Clippers vs. Miami - Game Preview
by Steve Perrin on Jan 11, 2012 8:00 AM PST
in Game Previews
Email
Print| 2011/2012 NBA Regular Season | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
vs. |  |
| 4-3 | 8-2 | |
| Staples Center | ||
| January 11th, 2012, 7:30 PM | ||
| FSN Prime Ticket, ESPN, KFWB 980 AM | ||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Chris Paul | PG | Mario Chalmers |
| Chauncey Billups | SG | Dwyane Wade |
| Caron Butler | SF | LeBron James |
| Blake Griffin | PF | Chris Bosh |
| DeAndre Jordan | C | Joel Anthony |
The Back Story:
First meeting of the season. The teams split the two game season series last year each winning at home.
- January 12th in Los Angeles - Clippers 111, Miami 105 Recap Box Score
- February 6th in Miami - Miami 97, Clippers 79 Recap Box Score
The Big Picture:
It was almost exactly a year ago (364 days, to be exact) that the Clippers beat the Heat in Staples Center for what was probably their biggest win of 2011. That was then. For this Clippers team, expectations are higher, and a win at home over even a top team has to be expected - it can't be the highlight of the entire season. That's not to say that a win is at all certain, but the mindset has to be different this season. It is not a matter of getting sky high for a single win; it's a matter of taking care of the home court no matter who is in town. Regardless, the Clippers will need Chris Paul to break out of his mini-slump. An average of 10 points and 5 assists over the last two games is not enough.
The Antagonist:
The good news is that Miami played an overtime game in Oakland last night. The bad news is that Dwyane Wade returned to the lineup and must have felt pretty good since he scored 34 minutes and played 37 minutes. The other bad news is that the Heat lost, making it unlikely that they'll be complacent in this game. LeBron James is leading the league in scoring so far, at a shade under 30 per game. Along with Wade, the two of them comprise by far the best wing tandem in the league, which could give the Clippers diminutive guards big trouble.
The Subplots
- Quick Preview. It's late, I'm mad about the Portland loss, and I'm tired. This will probably be a short preview. Maybe I'll add stuff to it during the day Wednesday.
- [Note by Steve Perrin, 01/11/12 3:29 PM PST ] Wade back-to-back? According to Marc Spears, Wade may try avoiding back-to-backs because of his recent foot issues. "Wade said he’s not certain to play on the second night of some back-to-backs, including Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers." I've seen no official indication as to whether he will play versus the Clippers tonight or not.
- Tough loss to start a tough stretch. We knew this set of games was going to be difficult. The Clippers lost in Portland last night in a game that they could have won with a more typical performance from Chris Paul. It's Miami tonight and the Lakers tomorrow, and ideally the Clippers will win both, but I'd settle for a split at this point.
- 1/12/11 to 1/11/12. Pretty weird about the dates of last year's home game versus the Heat and tonight's game, right? The game last year was probably the most fun of the season. The Heat came into the game riding a record setting 14 game road winning streak. The Clippers were flying high the entire game and the crowd was completely nuts. I assume the energy will be similar tonight.
- PER 25. James and Wade both had regular season PERs above 25 last year (27.3 and 25.6 respectively, to be exact). I decided to check some rather famous duos to see how many teammates had put up 25s in the same season. Shaq and Kobe didn't do it. Jordan and Pippen didn't do it. Stockton and Malone didn't do it. In fact, I could only find one pair that has accomplished the feat in over 30 years: Kareem and Magic, in 80-81, Magic's second season in the league.
- By the way. You know that 27.3 PER for James last year? His PER so far this season is over 35. That's just crazy.
- Improved bench? It isn't saying much, but the Heat bench has been better this season than last. Udonis Haslem is healthy, Shane Battier has been added to the mix, and rookie point guard Norris Cole is contributing. It's still three guys and a bunch of role players, but the role players appear to be marginally better.
- Winning some matchups. The Clippers are going to get killed on the wings. Caron Butler and Chauncey Billups are nice players, but James and Wade are in another zip code. No one in the league can guard James, and I suppose Butler has as much chance as anyone, but Wade is going to feast on the small Clipper backcourt all night. Which all means that the Clippers have got to dominate the other matchups. Chris Paul has simply got to break out of his slump and feast on Mario Chalmers, while Griffin and Jordan have got to dominate the inside. It's the only way to win this one.
