Perspective

by benoit benjamin on Oct 27, 2009 11:14 PM PDT

I haven't posted for a long time but thought I'd say a little bit after hearing some of the negativity after tonight's Laker game. Like most of you on here, I can't stand the Lakers and would love for the Clippers to blow them out every time they play one another. And I was frustrated that the Clippers didn't play better. However, we have to remember that this was the first game of the season. We played a team that won the championship last year and one that some are debating whether they'll break the Bull's all time win record.

We didn't look good for many parts of the game but there were some positives. Kaman's 18 points and 16 rebounds were nice and I'd be happy with those numbers all season. Eric Gordan looked very strong. Telfair and Smith had some strong moments. We didn't give up after a poor first half and get blown out; instead battling back to within a point entering the fourth quarter.

Yes, Baron, Thornton, and Butler had bad shooting nights. If one of those guys could have played halfway decent we may be talking about a Clipper win right now...despite the bad showing. The Lakers shot 20 more free throws than the Clippers, which really was the difference in the game.

If the team can put this game behind them and beat the Suns tomorrow night, then I'm sure the positive thinking will come back. Just remember, what we see depends on what we look for. The Clippers weren't going to go 82-0 this season. This is only one game. Give the team, and the individual players, a chance before writing them off. Go Clips!

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I agree

Good post. I thought the Clips could have won. They look better than last year, for sure

by ClipperMyth on Oct 27, 2009 11:22 PM PDT reply actions

Let's try to hold judgment on Baron...

He was obviously playing with pain tonight and probably wouldn’t have played if the whole Griffin thing didn’t happen.

And it’s not like he decided, “you know, after all this hard work this off season, i think i should just go out there on opening night and stink up the place and embarrass myself”. It’s unfortunate that his foot isn’t right – but I’m glad he played.

Tomorrow’s game against Phoenix should hopefully reduce the anxiety level that some us are feeling…

by banandy on Oct 27, 2009 11:29 PM PDT reply actions

Nicely written, BB.

"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 27, 2009 11:36 PM PDT reply actions

Great points....

Btw, can we all agree that Baron Davis is not the leader on this team now?

by NBAFAN8 on Oct 28, 2009 12:16 AM PDT reply actions

Whether or not

he is still a leader, its obvious that he cant lead a team with the skills he has combined with his injuries. we need someone else at the end of the season. i still hope he has a good season

by ClipperMyth on Oct 28, 2009 12:18 AM PDT up reply actions

I truly believe that...

Eric Gordon and Blake Griffin are the leaders of this team. Or atleast they should be. I really don’t think this team has a true leader, but that really doesn’t matter right now. I have coached basketball for 5 years and every year when the season begins, my teams do not have a leader, but before the season is half way through you know who the leaders are.

by NBAFAN8 on Oct 28, 2009 12:22 AM PDT up reply actions

Amen to that !!

Thats right tonight should be a diffrent result like B.B said its not like we are going to go 82-0 we played great its better than getting blown by 20-40 like we did last year

VAMOS CLIPPERS !!!!

by Westball3r98 on Oct 28, 2009 8:49 AM PDT reply actions

Definitely!

As I was watching the game last night, I kept saying that all the Clippers needed to do was stay within striking distance and make the Lakers work for it, which is exactly what they did. No one one living on planet Earth expected the Clippers to win that game, but they had a respectable showing that gives us something to build on. With all the negatives (the turnovers, poor shooting, and defensive lapses), there were several signs that this is a better Clipper team than last year. For one, the second unit is much improved over last year with Telfair, Smith and Jordan. Kaman had a solid game, and Gordon looks like he’s going to explode this season. And 9 rebounds for Al, including 6 on the offensive end. A win would have been incredible, but this was not a bad start. Now let’s beat the Suns!

by LA Creeper on Oct 28, 2009 8:50 AM PDT reply actions

not to be a bearer of bad news

but LAL had like 2nd and 3rd stringers for most of the 2nd quarter….

however we started the first really good against the LAL 1st unit for the entire quarter. we only messed up in the last few minutes…

its just when we messed up it was a disaster

(i’m talkin about turnovers)

by KidJustin on Oct 28, 2009 10:27 AM PDT reply actions

KidJustin-

The Clippers made their run in the third and then late in the fourth.

If you can think back the score at the end of 3 was 75-76 Lakers.

by NBAFAN8 on Oct 28, 2009 1:17 PM PDT reply actions

i know

but i was only talking about the first half

in the second quarter they didnt really make a run, but did a pretty good effort to close the 10 point gap from the first quarter (they did mess up in the end and kept it at 10 at the half)…but that’s mainly because lakers 2nd and 3rd stringers were in (ex. Mbenga taking a billion jump shots)

by KidJustin on Oct 28, 2009 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions