On the road with a sluggish broadband connection, I had a chance to see only the second half of this one.
With Zach Randolph out and Marcus Camby sidelined with a migraine after only 12 minutes, the Clippers go small with Baron-Jones-Collins-Thornton-Jordan to start the second half, and it serves them well offensively for a good part of the third quarter. The Clippers come out of the locker room with a couple of ugly turnovers, but then begin to push the ball more in the open floor, and get a lot more movement in the halfcourt. There’s a nice six or seven possession sequence when the Clippers capitalize on a couple of bad Memphis misses. Both Baron and Thornton are in full attack mode, DeAndre Jordan crashes the boards to create additional opportunities [and even delivers a slick interior pass to a cutting Thornton for an easy bucket], and the Clippers find all kinds of space for open jumpers [Jones at 3rd, 7:54] and basket cuts [Collins at 3rd, 6:13]. But after Steve Novak hits a 3PA to break a very short-lived Memphis zone, the Clippers don’t convert another field goal for more than seven minutes.
As badly as the offense fades, the trouble starts on the defensive end when Rudy Gay begins to heat up. He torches the Clippers for 20 points in the third quarter [6-7 FG, 2-3 3PA, 6-6 FT]. Once again, the Clippers are done in by their inability to guard the wing. Gay has a fantastic ability to get separation from his defender to create his own shot, and when his long-range game is humming, his lanky frame is a near impossible cover for a hobbled Mardy Collins and a helpless Al Thornton, who nominally picks up Gay once Collins checks out. Gay punctuates the quarter with a silky, unconscionable 30-footer to cap an 18-2 Memphis run.
The problems run deeper than Gay. Steve Novak can’t do much to stop Hakim Warrick inside, and asking Mike Taylor to accomplish anything defensively against O.J. Mayo is simply unfair. DeAndre Jordan struggles defending Marc Gasol, who finishes with 10 assists. Like his brother, Pau, Marc has a preternatural ability to find cutters over his shoulder with easy passes. If the Clippers have any chance to get back into the game at the start of the fourth quarter, Gasol ensures that it doesn’t happen. In a three-minute span, Gasol finds Greg Buckner along the arc for a 3PM, delivers a perfect interior pass to Darrell Arthur for an easy jumper in the paint, makes a beautiful 60-foot outlet pass to Hakim Warrick off a jump ball on the Clippers’ end, and dekes Jordan on a simple S/R play to get himself a 5-footer. The Grizz extend an 11-point lead to 18, and the game is effectively over.
One nice sight for Clippers fans: Quinton Ross picks up 21 minutes of action. Aaron Barzilai, who’s been doing some of the most interesting advanced statistical analysis in the game, released his adjusted plus/minus ratings recently. The data showed Ross as the second most effective defensive player in the league over the past two years, but tonight Ross works his offensive game, hitting a three-pointer toward the end of the first quarter to extend the Memphis lead to six — a play I sadly missed.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Donald Sterling got loose in the Clippers’ locker room following Monday night’s loss to San Antonio. Ben Bolch quotes team sources saying that Sterling “offered a blanket denunciation of the players and strongly backed Coach and General Manager Mike Dunleavy.”
The timing is curious, and by casual observation, the effort Monday night was relatively vigorous compared to what we saw immediately after the break. A team owner certainly has the right to lash out at his team whenever he feels like it. But to berate a squad when its two most efficient scorers and best wing defender aren’t suited up just seems tone-deaf, particularly when the owner excludes the staff from his wholesale criticism.
58 Responses
if dts is completely blaming the players and backing up dunleavy, we’re fucked. i know we’re only after ping pong balls this season anyway, but at this point the players might get so demoralized that it will carry over to next season, or as long as dunleavy is coach.
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RML Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Or as long as DTS owns the team. But we all know the only way to fix that is sell the team and get out of L.A. Maybe that’s what this franchise needs. A fresh start.
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Posted on March 5th, 2009 at 9:09 am
I’m pretty much speechless after last nights game. Not angry, just numb. I think it’s time to find another team to root for and that will be — DRUM ROLL — the PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS! From now on I will only comment and address my thoughts and opinions as it relates to those talented young men up in Oregon. I will however continue to express those comments on this blog because I have grown to have real affections for all you Clipper knuckleheads. So, continue ignoring my tirades and low brow attempts at humor and GO BLAZERS!
