What do turnovers have to do with the offensive glass? Both speak to the concept of shot opportunity. Protect the basketball and you’re almost certain to get a shot off. In contrast, a failure to get any offensive rebounds and you’re limiting your shot attempts. The Clippers turn the ball over only nine times on Friday night, but of the 39 available rebounds on their own glass, they collect only three, for a microscopic ORR of 7.6%.
The Jazz crush the Clippers inside and it’s not just about the boards. Despite Kaman’s productive night on the offensive end, the Clippers’ interior defense is shredded by Utah’s dizzying array of low action. All night the Clips are either oblivious to the screen — or are so concerned one might be coming that they miss the ball or a cutter.
The result?
68 points in the paint by the Jazz, despite the Clippers’ size advantage. Click on the video below for a further breakdown.
Is there stuff to like? Sure, but that refrain has an expiration date, one that’s quickly approaching. The Clippers play a feisty Dallas team Saturday night. Unless they can package these disparate attributes — Chris Kaman’s devastating mid-range jumper, Eric Gordon’s confidence, the good ball movement — into a coherent package, they’re going to find themselves stuck in the same morass as last season, only with a better vibe.
14 Responses
The last sentence wraps it up perfectly. We may feel better about the team but the reality is the record is the same. We’re losing. We are playing 50 win teams but good teams don’t make excuses, they win games.
Might be a little to early to say it but I thought about our John Wall chances during that horrid 4th quarter.
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Junior Reply:
October 31st, 2009 at 11:00 am
Forget about draft picks, the best thing that could come from the Clippers having a bad season this year would be (hopefully) a new coach. Then we’d be in business.
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Posted on October 31st, 2009 at 4:39 am
I’m not too worried yet. The Clips are playing playoff teams that have players who know each other well and have played together with much success for years. The Clips are still trying to find that groove. Taken together with all the injuries they’ve had last season as well as an entirely new second-unit, success won’t happen overnight. They need time to find out how to win. (brutally evident in their fourth-quarter slides where they have been lacking the right personnel) Baron is on the right track in his quote in the LA TImes article, “Jugde me after 20 games.” Except, I am tempted to think it might be longer than that until we see favorable results.
So far I think the Clips have played to standard. Barring a miraculous lay-up by Nash and a horrid 4th quarter, the Clips could be standing at 2-1. The schedule softens in the coming weeks. Hopefully we can get a few wins under the belt.
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Posted on October 31st, 2009 at 8:02 am
I like the video breakdown, KA. Very cool. That going to be a regular thing? Seems time consuming to make.
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Posted on October 31st, 2009 at 9:16 am
Agreed, this video was very cool. LAC has played a string of good teams (well PHX iffy) and been competitive. I guess that’s still not much consolation though, they can be better.
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Posted on October 31st, 2009 at 9:44 am
We saw on the play where Gordon had to cover Boozer on a switch, Gordon made the cardinal mistake of not seeing the ball. The result was a pass to Boozer that could easily have been intercepted if Gordon were alert to the ball.
There were also two plays where Kaman showed really well to foil a pick and roll, but then rotated back to the middle at a jog rather than quickly, leading to two Utah scores as they reversed the ball and found Kaman’s assignment alone under the rim.. It’s not just technique that’s hurting them defensively. There’s a lack of hustle that’s also apparent. Good interior passing teams like Utah will tear you apart.
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Posted on October 31st, 2009 at 10:07 am
Awesome use of video. I love it. Keep up the great work.
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Posted on October 31st, 2009 at 10:12 am
Great video breakdown, especially re: defensive lapses. Frustrating but edifying.
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Posted on October 31st, 2009 at 10:48 am
More props for the video breakdown–very enlightenng KA. Keep up the great work.
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Posted on October 31st, 2009 at 11:49 am
Loved the video breakdown.
I agree with Clipper Jeff… Kevin shows holes in the defense and offense here which the clips will have to improve upon…but it’s too early to get worried, they’ve also shown a lot of promise in these games and have an opportunity to put it all together.
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Posted on October 31st, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Frustrating to watch these first three games only because the Clips had a chance to win all three of them. Breakdowns in the 4th quarter are typical of a team trying to gel and become a cohesive unit, so I’ll take the losses with that in mind. On the bright side, this year’s team is here to play, Kaman’s looking sharp, Baron directing the offense well (not shooting so well.. yet..), EG is even more efficient, Thornton crashing the boards, Camby back to his weak-side shot blocking days, bench players hustling.. all in all a lot of positives to take with the first three losses (probably four with a hungry Dallas team tonight.. lol). I believe it’s only a matter of time before the hard work pays off and them L’s start turning to W’s… hang in there fellas. ^_^v
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Posted on October 31st, 2009 at 1:01 pm
We allowed 68pts in the paint. Kaman is too soft & can’t defend(I mean don’t want to defend) We are being fooled by his sweet shooting.
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Euthanize Kaman Reply:
October 31st, 2009 at 6:27 pm
That’s what I keep saying. Yea score twenty that’s awesome but giving up 30 (or 68) is a problem. I’d rather have a Ben Wallace who scores zero and defends the paint.
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Posted on October 31st, 2009 at 3:00 pm
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