New Orleans 108 - Clippers 100 - Another Sweep Complete
by Steve Perrin on Mar 15, 2010 11:19 PM PDT
in Game Recaps
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PrintI'm disheartened by this loss for a very specific reason. By and large, the Clippers appeared to be trying very hard out there tonight, in contrast to their performances during the road trip. I saw some good hustle, I saw some players that seemed to want to win. And yet they didn't. So I'm disheartened to think that maybe they'll conclude that it's not worth working hard - that they should just go into shut down mode like they were on the road trip for the rest of the season. I was afraid that maybe they'd already reached that point, but at least we did see good effort tonight. It just seems possible that this loss might be the one that convinces them to stop trying.
Because sometimes you play pretty well, and the other team just plays better. Don't get me wrong - the Clippers defense left much to be desired tonight, and their two leading scorers (Chris Kaman, 3 for 15) and Eric Gordon (3 for 12, 0 for 7 on threes) had terrible shooting games. But you can't fault the effort, and the Clippers probably would have won the game despite the struggles of Kaman and Gordon had the Hornets been anything other than scorching hot in the second half.
When the Clippers closed the first half with a nice flourish to take a four point lead, I thought they were incredibly lucky to be ahead in a game in which Kaman was 1 for 11 at that point. In the third quarter I wasn't the least bit worried. The Clippers had managed to hang on to the lead, despite some ridiculously good shooting by New Orleans. There was obviously no way that they would continue to shoot like that in the fourth quarter.
I was wrong - they just kept right on shooting, and almost never missed. The Hornets were 13 for 16 in the third quarter, and opened the fourth by making 10 of their first 13 shots. That fourth quarter included a run of seven consecutive makes featuring three three pointers. That's 17 points, and it took 3 and a half minutes. Again, I'm not going to maintain that the Clippers played great defense, because they didn't. But even on the possessions when they played good defense, it didn't matter - the shots just went in.
New Orleans finished the game 9 for 18 on their threes - the Clippers were 5 for 25. The Hornets shot 56.5% overall. The Clippers shot 43%. So all the good things the Clippers did (they hustled, the won the rebounding battle, they only turned the ball over 8 times) didn't matter. The Hornets just didn't miss enough shots.
The Clippers wasted a terrific game from Baron Davis, who scored 18 points and dished 17 assists. It was the first time in his career that he has had 15 or more assists and yet his team has lost - after 18 career victories, leave it to the Clippers to break that string. (No telling how many assists he would have had if Kaman could have made some shots.)
The other guy who played particularly well was DeAndre Jordan, which is good to see. DJ ended up with 11 points and 11 rebounds and he was very active and engaged throughout. In fact, the Clippers were significantly better with DJ at center tonight, a fact that was not lost on Kim Hughes who benched Kaman for DJ for the final four minutes. Kaman was minus 14 for the game - DJ was plus 3.
Eric Gordon clearly didn't have his legs under him tonight after missing 10 days. It's less clear what's wrong with Kaman. But clearly they each need to play better for the Clippers to be competitive in games down the stretch.
Here's hoping that they want to be.
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thanks for the recap
I am glad i didn’t watch…
Roger Sterling: To my knees, Don. They're bringing to my knees!"
actually you missed a pretty fun game
clippers played with a lot of energy and there were tons of fun dunks and great plays. I was having fun even though I didn’t think the clippers were going to win.
LeBron or Bust !!!!
by bestclipfan on Mar 15, 2010 11:30 PM PDT up reply actions
correction
i did watch a few minutes of the 2nd qtr and saw that there was alot of energy on the floor by the clips, but I felt i’d feel the same way SP did after the game…disheartened…the team gave it’s best and still lost…why keep trying, right? I hope they stay positive and keep playing hard…
Roger Sterling: To my knees, Don. They're bringing to my knees!"
by Lawler's Law on Mar 15, 2010 11:46 PM PDT up reply actions
I actually was encouraged by EJ's play
he clearly has enough legs under him to go for some pretty nice dunks and it just seemed like he was rusty and couldn’t make a shot but he was unstoppable when he went to the rim. Also I loved watching DJ he is just so fun to watch when he isn’t down on himself, I think that when he is playing well he brings a nice energy to the floor that can’t be underestimated. DJ just needs to learn to be patient and to not be so hard on himself.
LeBron or Bust !!!!
EJ needs to stop the nice kid image and
start to dominate. He needs to read this.
by RockyMountain on Mar 16, 2010 7:56 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't think EJ can be ruthless
he will always be a Ray Allen type personality he will make the big shots and he will let his game speak for it self, no trash talking.
LeBron or Bust !!!!
by bestclipfan on Mar 16, 2010 10:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Thank You.
No telling how many assists Baron would of had if Kaman can finish those easy looks the freaking story of the season. He will pass the ball they still have to finish the play outside of the bad shooting month Baron has had a better season than he is given credit for. Also believe Baron helped make Kaman what he was when he was a All-Star caliber player. The game was nice to watch I called it before the game that DJ should get the nod to gain experience. The more mintues he learns to handle the better we becomedepth wise next season. I’m just loving the hustle DJ puts out on defense.
Wish the Clippers had Kareem or Walton to work with DJ to help him take that step he still has some years to go before he is a quality NBA starter but learning to take advantage of a increased bench role is the best thing the Clips can ask for right now/
Props to Baron and DJ
I’m not usually one to give our starting PG a lot of love but I have to admire his effort as of late … his performance tonight was outstanding. Can’t say anything for Kaman, he really seems to have mailed it in over the past several games. EJ was predictably off form in his return to action but his lack of production was at least offset by a lot of energy.
DJ really needs more opportunities like this game to get some solid game experience and develop some more as a player. He showed signs of encouragement tonight but he clearly has to make some large strides between now and fall to ensure his relevance in next year’s – hopefully playoff contending – team.
gotta disagree on Diddy here
Diddy’s offensive stats are good but, at bottom, he was played to a standstill by, if not a scrub, a back-up point guard who happens to be a smurf to boot.
Imagine if it was the other way around. If CP3 were playing and Baron wasn’t, would you expect a wash — that Steve Blake would match CP3 point for point and assist for assist? I think not.
That was a sure advantage for us, as should have been the small forward position without Peja. Yet neither BD nor Sool outplayed the 2d unit player they were matched against.
by benoit benjamin's two left shoes on Mar 16, 2010 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Uh....you haven't been waching the Hornets have you?
Your comment that Collison is practically a scrub is not only embarrassingly misinformed, it completely invalidates everything else you wrote.
DCollison is a Rock Solid Rook and a Future Star in this league.
Everything starts out New, Gets Old and Dies or is Destroyed.
Haha
Yea totally misinformed statement there, Collison has been doing a terrific Chris Paul impersonation for awhile now.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Mar 16, 2010 5:26 PM PDT up reply actions
Kaman is in tank mode
"[Fans are] not technically a lot of times savvy. They don't understand and they don't weigh issues the way that [I] weigh them."
Mike Dunleavy, Sr.
Tank mode is when a player isn't trying
and I don’t get that from Kaman. His body language tells a different story. Besides, if he weren’t trying, it might serve as a kind of excuse for his lousy game. But it’s worse than that- To me, his game these days looks lousy, period.
Or, seriously, maybe he needs more milk. He looks pallid out there.
"i know huh........freakin clippers man.....its like a wild ride rooting for this team....gotta love em....(sometimes) lol" In GrIfFin We TrUsT
Was at the game...and fell asleep at the game
It just felt like a game which didn’t matter to the Clippers. No game matters anymore this season. For them. It’s sad. Good luck in the draft.
Chupa! Chupa!
by DonaldSterlingSucks on Mar 16, 2010 2:17 AM PDT reply actions
Note on Gordon
It’s hard to say if it was the opponent or being at home, but you could see the difference that Gordon makes by being back in the lineup. Yes, his shot wasn’t ready after his layoff, and Kaman’s shot was even worse, but Gordon made the Clips much more competitive. He was playing defense against DCollison and looked good, and the Clips would have been in really good shape at halftime if they had been able to hit some shots. It’s not just that the Hornets are missing CPaul, they also didn’t have Peja. It’s hard to see how they’re so incapable of stopping David West and how they lose this game, but it makes sense when you see Kaman missing so many shots, and Gordon doing the same.
