too.  His dunk of Kaman's miss used to occur with regularity earlier in his career but he seemingly forgot about it all these games.  I hope he doesn't forget about this really good habit again.  Ok...I can't focus on what to say and I'll probably just start ranting again...Damn.  I really wanted this win.

 

 

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So EJ is around where he should be...but how did he get there?  Doesn't really seem like Thorpe even watches Clipper games.  Note that he's written updates (March 4) on every other rookie on his list not named Eric Gordon.  It almost seems like he doesn't really want to put EJ on there, but he'll look stupid to his peers if he attempts to continue to ignore the rook's accomplishments.

With most of the 'best' Clipper players only in their upper 20's (Kaman, BDavis, and Randolph), our team could get away with trying to win now while starting to rebuild.  With any luck, we'll draft some skilled character guys in the coming draft to round out our roster--and waiving/trading players like RICKY DAVIS (specifically) and (maybe) Acker to make room for the incoming rooks.  We don't have Steve Novak or Fred Jones signed for next year, but I believe they are good pieces to have coming off the bench so I hope that DTS will give the okay to get them on a good contract.  Finally, I hope the Clips review their strength/conditioning program and strength/conditioning coach while heavily recruiting Flip Saunders.  I'm not too worried about BDavis getting his act together: I think improved play by the rooks, coupled with people being given a LEGITIMATE chance (by both the owner and the coach/GM) to challenge him for his starting job will motivate him well enough.

Clipsnation folks seem to be very sophisticated in their knowledge of the game of basketball (despite our collective questionable pick for favorite team in the league) so I'll ask you guys which players coming into the 2009 NBA draft have the potential to be "THE MAN" or "can't miss stud" that helps our team find its way to greatness (a la Brandon Roy, DWade)?  I'm thinking that we could use either a player who can play either the 2 or 3 (and maybe eventually take the starting position from AT) or complete our youth movement roster (Mike Taylor, Eric Gordon, Al Thornton, _______, and DeAndre Jordan) by selecting a 4 with either Griffin or Monroe?  But I don't watch enough college bball to know if there are any relative unknowns who may turn out to be more special in the long run...  And I know there's been plenty of drafts where few of the top picks turn out to be the best players of their draft class...

Okay...just assume I hadn't been smoking anything, but I think that, if developed properly, our youngsters would likely develop to resemble the following players (in the best case scenario):

Mike Taylor = Rajon Rondo

DeAndre Jordan=Dwight Howard

Eric Gordon=Dwayne Wade

Alex Acker=??? Derek Fisher???

Now, if we add ONE of the following LOTTERY picks

Ricky Rubio=Steve Nash

Blake Griffin=Carlos Boozer

Hasheem Thabeet=Dikembe Mutombo

Greg Munroe=DeAndre Jordan as far as length and athleticism.

Anyone else worth paying attention to?

 

 

I still remember jumping up and down when I read the report that Baron Davis agreed to a multi-year deal with the Clippers this summer.  Finally, I thought...a player skilled enough AND charismatic enough to steal some of the Los Angeles limelight from hallway series superstar rival Employee No.24.  What a coup!  Pair BD with Kaman, Brand, and Maggette and the three supremely promising rooks MDSr picked up in the draft and we got ourselves a ball club.  Hurrah!  Then Brand shows his true colors and bolts out of town along with Magette (good riddance).  MDSr, wanting to turn negative into positive then orchestrated the most ambitious rebuilding project seen in professional sports in recent memory--jettisoning basically everybody who wore a Clipper Jersey last season, except for Kaman, Mobley, Thomas, and Thornton.   Somewhere along the way, he stole Camby from the Nuggets and signed a proven scorer in Ricky Davis, who is still in his prime at a mere 29 y.o.  And last, but not least, Baron reportedly shed a lot of weight before the season started.  Think of it: A healthy, FASTER, Baron Davis leading the charge of more talented players coming into the new season.  And then the losing started. 

I sighed knowing that Mobley and Thomas were too overpaid to be let go as easily along with everyone else.  Mobley, at least, was a true professional who was a solid citizen better relegated to the mentor role and primary backup to EJ.  When Mobley woke up one morning and made a conscious decision to focus on defense and let the offense take of itself, he plays probably the most inspired game of his Clipper career (which, unfortunately, was also his last NBA game).  Before the team could take that momentum and build on it, he was traded, along with Tim Thomas (hurrah!) to New York.  So we were short handed for at several games as the deals were finalized.  When the dust settled, we had a younger, more gifted scorer standing where EB used to stand.  Maybe he couldn't...no...DIDN'T WANT TO defend opposing players...but he was nightmare for other players to guard in his own right.  Kaman defending, rebounding, blocking shots and Randolph able to step away from basket and allow Kaman to operate while dishing his own damage to opposing teams...wow.  We were going to be scary for opposing teams.  And I hadn't even considered how Camby and Randolph would dominate as well.  Then Kaman goes down.  (Later followed by Randolph and Camby). 

And, of course, Mardy Collins was just a throw-in.  But he didn't turn out to be just a throw-in.  The guy can actually play sound, fundamental basketball--moving about the court as purposefully/methodically as a certain former Clipper point guard now starting for the 76ers.  Fred Jones gets added to the team...and he's not washed up...!  The talent in the roster is just OOZING.  It takes a little while but the experiment seems it was starting to work when we blow out Memphis and Atlanta.  Then NOTHING.  The Allstar Break comes and goes and we're still gimping along.  Aside from the inspired win against the defending champs, what've we got?  The last couple of games we get embarrassed by the Spurs.  Fair enough--that team has a long history of embarrassing other teams.  But we got embarrassed by the Kings and the Grizzlies.  WTF?  Really...WTF?

Ok.  So there are the bright spots such as Mike Taylor, DJ, and Eric Gordon.  Thornton seems to have a high ceiling as well...but where is this team headed?  What is the identity of this team?  The veterans we have (mostly in their upper 20's and early 30's) seem to indicate we are a mid to low rank playoff team with young talent we are developing to take over in the next few years.  But this season has shown that we are clearly not that.  We look around the league at Portland, the Grizzlies, the Thunder, and maybe even the Kings and we see a group that is clearly rebuilding: accepting that they will be getting their assess handed to them night in and night out but staying firm in their belief that they will take one step back now to take two steps forward later by investing in the development of their young talent.  Our young talent (except for Gordon) sit on the bench while the vets rack up the minutes and experience--ultimately leading to the same place in the end: THE NBA LOTTERY.  I hope team management realizes that the organization really cannot run before it learns to walk.  No...before the team learns to crawl.  I'm pleading with MDSr...as if he ever reads this stuff...  When players get healthy...check out your experiment for a couple of quarters during the remaining games...but then have the guts to sit your vets and let the kids play.  Encourage the vets to observe where they younger players could improve and encourage them to help those players reach their potential.  Do this and next season we could be that mid to low rank playoff team...but with a much more confident and productive bench.  Oh.  And please jettison Ricky Davis while you're at it.

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February 25, 2009

One of the many things I really like about Gordon right now is that he's not falling in love with his terrific jumper. Especially in late-clock situations. Most guys will count down the seconds and loft a pretty shot, but Gordon is thinking "Attack, attack, attack." This earns him more free throws and some layup attempts, too, when the defense is focused on not fouling. Sure, there are times to take the outside shot, but with his skill level and athleticism, taking the ball to the rim is sound strategy.