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Posted on March 5th, 2009 at 9:43 am
BTW, if any of you guys want to join my Trailblazers bandwagon feel free to post your own thoughts on this hot young team. I hear ROY is a very polite, respectful young man who brings it hard every game. All the things we thought our new team leader was supposed to be. Oh, I’ve also made a solemn vow not to every write or speak a certain over weight, over paid, over indulged point guards name ever again. HINT…It rhymes with SHITTIEST PLAYER IN THE FUCKING LEAGUE! GO BLAZERS!
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RML Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
I think there is still hope for this team. L.A. too has a very polite, respectful young man who brings it hard every game. Unfortunately, Gordon is a gem in a sea of broken glass. I really do think that the departure of Elton Brand literally sucked the life out of this team. Especially after all the promising remarks. But that was then, and this is now. No point in griping about the past. In any case, I do think that this team can really compete when 1) they are healthy, and 2) they get rid of that pathetic excuse for a leader. Do you know what the status of Steve Nash is? Is he tradable? Maybe a swap between SHITTIEST PLAYER IN THE FUCKING LEAGUE for Nash. We just need a real player to take the lead of this team, like Brand did.
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disagree Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Departure of Elton Brand? Not really. Brand played handful of games
last season and this team played hard with Corey & Co.
This season we have more talent and less of a purpose. Remove Baron Davis from the equation & see the team play hard every nite.
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Posted on March 5th, 2009 at 9:54 am
some silver lining: mike taylor’s sick dunk = espn’s top play yesterday. peep the espn video link to the right.
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RL Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
that was a sick dunk indeed…
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epaminandis Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Do you really care about a nice dunk when this team is such a sad joke?
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Posted on March 5th, 2009 at 10:20 am
sterling is an idiot. wow… how can dunleavy be blameless? dumb…
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Posted on March 5th, 2009 at 11:08 am
its hard for me to fathom what is going on in DTS’ mind right now…the message he sent is wrong, the manner it was sent is wrong, and the timing couldn’t have been worse…seriously what will it take for the league to take the clippers away from him, hasn’t he proved that he is the worst owner in all of sports? (maybe with the exception of that dude that stole the sonics away from seattle, that was pretty shitty)
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bongstradamus Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
The rub is that of all of the basketball teams in the league, a vast majority of the teams lose money hand over fist. A franchise like the Pacers has lost something to the tune of 200M since their owners bought them.
The Clippers however have been profitable. Sure, from a basketball point of view the team is in the doldrums, has no chance for winning and pretty much is a bottom feeding team, but from a business perspective, they are profitable.
I honestly think that the reason the team is so crappy is because of how it is managed. Its managed with the idea to make money, not win championships. Thats why for years DTS refused to sign players entering free agency and instead opted to build hype on the cheap draft labor theyd receive year in and year out in the lottery. The only reason Elton and Corey got matched was because for DTS to keep his sweetheart Staples deal intact he needed to have a minimum amount of tickets sold for games. Staples is a profitable arena, one of the few in the league, and is probably yet another reason why the team hasnt relocated to someplace like Anaheim thats desperate for a team but doesnt have the ability to generate as much cash as Staples does.
When you view this team from the perspective of a business, everything makes sense. Theres no will to win in this organization, theres only a will to make money. So as long as Dunleavy is under contract, he wont be fired even though the team has the talent to play .500+ ball but cant even seem to manage 20 wins. The cost to fire Dunleavy and replace him with a real winner risks the profits the team has accumulated at least for this season.
It makes sense then that DTS would blast his players, after all they are making 10-16M a year instead of the measly 4M Dumbleavy takes home. From a cost perspective, its the players fault, not the coaches fault. And for what DTS pays Dumbleavy, he probably feels like hes getting a deal, ya know, 2 jobs for the price of 1.
The only thing we can do as fans is vote with our dollar. We have to stop going to games. We have to stop buying merchandise. We have to stop watching televised games. Until theres a definitive change in this organization, I’m just going to give up. I’ve been on this roller coaster for 15 years and its nothing but heartbreak. Im happy DTS makes money on his franchise, but it does nothing for us fans who have to suffer through it. Until things change…from the top down, i’m tuning out. I’d much rather watch the Grizzlies or the Blazers or even the Bobcats.
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Dj Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 2:14 am
Extremely well put.
