Summit, sort of: Eric Gordon is pretty friggin good
by citizen zhiv on Jun 17, 2009 3:14 PM PDT
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Monsieur Perrin has one more night down in the canyon, and journeys home tomorrow. In the meantime, the inimitable KA considers Eric Gordon in the latest installment of the Clipperblogger Summer Summit, so go on over to Clipperblog to get the latest. I put up my own skewed Gordon considerations yesterday afternoon, before KA put up his post, so perhaps the two count for a mini-summit, and SP will return soon enough to make sense of it all and share his own thoughts on Eric Gordon.
As long as I'm here and discussing the summit, I'll mention how lucky we are to have two such insightful and expert commentators like SP and KA working hard on analysis of the crappy team that we unfortunately care about for whatever bizarre reason. I'm assuming that no one on this site was in the Colosseum as the Lakers made their imperial march through the peristyle and down the steps to their floor, set up in the endzone. I gotta say, I was impressed. Whattawe got? We got Clipper Steve and ESPN/TrueHoop's own Kevin Arnovitz! You heard me.
And KA's Gordon musings are hardly idle. Linky SP will probably help us remember how KA sat with Rookie guru David Thorpe and gave him an advanced Eric Gordon tutorial, helping Thorpe begin to see the light. And KA and Thorpe figure to spending even more time looking at the same screens next year, with Blake Griffin marking out a huge blip on Thorpe's radar.
Oh--wait--the Clips haven't drafted Griffin yet? Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Draft in 8 days. And as KA points out Clippers-Lakers summer league game, featuring Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, Mike Taylor and whoever the Clips happen to draft, on July 13 in Vegas. Maybe Ariza and Odom will have turned in their purple and gold togas by then.
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Missed the parade - darn
One thing about Clippers fans; most of us have jobs.
I remember the parades from earlier in the decade. Things were so much more fun with Shaq around. I actually rooted for the Lakers then. That was before the Clippers got good enough and the Lakers got bad enough for them to be hallway rivals. But that was short lived.
I think that the addition of Blake Griffin will really make people take notice of Eric Gordon. And if Baron can be just 3/4 of the player he was for GSW, this is a team that could get some LA attention. Especially with Griffin’s personality.
I’m expecting a lot of activity this offseason.
F-Elton!
Im actually not expecting much
activity this offseason. If Andy R. ( I forgot how to spell his last name) is staying true to his words, Blake Griffin would probably become a Clipper, and we’re still going to have Randolph, Kaman, and Camby. Do i object it? A bit. I would love to see a star on the team.
But hey, Andy could be toying with us and we can send one of those big man away for a whole new lineup. I like the idea of letting Blake mold into the starting lineup.
I do have a quick quetion though. Could all this hype around Blake be because the players in college weren’t as great? Let’s say that last year, Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, and OJ were the headline players. This year, its not that Blake wasn’t great, but could it be because he didn’t have such a great competition around him? I mean after Blake, Hasheem Thabeet is projected at #2, or 3. (I’m not objecting Griffin already, but I am a bit worried.)
Mike Smith on Eric Gordon: "The Clippers may have found their go to scorer."
On a second note, I want Novak back!
Really?
I remember the draft going like this (MOCK)
Beasley (at the time),Rose, OJ, KLOVE, and EG or Robin, or was it Brook? It was the one that doesn’t look like psycho Bob.
But two years ago, Blake wasn’t really a big contributor at Oklahoma.
BUT! i do hope you guys are right about being great. Lets hope he doesnt turn to a Sebastian Telfair. Good, but never lived up to his potential.
Mike Smith on Eric Gordon: "The Clippers may have found their go to scorer."
On a second note, I want Novak back!
This is a mock from last year.
http://nba.suite101.com/article.cfm/april_2008_nba_mock_draft
Has EG at 6, and Blake at 7.
Stuck in limbo.
mock draft
I find it interesting that DJ was slotted at 11.
