Clippers vs. Portland - Game Preview
by Steve Perrin on Dec 29, 2009 3:00 AM PST
in Game Previews
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Print| 2009/2010 NBA Regular Season | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
vs. |  |
| The Rose Garden |
||
| December 30th, 2009, 7:00 PM | ||
| FSN Prime Ticket, 980 AM |
||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Baron Davis | PG | Andre Miller |
| Eric Gordon | SG | Brandon Roy |
| Al Thornton | SF | Martell Webster |
| Marcus Camby | PF | LaMarcus Aldridge |
| Chris Kaman | C | Juwan Howard |
The Back Story:
First meeting of the season. Portland won the season series last season 3 games to 1.
The Big Picture:
I'm writing this preview late Friday night, before I leave for Tahoe. The Clippers have yet to play Boston, the Blazers haven't played Philadelphia. If those games go according to script, the Clippers will be taking a four game losing streak into the Rose Garden, while the Blazers will be riding a five game winning streak. If the Clippers have indeed lost to Boston as expected, it will be desperation time in this game. If they manged to pull off another Celtics upset, then they'll be a rejuvenated team. At any rate, against Portland they need to pummel them down low. With Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla both hurt, the Blazers are down to Juwan Howard and LaMarcus Aldridge and a couple guys you've never heard of who are over 6'7". Chris Kaman should (emphasis on should) have a big game against them.
The Antagonist:
Houston and Portland are Coach Mike Dunleavy Sr's worst nightmares. Why? Because they've both suffered far more injuries this season than the Clippers - and hung in the playoff race despite their misfortune. MDsr's ongoing excuse, now entering it's 853rd consecutive day, is that his team has been too wracked with injuries to be able to compete for a playoff spot (or apparently to compete at all). The Blazers and Rockets prove that it's not impossible. Portland's case is particularly baffling. Currently they are without three small forwards (Nicholas Batum, Travis Outlaw and Rudy Fernandez), two centers (Oden and Przybilla) and one rookie guard (Patty Mills). It looked like the accumulation of injuries had finally reached critical mass when the Blazers went 4 and 7 in early December. Then Przybilla went down, and you figured that was it, they were done - and instead they went on a winning streak! Not just any winning streak either - wins over the Mavs, Spurs and Nuggets, the three best teams in the Western Conference who don't wear purple. Of course, as many injuries as Portland has had, none of them have been to their two best players, Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. Those guys (Roy in particular) could probably win some games no matter who you line up next to them.
The Subplots
- Defending Roy. With so much size out of the lineup, Roy will end up playing in a three guard lineup a lot. That will likely put either Al Thornton or Rasual Butler on him. If Eric Gordon draws the assignment it will be intersting to watch and see how EJ does. The bigger, superstar twos of the league (Kobe, Roy, DWade) will likely give him trouble. Then again, they give a lot of people trouble.
- Marcus vs. LaMarcus. LaMarcus isn't Rashard Lewis - he doesn't shoot a lot of threes. But he's a jump shooting 611" guy, and you have to get up on him or he'll go off. Marcus Camby may or may not be ready for this game - I'm a little out of the loop on this one, so you guys probably know more than me on Camby's health for this game. If he does play, he's GOT to get up on Aldridge's jump shot. He'll kill the Clippers on midrange jumpers if Marcus is hanging around the rim looking for blocked shots. When the Blazers go small, the task may fall on Kaman.
- Jerryd Bayless. Bayless was on a lot of people's short lists when the Clippers were picking seventh in the 2008 draft. When the Clippers turn came around, Bayless was still on the board, but LA went with Eric Gordon, and Bayless lasted all the way to Portland picking eleventh. When Bayless lit up the 2008 Vegas Summer League, it looked like maybe they'd gotten a steal. But Jerryd never really cracked coach Nate McMillan's rotation last year. Again this season he was having trouble finding minutes - until McMillan was more or less forced to play him given all of the injuries. Bayless has responded with games of 29 and 31 points in the last couple of weeks.
