ATLANTA – Ball movement is a beautiful thing. That Spalding moves faster than a human being, faster than even Josh Smith. When it goes into the right player in the right place at the right moment, it can produce miracles. To wit: The Clippers generate 38 assists on 49 field goals tonight.
The waters part in the third quarter, after Mike Dunleavy calls timeout at [3rd, 9:52] when Atlanta cuts the deficit to eight. Coming out of that timeout, the Clippers score on 15 of their next 16 possessions — and the only trip that results in nothing is a pair of missed free throws by Baron Davis. The Clippers shred the Hawks’ defense. How? The Hawks double Randolph anytime he touches the ball down on the block. The Clippers, in turn, exploit that advantage out on the perimeter and the result is one clean look after another.
The Clippers begin the game with a very smart brand of halfcourt offense. Zach Randolph creates space to launch a 7-foot hook shot [1st, 11:13]. The shot misses, but it’s one you want him to take. On possessions #3 and #4 Eric Gordon gets a floater two feet from the basket, and Al Thornton launches the first in a series of strong, driving layups. This continues for much of the first quarter and sets the tone for the game, one in which the Clippers control the halfcourt [they score only 18 of their 121 points on the break...not a bad thing].
Al plays one of his best games of the year in front of the home folks who make the trip up from Perry — he gives away 50-60 tickets. He abuses a very scrambled Hawks defense, and is quick to the glass on every Atlanta miss. Of Al’s 14 first half shot attempts, 10 are from inside of 15 feet, and these shots account for 14 of his 16 first half points. From 15 feet and beyond in the first half, he shoots only 1-4 from the floor.
In the third quarter, Al achieves unconsciousness — a state he’s never been in this season. He drains catch-and-shoot jumpers. The ball comes off his fingers with an ungodly, tight rotation, and beautiful arc. Running back downcourt, he seems joyous. He makes sounds decisions at every turn. At [3rd, 5:28], Al draws a shorter Joe Johnson on mismatch and recognizes that’s the opportunity for a jumper. At [3rd, 4:40], he considers, but ultimately passes on a contested 3PA at the top of the circle, and makes the smart pass to the weak side instead. Al finishes with 31 points [13-22 FG, 1-2 3PFG, 4-5 FT, 64% TS], seven rebounds and six assists.
Marcus Camby finishes with six assists, as well. The Clippers position Camby at the top of the circle on several halfcourt possessions, and it pays off. He makes several pinpoint entry passes into Zach Randolph in the post, or to Al Thornton in motion.
“Coach put me in a situation where I can deliver the ball to either Zach posting up on the high-low, or I can dump it inside to Al,” Camby said.
Situating Camby above the stripe gives the Clippers’ halfcourt offense a breezier flow. His presence out there invariably draws a big defender out of the middle; Randolph gets space to operate down low, Al can work closer to the hoop, and the guards can move off the ball.
Speaking of Mr. Randolph, is there a guy in the league with a more bizarre, enigmatic skill set? He can’t jump over a frozen pizza, usually gets killed down low defensively, and his screen-setting is abominable. But when Randolph is in his groove offensively, he’s indefensible. And you know what else? He’s a whip-smart offensive player. Matched up against Josh Smith in the first half, Randolph sets up shop on the block. But when Zaza Pachulia is assigned to him in the third quarter, Zach moves farther away from the basket, challenging the slower defender to deal with him in open space.
Satisfying stats of the night: 132.3 Offensive Efficiency Rate. And 86.8% Defensive Rebounding Rate.
24 Responses
Break up the Clips!
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I watched the first half with the Hawks’ feed, and ‘Nique was raving from the get-go about Thornton’s “high basketball IQ”. Say what you like about ‘Nique, but the man has a good sense of timing.
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And yup, Z-Bo usually makes excellent decisions.
He can’t guard Dwight Howard in the post, but few can.
[Reply]
andrew Reply:
February 7th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
He certainly looked good tonight. Especially that one handed dunk in the 2nd half was nasty.
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Posted on February 7th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
game highlights, al thornton and DJ dunks
http://www.nba.com/video/games/hawks/2009/02/07/nba_lac_atl_0020800743_recap.nba/index.html
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Posted on February 7th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
The dunk by DJ was nuts
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Posted on February 7th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
i’m just happy that we’ve won back-to-back for the first time in awhile…
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Posted on February 8th, 2009 at 12:30 am
Where the hec* is Mardy Collins?
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theunderdogg1965 Reply:
February 8th, 2009 at 8:17 am
Eating donuts.LOL
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Posted on February 8th, 2009 at 8:00 am
STOP.
Don’t trade anyone. Not even Camby. If we play this good, this team can set their goal HIGH for 2009-10 season. And Camby might prefer to end his career with Clippers.
Only Jason Hart & Brian Skinner can be traded or released in order to mAke room for 2009 rookie picks.
Rest is set.
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RL Reply:
February 8th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
the Wizards are entertaining offers for Butler and Jamison. Kaman for Butler might be a good fit for both teams, and their salaries are almost a perfect match. We get a solid SF to move Al and his low basketball IQ to the 6th man role, while Kaman could be a good pairing with Arenas. Though I doubt Washington would bite on that offer…
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Jambir Reply:
February 8th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Yeah i think the Wizards would hang up giggling without even a goodbye if M.Dun proposed that one
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Philip J Reply:
February 9th, 2009 at 11:19 am
I agree with you Stop Trade. I hope Camby decides to stay, which seems unlikely (even though he says his wife and kids love LA), but even if he goes next year, I’d like for Kaman and Jordan to get some more time to learn from him.
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Posted on February 8th, 2009 at 11:01 am
2007-08: Brand ruined Clippers season by engaging in Movie Production Venture and participating in World Cup.
2008-09: Chris Kaman played for Germany in Olympics & easily got hurt while playing this season.
2009-10: Yet To Be Determined.
Potential threats:
1. Baron Davis: His involvement in entertainment business during off-season.
2. Kaman: His fishing expedition & snow-boarding.
Let’s hope, the Clippers mngt. will take precautions to keep their squad in good shape.
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Posted on February 8th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Does anyone know how many years are on Dumb Dumb’s contract AFTER this one is over?
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Stian Reply:
February 8th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Dunleavy has 2 more years on his contract after this season. He isn’t going anywhere.
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Posted on February 8th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
loved the way they moved the ball and played their roles. it is so simple to see what they need to do but they need strong leadership which is missing from this team. still think they can try to unload baron davis and kaman for stronger vets with leadership. it is clear that dum leavy cannot control some of the current vets. cannot wait to see if they can keep the current level of play over the next week.
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Stian Reply:
February 9th, 2009 at 1:50 am
We have positive vet leadership with guys like Camby and Zach. But, we also have Baron who is undermining the team because he’d rather go down playing his way than succeed on someone else’s terms. He is a cancer who needs to be traded ASAP. It would be nice to bring Mobley back in some capacity – he was really good for our young guys and he had seniority on the team and thus could’ve put Baron in his place when he started to act up.
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pete mack Reply:
February 9th, 2009 at 5:57 am
cant control the vets? how is that clear?
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Posted on February 8th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Read this quote by Atlanta’s coach:
“I feared that coming in,” Coach Mike Woodson said. “You can’t look at their record. Their starting five are as good as any starting five in the league.”
That’s the kind of respect that i used to love 2 years ago. I hate rooting for the team that’s the punchline all the time. Respect feels good.
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Posted on February 8th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
I giggled at can’t jump over a frozen pizza.
Unathletic, out of shape 6′9 post players usually can’t hit you for 30 on any given night. Strange talent.
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Posted on February 9th, 2009 at 5:22 am
the 3 pointer has come out of nowhere
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Posted on February 9th, 2009 at 7:57 am
I think when Kaman comes back, he could be effective coming off the bench. Zach and Camby can’t hold up for too many minutes, and Jordan is just not ready.
But if you heard that interview on Saturday with Kaman, you’d have to think they are trying really hard to move him. One team that is probably interested is, believe it or not, the Hornets.
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McPancakes4u Reply:
February 9th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
if these hornets trade rumors are true, I would trade kaman, jason hart for james posey and tyson chandler.
i don’t know if salaries match up, but sounds like a good trade to me.
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Posted on February 9th, 2009 at 10:21 am
where’s all the thorton haters now? its games like this that show you the talent and potential he has, just give him a little more tim to make him learn that he cant be satisfied forcing jumpers but instead needs to attack the basket…its that simple
and you definitely don’t trade baron, camby, randolph, gordon or thorton at this point. with this group you have an unguardable offense and a defense that is good enough (if the players are motivated to try). I can see trading kaman and ricky davis though (add jason hart and fred jones to that list if anyone would want them)…ricky is just roster filler at this point, and i’ve come to the conclusion that kaman really just doesn’t match the rest of the team with his slow low post game, and if you can get someone like butler, shawn marion, gerald wallace, tayshaun prince, hedo turkoglu, josh howard, dunce jr. or lamar (all those teams could really use a big, no?) for kaman and change (maybe draft picks), then you could use them starting so that either gordon or thorton comes off the bench with some energy along with guys that are better than people think (novak, mardy collins, jordan and mike taylor), then i think we could have a pretty solid team that is built to not only compete for the immediate future but also has some younger talent that can keep it going with baron and camby start falling off
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mandru Reply:
February 9th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
you said it, al thornton has POTENTIAL. but the fact of the matter is that potential hardly ever becomes realized in the clippers franchise or under dunleavy for that matter. no matter how hard you try, you can’t teach basketball iq.
when al learns his role as a slasher, he’ll be no more than a one-dimensional player. his passing skills are lackluster and a majority of his offensive decisions over the past two years have shown little growth. games like these that he had are great, but it’s hardly representative of his body of work as a player.
it’s true that thornton can be a good scorer, but “can” is the verb that has become most prevalent in the clippers’ history. and we all know what the franchise has been…
i’m assuming that tirades against thornton and boomdizzle are from people who SUPPORT the clippers. and generally speaking, they’re in the right. flashes of brilliance are not a reason to invest so heavily in a player.
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Posted on February 9th, 2009 at 11:30 am
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