Golden State 127 - Clippers 120

by Steve Perrin on Mar 17, 2009 11:20 PM PDT in Game Recaps

Final - 3.17.2009	1	2	3	4	Total
Los Angeles Clippers	27	24	30	39	120
Golden State Warriors	25	34	33	35	127

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Coach Mike Dunleavy of the Clippers has been saying all year that all the Clippers need is to get healthy. But here's the problem with putting so much emphasis on how the team plays in the final month of the season: what happens if the healthy Clippers lose to a 23 win team missing three starters? Then what?

The Warriors are a freaky team, and they made a ton of jump shots tonight. At one point in the first quarter, Golden State was shooting 63% and LA was shooting 33% - and yet the Clippers were ahead. The shooting percentages evened out, but so did the turnovers. And it's just hard to beat a team when you let them shoot almost 54% to your 41%.

As I suspected, we'll have to wait a little longer for the '96 minutes of bigs' experiment. Because of the pace of the game, MDsr actually only played the trio of Randolph, Kaman and Camby a total of 72 minutes - meaning that half of the game he only had one of them in. It's understandable, but one does wonder why the Clippers always react to what the opposition is doing, rather than pushing them to react. It's not like the strategy they've been using is really working. Kaman sat the final 15 minutes of the contest, but at least he should be fresh for tomorrow night.

Unfortunately, the Clippers wasted strong games from Baron Davis (29 points and 7 assists) and Al Thornton (25 points and 9 rebounds) who each shot better than 50%. So someone else must have been dragging down the team's percentage, right? Right. In fact, both Fred Jones (0 for 6) and Eric Gordon (1 for 8) had their worst games of the season. Gordon couldn't get anything to fall, and for the first time in his rookie year, we could see him getting frustrated and trying to do too much. One a possession in the fourth, he went behind his back, through his legs, crossed over a couple of times, got caught in the air and traveled. It's the kid of game that rookies have - only he hadn't had one of them before tonight. He even fouled out. (Amazingly, he went 8 for 8 from the line and still made it to double figures. The only game since Christmas where he did not score in double figures was the Boston game he left with a bruised shoulder.

And if a few key Clippers were ice cold, a few key Warriors were red hot. Three different Dubs players made two thirds of their shots - Monta Ellis (13 for 19), Anthony Morrow (8 for 12) and Anthony Randolph (6 for 9). The game boils down to putting the ball in the basket, and these guys were doing it. Ellis looked to be all the way back in this game. He is something special - he's so quick, he is a great finisher, and he appears to have added a consistent mid range jumper.

You can't evaluate anything based on one game. And the Warriors are the wrong team to try to figure stuff out against at any rate. And Eric Gordon had a terrible game, as did his backup, which hurt the Clippers chances greatly.

But on paper, with Stephen Jackson, Andris Biedrins and Jamal Crawford out, that's a tough one to lose.

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yup….

by ClipperMyth on Mar 17, 2009 11:37 PM PDT reply actions

Let's stop making excuses for this team

We’re not that good, even when healthy. We’re not a good defensive team, we’re not a good shooting team, we’re not a particularly good passing team. What’s our core strength (even when healthy), our inside game?

I’m tired of making excuses for this team, we need to shake this roster up just to get a fresh atmosphere. And we MUST trade Camby this off-season, there’s no way we resign him I’m sure of it. Either we trade him or lose him next year in free agency for nothing.

FA in 2010.

by ClipperChuck on Mar 18, 2009 1:36 AM PDT reply actions

No-balls coaching

This is so repetitive, but having a coach who can´t play to his team skills it´s simply not going to get it done. The Clippers ALWAYS play down to their competition, no matter how good or bad the other team is.
We have not one, but TWO of the best shot blockers in the league. I wonder if they could have blocked a couple of the Warriors drives or stopped Maggete´s without fouling him in the 4th quarter. Bottom line: Dunleavy was outplayed by Corey.

by edu_argentina on Mar 18, 2009 6:10 AM PDT reply actions

I never thought I would see the line "Corey outplay anyone"

by Qlippers on Mar 18, 2009 7:49 AM PDT up reply actions

Perhaps that's because we took him for granted

by Jax on Mar 18, 2009 9:24 AM PDT up reply actions

Ya clearly

Since he is coming off the bench in GSW and all those teams lined up to sign him over the summer…

Get me BD and 75 and I'm in

by John R on Mar 18, 2009 9:53 AM PDT up reply actions

I thought you'd stop the hating once he signed with GSW

For $10M / year . . .

