I’m neither a physicist nor a statistician, but I’m inclined to believe that if you randomly assembled a basketball team from the nation’s leading Yeshiva academies, it would — by sheer chance — collect more than three offensive rebounds in 34 opportunities against the mighty Grizzly frontcourt rotation of Darko Milicic, rookie Darrell Arthur, Marc Gasol, and Hakim Warrick. The Clippers can’t accomplish that Friday night in Memphis. In 83 minutes, their starting forwards combine for eight total rebounds…and nine turnovers. In 82 minutes, their starting backcourt combines for a single rebound.
These data don’t suggest a team that is, in the words of the Clippers’ broadcast team, “getting better.” Rather, this game attests to a team wallowing in debilitating self-pity. Clipper fans have been under the impression that while this current incarnation of the club would be less likable than the lunchbucket squads of recent seasons, the team would produce a better on-court product. A collection of veterans like Baron Davis, Zach Randolph, and Marcus Camby is supposed to provide a baseline of respectability. The talent will make the Clippers competitive every night; they’ll be in every game; etc.
The Clippers play another horrendous defensive game. They give up 20 uncontested shots. They allow a slew of early jumpers to Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo. They apply no semblance of pressure on the Memphis point guards, and allow 5′ 11″ Kyle Lowry more comfort on both ends than a player of his size and caliber should ever get. Watch the team defense on any broken Memphis set, and you’ll see a pitiful Clipper response (i.e. Hakim Warrick left alone on the baseline [2nd, 5:18]). Though the Clippers initially defend the S/R effectively with a double-team on the ballhandler — they deny the Grizzlies points the first six such instances — the traps become lazy and ineffectual in the second half. Off the ball, the Clippers are outright clueless on the defensive end, Camby [for the most part] excepted. If Baron Davis continues to apply as little care defensively as Zach Randolph does, there isn’t going to be a team in the league that won’t be able to score and rebound against the Clippers at will.
Keep in mind that none of the four teams the Clippers face on the current road trip rank higher than 15th in offensive efficiency, yet each has found easy ways to score against a Clipper defense that is confused and, let’s face it, lazy. The guys who, theoretically, would like to defend don’t have the acuity or experience to do so. The guys who have the smarts and ability to defend simply won’t.
15 Responses
Giving Dumblooney carte blanche to run the team has resulted in what many of us have suspected for a long time, a seriesof disasterous seasons. I think it’s inevitable that he gets canned at some point during the season.
Posted on December 6th, 2008 at 8:27 am
I have to second the call for Dunleavy’s head. It’s hard to get offensive rebounds while standing around watching. His “offense” consists of the player with the ball going one on five and the other four standing. Eric Gordon must think NBA offense means standing at the foul line extended on the weak side and then running back on defense after a bad shot is taken.
Camby, Randolf and Thornton should be going to the offensive glass every time. Instead, when the shot is taken they start jogging back on defense. Bring back Larry Brown and his motion offense. Get players moving so the opposition has to play defense… I’m so sick of Dunleavy’s stand and watch offense…
Camby and Eric Gordon seem to be the only ones who take pride in their defense and put out a good effort at that end. Randolf is as good, or maybe even better than Brand offensively, but having him around shows the value of Brand’s defense…
Dunleavy says he wants to run, but the players have to be trained to actually do it and the ball has to be thrown ahead. In typical Dunleavy style over the last four years, everyone jogs everywhere. They continue to have to play against a set defense where they kick it inside to Randolf, or Kaman or, occasionally Thornton or B. Davis. The other four watch in the unlikely event the ball gets thrown back out and reversed…
They must get rid of Dunleavy… Problem is, I don’t know who would be that much better. Adleman has a job, as does Brown…
Maybe I’ll go back to prefering the college game where players actually move around and try at both ends of the court.
Posted on December 6th, 2008 at 8:45 am
I don’t know who would be better either. But could anyone be worse? And if DTS doesn’t want to pay Eddie J or Avery type $$$, let’s get a rookie coach to take a swing.
Baron has his fat and likely unmoveable deal. So Sterling may think he’s saving money by not getting a new coach, but MD Sr. and an unhappy BD cost more than giving some rookie coach a shot.
I still feel that MD Sr’s player moves aren’t too bad given the circumstances and if he can get over his ego and let someone else take the reigns, he can keep that G.M. spot for awhile and stay employed.
Or, he can wait for DTS to get tired of every mounting loss. And then have no job until he’s announcing playoff games in may.
