The Clippers’ dysfunction and bad chemistry have been well-documented, and the cultural issues that surround the club must be addressed before the 2009-10 season opener. But even if the Clippers return to training camp as a svelte, rededicated bunch, there are some fundamental weaknesses that extend beyond things like effort, coaching, and alchemy.
Archive for May, 2009
The On-Court Issues
On May - 16 - 2009
Toward a Better Draft
On May - 14 - 2009
Bill Simmons has published a back-and-forth with Malcolm Gladwell over at ESPN.com Gladwell recently published a piece in the New Yorker that devles into the tactical psyche of the underdog. Gladwell suggests that if you’re an underdog, don’t try to battle your stronger opponent by subscribing to the orthodox rules of the game. Instead, subvert those rules, engage in guerrilla warfare, define the game on your terms. We saw Golden State do that in 2007 over Dallas, and Detroit in the 2004 Finals over the Lakers.
Mismatch Misfits
On May - 6 - 2009
Watching the postseason over the past couple of weeks has offered a reminder that the NBA, at its essence, is a game of exploiting mismatches in the halfcourt. Good teams do this effectively when their offenses are humming. The standout defensive teams? They’re the ones who can recover from, compensate for, or avoid those mismatches altogether. They also have the capacity to withstand a defensive switch because they have smalls who can hold their own against bigs, and vice versa.
The Best Reason to Attend a Clippers Game
On May - 3 - 2009
Fans who attend Clippers games live at Staples Center risk subjecting themselves to a number of indignities, but let’s talk about the ancillary benefits for a second — namely that if you’re ever implicated in a felony, you have a convenient alibi:
Aaron Burris, 24, of Huntington Beach was arrested April 10 on suspicion of robbing J&B Market at gunpoint and spent 5 nights in the Orange County Jail. He posted bail at $50,000 and was put on leave from his job at Big O Tires in Cypress after the arrest.
Sizing up Gordon
On May - 2 - 2009
DraftExpress has compiled a series of retrospectives on this year’s tremendous rookie class. Rick Ditto takes a long-form look at Eric Gordon’s rookie season. Ditto references DE’s past scouting reports on Eric dating back to high school, and offers praise, along with a few critiques:
…it’s pretty clear that Gordon is an incredibly gifted perimeter shooter, and it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see his percentages rise since he only turned 20 in December.