Clippers 99 - Houston 93 - A Road Win is a Road Win
by Steve Perrin on Mar 25, 2010 11:36 PM PDT
in Game Recaps
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PrintThat was certainly not the prettiest basketball game I've ever seen. In fact, for long stretches it was one of the ugliest I've seen. Of course, the Rockets had some excuses, playing without Kevin Martin and Shane Battier and several other reserves (and of course Yao Ming). But, particularly for a Clippers fan, the first quarter and early in the third were just gruesome to behod. There were stretches of the game, stretches that went on far too long, where it looked like the Clippers couldn't care less. But, to their credit I suppose, they seemed to pull themselves together and play decent basketball after they woke up.
Then again, maybe it had less to do with waking up, and more to do with getting the sleeperwalkers off the court.
There are a lot of interesting sidebars to this game.
- Chris Kaman, 25 minutes, 4 points, 12 rebounds, minus 11; DeAndre Jordan, 19 minutes, 7 points, 8 rebounds, plus 16.
Kaman has appeared unfocused since MDsr stepped down as coach, and I think it's just the logical conclusion of the team sending the message that the season is over. More than most players, Kaman needs to be focused to be effective, and without motivation he's not going to be focused. It's a little disappointing, but not overly surprising. There have been a few games recently when it was pretty obvious that the team was better with Jordan on the floor - tonight Hughes pulled the trigger and went with it. This was Kaman's low in minutes for the year, excluding the blow out in San Antonio and the game in Phoenix where he got tossed on the first play of the second half. And DeAndre would have played even more minutes if he hadn't gotten into foul trouble in the first half. (To his credit, Kaman did rebound very well - a key factor in the game overall, as the Clippers beat the Rockets on the boards 56 to 42.)
Outlaw has been a major disappointment as a Clipper. It's not just that he hasn't shot well in LA (39% in 17 games). He just has been such a gunner, and hasn't done much of anything else to help. Hughes was sending a message tonight, and for the time being at least, Novak has supplanted him in the small forward rotation. We'll see if that lights a fire under Travis. As for Novak, we haven't had much occasion to talk about him this year, but it's been an incredibly disappointing season. His minutes have obviously been much less consistent, and you could argue that the lack of playing time has adversely affected his shooting percentages. But the truth is he was used just as sparingly in his Houston days, and he still shot an unbelievably good percentage from three (.479 from beyond the arc in 264 minutes his second season as a Rocket). He's making just a little over a quarter of his threes this season (14 for 50 after going 2 for 3 tonight). He's still a great shooter, and 50 attempts is not very many, but it's still been a disappointing season for our favorite shootist.
Smith absolutely saved the Clippers tonight. They made only 25% of the field goals in the first quarter, and were missing everything. They were getting great shots - layups and wide open threes, but still managing to miss. The Rhino came in and scored 13 points in the second quarter to help the Clippers to a 1 point halftime lead, and then after Houston had run off 12 straight early in the third quarter, he came in to save the day again. He finished the game with 25 points in a little over 25 minutes and was a plus 25 for the night. In a 48 minute game that you win by 6 points, that's pretty crucial. And there's no way to sugar coat the shooting of the rest of the team - it was awful.
It wasn't pretty, but a road win is a road win, and a road win in the state of Texas are particularly rare for the Clippers. It also happens to be Kim Hughes' first road win as head coach, so it had to feel pretty good.
With New York and Indiana on mini hot streaks, and Philadelphia even managing to win a game last night, I realize that this unexpected W is not helping the lottery odds. But I still don't think the difference between 7th worst and 10th worst amounts to much in the big picture, so I'll take the win - no matter how ugly.
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Maybe it's time DJ got more minutes than Kaman
Kaman’s production has fallen off dramatically. I don’t feel the need (nor insight) to comment on Kaman’s focus or drive but something seems off. Lately there have been countless times that Kaman drops easy passes, makes careless fouls, or commits pointless turnovers. If the team is half as frustrated as I am as a fan then surely something needs to change.
