He’s perfectly fine is the word from team sources. Taylor injured his knee Saturday night at Houston and had to be helped off the court, though he returned to the game in the third quarter.
Taylor has been a dynamic, dizzying force for the Clips in the dregs of spring basketball. His size will continue to present challenges defensively, and he’s not a natural distributor — but he’s also only 22 years old. There’s no reason to believe that more minutes, a little time at guard camp, and a productive summer league won’t improve those skills.
So far as his efficiency, he’s jumped from a 6.0 to a 10.43 on Hollinger’s PER scale in a matter of days. I know Hollinger takes a lot of flack in these parts for being less than generous to the Clippers as a franchise, but the man’s system is the most accurate metric right now in the advanced basketball analytics world. There simply isn’t an NBA statistician out there who is more right, more often.
What accounts for Taylor’s jump up the scale? I think it’s akin to a major leaguer with a limited number of plate appearances who goes on a tear. When a batter is 15 for 80 on the season with 5 walks, his OBP is a meager .235. If he goes 8 for his next 12, with 3 walks, that OBP balloons to .310 less than a week later.
35 Responses
Man I love the Clippers; I live in Michigan so I get the “pleasure” of staying up half the night to watch this team on East Coast time. What keeps me sacrificing sleep during one of the worst seasons in recent memory? Eric Gordon and Al Thorton play with a hunger and desire to that make losing sleep worth while. Mike Taylor has come out of nowhere and with some off season work, could be dangerous (I am serious). Nothing would please more than shipping out the heartless BD and Camby out of LA; send in the GM/Coach Dumbleavy while you’re at it.
Regardless, I love my Clips, and I will continue throwing $ down the drain on NBA League Pass, and continue losing valuable sleep, because that’s what makes Clipper fans special. But one day, we WILL win a Championship, and I will enjoy every second of it!
Posted on March 30th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
How can you hate on Camby? Marcus deserves a Gold Medal for what he’s gone through this season. He’s been the one big to show up every game, and not say a word about the terrible atmosphere of the team. As much as I hate to say it, we should send Marcus to a contender. It would be win/win though, he’s a taltened veteran AND an expiring contract. We could net a nice piece for him, and send him some place where his talent and age won’t be wasted.
Posted on March 30th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Gold Medal for what he’s gone through? He’s getting 10mil year to play basketball.
Notice how Camby shut it down after the trade deadline (I’d do the same).
Posted on March 30th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Obviously it goes without saying that salaries help a lot with any “suffering” in the league, but Camby literally was the hardest working player on the team (Eric Gordon aside). You’d expect a veteran like that to throw a bitch fit and hold out for a trade from day one. Whether he was playing to get dealt or not, he still brought (brings) it to the court every night. The man’s 34 and was stringing together games bordering on the elusive 20-20. More than I can say for Boom Dizzle or even Kaman, whose injury I’m still not sold on.
Posted on March 30th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Yeah, Camby WAS the hardest working player on the Clippers for half of the season. While every other player was “hurt” on the Clippers Camby was hustling after every loose ball and going after every rebound. But now he doesn’t nearly play as hard, he cashed it in a few weeks ago. I think he has Clipperitis, with all his “migraines” and his “ear aches.” The Clippers are my team but it’s hard to watch them play every night without having any pride or heart. They have 8 games left, all I want is to see them play with heart for all 4 quarters of every game left. If they lose all 8 fine, but just give it your all. Clips in 2010!!!
Posted on March 30th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Having Mike Taylor on this team makes having that walking heap of patheticness, Baron Davis, more bearable, if only slightly.
Love lil’ Mike, love Eric Gordon, love DeAndre’s enthusiasm. Best Clipper rookie class ever.
Camby was our best player for a good chunk of the season and he busted his butt – now he just doesn’t care anymore. I wanted to hang on to him as a mentor to DeAndre until next February but looking back now we should’ve definitely traded him. He is starting to smell like Baron. And now he is openly lobbying for a trade back to the Knicks. I guess, winning is no longer important to Marcus – being close to home is.