- Going small. The Blazers are more or less forced to play small at this point - half of their rotation plays the guard position, so they're bound to have three of them out there a lot. Roy's plenty big enough to play the three, and Bayless is better as a combo guard anyway, so it's not really a big deal. The Clippers are going to have to counter with big minutes from Baron Davis and Eric Gordon, unless either Sebastian Telfair or Mardy Collins can step up and play a little better. Collins may get his crack at Roy today from a matchup standpoint.
- Steve in Tahoe. I won't be watching this one - at least not until next week on the DVR. I'll be in Tahoe, and unless I can find a WiFi signal in the remote neighborhood of my in-law's cabin, I won't be watching on League Pass or even following the score. Citizen LJ Hann has volunteered to write the recap, so look for that in the FanPosts. And thanks for stepping up, citizen.
-
Movie Quote:
Dwight, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004). I may have used a Dodgeball quote last year. Frankly, I'm too tired to go back and look. But there aren't a lot of Blazer quotes out there, and I do like me some Dodgeball. I believe that this is probably the best dodgeball movie ever made. It is the Citizen Kane of dodgeball movies.Yeah, but Globo Gym's got guys named Laser, and Blazer, and Tazer, and all kinds of "azer's"! Without Patches, we're going to get our taints handed to us, that's what!
- Get the Blazers perspective at Blazersedge.
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Roy
Actually has been hurt, he missed a game against the Spurs but the Blazers still prevailed after Bayless had a terrific game.
FA in 2010.
Dunleavy Should Be Kept
as both GM and as coach.
1. GM is still in the process of extricating the Clippers from the Elgin Baylor fiasco. Maybe Baylor didn’t call all the shots at the end but he was the one who created the mess that has led the Clippers to become the laughingstock of the NBA.
Baylor was a great player in his day, but the choice to hire him because he was stolen from the Lakers and it would be a great PR ploy was really dumb.
2. Dunleavy has improved the player personnel and salary structure tremendously over the last two years. He has done this to such an extent that Clipper fans and writers what to fire him for not being a playoff team this year even though they will play the first half of the season with Blake Griffin.
Dunleavy should absolutely stay as GM.
Now the argument for him staying as coach I will admit is a valid argument. However, to compare the Clippers to Portland and Houston who arguably have the 2 of the best coaches in the NBA seems like quite a stretch to me. Yes they have had significant injuries and both teams will probably make the playoffs though I think Portland could miss.
The Rockets have a lot more talent left after the loss of Yao then the Clippers do after the loss fo Griffin. T-Mac in my opinion actually hurt the team and they are a better team without him. If Adleman thought that T-Mac’s return could get the Rockets to the NBA finals this year, Houston wouldn’t be looking to move him before the trade deadline.
So did the loss of Yao to the Rockets hurt them more than the loss of Grfifin to the Clippers. I would argue no. Firstly the Rockets have a lot more depth than the Clippers. Secondly Thorton came into camp out of shape. There is no way that R. Butler is a starter in the NBA. The Clippers also have no one to back up Eric Gordon and as Clipper fans know when he goes down do do the Clippers. Thirdly, sinc e Yao has been out there have been a lot of people saying that the Rockets may be a better team without him because he slows them down when he is on the court and clogs the middle on offense effectively hurting there overall offense. I don’t know if I agree with that opinon but it seems to me that Yao is a lot more effective against teams with big slow centers then he is against quicker more agile teams like the Lakers and Suns for example.
Yes Griffin hasn’t played one game for the Clippers so when the real show begins he is still an unknown, but is he really?
Does anything seriously think that Black Griffin will not be one of the top talents in the NBA by this thrid season? Yes people can argue it and argue this point they will. It is on this point that I take my position that Dunleavy as coach should stay.
The Clippers were considered by many to be a plyoff team this year. Why, not because they dumped Zack Randolph who for some strange reason decided during the offseason to suddenly get in shape for the first time in his career. Not because of the acquistions of R. Butler and Telfair
There was only one reason and one reason only that people considered the Clippers a playoff team this year and that was because they drefted and signed Blake Griffin, period.,
Well, Mr Griffin has been missing in action from the opening night. In the meantime Dunleavy has managed to significantly improve this team from last years train wreck with some improvement in the overall team’s health.
