Miami 108 - Clippers 97 - So Forgettable, I've Forgotten it Already
by Steve Perrin on Mar 10, 2010 11:56 PM PST
in Game Recaps
Email
PrintYou know, I watched this game, I'm sitting here looking at the box score, and I barely know what happened. What did the Heat do to win the game? Well, 35 free throws to the Clippers 13 accounts for most of the difference. And that might account for how disinterested I feel about the game - not a lot of fun watching guys parade to the free throw line, particularly guys on the other team. We didn't even really get the pleasure of seeing a great player play a great game. Sure Dwyane Wade finished with a game high 27 - but 15 of those came at the line. So if you ignore those (and let's face it, free throws don't often make highlight reels), Wade made six buckets, and didn't even play in the fourth quarter.
For the Clippers, Rasual Butler was great (31 points on 12 for 19 shooting, 6 for 11 on his threes) but no one really helped him. Chris Kaman was scoreless in the first half, and then missed his first three shots of the second half. He had a nice bounce back to finish 8 for 17, but it was too little too late. Drew Gooden was 1 for 9 - and most of those were point blank. We should have known we were in for a long night when, on the Clippers very first offensive possession of the game, Gooden missed an easy layup, then after the Clippers got the offensive rebound, Chris Kaman missed a wide open 10 footer, and then Gooden missed an easy tip as well. Three simple shots, three misses.
Miami used the Clippers frigid shooting start to jump out to a 14-3 lead. Is it any consolation that the game was a flat footed tie (94-94) from that point early in the fourth quarter? Of course not. It's just a little demonstration of how important it is not to build yourself a double digit deficit in the first five minutes of the game.
For whatever reason, the point bunnies caused LA trouble all night - everyone, not just Kaman. Gooden missed a bunch. DeAndre Jordan missed two on one possession. Kaman missed them as well.
The Clippers have rarely looked good playing without Eric Gordon in the last two seasons, and tonight was no exception. I certainly hope that he'll be back for Friday's game, because I'd really like to see them win a game on this trip, and I don't think it's going to happen without him.
One quick highlight from the game. The Baron to DeAndre 70 foot lob is the longest I've ever seen. Pretty unbelievable, actually.
30 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Steve READ THIS
I think at this juncture it wouldn’t be premature to start writing about the future. I could read your Miami recap but it quite frankly just doesn’t matter. 9 players that payed for the clippers tonight might not be here next year…. Lets talk about the future… Coaches, Roster changes, management staff…. Anything
Fun is fun, and Dun is Done
Agree. Season is over. Certainly Kaman and BDisease are acting that way.
Steve, I’d like to see an in-depth analysis of what our realistic options might be with the other free agents if LBJ stays in Cleve or goes elsewhere. Thanks.
by ClipperLifer on Mar 11, 2010 7:01 AM PST up reply actions
Okay
So instead of a writeup, he talks about the future…. every day? How much can you write about that? Some of us do still actually watch the games, not just dreaming about Lebron coming to LAC or Wall being drafted or the Easter Bunny being the starting SF (about all as likely.)
by Michael White on Mar 11, 2010 7:53 AM PST up reply actions
citizen MW makes a good point
I’m not sure what has changed since I wrote this and this not to mention a bunch of other stuff about free agency when the Clippers made their moves. I don’t really want to write it again.
Everyone is welcome to make requests for specific things. Just realize that I don’t really do requests.
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 11, 2010 9:55 AM PST up reply actions
Dance puppet dance!
that is all.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Mar 11, 2010 8:49 PM PST up reply actions
Yes, of course you still actually watch the games MW...
Why? To indulge that hobby of trashing our journeymen players who work hard and are just trying to catch on in the league to earn a living. I’ll say hi to Mardy for you at Clip Nation night, I’m sure he enjoys your sarcasm as much as I do.
by ClipperLifer on Mar 11, 2010 5:22 PM PST up reply actions
Save your violins
Mardy Collins is making $1.8MM this year. It’s not like I’m bagging on my neighborhood garbage man who is just trying to make a living.
by Michael White on Mar 11, 2010 6:59 PM PST up reply actions
I've been told
that the neighborhood garbage man makes a pretty decent living. Not sure if that’s true or not.
BSkinnz
I think there should be a segment during every game where the camera turns to Brian Skinner on the bench and Ralph and Mike talk about how awesome Brian Skinner is. At this point in the season, I feel like this is a necessary addition to every telecast.
Yay yay.
That would score record ratings
Super Bowl be damn, that would be the most coveted commercial slots in television.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Mar 11, 2010 3:40 AM PST up reply actions
BSkinnz needs to replace Mike Smith in the box next year
I refuse to believe that we are in the last days of Skinner
by Michael White on Mar 11, 2010 7:53 AM PST up reply actions
I love this idea...
