Clippers 108 - Maccabi 96 (Pre-Season)
by Steve Perrin on Oct 20, 2009 10:40 PM PDT
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PrintThe Clippers steadily pulled away in the second half against the Israeli league champs and EuroLeague stalwart, building a 19 point lead by the end of the third quarter. Maccabi actually scored the last 8 points of the game to make the final score of 108-96 a little more respectable.
I don't think there's a whole lot to over analyze here. The Clippers beat a team they were supposed to beat (unlike when they lost to CSKA in Moscow three pre-seasons ago). Blake Superior had one of those lines that we're already getting used to: 13 points on 6 for 7 shooting, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 turnover. The way he's playing right now, he could lead the team in assist-to-turnover ratio from the power forward spot. His six baskets came on three dunks (two of them alley oops, and one of them off an inbounds pass), two tip ins and a layup. I'm telling you, he can average 15 without making a jumper - and he'd lead the league in FG percentage in the process. There's really no telling what he'll score if he continues to develop the shot.
Chris Kaman had a big third quarter and finished with a team high 18 points on 8 for 13 shooting, but 6 turnovers is not what we want to see from him.
Overall, it's the kind of box score you might expect from a team playing an exhibition against an undermanned opponent. Seven Clippers scored in double figures, the team shot 55%, it's all pretty good (except the 18 turnovers). Seven of the turnovers came from the point guards, who otherwise played a terrific game. Sebastian Telfar, in only his second pre-season appearance, combined with Baron Davis to score 25 points and hand out 15 assists in 44 minutes, which is not bad at all.
Marcus Camby and Al Thornton continued to rest their minor injuries.
With the surprise revelation from Lisa D today that Kareem Rush would be starting the season with the team, there are no more roster decisions to be made in pre-season. Now, it's just about figuring out rotations, and getting this thing started. There's one more pre-season game, Friday at Staples versus the Hornets (that one's on TV). And then in one week - the season actually begins!
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And other interesting news...
The real refs are close to an agreement with the NBA, Steve Nash rolled an ankle, and our beloved Sessions tonight logged MINUS 38 in 19 minutes against Denver. Kareem Rush, on the other, has 4 assists and 4 rebounds. I suspect he’ll beat out Ricky Davis on the depth charts. Can he play the point at all? It would be funny to see him move ahead of Collins.
hmmm
I was never a fan of Sessions. Telfair is a better facilator who doesn’t look for his own shot first, aLa Jason Kidd. The last thing we needed was another Baron jacking up bricks until he found his shot. Bassy will make your jaw drop at least once a game, with his amazin(g) ball handling and passing ability.
Doesn't need to play PG
Rush is less of a functional PG than either Eric Gordon or Mardy Collins. But that’s to his credit. I’ve ignored the possibility that he would make the team until now, because it seemed to go against prior policy, but now that it has happened I’m excited about it. He’s a very good back-up to Eric Gordon, and it creates interesting ripples through the wing rotations.
Rush can shoot and score and he’s a relatively pure wing. Obviously he’s a better defender than Steve Novak, which isn’t saying much, but it’s important to have another wing who can shoot available to put out on the floor. The question is whether the addition of Rush might cost Thornton some minutes. It will probably make it tough for Mardy Collins to find minutes, but Collins is still the best bench wing defender (if Butler starts). The best defensive option against big, athletic SFs is probably Blake Griffin. It’s all rather complex, but in a good way.
And yes, it should move Ricky Davis back further on the depth chart.
by citizen zhiv on Oct 21, 2009 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions
you think its a partially guaranteed deal?..
since dunleavy did say “you’ll be starting the season with the team”, and not “you made the team”. maybe its a partially guaranteed deal that has salary guarantees at certain points in the season, making him expendable in case a 2 for 1 deal presents itself or an injury occurs and another area of the roster needs more depth. just wondering what the specifics are…
How come nobody was cheering
when the clips score? Weird…
Maccabi Drowns in BLake Superior
Good to see BLake continue his Superior play, dominating all opponents into submission! Their inferior players were no match for the unmatched superiority of this year’s #1 man!
DJ Mbenga has already fallen into Blake Superior! Now add no name foreigners to the list of those drowned.
How many others will be innundated by the giant wave hitting all shores off BLake Superior?
Bitter.
I’ve refrained from joining the nickname argument (because it’s meaningless) but MoKi can’t get by it. So, which is worse, “Blake Superior” or “Amazin’”? (The Amazin’ Mets, Vince “Half-a-man, half a-mazing” Carter. Now those were nicknames.)
