I’ve been traveling non-stop this week and haven’t been able to devote the time to the Donald Sterling fracas that I’d like.
No matter, because Steve at Clips Nation has written the definitive manifesto on the matter. Read the piece in its entirety. Twice.
Steve’s conclusion:
We sometimes get upset at the overly simplistic “It’s the Clippers” approach to the coverage of our (unnaturally, undeservedly) beloved team. When Sterling is quiet long enough that we can almost forget about what a bad, bad human being he is, we think “Hey, why can’t the Clippers succeed some day?” And then he opens his mouth and we know the answer. As long as Donald Sterling is the owner, I fear that “It’s the Clippers” will be a valid explanation for everything.
I also recommend Citizen Zhiv’s thoughtful commentary in the comments section, also brilliant in its entirety, and a particularly smart articulation of Mike Dunleavy’s very complex place in all of this:
I’m not a Dunleavy hater and I try not to be a Dunleavy apologist. He can be maddening at times, and I hate the way that he seems to have double standards. He always seems to be taking a “building blocks” approach, starting with defense and working matchups. That approach can be quite effective when you’ve got a healthy roster and you’re competing in the playoffs, when good, disciplined teams are battling against one another. But Dunleavy’s situation for the last three years has been just the opposite. He’s had hobbled, undermanned teams that are missing key parts, and he has never even begun to try to shake things up, even in the most desperate situations, to figure out ways to shake things up and foster creativity and energy. He’s always forced into moves that seem fairly obvious.
One thing that people should think about very carefully, in the call to get rid of Dunleavy, is that things can get much worse on the Clippers. Dunleavy may be holding onto a conservative, wrongheaded approach, but at least there’s a logic to it of sorts and he has DTS’ confidence and the ability to make trades and sign players. We should remember that things can be worse, much worse.
Whatever the franchise lacks in success on the court, they’ve somehow attracted a smart, devoted, and tremendous collection of loyalists that deserve better.
19 Responses
Seriously Citizen Zhiv, much much worse than 15 wins? You are kidding right? He’s a great evaluator of talent yet the only way a rookie ever gets on the floor is if there is no one else to go to. We are all thrilled with Gordon, how much time did he spend on the bench before injuries FORCED Dunleavy to play him?
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Kevin Reply:
March 7th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Great evaluator of talent? Are we talking about the same guy who took Yaroslav Korolev over Danny Granger?
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zhiv Reply:
March 9th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Thanks for the nod, KA–we’re all big fans over at ClipsNation, as I hope you know.
I spent a minute thinking about Eastie’s comment, and I think it might be a distinction between new Clipper fans and old Clipper fans. Again, this is not to apologize for Dunleavy and the current state of the team. 15 wins is horrible. But don’t underestimate the ability of DTS to own and control one of the very worst franchises in the history of sports. “New Clipper fans” might have started to follow the team with the drafting of Odom and Baylor’s trade for Brand. It’s possible to see the climax of this surge as the original hiring of Dunleavy, who turned the Clips into a semi-respectable NBA franchise. I won’t belabor that point, but “old Clipper fans,” from previous epochs, will remember teams that had no hope whatsoever of competing and making the playoffs. They had a starter or two that was generally overvalued, perhaps a big man project, a decent backup starting at PG, and a bunch of occasionally intriguing stiffs. The Clips have suffered more than their share of catastrophic injuries, but teams led by Ron Harper or Danny Manning were never truly competitive even before those “stars” were injured, and Charles Smith or Loy Vaught were never at the same level as Elton Brand. And it’s worth mentioning that it was Dunleavy who challenged Brand to a higher level of fitness and play that led to his MVP-level 05-06 season.
The NBA and the Western Conference have changed in the meantime, and they continue evolving. At this point the Clippers have a team that seems quite competitive on paper, but they’ve been unable to get that team onto the court. Now imagine a team that trades Kaman, Camby, and Baron Davis, that doesn’t sign Al Thornton. You’re giving up players and getting back draft picks–but let’s add that you’re drafting poorly, as the Clippers used to. Korolev at 12 isn’t the end of the world, though it would be nice to have Granger, since the Clips have Thornton and seem to be in very good shape with Gordon. But you have to imagine a team that wouldn’t have drafted either of those guys. As tricky as Thornton is, the Clips could have easily passed on him, and they could have Gallinari instead of Gordon, for instance.
There’s an assumption that DTS would replace Dunleavy with some one competent, with a reasonable, intelligent plan. I happen to doubt that. I think he would get some one cheap and passive, as he did in the past, and the Clips would wallow in mediocrity and futility. Other teams would take their good players away and develop them, and they would make short-sighted, one-sided trades that benefit other teams. Stuff like that happened routinely to the Clippers in the old days. It could happen again.
Lots of coaches could easily do much better with the talent on hand and get more wins. The injury trouble is maddening. The best course at the moment is to play out the last month with a full roster, to see if Dunleavy can get some good games out of Kaman-Randolph-Camby-Gordon-Thornton-Davis-Taylor, etc. From there, I actually trust Dunleavy as GM to hire a good coach to replace himself. More than I trust the approach of wiping the slate clean.
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Posted on March 7th, 2009 at 9:00 am
I wouldn’t renew even if I was making last year’s money. Not even at half price. I’ll still ocasionally go as it’s pro ball (sometimes). And will get my nephew and his boys tix to see the some games. But signing up for another full pop…hell no.
I just can’t see continued emotional and financial investment in this product with such minimal returns.
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Posted on March 7th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Memories of the clippers succeeding are far and few in between for me. It saddens me that I remember the good so vividly and can’t pick n’ choose from the good defining moment. Instead, I have to choose from tragic benchmarks for the organization. Clipper fans know so much about the game, from the referees, Free agents, top college players, etc. We love the game some much, but we get jilted at the alter by a runaway bride.
It’s hard being a clipper fan, everyone questions your devotion to the team, everything seems to go wrong, but everyday I just hope for a 5 year span of success like the Kings. I don’t want much, just out of the cellar and in the playoffs…Is it too much to ask for? I guess so.
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eastie rich Reply:
March 7th, 2009 at 9:42 am
QD, I only asked for 35 wins. Way too high a bar I guess. I mean if you look at it from my standpoint even 32 would have been o.k. (that means I’m even willing to accept 50 losses).
As for my best Clipper moment, way back in the Sports Arena vs. the Bulls, Clippers playing their hearts out and take Chicago to double overtime, but Jordan rises incredibly high at the top of the circle and hits the game winner!
Great game all the same. That team played their hearts out.
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Q.D. Reply:
March 7th, 2009 at 11:12 am
I remember attending the Spurs vs. the clippers and David Robinson needed an astronomical point total to win the scoring title, I think he needed 65pts. He dropped 71 on us. Unbelievable!!!
I’m going to cry now
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eastie rich Reply:
March 7th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Hi Q.D. I remember when Shaq had 61 by the end of the third quarter (or maybe a minute into the fourth) and that idiot Jackson takes him out. Everyone oohs and aahs over Kobes 81, well Shaq was on his way to at least that.
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Posted on March 7th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Neil, I actually feel bad for my rep. How are they going to justify selling 125 seats for 25, I feel like I’ve totally been ripped off. Seriously, if I don’t get an offer at 25 I’m not renewing.
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neiljphx Reply:
March 7th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
I saw that and they can justify it by the economy crashing. I can’t trip over that because alot has changed in every walk of life since I went in over $4k last year for the pair.
But even economy aside…if it was still pre-crash, I couldn’t see getting that pair again. And can’t even really see moving up to the 200’s as the right move either.
I’ll just pick and choose some games off stubhub depending on when I’m in town or what the kids want and call it at that.
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eastie rich Reply:
March 7th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
neil, I know what your saying. But it’s not easy for everyone to shell out $ for season tickets (o.k. maybe I’m just talking about myself). That’s why they let you pay in installments. Like I said, I’ll cut them some slack if they pass those savings on to us next year. Do you think they will?
I’m not so sure. & how about fielding a team that people would pay to watch?
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Posted on March 7th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Please, the DUNCE is a terrible coach and a mediocre evaluator of talent. For every one good talent move he makes he offsets it with one poor one. This is the guy who gave Tim Thomas, not 1, but 2 huge long-term contracts.
His style of ball is horrible to watch and compounded by the fact that his players obviously hate playing it as well. He lives and dies by matching up to his opponents strengths but never tries to create mismatches on our offensive side.
He has lost the team and has to go.
As for DTS, while the tirade was unprofessional, one could understand his frustration, he has opened his wallet, and yes while there are injuries the players aren’t even playing hard and that is inexcusable.
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Posted on March 7th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
I don’t even have to write a post. Citizen Zhiv said it al for me.
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Posted on March 7th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Poor donald sterling. He is in for a huge surprise next year when he reads the season ticket renewal report. He may actually lose money! That may be a good thing because he might decide to sell the team! Seriously…if he’s so pissed about how things are going I suggest he gets rid of the entire front office, coach, trainer, staff… Like gary oldman in “the professional”, EVERYOOOOOOONE! What does he have to lose? And yes, I also feel bad for my sales rep… I don’t envy his position. Our emotions and cash depend on the product and potential on the court– but his livelihood depends on it. He is the ultimate appeaser who is always trying to calm me down. Clippers reps are like the ugly girls in high school trying to get a prom date. Lakers reps are the hot girls trying to get guys to stop calling them. Its just a shitty situation. Eve our own kevin a. I’m sure he doesn’t get a hard on for writing a story about how the clipps loafed a 20 point defeat to the horribly bad memphis grizzlies. I simply don’t know how to defend this organization anymore. Courtside tonight to see clips vs indiana? You’ll have to drag me off the couch. If I could turn them in for half of what I paid I,d do it in a second. Fuck me.
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eastie rich Reply:
March 7th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
ACD, I’m with you. How can you even turn them in for half when the team is selling them for 1/4?
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Posted on March 7th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
I have 2 words for you…YAROSLAV KORALEV. Yikes.
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Posted on March 7th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
He kept me on the bench for 4 years..
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Posted on March 7th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Hi Clipper Fans,
I’m a long time Clipper fan and after fourteen years a retired season ticket owner. I’ve been watching and wondering about Donald Sterling for a long, long time. Donald Sterling does not attend Clipper games because he’s a basketball or even Clipper fan. Donald Sterling bought the Clippers for $12 million dollars and today as stinky as the team always is the Clippers are reportedly worth over $300 million dollars and the Clippers have never won best of anything in NBA competition other then the Clipper Girls, really. Nonetheless at every game Donald is acknowledged by those folks surrounding his seats as though he’s Dr. Buss and those people aren’t basketball fans either they are rich man fans and aspiring real estate moguls basking in his aura and hoping for the great man to acknowledge them. The Sterling hissy fit coincided with his fans celebrating Donald’s business accumen as one of the few NBA owners who didn’t need financial help from the league, for Donald the basketball equivilent of the team a win away from the finals. So now he’s noticed he’s hot but the teams not. I can assure you of one thing on night he flipped out during halftime or shortly after someone Donald envies or someone he hates heckled Donald T. gave him some sh*t and that’s why he suddenly lost it. It was personal, someone called him out and embarrassed him.
During the off season Donald will have to make changes to sell tickets. The best target is Dunleavy out of at least one job, hopefully coach. Then the problems really begin because as always Donald T. Sterling knows nothing about basketball so he talks to anybody and everybody no matter how little they also know. He has always been subject to the advice of the last person he talked to and his own massive basketball stupid ego. He has never shown any ability to pick and make a deal and a relationship with the right coach.
The report to Donald from Roesser after the ticketholder meeting – they want him to fire Dunleavy also could have set him off since if he took it seriously it meant he’d have to pay Dunleavy off.
Sterling doesn’t give a damn what we think.
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Posted on April 20th, 2009 at 2:30 am
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