From David Thorpe’s Summer League Twitter Thread:
Once again, DeAndre Jordan is taking pride in setting screens.
Thrope mentioned this the other day and ever since, I’ve been making a point to watch DJ in screen situations. You know what?
He’s right. Jordan is a completely different, more engaged player when he doesn’t have the ball in his hands. Last season, even when he played well, he seemed indifferent about what was happening on the court apart from “When am I going to get a chance to touch the ball?”
Watching Jordan the first few games, I sense that he’s a lot more attentive to questions like, “What am I supposed to be doing on the court, specifically, right at this moment?” Before, Jordan was playing an individual sport, now he’s playing a team sport.
Tonight’s ugly offensive performance notwithstanding, the Clippers have a legitimate frontcourt rotation player in DeAndre Jordan. Good, athletic, centers are rare finds. If you’ve got one, you’re in a lot better shape.
9 Responses
Oh man, if we could just get Sessions. I’m excited about the Clips young talent; would love to see the Clips make the right basketball decision: ditch the Iverson-for-ticket-sales idea and get Sessions signed to a good deal (don’t match it, Bucks!).
Clippers Brass: You’re not competing with the Lakers, Spurs, Nuggets right now (not in sales or in the standings). You want someone to compete with? Take a look at Sam Presti and the OKC Thunder; look at how they’re collecting young talent that will be able to peak when Kobe, Duncan, Chauncey are either gone or winding down.
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Posted on July 17th, 2009 at 10:07 am
The problem with Sessions is if we do try to sign him to a long term deal, it could lessen the cap space next summer, but we’d still have plenty to play with. Also, Milwaukee might match which isn’t fun to deal with.
Now the positive, Sessions is the perfect point for us should/when sits, and even better Sessions stepped in for the Bucks at Shooting Guard as well when Michael Redd went down which makes him the perfect back court help (yes, a bit small for a shooting guard, but can work it nonetheless as a back-up to Gordon). Kinda killing two birds with 1 stone.
I’d love him, especially over Iverson for the long term plan. Milwaukee has 4 point guards already, 5 if they match Sessions (Charlie Bell, Luke Ridnour, newly drafted Brandon Jennings & Salim Stoudamire) under contract. Granted, Sessions played a lot at the 2 spot but Milwaukee also has Jodie Meeks to back-up Michael Redd there so this could be a great chance for the Clippers to steal a really good 2nd round draft pick from the Bucks.
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bongstradamus Reply:
July 17th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Front loaded deal! It ends up freeing up some salary down the road and makes it tough for Milwaukee to match or teams who only have the MLE. Since we’re swimming in cash, I say offer a front loaded deal that decreases year after year and put cash in his pocket today.
Ive already picked out a nickname, we shall call him Top Ramon. Ya know, cuz he plays the point and all and its who we want.
Ok, so it might be kinda lame, but i thought it was cute.
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Posted on July 17th, 2009 at 10:38 am
As far as Jordan goes, he has shown great strides and I’m loving his game and his improvement physically and mentally. I don’t think we can risk trading Camby or Kaman right now, though. If trading them would give us Battier, then bring it on, but Jordan isn’t ready to start and we’d need somebody to back-up Griffin like Camby can do if he’s not playing Center.
If the Clips could trade for Battier with Kaman or Camby (preferably Camby) and wanted to play small, could you imagine the power of a small line-up of Baron/Gordon/Thorton/Battier/Griffin running the floor together. I think I just wet myself.
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Posted on July 17th, 2009 at 10:46 am
This summer league coverage is fantastic Kevin. Thanks and keep it up!
I’m basking in the glow of the G-Force in summer league and the development of DJ. I don’t even want to think about the prospect of AI ruining us right now.
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Posted on July 17th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Definitely on the Sessions tip. The best part is that Ramon has already shown that he can play, and indeed thrive, under an over-demanding, micro-managing coach with a limited offensive vision (see Skiles, Scott).
While the overly cynical and jaded part of me feels the the Clips are going to screw this one up somehow, they should at least make him an offer and see if the Bucks match it. If they do, fine, look at other options such as Iverson. But I would love to see them at least try and do the right thing…
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Posted on July 17th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
I hope that DJ can be a serviceable reserve this year. From all the reports, it’s sounding very promising.
As a side note, I was reading some columns on si.com and Ian Thompson wrote this:
“Will the East emerge as the stronger conference? From top to bottom the East is superior, with only two teams (the depleted Bucks and Nets) incapable of making the playoffs. At least twice as many teams in the West (including the Kings, Grizzlies, Warriors, Timberwolves and Rockets) appear destined for the lottery.”
Soooo happy that the Clippers are not on the “lottery list”! Things may be looking up!
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Posted on July 17th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Getting worried about the Zbo trade…it should’ve been done by now. I think thats whats holding up the possible signing of sessions.
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Posted on July 17th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Q has returned! Excitement level rising exponentially!
Why hasnt potentially signing Darius been talked about for the built in chemistry?
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Posted on July 17th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
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