Clippers 92-Bucks 86 - Growing Pains

but ugh, that game was unwatchable. I don’t know how Bucks fans can sit through 66 games of that, let alone 82.

I know it’s a broken record, but our guards really have to grab more than a board or two. Career averages say they should be in the at least 8-10 range combined, which is interestingly enough our currently rebounding deficit. Meanwhile, Brandon Jennings grabs 6?

Kind of interesting. Clearly not a great game. Once again, this is a sort of virtual preseason for the Clippers, who are getting plenty of practice time and then have a home game that should be a lock, with the other team depleted. But since it’s not a preseason game, it was obvious that the Bucks would play hard and erratically at the same time—if the Clippers gave them a chance. It was going to go one way or another. When the Clips jumped out 8-1 or whatever it was, at home with Lob City Citizenry ready to back them to the hilt, I was pumped up for a fun run, a blitzkrieg with sharp execution and another big first quarter. But as soon as Milph said “a rare turnover for the Clippers” they made four or five more in quick succession. And the game went “the other way,” a work-in-progress that will be most valuable as for study in film sessions.

The important thing is that the Clips win this game. As in some of their other wins already, Clipper teams of old knew all too well how to lose a game like this. Chris Paul was sharp for less than a minute in the first, but after taking almost no shots and going along for the ride at the end of the game he hit a 15 footer to put the Clips up by 10 and make it virtually impossible for the Bucks to come back. It was a little thing, “little” as in stepping on a guy’s neck just to make sure that he has no fight left in him and is going to lose, while you win.

Obviously the Clippers and CP3 can be much sharper and more effective. Again, this is just a routine win in the Clippers cushy early season start, although it should be said that they have already had some tough games, at San Antonio and against Chicago (losses), and next week’s trio, going up to Portland and coming back for Miami and the Lakers will be quite challenging, to say the least. The Clips will need to play well to win any of those games.

The game felt like film session fodder in part because of some experimentation, with the debut of Reggie Evans and leaving Mo Williams out on the floor when Billups and then CP3 returned. Managing the guard rotation is going to be a delicate business, and by the end of this week we can start getting curious about Eric Bledsoe’s return date. The Clippers have a whole lot of really good guards, it’s just that none of them are very tall. That will matter this week, against DWade and Kobe (sad to say sayonara to BRoy), but we’re starting to see how the Clips will play, as they have a ton of offensive firepower, and the question is their hustle and focus on defense and the boards. Being a little bit sloppy on offense, like last night, and not much energy, is how they will lose games against good teams—but they should be more focused for bigger and more important matchups. On the road in Portland is a very big test.

Offensive firepower first, and two things that weren’t obvious going into the season, although they probably should have been. Milph gave the game ball to Caron Butler, and it’s just really refreshing for the Clippers to have an SF who can make shots. Maggette could score efficiently because of the free throw line, but his game was never all that smooth and you didn’t know if his shot would be on or not, and Bobby Simmons hit shots from the baseline one year, but Butler seems to be at a completely different level of proficiency than what we’ve seen. It even more glaring and refreshing when Gomes comes in to replace him and throws up an airball—that’s what we suffered through last year. Gomes isn’t so bad as a backup and an excuse to leave guys like Butler and Mo Williams and even Randy Foye on the floor. Single digit minutes for Gomes is fine. Butler is fun to watch, hasn’t forced a lot of shots (and things weren’t really flowing well last night either), and having a scorer and an SF that you want to shoot an open 3 is a big big change.

Secondly, this thing with Mo Williams coming off the bench like a kamikaze is really working. The thing we didn’t know, I guess, is that Mo was so excited about leading the team that he got in fantastic shape, and he was looking forward to playing alongside EJ and getting his minutes ahead of Bledsoe. Then his world turned upside down, and it turned out that his hard work makes him pretty much ideal in this role. He’s faster than everybody, and he too can just hit shots and score and make plays, especially if he’s going to play with a crazed intensity trying to spend his rage at not being a starter. It’s pretty awesome.

Cookie, not awesome. Reggie Evans awesome. Cook wasn’t really so horrible as far as grabbing the ball a few times is concerned, but he’s just got to hit those open shots. That’s who he is—a stretch 4 who makes shots. They need to go in. Sadly the Bucks were hanging around, in part because Cook missed shots, which meant that Solomon Jones didn’t get into the game film. He will, I’m sure against Portland. He has to. Part of the issue last night was that Evans was seeing his first minutes, and Evans and Jones on the floor at the same time means no frontline offense, but those are rotation issues that have to evolve. Now that Evans is available and magnificently beastish, VDN can start by rotating Cook to DNP status. And more DJ, when he does a nice job staying out of foul trouble, is another good way to go.

But the Reggie Evans debut was pretty classic. It wasn’t just the offensive rebound on the first play, but two more boards in quick succession. The guy is going to be a major piece, and people and pundits might not have realized that his appearance in the lineup is a significant addition and an important step for the Clippers and their quest to be a top tier team. A couple of practice days coming up (unless today is a day off, although Jones and Evans need as much work as possible. And please feel free to shoot a few hundred free throws with DJ and Blake, Reggie) should help the evolution continue going strong.

Pretty good. Stayed in front of Jax and kept him from going to the rim. That saved a couple of buckets.

First half was unbearably boring and sloppy, and the crowd wasn’t in to it. 2nd half was a different story however. Kinda wish they started the game that way but whatever.

A win is a win and come on… As much as it pains me to say this, we follow the Clippers who are arguably the worst sports franchise of all time. We’re 4-2 to start the season. I mean, when was the last time the Clippers were even above .500?

Th Clips won on a night they generally did not play well. These are the games good teams must win. I like how they won when they did not play well (except for the third quarter).

But I just kind of felt like getting this off my chest. HOLY CRAP ARE LAKER FANS STUPID. I had to argue with them about why LeBron is better than Kobe at the moment and why Steve Blake + Ebanks is NOT a fair trade for Steve Nash.

I never want to see a player injured but this has to help the Clippers

E. Maynor torn ACL, out for the remainder of the season.

Maynor is the guy that made the Thunder second unit go. Without him the Thunder second unit could be a lot less effective. We will get some preliminary indication starting shortly as Thunder go up against Spurs on NBA.TV