SB Nation User Blog: mikey p

Thornton being used ineffectively

mikey p — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:43:34 -0000

The forward is struggling in his role as a role player.

In his senior year at Florida State, Al Thornton led the ACC in scoring. In his rookie year with the Clippers, he demonstrated that he could score at the NBA level, oftentimes being the team's go-to-guy down the stretch.

Last year, with the additions of Baron Davis and Eric Gordon, Thornton functioned more as a role player, and though his scoring average increased (17 ppg, respectable for a second year player), he seemed to struggle. Not having the ball in his hands took him out of rhythm. We are seeing a little bit of that this year thru three games.

I'm not at practice everyday, and I don't have any coaching experience, but my Blink is telling me that Al would be much more effective as the sixth man and in a scorer's role. This is not an original idea. It has been discussed at length on this site. The irony is that it seems to fit with Dunleavy's modus operandi, based on our experience with the Ross/Maggette controversy: start the more defensive minded role player, sub in the more dynamic player for some scoring punch. Yet Thornton is the starter, and Rasul Butler is coming in off the bench. (I'm beginning to believe that the coach's MO is sheer stubbornness).

Of the two, Butler more closely resembles the small forward's from other championship teams. He plays well off the ball, can shoot it from the outside, and is committed to defense. Of the five positions, small forwards are the least often to be go-to-guys on championship teams. They are usually role players.

Thornton, on the other hand, fits the sixth man mold quite well. As a reserve, he would not have to share the ball as often with Gordon, Baron, Kaman, and, coming soon, Griffin. Were he to log most of his minutes on the floor with Telfair, Craig Smith and Camby, he would be the primary wing scorer against the opponent's second team defense. Towards the end of 2007, the Clippers were running their 4th quarter offense thru Thornton, usually on clear outs and isolation plays. And his problems on defense would be less glaring were he guarding other reserves.

I think Al is a good player with a bright future, but he needs to be used more effectively.

Rasual Butler Mix (I know, I'm surprised to find one, too). I don't have speakers on this...

mikey p — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:00:48 -0000

Rasual Butler Mix (I know, I'm surprised to find one, too). I don't have speakers on this computer, so I'm not sure what tune this is set to. Lots of finishing Chris Paul passes. Lots of Clippers in this video on the receiving end. (Note: Apologies to ClipperMize, who posted this and more earlier. See here.

Hollinger Offers Some Rare Clippers Optimism

mikey p — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:35:29 -0000

Hollinger Offers Some Rare Clippers Optimism

Los Angeles Clippers
They stunk last season, plus they're the Clippers, which means they could screw this up at a moment's notice. But the offseason certainly pleased the Clipper faithful. First overall pick Blake Griffin should be a double-double guy immediately, and the trade of Zach Randolph for Quentin Richardson gives the Clips cap space for a free-agent run next year. Better yet, they parlayed Richardson into frontcourt depth with a second deal with Minnesota for underrated forward Craig Smith.

But the biggest reason to like the Clips is because they were going to be better anyway. Baron Davis, Chris Kaman and Ricky Davis should all be in much better physical condition for this go-round, and second-year pro Eric Gordon should improve, too. Whether it's enough for a playoff run remains to be seen, but this version of the Clips should keep us entertained.

Simmons on the Clippers future

mikey p — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:05:43 -0000

Simmons on the Clippers future

This Simmons piece is about the NBA in general, but the the beginning focuses heavily on the Clippers.

To paraphrase, he suggests that if the Clippers were to change their name to the Hollywood Stars and get a new coach, they would be an ideal destination for LeBron James and perhaps an additional marquee free agent.

In his view, LeBron would view a nucleus of Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, Blake Griffin, and Chris Kaman more favorably than anything the Knicks could put together. Interesting read.

Fox Sports: Griffin will turn Clippers around

mikey p — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:57:40 -0000

Fox Sports: Griffin will turn Clippers around

Pretty good analysis by Kevin Hench (pretty good for a national writer, anyway). Believes the Clippers young nucleus of Griffin, Gordon and Thornton is as good as any, and that they will turn the franchise around within three years.

ESPN Clippers Trade Buzz (June 24)

mikey p — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:14:52 -0000

ESPN Clippers Trade Buzz (June 24)

Andy Katz: A source with knowledge of the situation said the Clippers wanted to move Chris Kaman but weren't able to do so as of Wednesday. There was nothing imminent for draft night.

The source said that the Clippers will continue to try to move one of three players -- Kaman, Marcus Camby or Zach Randolph -- by the time training camp opens. The source said the only 100 percent certainty is that expected top pick Blake Griffin will be in training camp.

Cavs/Clippers talked about Kaman/Camby, "sources" say

mikey p — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:59:59 -0000

Cavs/Clippers talked about Kaman/Camby, "sources" say

Sources said the Cavs were in serious talks about two other trades that could include multiple teams. One of those teams is believed to be the Los Angeles Clippers, who are dangling big men Chris Kaman and Marcus Camby as they prepare to select Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin with the No. 1 overall pick.

Marc Stein on the Clippers

mikey p — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:11:58 -0000

Marc Stein on the Clippers

Why is Marcus Camby said to be available in Clipperland so soon after being frequently described as off-limits leading up to this past season's February trade deadline? Because the Clips have discovered this month that they can't move Zach Randolph or Chris Kaman unless they're also willing to move down from No. 1 in Thursday's draft order. Which they obviously have zero interest in considering.

The Clips also love bargain-find frontcourt man DeAndre Jordan, so Camby -- whose defensive pedigree and expiring $9.7 million salary make him a hugely popular trade target -- is the big man easiest for L.A. to move to make room for the incoming Blake Griffin.

We're told that management also has decreed that assistant coach Kim Hughes will not be let go -- unlike the rest of Mike Dunleavy's staff -- to keep Hughes in place as a potential interim successor to Dunleavy in the unlikely event that the Clips and their under-fire coach/GM part ways during the season. A parting remains unlikely even if Hughes hangs on because, as you've surely heard dozens of times by now, Dunleavy still has two years left on his contract worth more than $10 million.

Hollinger's Draft Rater

mikey p — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:12:09 -0000

Hollinger's Draft Rater

John Hollinger does this annually. Blake Griffin is ranked 2nd this year behind Ty Lawson, who scored surprisingly high. Overall, Griffin is the 6th highest rated prospect since 2002, behind Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Mike Conley, & Lawson. Many of the rankings, both past and present, are suspect.

Hollinger offers a semi mea culpa on Eric Gordon's low rating last year: "Gordon is perhaps easier to understand because he was playing hurt at Indiana and his primary skill (shooting) didn't show through statistically, but that doesn't excuse the others."

Whatever.

Ricky Davis opts to return to the Clippers (surprise)

mikey p — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:34:01 -0000

Ricky Davis opts to return to the Clippers (surprise)

Davis, coming off a year with a terrible case of knee tendinitis, exercised his player option for $2.4 million.

It was a rough year for Davis who played in just 36 games, averaging 6.4 points a game on 33.9% shooting from the field.

The Clippers are curious to see of Davis can rebound with a healthy knee, although it wouldn't be a surprise if Ricky was included in a deal sending out one of LA's "extra" big men (Chris Kaman, Zach Randolph and/or Marcus Camby).