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Posted on March 5th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Looking at those plus/minus numbers, the Clippers would be stupid to trade Camby.
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eastie rich Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Exactly because it’s stupid is the reason they’d do it. Then after getting Eric Gordon, Mike Taylor and DeAndre Jordan (who has more talent than Bynum at the same stage of career-can we get a centers coach), to blossom into good NBA players, they’ll let them go to.
Really, I’ve had it with this team.
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Posted on March 5th, 2009 at 11:35 am
I’ve been a season ticket holder for the past 8 years (I didn’t renew one year after they let, Odom, Miles and Richardson go). I’ve got to tell you nothing has ever been as painful as this year. And I used to got to games at the Sports Center. Really this is the all time worst.
Dunleavy is a horrible coach. His idea of basketball is walk it up and down the floor, hold the ball, get in your sets (o.k. by this time 15 sec. gone) then start your play and force up a bad shot. Oh, and guys don’t remember how to play defence.
Message to Dunleavy, your supposed to RUN in the game of basketball, did you forget? And every time he calls a timeout you know it’s going to be a disaster.
No wonder fans are chanting “Fire Duleavy” , brutal but true.
I e-mailed my rep and asked if I could coach for 10k per win. Nothing if I lose. Who (but Dunleavy) couldn’t double his win total?
This team is so hard to watch I’ve given half of my tickets away and I really don’t care if I go anymore. The point about the draft talent is true, Gordon, Taylor and Jordan have been real good picks. But what’s the excuse for the rest of the team, excluding Fred Jones who seems to play hard every game?
Portland doesn’t seem so bad right now.
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Stian Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
“Dunleavy is a horrible coach. His idea of basketball is walk it up and down the floor, hold the ball, get in your sets (o.k. by this time 15 sec. gone) then start your play and force up a bad shot. Oh, and guys don’t remember how to play defence.”
What gives you the idea that walking the ball up court is Dunleavy’s idea? I’ve seen Baron, Taylor, Jones, Gordon and Collins handle the rock and out of those 5 the one guy who literally NEVER pushes the ball is Baron. The guy takes 10 seconds to get near the perimeter, then he sits over by the right sideline and bounces the ball for another 7 seconds before he finally starts to look for an open team mate. At about the 20 second mark he decides whether he is gonna drive (hardly ever), pass the ball (sometimes) or throw up a low % shot (more often than not) for a brick which leads to a fastbreak opportunity for the opponent.
And you seriously think that is Dunleavy’s idea of basketball?
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eastie rich Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
I’ve watched this team for the past few years and the only time Dunleavy lets the team run is when he can’t think of anything else. I totally agree, Davis is a total bust and my least favorite Clipper.
When was the last time Dunleavy called a time out and the play he called worked?
Sterling will never let him go because the economy means Staples is going to half full at best next year and he’s not going to be stuck paying the contract for nothing. Which means all the fans are going to suffer, however few there are left.
Obviously the coach makes a huge difference. D’Antoni goes to NY and look what happens to that laughingstock. Porter gets fired (no fault of his own, he was doing exactly what Kerr wanted him to) and look what happens even with someone as far over his head as Gentry.
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Stian Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
The Knicks and Suns look good running up and down the court but they’ll never win anything. The Suns are back to square one, minus Bell and Diaw – back to the same style that failed them in the playoffs for years for lack of D. The Knicks won’t even get that far. The fans will happily put up with it until they REALLY want a title rather than just pretty basketball. And then what? Call the next Terry Porter because you realize you need a D minded coach to get your bling?
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Section 113 Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Who says it is DUNCEleavy’s idea? Have you watched this team for 6 years, Mrs. D? He is a control freak who believes in set plays….sorry that doesn’t get it done. And you continue to use the Suns and Knicks as examples of running teams that didn’t win. Well it is way too early to tell with the KNicks and the Suns had one hell of a 4 year run, and were one stupid suspension away from winning a champiohsip 2 years ago…and then tried this on. Showtime and the mid-80’s Celtics were running teams.
It is possible to run and play defense..
