EJ Makes the first cut for Team USA!
He's going to NY.
Great news!
almost 2 years ago
madglove
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I don't think so
I’m sure we’ll see one this afternoon or evening though. It sounds like they’re just contacting the players first.
I think this is really great news. For a kid like that who has tons of talent but has been way too passive and quiet, I hope this experience opens him up a bit and gives him some more confidence.
You have to have some swagger to be truly elite. Sometimes I felt like EJ lacked that. It’d be great to see him come out of his shell.
Agree 100%
he has the skills, but he doesn’t have the confidence and swagger.
by The Blake Griffin Era on Jul 27, 2010 1:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Cool
I thought they were suppose to announce the cuts yesterday? Still can’t find the latest roster anywhere.
FA in 2010.
Is this box score for the blue/white game correct?
EJ was a super efficient shooter but grabbed no rebounds and has as many steals as turnovers in 26 minutes?
Its almost like he is the same player no matter his teammates and coaches.
So weird.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
his lack of rebounding is puzzling
the guy isn’t tall but he’s also built like a linebacker. I still can’t figure out how Nate Robinson can out rebound him.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 27, 2010 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions
It's simple
like you and I talked about before, the guy does nothing but stand around when the ball isn’t in his hands. That’s his problem.
Nate is an energy ball and is constantly moving (for better or worse).
EJ needs to learn to move without the ball…and that doesn’t just mean “get open.”
I meant in I can't understand
or accept why he’s so bad. Surely someone has told him he needs to rebound right? He was a crappy rebounder in college in well. It’s not as if he’s afraid of contact, he’s a physical defender and gets to the line pretty well. Its almost if he has a mental block on rebounding in general.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 27, 2010 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't think it has anything to do with rebounding specifically
He just doesn’t move without the ball. Period. Offense, defense…it’s the same. If he doesn’t have the ball or his man doesn’t have the ball, he just stands around.
It’s actually not that unusual for a young player. Lots of young players aren’t used to working off the ball and contributing when the play isn’t called for them. EJ has always been the star on his team. He’s always had the plays called for him one way or the other. It probably shouldn’t be too surprising why he’s so bad without the ball.
Dunleavy’s static offensive sets probably only fed into that as well. In Dun’s offense, dumping the ball in the post and standing around was what he was supposed to do. Hopefully VDN changes some of that…or all of it.
Yea I've never really seemed him try to rebound
rebounding should be all about desire, and I haven’t really seem EJ have that desire to go up and get the ball. Even in the White/Blue game, I remember seeing a specific play where the ball went up and he was in position, and he just stood there as a 33 year old chauncey billups came from behind him and boxed him out. I think the shot went in, but I just remember thinking he wasn’t even trying to get in a good position.
At least he’s not a big, and we aren’t expecting too much in that department, but any rebound he gets is pretty much another possession
in his defense
all of his teammates that had 2+ turnovers (4/5 starters) had 0 steals. Thats including KD’s 7 turnovers and 0 steals.
Hopefully EJ can work on his miserable rebounding numbers. However, I love that he had the third highest minutes total on his team.
I’m excited that he made the cut; does this mean he makes the team? or is this just the first round of cuts?
First round
I think they planned to cut the roster to 15 this time around and the actual roster is down to the final 12. He’s still a long shot to make the actual team as of right now.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 27, 2010 3:29 PM PDT up reply actions
I caught that
What would really make your case is if Chris Kaman posted similar numbers for Team Germany. But that’s a little more research than I have time for right now.
Its all small sample sizes with these situations
It caught my eye as funny was all.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
Great News
Happy for EJ.
This is good news for the Clipper franchise, hopefully he can form some sort of pact with these guys like Lebron and Wade did.
Highly doubt it happens given his personality, but it’s nice to see him get the recognition and this can only help our leverage in future free agency. If only Blake were on the squad also.
by The Blake Griffin Era on Jul 27, 2010 1:48 PM PDT reply actions
EJ has a bargaining chip though, we have Blake.
Rose may not be willing to leave the Bulls, but Love, Mayo, Curry and maybe even Westbrook (from LA) could be fair game. For Westbrook to leave OKC, Blake would have to show that he is at Durant’s level and the Clippers would have to show that they were a serious team. None of this could happen for about 7 more years, so a lot of things could change by then.
If Love, Mayo and Curry were still with their current teams, then maybe they consider changing teams if we have something positive going on.
by Lawler 4ever on Jul 27, 2010 9:23 PM PDT up reply actions
Good for our "below avergage" shooting guard!!
"Buckle your seat belts, folks. This one's going down to the wire." -The inimitable Ralph Lawler.
by Gordon for President on Jul 27, 2010 2:30 PM PDT reply actions
I want to see who he beat out
always seemed like westbrook, rose, rondo was pretty repetitive.
I also think it’s unfair to teams like the thunder and grizzlies who seems to have the majority of their starters participating in the worlds (KD, Green, Westbrook), (Gay, OJ, Gasol). If I were those teams I’d probably be looking to keep at least one of their guys out.
Congrat to EJ though. I think it’ll definitely be good experience for him to be around those guys. I wish there were more vets he could learn from participating, but I’d never complain if he could pick something up from Coach K
Here's the latest
christomasson
Tyreke Evans, O.J. Mayo and Gerald Wallace looking like 3 of 4 cuts when USA Basketball announces cuts at 3 p.m. EDT Wednesday. Story soon.
Didn't Mayo play well in the scrimmage?
I thought he had 18 points. Must be nice to be Javale McGee, he’s make its by attrition.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 27, 2010 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah he played well too
But I think he’s just not good enough at any one thing to make it. He’s a ball handler but not quite as good as any of the PG’s, yet he’s not as good a spot up shooter as Gordon. Mayo definitely needs the ball in his hands more to be effective and that’s just not a good fit with the team as is.
I’m guessing the final cut is Danny Granger. Seemed to be down to him and Iggy and I think Iggy played better of late.
Agreed on McGee…it’s pretty sad to see who the USA centers are.
Kaman blew it by playing for Germany in 2008
he would have been a good bet to make this team.
Do not worry. (Matthew 6:27)
That would mess with his fireworks time.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
Yeah, and at least he's not risking injury
by playing ball
Do not worry. (Matthew 6:27)
That has to make EJ happy
he and OJ have been rivals since they were like 8 years old.
"baron doesn’t need electricity, he generates power from the BEARD"
Worlock
How is this possible?
After it was well documented that EJ was a way below average shooting guard on this blog
by one of our fine satistician how did he make that team. I truly don’t understand it or maybe
they know good talent when they see it.
Its true
With Bryant, Wade, Roy, Richardson, Allen, Carter, Budinger, and Redick not on the roster and Ginobili, Fernandez and Barbosa not American, someone had to make the team.
I do have to question their good talent seeing ability if they are looking to cut Wallace and Evans though.
Maybe they are seeing something in this week of practices that invalidates years of actual game data. Seems like the wise way to go.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
Budinger and Reddick are considered better than EJ?
not wanting to argue, just wanted to know more on your opinion on this.
http://bcnbatalk.wordpress.com/ - Scoops on Hoops!
also sad at how Clipsnation became such a warzone lately that I had to type that in.
http://bcnbatalk.wordpress.com/ - Scoops on Hoops!
Meh probably all in the same grouping
Budinger has definitely been better so far though.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
by John R on Jul 27, 2010 10:25 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Why do you bother coming here?
Not a single comment in here from you that indicates that you’re pleased that a Clipper is having success. Only comments having to do with defending your thesis that he’s not good. Why waste your time on a site for fans of the team if you’re clearly not a fan of the team?
Don’t you ever get tired of being a complete and total douche?
Proudly enduring the pain since the days of Bill Walton's foot.
You strike me as someone who has never had his ideas challenged
I am impressed you figured out how to use a PC! Welcome to the internet!
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
by John R on Jul 27, 2010 10:24 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Ha Ha That's Funny
Not remotely true, but funny.
Actually, not true, and not remotely funny.
Way to dodge the question, though. In a FanPost and accompanying thread featuring some rare good news, there’s still nothing but negativity from you. It’s fine to think differently, challenge assumptions, yada yada yada, but at some point, if you’re really a fan, you’d at least derive some happiness from the good. But you apparentlly are incapable of doing so. Rather sad.
Proudly enduring the pain since the days of Bill Walton's foot.
Wait that was as serious question?
You wish to be taken seriously and these are the things you write?
Peculiar.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
Again, nothing but a dodge
Yes, I’d love an answer: Why bother spending hours every day at a site for fans of the team if you can’t ease off the negativity long enough to enjoy one little ray of success?
Personally, I don’t give a flying phooq if you take me seriously or not. I derive no satisfaction whatsoever from the approval of a douche on a message board. But I do wish you’d stop being such a nattering nabob of negativity that you feel compelled to spread your pathos even in a post that brings good news. You are clearly a very, very, very unhappy little man.
Proudly enduring the pain since the days of Bill Walton's foot.
What is up with the personal insults?
and nowhere in the official fan rulebook does it say you have to view everything a team positively. In fact by giving a team a blank check on your loyalty you allow them to get by on meager performances. Clipper Nation deserves better than a sub .500 team 85% of the time, Clipper Nation should demand at least that. Truth be told the Clippers don’t deserve Clipper Nation.
To steal a line from Walt Whitman… The Clippers no doubt deserve their critics, but I don’t believe I deserve their fans.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions
whoops
The Clippers no doubt deserve their critics, but I don’t believe they deserve their fans.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions
What on earth does that have to do with anything?
Where did I say anyone has to view everything the team does positively? I sure as hell don’t view everything the team does positively. But this thread, about this piece of news, isn’t about anything the team has or has not done. This thread is about one of the Clippers players receiving some recognition and getting what could be a great opportunity. Most of us are happy for him, because we’re fans, and we’re expressing that happiness. Only one or two, in this thread, are big enough jags to piss all over it. Piss all you want elsewhere, but why here?
