Clippers 91 - New Orleans 88 (Pre-season) - Glad That's Over With
by Steve Perrin on Oct 24, 2009 12:31 AM PDT
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PrintIn the first quarter of this one, it seemed like maybe it was going to be big fun. By my count, half of the Clippers first ten buckets were dunks, and it just felt like that was how it was going to go, with Sebastian Telfair throwing the ball up at the rim and Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan fighting over who got to throw it down. But when the second quarter rolled around, it was a different affair. A tedious affair. A man-I-can't-wait-for-the-regular-season-to-start affair.
In the end, the Clippers got the win, 91-88, and they finish the pre-season with 6 wins that don't count and 2 losses that don't count. It's a nice pre-season record - but it doesn't count.
The Clippers did not look sharp in this one, but fortunately the Hornets were playing without Chris Paul, and the Hornets without Paul are not much of a team. They were also missing their newly added center Emeka Okafor. That left David West to carry the load, which he tried to do. And for at least a quarter, Peja Stojakovic found his shot again. But the Hornets really didn't have a lot going for them tonight.
As for the Clippers, well Al Thornton had a good game, and DeAndre Jordan had a good game. And that's about it. No one else was better than mediocre, and a few of them were much, much worse. Chris Kaman couldn't make a shot, couldn't catch the ball, and for a bit couldn't seem to stand up. Telfair distributed well, with some highlight reel no-looks among his 8 assists, but for some reason he seemed bound and determined to make a three tonight, and of course he missed all four he tried - badly.
Meanwhile, earning praise for his efficiency lately, Blake Superior was anything but today. He was 3 for 9 from the field. He turned the ball over 4 times. These are things we're not used to from the guy. The irony is that he'll still lead SportsCenter tonight - the dunk he had in the third was breathtaking. But even though I watched four of the seven pre-season games Griffin played, I never saw him make an outside shot. According to box scores, he made a couple jumpers in San Antonio - but I sure haven't seen it yet. And until he has the jumper to keep the defenders honest, things are going to be tougher for him on offense.
Thornton led the team with 20 points on 8 for 11 shooting, and also had 6 rebounds, 3 of them on the offensive glass. It must also be said that many of his rebounds were hard won by Al - he was very active going after balls. It was nice to see from a guy who has the physical ability and size to be a very good rebounder for a three, but who has in reality been way below average his first two season.
Milph were making a point about how only Orlando has a better pre-season record as we come to the end, with Boston and the Lakers sharing the Clippers 6-2 mark. So while everyone knows that the preseason doesn't matter at all, it's worth noting that the strong teams generally have good records, while the weak teams generally have poor records, even this time of year.
So is the 6-2 pre-season mark an indication of things to come?
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Al or Rasaul?
Who would YOU start based on pre-season performances…
They’ve both been hot and cold so far, but at the moment I think I’m leaning towards Al.
by LancasterGordon4Eva on Oct 24, 2009 4:01 AM PDT reply actions
I like as a sixth man
Because of his activity in the second unit , the second unit is solid but can run into issues on the offensive end. His aggressive nature would help the second unit out. Nothing against al, I think the first team would already have ppl to shoot.
by Qlippers on Oct 24, 2009 6:58 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
AT all the way as the starting SF.
Sool off the bench as a 2 and Sool has to share the ball more or he may see the bench more then he prefers.
Everything starts out New, Gets Old and Dies or is Destroyed.
The block from amazin' griffin
On Hilton was just nasty. Meet Blake at yardhouse after the game, he was having dinner with his bother
by Qlippers on Oct 24, 2009 7:00 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Not sure that was
but that wasn’t Taylor at Yardhouse. He was having dinner with a pretty brunette and another guy, maybe his trainer.
At another table a bunch of other players were having a post-game meal (Telfair, DJ, Rhino, Sool at the very least).
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Oct 24, 2009 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions
...bound and determined
Isn’t the pre-season the place to try and get things going a little? I think its clear that Butler would be the starter, Al, the sixth. There Al can best be used unhindered.
by Takebb909 on Oct 24, 2009 7:54 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Butler and Thornton...
Didn’t we see something interesting last night with Thornton at the three and Butler at the two? I thought they played well together. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen the Clips with two big, quick, mobile wings like that. It made me think that Butler would be best used as as the primary backup at the two AND the three. That might be best implemented by starting Gordon and Thornton and Butler seeing 30 minutes behind them. Of course you could start Butler and give him minutes at the two as well.