I say that Dunleavy as coach should stay at least until we see 40 or so games with Blake Griffin in the lineup.
Corr for typos
Does anyone seriously think that Blake Griffin will not be one of the top talents in the NBA by this thrid season? Yes people can argue it and argue this point they will. It is on this point that I take my position that Dunleavy as coach should stay.
Buddahfan
Another of Mike Dunleavy’s aliases.
Clippers won.
Portland lost.
Your preview is invalid.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
by John R on Dec 29, 2009 9:00 AM PST via mobile reply actions
That wouldn't fit
the meme. Though I guess I missed on absurdity.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
That was one big @$$ excuse you typed
Dunleavy has failed for years he will never be liked or respected by the fans or most players the sooner he is gone the better.
ya I read the first sentence
Couldn’t read the rest. Hey buddy have you been watching the games? Dunleavy is not a good GM! Doesn’t look like hes a wonderful coach by any stretch either but an average one!
Dunleavy is a good x's and o's guy
but he is no master motivator. Aueurbach (sp?) claimed to only run 6 plays. The NBA is not about the coach being a great x’s and o’s guy, it never has been that way. Simply put a team has to play motivated ball on offense and defense, and they must play together. Dun can’t motivate a fish to swim. With all his backhanded comments to the fans, I wonder why a lot of his players don’t respond to him.
Would like to seem if we can get Thornton involved and going early to build some momentum
Hopefully Eric has a good night (had a bad road trip). Would love to see the Baron who played against the Celtics the rest of this season. Either way, he’s been very good at controlling and running the offense.
by dulciusEXasperis on Dec 29, 2009 11:05 AM PST reply actions
Baron did have a lot of TO's though
Cut those down and I take that Baron all day. And can somone please get an update on Blake I want a physical contact practice date. This injury seems to be taking longer than it should.
I think they said
in 3 weeks he’d be doing “basketball activities”, whatever that means exactly. That was just about a week ago. So I’d say early to mid January Blake should be doing full contact practices. I’d hope by next week he’d be doing some 1-on-1 or 3-on-3, but they’re really being cautious with him. Lets just hope he’s playing his first game no later than the week of the 18th, though I hope earlier.
by dulciusEXasperis on Dec 29, 2009 11:46 AM PST up reply actions
Don't hold your breath
No way he’s doing 1 on 1 or 3 on 3 next week. He can’t even start “basketball related activities” for two more weeks. Right now all he’s doing is running on that anti gravity machine.
The Clips are on the road a lot at the end of January. Then only home for 2 games before the last game in GSW before the All-Star break.
I expect his first game will be Sat. Feb 6 at the earliest and possibly the first game back vs. Atlanta after the All-Star break.
Eh maybe, that would be ridiculous though (waiting till after all-star break)
The anti gravity machine isn’t “really” anti gravity. It’s not like he’s floating while running, (link). The full 3 weeks will be up on January 12-14 (give or take). After that he has 4 weeks before All-Star break. He could maybe get limited minutes against Chicago on the 20th at home. If not, not like he couldn’t meet up with the team while they’re on the road. Again, he has 4 weeks before All-Star break to get his first game in.
by dulciusEXasperis on Dec 29, 2009 12:44 PM PST up reply actions
Unlikely on the road
Ridiculous? Like just starting basketball related activities a MONTH after they said he would return fully? You act like this isn’t the Clippers.
Teams rarely just send a guy on the road by himself like that. He’s coming back from injury, they want him to be comfortable, have every resource available to him and come back at home where the crowd will be there to give him a lift. It’s pretty rare to have a guy come back from months off to return on the road. Especially when the team is already on the road w/o him. Why would they even go through all that trouble when there’s no need to rush him back? It’ll be a home game.
And your 4 week timetable is assuming he’s ready to play full court basketball by January 12-14. That’s not what the release says. “Basketball related activity” is not fully healthy.
