Imagine it’s Spring 2008. You’re a 22-year-old basketball cautionary tale. A year earlier, you were booted off your college squad for disciplinary reasons. You managed to put together a solid campaign for the Idaho Stampede of the D-Leaguer, but Boise is still a long way from the L. In transit to Des Moines in the dead of winter, you’re delayed in the Denver airport. In a crowded gate area, you find an isolated corner where you plug in your mp3 player and close your eyes. It’s a Fletch/Chick Hearn moment. You conjure up your dream sequence, in which a venerable NBA announcer waxes poetic about your humongous contributions to you pro squad.
If you’re really stretching your imagination, wouldn’t the script sound something like this?
[Over highlight footage of freaky crossovers, ungodly floaters, whirling spin moves, etc...]
How about rookie sensation Mike Taylor?! He just blew up on that road trip. Went wild in New York, scoring 35 points in his first visit to Madison Square Garden. The Clippers scored a wild 140 to 135 overtime win. He started and scored 23 points two nights later against Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs. And then he was slowed just a bit after knocking knees with big Yao Ming the next time, but still scored in double-figures against the Houston Rockets. A whirlwind week for young Mike Taylor. Just look at the numbers [accompanying graphic on screen]: In three games, almost 34 minutes a game, he averaged 23, made 66 percent of his shots. It was truly enough to get the attention of his coach.
That’s how Ralph Lawler introduced Mike Taylor last night in the opening segment of the Clippers pregame broadcast.
5 Responses
Thanks Kevin for another reason why Dunleavy should sit the older guys like Camby, Davis, Kaman and Randolph for the remainder of the season and play the young guys, Taylor, Gordon, Thorton, Novak and Jordan starting 5 to see what talent they can provide. they probably won’t win games, which isn’t such a bad thing either. Thanks Washington for beating the Cavs, now we’re tied for the 2nd most amount of ping pong balls!!!
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ping-pong Reply:
April 3rd, 2009 at 8:27 am
Dunleavy knows about young talents but his priority is to lose games in order to get Rick Rubio. And it’s worth it. That’s why he’s playing Baron & Randolph to boost trade value.
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Posted on April 3rd, 2009 at 1:56 am
Mike T has been great to watch along with ‘EJ’ and I’m a big Ralph fan no matter what’s happening with the team. Even in the dregs of this awful year, there’s at least a few things worthwhile.
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Posted on April 3rd, 2009 at 2:07 am
I vividly remember laughing and shaking my head in disapproval when the Clippers traded up to get Mike Taylor. I thought the notion of a team drafting a D-Leaguer was utterly ridiculous. I couldn’t be happier about being wrong. As long as he stays hungry, there’s no reason why he can’t make it in the league.
Maybe this offseason we can add another former D-Leaguer, Jamario Moon.
He’s a restricted free agent, but Miami is probably looking to clear cap for next offseason and would be reluctant to match an offer. He’s not a starter, but he’d be a great addition to our bench. He’s ridiculously athletic (youtube him for proof) and doesn’t need lots of shots to make his presence felt. He’s a nice rangy defender who can guard big 2’s and all 3’s. On offense he’s very efficient, on his career he’s shot 47.8% percent from the field, 79.4% from the FT line and 34.7 % from 3pt land. He’d be a nice upgrade over Fred Jones because of his rebounding ability and defensive presence.
I don’t know whether he is worth the MLE or not, but I’m pretty sure that’s the only way we could get him with our cap situation.
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Posted on April 3rd, 2009 at 4:08 am
First of all I agree with Chris – let some of the young guys get some more burn…especially DeAndre. Second don’t ever play poker with EG, he has that killer look winning or losing he has that same look. EG will become the best home-grown Clipper player ever.
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Posted on April 3rd, 2009 at 6:32 am
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