Wizards 91 - Clippers 89

by Steve Perrin on Feb 13, 2008 11:10 PM PST in News

It is hard to imagine how the Clippers were even in this game. Outrebounded 51-31. 22 offensive rebounds for the Wizards to 24 defensive rebounds for the Clippers. Think about that. You play defense, you force a miss... and then it's about 50-50 as to whether or not you get the ball. The rebounding advantage resulted in 17 more shots for the Wizards. SEVENTEEN! And it's not like the Clippers made up for it at the free throw line, where they had a mere 24-21 advantage. Basically, they just spotted the Wizards 17 shots. The Clippers had 68 shots in the game - which coincidentally works out to exactly 17 per quarter. Imagine playing a game where one team plays 5 quarters, and the other team plays 4 quarters. That's what happened here. The Clippers gave the Wizards an extra quarter's worth of shots.

It was no surprise therefore that the game was won on an Antawn Jamison tip in with 0.3 seconds left on the clock. What was a surprise was that Chris Kaman, the leading rebounder in the game and the third leading rebounder in the NBA, was not on the floor at the time. Corey Maggette (zero rebounds in the game) and Tim Thomas (four) were in the game. With a 2 second differential in the shot clock and the game clock and having given up 20 offensive rebounds already, it would seem fairly obvious that forcing a miss is only half the battle - rebounding the miss is the tough part. But MDsr, overthinking things as always, decided he liked the matchups better without Kaman (although Chris had been guarding Songaila most of the fourth quarter). So Kaman sat, Songaila kept the ball alive, and Jamison tipped it home. Ball game.

There's really little else to say about this game. Al Thornton looked good. Cat Mobley had a good third quarter. No one else played particularly well.

But how's this for eerie? Check out this sentence:

There's 26 seconds left and the score is tied - isn't the stop the first order of business? Why would you sit your only shot blocker for the most important defensive possession of the game?

Believe it or not, that was not written about this game. It's from my recap of a bad loss to the Hawks, Feb. 15, 2007. The final game before the All Star break last season. Brand was hurt and Kaman was on the bench in a tie game when the Hawks made the game winning basket.

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

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all-star break

for the second year in a row the clippers played like they were ready for their all-star vacations one game too soon.

by laclipperfan42 on Feb 14, 2008 6:26 AM PST reply actions

Unbelievable

My wife looked up from grading papers in time to notice Kamen headed for the bench. She wandered aload why he was being taken out. I said it must be for matchups.
After the play she just looked at me, shook her head, mumbled "that worked out well" and went back to grading papers.
I'm no coach but when the other team is getting 2 rebounds to your one when your center is in the game and you want to limit their looks at the basket with time running out I would think you would want your only rebounder in the game. But hey your the genius, as you remind us everytime someone questions your skills.

by Phil Gurnee on Feb 14, 2008 7:53 AM PST reply actions

The weird thing is

that Kaman was in, and right before the inbounds, MDSr. subbed in Corey. Ralph and Mike were surprised, but said it must be a matchup decision. From my perspective, Dunleavy loses more of these matchup decisions than he wins (Daniel Ewing/Raja Bell).

Eventually this guy has to stop overthinking. He should have had his 5 best defenders in, which do not include Maggette or Thomas.

by mp on Feb 14, 2008 8:00 AM PST reply actions

Dunleavy has nothing on Vizzini

Man in Black: All right. Where is the poison? The battle of wits has begun. It ends when you decide and we both drink, and find out who is right... and who is dead.
Vizzini: But it's so simple. All I have to do is divine from what I know of you: are you the sort of man who would put the poison into his own goblet or his enemy's? Now, a clever man would put the poison into his own goblet, because he would know that only a great fool would reach for what he was given. I am not a great fool, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But you must have known I was not a great fool, you would have counted on it, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.
Man in Black: You've made your decision then?
Vizzini: Not remotely. Because iocane comes from Australia, as everyone knows, and Australia is entirely peopled with criminals, and criminals are used to having people not trust them, as you are not trusted by me, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you.
Man in Black: Truly, you have a dizzying intellect.
Vizzini: Wait til I get going! Now, where was I?
Man in Black: Australia.
Vizzini: Yes, Australia. And you must have suspected I would have known the powder's origin, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.
Man in Black: You're just stalling now.
Vizzini: You'd like to think that, wouldn't you? You've beaten my giant, which means you're exceptionally strong, so you could've put the poison in your own goblet, trusting on your strength to save you, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But, you've also bested my Spaniard, which means you must have studied, and in studying you must have learned that man is mortal, so you would have put the poison as far from yourself as possible, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.
Man in Black: You're trying to trick me into giving away something. It won't work.
Vizzini: IT HAS WORKED! YOU'VE GIVEN EVERYTHING AWAY! I KNOW WHERE THE POISON IS!
Man in Black: Then make your choice.
Vizzini: I will, and I choose - What in the world can that be?
Vizzini: [Vizzini gestures up and away from the table. Roberts looks. Vizzini swaps the goblets]
Man in Black: What? Where? I don't see anything.
Vizzini: Well, I- I could have sworn I saw something. No matter.First, let's drink. Me from my glass, and you from yours.
Man in Black, Vizzini: [they drink ]
Man in Black: You guessed wrong.
Vizzini: You only think I guessed wrong! That's what's so funny! I switched glasses when your back was turned! Ha ha! You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The most famous is never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well-known is this: never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha...
Vizzini: [Vizzini stops suddenly, and falls dead to the right]
Buttercup: And to think, all that time it was your cup that was poisoned.
Man in Black: They were both poisoned. I spent the last few years building up an immunity to iocane powder.

by Phil Gurnee on Feb 14, 2008 8:16 AM PST up reply actions

Inconceivable!

Are you sure you know what this word means, because I do not think it means what you think it means.

by Steve Perrin on Feb 14, 2008 9:05 AM PST up reply actions

never get involved in a land war in Asia...

Now that is a classic blunder.

I had forgotten that line. Thanks for giving me a little chuckle over this dreadful game.

Have fun storming the castle.

by Steve Perrin on Feb 14, 2008 9:09 AM PST up reply actions

one of the best dialouges in movie history

right up there with the Dennis Hopper/Christopher Walken dialouge from 'True Romance'.

Funny that they both involve Sicilians.

by mp on Feb 14, 2008 11:10 AM PST up reply actions

I have found

that people who loved this movie I can be friends with. People who didn't should follow the lemmings.

by Phil Gurnee on Feb 14, 2008 1:03 PM PST up reply actions

We should be friends - love that movie

by Jax on Feb 14, 2008 1:37 PM PST up reply actions

Your quote from last year

is eerie, and scary for our future.

by Phil Gurnee on Feb 14, 2008 8:19 AM PST reply actions

To continue on Maggette..

From my vantage point at Staples center, it appeared that Dunleavy was on his way back to the bench after that final timeout when one of his assistants started yelling at him about the matchup. That's when MDsr made the Mags for Kaman substitution. Granted, its ultimately MDsr's call, but it seems to me that his assistants are right in line with the whole "matchup" thinking.
Speaking of Maggette, on the Wizards next to last possesion, where Jamison had the easy dunk off a back cut, that was again on Maggette (not to mention other defensive lapses during the game). Do you think MDsr is giving Mags all these "defensive" opportunities now to prove a point? Or am I thinking too much into it? Also, if Thorton continues to play like this, I wouldn't mind see Mags leave. Granted, this was one of the worst games I have seen Mags play, but Thorton just has so much energy and "drive" on both ends of the floor, unlike number 50. I am not trying to rip into Mags, but it's games like these that make me seriously think about keeping him around.

BINGOOOOO!!!

by Clip Show on Feb 14, 2008 8:23 AM PST reply actions

A few thoughts...

On overthinking - Dunleavy loses more of these matchup decisions than he wins Citizen mp -

This is one of those things you primarily notice when it doesn't work. When a player is inserted into the game for 30 seconds for one stop, and you don't get the stop, everyone puts the microscope on it. When you do get the stop, it becomes 30 seconds in the box score.