I guess the biggest question for me is what’s up with NO? They just gave away Butler? You couldn’t do better than a trade exception for this guy? AND he’s an expiring contract?
Salary dump, they say
With cap issues, I suppose that they didn’t want another body. I don’t know why they couldn’t have worked for a better draft pick.
Since one of Butler’s nicknames is Phoenix, I was thinking now of other mythological names that might catch on with Griffin. How about a god of thunder/lightning/earthquakes/blazing heavenly objects (I’m sure there are several possibilities). Thor? Apollo? His offensive game may not yet be refined, but other team’s have been unsettled and found him all too impossible to ignore.
I agree, BTW, that Thornton and Butler looked good together. I look forward to seeing their combo out there this season. But all the arguments for Thornton as an effective, scoring 6th man make too much sense to me. If Thornton can be promised ~30 minutes per game anyway, plus his number called frequently, I don’t see why he should complain.
I refuse to be drawn into the nickname argument...
But why would you give the guy the name of a mythological character when he already has one?! Right? I mean… right? By the way, I just realized this, but I drive a car that bears the symbol of the name of this very mythological character. What kind of car do I drive?
Leeeeet's see...
A Mercury town car? A Chrysler LeBaron? (LeBaron- The ancient French god of point guards). I hear that a Corolla is an Apache term for earthworm.
I’m kind of slow at these things. Crap, give me a sec…
Firebird? That's actually a good one.
Or how about Zeus? I hear Geo makes one of those.
I know I know!
I drive one too, a Saab.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Oct 24, 2009 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Wow, I'm amazed!
To find that his Butler’s nickname really is ‘Phoenix’! Pretty arcane for a guy from South Philly.
If we’re going mythological creature for Griffin, the obvious one is a gryphon. Body of a lion (and, presumably the heart), and head and wings of an eagle.
I mean, it’s pretty easy to remember, at least.
From The American Heritage Dictionary:
From griffin also griffon or gryphon (grîf´en) noun -
A fabulous beast with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion.
Not a car model...
…but a symbol of a car manufacturer. The symbol is on my car on several spots.
You’re going to be tremendously disappointed when you find out. I’ll give you a hint: It’s not an American car. But actually it is. No, actually it was.
Saab
It was owned by GM until recently. I got one too.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Oct 24, 2009 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Crossed with you.
I got curious about Peugeot. I remember it vaguely. Another cool logo. A lion, not a griffin.
http://hicars.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Peugeot-Logo.jpg
what kind of Saab do you have?
Do you like it? Been looking to maybe get one sometime next year.
by dulciusEXasperis on Oct 24, 2009 4:38 PM PDT up reply actions
9-3 here
It’s a good car and you won’t see as many on the road as A4’s and BMW. That said the new TL, G37 and maybe the 1-series are the better buys.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Oct 24, 2009 5:23 PM PDT up reply actions
I hate the way the new TL looks
Almost allt he new Acuras have that new added grill that I just can’t stop saying “wow do people really think thats good looking?”
The G37 is a good car, but I see WAY too many of them. Might as well add some more power and get a G37S.
Btw, anybody here have an 08 VW GTI? I’ve been thinking that maybe I should try out the car, but running around 200hp doesnt satisfy me and its gonna tempt me to try an stage1 or stage 3 apr chip…
I have an old 9-5.
Built in Sweden. I bought it because it’s the only big wagon I could find with a manual transmission. (I know, I’m weird. I’m a twenty year Clipper fan too). It’s klunky but lots of room for kids and dogs and all my junk. It’s not fast, doesn’t handle well, has great seats, a terrible radio, the key is in the console just because.
I love the key in the console
Makes sense, why have keys dangling near your knee?
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Oct 25, 2009 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions
lets not talk about cars
and talk about Blake Griffin being injured.
Where do you read about it?
Or can you fill me in? BOTH knees? Bruised, sprained, etc? And just for Tuesday? Damn.
It's in Lisa Dillman's LA Times blog also her twitter.
It’s just one knee. The same one he injured right before preseason. There’s swelling and he will get it checked out tomorrow.
It happened after the crazy dunk on NO during Friday’s game.
Theres something called
a Griffin edition Sedan for Saab when I started to look up Saab. Intresting…
Anyways, quick question dulcius, what are you looking for in a car? Preformance, luxury, gas saver?
For the price of Saab, why not look around for like, i dont know, an Audi A4- A6 or a 3 series?
I personally recommend the Audi’s because of their DSG Transmission system, which you canc hoose if you want to drive Manuel or Automatic. In another words, a clutchless manuel, or just regular auto.
Definitely the 3 Series over the A4
the Saab is 5-10k less for a similarly equipped A4. If you are going to spend 35-45k go the the Beemer or the G37.
You won’t find any unique cars at the price range, its a entry level luxury compact sedan so you can’t expect it to be rare like a Ferrari, Aston Martin or Bentley.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Oct 24, 2009 7:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, but Audi's like in a class of its own
the LED lights are amazing on that thing.
But your right, preformance wise, the Audi and Saab seems to give the same preformance. Both seem to be 4 cylender engine with turbo. The difference would be whether you want that extra logo. Btw, I personally think Audi’s turn more heads. I could be wrong though.
But at around 45k, and you want power, why not just go for American. They might not have the best of a reputation, but they sure have some power under the hood. A 2010 Shebly GT has a v8 inside with 540hp inside the hood. Not to mention its a manuel.
Btw, Chuck, do you prefer a 4 cynlinder or 6?
4 Cylinder
Obvious the 6 would have more power but it also eats up more gas and its not like you get these cars for street racing. You can buy a powerful car (like a Corvette) for about 50k and it would kill these sedans on the track but the interior of American cars is generally lacking.
I’ll probably get a M3 next time, awesome performance and nice features and the pricing is pretty reasonable compared to its competition (Carrera, R8 cost a lot more).
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Oct 24, 2009 9:45 PM PDT up reply actions
It really depends how you want to put it
4 cylinders will lack more power (hp and torque) but can rev higher than a 6. I found that an 08 v6 260hp accord wasnt able to top a 08 jetta wolfs (2.0t) 200hp. Speaking auto of course, the DSG transmission plays a role ( D-Shift-Sport) vs regular auto, but I felt that because the v6 was a bit slower in shifting gears, the Vtec (haha i hate vtec _" might as well go euro and get a stock turbo) doesnt kick in as well as the stock turbo in the jetta. I could be wrong, the torque might very well outst the Jetta, but when my girlfriend and I were pushing out cars, we felt that the after 20 or 30, the Jetta sure was kicking some ass.
Hm, intresting choice for the an M3. Are you thinking about an M3 coupe? Isn’t the M3 faster than the R8? Kinda sucks cause the r8 sure its one of the best looking cars of the decade! That and the Masserati Grandturismo.
Or ....
VW has the TDI Jetta, and I think they’ve stuffed that diesel into a Golf, too. Terrific mileage, (better than Prius), and incredible torque.
I guess when we make recommendations they’re based on our own situations.
ClipperChuck got it above. Date stamp 2:11pm
Peugot was a nice guess though. GM gave Saab back to the Swedes after driving the brand into the ground for fifteen years. Weird car.
The logo:
http://www.saabhistory.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/saab_logo_2000_present_small.jpg
Yep
Those quirky Swedes. I always joked they would have much better sales numbers if they partnered up with Ikea, another big Swedish company. Hopefully it wouldn’t require self-assembly.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Oct 24, 2009 3:52 PM PDT up reply actions
I drive a Saab
Only it’s really a Subaru. The 9-2X. GM decided they needed a competitor for the Audi A3 5 door, so they took the Subaru WRX (they had a large stake in Subaru at the time, not sure if they still do but I doubt it) and rebranded it as a Saab.
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 24, 2009 7:33 PM PDT up reply actions
Zhiv is a Prius-driving DFH
Which shouldn’t be a surprise. The ZhivWife has a Subaru Outback wagon, which is a nice car, but it could get better gas mileage.
My dilemma is that my kids are beginning to clamor for cars. My daughter drove my old Volvo but it died as she was leaving for college. A car would be very handy for her back at school in Connecticut, although it’s not really necessary. The ZhivSon is 15+ and his friends are driving. So I feel some sort of car accession coming on. I’ve been trying to steer towards a Honda Fit, which I’ve heard good things about (15K, 40mph). Any other suggestions?
