Clippers vs. Utah - Game Preview
by Steve Perrin on Feb 9, 2010 12:14 AM PST
in Game Previews
16 comments
2009/2010 NBA Regular Season
vs.
21-29 31-18
Staples Center
February 9th, 2010, 7:30 PM
Prime Ticket, 980 AM
Probable starters:
Baron Davis
PG
Deron Williams
Eric Gordon
SG
Ronnie Brewer
Rasual Butler
SF
Andrei Kirilenko
Marcus Camby
PF
Carlos Boozer
Chris Kaman
C
Mehmet Okur
The Back Story:
16 comments | 0 recs |
San Antonio 98 - Clippers 81 - New Coach, Same Old Spurs-Clippers Game
by Steve Perrin on Feb 6, 2010 10:36 PM PST
in Game Recaps
57 comments
I feel like I've written this recap before. Oh that's right, I have.
I swear, if Duncan doesn't play the fourth quarter in San Antonio in March, I'm going to scream. I mean, don't the Clippers have a fiduciary responsibility to the rest of the league to tire out the Spurs a little? The Lakers can't be happy about facing Tim Duncan in a couple of nights when Timmy only had to log 19 minutes in this one.
It's really not worth trying to dissect positives and negatives from this game. The 18-0 run in that began a minute into the game essentially accounts for the final margin. Does that mean the Clippers played them even the rest of the way? Mathematically, maybe. But not in reality. When the game was 60-30 early in the second half it was over. It's certainly not a bad thing that the Clippers finally started making some shots at that point, but it's all irrelevant. The game was over, Duncan was on the bench, the lead was never less than 14, it was just 20 minutes of basketball that we had to get through. Did Eric Gordon finish well around the basket? Sure, I guess that was nice enough to see. Did Chris Kaman make a couple of strong moves? Yes. But so what?
57 comments | 0 recs |
Clippers vs. San Antonio - Open Thread
by Steve Perrin on Feb 6, 2010 7:30 PM PST
in Game Threads
289 comments
| 2009/2010 NBA Regular Season | ||
|---|---|---|
| |
vs |  |
| 21-28 | 28-20 |
|
| Staples Center |
||
| February 5th, 2010, 7:30 PM | ||
| Prime Ticket, 980 AM |
||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Baron Davis |
PG | Tony Parker |
| Eric Gordon | SG | George Hill |
| Rasual Butler |
SF | Richard Jefferson |
| Marcus Camby |
PF | Tim Duncan |
| Chris Kaman |
C | Antonio McDyess |
The Back Story:
289 comments | 0 recs |
Clippers vs. San Antonio - Game Preview
by Steve Perrin on Feb 6, 2010 7:00 AM PST
in Game Previews
25 comments
| 2009/2010 NBA Regular Season | ||
|---|---|---|
| |
vs | |
| 21-28 | 28-20 |
|
| Staples Center |
||
| February 5th, 2010, 7:30 PM | ||
| Prime Ticket, 980 AM |
||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Baron Davis |
PG | Tony Parker |
| Eric Gordon | SG | George Hill |
| Rasual Butler |
SF | Richard Jefferson |
| Marcus Camby |
PF | Tim Duncan |
| Chris Kaman |
C | Antonio McDyess |
The Back Story:
- December 13 in Los Angeles - San Antonio 115, Clippers 90 - Recap Box Score
- December 21 in San Antonio - San Antonio 103, Clippers 87 - Recap Box Score
The Big Picture:
The Kim Hughes era begins with a very difficult task: the San Antonio Spurs. In the history of this little blog, the Clippers have never beaten the Spurs. Think about that for a minute. Since the beginning of the 2006-2007 season, when I started writing previews and recaps of every single game, the Clippers have played the Spurs 13 times and lost every damn one of them. So every damn recap I've written has been a tale of woe - and woeful they have been. Of course, the Spurs dominance of LA has been going on for even longer than that. They've won 14 straight overall, and they're 42-5 in the Tim Duncan era. Maybe Hughes will have better luck than Mike Dunleavy against them. MDsr beat the Spurs only twice in 22 games against San Antonio as the Clippers coach. Then again, the Clippers did end a nine game losing streak against the Lakers earlier this season, so it could happen. For Hughes, maybe it's a blessing - the Clippers never beat the Spurs, so if they lose this first game with him at the helm, that's just what everyone expects to happen. If they somehow win, it's a new and glorious day in Clips Nation. The real story is going to be watching for stylistic differences under the new head coach. Will they run more, will they compete on every play (a theme for everyone at the Clippers practice yesterday), how will the substitution patterns change, who gets the ball on key possessions, etc? Personnel-wise, everyone is relatively healthy (except of course Sebastian Telfair and Blake Griffin and Kareem Rush - the Clippers, where you say everyone is healthy if only three guys are out long term). Kaman had a terrible game in Atlanta, and often struggles against the Spurs, so if he can have a good game it would be a big bonus. Baron has been playing well. Eric Gordon had his first good game in awhile in Chicago. Basically, all those guys have to play well for the Clippers to have a chance against their nemesis.
25 comments | 0 recs |
Five Questions in the Wake of Dunleavy's Resignation
by Steve Perrin on Feb 6, 2010 12:14 AM PST
in News
36 comments
1. Will Kim Hughes be considered for the head coaching job next summer?
The short answer to this one is it depends. If the Clippers play great over the course of the next 33 games, then of course he'll be considered. If they play about the same, or a little better or worse, then probably not. Interim coaches are almost always just that - interim coaches. Kurt Rambis went 24-13 for the Lakers in 1999 - and then waited 11 seasons to get another chance to be a head coach. Talking to club president Andy Roeser today, he seems intent on giving Hughes a chance. Bill Plaschke made an excellent point in his column yesterday - the job is attractive now with a solid core in place and Griffin debuting in nine months. This summer would be an opportune time to go after a high profile coach. But for now, we're in Kim Hughes' audition.
