The Clippers steadily pulled away in the second half against the Israeli league champs and EuroLeague stalwart, building a 19 point lead by the end of the third quarter. Maccabi actually scored the last 8 points of the game to make the final score of 108-96 a little more respectable.
I don't think there's a whole lot to over analyze here. The Clippers beat a team they were supposed to beat (unlike when they lost to CSKA in Moscow three pre-seasons ago). Blake Superior had one of those lines that we're already getting used to: 13 points on 6 for 7 shooting, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 turnover. The way he's playing right now, he could lead the team in assist-to-turnover ratio from the power forward spot. His six baskets came on three dunks (two of them alley oops, and one of them off an inbounds pass), two tip ins and a layup. I'm telling you, he can average 15 without making a jumper - and he'd lead the league in FG percentage in the process. There's really no telling what he'll score if he continues to develop the shot.
Chris Kaman had a big third quarter and finished with a team high 18 points on 8 for 13 shooting, but 6 turnovers is not what we want to see from him.
Overall, it's the kind of box score you might expect from a team playing an exhibition against an undermanned opponent. Seven Clippers scored in double figures, the team shot 55%, it's all pretty good (except the 18 turnovers). Seven of the turnovers came from the point guards, who otherwise played a terrific game. Sebastian Telfar, in only his second pre-season appearance, combined with Baron Davis to score 25 points and hand out 15 assists in 44 minutes, which is not bad at all.
Marcus Camby and Al Thornton continued to rest their minor injuries.
With the surprise revelation from Lisa D today that Kareem Rush would be starting the season with the team, there are no more roster decisions to be made in pre-season. Now, it's just about figuring out rotations, and getting this thing started. There's one more pre-season game, Friday at Staples versus the Hornets (that one's on TV). And then in one week - the season actually begins!