San Antonio 86 - Clippers 83
by Steve Perrin on Nov 17, 2008 11:40 PM PST
in Game Recaps
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PrintIt was December 18 last season when I went into 'youth soccer coach' mode and just tried to say positive things as the losses piled up. I'm tempted to go there now as the Clippers drop to 1-9. But there's a big difference; that team had a host of injuries to key players - like the AYSO team whose best player quits, they just never had a chance. This Clippers team has plenty of talent, yet they keep losing. So although there were at least a couple of encouraging signs in this game (as opposed to the last two), we just shouldn't be reduced to scrounging around for these table scraps of decent basketball. Not this early in the season. Right?
Let's be clear. The Clippers offense stinks. It's no fun to watch even when it's working, and most of the time it's broken. Take the third quarter. For over 8 minutes, no Clipper other than Cat Mobley made a field goal. So I guess that's a decided improvement over the routine stretches in other games this season where no one at all made a field goal for 8 or 9 minutes - I mean, at last Cat was making some shots, and he kept them in the game. But one more Mobley fall away and I'll put a bullet in my temple. Iso after iso after iso, and sure, Cat was scoring. But every other Clipper is standing around, getting less and less into the game. It may get you some scores, but is it a good plan? And I have another question - you know how Baron et al have been talking about the thickness of the MDsr playbook. Seriously, how many pages do you need for "clear out the side for <insert name>"? I find the concept of some thick playbook pretty mystifying. Pages upon pages of plays, and apparently not a single one of them actually works.
Watching the game, I got the feeling that the Clippers were really getting nothing out of the three spot. Thornton had a bad game, and Ricky Davis was even worse. In fact, when Ricky dribbled off his knee for a crucial turnover with a little less than 3 minutes left, I was really hoping that MDsr would put Gordon in and leave Thornton on the bench - but no, he came back with Al. So, like I said, I thought the three spot was hurting the Clippers tonight. But I just looked at the plus/minus stats, and Thornton was minus 7 and Ricky was minus 10. How is that even possible in a game you lose by 3? I mean, obviously I know that they had to be on the court together for awhile - and they did play 52 minutes combined. But still, it's kind of mind blowing that two guys playing the same position can be responsible for that much damage in a close game.
Obviously Baron didn't shoot well, and I think it's safe to say that the Clippers aren't going to win many games this season when Baron is 5 for 17 and 0 for 8 from distance. Ouch. Did I mention that it was a 3 point game? If Baron is merely 'horrible' on his threes, the game goes into OT. If he can kick it up a notch to 'bad', the Clippers win.
But as I said, there were some encouraging signs in the game. For one thing, the Clippers outrebounded an opponet for the first time this season. Finally. More importantly, the Clippers got some stops. Actually, they got stop after stop after stop done the stretch, something that they were completely incapable of doing against Sacramento or Golden State. After a Bruce Bowen layup gave the Spurs their biggest lead of the game at 81-70 with 6:44 left, the Clippers actually started to play some very good defense. On their next 10 possessions, the Spurs got almost nothing. The one shot they made was a wacky runner in the lane that banked in as the shot clock expired. On the other 9 possessions, the Clippers forced one shot clock violation, four other turnovers, a blocked shot and three misses on contested shots. It was a long, long time ago, but I seem to remember a Clipper team from a few seasons back that used to actually win by getting stops done the stretch of close games.
Unfortunately, the offense continued to look inept throughout. Possession after possession down seven, they couldn't get a score. The defense kept getting them the ball back, and the offense kept coming up empty. Kaman got deep position, but had his shot blocked by Duncan. Mobley got out on the break after a steal, but had his shot blocked by Matt Bonner. Matt Bonner! (By the way, for a pretty good scorer, Cat is a pretty bad finisher. He had two break opportunities in the second half where he came up empty. It would help if he could dribble and/or use his right hand.) Ricky clanged a three and then dropped the ball out of bounds. It was ugly.
They finally found the basket for a mini-run to tie the game with a minute to go. They even got another steal to give themselves a chance to take the lead. But Mobley's three (the exact same shot he'd made to tie the game a moment before) was short.
