Clippers @ Utah - Game Preview
by Steve Perrin on Oct 30, 2009 1:52 AM PDT
in Game Previews
27 comments
2009/2010 NBA Regular Season
vs.
0-2 0-1
Energy Solutions Arena
October 30th, 2009, 6:00 PM
Prime Ticket, 980 AM
Probable starters:
Baron Davis
PG
Deron Williams
Eric Gordon
SG
Ronnie Brewer
Al Thornton
SF
Andrei Kirilenko
Marcus Camby
PF
Carlos Boozer
Chris Kaman
C
Mehmet Okur
The Back Story:
- First meeting. Utah swept the series last season 3-0. If you're curious, the Clippers actually play a team they managed to beat at least once last season tomorrow when Dallas comes to LA.
- The Big Picture:
The Clippers have opened the season 0-2 after leading most of the second half against Phoenix Wednesday night only to lose in the final seconds. In a game as dependent on emotion as basketball, the risk is that the team will get into a tailspin if the season starts poorly, especially considering the ill-timed injury news on Blake Griffin the day before the season started. And with Utah and Dallas in back-to-backs, the Clippers could easily have 4 losses before November, which would pretty much have to be an NBA record for worst October record of all time. The fact that the Clippers are 1-38 in Utah since the 80s (that's not a typo, 1 win, 38 losses, almost 20 years) - well, let's just say that unless you believe in the law of averages and think the Clippers are about to go on a sustained Utah winning streak, it doesn't bode well. Having said that, the team has actually played well for long stretches in the first two games. Chris Kaman and Marcus Camby were great against Phoenix, Eric Gordon has been impressive, Baron Davis has played well. They just really, really need to play a 48 minute game and get a win. Can they do it in Salt Lake City?
The Antagonist:
Utah finished last season in a funk. They were 2-7 in their final nine regular season games (with one of the wins coming against the Clippers, naturally). Then they lost to the Lakers in the Playoffs, 1-4. And they opened this season with a loss at Denver Wednesday. So I have them at 3-12 over their last 15 NBA games. And that's terrible news for the Clippers. These guys need a win as badly as the Clippers do. And this game happens to be their home opener - there will be a big crowd, with Halloween costumes and free hats and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (though not during the game itself hopefully). Why the team is 3-12 in their last 15 is a bit of a mystery, because the roster is loaded. Deron Williams currently holds the title "Best NBA player not to have made an All Star team", while Carlos Boozer, Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur all have been All Stars. Ronnie Brewer is an effective and efficient wing, and Paul Millsap is a productive (and now expensive) power forward off the bench. With Matt Harpring's career essentially over (he remains on the roster as an expiring contract in case they get a chance to trade him) and Kyle Korver having undergone surgery a couple days ago, the bench is pretty thin right now past Millsap - but who cares with that starting lineup? Still, if ever there was a team experiencing some bad chemistry, it would be the Jazz. Carlos Boozer had one foot out the door all last season, and the only reason he didn't opt out of the final year of his contract is because of the terrible economy this summer. Suddenly finding him still on their roster, the Jazz spent most of the off-season trying to trade him after they re-signed his ostenisble backup Millsap for 4/$32M. Boozer remains on most people's short list of 'most likely to be traded'. So know, it's not the healthiest situation in Utah right now.
The Subplots:
- UPDATE: Hat tip to Citizen sqreback, as I had missed this. Okur hurt his knee and his ankle against Denver Wednesday, and although he returned to that game, he did not practice yesterday. If Okur is limited, it helps the Clippers' chances tremendously.
- Schedule confusion? Note that the NBA schedule says that this game starts at 6PM Pacific time (which makes sense for a 7 PM tip in Salt Lake City, in the Mountain Time Zone), but that Prime Ticket program guide seems to think it starts at 5 PM Pacific, an hour earlier. Just in case, I set the DVR to record from 5 PM until 9 PM, but I'm 99% certain that the game starts at 6.
- Matching up with the bigs. The Utah bigs have usually been murder on the Clippers. Neither Kaman nor Camby really wants to stay home with Mehmut Okur on the three point line. And Boozer's combination of strength and quickness is a tough cover for a lot of players (he's another one I'd like to see Giffin defend). Then there's Millsap, who single-handedly beat the Clippers in an early game last season. Since neither Boozer nor Millsap are particularly big, this might be a good game to see some more of Craig Smith. And hopefully Kaman can at least dish out some punishment to Okur on offense, even if Okur lights up Kaman on the other end.
