Realizing the Clippers don’t have a lot to work with, I’m not sure that a zone is a viable defensive option against San Antonio. With all their firepower from beyond the arc, the Spurs can stretch a zone silly, which is exactly what they do to begin the second half down one to the Clippers:
- [3rd, 12:00] Dunleavy started the game with Skinner in the lineup, but goes small to begin the second half with Collins-Gordon-Jones-Thornton-Camby. The Clippers look like a team that’s not terribly comfortable in a zone, and I can’t imagine Dunleavy ever zoning up except in extenuate circumstances…like now. The zone appears more like a 1-2-2 or a point zone [with Gordon as the point defender] than it does the 2-3 zone that you usually see in the pro game. The ball goes into Duncan in the high post. The confusion is immediate. Does Duncan belong to one of the guards, or is Thornton — who’s out of position as the 4 and who started in the back right — supposed to pick him up? Ultimately, Thornton follows him to the left side. Duncan catches, kicks it out, then reposts deeper against Thornton. Camby can’t really help because he’s got to attend to Matt Bonner, who’s camped out underneath. Duncan gets the entry pass, backs Thornton in, and hits the easy hook with his right.
- [3rd, 11:07] Zones are particularly problematic in transition because, by definition, no one is position. Spot shooters love this dynamic, because they don’t have to worry about being picked up by a defender. Parker pushes the ball up quickly. The Clippers are backpedaling, but completely scattered, not sure if they should hold the perimeter against the Spurs’ shooters. Parker dribbles across the court at about the foul line, which completely disorients the Clippers. Bonner has been trailing the play. He spots up at the top of the circle, where Parker shovels him a little pass. Easy 3PM. The Spurs now lead by four.
- [3rd, 10:33] This set is vintage Spurs and a perfect illustration of why they play in June. Parker/Duncan run a S/R high on the left side. Duncan’s screen is solid, and it catches Gordon. Camby picks up Parker on the left side of the basket. Once EJ recovers, he traps Parker about three feet off the baseline. The challenge for any Spurs’ opponent here is that Mason and Finley are set up out on the weak side arc, with Bonner on that side as well. Any rotation onto Duncan means leaving one of these three guys open. Normally, you can buy some time rotating off the guy in the weak side corner. Problem is: Tony Parker has won a lot of games making that baseline pass. Starting to get a better feel for why Matt Bonner and Roger Mason are #1 and #3 in the NBA in 3PA percentage? Parker kicks it out to Duncan. Collins rotates over to Duncan because someone has to. Jones remains on Mason. Bonner is now in the lane, and Camby is in very close proximity. Thornton is…well…Thornton is low because that’s where he belongs in the zone. But this has quickly, if unintentionally, become a man-to-man defensive set. Finley is now wide open at the top of the arc with no Cipper within ten feet of him. Duncan passes it over. Both Jones and Thornton futilely try to close. Forget about it. Spurs by seven.
This is only a sampling. The third quarter is filled with sets like these as the Spurs shred the Clippers’ zone, or what’s left of it. The Spurs’ ball movement, perimeter potency, and ability to fill space are like kryptonite to the Clippers.
Gordon is merely very good tonight: 21 points on 53.4% TS, working himself three trips to the line [5-6 FTA]. Thornton has a solid game shooting the ball, finishing with 21 points, 6 turnovers, and 5 rebounds. He nails his open looks tonight, and gets plenty of them — particularly in the third quarter when he scores six against Matt Bonner who, accustomed to playing bigs, leaves Thornton out on the perimeter unattended.
New Orleans could be very ugly. The only consolation is that there will be little inclination to go small against the Hornets.
19 Responses
can’t complain…they made it watchable for 2 quarters…can’t ask for much more…
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Buck stops at the Coach's heel Reply:
January 9th, 2009 at 8:27 am
That’s 3 quarters of good show.
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Posted on January 8th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Nice article on ESPN Kevin. Halfway through the article I thought I recognized the writing style.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-090109
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Posted on January 9th, 2009 at 12:59 am
I don’t agree w/ Zone D, but when you’re already losing might as well try something new.
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Posted on January 9th, 2009 at 7:29 am
When we’re only down by 6, Dunleavy decided to rest his starters and let the bench to send the game to dumpster. What a genius coaching decision!
Only reason Clippers lose every game because Dunleavy wants the top pick in next BINGO contest. Why didn’t he start Camby, Thornton, Gordon, Collins and DeAndre to start the 4th? Was he drinking too much?
You can reform a diehard alcoholic. But you’ll never succeed in reforming Dunleavy’s aging brain.
You have to be San Antonio Spurs to rest your starters when the game is too close. Dunleavy thought Clippers are better than Spurs. What a joke!
All I’m asking is: Play the starters to start the 4th. If things go south you’ll know within 4 min. Rest them when you know for sure you cannot win.
Is that too much to ask? Throwing away games like this one by one is outright ridiculous. You are not San Antonio spurs yet. Until then know your limits.