Proudly enduring the pain since the days of Bill Walton's foot.
Someone else brought it onto the thread
this comment was started by someone else challenging John R’s recent analysis. Could have just given EJ the ol thumbs up but someone wanted to pick a fight.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 4:37 PM PDT up reply actions
So to answer my question
No, you don’t want me to take you seriously.
Fair enough.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
Another bob-and-weave copout from John R. Massengill Esq.
Proudly enduring the pain since the days of Bill Walton's foot.
boltsfan21
you just have to ignore it. The internet is invested with trolls like him just trying to get a rise out of you.
Good advice - wish more people followed it
However, calling everyone you disagree with a troll sounds sort of small-minded to me. Some team blogs are little more than cheering sections where any dissent is quickly shouted down. IMO, they are a waste of time to read. Different opinions (preferably informed ones) are what make this blog interesting and worth reading.
John R takes some strong, hard positions of which I don’t always agree. But he definitely adds more than his share of informed discussion and backup material.
Im not calling everyone I disagree with a troll
John R is just trying to piss people off. I am more than open to other opinions but he is kind of ruining the blog. I’m not sure if he really has opposing opinions or if his goal is just to annoy people
Hence: he is a troll
there is a way to display your opinion without being a dick
thank you
How do you know my intent?
If it was my intent to just piss people off, why would I go so far out of my way to explain the position?
Very strange.
Its just information. If it pisses you off, I suggest you take that emotion in the correct direction.
I didn’t check but everythingiscoolwiththeclippers.com is probably available if that’s what is most important to you.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
It's not what you say, Its how you say it.
Be more respectful, I’m not the only one annoyed.
See boltsfan21’s comment below he pretty much hits the nail on the head
have a nice day
I'm not annoyed
and many others aren’t. John R has his own way to evaluating players/teams and he can back up his reasoning. You don’t need to like it or accept it but just because he has a different take on something doesn’t make him a *#&$ . Frankly with records of 23-59, 19-63 and 29-53 the team has obviously made a lot of mistakes in recent years hence why most statistical analysis on the team will be negative. If these records were reversed we’d be roasting marshmallows together.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions
If you and John R are entitled to your own opinion then should he
He can call him whatever he wants to call per your rationale. You don’t have to like it or accept it.
thank you
RE ClipperChuck: I guess you missed what I said. It’s not what he says, its how he says it. Just be respectful is all I’m asking.
Thanks!
Call his ideas crap
say his stats are crap. Calling him a &$%# is another thing. That should only be reserved for Jax :)
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions
How so
you tell him to be respectful but call him a dick? I haven’t seen John R call you names yet, in fact he only does that to Jax from what I’ve noticed.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 4:50 PM PDT up reply actions
But we're not talking about statistical analysis here
You’re defending John R.‘s typical MO, but that’s not the current point. At the risk of repeating myself, what I said below is why many of us are sick of his BS: This particular FanPost/thread, about Eric Gordon getting closer to making the final roster for Team USA, is a rare piece of good news. Which means this one is a place to cheer, if you’re even remotely a fan. I’m all for differing viewpoints and dissent, but not for a constant stream of self-aggrandizing, bitter, look-how-smart-I-am, look-at-me-look-at-me-look-at-me negativity.
In other threads, when on point, John R.‘s take adds a lot to the discussion. Here, when there is not so much debate as there is a shared celebration of good news, the negativity doesn’t add anything, it’s just being a dick for the sake of being a dick.
Proudly enduring the pain since the days of Bill Walton's foot.
Don't get it yet?
John R is anything but a homer. Just because EJ is on the Clippers doesn’t add +50 to his strength and agility bar. He has his own established method of evaluating players.
Congratulations to EJ to make it this far, if he makes the actual team even better. They might end up being the biggest games he’s played in so far in his career.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions
I get it, but you don't
He doesn’t have to post to every thread. Why post to this one if he doesn’t have anything relevant to say? This thread isn’t about evaluating anybody. It’s about a little bit of good news in Clipperdom.
Proudly enduring the pain since the days of Bill Walton's foot.
Actually
its good news for EJ and Team USA. This doesn’t effect Clipperdom in anyway, (knock on wood, caress lucky rabbit foot) unless he’s now more tired or get injured playing these games.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Be more respectful?
I’m not the one imagining motives that aren’t there or talking about people as if they aren’t here or calling people names, etc, etc ,etc.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
I actually agree
But the thing is, this particular FanPost/thread is about a piece of good news. Which means this one is a place to cheer, if you’re even remotely a fan. I’m all for differing viewpoints and dissent, but not for a constant stream of self-aggrandizing, bitter, look-how-smart-I-am, look-at-me-look-at-me-look-at-me negativity.
Proudly enduring the pain since the days of Bill Walton's foot.
Sorry
That was a reply to ClipCat above
Proudly enduring the pain since the days of Bill Walton's foot.
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