Tonight Mike Smith reported that Kaman is fatigued because he hasn’t played this many games in a while. Whatever it may be it’d be really nice to see Deandre’s activism on the court rewarded with more minutes at the 5 (his more natural position) than what we are seeing from Kaman.
Oh, and a disclaimer — I’m not saying trade him, cut him, or that he sucks. No. Let him get some extra minutes to rest (had to be said before pro-Kamanites let me know how they feel).
Pro-Kamanite
That’s a great word you coined there Yaggie! Sounds like some sort of ancient Middle Eastern tribe.
I agree with you on PT at the center position. DJ seems to have fresh legs, and I’d like to see him consistently play 20 minutes a game at center as he did last night. Whatever the matter is with Kaman (bored, distracted, tired), there’s really no reason to play him heavy minutes the rest of this season when DJ is showing that he can handle a larger role. After all, DJ is one of the few Clippers that actually should still be on the team next season, too.
The problem with getting DJ more minutes is two fold. The first is the obvious that Hughes couldn’t get DJ more minutes in the first half because of the foul trouble. DJ wants more minutes, he’ll need to fix that (and his 3rd foul last night was a pretty stupid over the back if I recall correctly.) And in the 4th DJ needed to get pulled because he can’t be relied upon to make a free throw. So unless Hughes was just willing to concede the game for the sake of getting DJ minutes (I’m glad that wasn’t his position) DJ had to come out for the much better free throw shooting Kaman.
I’m fine with idea of getting DJ plenty of minutes now that the games are meaningless, but he has to help his own cause.
by Michael White on Mar 26, 2010 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions
Agree that DJ needs to stay out of foul trouble, and I’d rather see Kaman play most of the 4th quarter, too. But DJ should be able to play 20 minutes without fouling out most nights. And if he fouls out occaisonally, that’s not such a big deal either. Hopefully playing consistent minutes will help him learn to avoid the careless fouls so that he becomes a more reliable backup center next year when the games count.
Another thing
I’m not sure that I buy the fatigue excuse, other than the idea that he’s having some trouble getting up for games. It’s a small distinction. He’s not fresh enough to come out with a sharp focus and precise skills, and he’s not sufficiently motivated. But it’s important for Kaman to keep playing, and playing well and hard (or the best he can), especially since he’s going where he has never managed to go in the past as far as games played. It will help him in the future.
But it’s kink of a cool situation, because the best way to get Kaman motivated is to give a bunch of his minutes to DeAndre Jordan. It seems like a win-win. DJ gets the minutes he needs, Kaman gets some rest, and then Kaman gets motivated, all at once. Go ahead and start DeAndre, and let’s see how Kaman plays. I bet he gets more focused and starts playing really well again in a hurry. And I think it would be a big boost for DJ to get a start or two and play with the first unit.
Hughes might even do it.
by citizen zhiv on Mar 26, 2010 11:27 AM PDT up reply actions
I dont know, i think id like to see Kaman sit, given his injury history
if he is doggin’ it,,,,, its ok, I wouldnt want to see him blow out an ACL for a meaningless game
Start DJ over Kaman???
Um no, given how much Kaman was complaining about being left off the all-star team I’d think he take a demotion pretty seriously. If they want to cut off a bigger chunk of minutes for DJ the rest of the way that’s fine, but to think that this would emotionally inspire Kaman would be ill-advised, I’m quite sure this will only piss him off in the wrong way.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Mar 26, 2010 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Just one game, maybe two
Just mixing things up a little, trying to get Kaman’s attention. Players need accountability. But you might be right.
The thing is, Hughes could do it (again, for a game or two) at this point in the season when they/he have nothing to lose. It could be couched as giving DJ a run in the starting lineup, trying to get him going. Maybe even make Kaman part of it, get him to go along with it.
by citizen zhiv on Mar 27, 2010 8:52 AM PDT up reply actions
I saw that 3rd foul and shook my head
But I was close to chalking it up to him being back home and wanting to play hard (as if DJ doesn’t play hard every possession).
DJ appears to have made leaps and bounds improvement from the beginning of the season and with 10 games to go it’ll be nice to see a little more development. It also looks pretty likely that DJ will be in summer league.
by yaggiefresh on Mar 26, 2010 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Kaman would play about 31min a game when he was a youngster
Its a good thing for Kaman to get some rest. He will be much more efficient like he was vs Milwaukee. DJ is learning what it takes to play in this league finally. Having 2 quality centers will make this team very strong.
by big0lbad on Mar 26, 2010 1:01 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Against Milwaukee
He was better and more efficient because he was going up against Bogut, and the Clips had a notion to play well against a hot team that didn’t look particularly formidable on paper.
by citizen zhiv on Mar 27, 2010 8:54 AM PDT up reply actions
Well
This isn’t going to help our draft position. Possibly the ugliest game I’ve watched in a while at that.
Clippers // Chargers // Rays // Panthers // Gators // Boise State
by 82-0 on Mar 26, 2010 4:01 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Damn Clips
Just when I actually wanted them to lose, they go ahead and disappoint me again. The only reason Smith scored so many is because SP predicted that Harris would.
"i know huh........freakin clippers man.....its like a wild ride rooting for this team....gotta love em....(sometimes) lol" In GrIfFin We TrUsT
I don't want them to lose
We’re trading the draft pick anyway, remember?
by Michael White on Mar 26, 2010 7:39 AM PDT up reply actions
My heart's not into losing, but
the idea, as I understand it, is we should trade our pick only immediately before we’re assured of a big signing. The odds are against us such a signing, so chances are we’ll get to keep the pick.
There may be some risk in holding only our pick until the last moment, but I have to think, and others have agreed, that pulling such a trade should be something we can navigate. Are you looking at this in a different sort of way?
"i know huh........freakin clippers man.....its like a wild ride rooting for this team....gotta love em....(sometimes) lol" In GrIfFin We TrUsT
I suppose, but the pick has more value as a “pick” as opposed to as a “player” if that makes sense. As a pick, there are countless suitors, because the teams can use that pick on whatever they want. Once we make a selection, the value goes down because the suitors start to thin out. Some may not want (insert name here) so you are down to fewer potential trade partners. Plus, once its a pick, I believe you have to match salaries, which is also tougher.
Per Steve’s timeline article, the draft is a week before we can even talk to free agents. So we will have to make the decision on trading the pick (as a pick that is) a week before we can have any assurances from the big players on the free agent market. Once we pick, its certainly not impossible to move the player we’ve drafted, but it is tougher at that point to be sure.
by Michael White on Mar 26, 2010 9:23 AM PDT up reply actions
This fits in with the argument about what position you prioritize in the draft...
I think you have to pick the best player. There seems to be an awful lot of good PF’s in the draft, a position we seemingly don’t need to fill.
Or at least pick a player with recognized trade value
I see MWhite’s point that an unchosen pick is more valuable. The way I see it, though, if we were to trade the pick up front, I’d want more in return, which would probably have to be a draft pick or two of comprable value. On the other hand, if later a max player were to come our way, then our chosen pick would suddenly be more expendable, and I’d be willing to take less in exchange.
So it’s either get more in return, or maintain our options. If we trade the pick beforehand, the risks and rewards are both greater.
We could also pick one of those signed Euro prospects and wait on him. I forget the rules here, though. Is Rubio taking up cap space for Minni right now?
"i know huh........freakin clippers man.....its like a wild ride rooting for this team....gotta love em....(sometimes) lol" In GrIfFin We TrUsT
Yes. Trading for Rubio would not fix the problem as he would could against the Clippers cap space.
That being said, I still support the idea of trading for Rubio :)
by Michael White on Mar 26, 2010 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions
The unchosen draft pick is usually more valuable
sometimes the value goes up though depending on who you picked. Teams often wait until the clock starts to trade for the pick because the guy they want might not be available. We’re in a situation where we draft the best player possible regardless of their position so this player should be able to retain their value.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Mar 26, 2010 5:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Why?