- Griffin versus Bosh. The good news is that Blake Griffin should be able to overpower the pillow soft Bosh in the paint. In fact, don't be surprised if Eric Spoelstra assigns LeBron to defend Griffin at some point in the game.
- Rotations. After the Milwaukee game, I wondered if perhaps Vinny Del Negro shouldn't consider playing Ryan Gomes at the four at times, leaving Brian Cook on the bench. Last night in Portland, after Cookie (ClipperZoe calls him Crocker after the hunched villain of Fairly Odd Parents fame) posted a jaw dropping minus 14 in less than 5 minutes of first half action, VDN did just that in the second half. In fact, Gomes could get minutes at both the two and the four tonight, since he may also be needed to help contain Wade. Oh, and surely we won't see the three guard rotation tonight, right Vinny?
- Cook. Not to beat a dead horse, but the guy is 6 for 28 shooting on the season - and that's supposedly the thing he does well.
-
From the Urban Dictionary:
heat
n. Gun(s)
We gotta pack some serious heat for this drive by - Get the Heat perspective at Peninsula is Mightier.
72 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Dear Citizens
Just a quick note to inform you that Poetland will be officially closed until Thursday, February 16th. We will accept no calls or answer any fanposts until that date which/witch coincides with the next scheduled game with the Portland Traiblazers. If you choose to drive there before this date, you will be greeted in the same disappointing fashion as the Griswald Family taking their vacation to Wally World.
BTW, I have sent a special VIP Invitation to Coach Vinny Del Negro for a personal tour as soon as his busy schedule allows.
Thanks
PV-Mike
Proprietor/Social Director
"Great Balls Of Fire, Reggie's Back!"
lmao aww the example used for Heat
Anyway two teams needing a big boost win. I really wont feel comfortable going into the Lakers game with a two game losing streak I wanted the Blazer game more than this one but this should be interesting. I have no idea what is up with CP3 but just wake up already when he is being aggressive DJ will get some massive lob dunks and get his energy higher on both ends. When DJ is pumped then Griffin gets a little boost on Defense trying to join the block party and its spreads to the bench. Box out and we should have a chance.
by KillaClip on Jan 11, 2012 8:30 AM PST via mobile reply actions
Wake up, be aggressive...
this is the same talk we had when Baron was in town
really….other than Sam I Am (only his first season really), the Clippers have been in the crap hole with PGs. for all the stuff we have been complaining with CP3 (and with Baron when he was here), its a hell of a lot better than anyone we ever had.
us Clipper fans have very high exceptions and give little to no breaks to our recent all-star PGs
Ralph, "Last year so often with Blake Griffin you would see these things coming, with Paul, he's so crafty, all of a sudden boom there it is."
I agree
It was nice to see in Chris’s interview last night he even said he needs to be more aggressive. He’s a star and I think he will shine tonight just like he did in the Houston game when VDN told him to attack more and be more aggressive with his own shot. He’s one player on the team I am not worried about.
yea, I think he's still searching for his role
oddly, since most of the other guy’s he’s playing with are new too, but as the PG, I think he’s still trying to judge how much of his own he needs to get. He’s done an admirable job so far just taking what the defense gives him, but with all the new weapons, I’m sure he’s trying to make sure everyone else gets their touches first. He’s too smart not to figure it out, but I think he came in expecting to take a lesser scoring role than he had in New Orleans. I still think he’s trying to figure out how much less he needs to shoot, and really, it’s probably not much less.
I agree
It’s going to take time for this team to gel just like it did for the Heat, but as Clipper fans with so many years of crap we are expecting this team to perform miracles overnight. Which it will, just not overnight. In the 4th CP3 tried to step it up, he made a 3 and drove a few times. The whole team is learning how to play together, learning where each other wants the ball and how they move or don’t move when he drives to the hoop. It’ll take time which is why I’m not worried.
key to the game dont play Cook
Last game the bench came in and gave a huge boost. Mo was shooting well, Foye was breaking his man down, Gomes filling in gap, and Evans was playing physical D. At the very moment Brian Cook came in it killed the flow he does not play hard on defense and on offense he is a no factor with the ball in his hands and wont set solid screens off ball. I thought Blake Griffin set bad screens but my goodness Cook screens and barely moves.
by KillaClip on Jan 11, 2012 8:40 AM PST via mobile reply actions
Agreed
At least Trey has the potential to improve. Cook is out there to do one thing, and as Steve points out in the post, 6-28 on the season is not cutting it. Time to put Cookie on garbage duty.
