Can we kindly suspend the term trap game with regard to any team not vying for a playoff spot and certainly one that’s lost 10 of its last 12 games? The Clippers don’t have trap games any more than anarchists have agenda items.
Why have the Clippers descended to such an abject state? It’s because they’ve become a rudderless, lazy defensive team, especially in transition — something that wasn’t the case earlier in the season. We see Beno Udrih Version 2.0 slice through the defense after Clippers made baskets twice in the first quarter (1st, 9:36; 1st, 7:34), then nobody picks up Donte Greene at the 3-point line in transition (1st, 0:30), a breakdown that gives the Kings a 13-point lead at the end of one quarter. All afternoon, the Clippers are behind Sacramento on every run-out, as the Kings fill every lane on the break and don’t stop until they reach the rim (i.e. 3rd, 10:49).
In the half court, Carl Landry pummels the Clippers. Landry is a handful to defend one-on-one in the half court, but you know what’s really difficult?
Defending him zero-on-one.
That’s the strategy when Drew Gooden inexplicably drops off Landry to trap Francisco Garcia, a double-team so effective that Garcia easily shuttles the ball back to a wide-open Landry for an uncontested 20-foot jumper to extend the Kings’ lead to 13 points. (3rd, 9:15). The next trip down, Sacramento goes to an Udrih-Landry ball screen. The Clippers elect to trap Urdih, giving Landry a free roll. Even against the trap, Udrih is able to hit Landry in motion. You can’t really fault Chris Kaman for a late rotation because he’s guarding Hawes up top (Sacramento wisely clears the lane) and Landry is so agile moving toward the basket. The better question: Why trap Udrih in that scheme?
Following that possession, the Clippers regroup defensively in a zone, but it’s largely ineffective. Take the possession at (3rd, 7:04). The Kings bust the zone the way good teams do — by moving the ball side-to-side. Greene fires a skip pass from the right side perimeter to Udrih on the left wing. Udrih takes one dribble to his right, where he finds a big patch of open floor and launches an open 16-footer. Sacramento by 14.
The Clippers stage a little comeback in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter when the Kings try to make a go of it without a point guard on the floor (Udoka-Garcia-Nocioni-Landry-Thompson). On those five possessions, the Kings turn the ball over four times. Their only shot attempt is a 27-foot jumper from Nocioni. The Clippers string together a run, paced by a Steve Blake-Craig Smith pick-and-roll (4th, 11:16) and a Blake 3-pointer in transition (4th, 9:15). Sacramento blunts the Clippers’ rally once Paul Westphal inserts Udrih back into the lineup.
The game isn’t without positive developments for the Clippers. Eric Gordon has his first efficient effort in 18 days — 23 points on 17 true shots, with four turnovers, four assists, four rebounds and a couple of steals.
Gordon does a solid job attacking in early situations before the Kings’ defense gets set (i.e. 1st, 10:36). When you ask Gordon how he copes when he’s struggling with his shot, he’ll generally give you a uniform response: I need to attack. That’s clearly his m.o. on Sunday afternoon, particularly in transition (1st, 8:02; 1st, 2:41; 3rd, 3:11).
Gordon also forgoes the PUJITs. At (2nd, 5:30), he uses a flare screen along the arc by Kaman not for a catch-and-shoot opportunity, but to catch-and-drive once it’s apparent he’s got an open seam to his left all the way to the basket. There’s a fascinating little possession at (2nd, 3:48). Nocioni defends Gordon as Eric dribbles inside the arc. Eric has been in attack mode for most of the half, so Nocioni plays off him a bit. With a slight hesitation move, Eric gets Nocioni even further back on his heels, giving Eric even more room to launch what’s essentially an uncontested 19-footer that’s true.
Eric has struggled to leverage his dribble game into playmaking opportunities, but on his aggressive drive at (3rd, 6:41), he threads the needle beautifully when the defense collapses on him, dropping a pinpoint interior pass to Kaman underneath the basket for an easy slam.
Remember that hellacious stretch last season when Baron Davis couldn’t break the 50 percent mark from the field for an eternity? Sunday afternoon, Baron records his fifth consecutive game of better than 52 percent shooting from the field. It’s not hard to explain: Only three of Baron’s 12 true shot attempts from the field came from beyond 15 feet (he’s 1-for-3 from that distance; 5-for-8 from 15 feet and closer, with a trip to the line).
Davis, a 37.0 percent shooter on long-2s and a 28.2 percent shooter from beyond the arc, will have to refashion his game to successfully lead the Clippers to a better future. With respect to shot distribution, Sunday’s games provides a helpful blueprint.
16 Responses
Kevin,
Your attention to detail never ceases to amaze me, as I read your words I can see in my mind what is going on during that particular play.
Keep up the good work, the next four months will be interesting!
Kevin Arnovitz Reply:
March 22nd, 2010 at 10:33 pm
George:
Really appreciate it. Stay tuned!
kevin.