There’s still no guarantees he will even play in America. No matter how much we all love Big Sofo, we don’t need another situation like his.
Clippers // Chargers // Rays // Panthers // Gators // Boise State
Uh... what's bad about the big Sofo situation...?
Not much. He was a second round pick.
Rubio, on the other hand, at the five, was a dumb pick by Minny. And you only deal for him if you KNOW he wants to come and play for you. Mwhite’s correct, if you can make the deal, you make it, but by then, you’ve done your homework… you’ve already made sure he’ll come.
Rubio
he won’t come over here for another year at best so keep that in mind. He’d have to eat a big sum of money to come here (and essentially work for free for a year or two). So you have to factor that in as numerous things could delay his arrival (extending his contract, possible strikes, injuries). And he’s not even a sure thing, sure he shows some nice court vision but he’s still very skinny, his offense is still underdeveloped, his defense will be subpar and you worry about his overall athleticism. You also can’t assume he’d want to play for the Clippers are we are in a way a small market team (Laker leftovers).
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Mar 27, 2010 3:06 AM PDT up reply actions
Sofo could have been a very good player for us.
Instead, he chose to continue to play in Europe. True, he was a second round pick, but we could have used that pick on a talented player that would end up playing for us.
Clippers // Chargers // Rays // Panthers // Gators // Boise State
Would they trade away a top 5 pick?
I still think it’s comical to even be setting this team up to attempt to get James, Wade, Johnson, Bosh, etc…whoever. I really just don’t see it happening. The ONLY thing we have going for us is location and apparently our “young core” though our expiring contracts seem to be our better players. Gay and Lee have talked about going to the Nets. Everyone has been linked to the Knicks. Wade has talked about Chicago. But no one mentions the Clips. Not that, that really means anything but still. It’s hard to imagine LBJ or some other player leaving a better team to come to ours. I wouldn’t hold much hope for the Knicks either except they’re in position to sign two max deals, so that certainly helps them.
by dulciusEXasperis on Mar 26, 2010 7:57 AM PDT reply actions
I agree, the whole plan seems silly, but that is the plan. That’s why Camby was traded for other expirings (as to not impact the cap space) and Telfair and Thornton were run off (no big loss with Telfair but Thornton is still a competent pro.) Best guess, the Clips don’t trade the pick only if it is top 2; 3+ and that pick is gone (unless James AND Wade make a public declaration that they are staying with their same team before the draft.)
Just to split hairs, the only reason Cleveland is a better team is because of James, so he wouldn’t be leaving a better team. A team with Baron, Gordon, James, Griffin and Kaman is better than what he has in Cleveland. That being said, I think Lebron picks up his player option and renegotiates a long term deal with Cleveland before the new CBA.
by Michael White on Mar 26, 2010 8:32 AM PDT up reply actions
Agree with your analysis
And that’s why there’s really no good reason to trade this year’s 1st round pick before getting a real commitment from LeBron or another top free agent. As long as the Clips draft a solid player (as opposed to a project), they should have no trouble trading the rights to that player for say, a lottery protected future 1st rounder. Most likely the Clips sign their draft pick after LeBron and the others sign elsewhere, and hopefully that player develops into a solid contributor.
I still think the way to go is to pick the best available wing, preferably a guy who projects to become a future starter at small forward. That way we are covered whether or not the free agency plan works. Last year, I would have considered picking a point guard, but I don’t see any likely future starting PG’s available besides Wall. And we just don’t have the need for another young frontcourt player with DJ and Blake (maybe even Sofo) already on the team.
I disagree in a way
Offensively the only reason why the Cavs are better is LeBron. Defensively there are better in every single way. The rotations, the size in the middle, the defensive IQ on that team is simply off the charts.
Anderson Verajao is the most underrated player in the league. He is a top 10 defender. Perfect rotations, always contesting, very few bad block attempts, and he always manages to be around the ball for the rebound.
Defensively the Cavs are miles ahead of our players. They have lineups where they can switch at every position on the pick and roll, not many teams are constructed like this.