I guess not.

by Jax on Mar 18, 2009 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions

Good for Corey

Hey, I can’t fault a guy for taking the much bigger paycheck, most of us would do the same.

He was a solid player for us, he’s always had a nose for the basket. He wasn’t worth what the Warriors paid him for sure however.

FA in 2010.

by ClipperChuck on Mar 18, 2009 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Maggette did what he does...

He got to the line and made his foul shots. Its what we all used to love about him. FWIW, I thought the Warriors were getting the benefit of the doubt on a lot of these calls. Maggette was getting all the calls, be it a defensive foul or taking a charge. In a game that ended up so close, that really hurt.

I do think Dunleavy deserves blame in this one. He overthought his lineup (a standard complaint) as he couldn’t figure out which bigs to play when. Z-Bo was on the bench way too much, especially considering with his limited minutes he still ended up with 20 points and 11 rebounds. He can’t be the guy who loses minutes in the crowded Clipper front court. I don’t know if that had to do with giving Zach a rest before the tough stretch coming up, but Zach could have easily had 30+ points if he played more minutes.

by Michael White on Mar 18, 2009 7:50 AM PDT up reply actions

This game was the posterchild for MDSr's coaching abilities (or lack thereof).

Purely a reactionary coach, and one who makes poor in-game decisions. The exact opposite of JRW. Some say he’d make a good college coach because he’s a “disciplinarian.” I would disagree. At bottom, he really doesn’t understand the game at all.

by Jax on Mar 18, 2009 9:27 AM PDT up reply actions

I have to agree

My takeaway from the game was that it showcased MDSr’s shortcomings as a coach. He’s conservative and simplistic and he doesn’t make adjustments easily. And yet he’s not able to step up to play his own game and tempo, the way that he wants to. Part of it is the BD/MDSr chemistry or lack thereof. He wants to unleash BD and have him be effective, but he couldn’t figure out a way to use Kaman-Randolph or Camby-Randolph or Kaman-Camby effectively against Nelson and GSW.

Nelson actually sits out one of his best players, and he gets his guys going and moving and shooting. They didn’t miss Stephen Jackson so terribly because they had Monte Ellis. Not only did EGordon have an inability to get the ball to go in the basket, but he also was unable to stop Ellis. Part of this was Nelson, who had lineups out there that were tough to defend—Azubuike, Morrow, Ellis, Maggette, along with Wright and Turiaf and Randolph… it was a challenge, and MDSr really didn’t figure it out. And GSW got very hot in the 2nd and 3rd and the Clips were playing from behind—another challenge for MDSr.

Gordon’s game of bad shooting came at a bad time, coinciding with Fred Jones’ futility. I was putting FJones with Novak and Gordon in the Clips’ shooters group, but he couldn’t make anything last night.

by citizen zhiv on Mar 18, 2009 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions

Part of the problem is

that MDsr’s plays consists of mostly involving one player. I think CS has already stated this, that when the defense sniffs out the player who is suppose to get the ball, the play is broken. Or, the play is not broken but the receiver gets the ball on an akward location.

"This kid is the best new talent in the league right now, and I don't care who else you mention." -Suns Coach, Alvin Gentry, on Clippers rookie sensation, Eric Gordon.

by cliptakular on Mar 18, 2009 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions

You aren't going to win that one

When no foul was called when Baron was tackled at the end of the first.

When they called Camby for his fourth foul when his back touched the ooper.

With the refs setting the tone like that, thats how the game goes.