You might wish to read this before you proclaim moKi as bitter...
http://www.clipsnation.com/2009/10/7/1075189/blake-superior-protest#22466970
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted" – Albert Einstein
by Another son of Mike Smith on Oct 21, 2009 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions
swami - I am not bitter
At this point, I’m just rollin with it and havin some fun ala Steve’s request for snappier BLake lines. It is sarcasm yes, but funny, no?
Initially I was really against the Superior part but now that I’ve focused more on the Lake part it seems funny to me. I sigh no longer, just laugh every time Steve uses it. Seems like BLake will drown others in wins and maybe dry up in losses? Or maybe The BLake freezes over? Whatever, I’ll have to come up with something if actually has a bad game….
It’s pre-season, CN doesn’t seem to like “Amazin” (no “g” on purpose) – I don’t care anymore. Everyone’s rolling with whatever they like at this point – Force, Iron Man, Blaketacular, Chocolate Bam Bam, Bad Mama Jama, Okie Dog, Blitzkrieg, Opie1, B32, AirForceOne, Jingle Jam, Pony Express, Next Day Air, The Shocker, Bash, Jama, Triple D, Poster Boy, Rock, Wonder Boy, Twista, Jam Jam, Stuff…
nice
Now that we’re talking about basketball again elsewhere I don’t mind a little nickname discussion. Rollin with it is right. SP dropping the occasional Blake Superior is amusing. Don’t know about Amazin yet. Could be fun. Letting it breathe a little while.
The funny part to me about moKi’s BLake is the idea that CNation might become the home of the double capital. It started with FElton, which I use religiously. Adding BLake would be a big step in the same direction. Wonder what SPerrin thinks.
by citizen zhiv on Oct 21, 2009 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions
BLake
I’m actually fascinated with the fixation on the Lake thing. His name is Blake. I didn’t give him the name Blake.
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 Oct 22, 2009 1:33 AM PDT up reply actions
I wasn't bein' serious...
Yes, the BLake Superior headlines are pretty funny and Steve deserves skewerin’ for his relentless pimpin’. Actually, I haven’t been followin’ the earlier nickname threads except they became unavoidable. I figure the nickname thing will just keep evolvin’ and then we’ll all be goin’ with whatever keeps risin’ to the top.
can't wait to see the day
when DJ is fully developed and playing the starting C along side Blake Griffin as they face Dwight Howard’s team
…that game alone will have around 1,000 dunks.
The "Amazin' " Blake Griffin
According to the LA Times the Clipper players have decided that Blake Griffin’s official nickname should be Amazin’ that’s correct " Amazin’ ". For some reason along with Gray, McNeal and Roberson the nickname “Blake Superior” didn’t make the cut or the seasons roster with either Blake Griffin or his teammates. Insiders report that the nickname was the last cut.
Rush Rebounding
Ricky, EJ, and Butler combined for 4 rebounds. Rush grabbed 4 rebounds himself. Maybe that’s a reason why he made the team…
Listened to the Radio
and all the cheers were for the opposing team, that was odd.
Good job on Kareem making the team and can we put the debate over BG’s nickname to rest.
About the cheers ...
The preliminary bout was between two Orthodox Jewish high schools, and the Staples receipts went to help an Israeli orphanage. Not hard to understand that our Clips didn’t get much love.
For myself, I think ‘Blake Superior’ is more of a headline type name, than an everyday nickname. ‘Pinhead’ lovers might like ‘Griffy.’
plus the game was not offered to STHs
So you had to buy extra tickets specifically for the game.
by STUCK IN LA on Oct 21, 2009 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions
No STHs
That’s interesting. I did not know that.
You know, as I was chatting with Clipper blogger Kevin Arnovitz and Laker blogger Andrew Kamenetzky on Clippers Media, which happened to be Yom Kippur, they mentioned that there are some people of the Jewish faith in the greater LA area. Who knew?
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 Oct 21, 2009 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions
Takes the rooting for laundry situation
to a creepy new level though.
When I buying my half season package, my rep said that even though this game was played in Staples (and this it would stand to reason that it was a Clippers game), the entire game was managed as an event by Maccabi – not by the Clips – and the gate proceeds went to them.
I’m assuming the Clips get a cut of that… or perhaps they don’t and it’s DTS’ contribution to the nonprofit that was the beneficiary of the event.
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted" – Albert Einstein
by Another son of Mike Smith on Oct 21, 2009 10:54 AM PDT reply actions
Maccabi sadness
There was a note somewhere that a key former coach or player from Maccabi had killed himself back in Israel on Monday. Did that come up anywhere? Sad.
Jam-Jam?
For some reason, I’m liking it. Boyish face with strength of a man, Bam-Bam’s little brother, Jam-Jam?
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