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Around SBN: SB Nation interviews Jerome Bettis

The "JV Team" v.s. The "Real Clippers"

It's pretty crazy to think about, but I really think that we've been watching a team closer to the actual Clippers than a JV team these last few games.  The JV team has just recently played a decently competitive game against the Lakers, actually finishing a margin better than the Spurs or Cavs have managed.  They've also been able to notch a couple actual wins, which is big for any Clipper team this year, and last night we watched them play the Trailblazers tough for 3 quarters, coming off a back to back w/ a short flight sandwiched inbetween.

A big reason the JV Team hasn't been a joke is that the Point Guard play has really stepped up in BD's absence.  Mardy Collins for a while, and lately Fred Jones has really been knocking down shots. With as bad as BD was playing this year, have we really been losing much here?  Trump card of course is that BD finds his past form, or at least something much better than what we've seen. 

DeAndre has also done a pretty good job filling in for Center.  He's no where near as reliable and steady as Camby, but he can make some pretty explosive plays that neither Kaman or Camby can.  And for all the wacked out stuff we see from DeAndre, don't a lot of those mistakes often remind you of another Clipper Center on our roster?  Hint: He's the longest tenured Clipper.

And Novak has been a huge boost offensively, and wouldn't have been getting this playing time otherwise.  Crazy as it sounds, I'd say the difference in those positions are pretty negligible.

Hands down the biggest difference in this JV Team we've been watching and the Real Clippers is Zach Randolph.  We've all seen we're a different team with him establishing a pecking order in our offense. 

And obviously, we'll have plenty of depth to look forward to once the Real Clippers are back in action...maybe we can even spare ourselves of an alleged (but highly suspicious) nba point guard currently on our roster. 

What the hope is though, is that the JV Team will have learned something from their experience fending for themselves.  EJ & AT will hopefully be better players for it, and be somewhat overqualified, or just better qualified for their roles.  Novak will be a regular contributor, our back-up point guard spot will be plenty robust, and project DeAndre status' might be changing to useful DeAndre. 

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i dont

think the lakers were trying too hard against the them. they were fooling around trying to let bynum score as much as possible.

by saintdee on Jan 27, 2009 11:06 AM PST reply actions  

Don't be fooled by relative success

The NBA season is long, and our opponents look at the lineup we’re putting on the floor and have difficulty getting their intensity level up. When Portland did in the fourth quarter last night, we saw what happened.

I am very happy about how well the JVs are playing. They are working hard, they are running some good sets. They’ve been a pleasant surprise. But there is a MAJOR talent discrepancy here. At the end of the day, you have Thornton and Gordon who would be starting on the wings, Novak who we agree should be getting some minutes for his shooting, and that’s probably it. DJ has had a great chance to develop, but I’d be hard pressed to give him more than a few minutes a game with Kaman, Camby and Randolph healthy if I were the coach.

And don’t forget about the need for a bench. We can barely take anyone out of the game at this point.

I would like the varsity back, please.

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 Jan 27, 2009 11:28 AM PST reply actions  

Main Points

Are that the PG & Center spots have been filled much better than expected, and I have to wonder how much they’ve been downgraded. If you look at BD + Kaman + Camby’s performance early in the season, we’re they really THAT much better than what we’ve seen this team do in the last five games? The record shows they’ve played at about the same level. And it’s all because they’ve been playing with a lot more intensity, that they’ve been able to make up for the talent downgrade.

by ghost_ride on Jan 27, 2009 12:46 PM PST up reply actions  

Well regardless...

We need them back because our guys are running out of gas! At least our bench looks deeper now.

by Newtybar on Jan 27, 2009 2:01 PM PST up reply actions  

“And for all the wacked out stuff we see from DeAndre, don’t a lot of those mistakes often remind you of another Clipper Center on our roster? Hint: He’s the longest tenured Clipper.”
====
Do you think Kaman’s tutoring is causing this?

by Newtybar on Jan 27, 2009 12:40 PM PST reply actions  

The Gordon & Jordan

show works for me. This was the best draft ever and at some point shouldn’t we have a discussion of Gordon being the best Clipper rookie ever? Another thread I’m sure.

by meercatjohn on Jan 27, 2009 2:51 PM PST reply actions  

Last years draft

was also great getting Al at 14 so 2 years on the trot we have bucked the recent trend of selecting crap.

Bingo!

by ClippersUK on Jan 27, 2009 3:05 PM PST up reply actions  

Yep

"Only dunk and go to the defense." Rudy Fernandez

by Sabonis4Ever on Jan 28, 2009 1:51 PM PST up reply actions  

Last couple of picks have been good

I preferred Bayless over Gordon at the time. I still think Bayless will be good, he’s shown alot in glimpses, but for the most part he is just stuck on a deep Blazers bench. Gordon I thought he was too short but it looks like his long arms will make up for it. If he keeps improving he could be a perennial all-star.

Al still needs to work on his all-around game as he’s a solid scorer and a decent rebounder but his defense and passing need work. He’ll be a solid 3 in the league for the next decade.

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 28, 2009 6:56 PM PST reply actions  

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