Everyone wants Clippers to run, but CK3.0 likes the half court game

by Newton Pham on Nov 9, 2009 9:36 AM PST

Kaman recently said he prefers the half court game because he can see things come together and he knows where his teammates are (i.e. cannot process and make decision fast enough during run and gun).

Does this conflict with the "we're going to run" statement and desires of a lot of teammates or does it simply add another dimension?

I think things will become more clear when Blake Griffin gets back.

I suppose it could work like this: During a break I'm assuming Kaman won't be involved, but BG, AT, EJ and BD would be charging down court (which should be enough firepower anyway)...should they need to reset and set up a half court game, by then Kaman will have caught up and be ready to establish position in the low block.

Not sure, but that statement kind of struck me and made me stop to think a bit....

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Kaman: I prefer the halfcourt game (but even though we are the 5th fastest team I will still give my all and lead the team in points, rebounds, FG% and be pretty much be the most important player on the court)

Baron: I prefer to run (so I will throw a tantrum, show up fat, jack up bad shots and play in a manner indistinguishably from if I was actively sabotaging the team)

Everyone has always been disproportionately concerned about Kaman though, I guess.

by John R on Nov 9, 2009 9:42 AM PST reply actions

To be fair

Baron showing up fat can’t be attributed to him being upset that they didn’t run. It happened before they even played an NBA game.

Everything else is right though…but you have to admit that he’s showed a renewed commitment and effort this season.

by madglove on Nov 9, 2009 10:10 AM PST up reply actions

+1

by sqrebck on Nov 9, 2009 10:35 AM PST up reply actions

Griffin

When Griffin is back in the lineup, there has to be more fast breaks. As some have said during preseason, he can rebound the ball and start the break himself.

by ghost_ride on Nov 9, 2009 4:16 PM PST up reply actions

Forgot to mention

that MDSr promised last summer the team would run because they signed BD, whcih he called an elite PG. That didn’t happen

by Jax on Nov 9, 2009 4:52 PM PST up reply actions

Nor was he right

about BD being elite.

by ghost_ride on Nov 9, 2009 4:58 PM PST up reply actions

Nor was he right

to sign him for $65 M for five years

by Jax on Nov 9, 2009 6:20 PM PST up reply actions

The signing is looking less bad lately though

if Baron can keep at this level for the rest of the contract it won’t be a total disaster.

FA in 2010.

by ClipperChuck on Nov 9, 2009 6:30 PM PST up reply actions

I guess

by Jax on Nov 9, 2009 7:04 PM PST up reply actions

Are people still worried the Clippers don't run?

As John R notes above, the Clippers Pace Factor is 5th in the NBA.

by Michael White on Nov 9, 2009 9:54 AM PST reply actions

Aren't stats, even advanced stats, a bit premature at this point?

Especially when one of our 7 games was against Golden State?

by madglove on Nov 9, 2009 10:10 AM PST up reply actions

Yes. It is definitely small sample size and I concede the point.

The only reason I used it was because subjectively I felt they were playing at a quick pace and the stat validated that. But the fact that is only 7 games is a good point.

by Michael White on Nov 9, 2009 10:19 AM PST up reply actions

Eh, I wasn't really arguing

Just curious since I’m not that much of a stat guy. It does seem kinda early to make any determination based on stats though.

One thing that I’ve noticed though is that the team seems to run a lot more when Bassy has the ball. Is that just me? I wonder if that speaks to who has the ball, or who’s in the game at that time. Maybe the backups are more focused on running?

by madglove on Nov 9, 2009 10:32 AM PST up reply actions

IMO if you watch the team's offensive sets

They are always geared to isos (not that they aren’t working with Kaman). Which slows things down.

What’s better this year is that they are making a concerted effort to run off of opponent missed baskets, whcih is an improvement.

by Jax on Nov 9, 2009 4:53 PM PST up reply actions

Half court sets are definitely going to slow it down

Iso’s are just of the options on half court offensive sets, I think we will see a lot more pick and rolls once BG is back. I think we’ve pushed the ball a lot more but I think we play best when we pick our spots on when to run or not.

FA in 2010.

by ClipperChuck on Nov 9, 2009 6:32 PM PST up reply actions

That would be great - hope it's true

by Jax on Nov 9, 2009 7:05 PM PST up reply actions

A couple things

The Clippers are definitely playing at a faster pace, but the 5th rating is skewed by early games against the Warriors, Suns and Grizzlies – all running teams. This will even out, and I expect the Clippers to slot in somewhere around 10 or 12.

As for Kaman in the half court, this is definitely not an either/or question. The key is to be smart – take the break when it’s there, set the half court when it’s not. Much of the time, it’s going to be Kaman getting the rebound and triggering the break, as opposed to filling the lane. Also, as I noted during the Grizzlies game Saturday, Kaman running the floor and establishing good position before the defense is set, is highly beneficial. Is that a running game or a half court game? It doesn’t matter – it’s just creates more efficient offense.

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 Nov 9, 2009 10:16 AM PST reply actions

And Baron plays well in such a "hybrid", too

Like you say, it’s not either/or. I’d rather BD play within a (loose) system, and Kaman is doing fine, probably benefits from having to hustle. There seems to be a happy medium here.

by SilverClip on Nov 9, 2009 10:38 AM PST up reply actions

Yes, seams to be working Nice so why try to fix what is not Broken.

If no EJ then we will have to adjust and better to adjust a match up against Devin Brown then someone else. CMDSr. most likely sees this and just wants to be safe and save EJ if he’s not 100%.

The team should form around Kaman for he is our Best player thus far in this Yong season.

Everything starts out New, Gets Old and Dies or is Destroyed.

by HVYDRT007 on Nov 9, 2009 10:57 AM PST up reply actions

Yes, but

it’s the type of half-court offense they play that slows things down. The iso half court. However, as I’ve said, it’s been working so far, partly b/c teams aren’t really double-teaming Kaman on the block. It will get interesting when that starts happening. Hopefully EJ and Sool will hit their shots.

by Jax on Nov 9, 2009 4:55 PM PST up reply actions

Very true

but a lot has to do with EJ or Sool being the entry passer, so the likely double team defender doesn’t won’t to leave them alone on the perimeter. I think this is the biggest flaw we have when Telfair is out there is he doesn’t have much range so teams are daring him to shoot it.

FA in 2010.

by ClipperChuck on Nov 9, 2009 6:34 PM PST up reply actions

That's true, but

I’m just talking about the general type of offense they have. Even when they run it up many times they slow down and then try to get it to Kaman on the block. Hard to argue now if he has single coverage every time down, it’s just not the kind of basketball I personally enjoy.

by Jax on Nov 9, 2009 7:06 PM PST up reply actions