Like I said, Feb. 6 at the earliest, I’m betting after All-Star break.
During the last telecast
Ralph said mid January for what its worth.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Dec 29, 2009 2:11 PM PST up reply actions
dude
Maybe another coach, but Dunleavy is ultra conservative with rookies. Dunleavy will not put a rookie in a game to fail. I would be so surprise if he plays any significant games before the all star break. Camby is the starter and Blake will need to take that position from him, Dunleavy will not just give it to him.
By trading Camby he would be giving it to Blake
Come to think of it, this is when his dual role as Coach/GM comes into conflict. He can’t really afford to trade Camby for future considerations as he needs to win now or get canned. This could end up hurting us if we lose Camby for nothing because our coach/gm was trying to save his own butt.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Dec 29, 2009 5:00 PM PST up reply actions
We do need a good man at the 6. You’ve got us there.
by Michael White on Dec 29, 2009 9:48 PM PST up reply actions
A good 6 means we'll be improved at the 7.
by Lawler 4ever on Dec 30, 2009 1:01 AM PST up reply actions
Anytime you can keep a guy who can play madeup positions
you have to do it.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Dec 30, 2009 3:13 PM PST up reply actions
Hopefully the Clips can carry some momentum from the win over Boston...
Unfortunately, they have the tendency to follow big wins with disappointing losses. Matter of fact, they tend to follow almost all performances with disappointing losses, but I digress. The looked good against the Celtics, and they should be able to turn in another well rounded performance against an undermanned Blazers team. However, the Clippers usually have trouble when the cards are stacked in their favor. Maybe they’ll finally be able to buck that trend. Go Clips!
"If a Clippers fan is reading a newspaper in his living room and the ceiling falls on him, he'll just shrug and move to another room." -Bill Simmons
by WestsideBrandon on Dec 29, 2009 12:39 PM PST reply actions
Hey Clipper players and fans
Start chanting Cobb a Rrl (pronounced like Corn on the Cobb a Earl )during free throws Blazers will know,
HEy Portland Trailblazer Fans my curse goes on, over two years ago, I won a lunch with Nate M. for 4, and all I had to do was donate $$$ to a charity, I did my part and the Trailblazers have renigged on their part of the deal now I am required to keep in place a curse for lowered expectations, losing players, bad calls by refs, and bad karma for the rim at the free throw line, so every time one of them miss at the free throw, remember my curse of cobb a Rrl,
Feeling good now, wait till Mr. B comes to town.Like Przy said it all man, before the Minnsota game, don’t curse us we need every game and every player to be a team! What about every fan? Or a curse? Joe gets it why doesn’t the coach and Blazer org.? Where’s my lunch dog? It’s not me dog i GAVE TO YOUR CHARITY fund in exchange for a lunch, now finish the deal! Or come up with another! Front row seats to Laker game would be good. Cobbarrl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
12.20.2009 Ever since The Beat Mr. B came to town my curse of Cobba Rrl goes on, I saw Andre Miller brick two free throws in a row, in a crucial game, I seen G.O. and Patty go down just as predicted (see july 09 Email), I’ve seen amazing no calls by the refs, and Steve is in a slump hmmm, you might consider honoring yourself with me.
Thank you,
Cobba Rrl
PS It can’t hurt!
LOL!
Just keep reading it…it somehow makes sense.
random though.
I didn't follow it all either
But it sounds like he won a lunch at a auction and paid but Nate McMillan failed to show. Since then he’s placed a curse on the team that has caused the injuries to Patrick Mills and Greg Oden (can really throw Pryzbilla in there too). I don’t get the Cobb a Rrl part though.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Dec 29, 2009 5:04 PM PST up reply actions
"Cobb a rrl" is the chant
and name of the curse, the spellblazers should be aware of it and I am sure they are spooked by it, i made a prediction last july I, could look it up, the link to it for you, but one should watch what they curse for they might just get it, so every team the spellblazers play i spread it to their fans.
Oh the cobbarrl, kinda like speak to the porcelean god, they make me sick!
