The book being drafted by most of the league on Chris Kaman instructs teams to swarm the Clippers’ big man with double-teams when he catches the ball at 15 feet. But Spurs coach Gregg Popovich’s reading list is self-authored and it reads something like this: “We’re the San Antonio Spurs. We deploy a stay at home strategy. If a guy like that has a big night and his team loses by double-digits, then so be it.” The Spurs will cheat ever so slightly, and if Kaman spins middle, they’ll certainly collapse, but by and large this has been their strategy against most post scorers for as long as we can remember, and it rarely fails.
Chris Kaman has a big night — he dominates the low block, scoring 23 points, grabbing 15 boards and turning the ball over only once in 32 minutes against single coverage — but none of the four other Clippers’ starters has a particularly effective evening. The Spurs’ program pays off once again, as they put the game out of reach midway through the third quarter. The collapse begins after Eric Gordon gets hacked by Tim Duncan on a fast break layup (3rd, 9:33), but doesn’t get the foul. The Clippers spiral into frustration, and Kaman is lucky not to pick up a flagrant foul on the return trip when he decks Tim Duncan underneath with a hard foul (3rd, 9:18).
Things start out so promising offensively for the Clips in the opening minutes. They get a bucket on their second possession when Kaman gets free for a step-out jumper on a very strong pindown by Baron Davis (1st, 11:08). Kaman devours DeJuan Blair in isolation (1st, 10:22). Then the Clippers creatively use Thornton and Gordon together on the same side of the floor (1st, 9:50). Thornton posts up Richard Jefferson, while Eric stands at his perch along the arc guarded by Keith Bogans. The instant Bogans shifts his balance low away from Gordon, Thornton zips the kickout to EJ for a 3PM. After that, Baron attacks Parker, and the Clippers look sound in the opening six minutes.
On the defensive end, the Clippers are a little overactive, a condition that surrenders too many open buckets from the perimeter. If you’re Eric Gordon, you can’t afford to drift into no man’s land away from the Spurs’ shooters on the weak side perimeter (1st, 2:57), an error that results in a Bogans 3PM that triggers San Antonio’s 12-0 run to end the quarter. And if you’re Baron Davis, you don’t need to be the third to collapse on Parker, especially if it means deserting Keith Bogans in the corner (2nd, 2:04), and you shouldn’t leave Tony Parker alone on the wing to join the defensive scrum on a driving Roger Mason (2nd, 0:31).
Many of those 12 unanswered points to close the first can be tagged to DeAndre Jordan. Everyone wants Jordan to succeed, but the margins of this Clippers team’s success are too thin to absorb Jordan’s trials during his brief, but costly, stint in the game. From the moment he checks in, Jordan implodes. He travels on a putback (1st, 2:38); gets beat downcourt by 71-year-old Theo Ratliff, surrendering a layup (1st, 1:52); botches an easy layup after a perfect interior pass from Baron Davis (1st, 1:33) then commits a frustration foul; gets stripped by Manu Ginobili on the way up for a layup (0:56); then travels while walking the baseline tighrope after grabbing an offensive rebound, giving the ball back to San Antonio (0:43). After the last mishap, he’s dispatched to the bench. It’s a heartbreaking sequence because Jordan wants so desperately to produce.
The Clippers miss 13 of their 15 final field goal attempts in the first period. They settle for a Marcus Camby slingshot, and Kaman misses a couple of 15-footers — one agaisnt Duncan on the right side (1st, 5:19) and the other a wide open look generated by the best Gordon/Kaman S/R you’ll ever see. Though they stay within reach into the third quarter, the Clippers surrender points to San Antonio on 10 of 11 possessions in the latter half of the quarter. Tony Parker starts to find his away around Baron Davis and the high screen en route to the cup, and when he’s not getting all the way to the rack, he’s finding others. Once George Hill checks in for Parker, the Spurs go to a Ginobili/Ratliff S/R to scramble the Clippers’ defense in the half-court and manufacture open looks for the likes of Richard Jefferson and Ratliff. Meanwhile, the Clippers foul the hell out of the Spurs, who drain 11 free throws in the third.