Goodbye, Mr.Camby.
bongstradamus Reply:
March 30th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Still think the year we had Darius, Quentin, and Keyon was the best Clipper rookie class. We got Maggette that year from Orlando, he and Lamar were both sophomores. That team rocked. Good times.
As someone pointed out, Marcus is 34 years old and on a team that needs a nuclear war to break out and 3/4′s of the worlds population incinerated in order to have a chance to make the playoffs. Dont be hating on the elder statesman for resting his body at the tail end of a throwaway season. He’s been a mensch the whole season and gets props in my book, especially with his storied past of injuries killing the first 6 years of his career. Marcus used to be synonymous with bust and he’s been far from that for us. His character and the effort he’s put in is worthy of our respect.
Baron will be a totally different player under a new coach, im still not on the “Hate Baron Davis” bus. Hopefully our gift for enduring this travesty of a season is Dunleavy’s pink slip at the end.
Stian Reply:
March 31st, 2009 at 1:15 am
Nah, bong, Baron will not be a different player under a different coach. At least not long enough to make a real difference. An old leopard does not change its spots. Baron showed us his true colors. Adversity is when people’s true character comes out – they either shine and overcome or stink and fold like a cheap tent. We’ve all seen which category Baron falls under. The Clippers will amount to absolutely NOTHING as long as Baron is within shouting distance of Staples Center. You can take that to a federally insured bank.
eastie Rich Reply:
March 31st, 2009 at 7:40 am
Stian,
I agree with “The Clippers will amount to absolutely NOTHING as long as Baron is within shouting distance of Staples Center. You can take that to a federally insured bank.”
But you need to include Dunleavy and Sterling in there as well.
Jax Reply:
March 31st, 2009 at 11:20 am
Eastie – he never will. He’s like a broken record. He should pay more attention to KA’s posts about the team offense and defense, and ask himself why the team is giving no effort and has no idea how to play defense. I won’t hold my breath.
Stian Reply:
April 1st, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Jax, you little piss ant – do not ASSume to know what I am thinking. Ever.
neiljphx Reply:
March 31st, 2009 at 11:42 am
It appears we are likel;y to be stuck with his deal so…I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt next year to show me something working for a different coach.
Posted on March 30th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Taylor has a long way to go before he’s a real piece of a winning team. Sure, he works hard and can be explosive, but he’s about where Rajon Rondo was two years ago. A talent who may or may not blossom into a productive NBA player… On a winning team… Sure, he has a career now… The question is, can he become a distributor and a guy capable of leading a winner? Who knows at this point? At least he’s fun to watch, unlike much of the rest of this team.
I’ve seen a lot of Blake Griffin this season. The guy is going to be a franchise player. Tremendous talent and a work ethic that goes through the roof… With Griffin, Gordon, Thornton and Taylor at least you have a core that works hard, even if they’re not always productive… If Griffin comes in, there is hope… Get rid of Baron and Zach before they can show Griffin how not to play…
Al can hang around, even Kaman… Add a hard working veteran point guard to share time with Taylor while he learns to distribute the ball and it could be a team worth watching. Not a playoff team, but one that could be fun to watch…
If, on the other hand, we don’t get Blake Griffin (being the Clippers, I’m sure we won’t), pack it in now. Next season will look like this season. It will be Baron and Zach not trying or playing defense and Dunleavy saying “it’s only a matter of time before Baron decides he’s going to play hard. Then we’ll be fine.”
Posted on March 31st, 2009 at 8:31 am
thought some of you might be interested.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2009-03-31-2714656686_x.htm
Thunder sign guard to multiyear contract
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma City Thunder have signed former first round draft pick Shaun Livingston to a multiyear contract.
Thunder vice president and general manager Sam Presti announced the signing Tuesday. Terms of the agreement were not announced.
Livingston is a 6-foot-7 guard who’s averaged 9.5 points, 6.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 11 games with the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Developmental League.