- Baron vs. Deron. A few seasons ago, Baron Davis was one of the top point guards in the league and Deron Williams was a young up and coming player. Last season, there was no comparison. For the Clippers to have a chance against good teams, Baron will have to hold his own against the top point guards.
- Millsap. Paul Millsap is one of those very active undersized power forwards that has killed the Clippers in recent years. Among the others are Carl Landry and ... Craig Smith. Now that Smith is a Clipper, will LA be able to fight fire with fire? Smith had a nice game against the Lakers and then was pretty dreadful against Phoenix. But Utah would seem to be a better game for him than Phoenix. Both Camby and Kaman were forced to play huge minutes Wednesday since Smith was ineffective and MDsr didn't trust DeAndre Jordan against the Suns. It would be really helpful if the Clippers actually got some productivity from their backup bigs tonight.
- Keeping it close? In the three meetings last season, the Jazz won by 22, 16 and 19, and average margin of victory of 19 points. The first step in getting a win in Utah will be to keep the game close until the end.
- Rebounding. The Clippers were outrebounded by the Suns last night, which should never, ever happen. Kaman had one rebound at halftime, and tried to redeem himself with 8 second half rebounds. The team needs to take their rebounding responsibilities serious from the first quarter tonight.
- Without looking it up, match the player to his country or state of birth:
Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur, Kosta Koufos, Kyrylo Fesenko, Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams.
Greece, Germany, Alaska, Ohio, Turkey, Russia, West Virginia, Ukraine. -
Movie Quote:
Velma Kelly - Chicago (2002). OK, so I probably shouldn't even bring this up with you people, but yes, I like musicals. I was a bit dubious about the casting in this one - Richard Gere was appropriately slimy for Billy Flynn, but he didn't have the voice for it. And I didn't really get Renee Zellweger as Roxie at all. But Catherine Zeta-Jones won me over with her Velma - who know she could dance?'C'mon Babe, why don't we paint the town... And all that Jazz.
I'm gonna rouge my knees and roll my stockings down... And all Jazz.
Start the car I know a whoopie spot... where the gin is cold and the piano's hot.
It's just a noisy hall, where there's a nightly brawl... And all that Jazz. - Get the Jazz perspective at SLC Dunk.
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Andrei Kirilenko – Russia
Mehmet Okur – Turkey
Kosta Koufos – Greece
Kyrylo Fesenko – Ukraine
Carlos Boozer – Ohio
Deron Williams – West Virginia
GO CLIPS!
Flip Flop?
Boozer and Koufos? I would say Koufos from Ohio considering he went to Ohio State for a year. I remember something about Boozer actually being born out of the country, maybe it was his dad playing professionally in Greece.
unless you believe in the law of averages and think the Clippers are about to go on a sustained Utah winning streak, it doesn’t bode well.
Are there people who don’t believe in the law of averages in general?
But more to the point, that stat about losses back to the 80’s doesn’t make me feel great, but considering some of those losses came before Eric Gordon was even born, I don’t think it has much to do with the game being played tonight. The Clippers performance in the past 2 years (in Utah) is more applicable (and just as poor) so that’s good enough reason for concern….
EG or not that loss streak goes back 20 years
Unless EG = LBJ, he alone wont change those fortunes.
Numbers say we’ll lose this game. But then we’ll go on a tear…..I hope.
by dulciusEXasperis on Oct 30, 2009 8:14 AM PDT up reply actions
The point is well taken
Citizen mwhite’s point is that the 1-38 streak, terrible as it is, stretches back to early in the Stockton and Malone era. In fact, most of those losses came to Stockton and Malone. So the less than 3% winning percentage is not really relevant today.
As another example, the Clippers are also notoriously bad in Sacramento. But hopefully we’re not too concerned about playing there this season, with CWebb in the NBATV studio and Divac is flopping around Sarajevo. More relevant of course is that Williams and Boozer are the new Stockton and Malone.