He was even higher on the previous mock http://nba.suite101.com/article.cfm/january_2008_nba_mock_draft
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jun 17, 2009 9:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Griffin this year
Would EASILY be top 3. It’s not even a question. The guy improved considerably between his freshman and soph years.
KLove and Griffin
I’m curious about comparisons between Kevin Love and BGriffin. Love is so highly skilled, with the outlet passes, left-hand, positioning and rebounding. But he’s not as big or nearly as athletic as Griffin. Could be an interesting comparison—I wonder how the experts would match them up..
by citizen zhiv on Jun 17, 2009 5:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Love
is probably a better shooter and passer. Griffin is probably more athleticly tuned. From a UCLA standpoint, you have got to love Love. From an anaylist standpoint, I think you’d go for the more athletic Griffin.
Mike Smith on Eric Gordon: "The Clippers may have found their go to scorer."
On a second note, I want Novak back!
Sophomore Slump
Will this be a factor with EJ?
Good question
Yes, perhaps, because he won’t sneak up on anybody. Other than that though, he has a lot of things going for him. First of all, as Kevin A. said, he’s friggin good. He’ll get a lot more minutes, and will obviously be the opening day starter. Another thing that will help him avoid a sophomore slump would be a healthy opening day roster. The more healthy big men, the more opportunities and open looks for Gordon. The health and spirits of Baron Davis and his reflections on his lost initial Clipper season should help Gordon avoid slumping too. Davis knows that he should shoot less, and Gordon should shoot more. Davis should penetrate more, and kick it out to Gordon. Gordon’s ability to knock down shots and make plays will help BDavis improve his own game from last season. BDavis plays on enthusiasm, and he knows that he and Gordon can make up a formidable backcourt.
The guys to watch Gordon’s second year progress against are Ray Allen and Brandon Roy. He seems to be more of an Allen-type, which is spectacular. But Roy is the young guy on the rise who is knocking at the gate where Kobe, Wade and LeBron hang out. I doubt that either Allen or Roy had a sophomore slump.
by citizen zhiv on Jun 17, 2009 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions
I actually hope that
he becomes Kobe. Imagine, Kobe Gordon. I hate Kobe, but I’m sure we’d love a franchise player who plays big. (:
Mike Smith on Eric Gordon: "The Clippers may have found their go to scorer."
On a second note, I want Novak back!
Too small to reach that level
I say he reaches the Mitch Richmond, Ray Allen level but Kobe/Wade/Lebron status is out of his reach.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jun 17, 2009 9:20 PM PDT up reply actions
well he’s barely shorter than wade. maybe half an inch.
i agree though, i just cant see it happening. I think he could be at least a kevin martin or ben gordon, rip hamilton type at the least.
i’d say ray allen would be his potential. i think he’ll be good and be the type of player who say make 4-5 all star teams, but now 10 all star teams. nothing to sneeze at.
LOL
not possible,but can’t a fan dream? (= I never said it was likely. As for Gordon, I still cant compare him. Gordon excels in many areas in the game, one of them NOT being passing.
Mike Smith on Eric Gordon: "The Clippers may have found their go to scorer."
On a second note, I want Novak back!
Wade's probably 2 inches taller
has ridiculous handles (albeit because they dont call traveling, carrying etc in the NBA) and plays the game at a much higher speed.
We can look at the combine measurements all we want but some guys can play at a different speed (or the same speed) with the ball in their hands.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jun 18, 2009 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions
its debateable if we have actaully seen the speed eric can play at.
I mean, as a lot of people pointed out during last season rookie-sophmore game, al thornton looked like a fluid player that passed the ball during THAT game.
If anything its dunleavy’s fault for running a horrible predictable offense.
I guess i was wrong about gordon’s height. Seems he was one of those guys who really benefitted from the whole “height in shoes” thing.
They are both listed at 6’4" but, at the pre draft combines, eric gordon was 6’2 and wade was 6’3.75 at his so I stand corrected.
Height is a non-factor
It doesn’t matter how tall you are. It matters how strong you are, how fast you are, how long you are and how skilled you are. Height is about the least important measurement. What does the size you are at the top of your head have anything at all to do with basketball? Very little. We all know Brand was only about 6-8, but had a ridiculous wingspan. That wingspan is what made him the player he is. Height is only relevant to the extent that in general, your length is relative to your height. I’ll take a guy who is 2 inches shorter, but has 2 inches more wingspan and standing reach any day.
Having said all that, EJ is no Wade. He’s no Kobe or any of those hype-elite players. I’ve compared him to Mitch Richmond since he was at IU and I think that’s about right. He’s a rock solid SG who is an asset on any team. But he’s not a #1 guy. Hopefully Griffin will turn out to be that #1 guy…though I kinda also see him as a really good #2.
Mitch Richmond
or at very best at smaller Ray Allen is much better at taking and making contact. All in all he is definitely not a #1 guy but he is a very good #2 guy. Which is good because Gordon appears to have enough humility to except that and be the Robin to Griffin’s Batman.
In Gordon we trust
"Very good #2" might be a reach
Pau Gasol is a very good #2. I’m not sure EJ is at that level.
I actually think that while EJ and Griffin will be an amazing 1-2 combo, they will need 1 more piece on that level to form a competitive nucleus.
Which is why I’m really hoping the Clips find a way to trade for another lottery pick this year. We all know that the Minny pick and the Wiz pick are available. I’d love to see Stephen Curry suit up next to EJ and Griffin.
I'm not sure anyone in this draft
could be the 3rd piece. Although I don’t watch that many college games, I just don’t see anyone in it that could make that big of an impact. One can hope though that Al gets better and becomes that #3 but only time will show on that. I think that if we can bring someone maybe a “glue guy” and move Al to 6th man position I think Al could provide scoring off the bench a la Odom or Manu Ginobli (all though he would have to improve his defense to really become a good 6th man).
In Gordon we trust
On the scribes
I think that KA and SP provide some of the most insightful and cogent hoops commentary
anywhere.
We are blessed to have these guys.
BTW/ I am also very impressed with zhiv and the other pinch hitters we have on this site.
How you guys find time for this?
KA and SP are murderers row...
Especially with Zhiv and mikey p in the lineup. It really is hard to figure.
I mean it's hard to figure out how and why we're blessed with a plethora of smart writers....
And obviously I’m leaving out a few.
Well...
if I had other things to do in my life, I probably would. Thinking/writing about the Clippers comes easy for a loser (I’m speaking only for myself).
F-Elton!
+1
So if SP and KA are Gehrig and Ruth, does that make MP Mickey Cochran? And he’s a stretch for me—I can’t remember any other murderers on the row.
Count me in as another loser, happy to take a break from a desultory, frustrated middle age and talk about the complex excitement that is the Los Angeles Clippers.
As to why we have such big hitters like KA and SP, it must have something to do with the incredible crappiness of the team. Not sure how it works, but that has to be part of it.
by citizen zhiv on Jun 18, 2009 9:58 AM PDT up reply actions
It takes a special breed to be a Clippers fan
let alone blogger.
F-Elton!
Its therapeutic
The old misery loves company cliche. Venting about the Clippers (plenty of material) is a healthy outlet.
I’ve lowered my expectations ALOT this year, so much that as long as the young guys get alot of PT I’ll be happy. If they happen to win a few games this year its an added bonus.
They better effing run the ball more this year though.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jun 18, 2009 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions
It's more than that...
There’s something about being a fan of a terrible franchise. There’s something pure in it. I know, it’s crazy, but there’s beauty in it.
When you tell people you’re a Laker fan, it’s “so what, so’s everybody”. When you tell people you’re a Clipper fan, they stare at you… they KNOW you’re a real fan. A REAL fan. They might also laugh at you or mock you, but so what?
So, if being a real fan is beautiful and being a Clipper fan is being a real fan, then being a Clipper fan is beautiful. So that’s why we’re here: to observe the beauty in one another.