On the other end, after playing almost flawless defense for 6 minutes, the Clippers made two mistakes on the Spurs final possession. First of all, Ricky and Cat got crossed up when Bonner downscreened for Roger Mason. Mason was wide open for awhile before Ricky finally picked him up on the switch. But the Spurs wanted to hold the ball and burn some time, which they did until about 10 on the game clock. Duncan came to the top for the high screen and roll, and the Clippers made their second mistake. Duncan's monster pick completely obliterated Ricky, and Camby (as is his tendency) decided not to show on the screen. I suppose you live with Roger Mason taking the game winner - who knows, maybe MDsr even told Camby to stay home on Duncan on that pick and roll. But Mason's a shooter, and you sure don't want to give a shooter a wide open rhythm three with 8 seconds left in a tie game. That's exactly what happened, and he drained it.
The Clippers final possession was a train wreck. We can tear that page out of the playbook.
So there you have it. One win ten games into the season. Seven home losses.
The big showdown is coming up Wednesday. Against 1-10 Oklahoma City. Someone has got to win. I think. Maybe not.
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your second paragraph
is probably the strongest worded criticism of MDsr offense i have read in a while…good work…it’s on to the PingPong ball showdown!
"Duck, Crab. Crab, Duck"
Roger Sterling - Mad Men
LOL on the AYSO youth soccer coach mode...
I was right there this whole season after coaching my daughter U6 to a Clipper-like record (of course, only in the parents head).
"Duck, Crab. Crab, Duck"
Roger Sterling - Mad Men
A huge spark
I thought came from Taylor tonight. He came right off the bench and played stellar D and made some shots right away…and going to the basket too, not all jump shots. He should have gotten more playing time, especially since BD was stinking it up out there.
I thought Baron had a HORRIBLE game tonight, and his lack of production cost the Clippers this game. Can some one remind me how much he is getting paid again…because he definitely did NOT earn his paycheck tonight, on BOTH ends of the floor.
Also, a comment on Cat. He singlehandedly kept the Clips in the game in the third quarter, and I do not blame MDsr one bit for continually going to him possession after possession. The team was in a rut, and needed someone to score. Stick with the hot hand until it goes cold I say, no matter how boring or ugly.
I knew it was going to be a long night after Baron threw the ball off Cat’s back in that first possession of the game. You think they would know what play they are running right out of the gate. This is getting ridiculous.
I think Baron is only interested in the paycheck right now
is he even in shape? I can’t tell.
He definitely looks bored, and I don’t blame him. His preferred playing style is chaos. The offense just looks like crap.
F-Elton!
We're so bad...it's actually entertaining in a morbidly slapstick way...
I agree with Lawler’s Law, CS pretty much hit the nail on the head with his second paragraph. I think, as loyal Clippers fans, we should yell for more isos and post ups at the New Orleans game just so the guys actually feel like there is a plan. We should yell stuff like; “Post up on the weak side everybody! SHOOT that fade away! SHOOT! SHOOT BARON! DON”T PASS THE BALL! SHOOT IT NOW!….NICE TRY GUYS!"
At the very least, this should convince opposing coaches that we’re actually running some plays like a real basketball team and they might out-strategize themselves into a loss. NBA coaches do this all the time. Like tonight, when Dunleavy imagined that Ricky Davis is a great perimeter defender and inserted him to defend Mason at the end. I mean, look at the awesome shut-down defensive work that Ricky D did in the previous three games! A couple more games like this and Ricky D can be defensive coaster of the year!
I’m also convinced that our offensive sets are so rigid that nobody is allowed to move without the ball, nor pass without dribbling at least three times or counting up to three Mississippi. I know this goes against most fundamental concepts of basketball, but this might be part of Dunleavy’s unorthodox genius. Mike Taylor scored 6 points in a row and almost brought us back, but he was clearly going against Dunleavy’s master plan, so Dunleavy had no choice but to bring back Baron to stop that unpredictable ball movement which clearly irritated him. And I ask you, if the coach can’t predict what his players will do, what will happen? Anarchy, sir. Anarchy. Then cannibalism.
Now I don’t know if we can win against a team like Oklahoma City, as their best players aren’t even injured! But in my opinion, we shouldn’t be judged on wins and losses and competition alone like a normal professional sports team. Heck there are plenty of those to choose from, and some of them occasionally win games to make things unpredictable. Rather, we deserve to be judged as a performance art troupe. And in that light, we provide sublime entertainment! I propose that we should, henceforth, analyze our players’ performance as actors playing the role of professional basketball players.
Ricky was in there
….in case we got a stop and went on the offense. The D was good thus far until the final play so I saw no reason to take him out at that time.