And they play
hard. Kaman mailing in these games is just indicative of why he can’t take his talent to the level he should be at. given his skill set.
by meercatjohn on Mar 26, 2010 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions
+1
This drives me crazy. A guy’s making big money, fans are paying $s to see the game, and a guy can’t get up for the game. Perish the thought that Kaman would ever have to play deep into the playoffs.
Um, Kaman’s already done that – played deep into the playoffs. Put a good team around him as the Clips will hopefully do next season, and he will do it again.
It’s easy to throw stones at Kaman. But who of us really knows how all the years of meaningless March games affects a player. Kaman seems particularly susceptible to struggling when the stakes are low. But he showed up to training camp in great shape (as he does every season). He was the best player on the team when the games actually mattered. And he is a whole lot more productive and has a much better attitude than the Clipper centers who preceeded him.
Kaman showing up in shape
He wasn’t in such great shape after the Olympics in 0809. He was a little tired and fatigued and started slowly, and then got hurt pretty quickly.
Perhaps that’s more evidence that he does seem to get worn down. But any way you look at it, this year has been a huge leap forward. His rebounding has been slightly off, partly due to the Camby factor. But I’d be interested to see if his season totals are now his best ever, or if he rebounded more in 0506. I’ll look in a second.
The evolution of Kaman’s summer program has been interesting. He showed improvement in 0506, but not at the same level as FElton’s breakthrough. In 0607, kicked off with the doomed Russian trip, he didn’t make significant summer progress, I don’t think. 0708 was his first big summer transformation, and Kaman 2.0 was born. In 08 he played for Germany, as mentioned.
And now, of course, Kaman 3.0 was unleashed at the same time as the completion of the Kamandome.
by citizen zhiv on Mar 27, 2010 9:04 AM PDT up reply actions
How is it even remotely silly?
Frankly, I think the rumors of LeBron going to the Knicks or Nets are much sillier. They don’t have the talent that the Clippers do. He’s already starring on a mediocre roster in Cleveland – in LA, he would have the pieces around him to win a championship.
Clippers // Chargers // Rays // Panthers // Gators // Boise State
In the Nets
he would have Brooke Lopez and Yi Jianlan as his bigs. And Courtney Lee and Devin Harris as his guards. Everyone after that is pretty much trash
http://bcnbatalk.wordpress.com/ - Scoops on Hoops!
You forget...
they also have a guaranteed top 4 pick and they have the enough cap room to sign another established free agent. So theoretically they could add John Wall and Boozer if the stars aligned.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Mar 28, 2010 12:53 AM PDT up reply actions
For me: worst case scenario
Clipper wins this season, especially over the past couple months, have been few and far between. I don’t mind studying the appreciation of fine Tanking when the team is mired in a long losing streak, but wins are always welcome. Except when I mess up and don’t set the dvr. I know, my own fault. But not being able to watch one of the few wins of the 2nd half of the season is a bummer. And all I can do is watch the Clips tick up to 27 wins, where they’re all alone again in the 10 spot. Sigh.
Win or lose it seems like we're stuck in the same position.
Might as well win it seems.
by yaggiefresh on Mar 26, 2010 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Isn't it funny...
how when the Clips should be winning, they fail to do that, and then when we want them to lose, they can’t do that either.
Clippers // Chargers // Rays // Panthers // Gators // Boise State
Hopefully after the upset
Wesley Johnson falls to 10. I"d then package some picks and try to get Granger from Minny
Baron/?
Gordon/?
Granger/Johnson
Griffin/?
Kaman/DJ
Granger won't be available
I’ve had a chance to watch parts of the last few Pacer games and they’re suddenly playing good ball. Granger in particular has stepped up. I don’t know whether it’s because he’s healthy for a change. He’s sucked most of the year. The Pacers have built their franchise around promoting Granger and I don’t see them trading him and going in another direction.
I've see Wesley
in the top 5 of every mock. No chance.
by The Blake Griffin Era on Mar 26, 2010 10:12 PM PDT up reply actions
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