Livingston was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers with the fourth overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft and has played in 149 NBA games with the Clippers and Miami.
bongstradamus Reply:
March 31st, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Good for Shaun, glad to see him back in the league. Sam Presti is a genius, he picks up a hot PG prospect to complement his young core and has a fistful of first round picks going into the future. The more I see what he does the more I like him. Hiring Carloosimo was the only thing I thought was a bad idea, other than that Presti has impressed.
jon y Reply:
March 31st, 2009 at 4:22 pm
too bad that wasn’t us signing livingston. we coulda given him ricky davis’ spot.
EricGordonsAnkleBrace Reply:
March 31st, 2009 at 5:07 pm
I hope livingston turns into an allstar and never gets hurt again. It would be just our luck, especially since he’ll be in the western conference on an up and coming team…
Posted on March 31st, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Am I the only one who is looking forward to next year? do people really think baron wants to repeat this year again? it doesn’t matter how much you are getting paid if every day of your work life sucks. baron has said this is the worst year of his career. the least fun. i know he does not want to repeat it. i believe he will get together with zbo and the other guys in the summer and build some chemistry. dunleavy created this team with defensive liabilities at the 1,3 and 4 and no offensive scheme to overcome it.
i understand people are upset because baron doesn’t seem to care right now but he was playing pretty well before he fell on his ass. he hasn’t played the same since. i say let’s see how he does next year before passing judgement. he didn’t just become a crappy player when he put on the red white and blue.
Stian Reply:
April 1st, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Baron Davis is a certifiable sociopath and if you think he is above putting in another season just like this one you are sadly mistaken. Anything out of his mouth is hot air at this point. There was no reason whatsoever for him to lay down and play like dogcrap after signing a new 65 million dollar deal but that’s just what he did. And it wasn’t even a gradual decline where Baron stopped caring. He never even cared to begin with. Total capitulation from Day One. And we can look forward to more of the same.
Posted on March 31st, 2009 at 1:45 pm
No, he didn’t become a crappy player just this year. He’s been an overrated player much of his career. The fact that he would tank like he has is an indication of character and toughness, or lack thereof. There is a reason why he’s gone from team to team despite what many think is all-star talent… He isn’t a leader. A leader works hard all the time… A leader doesn’t dog it and say “wait until next year” when things aren’t going well. You want to put a good, hopeful ending on this season? Win 6 of your last 10.
Add to that, his shot selection stinks. He doesn’t have near the quickness and explosiveness he had a few years ago. He’s not making up for it with savvy play… Add to that, he’s clearly slowed down. Whether that is from age or from not keeping himself in shape in the off season is anyone’s guess and, frankly, doesn’t matter.
Sure, it’s the worst year he’s ever had. As a Clipper fan of 25 years, I can say this is the worst, most unwatchable team they’ve ever had, and there have been some pretty bad teams over the years. Baron has been instrumental in making it as bad as it is. He can talk, but what he does on the court matters. He shoots 35%. Doesn’t push the ball despite even Dunleavy urging them to move up and down the floor.
Baron has said all year that when Zach and Kaman got back, they’d turn this around. Well, they’re back and they’re even worse. Zach and Baron are dogs and so long as they remain in Clipper uniforms, the team will under perform…
Right now, I would trade him for a second round pick if I could get one just to be out from under his overblown salary. ZBo too.
eastie Rich Reply:
March 31st, 2009 at 8:56 pm
We think alike. I totally agree. Baron’s a dog.
Posted on March 31st, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Nice post Sam Mays…I completely agree with your assessment. This team is playing much worse now that the ball is sticking in Zach and Kaman’s hands. We need to turn this team to the youngsters and clean house. This is by far, the worst Clippers team I can remember…at least those awful Tyrone Nesby or Loy Vaught teams played harder.
Posted on March 31st, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Completely agree also. Davis and Zbo are disasters. I knew from the signing that Davis was a disaster. A streetballer who would not fit with the Dunce. Plus, he has big time poor character. You can’t build a team with players like Zbo and Davis. They should be unloaded for free, but no one would ever take them. Camby was clearly playing to be traded as well. This is the worst team I have ever seen. A true stench arises whenever they take the court. I seriously question whether they would be a successful college team. Dunleavy has even managed to ruin Thornton, who is good but clearly not the player he has last year. He was a much better shooter from range last year. Something has happened to him.
Posted on March 31st, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Kaman is awful is well and I just can’t stand him anymore with being a ##@% with his “injuries.” He really does suck to. I don’t see what KA sees in him. Then again, I never understood what KA saw in the routinely torched Quinton Ross.
Kaman might have slight trade value, maybe a mid first rounder, which I would take. ZBo and Davis actually have negative value. The Clippers and the Dunce were the only ones stupid enough to take on the ZBo deal. How could the defensive minded Dunce take on that ridiculous contract for a guy who doesn’t even try on D?
Posted on March 31st, 2009 at 8:10 pm
The only reason Kaman was hurt was because the Dumbas* coach ran him into the ground last year. Any one who went to the games saw that and could see it coming. It was inevitable.
Don’t blame him for playing in the Olympics, that’s once every four years and he may not get another chance.
As far as I’m concerned, Kaman’s injury last year and the injury this year are 100% Dunleavy’s fault. No if and or buts about it. Kaman played his as* off last year for this team and anyone could see he (and Dumbleavy) were pushing so hard he was going to break.
Dumbas* fuc*ing coach needs to GO!
Posted on March 31st, 2009 at 9:00 pm
You don’t want us to blame kaman for playing in the olympics when it was widely known before hand that he wasn’t 100%? Are you joking? Or are you chris kaman himself?
He exercised poor judgement, selfishness and complete disrespect for this season. I’m all for playing for your country. I’m a huge football fan and hell they schedule in weeks off during the season for it. But you have to have some perspective. He’s a douche.
bongstradamus Reply:
April 1st, 2009 at 8:33 am
I’d have played in the Olympics too. Its a once in a lifetime event, its not like Kaman is signed with the Magic or the Lakers, where going to the playoffs is just another part of the season like all-star break. He’s a Clipper. Is he going to remember being a Clipper for the rest of his life? Most definitely. It’ll rate up there with ingrown toenails.
eastie Rich Reply:
April 1st, 2009 at 10:12 am
Oh Please, Did you even go to the games last year? Dunleavy ran his as* so hard IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN! Dunleaavy is the WORST coach EVER!. Not only could I see it, but everyone in my section talked about it all year until IT HAPPENED. Dunleavy SUC*S. If he had one ounce of common sense Kaman never would have got hurt.
Yeah, the truth suc*s, but it’s crazy to blame someone for trying to carry a half as*ed team (like he did last year).
Oh I get it, “but what have you done for me lately?”
What a joke.
Stian Reply:
April 1st, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Kaman is a retard. Only a retard would go play for a country he has never even been to. Kaman had zero connection to Germany except for the fact that his grand parents moved from there. You would never see Steve Novak apply to play for the Czech Republic just because that’s where his family originally came from. For someone as injury prone as Kaman to throw a fit and defy his team and go to the Olympics for a foreign country after he had to shut it down earlier due to an injury is unforgivable. And to blame Dunleavy for this idiot’s injuries is plain absurd.
bongstradamus Reply:
April 1st, 2009 at 6:43 pm
You realize they approached him and he said “Yes”. If i had been approached, I’d have said yes too. It’s an honor to be part of the Olympics. You make it sound like he weasled his way into the Olympics which is not the case. I have German and Irish heritage, if they wanted me to do synchronized swimming (not that I have any idea how to do it) i’d say yes. Passing on that opportunity would have been something he talked about and regretted for the rest of his life.
