Clips Nation - Clippers-Jazz game coverage: Going for the sweepWhat it do babyyyhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47967/clipsnation_fave.png2013-02-23T22:45:34-08:00http://www.clipsnation.com/rss/stream/37858772013-02-23T22:45:34-08:002013-02-23T22:45:34-08:00Clips Burn Jazz 107-94
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/EimCipQDr13_iyB6K4J6RMXbjH4=/20x0:3980x2640/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8676221/20121230_lbm_aj4_488.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Blake Griffin, Lamar Odom, and Caron Butler are high scorers for the Los Angeles Clippers, taking down the Utah Jazz 107-94 </p> <p>After a truly disappointing loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night, the Clips needed a big turnaround against the Utah Jazz tonight and got one, winning the season series against the Jazz for the first time in a thousand years.</p>
<p>The Clips came out, playing like they wanted to bury the Jazz, and behind the play of Blake Griffin jumped out to a 21-13 lead. But the Jazz climbed back in and with Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, and Gordon Hayward contributing, the Jazz managed to tie the Clips up at 39 with five minutes left in the second. And as the half closed the Clips were only up by two points.</p>
<p>Then the second half started. Playing tough defense and focused offense, the Clips came out and scored the first fourteen points of the half (nine by Griffin) and take a 65 to 49 lead. Caron Butler has two remarkable drives to the rim and a three pointer and the Clips find themselves up by 19 points with 6:30 left in the third.That pretty much does it. The Clips never really look back. Despite a run by Utah late in the fourth the Jazz never get closer than twelve.</p>
<p>- Caron Butler played his butt off and probably has his best game of the season, scoring 21 with 5 rebounds in 30 minutes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">- Blake Griffin had to sit down with 3:00 left in the third after collecting his fourth foul. But Griffin was, for most of the night, the best player on the floor. He was unstoppable in single coverage... even though the Jazz have some pretty good defenders in Millsap and Derrick Favors. Statistically he's average, with 18 points and 7 rebounds but he goes 4 for 4 from the foul line has three assists, never stops working, and outplays anything the Jazz throw at him. Clips don't win without him.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">- Lamar Odom BREAKS OUT and scores eighteen, (8-15, 2-3 from three) in 23 minutes. A lot of it happens in the fourth when the game is over but it's nice to see Lamar look for his shot.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">- I don't understand Gordon Hayward, he doesn't shoot much or particularly well, but he's high man for the Jazz with 23 points in 30 minutes. He can run the floor, gets to the rim, has 8 rebounds and goes 13-14 from the foul line. 14 TRIPS TO THE LINE. Crazy. If he learns to shoot, he's an All Star.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">- Randy Foye, former Clipper goes 0 for 5 and puts up a goose egg. The other starting member of the Jazz backcourt also conjures up a naught (as does small forward Marvin Williams.) If the Jazz get ANY production out of their backcourt and their small forward, they're in this game.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">- After all the trade talk, how did Eric Bledsoe do? Well he was part of a very sloppy fourth period when the game didn't matter, but he was also very effective working with the second unit, going 2-6 with 6 assists and some crisp defensive play.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">- DeAndre Jordan got beat up a bit by Al Jefferson who is as gifted an offensive big man as there is. But Jordan scored 7 and grabbed 12 rebounds in only 26 minutes. Seriously, with numbers like that, it makes no sense why Ryan Hollins gets any time at all. I'm sure Vinny has a good reason. (I'm the first one down on Jordan when he plays like a knucklehead but he deserves more time when he focuses on rebounding and defense.)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">- Strange that I haven't mentioned Chris Paul. He was quietly efficient and the Clips big runs all happened while he was on the floor. 11/7. Yawn.</p>
<p>Next up is the Clippers against the Charlotte Bobcats at Staples on Tuesday.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The <a href="http://www.nba.com/games/20130223/UTALAC/gameinfo.html?ls=iref:nbahpgt[0021200829]" target="_blank">box</a>.</p>
https://www.clipsnation.com/2013/2/23/4023546/clips-burn-jazz-107-94swamigusto2013-02-23T19:15:02-08:002013-02-23T19:15:02-08:00Clippers-Jazz open thread
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/wpIKreYAWf_2hLnbpgGnmKqptus=/0x78:4000x2745/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8604165/20121230_lbm_aj4_366.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Clippers need to bounce back strong against the Jazz tonight in STAPLES Center. Think of the team as having won 4 of their last 5, not as having been blown out Thursday night.</p> <table align="center" cellpadding="5" border="1" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
<tr>
<th bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center">2012/2013 NBA Regular Season</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240"><center><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/472353/bvv028jd1hhr8ee8ii7a0fg4i_medium.gif" alt="Bvv028jd1hhr8ee8ii7a0fg4i_medium"></center></td>
<th width="20" align="center">vs</th>
<td width="240"><center> <a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1569501/m2leygieeoy40t46n1qqv0550.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="M2leygieeoy40t46n1qqv0550_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1569501/m2leygieeoy40t46n1qqv0550_medium.gif"></a> <br id="1356683285269">
