Baron Davis, Zach Randolph and — to a lesser extent — Marcus Camby clearly aren’t 100% yet, but you can’t look at a squad whose primary post defender is Zach Randolph and see anything other than a team that will rank in the bottom 35 percentile in defensive efficiency. The only potential silver lining here? The eventual return of Chris Kaman.
Chris’ lingering arch issue has produced several rounds of grumbling among the Naçion, and that’s understandable. Between his mysterious timetable and a flakiness that seems almost affected at times [let's hope], Kaman’s persona has become increasingly unlikable.
None of those shortcomings changes the fact that, when healthy, Kaman is far and away the best post defender on the team and made remarkable progress last year and early this season prior to the injury. He bodies up very well. He’s learned to use the footwork that enables him so well on the offensive end, to defend quicker players on the defensive end. When he’s been on the floor, Chris has been far less susceptible to rudimentary fakes, up-and-unders, and the like. Working with Kim Hughes, he’s also become quite proficient — better even — at defending the screen-and-roll.
This isn’t to say that I wouldn’t swap Kaman for the likes of Luol Deng or a pre-incapacitated Gerald Wallace — a complete wing that can pass, defend, see the floor…basically do things that Al Thornton can’t. Exchanging that post defense for a more efficient wing might be worth it, now that Randolph can carry the offensive load on the block. But as you imagine the future of this team, it’s important to be aware that giving up on Chris Kaman has its costs, however disappointing he’s been as a non-factor much of the past 12 months.
37 Responses
Anybody see that Brand is out for the year? I guess karma is a bitch…
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Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 9:43 am
Chris Kaman, the best defender in the low post? Really? That’s a shocker.
Thought he’s a big hole under the basket.
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Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 10:53 am
what i’ve been saying all along. i love kevin.
And i’m a horrible man for taking such joy in the brand report today. ahhh bliss.
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Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Not horrible at all… In my opinion the only good news any fan of this team has gotten all year (if there are any left that is…)
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Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
great f-ing post, kevin.
Trade Kaman and Thornton and garbage to Miami for Marion–as long as we extend him… 5 years– 50 million… should make him happy— maggette-esque deal for a much better all around player.
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Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
acd – that would be perfect
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Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Yup, ACD and Waughtang are as ignorant as the Clippers are bad, trade two young players for a 30+ year old veteran whose best days are behind him. Like we can count on Camby 33 years old for the future, and like he will sign here next season when he is a FA.
2/11 vs. Knicks, first break in the game, everyone stand as one and chant: :MIKE MUST GO”.
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kirbs Reply:
February 6th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Hey Section 113 you are getting very repetitive and boring
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Section 113 Reply:
February 6th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Hey KIRBS, not sure if you have any clue as to how to start a movement, to get something going, but it isn’t by saying it once….I guess you are a fan of DUNCEleavy, you probably also think tonight is the turning point.
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Kirbs Reply:
February 7th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Not at all, winning, just proved that there is a worse team than us.
No fan of MD either way, but think there is more mature ways to get your point over
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Section 113 Reply:
February 6th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
How would you suggest one start a movement? By not saying anything, that is how one gets the word out, you keep saying it. But then again maybe you think DUNCEleavy is a genius and like watching this wretched team.
So once again: 2/11 vs. KNICKS, at the first break everyone stand and chant “MIKE MUST GO”, except for kirbs.
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Kirbs Reply:
February 7th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
No I watch this team because I support this team thriugh better and lots of worse at the moment.
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Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
I read on SI.com that a potential Clips trade would make is Camby for Szcerbiak and his$13 million expiring contract. Any thoughts on that? I actually think that’d be a decent move…
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ian Reply:
February 7th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Great move, Clips! pick up zach’s unmovable contract and now we’re gonna trade for flexibility….there’s absolutely no reason to any of this.
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Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
I’ll take Wally Szcerbiak! Although, Camby has been doing fairly well for us, despite the horrible team record. But again, any player in Dunleavy’s offensive scheme is eventually doomed for failure.
All I know, is Eric Gordon is a stud. He has handled the pressure of playing on a weak team a whole lot better than Al Thornton. Not sure what’s going on in Al’s head, but he’s stinking it up!
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Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
my bad… i didnt know marion was that old… But Kaman is no spring chicken either, and he’s so injury prone that it’s not worth having him even if he is productive when he’s out there.
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kirbs Reply:
February 6th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Big fan to get Marion here 12 months ago, not on what I have seen of this year in the few games of Miami’s I have watched. Kaman is a marshmellow, too soft.
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Section 113 Reply:
February 6th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Kaman is 26 years old, the prime of his career, you don’t trade 26 year old centers who can play for veterans…not when you are 10-39. Camby will be gone within the year, either by trade or free agency…someone has to play center.
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Kirbs Reply:
February 7th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Don’t neccesarily want Kaman out of here, but gee Chris toughen F*** up.
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Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Wallace would be ideal.
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Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Steve Smith, the former Trail Blazer, said it today on KSPN, “The Clippers need to make a coaching change. Someone needs to take control over the team.”
The losing environment has to change!
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Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Camby and Jason Hart for Wally World, then sign Ron Artest to a 3-year contract. Get it done.
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Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
FIRE DUNLEAVY
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Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Amazing what people here think will help. Wallace, Artest, etc. folks we’re 10-39, it is rebuilding time…..and those wondering about whether Wally-world would be a good addition, it isn’t about him, it’s about the contract folkes, to clear cap space.
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Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
I know it’ll sound crazy to everyone who bothers to read these comments, but I gotta chime in. The fire Dunleavy movement is premature. Let’s see what he does with a healthy (mostly healthy anyway) roster before we tar and feather him. The rest of the season is an essentially extended practice for us anyway. I’d still like to see the team he put together play, and we really haven’t had the chance to do that yet.