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Posted on January 9th, 2009 at 8:39 am
Can we try a new offense? How about the wishbone offense, it was successful for Miami
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jk. Reply:
January 9th, 2009 at 8:53 am
I like Clippers offense. What I don’t like is: Dunleavy’s inability to guide his team. He’s a ONE-WAY street kind of Coach. If there’s a roadblock…he gives up easily. There’s no escape route. You are done. And his team will depart the court hanging their heads down.
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Wade Reply:
January 9th, 2009 at 9:16 am
A ROADBLOCK?!?! A roadblock? Really, you make it seem like having half your team injured is something that can be remidied by good coaching. Well, it can’t we’ve all already seen that this team can win with a healthy BD and Randolph, so lets not put this on the Dunce.
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jk. Reply:
January 9th, 2009 at 9:30 am
Did someone say, that a good team won’t use injury as an excuse for their bad record?
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FireDunleavy.com Reply:
January 9th, 2009 at 9:41 am
The Suns beat Dunleavy in the playoffs with 7 people.
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kirbs Reply:
January 9th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Now FD you made this statement before and I had to correct you, do you want me to do it again!!!!
Posted on January 9th, 2009 at 8:45 am
injuries????
many of these so-called “injuries” are just players that are sick of playing for dunleavy and are using any minor ailment as an excuse for not suiting up…..
baron being the perfect example….although, no matter how shitty dunleavy is, that is no excuse to give up on your team like baron has….
i don’t know who is worse…..dunleavy and his shitty coaching, or baron for mailing it in halfway through the season…..
we all knew that baron would just give up if things did not go his way, but halfway through his first year???? that is ridiculous…..
elton screwed us over big time, but at least he never gave up…..
baron is a bitch, plain and simple…..i detest players like baron davis…..
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wecome 2 NBA Reply:
January 9th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Let’s hope he will never play for Clippers again.
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Posted on January 9th, 2009 at 9:39 am
This is PRO -SPORTS. You cannot cite injuries for your pathetic season of losing record. You have to prepare for few injured players at all times and formulate your squad according to the realities on the ground.
If you come to NBA and cry like a baby screaming for help, then such team shouldn’t be in NBA.
Clippers are reluctant to grow-up. They are so used to baby crib, even ERIC GORDON won’t be able to wake them up.
Old habits die hard. If higher ups in Clipperland don’t embrace change & risk taking…their place in comfortable baby crib will last longer than we anticipate.
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EricGordonsAnkleBrace Reply:
January 9th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Clippers systematically have more injuries than any other team in pro sports. At some point you need to try a new training staff and philosophy.
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Posted on January 9th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Atleast bring back Darius Miles. Even if it means getting into legal drama. Clippers have plenty of time for that.
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Posted on January 9th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Off Eff 97.4
Def Eff 103.8
Starting Unit PER- 83.01/5 = 16.60 PER (Ok)
PG Baron Davis- 16.01 98th in the NBA in Player Efficiency
SG Eric Gordon- 13.78 161th in the NBA in Player Efficiency
SF Al Thornton- 12.24 208th in the NBA in Player Efficiency
PF Zach Randolph- 19.62 34th in NBA Player Efficiency
C- Marcus Camby- 21.36 22nd in the NBA in Player Efficiency
Key Reserves PER AVG- 67.26/8 = 8.41 (Bad)
Fred Jones- 13.05
Mardy Collins- 7.81 299th in the NBA in Player Efficiency
Chris Kaman- 17.17 66th in the NBA in Player Efficiency
Steve Novak- 9.38 273rd in the NBA in Player Efficiency
Brian Skinner- 8.51 289th in the NBA in Player Efficiency
Ricky Davis- 0.62 320th in the NBA in Player Efficiency
Jason Hart- 5.11 318th in the NBA in Player Efficiency
Mike Taylor- 5.61 317th in the NBA in Player Efficiency
LAC Depth Chart
PG- Daron Davis, Mardy Collins, Jason Hart, Mike Taylor
SG- Eric Gordon, Fred Jones
SF- Al Thornton, Ricky Davis
PF- Zach Randolph, Steve Novak
C- Marcus Camby, Chris Kaman, DeAndre Jordan, Brian Skinner, Cheik Samb
Waived
Paul Davis- 11.20 236th in the NBA in Player Efficiency
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Posted on January 9th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
If the Clippers didnt have the injuries Gordon would still be on the bench like he was at the beginning of the season..
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Posted on January 9th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Prostat kanserli hastalar için farklı tedavi tipleri mümkündür. Bazı tedaviler standart (şuanda kullanılan tedavi) ve bazılarıda klinik denemelerde test edilenlerdir.prostat Tedavi başlamadan önce, hasta klinik denemeye katılmak hakkında düşünmek isteyebilir. Bir klinik tedavi denemesi bugünkü tedaviyi geliştirmeye yardım etmek yada kanserli hastalar için yeni tedavilerden bilgi edinmek için oluşturulmuş araştırma çalışmasıdır.prostat Klinik denemeler yeni tedavinin standart tedaviden iyi olduğunu gösterdiğinde, yeni tedavi standart tedavi olabilecektir.
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Posted on April 26th, 2009 at 6:35 am
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