Really.
by John Raffo on Jun 18, 2009 11:06 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
BTW
This column by KA is really good and shouldn’t be overlooked. It might be the best single entry in the series.
Can we trade Kaman for Harden rather than Rubio?
Wouldn’t that be easier since Harden is project to be picked 2 or 3 spots lower.
Not enough attention is paid to how big a problem Kaman presents. He commits silly turnovers. He misses easy shots. Het gets hurt easily and doesn’t report in shape. He is soft on defense (look at his stats against the higher quality centers in the league).
If we can trade Kaman for Harden instead of Rubio, I would rather take my chances with Baron, and I would also rather take my chances with Zach. Kaman has had 2 or 3 really good months in 2007-2008, and perhaps another really good 10 or 12 games beyond that. Zach and Baron have had several good years and stretches of good games behind them. They are still capable of producing good numbers and they have lower prospects of getting much in return in a trade.
Harden can play D, pass, score when called upon, and has a good IQ for the game. He can play the 3 and slide to the 2. Right now, there are no players on the Clips other than perhaps Mardy Collins who can naturally and competently play more than one position. With a starting line up of Baron, Gordon, Harden, Griffen, and Camby, the Clips should play smart, run more, pass the ball well, play good defense, and play hard. Outside shooting may be the only significant weakness in such a line up. Bringing in Zach and Thornton off the bench for immediate scoring punch and to play defense against weaker bench players on the opposing team would help their overall game.
Can we get Harden for Kaman? Would you all favor that?
Well
there are many trade scenarios in this. Kaman for Hinrich, Kaman for Prince, Kaman for .. I dontknow Jamison. Throw something random out.
Thing is, we DONT know where Harden is going. Hell, another Mock Draft had Harden at #3, after Rubio. That means we’re going to give OKC Kaman, who potentially might not want Kaman? Even then, what souns better? A veteran or a rookie? If we’re aiming for a pg, does Hinrich or Harden sound more lucious? I’m not objecting the Harden idea, he’s great! But who’s a better fit for the Clippers down the line might be the question.
Mike Smith on Eric Gordon: "The Clippers may have found their go to scorer."
On a second note, I want Novak back!
I'm ok with moving Kaman
I think he may secretly be the locker room cancer.
F-Elton!
Not sure about that
I’ve read DJs blog and it looks like everyone likes Chris, although he’s a weird guy who likes to play with rubix cubes in the dark. Maybe the guy is a little autistic?
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jun 18, 2009 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions
I think he is likable
but I think his conduct is detrimental. I believe he was dogging it last year with that mysterious injury.
F-Elton!
All the vets were dogging it last year
Even Camby joined in at the end of the year. I’m willing to forgive and forget last season if the vets (Kaman, Baron, even Davis2) come to camp in shape and play hard this year. I don’t recall anyone doubting Kaman’s attitude prior to last season’s injury and team collapse. Now if the FO has reason to believe that Kaman (or anyone else) is going to take this season off, too, then by all means show him the door.
Trade Kaman, if it nets a player that would help
Not just to free up space in the bigs. Kaman’s contract is still trade able I like the Kaman for Hindrich. Is gerald wallace considered a “glue guy”? Wasn’t charolette interested in Kaman before?
Can we call
EJ “Eazy-E” and Blake as “BG Knockout”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsPObFsev3w
I’m just bored at work
I like Eazy for EJ
but I think something like the Beast for Griffin would work.
In Gordon we trust
by bestclipfan on Jun 18, 2009 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions
Probably want to shy away from the gang-banger references
I’m all for a Family Guy cameo for Blake though. He could be the long lost son of Peter and Lois. Someone from the Clippers organization make this happen!
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jun 18, 2009 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions
That would be hilarouis
if anyone could bring some good media towards the clips it could Blake.
In Gordon we trust
by bestclipfan on Jun 18, 2009 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions
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