Clipper Clippings - June 9, 2009

by Steve Perrin on Jun 9, 2009 2:38 PM PDT in News

Better late than never?

Kevin uses his ESPN contacts to analyze Griffin's mechanics
I don't think Clipper fans realize exactly how lucky we are to have Kevin Arnovitz lobbying for our team and working his Rolodex to get info to us. He asked David Thorpe to break down Griffin's shooting, which he did. It's mostly good news - something like, he's got terrible form, and yet he still makes shots on sheer ability. Imagine what he'll do with good form? (This all begs the question, isn't he a coach's kid? Isn't the coach's kid usually like Steve Novak, Bryce Drew? Perfect shooters, who are limited by their physical ability?)

Kevinn Pinkney to Play for the Clippers in Summer League
Assuming this TV station in Reno has the story straight, we now know one of the free agents that will be playing with the Clippers this summer. The most interesting thing to me about Pinkney is the link in the chain at Nevada Wolfpack hoops. Kirk Snyder, Kevinn Pinkney, Nick Fazekas, Ramon Sessions - did that school really produce four borderline NBA players in the last 5 years? Seems hard to believe. Pinkney has played (and played well) in the D-League and in Europe since leaving Reno.

Blake Griffin takes his training regimen seriously
Just a fascinating story in USA Today about Griffin's workouts with Frank Matrisciano in San Francisco. For me, this is the money quote: "Matrisciano doesn't advertise his services, but those who are serious about fitness training hear about him through the grapevine. His client list includes military personnel, martial arts aficionados, members of California's upscale crowd and professional athletes." So if this basketball thing doesn't work out, maybe Blake can be in Special Ops or take up MMA.

[Update by Steve Perrin, 06/09/09 5:42 PM PDT ]

More on Frank Matrisciano
Hat tip to Citizen 69Knicks for finding this article from last June about Griffin's trainer. This is really wild stuff.

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More please

How great would it be to put Griffin’s shot and Thorpe’s breakdown against Eric Gordon’s shot and Steve Novak’s shot. It would be interesting to see Thorpe’s analysis of two such excellent, even amazing shooters, both of them true artists. Worth remembering and crediting KA with his hard work in getting Thorpe to see the beauty of Gordon’s game and effort. And we’ll be getting a lot of Thorpe mileage this year as everybody watches his running reviews of Griffin.

by citizen zhiv on Jun 9, 2009 2:57 PM PDT reply actions

For what it's worth...

This is Hollinger’s take on EJ’s shot.

Hollinger: Suggests that, long term, Gordon’s shot might be too flat — from a trajectory standpoint — for him to be a truly outstanding shooter.

Stuck in limbo.

by PaperClip on Jun 9, 2009 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions

hes already an above average shooter

by andrewexd on Jun 9, 2009 8:15 PM PDT up reply actions

I have an idea

lets draft Taylor Griffin in the 2nd round, then we would have the Griffin duo it would be fun to watch. I think Taylor is also a SF which would help a little.

In Gordon we trust

by bestclipfan on Jun 9, 2009 3:55 PM PDT reply actions

We dont have a 2nd round pick, it was traded to Portland for Mike Taylor last year. Is Taylor even going to be drafted ? If not, we could sign him as a free agent rather than drafted but then I think theres a reason why hes not on any draft board.

by andrewexd on Jun 9, 2009 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions

More on BG's workout

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/08/SP6U1147J0.DTL

So I wonder, would BD be up to this?

by 69knicks on Jun 9, 2009 4:39 PM PDT reply actions

Great link

Thanks for that. I had a similar thought about Baron Davis. Seems like mostly the people working with Matrisciano are looking forward to their big pay day, not looking back at it. Go figure.

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 9, 2009 5:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Javale Mcgee also went to Nevada

Impressive from that school. I also hope the Clips bring back Koko Archibong to their summer league team. That guy has major “glue guy” potential and he’s a homie.

by KamanHomie on Jun 10, 2009 9:12 AM PDT reply actions

Wow, that's right...

Although he was only there for a year, IIRC. Still… that’s 2 first rounders, 2 second rounders and a guy sniffing around the fringe of the league in the last five seasons. And before that you have to go back to like Edgar Jones in the late 70s. (I was a big Edgar Jones fan back in the day.)

Turns out there was a guy named David Wood in between – who I don’t remember at all (embarrassing, given that he played over 400 games in the NBA). But that program has been on fire producing NBA prospects lately.

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 10, 2009 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions