More On Why AT Frustrates Me... (I Miss Cuttino)

by moKi on Dec 24, 2008 3:10 AM PST

[This was in reply to WestsideBrandon regarding Al Thornton, here]

I don't think I'm suggesting any hasty decisions on Al and I have not used the "low IQ" label in any of my posts or comments. I don't mind if he uses this season to develop but I hate seeing him HURT the team. For as much athleticism and natural ability that he has, shouldn't he have more rebounds or steals? Can't he focus on things other than shooting jumpshots that can help his team win?

Compared to Q Ross
Is it my imagination or wasn't Q Ross a 20 point per game scorer in college? Yet when he came to the Clippers his jumpshot wasn't reliable. But he didn't keep jacking up shots over and over trying to regain his college scoring touch. He focused on what he could do consistently on a nightly basis - play solid defense and make good entry passes to EB or Kaman. He wasn't a star but I liked his energy and I loved how he rarely HURT the team. He took a few shots here and there when he was open - which is what he was supposed to do. For as much as you know he was dying for them to go down, many did not. But you could not blame losses on him. I don't feel the same about Al.

Compared to Cuttino
Actually when I watch Al it really reminds me of how much this team misses Corey and Cuttino. I really liked the fact that Cuttino CHOSE the Clippers in free agency and he was so smart in stripping the ball on defense that it made up for some of the crazy shots he took. But obviously he was a veteran and his game was much more refined. He took risky shots that he earned the right to take, by being a smart seasoned vet. Years of solid play gave him the right to jack up some low percentage shots. I feel like he was pretty clutch for the Clips and when they went in you cheered and when they didn't - you rarely felt like someone else on the team could have done significantly better or had that much of a better chance.

I feel like Al IS a big part of Clipper losses. I believe other guys on the team could do better in many situations where he gets the ball and shoots instead of passing.

I don't have higher standards for Al as a second year player. Before that one game this year (I forgot which game it was, but he repeatedly drove the lane for dunks and finished strong at the rim) I figured Al was just an average sophomore player and my expectations were low. But after seeing him take it to the rack hard AND FINISH in that game he spoiled me! WHY KEEP TAKING JUMP SHOTS WHEN YOU CAN DRIVE THE LANE AND DUNK? WHY?

It seems like he's trying to pattern his game after Mobley when his body and style dictate a more Maggette type of drive and get fouled type of game. I know there are many who hated Corey's selfish drives and lame toss ups while getting fouled, but his game fit the Clippers offensive identity. It gave them a variety of weapons.

The Clipper Weapons Were and Should Be...

Weapon One. Go down low to Kaman or Brand, guards ready to slash or cut for a layup or rebound. (Now Zach or Kaman)

Weapon Two. Clear out. Let Sam I Am back a smaller guard down for a close turnaround jumpshot, bigs ready to rebound a miss. (Now Baron Davis)

Weapon Three. If defenders come to double weapons One or Two - kick out to Mobley for a wide open three, bigs ready to rebound. (Now Eric Gordon)

Weapon Four. If defenders close out on weapon three or the 3 balls have not been going in, pass to a slashing Magette who either makes a layup or gets fouled while trying. Go to the line, make your free throws and give your guys a breather and a chance to setup on defense. (AL THORNTON should now fill this role)

But instead of driving as soon as he gets the ball he does the same lame shaky foot dance for two seconds and THEN decides to drive into defenders, getting called for a charge or worse, rises up for a high difficulty jumpshot.

It ruins the timing and flow of the offense and it's more of a problem than just expecting too much from a second year player.

What I Want to See From Al Thornton

Al needs to take less jumpshots and drive smarter into the lane, protect the ball, use his body to create space to avoid getting so many shots blocked, or simply go SO hard for a dunk, defenders get out of his way - like Kobe, LeBron, Wade (Yes, I actually believe Al can dunk just as well or hard as they can and NO I'm not putting him on their level. Just talking about dunking. I've seen him slam it down. He has the ability to do it.)

I know that's a lot to ask and it's not as easy to dunk in traffic as some players make it seem...but I want to see him working on that. I'd rather see him getting called for charges while he smashes on people, than constantly shooting turnaround fadeaway jumpers. I want to see agression to the rim. Even if he misses, Zach or Camby might be able to get a rebound or a putback.

As much as he frustrates me, I still like Al and his potential. I just want him to play smarter.

