Clipper Clippings - June 5, 2009

by Steve Perrin on Jun 5, 2009 8:54 AM PDT in News

Not much out there today. There will be a deluge on Sunday after Griffin works out for the team.

I've Been Waiting for this Story
It was only a matter of time before someone wrote the anti-conspiracy conspiracy theory thing. Howard and the Magic beat LeBron and the Cavs, forcing Nike and Vitamin Water to scramble the jets for new ad campaigns? The Clippers win the lottery? What is David Stern up to? These things don't just (not) happen.

An Interesting Take on Thabeet
This one has little to do with the Clippers, but bear with me (by the way, no real need to follow the link - I'm excerpting the relevant stuff here).

If you look at any of the great basketball talents, more times than not they chose basketball. They picked up the ball and started playing. When you're a 7-foot African, more times than not the ball was put in your hands and you were told to go play and learn the game. Hasheem did not choose basketball, basketball was chosen for him. As was going to UCONN, as is the decision to be in the NBA Draft. This is a vocation for Hasheem not a dream, as a result there are lots of questions about how good he'll be as professional, how driven will he be to be great? The team that draft's Hasheem needs to surround him with guys that help him develop an affection and passion for the game, if he cannot or does not find that love for the game because of bad coaching, poor locker room chemistry or bad team mates, he could be a huge failure. Great success in this league is rarely about talent, it's generally about drive and determination. How bad do you want it and what will you do to get there? Hasheem could end being more like Darko Milicic who approaches the game the same way and less like Dikembe Mutombo who everyone around Hasheem hopes he can become. Thabeet will go top 5, the question becomes how long will he play in the NBA and will he love doing it or just love the paycheck?

Our old pal Bill Walton used to say more or less exactly this about Michael Olowokandi. Don't get hung up on the African part - Olowokandi was the son of Nigerian diplomats and grew up in London - but Walton always said that Kandi would never be great simply because he didn't enjoy playing the game. For him it was a job. This was one of the only things that ever came out of Walton's mouth that made sense to me. Kandi was mechanical - even the things he worked on were learned by rote. He needed to play pickup ball at Venice Beach and get a feel for catching passes and finishing on the move. But he didn't do that and as a result he never belonged in the NBA, despite his massive physical gifts.

[Update by Steve Perrin, 06/05/09 10:06 AM PDT ]

I spoke too soon when I said there wasn't much today. Some intrepid citizens found some other good links and put them in the FanShots about the time I published.

Baron constantly offered to Dubs?
The article is about potential Warrior moves, and the money quote for us (and it's a throwaway really) is "Baron Davis is reportedly offered back to Golden State via trade from the Los Angeles Clippers every couple of weeks." I'm not sure I believe that. I mean, the Clippers need a point guard too, right? Not sure how sending Baron back to GSW would be feasible. Hat Tip citizen dulcius.

Q&A with Olshey on myClipper NATION
(Registration is required, but it's free and you should do it as there are definitely things you want to read there from time to time.) Hat Tip - citizen krapper11 (who I'm going to refer to as k11 in the future, as I feel a little silly calling him krapper). K11's take: "An interesting Q&A. He noted the possibility of acquiring a late 1st rounder, while also putting to rest any thought of us trading the number 1 pick. Oh and HE adds that Mike Taylor is part of the future.....nice."

RIP Randy Smith

Randy Smith, Buffalo State's all-time athletic hero and one of the most popular players in Buffalo Braves history, died unexpectedly in Connecticut on Thursday, according to close friends and former college teammates. Smith, 60, apparently suffered a heart attack, while riding a treadmill at his home in Norwich.

When the subject of potential retired jerseys came up in the comments recently, I singled out Bob McAdoo as the most obvious choice if you're talking about the history of the franchise. Randy Smith is a close second. Hat tip: citizen Lawler's Law.

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Clippings are fun

I don’t believe in conspiracy theories, per say. I do think that the refs are terrible, and that when there is contact, the reflexively blow the whistle, and then decide what to call based on the situation.

For instance, last night they blew a whistle as Derek Fisher was fighting thru a Dwight Howard screen. I think they were blowing the whistle on Dwight, but then realized that another foul would send him to the bench. So they just pointed at Fisher instead. Whatever. I see that a lot.

Refs are also heavily influenced by the crowd. And of course, reputation. When LeBron fell down on a drive to the basket on the last possession in Game 4 vs. Orlando, they assumed he must have been fouled. It was a touchy call, to be sure.

But…I don’t believe that Stern tells the refs before the game to make sure Team A beats Team B. By and large, the calls don’t support that. Many will cite Dwayne Wade vs. the Mavs. I contend that it was Wade putting pressure on the officials by going strong to the lane. It’s more a problem with the rules than anything. The assumption that ALL contact must be whistled is what creates problems. The Lakers/Kings series is another example. Bad, really bad, crowd and reputation influenced officiating. But probably not sent down from above. (The reviewing and overturning of technicals is a different story).

I DO think that the league clearly played a role in revitalizing the Lakers and Celtics via the Pau and KG trades. And there are many other league office shenanigans.