"When I get into the lane, man, it’s like you’re in Baskin Robbins, you know what I’m saying? You just pick whatever you want." -Chris Paul
by Raining Buckets on Jan 11, 2012 10:59 AM PST up reply actions
+1
FO should send a Memo to Cook “Do not come to staples center the game is re-scheduled to Thursday 1-12-2012”
"Your Hate Will Motivate"
someone get Evans to like cookies more than candy
then maybe he can just eat Cook and VDN wont be able to put him in
Ralph, "Last year so often with Blake Griffin you would see these things coming, with Paul, he's so crafty, all of a sudden boom there it is."
yes exactly
someone needs to put it up on the chalkboard in the lockerroom before the players enter tonight cause that needs to be the game plan
Ralph, "Last year so often with Blake Griffin you would see these things coming, with Paul, he's so crafty, all of a sudden boom there it is."
I remember the electricity in Staples last year against the Heat
I think they were on a 13 game winning streak when we beat them. I recorded the Heat game last night and it blows me away that LeBron still goes into a shell in the 4th quarter (and overtime). I think he took one shot in the 4th quarter and also bricked a 3 pointer in overtime. I honestly feel he is afraid to fail in clutch situations which is quit the opposite of alpha dog Wade.
"Great Balls Of Fire, Reggie's Back!"
and did u see his stats against the Dubs last night?
basically 0 stats in all categories after the 3rd quarter
dude didnt even ATTEMPT a shot….how in the world does LeBron not even ATTEMPT? and NO rebounds and NO assists? …these are the kinds of things that makes me glad he took his talents to south beach rather than south central
Ralph, "Last year so often with Blake Griffin you would see these things coming, with Paul, he's so crafty, all of a sudden boom there it is."
Last season we ended the Heat's winning streak
and if my memory serves me right, they lost the next 2 or 3 games in a row on their Western road trip after we beat them. Hopefully that trend continues tonight too.
Yes that game last season at home against the Heat was the best I have ever been to.
"Your Hate Will Motivate"
i just hope our fans dont boo our own players again (cook)
Tends to kill morale on a team.
by cantthinkofagoodname on Jan 11, 2012 8:48 AM PST reply actions
44 pts in the 1st quarter
the clips tend to win games when they put up 40+ in the 1st. With CP3, they should beat their performance from last season. I say a realistic goal is 50 pts in the 1st quarter. Hmm.. might have to play 7 starters though.
Norris Cole
The kid has got game. I real find by Riley.
He was drafted 28th by the Bulls, traded to the T-Wolves and then to the Heat
June 23, 2011: Traded by the Minnesota Timberwolves with cash and a future 2nd round draft pick to the Miami Heat for Bojan Bogdanovic.
Drafted by a very good team with no need for PGs. Traded to a mediocre team with no need for PGs and then winds up playing serious minutes at PG for possibly the 2011-2012 Champions because they needed a PG.
Talk about falling into a pile of gold. Yikes
When have the Timberwolves not needed a point guard
Kahn could never have too many point guards
on the contrary
i dont think he’s interested in PGs from the draft that are ready to play….
all their PGs were either signed or traded
Rubio was drafted but didnt come over until now
Jonny Flynn was drafted and ready…and look what happened. traded for a CENTER!
Cole, unless he suffered a season ending injury in training cap, he was clearly in the Jonny Flynn pathway…he was just traded before the humiliation
Ralph, "Last year so often with Blake Griffin you would see these things coming, with Paul, he's so crafty, all of a sudden boom there it is."
Is it just me or does DJ and blake need to learn how to set screens in the PnR?
They either set the screens too early and or don’t wait long enough for the contact before rolling, allowing CP3s defender to just keep defending properly.
