While the Clippers beat up on the Lakers in the final game of the season, Kevin and I chatted about what transpired this year and what lies ahead for the Clippers this offseason.
Kevin Arnovitz: So what have we learned this season?
D.J. Foster: I think we’ve learned a lot about the roles chemistry and stability play in building a winning team. There were just too many uncertainties this season — when would Blake Griffin return? When would Dunleavy get fired? Fact is, before the news came out about Griffin’s injury being season-ending, the Clippers were hovering right around .500 and were actually playing a pretty good brand of basketball.
Arnovitz: I think we also learned that:
- Winning basketball teams have guys who (a) demand double-teams and (b) can work out of those double-teams.
- A team must field players who can move the ball effectively. Outside of Baron Davis, Marcus Camby was the only guy on the roster with any sort of pure point skill set.
- We’ve learned that Chris Kaman on the block, while an effective tool and certainly a tent pole for the offense, isn’t an efficient enough option to carry the offense.
I’m not someone who believes that a team has to adopt an identity — I think that’s something that happens organically. But I do believe that there needs to be a overarching philosophy. The Clippers haven’t developed a blueprint for consistently winning basketball games.
Foster:So we know that Davis, Eric Gordon, Blake Griffin, Kaman, and DeAndre Jordan will all be back. What’s the kind of offensive philosophy that best suits those players? Have the recent years under Dunleavy proven that this team can’t perform well enough on the offensive end with a post-centric offense, even if it’s Griffin getting the touches instead of Kaman?
Arnovitz: I think there will be nights that matchups will favor Kaman and he can be a nice piece on the block. But he needs to learn how to be more useful. He’s got that 18-footer now? That’s great. Now drag the opposing big outside the lane and let Griffin explode past his defender without the threat of encountering a help defender.
Foster: Last Summer, we talked a lot about the Clippers needing that “glue guy” at the small forward position. Where did Rasual Butler succeed, and were did he fail in regards to being that guy?
Arnovitz: The team was better both defensively and offensively with Butler on the floor, so he proved to be an upgrade over Thornton in that respect. We saw him stretch the floor during that period when the Davis-Gordon-Butler-Camby-Kaman lineup was operating effectively. But I’m not sure Butler does enough Grade-A defensive work, rebounding or playmaking to qualify as Glue Guy material. He’s more Elmer’s than Krazy Glue.
Foster: My issue with Rasual is that he doesn’t seem to know his own limitations well enough to be a great role player. Not a whole lot of good comes from Rasual posting up, running the pick and roll, or putting the ball on the deck, but he does those things during the course of a game quite a bit.
Arnovitz: Yes. And recognizing your limitations is one of the most important things a player brings to the court. The Clips have a lot of guys who don’t completely understand the contours of their own games.
Foster: Baron and his jump-shooting comes to mind. Speaking of Baron, how do you assess his season this year?
Arnovitz: That’s a complicated question about a complicated dude. He’s undoubtedly a more efficient player. His true shooting percentage had topped 50 percent. More of his shot attempts are at the rim and he’s hitting those at almost 55 percent (vs. less than 49 percent last season). He’s also posted the best assist rate of his career, which had a lot to do with Kaman’s productivity. I don’t vest a lot in intangibles, but the question will remain: How much of Baron’s dogma about the game will he check at the door next season?
Foster: Right. It’s never been about a lack of talent for Baron. There are games (like his 23 point quarter against Minnesota) where it seems like he can get whatever he wants on the floor. He’s still capable of being a dominant presence…but most nights, for some reason or another, he’s not. While the Clippers certainly won’t cater to Baron exclusively during their coaching search, he’ll obviously still be factored in. Out of the available coaching candidates, who can best maximize the abilities of the remaining Clippers?
Arnovitz: I like Dwane Casey and Elston Turner. Casey is a smart coach with a very even temperament. He understands NBA defenses, and could possibly bring Dean Demopolous with him. It would be a first class staff. Turner would appeal to the team’s varied instincts. There’s enough structure in the Adelman offense to please Kaman, but it’s also improvisational (no real playcalling from the sidelines), something Baron should be able to get behind. I would also like to see some of those Doug Christie sets from back in the day installed for Eric Gordon, who desperately needs a coach who knows how to utilize him. Let’s look ahead.
Foster: Getting LeBron is obviously the dream scenario, but also the most unlikely. I’m in the camp that if you can get Wade, Bosh, or Joe Johnson with a max contract, you give it to them. The backup plan is to scalp a cash strapped team of their star player. Take Andre Iguodala for example. The Sixers are bleeding money and need to cut salary. And they aren’t the only ones — lots of teams are desperate to unload big salaries. If the Clips can’t land a big name in free agency, they shouldn’t panic. Plug in the lottery pick and be patient for the right deal to come around.
Arnovitz: Agree. It’s not Max or Bust.
Foster: But let me ask you this: Can a starting lineup of Baron-Gordon-Iggy-Griffin-Kaman compete for a championship?
Arnovitz: No. But it can compete in the Western Conference every night, provided it’s bolstered by some depth
Foster: Well then, if you think that I don’t think you do the deal. I think we’re both on the same page that the goal is to win championships. That’s it. Either you scrap it and rebuild to reach that goal, or you add the necessary pieces to get it done. There’s no in between. Go big or go home.
Arnovitz: You have to walk before you can run. I don’t believe in aiming for mediocrity, but I also believe that both Gordon and Griffin will improve. Kaman hasn’t plateaued yet and Iguodala is still relatively young. Iggy is merely a hypothetical. Luol Deng would be my choice for existing contract at the small forward.
Foster: Both Deng and Iggy aren’t number one options though. Every championship caliber team (Pistons in 2004 excluded) have clear-cut number one guys. Does Griffin have the potential to be a number one offensive option, or do the Clippers need to get one via free agency or the draft?
Arnovitz: In the next 24-36 months Blake Griffin is likely to be a No. 1 option.
And therein lies the hope.
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