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Hello Clipper Nation! Welcome to Week Four of our #ClippersTopTweets series – recapping the Clippers’ week in Tweets.
The Los Angeles Clippers split their four games this week: two wins at home and two losses on the road. The squad started off strong with a Monday win over the reigning champion Toronto Raptors, but then dropped two in a row to the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans. They bounced back on Saturday with a thrashing of the Atlanta Hawks, and hopefully carry that momentum forward to Monday’s contest with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Here are your Twitter highlights.
Paul George’s Fantastic Debut as a Clipper
The biggest story of the week was the much anticipated debut of Paul George as a Clipper. George’s first game for Los Angeles was Thursday’s road game against the Pelicans. Although the Clippers did not come away with a win, Paul impressed. He connected for 33 points on 58.8 percent shooting, nine rebounds and four assists in just under 25 minutes of play. Fouling was an issue - he had five - but otherwise his game was pretty flawless.
PG continued to impress on Saturday against theHawks. In his first game at Staples George drained 37 points in just over 20 minutes, again shooting 58.8 percent from the field. The performance passed Phil Smith’s record for most points in a Clippers’ home debut (35 points on October 10, 1980 vs. Houston), and wowed the home crowd.
@Yg_Trece goes for 37 points in 20 minutes (!) vs Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/gKpLqlSxq2
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 17, 2019
Post game, George was visibly delighted to be in Los Angeles, and specifically, with the Clippers.
"I couldn't wait to get in front of this crowd... I couldn't wait to be home. I could get used to this."
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) November 17, 2019
Paul George talks with @Kristina_Pink after tonight's incredible performance.#ClipperNation • @LAClippers • @Yg_Trece pic.twitter.com/cet0Y3z5Wy
So to summarize, Paul George is very good at basketball. Seventy points on 34 shots in 44 minutes to start off the season. Mind. Blown. Even LeBron fans are beginning to see the writing on the wall (see below).
Clippers winning it all.
— Rebellious Scholar (@larryemcdaniel) November 17, 2019
~ Signed a LeBron fan
Oh, Austin ... Don’t Make Us Hate You (Again)
Wednesday’s road loss against the Rockets got out of hand in the closing minutes, much to the delight of former Clipper Austin Rivers.
With about 90 seconds left in the game Clippers coach Doc Rivers became heated with officials after they miscommunicated to him the number of timeouts he had remaining. Rivers picked up one technical by yelling, pacing the sideline and gesticulating wildly, but continued on with his grieving even after being teed up. Austin, who now plays for Houston, then urged referees to slap his dad with a second technical foul.
Austin Rivers wanted the refs to give his dad a tech pic.twitter.com/zKRHXf2PYQ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 14, 2019
The officials obliged, ejecting Doc from the game. As Doc left the court, Austin gestured “call me”, rubbing salt into the wound.
The holidays may be a little awkward, as Austin acknowledged post-game.
Welp.... thanksgiving is going to be weird....
— Austin Rivers (@AustinRivers25) November 14, 2019
More Zu Please.
Clipper fans were united this week in their love for Ivica Zubac.
ZUBAC. that’s it. That’s the tweet #HurricaneZu pic.twitter.com/0kMmByQhRz
— CLIPPERMEMES (@LAourWay) November 17, 2019
Zubac has been extremely efficient for the Clippers this season. He is averaging 8.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game in just over 15 mins.
Zubac when he’s under the rim pic.twitter.com/wgQdaq5EL7
— Laundry (@LaundryShamet) November 17, 2019
Zubac swatting Gasol pic.twitter.com/s5BbDP33B9
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) November 12, 2019
Yet, Zubac has not seen much time on the floor, particularly in closing quarters. In the two losses this week, Zubac played a total of 22 minutes. That just does not seem right given his effectiveness. Fans have taken note, voicing their displeasure with Zu’s time on the bench.
RELEASE THE ZUBAC pic.twitter.com/WBH1chMTiH
— Logan Rapp (@Loganchance) November 15, 2019
When Zubac is not on the floor, the Clippers are exposed at the rim. The big man has been solid defensively this season; big gains from last year.
Doc Rivers: Why on earth are we giving up so many points in the paint??? Guess we'll never know.
— Matt Chong (@MChonger) November 17, 2019
Zubac: pic.twitter.com/tN9coBiPK2
DOC PLEASE PLAY ZUBAC MORE DO U NOT SEE HIS IMPACT
— $ (@got__kash) November 17, 2019
Doc, you listening?
Young Ones Go Wildin’
In Saturday’s game against beat down of the Atlanta Hawks, the Clippers nearly broke their scoring record of 152 points. The Clippers racked up 150 points over four frames in the contest. Although nearly everyone that played contributed meaningfully, rookie Terance Mann and much maligned second year man Jerome Robinson had breakout performances.
Mann logged 13 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds in his second career start, and was the deserving recipient of the game ball.
13 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds in his second career start.
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 17, 2019
Game ball goes to @terance_mann. pic.twitter.com/i5R2xOXdNk
Mann’s mother Daynia La-Force - a former American women’s basketball coach and player with the Georgetown Hoyas - was a proud mama.
Yes My Boy!! #winnersjustrespond https://t.co/teeYngRUet
— Daynia La-Force (@CoachLaForce) November 17, 2019
Robinson, who most can agree has not been great so far this season also had a solid showing. He posted a career-high 21 points in 32 minutes off the bench and showed patience and confidence. A good sign.
@Rome_Coldbucks1 posts a career-high 21 points in 32 minutes off the bench vs Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/jB6wb52kdJ
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 17, 2019
The performance was enough for many fans to call for a moratorium on Jerome slander...
You guys aren’t allowed to slander Jerome for at least a game or 2.
— Fraudrey Hepburn (@a_leesee_a) November 17, 2019
at least for the time being.
If you would like to be included in a future segment of Top Tweets, or see a tweet you think deserves to be highlighted tag me (@michelleuzeta) or use the hashtag #ClippersTopTweets.
See you online!