THANK YOU. I thought I was the only one!
Blake and DJ are both physical beasts, they should be destroying guys on picks.
"When I get into the lane, man, it’s like you’re in Baskin Robbins, you know what I’m saying? You just pick whatever you want." -Chris Paul
by Raining Buckets on Jan 11, 2012 11:01 AM PST up reply actions
totally! I noticed it more last night more than ever.
Reggie knows how to set a screen, BG and DJ need to watch his technique.
by STUCK IN LA on Jan 11, 2012 11:05 AM PST up reply actions
wait, they need to learn something?
They’re learning from the best coach in the league.
dj is actually strong screener he needs to roll harder
Griffin needs to roll period always stays back for the jumper. With those to bigs whoever is running the pick should trust in them and throw it up more often.
by KillaClip on Jan 11, 2012 2:07 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Griffin's screens annoy the hell outta me!
"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 Jan 11, 2012 4:26 PM PST up reply actions
Blake rolled with EJ....
..it was a beautiful thing. What keeps Paul and Griff from doing this so far
Energy * Focus * No Excuses
"For [Griffin] getting in the way of Andre Miller’s 40 yard dash?" -S. Perrin
Cook's shooting
i remember all the talk about him not missing a single shot during training camp…
but then against that was against the Clippers defense…
yikes
Ralph, "Last year so often with Blake Griffin you would see these things coming, with Paul, he's so crafty, all of a sudden boom there it is."
Yea I remember that
And he actually looked good during preseason too. Bleh.
"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." - John Wooden
Never a good sign
It’s never a good sign when the GM and Ralph have to be pumping up a guy to the fan base. All that “Brian Cook has missed a shot since camp started” talk was a big red flag.
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 Jan 11, 2012 3:19 PM PST up reply actions
I think this is a game that our bigs have to play well. Blake should not settle for jumpers but go to the hole…his strength. Blake should have his way with Miami and if they double him he can always pass the ball. Miami doesn’t play as well in a slow half court game. Our team seems to be able to play the full and half court game. Let’s slow it down and pound them inside. Take the ball inside and hit your shots. Cook should not play. We need to play defense. We’re home and it’s a national game. I think everyone will be hyped up. Hopefully the heat are more tired than pissed. Lebron can do one of his 3 quarters only game again.
I don't agree
if they play off him, daring him to shoot, he has to shoot it. After a while he’ll be able to hit them at a decent rate and they will abandon that tactic. If he doesn’t shoot them the defender basically gets an extra fraction of time and Griffin will be easier to defend. Once he can hit those shots, he’ll be virtually unstoppable.
Your capslock is stuck, please buy a new keyboard
by BelgianClipper on Jan 11, 2012 11:57 AM PST up reply actions
I'm glad Griffin's jump shot was working last night.
It looked pretty nice to be honest, even though i was worried each time he did it. He needs to find another move besides his spin move because the Blazers predicted it in the 4th and stole it out of his hands without him even noticing anyone was there.
Griffin's Shot looked very comfortable
He caught & shot in rhythm. None of the hesitation that had happened earlier this year.
Griffin showed a little of the original hustle & nose for the ball that he had when he started last year. When he first started last year, he hustled after every ball. Now………not so much.
yea! Mid-Ranger Jumper City!
Ralph, "Last year so often with Blake Griffin you would see these things coming, with Paul, he's so crafty, all of a sudden boom there it is."
lol..."Mid-Range", i mean
Ralph, "Last year so often with Blake Griffin you would see these things coming, with Paul, he's so crafty, all of a sudden boom there it is."
Lakers tomorrow?
I thought the Lakers were on Saturday. Because I have tickets…
"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." - John Wooden
Let's Please Get Loud Tonight!!
Please if your going, be into the game and let’s go out there and cheer them on. I remember how much energy was in the crowd last year, let’s double that this time around!!
Portland’s crowd was on it yesterday, let’s duplicate that energy TONIGHT!!
by Emmanuel Heredia on Jan 11, 2012 12:18 PM PST reply actions
and I beg you not to do the WAVE.
Even the Blazer fans did it last night too.
"Great Balls Of Fire, Reggie's Back!"