2. Will GM Mike Dunleavy Sr. be looking over Hughes shoulder, breathing down his neck?
Everyone insists that he will not. Dunleavy said flat out that it's Hughes' team now, that the coach has to be in charge, and that he'll only provide input if asked. When a reporter asked Hughes if he would consult with Dunleavy about the game plan against the Spurs tomorrow night he non-chalantly said 'No'. In fact, if people were worried that Dunleavy would have trouble letting go, the Hughes era is getting off to a good start - GMMDsr is away on a scouting trip for the Spurs game and is tied up through All Star break with various things, so he won't even be at Hughes' first several games. Besides, Dunleavy is 6'2" and Hughes is 6'10" - he can't look over his shoulder without a step ladder.
36 comments | 0 recs |
Who is Kim Hughes?
by Steve Perrin on Feb 5, 2010 6:28 PM PST
in News
24 comments
It happens to everyone as they get older, though I don't think of myself as being an old-timer. So last night, as I was looking at Mike Dunleavy's coaching record, considering if perhaps he's coached his last game, and realizing that he's 15th on the NBA's games coached list, it kind of hit me. Here's a guy I watched as a PLAYER who is possibly retiring from his career as a COACH.
But I clearly wasn't as into the NBA in the 70s as I am now, because I have no recollection whatsoever of Kim Hughes as a player. Then again, there's not a lot to remember.
Hughes was a standout for the Wisconsin Badgers from 1970 to 1974, in a twin towers front court that featured his twin brother Kerry. His first connection to the Clippers came when he was drafted in the third round of the 1974 draft by the Buffalo Braves. (The NBA only had 18 teams at the time, so middle of the third round then would be middle of the second round today.) He didn't make that loaded Braves squad (which happened to be the best team in the history of the franchise at 49-33) and went to Italy to play for a season.
24 comments | 0 recs |
Stop With the Isiah Stuff Already
by Steve Perrin on Feb 5, 2010 4:54 PM PST
in News
12 comments
Citizens...
Although Jeff Goodman from foxsports.com reported that the Clippers are interested in Isiah Thomas for the coach and GM position, it's not true.
The Clippers don't always act like the brightest group, but neither are they that stupid.
Finding themselves backed into a bit of a corner with Dunleavy being both coach and GM the last couple of seasons, there's no way that they're going to look for someone to fill a dual role again, as the report suggests. No. Way.
When I asked a Clippers exec about the report, I got the same reaction that Ramona Shelburne tweeted earlier. There is no truth to this rumor. If you see it on HoopsHype, hear it on the radio, so it on a blog... it's all the same rumor, it started with one report, the "source close to the situation" is probably someone in Isiah's camp, and it simply is not true.
Moving on.
12 comments | 0 recs
First Impressions - Clippers Head Coach Kim Hughes
by Steve Perrin on Feb 5, 2010 12:51 PM PST
in News
38 comments
I have to say, I like this guy.
After his first practice as the Clippers interim head coach, Kim Hughes spoke with the media this morning. Dena was there with her camera, so keep an eye on the Clippers web site or youtube channel to get the unfiltered story.
Hughes has to walk a bit of a tight rope here. In answering questions about how things will be different, the implication of saying "I'll do things this way" is always, at least implicitly "Dunleavy did things another way, and that way was wrong." And of course this guy is still the general manager, so it would be unwise to throw him under the bus.
Hughes navigated that minefield impressively. I asked him to compare and contrast his style versus MDsr's style, and he didn't shy away from it. Frankly, he said all the things that the vast majority of the Citizens of Clips Nation wanted to here. He used very positive language to refer to Dunleavy - called him the most intelligent basketball mind he's ever worked with, called him cerebral - but said that he'd be different. He wants to run more, get more easy scores in transition, call fewer plays, let Baron Davis run the show - everything he said made sense, and was music to Baron's ears.
38 comments | 0 recs |
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Clippers Schedule
Next 5 Games
@
Golden State
|
Wed 02/10 | 7:30 PM PST |
|
@
Portland
|
Tue 02/16 | 7:00 PM PST |
|
Atlanta
|
Wed 02/17 | 7:30 PM PST |
|
Sacramento
|
Sat 02/20 | 7:30 PM PST |
Last 5 Games
|
San Antonio
|
Sat 02/06 | L 81 - 98 |
|
@
Atlanta
|
Wed 02/03 | L 97 - 103 |
|
@
Chicago
|
Tue 02/02 | W 90 - 82 |
|
@
Cleveland
|
Sun 01/31 | L 89 - 114 |
|
@
Minnesota
|
Fri 01/29 | L 97 - 111 |
Pacific Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Los Angeles Lakers
|
40 | 13 | .754 | 0 | Won 2 |
|
Phoenix
|
31 | 21 | .596 | 8.5 | Won 5 |
|
Los Angeles Clippers
|
21 | 29 | .420 | 17.5 | Lost 2 |
|
Sacramento
|
16 | 34 | .320 | 22.5 | Lost 6 |
|
Golden State
|
13 | 37 | .260 | 25.5 | Lost 9 |
(updated 2.9.2010 at 4:10 PM PST)
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