Get me BD and 75 and I'm in

by John R on Mar 18, 2009 9:52 AM PDT reply actions

Right - it's always someone elses' fault

MDSr’s MO.

by Jax on Mar 18, 2009 10:14 AM PDT up reply actions

Flopping

I’m really getting tired of flopping in the NBA. Camby flopped at least once against Randolph, Maggette flopped at least twice. Couldn’t they do something about this like what soccer does?

Maybe giving a player a technical? Or freeethrow then the ball back to the other team.

Once occasion that really annoyed me was when Rnandolph posts up Maggette then Maggette just drops, just drops like some guy was running at full speed and hitting him.

Come on refs!!! You gotta be kidding me, you can’t tell he flopped?!

"This kid is the best new talent in the league right now, and I don't care who else you mention." -Suns Coach, Alvin Gentry, on Clippers rookie sensation, Eric Gordon.

by cliptakular on Mar 18, 2009 10:37 AM PDT reply actions

First things first...

Before handing out penalties to floppers like technicals, the refs have got to actually see it happening. It’s amazing that they’re so gullible, but they are. Maggette’s wasn’t even relatively plausible – Zach is essentially stationary, and Maggette goes flying backwards. Maybe the refs need to attend a physics class.

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 Mar 18, 2009 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions

Sorry - disagree

Maggs was right behind Zbo when he got the pass. Zbo turned right into him. I’d like to see the replay, but it seemed to be a good gall at the time.

by Jax on Mar 18, 2009 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions

Sorry...

there were two plays… I should’ve expanded more. I think I know what you mean Jax. They were two plays, I think what you were talking about came several plays later after the one I am talking about.

I think what you’re talking about was the one that happened when Zack was in the key on the left side of the court. That was obviously a charge.

I was talking about the other call when Zach was on the right side of the court and outside of the key and he was just starting to post up Maggette. He wasn’t able to shoot on this one.

"This kid is the best new talent in the league right now, and I don't care who else you mention." -Suns Coach, Alvin Gentry, on Clippers rookie sensation, Eric Gordon.

by cliptakular on Mar 18, 2009 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions

Ah - I didn't see that other play - I need to pay attention

by Jax on Mar 18, 2009 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTdERYOtqsg

by GSwarrior on Mar 18, 2009 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions

yeah :D

I already seen this.

I saw it when I started to watch more Baron Davis clips when he signed with the team.

Its a “favorite” in my youtube account.

Have you seen Horry’s though? That one was the worst.

"This kid is the best new talent in the league right now, and I don't care who else you mention." -Suns Coach, Alvin Gentry, on Clippers rookie sensation, Eric Gordon.

by cliptakular on Mar 18, 2009 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions

But

still, is there anything the NBA can do about this? I guess the only real plan that could work is to add another ref and divide the half court by four. One area for each official.

"This kid is the best new talent in the league right now, and I don't care who else you mention." -Suns Coach, Alvin Gentry, on Clippers rookie sensation, Eric Gordon.

by cliptakular on Mar 18, 2009 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions

Supposedly, fines can be levied

I’ve written about flopping in the past. Start here and follow the other links if you’re interested.

The league SAID they were going to start handing out fines for obvious flops. However, as far as I know, not a single fine has been handed out.

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 Mar 18, 2009 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions

I hope so

It’s disgusting seeing a buff guy fall on the floor like Maggette does. Stupid Duke…

I heard on the radio that there was a player currently attending Duke that flops excessively, to say the least.

"This kid is the best new talent in the league right now, and I don't care who else you mention." -Suns Coach, Alvin Gentry, on Clippers rookie sensation, Eric Gordon.

by cliptakular on Mar 18, 2009 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions

What also irks me

is how Maggette always gets the benefit of the doubt because he’s so clumsy at finishing at the rim. He fould out Eric Gordon just repeatedly doing this.

Last thing I’ll add is that I love Thornton’s hustle last night. He kept being aggressive despite being down on the floor several times because of Golden State’s dirty play.

In on occasion, freakin Corey Maggette pushed Al Thornton’s lower body when he was in the air for the 2-handed tip in. Maggette made him lose his balance which made Al hit his back on the floor. Al could’ve easily injured his back or even his knee. Should’ve been a flagrant, but at least a foul, yet no whistle was blown.