On who SHOULD have been on the floor - From watching on TV, it appeared that MDsr and his staff saw who the Wizards had on the floor and substituted Kaman for matchup purposes. I'm guessing (a) they thought the Wizards would run pick and roll with Daniels and Songaila, (b) they wanted to switch it and (c) they thought Thomas would be better on that switch than Kaman. They were right on (a), they executed (b) and Thomas forced a miss on (c). They just completely missed up on (d) which was the rebound. Kaman does fine defending the pick and roll. It seems obvious to me that he should have been on the floor. Bear in mind also that it was a last second decision. The Wizards brought on Mason for Haywood. Since Kaman was looking for Haywood after the time out, it was Kaman who came out since he couldn't guard Mason. But they could have slid Kaman to Songaila and removed Thomas as well. Or even switched Thomas onto Mason to leave another rebounder on the floor.

BUT it probably would not have changed anything... had Kaman been in the game, he would have been switched onto Daniels they way they wanted to play it. I've watched the play about 20 times now, and the Clippers played it well. Ross took Songaila on the roll, Songaila set a screen for Mobley's man Stevenson, Ross and Mobley switched that, Mobley's now on Songaila. Daniels missed badly and the ball bounced straight to Songaila even though Mobley had played it well and had inside position. Maggette had been home on Mason guarding against the kick, he crashed to try to get it, but really, the ball just went straight to Songaila (who had pushed Mobley pretty deep since he's just so much stronger). Songaila's air ball tip ended up being a perfect pass to Jamison. The only 'mistake' (if you can call it that) was that Thornton allowed Jamison to be stronger than he is. They defended it well. Some times the ball doesn't bounce your way.

On Maggette's Defense - You certainly don't want to give up a dunk in the final minute, but that play is more the help defense's fault. People get beat all the time - there has to be a rotation. Maggette, Thornton and Thomas are all culpable on defense and screening out in this game. Even Kaman got beat to many rebounds he would have had earlier in the season. Jamison went wherever he wanted after offensive rebounds. On multiple occasions Clippers went after boards leisurely while Dominic Mcguire (WHO?) hustled and ripped the ball away from them.

Jamison's three was even more damaging than the dunk. That was completely Al Thornton ball watching. Kaman had Songaila shut down, Maggette would have had the help at any rate, and Thornton had no business getting sucked in to the lane leaving Jamison alone. If Jamison doesn't hit that three, the game is see-sawing between Clippers down 1 and up 1. If the Wizards are down 1 on the final possession instead of tied, they probably don't let the clock wind down before starting their play. That three was a real game changer. Al will become a better defensive player with time - he works hard and he wants to be better, and that goes a long way - but that was a big mistake.

Which is to say that MDsr doesn't have a lot of great choices right now. Ross and Mobley are good defenders and they were on the floor at the end. Thomas, Thornton and Maggette are not great defenders. But Maggette may in fact be the best of the three of them.

by Steve Perrin on Feb 14, 2008 9:41 AM PST reply actions

All salient points

I have seen games where Dunleavy's last second matchup decisions were clearly brilliant. One that stands out is a game vs. the Knicks from the Mikki Moore season. MDSr. subbed in Moore on a last second possession to guard Marbury on the perimeter. He suspected that Moore's length would make the last second shot difficult for Starbury. It worked great. There have been other occassions as well. Of course they can go either way.

Last night the Wizards were grabbing every rebound with Kaman in the game, so there is no guarantee that Chris would have secured the last one. But he did have 11 of the teams 31 rebounds...that is one-third of the team total, by himself. Maggette, the guy he subbed in for Kaman in a split-second, had zero.

I'm just saying, with the game and shot clock almost in sync, it would seem likely that a missed shot could lead to a rebound opportunity. Wouldn't it be good to have your only rebounder in there? They went to lengths to keep him out of foul trouble last night. This goes back to the notion of this coach being one who tries to adapt to every situation, rather than making the opposition adapt. MDSr. tries to be too clever by half and shoots himself in the foot. Don't be shy with the cliche's.