</center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240"><center><b>39-18</b></center></td>
<th width="20" align="center"><br></th>
<td width="240"><center><b>31-24</b></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center"><b>February 23rd, 2013, 7:30 PM</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3" align="center"><b>STAPLES Center</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3" align="center"><b>Prime Ticket, KFWB 980 AM, KWKW 1330 AM<br></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3" align="center"><a href="http://www.tiqiq.com/nba/los-angeles-clippers-tickets?pubid=1011034" target="_blank"><b>Buy Clippers Tickets</b></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center"><b>Probable Starters</b></th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><b><span>Chris Paul</span></b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">PG</th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Jamaal Tinsley</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><b><span>Chauncey Billups</span></b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">SG</th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Randy Foye</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><span><b>Caron Butler</b></span></td>
<th width="20" align="center">SF</th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Marvin Williams</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><span><b>Blake Griffin</b></span></td>
<th width="20" align="center">PF</th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Paul Millsap</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><span><b>DeAndre Jordan</b></span></td>
<th width="20" align="center">C</th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Al Jefferson</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center"><b>Advanced Stats through games of Dec. 29</b></th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><b style="text-align: start; ">91.6 (17th of 30)</b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">Pace</th>
<td width="240"><b>91.3 (19th of 30)</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><b style="text-align: start; ">109.2 (7th of 30)</b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">ORtg</th>
<td width="240"><b>107.0 (9th of 30)</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><b style="text-align: start; ">102.5 (6th of 30)</b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">DRtg</th>
<td width="240"><b>107.1 (22nd of 30)</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center"><b>Injuries</b></th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;" width="240" align="right"><b style="text-align: start; "><span>Trey Thompkins</span> (knee) out</b></td>
<th width="20" align="center"><br></th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Raja Bell</span> (whiny baby) out</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><br></td>
<th width="20" align="center"><br></th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Mo Williams</span> (thumb surgery) out</b></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p> </p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/">Grizzlies</a> are lurking behind the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Clippers</a> in the standings, tied in the loss column. This is no time to lose another home game. The Clippers need Chris Paul to be aggressive from the start.</p>
https://www.clipsnation.com/2013/2/23/4021844/clippers-jazz-open-threadSteve Perrin2013-02-23T02:09:12-08:002013-02-23T02:09:12-08:00Clippers-Jazz preview: Forget the Spurs
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VBpRIaEoO0c2Xe2DU7PSLRke8Wo=/0x242:3020x2255/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8582071/158824351.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Stephen Dunn</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Clippers were demolished by the Spurs in their last game, but they need to put that behind them tonight when they face Utah. A win will give them the season series sweep against the Jazz for the first time in 34 years.</p> <table align="center" cellpadding="5" border="1" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
<tr>
<th bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center">2012/2013 NBA Regular Season</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240"><center><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/472353/bvv028jd1hhr8ee8ii7a0fg4i_medium.gif" alt="Bvv028jd1hhr8ee8ii7a0fg4i_medium"></center></td>
<th width="20" align="center">vs</th>
<td width="240"><center> <a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1569501/m2leygieeoy40t46n1qqv0550.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="M2leygieeoy40t46n1qqv0550_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1569501/m2leygieeoy40t46n1qqv0550_medium.gif"></a> <br id="1356683285269">
</center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240"><center><b>39-18</b></center></td>
<th width="20" align="center"><br></th>
<td width="240"><center><b>31-24</b></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center"><b>February 23rd, 2013, 7:30 PM</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3" align="center"><b>STAPLES Center</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3" align="center"><b>Prime Ticket, KFWB 980 AM, KWKW 1330 AM<br></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3" align="center"><a href="http://www.tiqiq.com/nba/los-angeles-clippers-tickets?pubid=1011034" target="_blank"><b>Buy Clippers Tickets</b></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center"><b>Probable Starters</b></th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><b><span>Chris Paul</span></b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">PG</th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Jamaal Tinsley</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><b><span>Chauncey Billups</span></b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">SG</th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Randy Foye</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><span><b>Caron Butler</b></span></td>