Will gas go back up above $4 again soon? Have to say that I like paying half as much to go twice as far in my Prius. The ZhivWife hates it though and always calls it The Tin Can.
by citizen zhiv on Oct 25, 2009 9:06 AM PDT up reply actions
I was referring to the 9-2...
I thought those were nice looking cars, but of course, GM didn’t know how to market them. But as I get older I feel like a bug in those little cars (the Honda Fit is tiny). My goofy 9-5 gets 35mpg on the highway (it’s a turbo-4), then like 15mpg in town. The best of one world. If you jam the gas and the turbo kicks in while you’re in a hard turn it jerks the wheel right out of your hands. It’s not boring, I’ll give it that.
I’ve driven a Prius. It’s the most boring car ever built isn’t it? I know it’s anachronistic but I need three pedals and a gearbox.
Heh try shifting down at 3k and literally flooring it
(Probably not a good thing for your car, but if your racing or want to remember what a car can do, it makes life a bit more fun.)
Zhiv’s: if your looking for cheap, reliability, and somewhat gas efficient (but not as efficient as a hybrid), why not aim for a corolla? I know you said the fit gets 40mph (MPG LOL that’d be a pretty damn slow car then!), but looking it up on yahoo, it seems to only get 33 on highway on yahoo. Most of the time, you have to add in traffic, stop lights, stop signs, etc etc. Corolla gets a bit more mpg at 35 on yahoo, and has slightly less power; but approx 3-5k more. If not, why not just get a smart car. :P
Anyone here on 2 wheels ? I just bought my second bike today, 07 Suzuki Gsxr600 the thing is ridiculously fast. I want to say 0-60 in 3 seconds ? somewhere around there.
my last car was a honda s2000, really fun. Sold it, and now im exclusively on 2 wheels, hope it doesn’t get too cold. I need my carpool lane to get to school !!
I've been considering a bike
cheaper than a car, faster than a car, and all around funner than a car. I’ve been a bit worried, however, about raining or when it gets VERY cold. Do I really want to go through that? Likewise, an accident seems life threatening, and understanding my need for speed, me on a motorcycle would most likely lead to a disaster.
Do you feel as if its ALOT more dangerous
is it a common misconception about bikes?
Btw, how was your s2k. The more I look at the specs, the slower it seems. I was just looking it up a bit on the main page and I got this : “Are you ready for 237 hp at 7800 rpm and 162 lb-ft of torque at 6800 rpm.” 162 torque? 237 only? I know its light, but I felt as if the s2k could have added a bit more punch inside a 34-37k car.
Well there always heated gear and whatnot for cold weather but I haven’t been riding in the winter yet so Im not sure. and yes bikes are alot more dangerous because car’s will try to kill you all the time. I’ve had several close calls, mostly from cars changing lanes into me and the usual “i didnt see him” kinda thing.
You just have to be aware and leave your ego behind at home, the real miscinception is that bikes are cheaper. Obviously a 10K bike vs. a 20k car will be cheaper but a 10K bike vs. a 10K car, the bike will cost more. Sportbikes especially eat up tires quickly (5-8k miles), maintenence cost more and is needed more frequently. The only real benifit is gas milage which varies by bike. 40mpg+ is pretty much a given though. However, there really is no comparison as far as fun factor goes. The s2k wasn’t that fast honestly, it was fun though. It;s a rev happy car, and meant to be ridden hard.
You might, however get annoyed by the noise and stiff suspension if you’re just commuting but I enjoyed it. Its not THAT fast but its fast enough, especially if you keep the revs up and past 6K (Vtec mode). No comparison vs. a sportbike though, the GSXR600 goes 80mph in 1st gear, 0-60 in 3 seconds and has a top speed of 160-170, which is faster than pretty much 99.9% of the cars in the streets.
You should also know that the faster the bike, the higher the learning curve. I would advise any new rider to first take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course and start slow. Start off on a 250 or a 500, I see too many new riders jumping on 600’s and either crashing or dropping their bikes. like I said, going WOT on a 600 in 1st can get you into 80mph in a hurry. Im not sure what kind of bikes you are into, but if you’re into just commuting a supersport is not advisable. The riding position is very aggressive and long rides can (will) cause wrist/back/neck pain, Im riding to school on the new bike and it can get uncomfortable, especially if you have to split though traffic. You could look into naked bikes which have a more upright seating position and there’s less damage if its dropped or crashed. Do your research for sure, riding motorcycles is a serious choice. and always wear gear.