All that said...Jamison was a beast last night, so it would be unfair to him to lay the defeat at the feet of the Clippers coach. He hustled, hit big shots, and really got it done. Maggette and Al were both caught snoozing on D late in the game.

by mp on Feb 14, 2008 11:08 AM PST up reply actions

Don't get me wrong...

It was a stupid overthinking move. He should not have done it. Kaman should absolutely been in the game to at least try to get the rebound. The Clippers sans Kaman had the same number of rebounds total (20) as the Wizards has offensive rebounds at that point in time. Why would we expect that to change and suddenly the Clippers would get the rebound?

Furthermore, the absolute worst case scenario is exactly what happened. That the Wizards would score on the put back with no time on the clock for the Clippers to get a final possession. If Daniels' shot goes in there's 4 seconds left and time to try to win the game. So by putting the eggs in the 'get a stop' basket while ignoring the 'get a rebound' basket, the Clippers had the worst of both worlds. They had to pick their poison. It was do or die. That was for all the marbles. I got your cliches right here! OK, I'm done now.

So Kaman absolutely should have been in the game and it was a classic MDsr overthink that he wasn't. I'm just saying, the way the play went, it probably would not have mattered.

And Jamison was a man against boys at the three.

by Steve Perrin on Feb 14, 2008 12:08 PM PST up reply actions

Unbelievable that kaman wasn't in t he game

I'm speechless. Which is rare.

by Jax on Feb 14, 2008 1:02 PM PST up reply actions

Point well made...

Regardless of whether Kaman was in the game or not, he would not have been in position to get that last rebound. Like you said, the game was essentially lost on the Jamison 3. Hopefully someone on the coaching staff will point this out to Thorton in a constructive way, and he will learn from it. He seems to be an extremely hard worker, and will only get better on D. Good points CS.

BINGOOOOO!!!

by Clip Show on Feb 14, 2008 2:19 PM PST reply actions

Quality Loss

Chalk up #33. This one took some doing.

Once again, let's give Tim Thomas some credit. Rebounding problem? Kaman 15 lbs lighter than before his illness, and a step slower? It's not that Thomas was horrible or even played big minutes. All of those offensive rebounds... and how many minutes did Josh Powell play? The generics are in a bit of a quandary. Thornton has arrived. Maggette has been playing great--up until last night. Thomas is healthy enough to take his natural spot, coming off the bench, but he's wasn't quite healthy enough to do the kind of damage, especially inside, that he was doing before his back flared up. Powell moves down the depth chart and poof! you've got big rebounding problems, that Kaman can't cover.

The good news is that it's a problem that will be solved by EB coming back. The trick then will be getting Thornton minutes behind Maggette--but he may take some of Thomas' limited (behind Brand) PF minutes too.

But losing these woulda coulda shoulda games is fine. The Clips could easily have 20+ wins with no better shot at a playoff spot. With only 17 wins at this point, after picking up 3 on the road trip, their chances of getting to 30 wins on the season aren't very good. Let's start by seeing how long it takes for them to get to 20.

by zhivclip on Feb 14, 2008 2:57 PM PST reply actions

Powell

I meant to say something about Powell, but the recap was pretty succinct as, befitting the loss. But it is strange that he has completely vanished. Particularly when the Clippers were getting so destroyed on the boards last night.

by Steve Perrin on Feb 14, 2008 3:12 PM PST up reply actions

This is funny

Because we've been saying the same thing about Brendan Haywood all season.

Bullets Forever, your Washington Wizards blog.

by Mike Prada on Feb 15, 2008 8:46 AM PST reply actions

Haywood...

I have no idea what Jordan is doing with Haywood. All he does is destroy Kaman all game long... and then sit the 4th quarter. And I know Jordan's done that a lot. All you have to do is look at the guy's PER and then look at his minutes to know something is out of whack.

It's not the first time of course. In the end, I assume the coach knows more than I do (although that seems hard to believe, huh?) and that he's got his reasons. But I'm sure you wish you knew what they were.

by Steve Perrin on Feb 15, 2008 9:39 AM PST reply actions