<th width="20" align="center">SF</th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Marvin Williams</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><span><b>Blake Griffin</b></span></td>
<th width="20" align="center">PF</th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Paul Millsap</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><span><b>DeAndre Jordan</b></span></td>
<th width="20" align="center">C</th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Al Jefferson</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center"><b>Advanced Stats through games of Dec. 29</b></th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><b style="text-align: start; ">91.6 (17th of 30)</b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">Pace</th>
<td width="240"><b>91.3 (19th of 30)</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><b style="text-align: start; ">109.2 (7th of 30)</b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">ORtg</th>
<td width="240"><b>107.0 (9th of 30)</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><b style="text-align: start; ">102.5 (6th of 30)</b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">DRtg</th>
<td width="240"><b>107.1 (22nd of 30)</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center"><b>Injuries</b></th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;" width="240" align="right"><b style="text-align: start; "><span>Trey Thompkins</span> (knee) out</b></td>
<th width="20" align="center"><br></th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Raja Bell</span> (whiny baby) out</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><br></td>
<th width="20" align="center"><br></th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Mo Williams</span> (thumb surgery) out</b></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p> </p>
<p><b>The Back Story:</b></p>
<ul>
<li>December 3, 2012 in Salt Lake City | <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Clippers</a> 105, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Jazz</a> 104 | <b><a href="http://www.clipsnation.com/2012/12/3/3725510/clippers-steal-win-in-utah-105-104" target="_blank">Recap</a> </b>| <a href="http://www.nba.com/games/20121203/LACUTA/gameinfo.html#nbaGIboxscore" target="_blank"><b>Box Score</b></a> </li>
<li>December 28, 2012 in Salt Lake City | Clippers 116, Jazz 114 | <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.clipsnation.com/2012/12/28/3813876/clippers-storm-back-in-utah-116-114">Recap</a> </b>|<b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nba.com/games/20121228/LACUTA/gameinfo.html#nbaGIboxscore">Box Score</a></b> </li>
<li>December 30, 2012 in Los Angeles | Clippers 107, Jazz 96 | <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.clipsnation.com/2012/12/30/3820340/clippers-finish-perfect-month-107-96">Recap</a> </b>| <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nba.com/games/20121230/UTALAC/gameinfo.html#nbaGIboxscore"><b>Box Score</b></a> </li>
</ul>
<p><b>The Big Picture:</b></p>
<p>The Clippers are coming off an absolutely terrible performance against the <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Spurs</a>, by far their most lopsided home loss of the season. Maybe it was due to a lack of game sharpness after a long layoff for the All Star break, but regardless let's hope they can put that game behind them. Chris Paul in particular was dreadful against the Spurs, scoring just four points and handing out three assists while turning the ball over three times. During the four game winning streak that directly preceded the break Paul had been magnificent -- it was probably his best four game stretch of the season, even in limited minutes. The Clippers clearly are not at their best when Paul is having an off night. A win tonight would give the Clippers their first season series sweep over the Jazz in 34 years, and the first EVER sweep since moving to Los Angeles. It would also make six wins in a row over Utah stretching back to last season, the second longest winning streak against the Jazz in franchise history.</p>
<p><b>The Antagonist:</b></p>
<p>Everyone expected Utah to make a trade this season, but the deadline came and went without a single deal involving the Jazz. Which will make for a very interesting off-season in Salt Lake City, since starting bigs Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap and starting guards Mo Williams and Randy Foye are all going to be free agents. It makes for an interesting situation now as well, with the Jazz starting a bunch of veterans who may or may not figure into their future, while bringing all the youngsters who probably are their future off the bench. It might be easier to reconcile the situation if the team weren't winning -- if they were out of the playoff race, the would probably focus on the youth movement. But hanging on to the seventh spot in the West, seven games over .500 for the first time this season, Utah is playing well and looking like a playoff team. Jefferson and Millsap lead the Jazz in scoring, which will make it all the more interesting to see what they do with those guys this summer.</p>
<p><b>The Subplots</b></p>
<ul>
<li> <b>Comparison of key metrics.</b> Despite being seven games over .500, the Jazz have actually given up more points than they've scored this season. That means that either they're getting blown out in their losses, or they're winning a disproportionate number of close games, or a little bit of both.</li>
