Game Thread: Dallas at Clippers

28 Dec 2008

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12:30p PT

KTLA 5

1260 AM

Note [per LAT]: “Despite the rest period over the Christmas holiday, Randolph is listed as questionable for today’s game and practiced sparingly Saturday.”

Kevin

Dirk’s suspension will soften the blow if Randolph is unavailable.
Clipper Keith

Walking wounded: Welcome to the Clippers

1:15 PM, December 28, 2008

You don’t even have to spend half a season around the Clippers to realize that bad things happen to this team. And if it doesn’t seem bad at first, well, there is always that possibility a few days later.

Which brings us to Zach Randolph. His bruised left knee — thanks to the Raptors’ Jake Voskuhl — could keep him out of the lineup for one to two weeks … or more. It had seemed relatively optimistic the day after the injury, on Tuesday, and the team said he did not have an MRI.

Still, it was necessary to qualify things with this team, and I wrote that day:

“But these are the Clippers, long-standing holders of bad karma. Until Randolph takes the court in practice or Sunday against Dallas can anyone be assured that Randolph, and his knee, are completely fine?”

Randolph went home to visit his family in Indiana over the Christmas holidays, rested the knee and took part in some of practice on Friday. The knee didn’t feel sound, and he wasn’t able to do much on Saturday. He ended up having an MRI on Saturday, and there was no structural damage. The Clippers are calling it a bone bruise.

“Just gotta get the strength back. It isn’t so much pain,” said Randolph on Sunday morning before the game against the Mavericks.

For Randolph, it comes at an especially tough time, considering his scoring run of late.

“Yeaaahhh, I know,” he said. “It’s crazy.”

Crazy? Yes, that about sums it up around here.

-Lisa Dillman
Epaminandis

The Baron now shooting 36.8% for the year
- Stian
  
  Lower than that after today’s game. And his streak of shooting below 50% is at 46 games and counting.
  
  This guy is in total ‘I don’t give a crap’ mode and has been for some time.
  
  Thank you, Elton Brand, for crapping the gift of Davis on us on the way out.
  
  The 08′/’09 Clippers are done.
Epaminandis

Mike Dunleavy’s winning pct. with the Clips: 41.6%
- Stian
  
  I’d say it’s time for Dunleavy to step down when his winning % is lower than Baron’s shooting %.
  
  No, scratch that – that would mean Dunleavy stays on for another 2 and a half years.
Andre Miller Incarnation

I have been watching Clippers for last 10 seasons. Gentry-Miles-Q fun-run was most exciting. Cassell led season was most memorable. And Andre Miller-time was least tolerable. And now we have to put up with Baron Davis! This guy shouldn’t be in NBA. What a joke.

Forget about the money. Give his due and send him packing. He doesn’t belong in NBA. His attitude is unbelievable. This guy has no shame.
- Stian
  
  Nah, he belongs in the NBA – just not with the Clippers. With or without Dunleavy.
  
  Baron can be pretty effective in the right system (although he will never win a championship as the starting PG) but Baron is incapable – and, quite frankly, unwilling – to adapt to any situation that is not tailor-made for him.
  
  That’s the difference between a guy like Cassell and Baron. Sam can and will find a way to be an effective PG no matter who he plays for/with. Baron is the total opposite: He becomes a negative and will drag a team down into the abyss unless everything/everyone caters to how he wants things.
  
  If we could dump this guy off on the Bobcats for say Felton and Wallace or could swing a trade with the Blazers that involves Bayless and/or Fernandez we’d do ourselves a huge favor.
Section 113

Baron and DUNCEleavy both suck…Baron is not a playmaker, and he is proving that he isn’t really a shooter either…he is the typical point guard with good PPG and APG averages, because he has the rock in his hands that just by chance he has to score or dish off eventually. Nice suggestions on trades above, but who would take him and his mammoth contract? WE’re probably doomed with this guy for another 2-3 years until his contract has value as an expiring asset.

Can someone please explain to me why Brian Skinner is in the NBA?

Is it just me or do all players inexplicably get worse when they come under the DUNCEleavy magic.

Only one solution, the only thing that Donald listens to is revenue…we should probably start boycotting the games, until he axes the DUNCE.
- ian
  
  I’m as upset about Baron as you are but despite the fact that he shoots an absolutely miserable percentage & doesn’t even seem to be trying to win anymore, he really helps the team when he’s out there. He’s A HELL of a playmaker, and his asst. #s reflect that (just as his shooting #s reflect his indifference).
  - Section 113
    
    Ian, assists aren’t necessarily an indicator of being a playmaker, same as RBI’s in baseball aren’t indicative of being a run producer….they are both statistics of opportunity. Put the ball in a player’s hands often enough and he invariably will get a large amount of assists. See Andre Miller when he lead the league with the Cavs before coming over to the Clips….Chauncey Billups, Nash, Kidd are playmakers…they make their teammates better. BD, doesn’t happen.
  - Section 113
    
    Assists are not necesarrily indicative of an ability to make plays, much like in baseball RBI’s are not indicative of someone being a run producer. Both are statistics of opportunity, put the ball in a players hands often enough and he will compile assists, see one Mr. Andre Miller with the Cavs when he lead the league in assists before joining the Clips. A real playmaker makes the players around him better, I don’t see that happening with Baron and the Clips, see one Mr. Al Thornton. Chauncey Billups, Nash, Kidd, Paul, they are playmakers…Baron, not a chance.
    
    So you are also saying his indiffernce effects his shooting, but not his playmaking? Interesting.
Andre Miller Incarnation

Dunleavy is too soft. And he’s too shy to be aggressive & tough when necessary.

He’s a good manager of a team. But his limitations are evident to open eye.
NBA doesn’t produce any effective coaching talent. That’s why this game is becoming boring & tasteless.
- http://firedunleavy.com FireDunleavy.com
  
  I think the opposite. He calls every play and is a control freak. He needs to be softer and just let Barron do his thing. He’s shown he’ll bench Maggette to put in Q Ross over a personal grude, so I wouldn’t call him soft.
Sam Mays

Can’t call Dunleavy soft. Incompetent, yes…

Look at that offense he insists on running. A two man play on one side with everyone else standing around on the opposite side watching. Or they throw it into Randolf and the other four stand around and watch. Has he ever thought of adding some motion and make the other team actually defend rather than be able to rest for 24 seconds as they watch Baron Davis pound the ball into the wood, or Thornton or Randolf try to beat a primary and then a help defender.

It’s so predictable. The Clippers take a hard shot after some tough one on one moves, the opposition takes an easy one, and on and on through the game. When was the last time Al Thornton got an easy look, or a dunk out on the break? To get to the hoop, Gordon has to beat his defender, then make another move to get past the center who comes over. The Clippers never get easy shots and the blame for this belongs squarely on the shoulders of two people; Mike Dunleavy and Baron Davis.

Dunleavy must go. Baron Davis must go. Chris Kaman must go. Get some young talent for those two and a good draft pick, there remains hope, but I won’t be buying any more Clippers tix this season.

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Game Thread: Dallas at Clippers

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