Strangely, the Clippers’ shot chart in the third isn’t ugly at all. They actually shoot 50 percent in the period (9-18 FGA). So what’s the problem? Not a single trip to the line along with 4 turnovers.
Houston represents a slightly better matchup for the Clips — provided Davis, Gordon, Thornton and Butler are ready to run wind sprints after makes and misses alike to chase the Rockets’ snipers off the line. If the Clippers — who have been a solid 3-point and transitional defensive unit overall this season — can keep those early attempts in check, they’ve got a puncher’s chance.
16 Responses
I’m sick of this zone defense and every single player collapsing for help defense. Just stick with you’re man. This team just goes over the top with the help D.
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Posted on December 21st, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Again you mention this team is a good 3pt defending team. Give me a break.
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Kevin Arnovitz Reply:
December 22nd, 2009 at 5:41 am
I guess the question is, then, how do you gauge this? I tend to look at (a) the number of 3-pointers a team gives up per game and (b) the percentage it yields beyond the arc to its opponents. The Clips are 7th and 8th respectively.
If you have a better measure, whether it’s the level of frustration you experience watching them defend or what you’ve seen by observing the other 29 teams in the league defend the line, please let me know.
I like data, but that’s just a personal preference.
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The Frozen One Reply:
December 22nd, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Again you use factual data to back up your blog postings? How dare you sir! *Give me a break.
* I don’t actually need any sort of break. This comment has a -/+ 95% of being sarcastic in order to hit home the point. This guys name is “the chosen one”. Really?
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Posted on December 21st, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Gordon should have finished that fastbreak regardless Duncan barely touched him and his movement wasn’t changed while he was in the air he missed a gimme. After that the team did lose it mentally and you know what Dunleavy never was able to bring them in and calm them down. They played reckless for the rest of the game and forgot what was working if that isn;t a sign of a bad coach I don’t know what the hell else you want.
See you forgot to mention how utterly stupid it was to throw a cold DJ into the first suspecting to come into form on the fly while he could of been a help against a less dominate 76ers team to regain confidence.
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Posted on December 21st, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Games like this make it abundantly clear that the Clips lack firepower. EJ tends to fade against the better teams… I love watching him, but he’s just not ready to carry us to the next level. With neither DJ nor Smith providing adequate backup, I’m more eager than ever to gain the services of our our other young talent. It’s strange to place so much hope in a guy who hasn’t yet played in a regular season game.
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Posted on December 21st, 2009 at 11:31 pm
I have a couple of problems with tonight’s game. First off, I love Ralph Lawler and Mike Smith but come on enough with talking how great the other team is and showing their highlights over and over. Second, We don’t have a go to guy. Actually we do and he’s playing in Memphis. Say what you want about ZBo but he could score under pressure. That’s why Blake Griffin injury is hurting more than most people think. Right now our go to guy is Baron Davis and i wish he would just take over at the end of the game. Let me shoot while our bigs crash the boards and the other guard gets back on defense. Third, we need to stop playing zone and stay on your man. This kills us against every team that can shoot from the outside. Fourth, our second unit has no scorers and that’s why I think we should trade Bass for Nate Robinson. I know people will think I’m nuts but the guy can score,he wouldn’t mind coming off the bench, and any minutes he gets would be more than he’s getting in NYC.
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Posted on December 22nd, 2009 at 2:15 am
Impressive analysis, KA. As always, your breakdown of the game is spot-on. I read your blog religiously.
We just got outclassed by the Spurs. I think you cant just judge this team based on their record so far…these guys were picked to be the favorites to knock off the Lakers. They play a smart, very fluid offense, and have looked unstoppable in the 2 games against us. As our recent history demonstrates, we just dont have “it” against these guys. I like the props you gave Kaman, he was the only bright spot. He was an absolute beast against Duncan and Ratliff. Blair just has no chance against him.