RML Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Wasn’t it a few years ago (2005-2006) the Clippers had a winning record (first time in 14 years) and made it to the 2nd round of the playoffs before losing game 5 (to those same damn Suns) from a hail mary 3 pointer by Raja Bell? I recall the Clippers that year being sort of a set playing team. Their strength was focused around running plays through Elton Brand. They were a defense-minded team that year, I think. They also had scoring threats in Mobley, Maggette, and yes…the running and gunning Sam Cassell (just kidding). I believe defense wins games. Showtime L.A. and the mid-80’s Celtics were voracious defending teams. They weren’t high scoring teams like the Suns are. I mean come on…look at the scores of some of the Suns losses this year: 129-135, 106-132, 108-128, 112-124, 111-122, 104-114, 109-114, 113-119, 110-113, 119-124, 110-115, 109-117. In these losses, the Suns had a scoring average of 111.67 points per game. Most well rounded teams that score 111 points are more than likely going to win. I don’t have the stats to prove that, but if you supplement that kind of scoring with good defense, I’m confident the win will come. But here’s the interesting statistic in those losses. They gave up an average of 121.42 points per game. HOLY CRAP!!! A losing spread of 10 point!!! Where’s the defense? I do think Terry Porter got the bad end with his team. But forget about Phoenix. I want to talk about the lack of defense on this Clipper team. And the two guys who really suck at D are “Barren” Davis and Al “Thorn in my side” Thornton. They are huge defensive liabilities on the wing and in the perimeter. That being said, I do think Dunleavy needs to go. Move him in the front office and hire a defensive-minded coach. I don’t think run-and-gun suits this team. But they can run with Gordon, Taylor, DeAndre, and even throw in Thornton.
Stian Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
You can spin doctor it however you want, puto, but the Suns won ZILCH – NADA – NOTHING. Because they couldn’t hang on D. Then they decided they needed D after all and got the appropriate coach. When they could not deal with the fact that this would be a transition year for them, the team took out the knives and stabbed Porter in the back because they wanted to go back to happily running up and down the court for a D’Antoni clone that demands nothing of them other than scoring points. Watch them get bounced again against the Lakers, Suns or Jazz because they still don’t play the type of D you need to succeed (this is no longer the mid-80’s – if you knew anything about the NBA you’d figured that out for yourself by now).
markshimmyjackson Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
hmmm… are we watching the same clippers? are we REALLY talking about a title? sorry to burst your bubble but the clippers aren’t gonna win jack in a VERY long time. I would be happy as a clipper fan to see them in the playoffs. THE PLAYOFFS. and im not sayin that the run and gun style is gonna win you games, but at least it’ll be ENTERTAINING. the clips right now are neither winning games or entertaining. baron CAN BE entertaining. i would like to see him play under eddie jordan, and see what he can do. if he’s still underachieving, then it’s time to go. and you say baron’s the only one that brings it up slow? ej, collins, taylor, they have all brought it up slow and they have all been confused what to run. the time that it takes to get the play across from coach to point to the other players is ridic. im sorry, im on baron’s side. it’s all on the coach on this one.
Posted on March 5th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Bong hit the nail on the head…
Sterling is a real estate man and views the Clippers in those terms. He bought the team 25 years ago for 10 million. It’s worth more than twenty times that now… Great appreciation on his investment, which has helped him buy many more properties.
The next thing a slumlord millionaire must do is operate the property as cheaply as possible, thus increasing profits. He’s managed to do that quite well over the years, refusing to pay for high-priced talent. The danger for the landlord who doesn’t reinvest in his property, however is that he will lose renters (or in this case, season ticket holders) if they get disgusted with where they’re living. Thus, every so often he knows he has to step up and put in new carpeting, or keep an Elton Brand for fear of empty apartments (or in this case, seats). You also keep your apartments filled by keeping your rents lower than your competitors. Sterling keeps his ticket prices at a relative bargain level compared to the Lakers or many other NBA teams.
We may think of Sterling as a loser. I’m sure he thinks of himself as a tremendous winner… And when you think of the Clippers as a real estate asset, which is how he thinks, he’s the biggest winner in the NBA.
When he became friendly with Al Davis about ten years ago, many thought that a little Davis would rub off on Sterling and he’d want to compete and win. Instead, a lot of Sterling has rubbed off on Davis, who now runs the Raiders the way Sterling runs the Clippers…
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Posted on March 5th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Dunleavy is the man! Ya’ll suck.
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Posted on March 5th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
EASTIE come over into the light my brother. I too have given away at least half of my tickets this season. I just stare at the ones I have left and want to just burn them. I’m embarrassed to even ask my friends if they want them. PORTLAND TRAILBLAZER! These guys play hard every night, have a great coach and they are going to be good for a long time. I will miss Ralph Lawler, but even he has to be thinking about getting out.
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eastie rich Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
I actually like the Blazers but I live in SC. I love basketball and hate the Lakers. What am I going to do?
I’ve got lower level seats and prior to the games, especially with Boston, they were selling better lower level seats at one third of what I paid for mine (real price – not what’s printed on the ticket).
That pisses me off so much. I pay x amount at the beginning of the year expecting a fair return and have gotten totally screwed. How are they going to keep fans next year?
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Posted on March 5th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
TNT57, I tried to reply and included ticket prices and such and the site voided my comment. What’s up with that?
DTS must be on the payroll, too bad he can’t bring in more wins.
According to my first sentence (that was bumped) how are they going to fill seats next year?
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Posted on March 5th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
those of y’all who jump ship onto another team’s bandwagon… don’t jump back if/when the clips become good.
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HarshReality Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
I like basketball, which the clippers arent playing right now. Go Cavs! (Til lottery time and summer league when I can have foolish hope for the clips again!)
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bootstrenf Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
call me carzy, but i don’t think that will be an issue…..clippers are not going to be good for a while…
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Posted on March 5th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
jon y
I haven’t jumped ship yet, but when a team offers tickets at an amount rediculously lower to the general public than what it’s season ticket holders pay. That’s F.U.
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Posted on March 5th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Ahh… If only the Clips can trade their “stars” for some draft picks… Time to blow it up and start from the basics… Only players I’d keep are Gordon (lots of potential), Camby (true professional), Deandre, and Taylor. The last two not because they are good, but because they play hard. If OKC (Durant, Green, and Westbrook), and Memphis (Mayo, Gay, and Gasol) can rebuild.. why can’t we?
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RL Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Hell.. I’d be happy if we just waived them and got nothing in return… at least the roster spots can go to people who are hungry…
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Duh Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Dude, the Clips have been in rebuild mode every year of their miserable existence, with the exception of the 2005-2008 years (before Brand skipped town). They could have really built a good, if not great, team had Brand stayed. Elton Brand (PF), Chris Kaman (C), Baron Davis (PG), Eric Gordon (SG), Corey Maggette (SF). You have on the bench: Cuttino Mobley and a developing Al Thornton. That would have been nice.
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Dj Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 2:23 am
We couldn’t have kept Maggette and Brand and still have got Baron. 2 out of the 3 was the best we could do.
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eastie rich Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 10:28 am
The Clippers don’t know how to do anything. I’ve got a photo in my office of Brand, Miles and Odom. The Clippers curse continues. When they have a good player he leaves or gets injured.
The only thing I wanted from this team this year was 35 wins. That’s it, I didn’t expect alot. Are they even close?
People are raging about the 7 seconds or less type of ball. No Phoenix didn’t win but they got majorly screwed by the league. They had that series in hand against the Spurs, they were on the way to the Finals.
Now some of you at talking about the team that got us into the playoffs. Where are the players now? Exactly.
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Posted on March 5th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Let’s put it out there STian is an idiot…he has drank the Dunleavy/Van Gundy potion…that only control freak coaches with set offenses can win…that is total BS…yes defense is first and foremost to winning…but where does it say you can’t run and play D…that is exactly what the 80’s Celtics and Lakers did. STIAN (Mrs. DUNCEleavy) uses one example the Suns as an illustration of his defense. That my friend isn’t exactly research. And BTW, every single Clipper fan will take the 4 year run and near misses that D’Antoni brought to Phoenix. RML claims that those Celtic and Laker teams weren’t as high-scoring as the Suns, really? Look it up my friend, it isn’t even close both of those 80’s teams easily outscored, took more shots than the Suns have in any of the last 5 seasons…that is hard fact.
Then for all of you who think keeping Camby is a good idea. WHAT! Yes, he is excellent, yes he plays hard, but he is 35 years old!!!! By the time this team can even think of competing (15-47 to remind you all) he will be retired or will sign somewhere else. Right now he is a commodity with a reasonable contract who should be turned into future assets. That is how you build a winning team
STIAN say hello to Mike Jr. when you have a chance.
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eastie rich Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 10:34 am
I totally agree. Dunleavy is the worst coach ever. Just check out the sponser quote on basketball reference. It sums it up perfectly.
Dunleavys not going anywhere because once his contracts up he couldn’t work for free for another team in the league. Sterling won’t let him go because he won’t part with his money for nothing (but nothing is what he’s getting).
With our luck, Sterling will keep this great evaluater of talent as GM for the next 20 years.
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Posted on March 6th, 2009 at 8:27 am
i think someone should start a website : http://www.nonrenewingclipperticketholders.com
i’d join! maybe it will get their attention. If they dont offer some kind of substantial discount next year…i’m talking 25% off the current prices… i’m out!
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eastie rich Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 10:43 am
ACD, I’m with you. I expected 35 wins this year. I was willing to accept 47 losses – and I would have been happy!
What do season ticket holders get in return, a team so bad they have to practically give tickets away. Single game tickets are going for 1/3 of what we paid for ours. I feel like they just stole 4k from me.
Steep discounts and a new coach and I’m there next year. Barring that, I don’t think I can take it anymore.
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ACD Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Seriously…we should get a discount on our tickets…. they’re selling $100 seats for $25…. not from brokers or scalpers… directly from the Clippers… i cant believe more people aren’t pissed off about this.. i’m going to email my rep today.
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eastie rich Reply:
March 7th, 2009 at 9:12 am
ACD, Finally, I’ve got a great Rep. and I don’t want to bust his balls over this. I’m sure he’s thinking he’s got to go to another team right now. Don’t get me wrong I’m ROYALLY PISSED. This is the first time I’ve thought of NEVER EVER EVER paying for or watching another Clippers game ever again. And they sold $125.00 seats for $25-that means mine are worth $17. I’m so pissed off and so is everyone else I’ve talked to. I think my rep. went into hiding, and I don’t blame him. How do you spin this to your season ticket holders? Only Sterling could create such a mess. Well, maybe it was a suggestion from Dunleavy!
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Posted on March 6th, 2009 at 8:49 am
Subject: Is Stephon Marbury the strangest/worst Celtic ever?
With his past history of strange and egomanic behavior, it makes us wonder why did the Celtics pick Marbury to join them. Adam Reilly of the Boston Phoenix, tries to figure this out.
To read article, please go to – http://thephoenix.com/Boston/RecRoom/77680-How-weird-is-Stephon-Marbury/
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Posted on March 6th, 2009 at 9:57 am
One day as a new Blazer fan and they get their ass kicked by Denver. Maybe it isn’t the team, maybe it us! It’s like an old TWILIGHT ZONE episode. A group of hard core fans spend years bitching and crying about how bad their coach and team is and then they find out they are all actually DEAD and living in some dimension between Heaven and Hell. Geez, I’m relieved we finally figured this out. But OUR PG STILL SUCKS THE BIG ONE!
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Posted on March 6th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Another thing and then I’m off to see THE WATCHMEN. How come the dude that writes this blog doesn’t smack it around with us? It’s like he tosses a bland piece of meat into the cage every other day and hits the road. I mean his writing isn’t even that great. Not really any sense of irony or humor. Shit, there’s my bus…gotta go!
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Posted on March 6th, 2009 at 10:24 am
wow all the venom and clipper fans hating each other really bums me out. i have 2 suggestions for clipper fans. 1) save your hate for laker fans. those are smug motherfuggin arseholes deserving of your contempt. 2) take the time and energy you put into getting dunleavy fired and work for peace in the middle east. at least the palestinian crisis might get resolved. dunleavy is not going anywhere. i mean is dts the worst owner in the nba? yes. he is the al davis of the nba. that is part of the deal of being a clipper fan. things are never going to be perfect. in fact it’s a rare day when they are good. i understand everyone’s frustration. we just want a team that plays hard hustles, passes the ball, plays the game well and occasionally throws in some beautiful basketball. give me that and i will happily sport my clipper gear and buy those friggin $10 beers at the game. it’s when the team dogs it and shows no effort on either end of the court that folks get upset. is that dunleavy’s fault. perhaps but then we get back to the start of the equation. dunleavy isn’t going anywhere. see you in the lottery
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eastie rich Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
I guess if I had a few of those beers it would be easier to sit through games. I’ve been a fan for years, the old teams with Vaught and Wright sure played harder than this one. And yes, it is the coachs fault.
I don’t think we hate on each other. We’re frustated, we might disagree, but the only thing we hate are the Lakers!
After buying tickets for the past 13 years I’m kind of tired of the false promise of a lottery pick. And after this season how many free agents are ever going to want to play here?
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Dj Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
That’s actually a decent point. Our biggest free agent signing ever (Baron) wants out already, our coach is a nightmare to play for, and our owner is the worst in professional sports. Our only hope is we draft a Garnett type player, who is insanely loyal to us for no real reason. Maybe Gordon is that guy. Anyways, who this insanely loyal person would need to carry us to the playoffs a few years, and then a few vets (a la Sprewell and Cassell) would eventually join on to try and push us over the top.
It will be tougher to get a good free agent here, but someone will always take the money and the L.A. discount.
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eastie rich Reply:
March 7th, 2009 at 9:04 am
DJ, I think we’re to the point where we’re not sure if someone will always take the money. If the team isn’t bad enough, what’s up with Sterling chewing out Thorton. I can just see players lining up to play here.
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Posted on March 6th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
When you watch a game all you can hear in the background is Dunleavy yelling….Who would want to play for that??/
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Posted on March 6th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
The players, the coach, the owner, the media, most of the people who comment here, and even Mike, Ralph, MacLean and Eaves have all given up on this team. Can’t say I blame anyone either. I really don’t blame any of the players for not giving their max effort. I wish they would, but really, at this point in this crappy year, I don’t expect them to play hard any more than I’d expect loyal fans to cheer for them. Isn’t going to happen.
I don’t really blame Dunleavy either. The thing that’s killed the Clippers this year is injuries. It’s a tired excuse, but its still valid. No coach could win consistently with the players we’ve had available this year and in the handful of games where the team’s been reasonably healthy, they have preformed reasonably well. It’s just too bad there’s only been about 25-30 games that they’ve been reasonably healthy for. I really believe if it weren’t for all the injuries this year we’d be in the hunt for a playoff spot. I’m not sure we’d get it, but we’d be close.
But the endless injuries have occurred and people are so tired of it seems that nobody (besides Dunleavy) even mentions injuries anymore. Everyone who has anything to do with this team is sick and tired losing. The players show it by not playing hard. The fans show it by booing, calling the players names that they really don’t deserve and demanding the coach be fired, and Ralph and Mike show it by talking about how great the OTHER teams are. Nobody signed up for this and nobody’s happy.
It’s a bummer, but the Clips are still my team. I don’t hate Dunleavy for putting this group together, or for coming up short (way short) in the W column. I know he’s dedicated to winning and many of the obstacles he’s faced this year were beyond anyone’s control. The losses bother him more than any of the fans who seem to hate him so much, so I just feel bad for him. He’s tried hard to put together a winner, and I can actually still appreciate it on some level. This team could have been good, but that ship has sailed. There’s been too much losing to have any chance of establishing chemistry with this group now. I feel bad for all the players who’ve had to waste a year of their prime to struggle with all the troubles the Clips have had this season. But like I said, they’re my team, and ‘m not going to hate them for not being better, I’d rather commiserate.
I don’t blame anyone for jumping ship (go Blazers!). And even though I disagree with calls to fire Dunleavy and trade Baron, they’re understandable. That’s what fans do when their team has a losing record. Right or wrong, that’s the prescribed response — either fire the coach and/or trade the star.
But if there’s anyone else who’d rather commiserate with the team than bag on them, here you go:
http://www.motheringhut.com/plantar.html
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Posted on March 7th, 2009 at 4:19 am
Davis is the star? Thats a joke. The best player on this team is Gordon. Dunleavy flat out suc*s, and the owner is throwing the season ticket holders under the bus. Great business acumen.
I haven’t heard anyone blame the players except for Sterling. How are the $125 seats selling for $25 working out for you? Oh, your probably not a season ticket holder so your not one of their most loyal fans who are getting ROYALLY screwed.
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Posted on March 7th, 2009 at 9:18 am
Maybe we have so many injuries because players are saving themselves for after they get traded. Every year it’s the same lament about injuries. They should have clauses in their contracts that say if you don’t play you don’t get paid. You watch how fast some of injuries heal up. How about all the season ticket holder getting together outside Staples before the final home game and burning out tickets in protest? We could get ESPN to cover it and really shake things up. I’M IN. Anyone else?
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Posted on March 7th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
I meant…burning our tickets.
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eastie rich Reply:
March 7th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Not a bad idea, by then they’ll be selling them for $10. anyway.
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