Hahaha,
this made me laugh out loud…
(our) great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit, our system of of credit is privately concentrated, the growth of our nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men... who necessarily, by very reason of their own limitations, chill and check and destroy genuine economic freedom.
We have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated governments in the civilized world - no government by free opinion, no longer a government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a government by the opinion and the duress of small groups of dominant men.
--- Woodrow Wilson
We just gotta go into Porkland play Long using our length advantage and get the "w".
Everything starts out New, Gets Old and Dies or is Destroyed.
Nice, looks possible.
One game at a time, one possession at a time, one “W” at a time.
Everything starts out New, Gets Old and Dies or is Destroyed.
Just can't beat the optimism
out of Clipper fans. No four game winning streak, do you know who coaches Portland? It ain’t Dunleavy. Hope for a win against Philly and be satisfied that we split these four games.
Hopefully
tonight is retro night and Dunleavy goes back to coach the Blazers one more time for good ol times!
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Dec 29, 2009 3:41 PM PST up reply actions
You mean the team where he was Coach of the Year?
Idk if that would be smart, at least from the Clippers perspective
Blazers win!
No the team where he blew the 19 pt lead in the 4th against the Lakers
"[Fans are] not technically a lot of times savvy. They don't understand and they don't weigh issues the way that [I] weigh them."
Mike Dunleavy, Sr.
That game was painful to watch
I still can’t believe the Blazers folded like that and handed the Lakers a championship.
If you believe the crooked ref...
That game was thrown in the 4th quarter by Bavetta
Not that I put much faith into people who would sell their jobs basically to make the mob money, of course
Blazers win!
We don't believe the crooked ref
"[Fans are] not technically a lot of times savvy. They don't understand and they don't weigh issues the way that [I] weigh them."
Mike Dunleavy, Sr.
At least Trailblazer fans and Clipper fans agree on one thing!
Mike Dunleavy stinks up the place in Portland and La. Mike please step
down if you really care about the Clippers.
It is
guess we get more time to mull this one over. Lame how we have the 76ers the next following night at home, not much of a home court advantage if we have to travel on a back to back on a major holiday.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Dec 29, 2009 5:06 PM PST up reply actions
SMH.
I’m writing this preview late Friday night, before I leave for Tahoe. The Clippers have yet to play Boston, the Blazers haven’t played Philadelphia. If those games go according to script, the Clippers will be taking a four game losing streak into the Rose Garden, while the Blazers will be riding a five game winning streak.
The Arkitect.
Mortimer.
Norsktroll.
Do we have to let Dunleavy back in to the Rose Garden?
It’s always very scary to see him walk onto court and stalk on the sidelines. Can’t you guys leave him at home? Perhaps let an assistant coach take charge for the night?
"We Believe" - Rudy Fernandez
We wish! LOL
"look, you can find any coach you want, bring him in here and run the situation. But I don't think they are going to do as good a job as I do." -Mike Dunleavy Sr.
by CLiPPz WeRD 12 on Dec 30, 2009 6:30 AM PST up reply actions
It'd be like the 2nd L*ker game last season when Phil stayed home
…so he wouldn’t have to face another loss in the RG
Blazers win!
Trail Blazer fan here
That’s a very interesting little hex going on with the Cobb a Rrl curse but be careful what you wish for. Our Homer announcer Mike Rice is known to jinx Trail Blazer foul shooters by mentioning how well they have been shooting. It’s a running gag between Rice and fellow PTB commentator Mike Barrett. Your Cobb a Rrl might just cancel out any negative mojo on our behalf.
Anywho… It’s a shame Griffin hasn’t been able to show his stuff this year, and I was looking forward to this game to see the kid play. I have no animosity towards the Clippers, in fact, I have more a soft spot in my heart for ‘em actually, I mean, having been through what they’ve been through over the years and being … well… ya know… the Clippers and all. Still I respect this team alot and they instill a measure of fear every time we play them.
Best of luck to you guys after tonight’s game and until we play again…. Oh, and like I tell other team’s fans, we aren’t the enemy, that other team from LA is.
Peace.
"In order to keep a true perspective of one's importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him."
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