With all eyes focused on the looming offseason, the Clippers were reminded tonight what a star player looks like when they took on the Portland Trailblazers and Brandon Roy.
I’ve never been bashful about stating my admiration for Roy’s offensive game. His body control around the rim is second to none. His midrange game is deadly, and he’s a mismatch in either size or quickness (usually both) for opposing players. But what most impresses me about Roy is his silent nature in which he controls the game. Roy rarely acts out, rarely demands the ball and demeans teammates, and is often willing to take a backseat to another Blazer if there is a better matchup on the floor.
Roy demonstrates his unselfishness early on tonight by deferring to LaMarcus Aldridge for much of the first half, and the Blazers carry a four point lead into halftime. With playoff positioning on the line in a tight game, Brandon Roy comes out in the second half and does what any real star should: He absolutely takes over the game.
[11:25, 3rd Q] Right away the Blazers get Brandon Roy the ball in post. Here, Roy catches it in the mid-post with Baron Davis on him. Baron is a very strong post defender who is accustomed to guarding bigger guys on the block, but Roy simply manhandles him with a simple blast back that knocks Baron into next week. With the new found space, Roy wheels into the paint and hits an easy little floater at the rim.
[10:45, 3rd Q] The Blazers go right back to it the very next possession with Roy on the left mid-block. Roy once again creates contact, but this time it’s with Gordon covering him, a bulky dude in his own right. Gordon flies back a bit on the initial bump, but quickly recovers and bodies up on Roy’s back. Roy gives him a few more bumps, the last of which creates enough space for him to get off a turnaround jumper from the baseline that’s true.
[9:52, 3rdQ] After sending a double team to Roy on the block and forcing a Marcus Camby missed slingshot from 19-feet on the previous possession, the Blazers choose to clear out for Roy at the top of the key. It’s Rasual Butler who draws the assignment this time, but Roy is much too quick off the bounce for Butler here. It only takes a few dribbles for Roy to get by Butler, and with Butler trying to play catchup, Roy stops on a dime and nails the pullup jumper from about 10-feet.
[8:52, 3rdQ] Here’s where you really start to see the effects of having a star player like Roy offensively. Brandon Roy and Marcus Camby run a pick and roll from the right elbow, and Drew Gooden comes off Camby to trap Roy and get the ball out of his hands. Roy swings the ball to Batum at the top of the key, and Batum finds LaMarcus Aldridge with deep position in the post against the recovering Clippers’ bigs. The baby hook goes in, for Aldridge, plus the foul. Hockey assist to Roy.
[6:40, 3rdQ] Roy and Aldridge clear out to the left side of the floor, with Aldridge on the block and Roy on the wing. After the entry feed, Aldridge has all day to wheel and deal on the block because Rasual Butler can’t leave Roy and double-down with any help. The result is a turnaround jumper from Aldridge, which is exactly what he wants to get in that situation.
[4:06. 3rdQ] Roy is isolated on the left elbow against Gordon where he is absolutely lethal, mainly because his entire offensive repertoire can be utilized. Here, Gordon gives Roy’s penetration ability a little too much respect, and Roy simply rises and fires from 18-feet. It’s good.
[:02, 3rdQ] With the exception of LeBron, Manu Ginobili, and maybe Kobe, there’s no one I’d rather have in a late clock situation than Brandon Roy. It’s actually a little silly how easy Roy makes it look here in isolation at the top of the key against Gordon with time running down. Roy beats Gordon to his right, slows down a bit to let Gordon catch up, throws a tiny fake drop step to the middle of the lane, and raises up from about eight feet to hit a right-handed jump hook. Basically, that’s a Tim Duncan move pulled off by a 6-foot 6 guard.
Roy’s incredible third quarter performance buries the Clippers. After being down just four going into halftime, the Clippers fall behind 17 points to end the third. Steve Blake tries to bring the Clippers back into it all by his lonesome in the fourth quarter, but it’s too little, too late.
Watching Roy dismantle the Clippers defense in a variety of ways just further illustrates that the Clippers don’t have that guy. When they need buckets to put games away, there’s no player who can do everything. Baron can do a little bit of what Roy does, but his shooting deficiencies stop him from being a crunch time threat. Kaman can usually score one on one in the post, but a simple double team can end that quickly. Gordon can usually get by his man in isolation, but send waves of help and he has trouble finding the open man. We don’t know for sure what Blake Griffin can and can’t do, but his skillset doesn’t scream “end of game scorer.”
If the Clippers are dreaming of being a playoff contender in the Western Conference, they need that guy.
Anyone know where we could find one?
20 Responses
Evan Turner would be nice. Haven’t seen enough of Wesley Johnson to be sure but he could be someone we could get in the draft, otherwise we have to hope to get someone in free agency.