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Comments

I'm a little surprised

that anyone would single out AT as hurting the team before BD. Baron is shooting a miserable 36% from the field and has taken 170 threes and only made 51 of them for a pathetic 30%. This is the guy that the Clippers signed to a generous contract to come in and lead this team and if it wasn’t for the the 8 assists a game what value would he have?

Baron can get a layup, seemingly at any time he choses, yet settles for jumpshots that just are not falling. This is far more frustrating to me than the shot selection of a second year player, who is shooting far better than BD.

Kobe Bryant is a career 45% shooter. Thornton is shooting 44% from the field on the season.

No one can argue that Thornton is much better when driving for dunks or layups rather than settling for the jumper, but Baron has just been so much more frustrating for me to watch this year.

by oneight on Dec 24, 2008 11:12 AM PST reply actions

You are right

Baron is having a bad year. And maybe Al is not bad percentage wise but I guess the difference for me is …

1. I give Baron, whether fair or not, a pass on his performance because he’s a veteran and I feel like maybe he’s just in a slump. A lot of his shots seem to be when he GETS the ball at the end of the shot clock and he is forced to take a bad shot. Baron has been driving hard to the basket but he’s been getting banged up and blocked and not getting many calls. Seems like every game I’ve gone to this year, the refs have really not been giving him many calls when he drives to the lane. I guess I get more upset at the refs and figure maybe he’s playing hurt and is tired of running into the lane and getting hurt without getting the benefit of any foul calls. So yeah I agree Baron frustrates me sometimes too but not nearly as much as Al.

And YES I do ARGUE that Thornton is MUCH BETTER when driving for dunks or layups rather than settling for the jumper. That was a major point of my post. (Maybe you missed the game where he did drive for layups WITH AGGRESSION and was much more of a positive factor in the game. I will try to look back and see which game that was. If anyone remembers please cite the game. CS?)

2. Baron does other things. He gets easy shots for other guys. I don’t get that “Oh no! Baron has the ball and everyone knows he’s not going to give it up. He’s just going to drive with a little floater or take a low percentage jumpshot.” That’s the BIG difference in how I feel about Baron and Al. When Baron has the ball I don’t think the defense knows what he is going to do. Drive and kick? Pull up for a shot? Go for a layup? He mixes it up better. When Al has the ball it seems like the defenders know just to bother his shot and the bigs get ready for a rebound.

3. To me it’s already a given that Baron’s bad percentage is hurting the team. He’s the “star” and it rightfully should fall on his shoulders when they lose. But he doesn’t need Al to make it worse. Yeah, if Al played smarter they still would probably be losing games but at least he wouldn’t be hurting the team and then people can be frustrated with the people who deserve it, like Baron or Zach.

by moKi on Dec 24, 2008 1:14 PM PST reply actions

I was trying to say that of course

Al is better when he is driving to the basket and not settling for the jumper. It is frustrating when he settles, and the game when he drove almost every time he touched the ball and only shot a few jumpers should have been a wake up call for him.

Baron owns more responsibility because he is a veteran and is the leader of this team. Can you think of another team in the league with a team leader who is shooting that bad? What can he say to Al with a 36% fg avg?

by oneight on Dec 24, 2008 11:40 PM PST up reply actions

I agree with everything that you have in this post, moKi.

If you’d been with me to the two games I’ve been to this year, than you’d know that I’ve nearly lost my voice yelling at Al to drive to the bucket. I hate when he stands on the wing, does five jab steps before throwing up a bad jump shot. I agree with CS, that Dunleavy should instituted the “one jab step rule” for Al. That way, he wouldn’t disrupt the offense, as you alluded to. Also, he’d stop being the black hole that I’ve come to hate about him.

However, it is those drives to the hoop that get me so high on Al. It seems like when he decides to put his head down, he becomes this other player. I have confidence that Al will become this player. I’m not saying be patient and Al’s going to magically transform. I do, though, firmly belive in Al’s potential. Does that mean I advocate giving him a free pass? HELL NO. I have ~~many~~ all of the same frustrations about Al that you do. I guess I just came off as overly supportive in that other comment. It’s more that I have confidence in Al and I think that this year has caused many Clipper fans to incorrectly and hastily label certain players (Not you, just others here on CN).

So that’s my two cents. Happy Holidays, everybody at CN.

by WestsideBrandon on Dec 24, 2008 4:03 PM PST reply actions