Attention DTS: You do not have to wait till you are 8-45. You can pull the trigger right now. or even Tuesday morning after Dwight goes globetrotter on us Monday night.
Posted on December 6th, 2008 at 9:19 am
LET’S SEE WHAT WE’VE GOT HERE.
1. Dunleavy is a good coach but I don’t like his methodology in using his available resources.
2. Bring in Sam Cassel as our Coach. Dunleavy can retain his GM position.
3. Clippers have a splendid bargaining chip. They can reap some good stuff out of Baron & Kaman trade.
4. Don’t invest on a PG after Baron. Let’s use our existing PG’s(Hart, Taylor, Collins & even Gordon)
5. Clippers have an easy task. Build this team around Randolph, Thornton & Gordon. Those 3 are scoring machines.
6. Then add a prolific guard to solidify scoring punch. Add atleast 2 defensive minded players. Also remove Novak & Ricky from the roster.
7. Make sure Clippers offense goes thru Randolph-Thornton-Gordon. Not a PG who acts like Baron Davis.
Posted on December 6th, 2008 at 9:49 am
hey lets just trade the whole team for cp3. i’m pretty sure any team cp is on will do better than this clipper team
Posted on December 6th, 2008 at 10:01 am
For Clippers.com today is Dec.5th. We haven’t played Memphis yet.
They are packing their bags. No one wants to update their website.
COOL STUFF.
Posted on December 6th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Something has got to change. Let’s hope the change comes soon.
Posted on December 6th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
It all starts from top of the Organization. Bucks stop right there.
1. Attitude towards players: Don’t treat them like paid servicemen. Treat them like precious CAPITAL. Learn to exploit their talents. Don’t get personal. You have FAMILY for that purpose.
2. Attitude towards Yourselves: Everyone who works for DTS must remind themselves, that they have to sacrifice everything they have to make their team better. And it starts from treating their players with RESPECT & let them blossom to the fullest under Clipper banner.
This is not happening with Clippers. Los Angeles is the CAPITAL CITY of Psychotherapists. Why not get help?
Posted on December 6th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Ralph & Mike’s optimism has started to irk me for the first time ever. I want to hear some pissed off voices coming through the tube for once. Instead of joking around down 15 in the 4th, why not get on some guys? Start a fire under someone’s ass…
I know that’s not in their job descriptions, but neither is rooting for the home team and they openly do that. Oh, do they have to share the same plane rides with these guys? too bad. Call someone out for once. It’s like watching Amy Winehouse’s publicist tell us everything is fine and on the up-and up.
I wish for once, Ralph would stand up during a game and yell.. “play some f-ing defense guys!”… or Mike the uber-kissass that he is, challenge someone during his interviews— especially the coach.
whatever. whatever to this whole season.
Posted on December 6th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Even if they win every game the rest of the season, there’s no f***ing way I’m renewing my season tix for next year. I’m done driving to Staples and back, dropping more $$$ on concessions, and watching the team sleepwalk through every damn game.
If Dunleavy spent as much time coaching as he does combing back the three hairs on his head, perhaps the Clips would be more competitive. It is definitely time to show him the door. We’ll see if DTS can pull the trigger once they get back to LA. If he doesn’t, then he’s obviously going to let Dunleavy stick around and torture us all season.
Posted on December 6th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
OK, jump on my bandwagon…I’ve been calling for DUNCE’s head even in the playoff season. He is an awful coach and a worse evaluator of talent…Q.Ross and Korolev exhibits 1a and 1b.
As for who to bring in…everyone thinks it has to be a name…Once upon a time, Carlisle wasn’t a name, jeez, Phil Jackson, D’Antoni they weren’t names either in coaching…management interviewed them and saw that they had something to give….Adleman, Avery, they are what DUNCEleavy is, more retreads.
Posted on December 6th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Cassell for coach 08!!!
Posted on December 6th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
I mainly hold Mike Dunleavy and the Clipper Organization accountable for all of this disaster. We need better management and new ownership.
Posted on December 6th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Fire Dunleavy. and yes, we need new ownership that will spend money. we shouldn’t have let elton brand get away.
Posted on December 6th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
“a team wallowing in debilitating self-pity”
“The guys who, theoretically, would like to defend don’t have the acuity or experience to do so. The guys who have the smarts and ability to defend simply won’t.”
So, so true.
Posted on December 7th, 2008 at 12:27 am
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