- The Isiah Thomas rumors are categorically false.
- Kim Hughes is all aboard the Baron Davis Express. “My style would be running,” Hughes said. “I think we can run.” Hughes drew some contrasts between himself and Mike Dunleavy. “[Dunleavy] called a lot of plays for our guys and they’re very good plays,” Hughes said. “I’ll give the players a little bit more freedom. Twofold. Because I don’t know as many plays as [Dunleavy] does. And I don’t think our players want to hear me call a lot of plays. So I’ll leave a lot of the play-calling up to Baron … and we will try to push the ball whenever possible.”
- When asked how this more improvisational approach might affect Chris Kaman, Hughes conceded that it might, but wasn’t overly fazed. “The Lakers had great success when they had Jabbar,” Hughes said. “They ran, but when they ran their half-court schemes, they called plays for Jabbar. When they ran, they let Magic run the show.” Kaman also drew a Laker parallel. “I think it’s going to be one of those teams like the Lakers,” Kaman said. “They had Shaq. They were able to run a little bit. And when Shaq got down into the mix, they played a half-court set.” Kaman quickly qualified himself, stating that by no means was he comparing himself to Shaquille O’Neal, before continuing. “I definitely can run, but I think it takes a toll on you.”
- Dunleavy, Kaman and Davis each evoked the water main game in Memphis as the Waterloo of the 2009-10 season. The Clippers, who came in winners of four straight (PHA, POR, LAL, MIA), were 12 minutes from .500, but came back from the 36-minute delay flat. After the loss against the Grizzlies, the Clippers reeled off another three losses and now sit seven games under .500.
- The big moment for Dunleavy, when he knew he was through.
- Davis was in particularly good spirits today. He was blasting Makaveli while working out on the Reebok core board, reciting every rhyme. When addressing the media, he was very politic, praising Dunleavy at every opportunity. “He’s a fighter, a competitor,” Davis said. “We learned a lot from him. I thought our relationship grew. He helped me a lot.”
- Davis is excited to embrace the role of court general. “I think it’s going to be up to me to manage the game,” Davis said. “Who gets the ball, how we play and I’m willing to take that challenge.” When asked if things were too complicated under Dunleavy, Davis quickly answered no. I asked Baron if this was his team. Again, he said no. “I’m a small part to a big whole,” Davis said. “This is a team by committee and that’s what we want it to be.”
- Hughes has been tutoring Kaman in the Big Man Arts for the better part of seven seasons. Kaman is clearly happy for Hughes that his mentor is getting a special opportunity, but he also reserved some sincere affection for Dunleavy, even while acknowledging that Dunleavy’s style doesn’t suit everyone’s taste.
- Kaman got the news about Dunleavy from his realtor’s son. “He’s like a freshman in high school,” Kaman said. “He’s like, ‘I heard on the radio they fired your coach!’ And I’m, like, ‘What?!’”
- Dunleavy isn’t certain whether he’d like to coach again. “I really enjoy the general manager’s duties and job,” Dunleavy said. “I feel really good about having built us to this position. Honestly? I think I’ve built it twice. We had it once and it broke down because of injuries and things that happened, and to be able to have a chance to get it back … I think we’re really good to go.”