Posted on March 22nd, 2010 at 7:03 am
To say the least……………………………
Posted on March 22nd, 2010 at 9:39 am
Missed the game. Love the recap!! Keep up the good work.
That inconcistency from the clips i tell you!! beat the bucks but can’t beat the kings!! we’re running out of options on who else can we put the blame on!
My wife is tired of me being a clip’s fan and wants me to join the lakers bandwagon. i duno how much loger i’ll be, for sure im holding for next year. Go clips! (Davis, Giffin, Butler, Gordon, A igshot name, and kaman (yes i still believe in kaman)
Posted on March 22nd, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Are you kidding me? No true Clipper fan could ever, ever, jump on the Laker bandwagon. Any other team I can see, but the Fakers? No way.
Bongstradamus Reply:
March 22nd, 2010 at 6:45 pm
I was kind of partial to the Showtime Lakers. Kareem, Worthy, Magic, Woolridge, Scott….those were good times and fun games to watch.
But I absolutely hate Kobe. I couldnt see myself cheering for the Lakers unless Magic somehow built a time machine and transported his 21 year old self to the future.
Posted on March 22nd, 2010 at 1:41 pm
It’s good to see that even though the team has quit, the analysts are still hard at work. Great post.
Posted on March 22nd, 2010 at 2:28 pm
JL
If you still Kaman as a player please you can save time , jump the bandwagon now.
Good Clippers Fans do not jump no Laker Wagon.
Posted on March 22nd, 2010 at 2:36 pm
I won’t guys. I’m simply frustrated on how this year ended for the clips. I’d rather be a clip than a faker cus that’s what laker fans are. Lou u gotta admit that when kaman is in his day he can score on any nba center.
Posted on March 22nd, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Gotta hand it to you Kevin and DJ, keeping the torch lit in these darkest of dungeons we find ourselves in must be incredibly hard. I know many of us love the passion and commitment you guys put into the blog and I just wanted to personally thank you for not giving up like the rest of the team has.
Kevin Arnovitz Reply:
March 22nd, 2010 at 10:32 pm
Bong:
Thanks for the kind words.
ka
Posted on March 22nd, 2010 at 6:48 pm
i was at the game thanks to $200 seats i got for $20 on stubhub but even then they were a bit overpriced to sit through that game. it’s sad when i’m running faster to get a beer than baron davis is running back on defense after a missed shot. the clippers played like they didn’t care and it was contagious. all the fans want is for the clippers to play hard. that’s why it’s frustrating for the fans. this was a game where eric gordon needs to take over because he seemed to be the only one who was playing hard. i feel bad for the bloggers who have to watch every game for the rest of the year.
Posted on March 22nd, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Thank you guys for all the kind words. It’s not always easy for us watching these games either, but knowing we have a place where our work will be enjoyed and where we can have good basketball discussions with you all makes all the difference in the world.
So a big thank you right back at you guys.
Posted on March 22nd, 2010 at 9:43 pm
Nice work, D.J. These are dark days, Clipper-wise.
Here’s a nice thought? How about the Clippers draft Eric Bledsoe and let him be the point guard of the future? Baron can take Mardy Collins’ role.
Hiretarktheshark.com Reply:
March 22nd, 2010 at 10:18 pm
What exactly is Mardy Collins role? Airballing 6 foot layups and clanking straightaway threes into the side of the backboard? Seriously who decided to pay mardy Collins to play basketball?
Posted on March 22nd, 2010 at 10:05 pm
That’s a good stat on Davis . . . “37.0 percent shooter on long-2s and a 28.2 percent shooter from beyond the arc”. I knew about the threes, but I didn’t know the stat on the long twos.
Obviously Davis can not shoot a long jumper. The big question is, “why has he been doing it so often anyway over the last two seasons?” The only possible answer I can think of is that he does it on purpose to screw over the team and teach them a lesson for having the audacity to expect him to run a structured offense andremember set plays and play defense. I really do think that’s the reason. I think the guy is a real dog with exceptionally bad innate character.
Davis’s horrible defense is often overlooked because it’s not as easily quantifiable as his horrible jump shooting. He was the one who was suppose to be guarding Beno Udrih in the last game, and Udrih went off for a career night. I’ve noticed that same scenario happening numerous times over the last two seasons. Opposing point guards often have super nights when playing against Davis.
That’s one of the reasons he wants to play a free flowing style offense . . . because that means he doesn’t play defense (which he can’t play anyway, but in a free flowing offense it’s not called for).
His shot selection has improved lately but his defense has gotten even worse.
Davis has to go. He’s toxic to the team. He was bellyaching in the paper yesterday about the team not having any heart. Hah! What a joke! Who does he think he’s kidding with his finger pointing? He’s the one he’s not putting in any defensive effort.
Posted on March 23rd, 2010 at 3:04 pm
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