Maybe they could stage a little “phone call to the end of the bench” sequence, where every night they call Brian Skinner and see how he’s doing. Of course he’s really only a few feet away, sitting on the bench talking on his cell. Mike and Ralph could ask him what he did today and if he’s seen any good movies. That’s it! He could do a little movie review in the middle of the game or give us his observations on the Academy Awards. There’s great potential here. It’s really an extension of what Milph already do, isn’t it? Entertain us while the Clips play out the string?
They should ask him what he ATE that day!
"look, you can find any coach you want, bring him in here and run the situation. But I don't think they are going to do as good a job as I do." -Mike Dunleavy Sr.
by CLiPPz WeRD 12 on Mar 11, 2010 9:44 AM PST up reply actions
I had a nice matinee this afternoon
Took in the Hurt Locker and prepared sweetbreads of Jay Williams, Jason Williams and Jayson Williams over a nice mushroom risotto. I went a little heavy on the salt and their organs tasted of bad decisions.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
The one thing I took away from this game is how
well the Clippers draw outside Staples. Seriously, did more than a hundred fans show up?
In case we want to think about it:
10. Clippers 25-40
9. 76ers 23-41
8. NY 22-42
7. Detroit 22-42
6. Wash 21-40
5. Kings 22-43
4. Indiana 21-43
I don’t think I’m emotionally capable of cheering against the Clips. But that doesn’t stop me from cheering FOR these other teams. It gives me something to do while our own guys are stinking it up.
Is anyone here committed to KEEPING our current lottery position? We’ve talked before about the salary cap and the potential benefit of having a less expensive draft pick. It’s something I think about, but in my heart of hears I still want to get the best rookie possible.
"i know huh........freakin clippers man.....its like a wild ride rooting for this team....gotta love em....(sometimes) lol" In GrIfFin We TrUsT
Isn’t it all irrelevant? Won’t we have to trade the pick before free agency anyway? We’re already 99% of the way towards being able to make a max offer to LBJ, no sense holding onto the draft pick now.
by Michael White on Mar 11, 2010 1:41 PM PST up reply actions
Not necessarily
The strategy would be to take the pick but then trade him should LBJ take our offer. I don’t know if how likely it is we’d do that… There was some discussion in a previous post, and a few citizens were saying that it wouldn’t be hard to trade away the pick in rapid fashion (so as not to leave Lebron waiting).
I mean, what if plan A falls through, and happily we land Childress at a fraction of the price. What a pisser if we’ve traded our pick for no great reason!
"i know huh........freakin clippers man.....its like a wild ride rooting for this team....gotta love em....(sometimes) lol" In GrIfFin We TrUsT
Of course it would be, but that’s been the gamble. What a pisser we didn’t trade Camby for someone like Caron Butler like you advocated many times (btw, has Dallas lost yet since trading for him) so that we can pretend to be in the Lebron sweepstakes.
by Michael White on Mar 11, 2010 3:13 PM PST up reply actions
Yea, Dallas is eating 'em up
But I meant to phrase my reply in less certain terms. Can’t we still take the draft pick, then feel out the LBJ situation without yet trading him? I would hope so, but what do you think?
I’d like to keep cheering for 9 teams besides the Clips.
"i know huh........freakin clippers man.....its like a wild ride rooting for this team....gotta love em....(sometimes) lol" In GrIfFin We TrUsT
Sounds viable
But I wonder how realistic it is. I mean, it would require quite the juggling act. Especially having negotiated with a team in advance and having them just standing by waiting. Not sure too many GM’s would agree to that kind of situation.
It also depends on when LBJ makes his decision. Anyone actually think this will be a fast process? I doubt it. He seems to be milking it for all its worth.
I do think they’ll try to do some form of what you’re suggesting though. Just not sure how well it will be executed.
Interesting breakdown
Look at that tanking, baby! The Clips are right there!
I knew that the Clips were playing badly and making me nuts, but I hadn’t really processed the fact that they’re doing it so well.
Ping pong balls are there for the taking.
Not that we don’t want them to get it together and play well. But we’re in the middle of a fight, and every loss counts now. You never know when those quality losses are going to start looking good,
by citizen zhiv on Mar 11, 2010 5:30 PM PST up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
NBA Playoffs Content Module
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- NBA Playoffs Fan Fiction: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
- The Indiana Pacers? Gone till November
- Shaquille O’Neal is in a Chinese beer commercial, too (VIDEO)
- ‘Deep Thoughts’ and Cheap Thoughts: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
- C-a-C: This is probably as close to LeBron James working with John Waters as we’ll ever get