Nothing MDsr has done has been completely unreasonable…however it’s not entirely reasonable either.
by Newton Pham on Nov 18, 2008 11:07 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah, I was just surprised
the guy is such a lineup tweaker that I wouldn’t expect him to have RD in there. Unless he sees Rick as one of the better perimeter defenders on this team, which is possible. If so, that is sad.
F-Elton!
Spurs had 4 shooters on the floor with Duncan
MDsr went with 4 perimeter defenders – Cat was on Mason, Al was on Finley, Baron was on Bowen (I think) and Ricky was on Bonner. Camby was on Duncan. I assume he wanted to switch everything on the perimeter with that lineup, which is why I was surprised that Cat and Ricky got balled up on the down screen.
I’m hoping that eventually he’ll have EJ in for defensive stops. But for now, he did not want to put a rookie in that situation, and so we get Ricky. MDsr seems to think more highly of his defense than we do.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Nov 18, 2008 11:14 AM PST up reply actions
Impressive showing
last night. We almost beat a team missing two all-stars, with our premier player playing the role of Brandon Knight, if Knight ever had the gonads to attempt 15 shots. Says alot about the team when the backup point guard shows more then the franchise player.
Everyone tells me this is a well coached team and then they run a last second play like the one we saw last night, and I have to ask. Really? I’m no coach like Madglove so maybe the final play is supposed to look like chaos with everyone looking like lobotomy patients when good team defense is thrown at them.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Last play
I was watching with my sons. I bet them that we wouldn’t even get a shot off.
I was wrong.
Last play
The last play was kind of interesting. I watched it a few times. The problem is that it took Baron too long to get into the weave, and he threw a weird, kind of lazy back pass, that cost the Clips a crucial few tenths of a second. Because by the time he came around and got the ball, there was just one second left and he had to shoot it—but you could see that Novak was perfectly positioned in the corner, and with two guys going towards Baron he was going to be wide open. But there wasn’t enough time to get it to him and for him to get a shot.
by citizen zhiv on Nov 18, 2008 12:55 PM PST up reply actions
I remember Novak in the corner, in shooting position, with everything but the ball
Never got there.
Novak got an earful from MDSr. as the players exited. Something went wrong with that play.
F-Elton!
Defensively, the Clippers played well enough to win
Kept the Spurs FG% reasonable, blocked 13 shots, had 8 steals. Camby had 6 blocks by the 3rd qtr, and Kaman had another 3.
But they didn’t defend the 3pt. line very well. Really hurt them. Quninton Ross is sounding pretty good right about now.
B. Davis still managed a pretty solid game despite the bad shooting. This style of basketball is just not his. I am sure he is having second thoughts about leaving Nellie’s system, even though he didn’t care much for Nellie.
I thought Thornton had a decent game offensively. He proved me wrong by actually passing the ball. Five assists must be his career high.
The lack of offense really killed them tonight. It is so incoherent. CS said it well. What good is that thick playbook if all the plays look the same, and all of them suck?
There are no more money plays. Cassell from mid-range, EB from the elbow, Maggette getting to the line…these things guaranteed a certain amount of points for the Clippers. Nothing is guaranteed now.
It is getting ridiculous. Throw out the playbook and just play.
F-Elton!
FG% update
Q is shooting 39.5% from the floor and 41% from deep.
Our Fearless Leader is now down to 36% and 23% respectively.
Get me BD and 75 and I'm in
Memphis
And he appears to have more points than Darko and Marko combined so far this season.
Get me BD and 75 and I'm in
Don't start...
It’s a statement. Q is at Memphis. He’s playing some. He’s hitting some threes. Don’t pick a fight.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Nov 18, 2008 10:11 AM PST up reply actions
Didn't intend to pick a fight
Just reacting as a loyal Clipper fan to the sarcastic “fearless leader” comment which doesn’t help anyone.
I really think that we all need to take a step back. These guys are all professionals – the players and the coaches. They need some time to figure out something that works. Yes they’ve probably lost a chance at the playoffs, which is excruciatingly disappointing to all of us, but we shoudl avoid pointing fingers at this time, no matter how difficult it is, because it is just too early. We are only 10 games in folks. Let’s let them try to come up with something.
Agreed
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Nov 18, 2008 10:20 AM PST up reply actions
I am happy to hear that Q found a job
He is a very hard worker, and is willing to specialize where there is little glory to be had.
No matter how much he is dicounted around here, he was a key part of the Clippers playoff run.
F-Elton!
We don't need Q. Ross
Once EJ learns the rotations and defensive sets better, he will be as good if not better of a defender. Oh…and he can score too.
It sure was nice when Q was making people work for their points
Udrih, Morrow and Mason all got off easy
F-Elton!
Um
No, EJ wil never be as good a defender as QRoss. But he does have very active hands and he’s a lot quicker off the dribble than I thought. I’ll be very happy if EJ can play average defense for the Clips.
two things...
Defense wasn’t really the problem last night. 44% shooting, and 10 straight stops down the stretch. You can’t ask for more than that.
And it’s way too early to say EJ will never be as good as Q. I love Q’s defense, but EJ shows great promise.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Nov 18, 2008 10:13 AM PST up reply actions
Size
Matters.
I will be extremely impressed if EJ can learn the defensive rotations like Q, who often ended up guarding two players.
On a side note, I now believe Camby is one of the most overrated defenders in the L.
I remember Jeremy at Pick Axe (or someone there)
saying something similar about Camby’s defense
6 blocks by the 3rd quarter for Camby
He may not be the best one on one defender in the post because of his size, but he sure protects the rim.
I would hardly call him a bad defender.
F-Elton!
Athleticism
I have great hopes for EJ’s perimeter defense. He’s strong and quick and has very good instincts. The strength is going to help him a lot against some of the longer SGs, and in general the strength is an extremely significant factor in his ability to excel. He’s going to overpower guys.
I imagine he must be learning a lot from Mobley, by example and by playing against him a lot. It’s interesting to note that Mobley has superior length over EJ, and he knows how to use it.
by citizen zhiv on Nov 18, 2008 1:00 PM PST up reply actions
WOW
Gordon is only 19 years old. He is the same height as Ross. He has already made some impressive steals in very limited minutes. To say that he will NEVER be as good a defender is kind of harsh, don’t you think? He’s only 19! Never is a long time! Give him a chance…
I guess you're right...
But I went to lunch with Q and his wife and I really don’t think he’s that much taller than Gordon (they weren’t both there to compare of course…). Just an off handed observation from meeting them both face to face…
Good catch but my point is the same. Gordon is only 19. Give him a chance…
The problem is that
we should be playing well enough to win against a team without two of its top three players. In fact, we should have won that game by at least 15 points. This is ludicrous.
Dunleavy:
“We had some situations on turnovers that were careless turnovers, but the biggest factor to me was shot selection,” Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "We probably had 10 bad shots in this game. You can’t give that many possessions away and expect to win.
“Until we get the discipline we need, as far as taking good shots and not making careless turnovers, we’re going to struggle.”
Translation: My PG screwed us tonight
F-Elton!
Translation:
As long as the Clippers are under MDsr they will be boring to watch, win or lose.
I'm not going to lie though....
Baron’s shot selection is questionable….
It was questionable,
but only because there is no fluidity to the offense. He is clearly uncomfortable.
When he is being himself, like on the first quarter drive and behind the back dish to Kaman down low, he looks great.
F-Elton!
Baron being Baron
Baron being himself IS poor shot selection. That’s always been the case and shouldn’t surprise anyone. You have to take the bad with the good…
Except there’s not much good right now. Whether it’s the “play-calling” or lack of motivation or unfamiliarity with teammates or whatever, Boom Fizzle’s just not getting it done. The bad shots are just making things worse.
GSoM must be getting a nice chuckle out of all this.
Exactly - BD is what he is
Shot selection? Please
Agreed
By the way, on the MDsr quote, we all watched the game. 10 bad shots. OK.
Baron was 0 for 8 on threes. One of them was bad shot selection (when he pulled up in the third quarter with literally no one in white in the front court – that’s just not smart, especially when your team has been doing a pretty good job on the offensive glass). Other than that, I didn’t see any really bad selection, just bad shots. He had a wide open look in the 4th where Mike Smith said ‘Uh oh’ the minute it left his hand. He was off last night – way off. And on the one hand you say. “Hey, stop shooting if you’re cold.” But on the other hand, that’s what he’s here to do – to take (and hopefully make) big shots. You’ll notice who MDsr drew the final play up for. The guy was 0 for 7 from three, and MDsr ran a play to get him a three. And I would have done the same. We’re going to win and die with him.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Nov 18, 2008 10:17 AM PST up reply actions
That last shot and Ricky Davis
Do we know yet why Ricky was screwing around dribbling up top as the clock was running down? Where was he going?
He is kind of like Rueben Patterson last year. There is a reason why these guys were available to the Clippers. I still have faith in Ricky, but not on the last offensive and defensive sequences of the game.
F-Elton!
That play
The set was misdirection for Baron. He gave the dribble handoff to Ricky. Ricky was supposed to dribble right as Baron circles away to the weak side. The Baron comes under the basket and off a double stack with Kaman and Novak. Ricky did his job; he was supposed to make a pass to Baron coming off the screens. He did that.
The problem is that there were 8.4 seconds on the shot clock, and, at least they way the Clippers ran the play, they took 7 seconds to set it up. And truthfully, with all that movement, they couldn’t have run it much quicker.
So although they ostensibly had 4 three point shooters on the floor, they did very little to use them. All of the eggs, so to speak, were in the basket of this one option that took 7 seconds to set up. I suppose if someone gets totally lost on defense, maybe falls down, Mobley or Novak or Ricky is allowed to shoot. But wouldn’t a simple ball screen, where defenders are forced to make decisions about switching or not, have been an option as well? By the way, if you get the shot in the air sooner, you have a chance at a rebound and kick out.
Anyway, it looked to me like Ricky did what the coach told him to on that play. And that may be the problem.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Nov 18, 2008 10:33 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah
Now Dunleavy is getting snarky. That’s not a good thing—we can’t have him abandoning the high road and escalating a problematic situation.
Bad shots were not the Clippers problem. Bad defense until the 3rd quarter. Bad hustle—not getting offensive rebounds. When the Clips had a nice run on defense in the 4th you could see how it can feed everything else. They need to have that type of effort and urgency at other points in the game.
And passing the ball, moving it around and not getting turnovers.
And you can say “we weren’t moving the ball around enough,” MD, instead of “we took bad shots,” and not be calling out your franchise player.
by citizen zhiv on Nov 18, 2008 1:05 PM PST up reply actions
The trouble is nothing external is holding him back
Cassell found ways to get shots and produce in this very same offense. Even Mike Taylor seems to have it figured out. The team looks completely different with Taylor out there. (Its not all good there are some game management problems there, but my point is about ball and player movement and attacking the basket.) The blueprint is there. There is an offense MDSr has built and its up to the players to use it, not stick to it too rigidly to prove a point. MDSr never got on Cassell for missing a shot or taking bad shots, and he could do both in bunches. Davis1 is responsible for his own timidity.
If Davis WANTS to succeed and WANTS to freestyle, he could.
But its not an offense problem when BD throws it off Cat’s back to start the game. Or when he blows the two on one break and keeps it himself and misses the layup.
Get me BD and 75 and I'm in
Yup, he did both of those things
He is still racking up assists nicely. It is his scoring and bad shots that are the killers. An ill-advised 27 footer is just as bad as a TO.
Cassell could go in and get his mid-range shot anytime. And he could post up. BD doesn’t strike me as a great post up PG.
The problem I see with the offense is that the players are not encouraged to move without the ball. Everybody just runs to a spot and waits for the ball to come to them. It’s ugly.
Dunleavy’s defense has proven itself to be high quality, but his offense shoots him in the foot. No matter who the personnell has been, MDSr’s Clippers have ranked near the bottom in both fast break points and 3P FG’s. It accomplishes a lot of long two-pointers, which frankly, sucks. Maggette’s 10+ points per night from the line had been saving his butt up until this year.
You would think that a team that is year in, year out among the league leaders in shot blocking would be able to get a lot of transition points, but it just doesn’t happen. And you would think that a team that runs a set, deliberate offense would be able to cash in from the perimeter, but that doesn’t happen either. It is the worst of all worlds.
Yes, Mike Taylor looks really good.
F-Elton!
12/15 Baron becomes tradable
Since the Thunder is coming to town, how about Employee #1 for Earl Watson, Jeff Green and a top-3 protected ’09 pick, unprotected in ’10.
Get me BD and 75 and I'm in
Is this still hyperbole?
How is it reasonably possible that the Clippers could sign one of the league’s elite PGs according to the GM/Coach who signed him, and trade him 1.5 month into the season?
Answer: it’s not. End of story. MDSr must find a way to utilize this talent he signed.
Yes Jax
Not every comment is directed at you, made with you in mind, a shot across your bow. Noone would seriously propose trading Davis for Watson. Not everything is serious. Sometimes after a loss its good to make a joke about trading one UCLA PG for another when he is on the next team to come into town.