Thanks for the heads up.
you probably won’t even see this msg; but ill thank you later.
Definitley into sportsbike, always been a fan of Suzuki’s; but ill be honest, I know literally NOTHING about bikes.
Btw, I never completely understood VTEC, or even DOHC-VTEC for that matter. Never been a fanboy of japanese cars… The most I get is, it goes faster in higher RPM’s; but with Turbos, they begin regardless…
So yeah, pretty evident I prefer a 2.0t over a Vtec car… Does Vtec really make a car faster? What happens if your cars an auto and tends to shift earlier on his own?
Sool was a salary dump
And since the Hornets are over the cap it was essentially double his normal salary.
Seeing how he’s to make 3.945 million this year, in actual cost it would be 7.89 million. They already have Peja, Mo Pete and James Posey at the position so they figured it wouldn’t be a big drop off (not to mention those 3 guys are overpaid and have longer contracts, thus hard to move in this economy).
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Oct 24, 2009 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Forgot to add
they also have Julian Wright who also should be playing more.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Oct 24, 2009 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions
I was just looking at their salaries...
That is one expensive roster. Chris Paul and a lot of expensive guys who are okay.
David West is better than okay
and he’s a relative bargain given his production I think. Peja (14mil/yr), Mo Pete (6mil/yr), Songalia (4.5mil/yr) and Posey (6mil/yr) is awful though.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Oct 24, 2009 3:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Yup.
I think they have two more years on all those guys though. And then CP will probably be gone. It’s really a terrible situation. No wonder Byron Scott looks wound up tighter than a watch. Maybe Okafor and Collison help, but I don’t know.
Butler and Thornton together....
We tend to get hung up on first unit/second unit, as it there will be five guys subbing in together. But not only is that not true, it’s also unlikely that there will be 10 bodies in the regular rotation. In fact, if there are 10, it will include more bigs because those guys need minutes, and Camby and Kaman would be better limited to fewer minutes.
What I’m saying is, the wing rotation is likely going to be EJ, Butler and Thornton, three guys covering two spots. Blake Griffin will get a couple minutes at the three, Baron may play with Telfair some, Rush and Ricky will see some court time… but the lion’s share of wing minutes will be split between EJ, Butler and Thornton. So it follows that Butler and Thornton will play together plenty.
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 24, 2009 7:40 PM PDT up reply actions
I sense Rush getting more mins than you might perceive, with him averaging about 12 mins a game. He is that active and productive. I still see Ricky D being gone within a month. He is now just a square peg in this round hole.
by Takebb909 on Oct 25, 2009 10:44 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Rush's contract would become guaranteed when?
Around the first of January, right? They’d only buyout Ricky if they need the roster spot. I think that only happens if Baron or Telfair suffers an injury (perish the thought).
Supposing that they can't trade Ricky D...
…what would it cost to cut him? Maybe the Clips would never really do this, but I’d like to know anyways. I don’t know the salary rules here. I notice that the TWolves have bought out a couple contracts recently, and it seems to be for less $ than the contract value.
With KRush now added, Ricky D stands to get zero time, and if his attitude deteriorates, a buy-out may be the smart thing to do. I know that in theory RD was supposed to be a trading chip, but at this point it’s hard to imagine another team wanting him. Do you keep such a guy around on the marginal chance that his contract numbers will help to balance out and facilitate a larger trade?
Good view of Thornton
This was the second time in the preseason that Thornton was a solitary bright spot for a sustained second half stretch, getting a victory for the team, albeit in a meaningless game. As SP notes, his hustle on the boards was evident and welcome, and he was hitting shots at a point when everybody else on both teams seemed relatively ineffective.
It seems obvious that Thornton is going to get plenty of minutes and be another strong Clipper asset. Butler is going to be a great fit and he’ll hit some shots, but Thornton will probably be more effective and productive in the long run. It was really nice to see that they seemed to be a good fit as a tandem at the wings too. It doesn’t matter who starts, as much as the strength of the rotations for the Clippers. Thornton is going to be fine.
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