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bongstradamus Reply:
February 7th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Premature? Are you serious? If we had Jeff Van Gundy coaching this team would be 39-11 and not 11-39.
It’s most definitely the Coach…and GM thats the problem here. Dunleavy should have been fired last year after he pissed off his whole team by playing everyone against each other.
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Posted on February 7th, 2009 at 12:56 am
Hey Phillip J, how many chances will Dunleavy have? He coached here ever since what? Cassel gave him one playoff run and that was it. He does not motivate players, only the rookies. Can rookies get us into playoffs?
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Posted on February 7th, 2009 at 3:57 am
He put together a team that MIGHT be good and we haven’t seen them play yet, that’s all I’m saying. Also, when the team didn’t start as expected, he made the appropriate move to make them better by bringing Randolph.
Also, name one other coach in Clipper history that was able to convince Sterling to pay players and TRY to put a winning team together. That is a feat in and of itself and, for me, it’s enough to see what he can do with the second half of the this season. Maybe you’re in a rush to have Sterling go back to paying players six million or less, but I like the team much better now.
Last season was lost to injuries, and this one has been too, and that’s too bad. But it’s not Dunleavy’s fault, just his misfortune. Take four starters and three point guards away from any team in the league, give them any coach you want and see how they do. Maybe this team won’t ever preform well under Dunleavy, in which case something will have to change. But you’d do good to remember that we wouldn’t even have a team that looks like it could win without him.
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ian Reply:
February 7th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
ZBo is a career loser, not because of bad luck but because of his limited skill set. He’s played well so far but, ultimately, in today’s nba it’s hard to win with a 4 that defends as poorly as he does.
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Philip J Reply:
February 7th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Then by all means, let’s do whatever we can to get Tim back. Is that what you want? Do you really think we were better without Zack?
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Posted on February 7th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Amen, Phillip J.
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Posted on February 7th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
What free agent in their right mind would want to come to the Clippers to play for Dunleavy or this franchise? Clips are second class citizens in their own building.
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Philip J Reply:
February 7th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
I think this guy named Baron something-or-other came here as a free agent. It was a long time ago, but it seemed significant at the time. Granted he’s been struggling, but we’ll see what happens there. I’m not ready to give up on him yet either.
Besides, switching coaches mid-season won’t change the Clips appeal to free agents. The only thing that will change there status in this league (and city) is winning. Your right though that the Clips are not really a place that players want to be. And that makes it that much more amazing that Dunleavy managed to get so much talent on the roster.
Now we just have to see if he can get them to win. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a NEVER fire Dunleavy or trade Baron guy. But I think it’s only fair to give Mike a chance to lead the team he built (sans a ridiculous number of injuries).
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bongstradamus Reply:
February 7th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Baron came because he thought hed get to play with Elton Brand. Then Dunleavy screwed that up and tried to smear the egg on Baron’s face.
Im over the excuses. With Dunleavy, its never his fault. It’s Corey Maggette’s fault. Wait, I mean its Elgin Baylor’s fault. Erm, scratch that, its Elton Brands fault. No, it’s David Faulk’s fault for being Elton’s agent. It’s AT&T’s fault because MDSr sent a text message that never got replied to. Well, we’ve had injuries too. And Chris Kaman’s shoes created problems with his arch, they are at fault. I mean basically the guy never owns up to anything and blames it on someone or something else.
Fact is: Dunleavy is a career loser. Look at his coaching stats, he cant event coach .500 ball. He wants to cite obscure numbers to show that we are improving, heres an obscure set of numbers for Coach Dumbleavy – 561 wins and 605 losses.
It’s spring. Time to clean the house.
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Posted on February 7th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Baron Davis, along with Cuttino Mobley, is the only above average player in recent years to choose to sign with the Clippers as a free agent. And don’t forget that he is from LA and he wants to become a Hollywood player – more incentive to sign with a bad Clipper franchise. EB, Maggette, Cassell, Z-Bo, Camby all arrived via trade. So I find it hard to believe that any solid free agent is going to want to play for the Clipper organization any time soon, especially with Dunleavy as coach/GM.
The only way the Clippers can truly rebuild, in my opinion, is through the draft. Gordon was a nice pick, as is DeAndre Jordan. Thornton seems to have regressed a bit. Livingston was on his way to a solid career and then the horrific injury happened. Kaman is serviceable (but not at his current salary). Odom, Q-Rich, and D-Miles had the ability but were just basket cases. However, Dunleavy was also responsible for the drafting of Korolev over an All-star player in Danny Granger, which made absolutely no sense then or now.
Then again, Adam Morrison was drafted ahead of Brandon Roy so sometimes you never know. Korolev over Granger has to be one of the worst calls in recent draft history.
Drunk analysis is awesome. And Baron Davis is the new A.I. – You’ll never win anything with him. And his movie career will suck too.
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Posted on February 8th, 2009 at 3:24 am
We need a YOUNG coach. Sam I Am or Cutino. Could it get any worse than it is now? Give Sam 2 years to turn it around. Start with E.G., KAMAN, Zach and Baron and build from their. If B.D. doesn’t want to play defense, sit his ass. See how much he like watching this train wreck. Nobody is buying Dunlevy’s plan. Why are we going to keep fighting this thing? Change the culture. Hire a coach with swagger. What do wehave to lose?
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Posted on February 9th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Baron Davis is poison, and will have this team screwed for the next 5 years….he just wants the money to finance his biz ventures.
Let’s not forget that this is also entertainment and DUNCELEAVY ball is anything but enjoyable to watch.
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Posted on February 9th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
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