No victories for any of the Pathetics last night. As depressing as it is, the Clips are surging in the loss column. It’s hard to follow a team that’s losing so many games, not to mention watching them. Gordon going to rim and dunking and BDavis playing a nice game doesn’t really make it worthwhile.
I’m not sure that I would call Kaman’s effort “tank mode.” Instead I would say that he’s started thinking about his upcoming vacation, that he’s trying to figure out what Team Kaman’s May and June adventures will be before he comes back to the KamanDome in July and starts putting in the work.
Kaman vs. Bogut
Last note on Kaman. Next opponent is the Bucks and Bogut, who has been playing well and represents a solid test for Kaman. Should be interesting to see if Kaman comes out sharper and fares any better. No one wants to go 3-15 or whatever it was, and CK will do what he can to rectify that. But Bogut will present challenges. If we’re watching a lot of DJordan trying to defend Bogut, the Clips and Kaman are down and out. Which they are anyway, but still.
by citizen zhiv on Mar 16, 2010 8:03 AM PDT up reply actions
Pathetics get a victory: Knicks
Oops. My bad. As I was scanning the boxscores I saw that the Sixers lost, but I didn’t notice that their opponent was the Knicks. The 24-43 New York Knicks! A head-to-head matchup between Pathetics. At least the Clippers are moving “up” in the Ping Pong tournament during their losing streak. Is this exciting? No, not at all. I’m not sure what it is.
by citizen zhiv on Mar 16, 2010 8:09 AM PDT up reply actions
In an unsatisfying way
last night was fairly perfect. The Knicks won, and we played hard and lost. DJ and Baron looked good, and the Hornet shot lights out and earned the win. Alas, I’m all empty and delighted.
"i know huh........freakin clippers man.....its like a wild ride rooting for this team....gotta love em....(sometimes) lol" In GrIfFin We TrUsT
Sad but true
I really think that’s the best we can hope for at this point. We want the team to put sincere effort out there, and we want to see guys like DJ develop, but at this point a loss helps more than a win.
Eric Pincus was talking about how the Clips have a chance to get up (down) to the 6th worst record and that’s probably as high (low) as they can go.
It really sucks to be in this position again…
Who's the target?
I’m looking forward to doing some scouting during March Madness. I’m just starting to ask: Assuming we don’t win the lottery, who do we want with a better pick that we can’t get with the 10th?
ESPN’s mock draft has us picking Hassan Whiteside with the 10th pick, though a week ago it was Greg Monroe (currently going 9th). Both are PF/C types. I half wonder if we might pick one of them and later trade Kaman.
If we want a wingman, though, it looks like either Aminu or Wesley Johnson would be the one. The mock draft has them going 5th and 6th. —So I’ll be watching the Syracuse and Wake Forest games for sure. The Wake vs Texas game also features Avery Bradley.
But can we get up (down) to there in the draft? And is it worth the collapse? I’m wondering if Aminu is really that much better than Whiteside. Alas, it looks like Marshall didn’t made the dance.
"i know huh........freakin clippers man.....its like a wild ride rooting for this team....gotta love em....(sometimes) lol" In GrIfFin We TrUsT
Another solid idea. Let’s trade another established veteran who we know can play in the NBA, because we drafted someone who has yet to play an NBA game. It worked so well this year (and at least that was with the number 1 overall pick) that I can’t imagine how handing a starting job to a PF/C at pick 10 would backfire.
But never mind the basketball stuff, does Whiteside look flighty and unfocused when he plays?
by Michael White on Mar 16, 2010 4:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Mr. White you are speaking my Language, the move have been horrible.
Everything starts out New, Gets Old and Dies or is Destroyed.
