Quick thoughts about the win:
- Saturday night’s affair is a horrendous offensive showcase. As they did in their last meeting ten days ago, both teams shoot below 40 percent from the field. Once Danny Granger leaves the game when he aggravates his bruised right heel in the opening minute of the third quarter, the Pacers have nobody who can advance the ball toward the basket in a half-court set. It’s a luxury the Clippers enjoy. They routinely switch perimeter pick-and-rolls against the Pacers shooters — something they don’t do willingly most nights, but feel comfortable doing against a poky Indiana team. Few of the Pacers’ snipers can put the ball on the floor, and both Marcus Camby and Chris Kaman do an effective job of walling off the paint when T.J. Ford or Dahntay Jones try to penetrate.
- Some of what you see is bad offense on the part of Indiana, but the Clippers’ defense is stingy down the stretch. Camby forces a turnover in a four-point game, when he fronts Hibbert and steals the entry pass (4th, 6:17). A minute later, Eric Gordon disrupts a Pacers’ break by picking Earl Watson’s pocket (4th, 5:19). Throughout the closing minutes of the game, the defense makes quick, sharp decisions on both rotations and in switch-and-recover situations. They also close out on the Pacers’ shooters with a fury. The sequence is reminiscent of the fourth quarter against Memphis, as the Pacers have a miserable time trying to find clean looks against an active, dogged Clippers’ defense.
- After Saturday night’s effort, the Clippers are the league’s 11th most efficient defense.
- Camby continues to produce good offense for the Clippers as a facilitator at the top of the circle. He leads the team in assists Saturday night with six dimes, and has become particularly good at hitting Al Thornton on the move and in high-low situations. He’s posting his highest assist rate of his career this season, and is tops among centers playing greater than 20 minutes per game.
- For the second time in three games, Rasual Butler logs fewer than 20 minutes. He continues to struggle, going scoreless on three shot attempts. Butler compounds his problems by trying to spark plays as a creator, something he has neither the handle nor athleticism to do. But he’s also passing up open shots from long range, which means he’s grinding himself into obsolescence. If a player whose primary function is to stretch the floor signals that he doesn’t demand coverage beyond 18 feet, then he’s in trouble. Butler is working tirelessly on his jumper, but right now that effort isn’t translating into much.
- A good selection of shots from Al Thornton: 12 of his 17 attempts come inside of 15 feet (6-9 FGA, along with three trips to the line, for a total of 17 points). He goes only 1-5 from 15 feet and beyond. Even more impressive than the distribution are the instincts Thornton displays in half-court situations. When the Clippers pick up one of their 19 offensive rebounds at (3rd, 4:53), the Pacers’ defense scrambles to regroup. Indiana center Roy Hibbert ends up on Thornton, who recognizes this instantly. Al immediately drifts back outside, where he collects a pass from Baron Davis, then drives to the hole. He breezes past Hibbert and sinks the right-handed floater from five feet.
- The Clippers are able to offset their 21 turnovers (15 of them in the first half) with 19 offensive rebounds. The Clippers’ size enables them to manhandle the Pacers on the glass. The Clips yield only four offensive boards and a mere two second-chance points to Indiana. Over the past couple of weeks, the Clips have upped their rebounding rate from below 48.5 to up near 50. That’s good news. With their combination of size, strength and athleticism, there’s no good reason they should rank in the bottom half of the Association in this category.
15 Responses
Its nice to see Al play good ball, but where does he fit once Blake comes back? As you pointed out, hes useless from 15 feet out and the only spot they have room for him in the rotation is at the 3.
Are we going to expect some rotation issues once Blake is healthy? Al is basically getting his minutes and it makes me wonder how this will work out once the team is “healthy”.
Still pinching myself over 4 wins in the last 5 games. They havent been pretty, but theyve been wins.
[Reply]
Kevin Arnovitz Reply:
December 6th, 2009 at 8:52 am
It’s a good question because when Griffin suits up, it would appear that the Clippers will essentially have 4 guys (Kaman, Camby, Griffin, Thornton), who work most effectively inside.
A couple of thoughts:
(1) Camby actually is doing his best work at the top of the arc as a Diaw-esque facilitator. His assist rate is tops in the league and he’s a really, really good passer.
(2) I would guess — and I have no corroboration for this — Griffin will probably begin as part of the second unit.
(3) While Thornton has become a lot more efficient shooting from inside 15 feet, you can still set him up on the weak side perimeter. Once the defense shifts toward the help line — say on a Gordon/Kaman PNR or a Davis/Kaman PNR, Thornton can slip inside behind the defense and still be in position on the block.
[Reply]
rmb Reply:
December 7th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
We won 6 of last 10 games. And only AL has been a consistant scorer during that phase.
Now, AL lurking around the basket would give fits to opposing teams once Griffin takes hold of Clippers ship. Who are they going to guard? Griffin? Kaman? Thornton? Gordon? And there’s Baron as well. Except Kaman, all 4 can go ballistic on any given day. But nothing would change if Clippers don’t improve their spacing and outside shooting.
[Reply]
Posted on December 6th, 2009 at 8:35 am
Im pinching myself every time I see OKC and Houston in the 7-9th playoff spot.
9-11 is still better looking than the 1-16 start of last year. Keep playing hard Clippers and soon you will mount the 7 or 8th spot.
[Reply]
rmb Reply:
December 7th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Clippers are 1 of 4 teams in the west which has better record(6-4).
[Reply]
Posted on December 6th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I’m really pulling for Butler to get himself out of this slump. Despite everything, I still think he’s a great addition, and nothing would make me happier to see positive consistency out of him. C’mon Butler I’m rooting for you.
[Reply]
JClipper Reply:
December 6th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
I’m with you on this a 100%. I believe!!
[Reply]
Posted on December 6th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
on these shitty shooting nights Why isn’t Novak infused into the offense?!!!! We have the best shooter in the league and he is sitting on the bench. There were stretch last year when novak made the difference in many ball games. His talents need to be utilized more to spread the floor.
[Reply]
RL Reply:
December 7th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Simply because novak cannot guard a chair on D. I like the guy alot… but if you can’t play no D, you ain’t gettin no PT.
[Reply]
kenji Reply:
December 7th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
but at least novak can knock down his shots. would you rather rasual keep jacking up bricks everytime he gets an inch of space? its not like he’s doing any better on defense either.
[Reply]
rmb Reply:
December 7th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Yes, and Dunleavy forgot about Collins(for D) against Houston.
[Reply]
Posted on December 6th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
I think it’s time to try Novak as the guy who stretches the d.
[Reply]
SamMays Reply:
December 7th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
I was thinking the same thing, but then I really watched Novak hard the last few times he’s played… His defense is beyond horrible and he’s intensely soft. He just seems to make no effort at all at that end of the floor… He should be playing in Europe.
[Reply]
kenji Reply:
December 7th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
novak isn’t the first sharpshooter to have weak defense. but at least he’s still a sharpshooter who actualy spreads the floor. rasual gets PT that could be given to novak to knock down some quick shots. but instead rasual gets in the game, shoots up bricks, and gets beat on defense as well. the guy was touted as a floor spreading defender, but is highly overrated even at his level. Get rid of him or stick him at the end of the bench!
[Reply]
Posted on December 6th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
I had no idea that ClipperBlog is actually linked on the official team email newsletter. cool.
[Reply]
Posted on December 7th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Add A Comment