I tell you, the NBA is the worst officiated league in all of sports. They should put 10 referees on the sidelines. They won’t have to run back and forth, 5 refs on each courth. While they’re at it, David Stern should also install those watch posts that tennis officials and life guards use. Give them binoculars as well…

Hmmm…I hope they don’t need sunblocks.

"This kid is the best new talent in the league right now, and I don't care who else you mention." -Suns Coach, Alvin Gentry, on Clippers rookie sensation, Eric Gordon.

by cliptakular on Mar 18, 2009 10:48 AM PDT reply actions

i have always think they should use the coach challenge like in the NFL

by XXDC2XX on Mar 18, 2009 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions

I just don't want

Al getting injured. I think we’ve covered enough injuries already.

"This kid is the best new talent in the league right now, and I don't care who else you mention." -Suns Coach, Alvin Gentry, on Clippers rookie sensation, Eric Gordon.

by cliptakular on Mar 18, 2009 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions

i actually wasnt as dissapointed by this loss because they were never really ahead by much i nthe second half

by ClipperMyth on Mar 18, 2009 11:17 AM PDT reply actions

the problem was

that we were completely healthy and GSW was playing their rookies and youngsters who does not get a lot of minutes in the first place.

"This kid is the best new talent in the league right now, and I don't care who else you mention." -Suns Coach, Alvin Gentry, on Clippers rookie sensation, Eric Gordon.

by cliptakular on Mar 18, 2009 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions

GSW is underrated IMO

by Jax on Mar 18, 2009 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions

So

are we overrating the team?

"This kid is the best new talent in the league right now, and I don't care who else you mention." -Suns Coach, Alvin Gentry, on Clippers rookie sensation, Eric Gordon.

by cliptakular on Mar 18, 2009 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Not sure - I just think GSW isn't bad, even with SJax and others out

by Jax on Mar 18, 2009 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions

It's everyone's fault, but can we at least get Dunleavy out of here.

This one hurts almost as much as the Cleveland game. The Clippers are healthy, and they lose to a team missing three of its top players. I’m sick of talking about how this team is better than its record. IT ISN’T! The Clippers have sixteen wins becuase they are not a good basketball team. I’m not saying that injuries didn’t play a part, but don’t use them as an excuse then continue to play crappy basketball when healthy.

I don’t think that it’s all Dunleavy’s fault, but we really need to get him out of here. His style doesn’t mesh with the Clippers’ players, and I can’t stand how he always uses match-ups instead of putting his best five on the floor. That’s giving the other team an advantage. This clearly isn’t working. One successful season in seven shouldn’t cut it in a league where coaches get canned for a bad couple of weeks. It’s getting tougher and tougher to root for an organization that hasn’t woken up from a 25 year slumber.

"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 Mar 18, 2009 3:53 PM PDT reply actions

I agree

I’m starting to think Westside Brandon is my long lost twin brother, well put sir.

FA in 2010.

by ClipperChuck on Mar 18, 2009 7:22 PM PDT up reply actions

I didn’t watch any of the first quarter but I saw Baron had 7ft’s. Did he play differently last night? I mean he was aggressive and went to the hole so many times, mind you he was jackin up 3’s everywhere in the last (and hitting most of them)

by Sam50 on Mar 18, 2009 3:59 PM PDT reply actions

yup

He was great in the first half scoring 21. He really dissapeared in the fourth only making a couple garbage threes giving him a total of 29 points. He always good against his former team.

"This kid is the best new talent in the league right now, and I don't care who else you mention." -Suns Coach, Alvin Gentry, on Clippers rookie sensation, Eric Gordon.

by cliptakular on Mar 18, 2009 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions

"garbage threes"?

I actually thought he was trying to get the game close enough to steal… an idea that didn’t seem to be supported by his coach. Terrible clock management at the end.

by John Raffo on Mar 18, 2009 5:09 PM PDT up reply actions