As far as Thabeet, I’m kind of bullish on him. I think he could pan out. If he is even in the neighborhood of Mutombo, he will be a good pick. Olowakandi was never good, not even at Pacific U. He was just tall.

A ball was put in Olajuwon’s hand’s, too, and he is on the short list of best centers ever. I don’t think Thabeet will be anywhere near that zip code. But I think he will be ok.

F-Elton!

by mikey p on Jun 5, 2009 9:48 AM PDT reply actions

Olajuwon

I had the same thought about Dream. It’s obviously not automatic that players pointed toward basketball are destined for mediocrity.

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 Jun 5, 2009 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions

Too simple on Olowokandi

I think the Olowokandi point is accurate, but it’s a more complex discussion, and one that’s worthwhile and perhaps overdue on ClipsNation, as it relates not only to our shared pre-blog Clipper past, but also the skills, ability, and motivation of current big men like Kaman, DJordan, Zbo, and Blake Griffin. The African element seems incidental, in great part because of the Olajuwon and Mutumbo examples.

In the end, it seems as if Olowokandi was a bad seed and kind of a jerk. He also suffered from #1 Pick syndrome, which can be pretty nasty. Any Club Optimism member hoped for years that Kandi would gel and become a solid, perhaps even dominant player, but it never happened. It’s worth remembering and comparing with the years of patience that we’ve extended to Kaman. The notable thing is that it wasn’t that he just didn’t care, and basketball was a job he didn’t particulary enjoy, but that he had an inflated opinion of his ability.

Another factor is playing for the Clippers at that particular time. The team and organization that picks you, their system, status, and coach, all play a big role in success. So there are all sorts of factors. But in writing about Andre Miller yesterday, a player that I truly dislike because of his stolid Clipper tenure, it seemed like it was a tossup on who was more depressing that season, Miller or Kandi. The combination of the two of them, with impressionable young guys like Odom, Q, Maggette, and FElton, was lethal.

But it wasn’t just that Kandi didn’t know the playground game and didn’t like basketball. He turned down a $65 million offer.

He was a jerk.

by citizen zhiv on Jun 5, 2009 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Acquiring another draft pick...

Not a bad idea…there may not be much top tier talent in this draft…maybe we can nab a small forward late. Or if we really are still thinking about trading baron davis, there will certainly be an intruiging point guard available.

by ghost_ride on Jun 5, 2009 12:22 PM PDT reply actions

I really like the idea of grabbing a SF

Terrance Williams
Derrick Brown
DeJuan Summers
Danny Green

All these guys would be great additions. Maybe Earl Clark falls far enough.

by hip2clip on Jun 5, 2009 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions

i like your list

i think all 4 could be career rotation players. i’m enamored with TW’s play-making abilities from the forward spot, could use a lot of work on that jumper though. derrick browns a sleeper, as is dejaun summers and danny green. 4 hard-working guys that can do just enough to get by in this league, whether their 1st round picks or not i think 3 of those 4 could make rosters and stick…

by krapper11 on Jun 5, 2009 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Agreed...

A few factors. The draft is short on sure fire stars, but long on prospects, especially at the point, with a few wings as well, the two positions the Clippers could really stand to shore up. Moreover, there are a few teams like Phoenix and New Orleans and Cleveland and even the Lakers who may be willing to sell their pick (or trade it for future considerations) because of luxury tax and other financial considerations. Buy and hold Donald, buy and hold.

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 Jun 5, 2009 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Forgot to say, but this class has depth.

by ghost_ride on Jun 5, 2009 12:23 PM PDT reply actions

#3 Overall

Looks like those who had DeRozan as a candidate for the 3 spot might turn out to be right on…

“The Thunder are rumored to be thinking about selecting shooting guard DeMar DeRozan with the No. 3 pick in the draft, passing over point guard Ricky Rubio.

The Thunder need a center, but adding DeRozan to a lineup that already includes Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook would give them a very bright future. “That would be great,” he said. “It would feel good to be in a lineup like that. Kevin Durant’s one of the best players in the league.”

Reporter: Rotoworld
Source: Hoopsworld

by ghost_ride on Jun 5, 2009 2:07 PM PDT reply actions

i think harden goes #3

theres not one player in this draft that fits their team better than harden(outside of griffin of course). hes too smart. too savvy, too much of a team player with much more athleticism than previously given credit for. i mean really, look at what he brings to the table for OKC: a “play-making” SG with an extremely high IQ, NBA ready body and talent, team-first mentality, 3pt range(something they desperately need to pair with westbrook), and the list goes on. who else brings that much to the table for a position of need for them?! derozen has an NBA ready body, and the list stops there. by the way, curry is the only other pick i could see them making and keeping(maybe thabeet, MAYBE). but like i said, i really dont think they’ll pass on harden, he’s legit and just the type of player they’re looking to add to their budding franchise. if they DO in fact draft harden, OKC is automatically my number 2 team to watch next year, partly because of my love for hardens game, partly because that team is just THAT fun to watch, especially as they grow in front of ours eyes…

by krapper11 on Jun 5, 2009 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions