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SportsXchange: Dunleavy says no changes for next season.

For those fans who don't approve of changes in either coaching/personnel (40% of respondents), this should warm your hearts:

Los Angeles Clippers Getting Inside
SportsXchange
Apr. 16, 2009 09:40 AM

In limping to the finish line with their poorest record since the 1999-2000
season, the nagging question is this: Can the Clippers satisfy their long
suffering fan base by promising that an injury-free season next year with the
same cast of players will produce a playoff team? Clippers coach and general
manager Mike Dunleavy could be banking on that risky platform because when asked recently if he expected an overhaul of this year's team, his answer was that he did not think so, pointing out that of the 15 players currently on the team,
only two could claim to be Clippers in 2007-2008.

The makeover began in the offseason, which featured the ballyhooed signing of free agent guard Baron Davis, and it continued into the season, when Dunleavy sent veterans Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas to the New York Knicks in exchange for high-scoring forward Zach Randolph and sparingly-used swingman Mardy Collins. The trade did little to affect the Clippers' fortunes for this year. Time will tell if it is to have any future positive effect, other than opening up a starting position for potential star Eric Gordon, the 20-year old guard, whom the Clippers
selected seventh overall in the 2008 NBA draft.

Throughout this season, Dunleavy has used the same excuse that he offered for the team's debacle the previous year -- injuries. No doubt the team was decimated by injuries, with not one player able to stay healthy enough to play all 82 regular-season games. But it is possible that even if all the players would have remained healthy that the squad Dunleavy assembled was a combustible one.Randolph and free agent acquisition Ricky Davis came dragging baggage and both had episodes that gave credence to their wayward past. Ricky Davis had to serve a suspension for violating terms of the NBA's substance abuse policy, while Randolph was docked with a two-game team suspension for being arrested on a suspicion of DUI.


Clippers assistant general manager Neil Olshey said recently that it would be
difficult for whomever the Clippers draft to break into the rotation.
  (As their roster is already loaded with talent and lacks only chemistry to be successful).

 

 

So it seems that we will have more of the same next year, an encore of this season.  Dunleavy still believes that he has assembled a very talented squad: as Ricky Davis, Zach, & Baron are capable of going off for 30 points on any given night.  They didn't do so very often this season, but just wait till next year.

0 recs  |  Comment 15 comments

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no, i want dunleavy gone.

by shoothoop on Apr 17, 2009 5:01 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

uh ricky davis 30 points

on any given night? 20 might be a miracle for him…

by Final692 on Apr 17, 2009 6:02 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

actually....

if he actually puts on a uniform next season and stop wearing his sharp white suit on the bench, it would be a minor miracle. I hear that Ricky D is a great influence in the locker room though, especially for all the young rookies.

by MichaelCage on Apr 17, 2009 7:45 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Um if you believe in this current roster...

I have some Circuit City stock to sell you.

FA in 2010.

by ClipperChuck on Apr 17, 2009 6:04 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I bet...

you can sell those Circuit City stocks to Mr. Dunleavy, Chuck…and ClipperMyth will buy some too.

by MichaelCage on Apr 17, 2009 7:37 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

cha ching!

Nice, I’ll send over the insertion order now

FA in 2010.

by ClipperChuck on Apr 18, 2009 2:52 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

i believe in the roster… I can see how they have thornton, randolph, Davis, Gordon, kaman who can all score but who knows i just wish the season wasnt over i have nothing to watch anymore

by ClipperMyth on Apr 17, 2009 6:51 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Don't know man

Our roster also sucks. The coach can’t have 100% of the blame for a 19 win 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 Apr 17, 2009 10:40 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

One will be pleased

But for the rest of us, O Lord

by Jax on Apr 17, 2009 9:40 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

the change

i need is dunleavy gone as coach. where’s dts? i wanna hear what he has to say. is he hoping we forget about the last 2 seasons? does he think this will all blow over? get your head out of that hole in the ground tell us where you stand on dunleavy ,is he staying are leaving, that’s the only question i need answered, so that i can make my decision.

by cars50 on Apr 18, 2009 9:24 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

i want him gone as bad as you do

by shoothoop on Apr 19, 2009 6:29 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Dunleavy

I wouldn’t piss on him if he was on fire. Maybe its because he had gotten kicked out of the last game and missed the fact the crowd booed off the team after getting crushed by 41 points.

Oh well. 360 days to go until free agency.

FA in 2010.

by ClipperChuck on Apr 18, 2009 2:08 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

No Cap space=not much changes

If we’ve learned anything about MDSr’s GM approach, its that he likes to wheel and deal a lot. The past year saw a complete roster overhaul, with the exception of Al Thornton and Kaman. If nothing changes, it’s because of financial reasons of other teams, not because MDSr doesn’t want to. I would be dissapointed if Kaman was still on the team next year. Now is the time to trade him, even if it’s just for a late first rounder. I’m sure a few “buyers” would need a big man…his contract isn’t too expensive. Of course, we’ll probably end up seeing Kaman in Clipper Red for a long time to come. He could have a longer tenure her than Maggs.

This is going to be my team, and we're going to rise together.
-Clipper Darrell

by oasisman on Apr 18, 2009 6:09 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

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