Just cause you asked so nicely
I’m gonna do it. Just to piss you off :D
by Ricekrispy10 on Jan 11, 2012 12:24 PM PST up reply actions
what if we do a Loud Wave?
and call it a Tsunami! haha ok lame.
Ralph, "Last year so often with Blake Griffin you would see these things coming, with Paul, he's so crafty, all of a sudden boom there it is."
I will be there screaming my arse off
Remembers when you could buy a nosebleed ticket at the Sports Arena and end up courtside.
hopefully
since it is a national tv game against a great team, CP3 will show up.
too tired to write a long post about this matchup. Tbh I’m deflated by that Portland game.
Flops
Love the Clippers, hate the Flops! OMG! Blake needs to stop floppin’ and start playing solid defense. Maybe he wouldn’ve got that call last night against LaMarcus if he stop flopping so much…
It was a charge...
but if Blake doesn’t flop so much during a game, he could’ve gotten that charge call instead of the blocking foul.
its already trademark...remeber his HTB move? haha
Ralph, "Last year so often with Blake Griffin you would see these things coming, with Paul, he's so crafty, all of a sudden boom there it is."
I disagree with this
The good news is that Blake Griffin should be able to overpower the pillow soft Bosh in the paint
Everyone assumes Bosh is soft (maybe it was Shaq’s Rupaul comment?) but Bosh is actually a very good interior/team defender. His opponent is posting just a 12.6 PER this season against him. In comparison BG is letting his man post a 19.5 PER. At this points in their careers Bosh is a vastly superior defender.
If the Clips want to win this game the bigs will need to provide help defense, they need to sucker Wade and Lebron into taking outside shots (tough, Wade and LBJ have really figured out their strengths this off-season) and they need to play good D without fouling because of the lack of credible depth off the bench.
Help us Altered Beast you're our only hope.
Bosh is a good defender
But we have seen Blake when he gets going to the basket. It won’t happen every play, but when Blake muscled his way in and up, he is very hard to stop.
Bosh is long, but not Aldridge-long
I think it’s less about good overall post-defenders, and more about what kind of guys bother Blake. Hasn’t Blake done historically pretty well against the Heat? He seems pretty consistent with who he punishes and who he struggles against.
But yea, it’s all about the help D against the Heat without fouling. Easier said than done :(
"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." - John Wooden
Yep
won’t be easy but the Heat aren’t the odds on favorite for the championship without reason.
As for Bosh vs Blake its been pretty even.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=boshch01&p2=griffbl01
Also based on their pre-draft measurements Bosh and Aldridge are about the same size. Neither are particularly good shot blockers but are good at putting their hands straight up in the air (thereby not fouling) and altering shots that way.
Help us Altered Beast you're our only hope.
by ClipperChuck on Jan 11, 2012 3:33 PM PST up reply actions
Weird
Aldridge just seems so much bigger. Pre-draft measurements always surprise me when viewed in hindsight…
Man, the Heat are just way too good right now.
"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." - John Wooden
Bosh looks the same size to me
he looks bigger than KG now too.
Help us Altered Beast you're our only hope.
by ClipperChuck on Jan 11, 2012 4:39 PM PST up reply actions
Yea KG never seemed that big to me...
I think a big part of why Aldridge looks so “big” to me is that he shoots so high above his head. When he’s shooting a jumper, it’s like how Rasheed used to always shoot so high above his head that defenders had no chance of blocking it.
"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." - John Wooden
But then again KG shoots like that too...
I’m weird.
"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." - John Wooden
Ike is available again
If only DTS would eat his contract and send him packing…
Remembers when you could buy a nosebleed ticket at the Sports Arena and end up courtside.
forgot "Cook's"
Remembers when you could buy a nosebleed ticket at the Sports Arena and end up courtside.
SA ditched him for someone out of the D League
"[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.
Going to the game tonight.
I hope the Lob City Boys can duplicate last years performance as that was
my favorite game of the year when they took the mighty Heattles down.
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
- 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
- Dwyane Wade’s hot pink pants: The kind of thing you can get away with when you drop 41
- Lamar Odom to New York? Dwight Howard on the move? For now, it’s all talk