To respond to the other viewer, please dont complain about Ralph and Mike, i had to listen to the “other guys”, sean elliot and ?, it was excruciating! Bunch of lazy homers. They dont have a clue of the opposition. And wanting Zbo and Nate on our team? Thats just frustration talking. Nate has no idea how to play the point, and you must not have been watching Zbo last year. It was a tough loss, but Clippers have been playing well on back to backs, and a victory either against Houston or Phoenix would make this 6 game swing a success.
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shutup Reply:
December 22nd, 2009 at 11:19 pm
What i was saying about ZBo was that Blake griffin’s injury hurts us twice as much because we lost his hustle and Zbo’s 20 points and 10 rebounds a game. I did watch Zbo last year and you know what i liked him more the Elton Brand because he could make his own shot at the end of the game. He came in after the season started and he had to adjust to his team. I’m not saying he’s the greatest player ever but sometimes we need a bucket and no one can make the shot. In terms of Nate, well, I just think he might be able to add some points off the bench while we give BD some rest. He can score and he might just be the energy plug we might need when our starts aren’t playing. Ralph and Mike are great but i’m tired of hearing about the other team and seeing their highlights.
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Posted on December 22nd, 2009 at 7:37 am
MDsr doesn’t appear to be a good coach. But worse, he doesn’t look like a good coach, He looks like a shlep. No class.
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Posted on December 22nd, 2009 at 7:42 am
I just want to say that I really appreciate the work that Kevin, Mike, and DJ put into this site. I’ve always been a casual basketball fan, and I generally don’t follow sports until the post season. This time I decided to follow one of my two favorite teams (the other being Sacramento) throughout the whole season. It’s been fun seeing the ups and downs the Clippers have faced. Pre-season I was sure that they are going to make the playoffs. Now I’m starting to question my faith a little, but I still want to see them get there. They were definitely outplayed by the Spurs and it makes me fearful of January when they play the biggest teams in the league. I really hope that BG comes in during that time.
While it can be frustrating seeing them lose what should be even the easiest of games, it’s even more frustrating seeing how vile we as fans can be to OUR team. Sometimes we focus on the negative so much that we fail to see the positive. It’s going to be a hard road for them in the next few weeks, so our support as fans is greatly needed.
I’m not trying to sound like some sorta hippy. I agree with a lot of the speculation that’s made about Dunlevy’s coaching and such. But would you want to try if even your own fanbase says you suck?
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Posted on December 22nd, 2009 at 10:14 am
Think the issue is a little different. Like the Clipper team. think it very unlikely that Dunlevy is as bad as he looks. The issue is what he and Donald are actually interested in doing with the team. IIs a bad economy and anyone can bet over the internet and he has kept his job for a long time.
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Posted on December 22nd, 2009 at 11:45 am
It’s frustrating seeing the team lose, but reflecting, we’ve been doing decent. The problem is consistency. We should have a solid team from top to bottom, but we’re not playing that way. Like Kevin mentioned, DJ shouldn’t have been playing last night in those pivotal minutes. He just makes way too many mistakes, but on the other hand, the times that DJ should be getting playtime against less than stellar teams, he never sees the court.
While Dunleavy can draw plays and has a system, it feels like he needs to work on managing time appropriately with his players. Reports of Telfair being disgruntled with playtime, C. Smith reduced to about five minutes a night, Novak getting two minutes in about 6 games, it’s all ridiculous.
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Posted on December 22nd, 2009 at 12:13 pm
[...] Clipperblog: The book being drafted by most of the league on Chris Kaman instructs teams to swarm the [...]
Posted on December 22nd, 2009 at 12:27 pm
K.A> its real simple..watch the tape of the first quarter again…one pass…one shot…doenst make the Spurs work hard on D at all. Then this coach doenst know how to devolop players.Remember…Gordon started on the bench last year until an injury opened up a spot. any other coach would be getting something out of Jordan…
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Posted on December 22nd, 2009 at 3:45 pm
The Clipper bench is sucking ass right now. Novak hardly gets any passes or touches. Craig Smith was so promising during pre season but has been an offensive foul and travel call waiting to happen..
LA will have another crack at San Antonio soon enough. Hope to see a good game against Houston.
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Posted on December 22nd, 2009 at 4:12 pm
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