Salvaging the Season

by ghost_ride on Jan 14, 2009 12:11 PM PST

It's amazing to think of our once 8-18 record as the good old days. Some of us still dreamed that a herculean finish to the season could allow us to sneak into the playoffs. Now, we keep hearing players and coaches talking about "Trying to Salvage the Season".

Dunleavy was on AM710 last night doing a pretty good job of explaining why we're in the spot that we're in, citing injuries, and that BD isn't as worthless as he seems (8 assists per game), he's just off to a poor shooting start. Apparently, his objective is to get all the players back healthy and show the fan base what the team is capable of heading in to next year, which isn't much of a surprise. Whether he'll be able to effectively lead a disorganized, talent-laden team is another question for the beleaguered head coach & gm.

The current losing streak has seen us play competitively against the better teams in the league, but then so have other bottom feeders like OKC & Minnesota. With any given team seemingly capable of victory on any given night in the NBA, the ability to close out games may be the biggest difference between the winners and losers, and one area we've proven to be especially deficient. All weaknesses seem to arise when the game is on the line: Lack of team chemistry, judgement, focus, leadership, execution, determination.

As we start to see our team get healthy again, hopefully we'll get to evaluate fair and square what this team will be capable of heading into next year.

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Interesting...

I received a phone call from my Clippers ticket rep a couple weeks ago, essentially gauging how I felt about the season as 2008 drew to a close. I told him I wasn’t going anywhere, so no worries (they were still going to get my $$), and that I understood the situation with the injuries and adjustments, etc. He was happy to hear that I am not as put-off by this season as apparently a lot of season ticket holders are. He even went as far as saying the upgrade potential for seats next year appears to be the best it has been in a while. And while we were at it, he said he would upgrade my seats for an upcoming game as a sort of thank you.
I know there were a TON of new season ticket holders the year after the Clippers made the playoffs, and they have been steadily retreating ever since. This was the first phone call I had ever received from my rep asking me directly how I felt about the organization. Sounds as if the organization finally realizes that they can’t bank on the potential from that ONE season that they made the playoffs, and are at least attempting to do something about it.
I like the potential of this lineup when healthy, and would like nothing better than to see it realized sometime this season. Not sure a lot of people are willing to wait much longer though.

by Clip Show on Jan 14, 2009 1:21 PM PST reply actions

re:

They gave me an upgrade seat against the Raptors. Sat on the floor, three rows back. Those rows are makeshift seats, very tightly put together so much less room the your normal seats. However the view was awesome.
I see no way I’m coming back, I’ve skipped so many games this year it makes no sense for me. When I want to go I’ll buy the tickets cheap on Ebay and save myself thousands.

Every year we say the same thing “I like the potential of this lineup when healthy” but it never happens. I’ll still be a fan but I doubt I’ll be a season ticket holder anymore.

Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen

by Phil Gurnee on Jan 14, 2009 3:12 PM PST up reply actions

Can't really blame you

I almost feel the same way with my tickets. Fortunately I have a big family that likes to watch basketball (not just specifically the Clippers), so I am able to get rid of my tickets relatively easy. It is definitely not easy being a Clippers fan, that much I know.
Hopefully my upgraded seats will be as good as yours. :)

by Clip Show on Jan 14, 2009 3:25 PM PST up reply actions

They need to show a commitment to truly be better

They want us to spend money, well then they better be prepared to spend money in order to make money.

There are other struggling teams looking to rebuild. We have a high draft pick (maybe even another late lottery pick from Minnesota) to barter with some players. For us, making the playoffs is a cause for celebration, we really aren’t that far off from that goal if management pulls their heads out of their ass and make a couple of smart trades.

Trade Camby and Minnesota’s future 1st rounder or this years 1st rounder for Caron Butler. I think we pass the Suns and the Mavs with that. Utah might lose Boozer this summer as well.

We’re not asking for a championship here, the playoffs or any legitimate reason to follow the season past New Year’s is all we ask for.

No man is happy without a delusion of some kind. Delusions are as necessary to our happiness as realities. -Christian Nestell Bovee

by ClipperChuck on Jan 14, 2009 11:59 PM PST reply actions

You need to start with competent management

Without that you can forget it.

by Jax on Jan 15, 2009 9:18 AM PST up reply actions

It's also tough without a dominant player

Getting a star player somehow would be nice…LeBron James, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard are keys to their teams success, though most of them needed years to get the right players around them.

by ghost_ride on Jan 15, 2009 9:10 PM PST up reply actions

Competent management first, good players second

by Jax on Jan 15, 2009 11:30 PM PST up reply actions

It's obviously a mix, competentmanagement.com

by ghost_ride on Jan 16, 2009 12:40 AM PST up reply actions

Butler Trade Isn't Likely

I can’t see why the Wiz would want to get even older by trading Caron for Camby. If they have anything to build around, that core starts with Caron. He’s got a very reasonable contract and is entering his prime. Meanwhile, Camby plays hard, produces better than anyone on the team, and his contract only becomes more attractive as it ages. He doesn’t seem to want to leave so we need to keep him for at least the rest of the season.

by ClipCat on Jan 15, 2009 12:57 PM PST up reply actions

Wiz could consider it

The core of Arenas, Butler and Jamison isn’t going to get it done. They could move Camby for something else. They would definitely like a top draft pick. If they prefer Kaman I think we’d consider it. A legit starting center in his prime with a solid contract plus a top 5 pick has to be enticing.

I would say we are rebuilding but then I have to ask from what. We have to had actually built something in order to rebuild it.

No man is happy without a delusion of some kind. Delusions are as necessary to our happiness as realities. -Christian Nestell Bovee

by ClipperChuck on Jan 16, 2009 3:00 AM PST up reply actions