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 30, 2009 8:24 AM PDT up reply actions
hmmm
with Okur a gametime decision, Boozer still not in amazing health coupled with the Rhino. We got this one.
BTW, nothing says Halloween, opening night basketball like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
MOTAB curse? Last time they sung at a Jazz game the Jazz lost.
You made that up
You don’t know their record with the Tabbies singing? Do you?
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 30, 2009 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions
I do
and I am ashamed…..
SALT LAKE CITY (October 28, 2009) – Prior to tipoff at the October 30 Jazz home opener, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir will perform the national anthem for only the second time in Jazz franchise history. The choir previously sang the national anthem on opening night in 2001 and the Jazz remains the only NBA team for which the group has performed.
1 Tue, Oct 30, 2001 Utah Jazz vs. Milwaukee Bucks L OT 112 119 0 1 L 1
2001-02 Milwaukee Bucks:
Roster
34 Ray Allen G 6-5 205 July 20, 1975 5 University of Connecticut
11 Rafer Alston G 6-2 171 July 24, 1976 2 California State University, Fresno
50 Greg Anthony G 6-0 176 November 15, 1967 10 University of Nevada, Las Vegas
35 Jason Caffey F 6-8 255 June 12, 1973 6 University of Alabama
10 Sam Cassell G 6-3 185 November 18, 1969 8 Florida State University
44 Greg Foster F-C 6-11 240 October 3, 1968 11 University of Texas at El Paso
21 Darvin Ham F 6-7 220 July 23, 1973 4 Texas Tech University
40 Ervin Johnson C 6-11 245 December 21, 1967 8 University of New Orleans
17 Anthony Mason F 6-7 250 December 14, 1966 11 Tennessee State University
41 Mark Pope F 6-10 235 September 11, 1972 3 University of Kentucky
6 Joel Przybilla C 7-1 255 October 10, 1979 1 University of Minnesota
22 Michael Redd G 6-6 220 August 24, 1979 1 Ohio State University
13 Glenn Robinson F 6-7 225 January 10, 1973 7 Purdue University
5 Tim Thomas F 6-10 230 February 26, 1977 4 Villanova University
2001- 2002 Utah Roster
13 John Amaechi C-F 6-10 270 November 26, 1970 3 Pennsylvania State University
31 Jarron Collins F-C 6-11 255 December 2, 1978 R Stanford University
25 John Crotty G 6-1 185 July 15, 1969 9 University of Virginia
47 Andrei Kirilenko F 6-9 220 February 18, 1981 R
5 Rusty LaRue G 6-2 210 December 10, 1973 3 Wake Forest University
20 Quincy Lewis F 6-7 215 June 26, 1977 2 University of Minnesota
32 Karl Malone F 6-9 250 July 24, 1963 16 Louisiana Tech University
42 Donyell Marshall F 6-9 218 May 18, 1973 7 University of Connecticut
00 Greg Ostertag C 7-2 280 March 6, 1973 6 University of Kansas
34 Scott Padgett F 6-9 240 April 19, 1976 2 University of Kentucky
3 Bryon Russell F 6-7 225 December 31, 1970 8 California State University, Long Beach
9 John Starks G 6-3 180 August 10, 1965 12 Oklahoma State University
2 DeShawn Stevenson G 6-5 210 April 3, 1981 1
12 John Stockton G 6-1 170 March 26, 1962 17 Gonzaga University
Boozer?
Who got the new contract extension? What about the love for Paul Millsap. He is a beast on the glass on both ends of the court. Boozer yes talented but Millsap is their future. If he doesnt go for a double double tonight id say Smith was even more of a glass cleaner. Stockon Malone= Williams Millsap
D-Miles dont call it a come back
by Darius Miles Up In Smoke on Oct 30, 2009 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions
1-38??
I’ll give us a 3% chance of winning this game
3%?
I’m sure you’re just joking, but a 3% WE would equate into a money line of $3,233— on a $100 bet!
Vegas has the Clippers at $202.50, which would translate into a WE of around 33.06% (which is still sort of depressing actually.)
by Michael White on Oct 30, 2009 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions
how do i bet
I think the clips can take this one.
There are plenty of online gambling houses that will take your business....
Or you can drive to Nevada.
by Michael White on Oct 30, 2009 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions
Honestly, I like our chances tonight...
