Comments on: Clippers 91, Minnesota 87

By: D.J. Foster

D.J. Foster — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:50:22 +0000

“Courting Beno Udrih” would be a fine name for a fantasy basketball team.

By: RL

RL — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:22:55 +0000

Chris,
Tis true that Baron has a tendency to chuck up bad shots, especially PUJITs. But he has put that in check for the most part this season. As far as Baron holding the ball, you and I don’t know what the players are seeing on the court – so to criticize him for (perhaps) overdribbling is not fair. Maybe Baron wanted to iso to drive on the opposing PG and the other players couldn’t move out in time? Or maybe the play that was called did not develop due to good D, or his teammates not executing? You have to consider these things when Baron is left with the ball at the end of the shot clock. I’m sure some of those bad possesions are to be blamed on him for overdribbling… but to blame ALL of it on him is unjust. Besides, if anyone can overdribble – it should be your best ball handler, which is of course BD.

By: RL

RL — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:15:27 +0000

How about we agree to disagree and let the season play out. And hey, if what you say is true and the Clips continue their losing ways due to Baron (.400 clip, and Baron playing like last year in terms of effort and energy), you can call me a fool at the end of the season. But the same goes the other way around. Deal?

By: bongstradamus

bongstradamus — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:26:18 +0000

The greatest point guards werent scorers.

Stockton and Kidd never averaged over 20 points a game.

Career Averages:
Baron – 16.9 ppg, 7.3 assists per game
Kidd – 13.8 ppg, 9.2 assists per game
Stockton – 13.1 ppg, 10.5 assists per game

What Baron has that the other doesnt have, is a big fat body that can post smaller guards and work mismatches. Baron also can score, hes not a “pure” point. The reason teams like the Clippers wanted him was for his offensive threat potential and ability to still dish nearly 8 assists a game.

But his career stats show hes in the same conversation as some of the greatest floor generals of our time. Baron’s really a hybrid point, hes a PG/SG and not a true point and we wanted him because of this. Thats why we spent 10M+ for this combination of skills instead of trolling for a pure point at MLE. Thats why Dunleavy was courting Beno Udrih in NY last summer before Baron became available.

By: Chris.

Chris. — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:42:43 +0000

I want Dunleavy gone like most of you. I wouldn’t mind seeing Baron traded like some of you. Both will and I guess should get a chance to prove themselves when the team is healthy because they prepared to play this season with Griffin & Gordon. While I don’t forgive either the coach or the captain for this terrible start to the season losing to teams we shouldn’t have during this so-called easy part of the schedule, they will get their chance to prove themselves worthy of this criticism or not. I hope they prove us wrong but I don’t think Dunleavy has a chance in hell and my doubt in Baron is on red alert right now.

By: Chris.

Chris. — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:34:37 +0000

BD has a terrible season plus he’s working on this season of his game not getting better. It’s our displeasure of what he has turned out to be as a Clipper versus the least of our expectations.

By: Chris.

Chris. — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:32:27 +0000

RL,
The problem isn’t Baron had “one atrocious game.” Last season was terrible compared to the man himself and this season his stats (that you used to compare other point guards) are the same as his terrible season. My problem with Baron is his decision making and chucking up shots when other players could have better chances if he’d try to create something with the full 24 second shot clock and not just the final 6 seconds that he often holds the ball until. The Dunleavy haterade is still in full effect, it’s just becoming clear he’s not going anywhere so the next person/problem to fix is the leader of the team and that’s Baron. If he can’t show energy and motivation to his troops, then how are they going to get excited?

By: Chris.

Chris. — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:22:03 +0000

I agree partially. Everything about Baron vs. Gordon & Griffin is spot on but not your take on Dunleavy. A good coach has that ability to motivate and inspire and he obviously can’t do it. When a coach has lost his team, like he did FElton a few years back and Baron since day 1, it is hard to get them back. Yes the key is to get the right kind of players and that’s probably why we love Blake more because we know he will give it his all compared to Baron’s waste of missed FG’s, but the coach does have to take some credibility.

By: Stian

Stian — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:09:03 +0000

My mom passed away – Baron really wasn’t her type at all. Leave my family out of this! The bald headed guy that calls himself our head coach is not as big a problem as that bearded goober that calls himself our point guard. If that wasn’t obvious to you last night, you must be oblivious to the truth.

By: Stian

Stian — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:02:52 +0000

You can never have enough studs as long as the egos aren’t gettin’ in the way which they’re not with Griffin, Gordon and the other young(er) guys we have. Arguably, the most important position to have a stud at is PG which is our weakness right now (and has been for ages safe for the Sam era) in addition to the shaky SF situation (I’d love to see Al T solidify and play the way he has lately). Whoever we eventually get to replace Baron just has be a smart, solid guy – not a self-absorbed chucker with a hero complex. There are rookies and sophs right now that play smarter and with more maturity than Baron. Age is only a number.

Dumping Baron for TMac wouldn’t be done to create more capspace – it would truly be a move to get rid of a bad long-term contract of an ill-fitting player. We can easily get that type of PG production from a guy that costs 1/3 or half of his salary. Most importantly, we wouldn’t be wasting 3 years of Griffin and Gordon’s career w/ Baron as our #1 PG which can only lead to……. NOTHING. I’ve seen enough of Baron these last 80 games to know that it’s never gonna happen with him here. Time to cut it off and move on. ASAP.