Totally different circumstances
Uh oh, you opened the door for Mr. White to pine for Zbo. Anyways we had 4 good bigs after the draft last year so obviously we needed to trade one of them or’d we have 40 million committed to 2 positions. Now who knew that in 7 months we’d only have 1 of those bigs playing. Now back to the original point, Whiteside is very raw and won’t be able to play right away (in contrast BG already had an NBA body). Cole Aldrich can come in and contribute right away though, but you’d want to keep Kaman around for a bit to make sure. Either way circumstances are a bit different as we don’t have a starter-ready center to replace Kaman with. DJ is progressing pretty nicely here and there so we can hope he becomes a solid center but he still has a lot to work on.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Mar 16, 2010 5:33 PM PDT up reply actions
Ah, true that I was thinking of parleying our excesses
but my thought process wasn’t so specific to Kaman. Whoever we end up taking, if he’s not a wing, and if he stays and eventually gets NBA ready, then we’ll end up with a nice trading piece somewhere. —It was a passing thought that’s interesting (imo) but not really central to my post. It sounds like Whiteside would take a while, in any case.
More on topic, my question is whether there’s an attainable target in the draft (projected 5th-8th pick) who is significantly more desirable than anyone we might get at the 10 spot. In other words, I’m wondering about the deeper justifications for tanking.
I haven’t seen Aminu or Johnson in significant detail. I’d be interested in any impressions you have of these two.
"i know huh........freakin clippers man.....its like a wild ride rooting for this team....gotta love em....(sometimes) lol" In GrIfFin We TrUsT
No real opinion on either yet
Aminu kind of reminds me of Darius Miles. He’s still more of a pogo stick than a slick refined player. I’m not impressed by Johnson, seems like a Martell Webster type who kind of blends in. Could be a decent SF but nothing that would suggest he’d ever be a star.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Mar 16, 2010 8:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Not sure there is one right now
A LOT will change between now and the draft. Players move up and down dramatically based on measurements, interviews, camps and individual workouts.
I agree that the Clips will likely target a wingman if they don’t win the lottery. Who they will target is impossible to predict. But like you suggest, it’s probably a fun exercise to follow the guys like Wesley Johnson, Aminu and Xavier Henry.
And Damion James should be part of that group, too
He’s improved this season and looks like a guy who could contribute right away and who rebounds, plays defense and can shoot the 3.
I was just kidding about Kaman tanking
But it is interesting that we played well until the 4th
"[Fans are] not technically a lot of times savvy. They don't understand and they don't weigh issues the way that [I] weigh them."
Mike Dunleavy, Sr.
Just another Day at the Office for our LAC and these guys are Laughing all the way to the Bank with DTS's and the STH Cash.
Everything starts out New, Gets Old and Dies or is Destroyed.
disagree
they ACTUALLY competed, but kaman and EJ couldn’t buy a shot with Miley Cyrus’ purported virginity
Eight straight LAC losses kinda proves my point?
Oh and NOH snapped a Seven Game road Slump on DTS and STH CASH.
Everything starts out New, Gets Old and Dies or is Destroyed.
no watching them play would disprove your point
there are guys trying out there, namely Baron Davis
Yes I Guess Baron El Bandito Davis is trying but last I checked there are Five players on the court and he is only one.
Everything starts out New, Gets Old and Dies or is Destroyed.
well Gordon was trying he just wasn't hitting shots
so that’s two, Butler was trying 3, Gooden always seems to play hard that’s 4 and DJ was trying hard enough to replace Kaman who was just playing bad. So that’s five. And also it is very hard to win when your leading scorer can’t buy a shot and you starting 2 guard can’t hit a jump shot.
LeBron or Bust !!!!
Yes I guess you proved the point, The Clippers are the Best and haven't played Bad is any of the 8 straight losses or the 10 losses out of the past 11 games.
Everything starts out New, Gets Old and Dies or is Destroyed.
no one says were playing good
I just think we played pretty well considering we got nothing from Kaman and only defense and energy from Gordon.
LeBron or Bust !!!!
These Bandits and taken DTS and the STH to the Cleaners.
Everything starts out New, Gets Old and Dies or is Destroyed.
Kaman you are not an All- Star
Again this game shows the influence of Camby on the Clipper team. He covered up all Kaman’s faults including boxing out for him.Kaman must better his defense and play the flow of the game not looking to shoot as his first option.
Davis played his best game this year and Gordon presence,energy,defense was an important factor. The game was lost because The Hornets shot lights out and the Clippers did not defend the 3 point shot.Hughes did not respond with the adjustments to play better defense.
Gordon and Davis will play lights out against Milwaukee and the Clippers will end their losing streak.
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