Though, you would have to admit I was right in my 3 things that BD was going to be the problem last night.
2. Rebounding – fixed
3. Defense – fixed
1. Davis…not so much.
Get me BD and 75 and I'm in
Actually, I do think
that Watson will become expendable soon. Not a bad backup.
He is good
but I think we are solid at the backup PG with Taylor and Hart.
Other needs.
F-Elton!
Watson over Hart
Plus Watson and Baron would have fun playing together, like in the old days. But Watson is too pricey, and OKC needs him as a backup because it’s going to take Westbrook all year, and into next year, to get comfortable. That being said, Westbrook is moving ahead a lot fast than Gordon, because he’s getting lots of minutes.
by citizen zhiv on Nov 18, 2008 1:09 PM PST up reply actions
Talent wise, Watson over Hart of course
But I like Taylor plenty, and I just don’t see us being in the market for a PG.
Wings are underperforming right now. Need help there.
F-Elton!
Who are you gonna get for Baron?
Only way he’s traded is if it’s a salary dump and we get nothing in return. He’ll be fine under a different coach and GM. Dunleavy pointing the finger at Baron isn’t gonna help. It’s almost like Baron is playing bad on purpose so Dunleavy gets canned.
by FireDunleavy.com on Nov 18, 2008 9:46 AM PST reply actions
I say we go for PG that WILL work in Dunleavy's system and thrive....
I can only think of 3….
Chauncy Billups
Jose Calderon
Beno Udrih
Or get rid of the coach
and keep the player.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Nov 18, 2008 12:44 PM PST up reply actions
It'll be awhile
Nothing is going to happen for a long time. But when it does, it will probably that GM Dunleavy finds a young smart coach that he likes, who will get along with Baron.
That being said, what about GM Dunleavy offering a whole bunch of Sterling’s money to Ben Howland?
Ridiculous but amusing thought, but that’s what websites like this are for sometimes.
Wouldn’t improve the offense, that’s for sure. But I wonder what would happen with the team.
by citizen zhiv on Nov 18, 2008 1:12 PM PST up reply actions
I was just about to say "wouldn't improve the offense"
but it would create buzz. I think well payed college coaches are nuts to try to make the leap. Howland has it made at UCLA. Why go into the pressure cooker?
From MDSr’s perspective, we are talking about a lot of ego there. I would love to see him fire himself like Pat Riley, but I don’t think it will happen for a while. And if he did, he would probably turn it over to Hughes or Eyen.
But, as always, the Zhiv optimism is greatly appreciated.
F-Elton!
Ricky Davis
Last night might have been the first night I really watched him closely. And after watching him closely, I don’t see why he should be playing, let alone be on the team.
What he can do: Make a wide open three relatively well.
But, he’s slow, he can’t dribble, he’s a horrible passer, he’ll take plenty of bad shots, and I’m beginning to think he’s a cancer to the team. When the Clippers made their comeback and Cuttino made that three to tie it, everyone on the bench was standing up and cheering. Except for Ricky. He was sitting down, clearly not part of what the team is trying to do. This isn’t even mentioning defense.
I don’t care if he starts hitting shots, I’ve seen enough.
BD
Was coasting last night, almost seems like he’s defiantly slowing down the tempo to prove Dunleavy’s half court offense isn’t where it’s at. Did he run even once? Clearly, Mike Taylor had permission to penetrate.
Agreed
Seems like Baron is doing this on purpose to get Dunleavy fired, or change his playbook. Dunleavy needs to go. No one is buying into his system and he has no clue how to put a team together.
by FireDunleavy.com on Nov 18, 2008 1:00 PM PST up reply actions
It would seem quite ironic that MDSr would
sign (in his role as de facto GM) and stake the future of his team (as GM and coach) and his own future in the NBA on a point guard that is anathema to everything he has stood for for so long. Regardless of MDSr’s supposed understanding at the time that EB was returning.
Although not surprising to anyone who knows BD’s game, it’s just got to be pure torture for MDSr to watch BD chuck up all those threes.
BD’s not trying to get MDSr fired. He’s just being BD, a known quantity. Which could end up getting MDSr fired.
He won't be fired
He’s the GM. Worst case is that he and Baron find a young coach to take over.
by citizen zhiv on Nov 18, 2008 1:13 PM PST up reply actions
Not on the Clippers
They just fade away.
But it’s possible to have a more substantive argument about that.
by citizen zhiv on Nov 18, 2008 1:34 PM PST up reply actions
Disagree
I didn’t see any change to his contract. Based on everything we know about MDSr, if he is out as coach, he’s not staying as GM.
Best to wrap our heads around the Clippers starting from scratch, and how soon they would be ready to compete again.
Get me BD and 75 and I'm in
IMO they could compete with this team
As a practical matter, DTS can do what he wants with MDSr and the players.
To compete – they would just have to turn BD and the team loose. Frankly, I just can’t see BD at this stage of the career changing his game. He’s going to chuck up threes, take changes, play recklessly. That’s his game. He wouldn’t change it even if he could figure out how to do so.
I would start BD, EJ, Thornton, Kaman or Camby and Thomas. Is that a running team? Who knows. But that’s what they have. They’re 1-9 people – what they are doing now ain’t working.
Alternatively, they could trade Kaman for a PF. Saw a rumor that they were talking to NY again about ZBo. Say what you want, he’s putting up the numbers in NY (of course he’s the center on a running team). Is that a good option? Not sure.
BD is turned loose
Just like Cassell he can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants. It his choice to walk the ball up. Its his choice to look to dump it off immediately. Its his choice to always pass to Kaman on the screen. Its his choice never to probe. And its his choice to throw it off Cat’s back in the ultimate expression of childish pouting.
If Mike Taylor can do it, why can’t BD? Its the ultimate question. There is no way Taylor is being given more free reign than Baron as a matter of policy.
IF he continues to produce at this level come the opening of trade season, 1 more month he has, you gotta cut out the cancer.
Get me BD and 75 and I'm in
'childish pouting?'
I’m not following you there. Why would Baron choose to throw that pass, and how does it represent pouting? It was a ridiculous way to start the game, but I find it quite a leap to assume that anyone did anything on purpose to turn the ball over on the first possession. I think we can all assume that regardless of what he may or may not be trying to do out there, it is not his goal to make himself look foolish.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Nov 18, 2008 1:33 PM PST up reply actions
Look
My suggestion is based on the notion that MDSr needs to completely take the reigns off and let the team run. Based on what I’ve seen, MDSr is not embracing that sort of an offense at all. Look at the quote above where MDSr is focusing on shot selection. They should try four shooters, spread the offense, let a mobile Camby or Kaman roam the middle, employ cuts and quick sharp passes, etc.
And I have no idea why John R seems to be so upset at BD and his game at this point. He’s not doing anything here he hasn’t done in 10 years in the league.
You have no idea because you dont listen
He isn’t doing what he has been doing his whole career. This is clearly shown by his stats.
He is taking many more low percentage shots that before. He is missing more shots than before. He is completely eschewing driving the basket, and he isn’t playing any defense.
Its all there in black and white. Just because you choose to ignore it, doesn’t mean its not true.
Instead of speculating about my position, however, you could do the civil thing and ask. But you don’t need to ask because its already been written. You just ignore what you don’t like.
Get me BD and 75 and I'm in
We can agree to disagree - your needlessly insulting posts
are becoming tiresome for all of us.
Seriously.
Thinking about this
I could see BD, if he and MDSr don’t work things out, making a powerplay for DTS to get what he would consider to be a competent GM/coach in here. Maybe that potential looming battle is what John R is hinting at. I for one hope it never comes to that and the two of them figure out some way to make this thing work.
I don't really see a huge grudge match happening so far
I see Baron trying to do what his coach says, and it is not working very well. BD, to my eyes, is being pretty professional about it. In fact, he may be over-doing it, trying to do things that are just out of his skill set. He is a great ‘no-look’ passer, but who said he was a great entry passer? Who said he was a great S/R type Pg? His assist numbers are encouraging, but he is clearly uncomfortable trying to find his place as a scorer, which, at the end of the day, is his biggest strength.
I think they will work something out. 10 games is not that much, really. If we see the same things for another 10 games, then we can probably say with confidence that all is lost.
F-Elton!
Really?
“I for one hope it never comes to that and the two of them figure out some way to make this thing work.”
Does anyone who has read Jax over the years really believe this is true? I don’t.
Get me BD and 75 and I'm in
Funny....
…how you could spin it as if he was saying it is Dunleavy’s fault. Ghost ride is saying if Mike Taylor can do it it, why not BD? BD is the one defying and not giving MDsrs system a chance, so it is kind of both of their faults.