<li> <b>Last meeting.</b> The Clippers played the Jazz back-to-back in the last two games of December. It was the conclusion of L.A.'s perfect month, and the last two wins in the 17 game winning streak. The Clippers may be 3-0 against Utah this season, but none of the games have been particularly easy, and I don't expect this one to be either.</li>
<li> <b>Billups.</b> Chauncey Billups has only played nine games for the Clippers this season. In the last two games before the All Star break he was fantastic, causing me to get a little too excited about his potential contribution to the team perhaps. Thursday night he was invisible, going 0-2 in 17 minutes. Is Billups the Clippers X factor this season? Or is he a non-factor? We don't know yet.</li>
<li> <b>Home/Road.</b> Utah has one of the more pronounced home court advantages in the league. They are 21-6 at home, but just 10-18 on the road. They are 12-5 in their last 17 games, a run that has solidified their playoff standing. However, 12 if those games, and 10 of the wins, were at home.</li>
<li> <b>The sweep.</b> The Los Angeles Clippers have never swept the Utah Jazz. The San Diego Clippers never swept the Utah Jazz either. You have to go back to 1978-79, when the Jazz were still in New Orleans, to find a season series sweep for the Clippers over the Jazz. That was the Clipper franchise's first season in California and the Jazz franchise's last season in Utah. The Buffalo Braves used to dominate the New Orleans Jazz (who never made it in New Orleans in large part because they were terrible), but that was a long time ago.</li>
<li> <b>Old nemeses.</b> Despite the bad loss Thursday night, it's still remarkable to realize that the Clippers as of this moment are 8-1 against the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Lakers</a>, Spurs and Jazz. Those are probably the three most successful Western Conference franchises of the last two decades, and they have absolutely tormented the Clippers over the years. A sweep of the Jazz would be quite an accomplishment given the history of the two teams.</li>
<li> <b>Three point shooting.</b> The Jazz are near the bottom of the league, ranked number 25, in three pointers attempted, though they do shoot a bit better than the league average from deep. Former Clipper Randy Foye is having a career year from beyond the arc shooting .424, and Gordon Hayward is a legitimate threat, but no one else on the team is likely to shoot threes except when wide open or late in a shoot clock.</li>
<li> <b>Griffin.</b> Blake Griffin is averaging a little less than 20 points and a little more than 10 rebounds in the three games against Utah this season. He's shooting .686 from the field against the Jazz. Millsap is way too small to defend him and Jefferson doesn't have much chance either. <span>Derrick Favors</span> is the player best equipped to check Griffin, but playing limited minutes with the second unit, he hasn't been matched up with Griffin very much this season.</li>
<li> <b>Mo Williams.</b> Former Clipper Mo Williams has been out of the Utah lineup for two months and will be out until mid-March it seems. He eventually had to have surgery on his damaged thumb. The Jazz have weathered his absence surprisingly well when you consider that Jamaal Tinsley and <span>Earl Watson</span> are their point guards. Utah was 14-14 when Williams went out of the lineup. They've gone 17-10 without him.</li>
<li> <b>Connections.</b> Mo Williams and Randy Foye were Clippers just last season, and both spent plenty of time in the starting lineup during their respective stays in L.A. Marvin Williams and <span>Willie Green</span> were teammates in Atlanta last season. Marvin Williams will long be remembered as the guy Atlanta drafted with the second pick in the 2005 draft when they could have had Chris Paul. While we're on that subject, the Clippers could have drafted <span>Gordon Hayward</span> in 2010 when they picked <span>Al-Farouq Aminu</span>, but if they'd done so then Hayward would probably be in New Orleans now. <span>Matt Barnes</span> and Earl Watson were teammates at UCLA for three years. Chauncey Billups and <span>Alec Burks</span> both attended Colorado and may be the best pros to have played for the Buffaloes. </li>
<li><b>Get the Utah perspective at <a href="http://www.slcdunk.com/">SLC Dunk</a>.</b></li>
<li> <b>Lyrical reference:</b><br><br><b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NimsvSNzFY8">Daddy Wasn't There -- Ming Tea</a><br></b><br><i>When I was first baptized<br>When I was criticized<br>When I was ostracized<br>When I was <b>Jazzercised</b><br>Sticky kidney pies<br>When I was modernized<br>When I was circumcised<br>Daddy wasn't there to take me to the fair<br>To change my underwear<br>Daddy wasn't there<br></i><br>If you're unfamiliar with <i>Ming Tea</i>, don't feel bad. <i>Ming Tea</i> exists as a band only for the <i>Austin Powers</i> movies. One of my favorite parts of the first <i>Austin Powers</i> movie was the interstitial shots of go-go dancers, a la the old <i>Laugh-In</i> TV show, and those also featured shots of the band, which then performed their song <a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1w85qMqIjs"><i>BBC</i></a> in the final credits. Sharp-eyed music aficionados may have recognized Susanna Hofs of the <i>Bangles</i> playing lead guitar for <i>Ming Tea</i> -- turns out Hofs is married to Jay Roach, the director of the Powers trilogy. <i>Daddy Wasn't There</i> was part of the back story of the third Powers movie. It isn't as good a song as <i>BBC</i> (which frankly is pretty damn cool) but it's still a fun and funky spoof of 60s Brit-pop.</li>
</ul>
https://www.clipsnation.com/2013/2/23/4020510/clippers-jazz-preview-forget-the-spursSteve Perrin