It’s definitely better than our chances against the Lakers on opening night and as bad as that game was, it was still virtually tied after 3.
It’s obviously going to come down to how well they can defend the pick and roll (DWill/Booz)…
Utah's Execution
I what always beats us. Even when the Jazz weren’t that talented, they still beat the Clips. That’s because Sloan always makes sure the team executes well. There have been years since Stockton and Malone left when the Clips were more talented than the Jazz, but they still lost out to the Jazz’s execution.
But like Steve said, they seem to be in disarray right now due to the issue with Boozer. Serves them right for getting in bed with that backstabber in the first place.
I think the Clips have a good shot tonight. The Jazz aren’t as strong as their talent would indicate, they’re still working out the Boozer/Milsap issue and the Clips should be extra hungry after blowing the Phoenix game.
I will say this though, every additional loss that piles up threatens to derail this team before it even had a chance to get started. We have to find some way to win at least one of these next two games, and losing tonight will make winning tomorrow all the more difficult as the pressure mounts.
Tuff Crowd in UTAH,
I won the Clippers JET BLUE contest last season and got to got to the Last Road Game we had in Utah and that crowd is Brutal.
They where booing BD like Crazy after he Undercut Matt Harpring, Man they love that guy and they booed the whole rest of the game whenever BD had the ball. Man it was loud! Louder then any Staples Center Crowd Clippers or Fakers home game. Those fans are Rabid but that area is way different then Staples, I was ready to take out my Wallet, keys. phone but no need they do not even have metal detectors or security at the doors and before the game you can just walk on the Court and talk to the players it was pretty cool with no security or ushers questioning you every time you move.
We are a very different team now and I think we can get the "W" there tonight. Preseason we had our way with them and that wasn’t really a Home game for us.
Everything starts out New, Gets Old and Dies or is Destroyed.
This would be a huge win
As usual the barometer is BD, if he contines to shoot poorly this team is not good enough to win. Let’s hope he is getting healthy and can lead the team to victory.
by The Blake Griffin Era on Oct 30, 2009 12:37 PM PDT reply actions
CLIPPERS 1ST VICTORY
WITH OKUR OUT OR HOBBLING OUR BIGS SHOULD HAVE A GOOD NIGHT BUT
AGAIN WE DEPEND ON BARON DAVIS IF HE CAN STOP DERON WILLIAMS. HE
COULDN’T STOP AN OLD STEVE NASH IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, SO THAT
WORRIES ME A LITTLE.
This is a very tough game tonight...
I am sure we will see the Clippers at their best tonight, but I think the same could be said about the Jazz. Deron Williams is going to be a huge problem for the Clippers tonight. He is much bigger than BD and at home the crowd really rallies behind him. Eric Gordon will struggle to get many outside shots off tonight if Ronnie Brewer is guarding him, which he will. Gordon will have to utilize his speed and get to the rim.
There is no doubt that our bigs will score at will vs. the soft and undersized Jazz frontcourt. If the game is played in the 100s the Clippers win, but if the Jazz run their halfcourt offense and pick the heck out of us, we will struggle.
Clippers 97 Jazz 101.
Deron is bigger than BD?
I’m pretty sure the Bearded ones bigger, if not they are about the same size. Doesn’t matter though, Deron isn’t a postup guard anyways.
We have the personnel to win this game, especially if Okur sits out, but our past record in SLC definitely makes it unlikely that we will win this one. But crazier things have happened.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Oct 30, 2009 3:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Deron plays much bigger than BD
They are the same height and weight, but Deron plays like a SG. Trust me, Deron is my favorite NBA player and I watch every single game. He is a very tough player to guard. I am hoping for Deron to do well tonight, but I want the Clippers to get this win. I just have my doubts b/c the Jazz are at home.
Brewer v. EJ
This should be an interesting match-up. EJ will be going up against one of the best defensive 2s in the league. Ronnie is big, strong, athletic and works hard. While he doesn’t have much on the offensive end, he should be a handful for EJ on D. Usually EJ can make up for his shorter stature because he’s so thick and strong compared to other SGs. Not the case tonight. It’ll be interesting to see if EJ is about to be effective despite being slightly overmatched physically.
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