Im not happy with Kamans play, and am totally pissed off about the ridiculous contract Dumbleavy signed him to, but he is a nice guy and i dont wish bad on him. He’s just one of our biggest assets and we need to move him before his value hits the floor. He’s like an albino Sam Dalembert without the ego. Tons of potential that appears or disappears depending on the direction of the wind, but just not putting it together on a nightly basis and taking up a huge amount of salary cap space with mediocre play.
Posted on April 1st, 2009 at 1:24 am
Dunleavy RAN Chris into the ground last year. Did you see the games? Of course you can blame the coach – he’s am idiot! I guess if you were trying to carry a horrrible team and playing your heart out night after night like he did last year and the coach just kept putting pressure on you to keep performing – then you got injured, it wouldn’t be the coachs fault?
Why does everyone cut Dunleavy slack? HE RODE KAMAN UNTIL HE BROKE DOWN EVERYONE IN THE BUILDING COULD SEE IT HAPPENING EXCEPT FOR THE COACH WHO WAS TWO FEET AWAY!
Good for Kaman, let him go, and if Novak wants to play for the Czech’s next Olympics let him. Do Houston fans have more class than you becaue they let Yao go? Don’t answer that I already know.
Stian Reply:
April 1st, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Yao is Chinese – he plays for China.
Kaman is American – he plays for Germany.
Do you not get the difference? You just don’t put yourself and your club performance in peril for a foreign country.
As for your lame excuse that Dunleavy ran Kaman into the ground – WTF?! Since when is an NBA player in his prime not supposed to be able to play a full season and average 37 minutes a game as Kaman did last year? That’s almost exactly Tim Duncan’s MPG career average! Do you want to accuse Popovich of running TD into the ground while you’re at it?!
Kaman is lazy and doesn’t take care off himself in the off-season. Even Milph remarked last week that Kaman never does anything to make himself physically stronger. That’s one of the main reasons why he never manages to put in a full season.
eastie Rich Reply:
April 1st, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Well gee, I’d think being two feet away from a guy could tell you what kind of condition he was in.
What “We are America, we are the best”, What’s your point of China vs. Germany? Who’s been injured more in his career, Yao or Kaman? It’s Yao if you don’t know.
So the question is why is it o.k. for Yao to play for China and Kaman not to play for Germany? Was it o.k. for Nowitzki to play for Germany? Please tell me I’d like to know.
Are you aware that there are several perhaps dozens of americans that play for their foreign countrys? Is that o.k. or not? How about foreigners that train here and then play for their native land? What’s up with that?
AND IF IT’S POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE IN THE STANDS TO SEE THE DUMB AS* COACH RUN A PLAYER INTO THE GROUND – THEN WHY CAN’T YOU?
Maybe you could take over for Dunleavy and play Gordon 46 minutes a game for 62 straight games until he breaks down and then blame it on the player.
Posted on April 1st, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Oh yeah, being a Clipper fan, what is the hardest thing to find? A player that gives his all every game. That’s what Kaman did last year. Don’t worry, he in Dunleavy’s dog house so he’ll probably end up somewhere else. Then you can keep Camby, if he stays, or DeAndre (who’s good but not ready yet).
Posted on April 1st, 2009 at 6:34 pm
I don’t care one way or the other about Kaman playing in the Olympics. An NBA player will play a thousand games in his career… What’s 10 more in the Olympics?… Americans play it. Kobe does even more. And if Kaman wants to play for Germany, who cares…
Kaman is like a goofy, Great Dane puppy. Moving too fast and never in complete control of his body, but at least he tries all the time. He’s not like Baron who thinks he can turn it on when he has to… One game in ten, Baron actually works very hard. He’s not like Randolf who plays only for himself, whether he knows it or not. Kaman is Kaman, a unique player who has ability, but not a lot of brain power to match.
If we keep him or trade him, it doesn’t matter. Kaman is a follower, an asset on a good team, ineffective on a bad one. Nowitski played too and is no worse for wear. Lots of players did. I can’t even blame Dunleavy.
Posted on April 2nd, 2009 at 8:50 am
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