Sigh.
ClipperSteve hits the nail on the head. My 2 cents:
- I don’t want to be all doom and gloom, but it’s pretty hard to see how the Clips have any chance of making the 8 spot in the playoffs. They’ve just dug too deep of a hole. For them to get to 50 wins, they need to go 49-23 the rest of the season. Please give me a “Hail Mary” if you believe that’s going to happen. Crickets. Just to finish the season at .500, the Clips need to go 40-32 the rest of the way. At this point, still possible, but increasingly unlikely if we keep losing the gimme games against the Kings, Warriors, depleted Spurs, et al.
- Gee, Mike Taylor looked pretty good in the short minutes he played. Why not leave him in longer?
- Kamen put up some good numbers. Bravo. We’ve all been wondering which Kamen will show up this season. Mr. Flippy or Kamen 2.0, well I think that we have the answer. It’s going to be a little of both. And that kind of sucks. Here’s why. In order for any team to be good, you need to have reliable production from your main players. What was so great about EB was that he was a consistent 20 and 10 guy. He couldn’t hit a game winner to save his life, but he was pretty dependable night in and night out. We’ve been watching Kamen for what, 6 seasons now. I think that what you see is what you get. He is Mr. Flippy AND Kamen 2.0. In other words, he is inconsistent. As long as Kamen is inconsistent, the Clippers will struggle to be a good team. Message to Kamen: If you ever want to be respected in the NBA and by the fans, you need to bring it every single game – game after game after game. Also, just DUNK the damn ball!
- Baron stunk it up. But that’s no surprise. Baron’s going to have games like that where he chucks-up a lot of bad shots that don’t go down. He’s also going to have some nights where he chucks-up a lot of bad shots that DO go down. That’s his game. We can only hope that A) Baron improves his play within an offensive system that plays to his strengths and minimizes his weaknesses and B) Dunleavy can create that offensive system. Who wants to place a bet on “A”? Who wants to place a bet on “B”? Okay now, who wants to place a bet on BOTH “A” and “B”?
- I’ve said it before, Thornton takes some really tough shots. Within the current offensive “system”, he doesn’t really have much choice. Usually when he gets the ball it’s in a iso situation where he tries to do it all on his own. Thornton is much better when he is moving without the ball to the basket. Dunleavy needs to run an offense that allows a guy like Thornton to get the ball as he rolls to the hoop, heck, just set-up an alley-oop for him a couple times a game would be good.
- That second half iso offense featuring Cat was just painful to watch. Good for Cat on making the shots that kept us in the game, but it was pretty awful basketball to watch. Four guys standing around possession after possession just watching Cat go one-on one. Not my idea of entertainment. Can you really get paid millions of dollars a year to run this kind of offense in the NBA? Really? The problem with this is that no matter how hot Cat is, you know he’s going to cool off. It’s not like he’s going to shoot 50% for the rest of the season you know. So WHEN he’s not hitting them, what’s the game plan THEN Coach?
- Rickey D and TT are useless on D.
- Baron seems pooped at times. Coach should give him more blow time and play Taylor a bit more. We need Baron healthy and rested for the playoffs ;-)
- Why not play Gordon more? Coach says that he’s still a little lost in the defense sometimes. So? What, he’s going to f***-it up worse than Rickey D and TT and Cat? Again, more up side to playing Gordon more minutes, than playing Rickey and TT and Cat. We’re 1 and 9 for crissakes.
- It was a good rebounding night for the Clippers, but they have been dreadful so far this season. Basic problem has been a fundamental inability to box-out. As soon as a shot goes-up, the Clippers seem to loose sight of their man. At any level, this is just bad basketball. Also, while Kamen got good rebounding numbers, it’s usually the case where focusing merely on the stats can cloud reality. He seldom comes down with rebounds in traffic. Seems to be a combo of poor leaping ability, short arms (compared to an EB or Artest type physique), and small hands.
That’s it for now – Go Clippers!
Prediction for tonight
OKC 100- Clipper 87
Durant has field day
and Collision has a career highs in rebounding and 1 three point FG.
All while wearing retro Supersonics gear
Wow...
Are we such a joke that we are making fun of ourselves?
Can DL activate DeAndre already?
OMG we WON!!!!! I'm so HAPPY!!!
From now on nothing is ganna go wrong any more!!!
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