Posted on April 8th, 2010 at 12:28 am
focus on free agency, baby!
Posted on April 8th, 2010 at 1:09 am
what do you mean ‘may be Kobe” ? Kobe should be your first pick for late clock situation. do I sense a hate?
JaySee Reply:
April 8th, 2010 at 10:45 am
Agreed! Putting LeBron and Manu in the same league as Kobe as a finisher is ridiculous in and of itself. Neither of those 2 are considered clutch and LeBron is quite notorious for failures and lack of killer instinct when it comes to crunch time until this season.
Sam K Reply:
April 8th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
I can’t remember where I read this (possibly in Bill Simmons’ Book of Basketball), but Manu’s clutch statistics are among the best in the NBA.
D.J. Foster Reply:
April 8th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
It’s a personal preference, but I want a guy who can get to the rim at will in those situations. LeBron, Manu, and Roy can all do that. Kobe can’t do that any more.
That’s not a slight against Kobe – he hits impossibly tough jumpers in the clutch all the time. I just prefer to get chances at the rim.
Posted on April 8th, 2010 at 1:12 am
Manu is going to be back in a spur uniform, Damn. WE lost out on the Ginobli sweepstakes
FD Reply:
April 8th, 2010 at 8:39 am
That’s probably a good thing. They would have overpaid for him and he probably would have gotten hurt.
Q.D. Reply:
April 8th, 2010 at 9:46 am
But we could have Mexican Appreciation day at every home game, nevermind he’s Argentinean
Posted on April 8th, 2010 at 7:43 am
Dammit, I’ve been playing chad ford’s draft machine and we end up with another pathetic center in Cole Aldrich. Might as well throw the pick away if we draft this guy.
Posted on April 8th, 2010 at 9:47 am
Article in the Times today where Baron subtly throws both Kaman and Dunleavy under the bus as the causes for this awful season. Hey you stubby little fake, it wasn’t either of those guys who shot 2 for 11 every night or turned the ball over like it was on fire or failed to close out any games in the 4th quarter or disappeared as a leader in the locker room or played even one minute of defense against younger, faster, better guards that made you look like the washed up loud mouth poser that you are! If I was Kaman I would punch you in the mouth the first time I saw you today. What a loser this dog has become. Do us all a big favor and develop a mild heart murmur over the summer, not enough to hurt you but just enough to force you into retirement. You said in the article if you were younger you’d probably ask to be traded, well, here’s a news flash for you porky — the feeling is mutual. Don’t let the gym door hit that gigantic rear end on the way out.
Q.D. Reply:
April 8th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Everyone is to blame, enough blame for everyone on this team.
SamMays Reply:
April 8th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
Quite an article… Baron bragging about what a wonderful guy he was not to blast Dunleavy for his stupidity… And all the while indicating that he knows how to fix things around here… By letting him do what he wants… Complaining about how no one has “let” him lead…
Well, Baron, who the hell is stopping you?
This team has been unwatchable since you’ve been here. Did you ever stop to think that YOU might be the reason… If I were Sterling, I would gladly allow Baron to void his contract and walk to greener pastures…
FD Reply:
April 8th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Baron really hasn’t had a chance to run the team. The season was lost when Dunleavy was canned, so you can’t really count that.
The problem is Baron should have known the situation/coach before he signed with the Clippers.
Posted on April 8th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Baron hasn’t had a chance!? Are you f’n out of your mind? He’s had every chance to lead. He ignored Dunleavy and still couldn’t hit a shot to save his life. He made one game winner and thought he was LeBron. He’s a stiff. He’s slow, can’t shoot and plays zero D. What more is there? Don’t you guys dare give this guy a pass.
Posted on April 8th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
First of all i think it was Dunleaveys turn to go But I will say they did play better and more organized when he was coach, enough said he is gone now. I would trade him for Gilbert Arenas and throw in the pick, Arenas will come back with something to prove next year and the Wizards will probably listen to any offer..
Posted on April 8th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Baron That is
Posted on April 8th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
GREAT to see Shaun Livingston lighting it up in DC. Remember when he was first here and the future looked so bright? That feels like about 20 years ago. I hope Blake doesn’t travel the same road. God, please, not that. PLEASE.
clippafan4life Reply:
April 9th, 2010 at 12:17 am
BD is a great assist guy, he isn’t our go to guy. Why don’t people understand this? We are trying to build a team around gordon, griffin, free agent?, having baron to get these guys the ball is gonna help. THE SCAPEGOATING NEEDS TO END.
Posted on April 8th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
End it by trading this lump of hot air.
Posted on April 9th, 2010 at 10:28 am
Trackbacks