From Kevin Arnovtiz’s post for ESPN’s Daily Dime:
“Summer league can be a tough place to evaluate prospects, and that’s particularly true for the Clippers, who assembled their coaching staff on the fly hours before their first practice. But Bledsoe and Aminu have had a rough go of it in the Clippers’ two blowout losses — although each has shown flashes of strength.
The sinewy Bledsoe burned up the floor in his debut Monday, skidding into the paint at will and draining floaters over the Wizards’ big defenders en route to 17 points on 6-for-15 shooting from the field. On Wednesday, in his second outing, Bledsoe was considerably more cautious, more intent on running the offense and getting shots for others.
There was one consistency to the two performances.
“Turnovers,” Bledsoe said. “Since the first day I stepped foot on the court [in Las Vegas], it’s been bad. It’s something I have to get better at.”
Bledsoe has racked up 17 turnovers in two games. The problem? He tends to go into a possession with a preprogrammed velocity, be it Monday’s sprint or Wednesday’s more controlled gait. If Bledsoe can modulate that speed moment to moment, reacting to the defense and the movement of his teammates, he should enjoy some success — but right now, it’s an exercise in frustration for the young point guard.
“It’s hard when I’m not making any shots and I’m trying to get my teammates involved,” Bledsoe said. “It’s tough, but I’ll work on it.”
Aminu’s assignment is even more daunting. After playing power forward for most of his two seasons at Wake Forest, Aminu must conform to playing small forward for the Clippers, an adjustment that will situate him much farther away from the basket in the half court than he’s accustomed to being.
“It’s just different,” Aminu said. “It’s going to take some learning to know where I can go and where I can’t go. That’s probably the hardest part.” ”
To read the rest of the piece, click here.
74 Responses
I hope the summer league is not a “prelude” of the coming season. Flashes in both guys that are at this point nursering by new couches staff….. Oh well we continue waiting for.
Good talk from Del Negro in the last game, he promise a hard working team, he’s the boss and Mr. big ego (BD) has to understand that. Hope of a decent season, if we get more than that with this “new” team the fans will be so happy.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 10:27 am
Awesome, we’re already in midseason form
I’m just kidding.
I rather be crappy in SL than crappy during a 82 game season.
Cappy Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 11:03 am
It’s funny because its true.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 10:43 am
This may not be appropriate but does anyone know what happened to “truehoops” forumblueandgold’s website. It hasn’t been working for about 24 hrs now. I’m sure most people on this site don’t keep up on Laker blogs but if a moderator who has connection with other truehoop blogs could give me some input, I’d highly appreciate it.
-Thanks fellow basketball fans.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 10:48 am
If Gomes can hold the fort until Aminu figures out how to play the 3 in the NBA, he’ll be one the best buys, ever.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 10:50 am
Clippers bringing in T-Mac for a workout next week.
Interesting.
Cappy Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 11:06 am
The last thing a young team needs is someone like T-Mac.
mark Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 11:16 am
Why would t MAC not be good for the clips?
Isn’t he a good character guy?
dawool Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 11:37 am
yeah as long as he gets some good PT he can provide our young guys a good role model, hes a laid back kinda guy, and when not hurt he was the most electrifying scorer in the league.
TNT57 Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
So was Elgin Baylor and Magic Johnson but their time is over. This is clearly an attempt or gimmick to see season tix. It just keeps getting worse.
VH Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 11:54 am
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1525195/tracy_mcgradys_attitude_a_problem.html
no, he is not a good character guy…
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Aminu is not going to be a guy that comes in and scores 25 points. He wasn’t at wake forest and isn’t going to be here, He’s a long, athletic, high rebounding SF. He’s your glue guy who will kill it in an uptempo system. He’ll do the junk work. Getting offensive boards and creating plays on the defensive end. With a 7′ 4″ wing span, this guy can reach out touch any rebound available. He’ll beat most opposing combo forwards with his first step, thanks to his athleticism.
People forget that he was one of the best offensive rebounders in the NCAA last year at he PF position. Imagine him playing the SF position….
Newtybar Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 11:12 am
That’s the thing though. He plays the game like a PF. He was a college PF, I don’t think he was “out of position” in college.
I think he’s going to be “out of position” in the NBA. A PF mentality and skill set, stuck at the 3 due to size.
Also, as a PF you are positioned in the block. As a SF you are out near the 3pt line. He’s still going to be a decent rebounder due to wingspan, but don’t expect college level rebounding.
hans Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
totally valid point but you can make the transition. kevin durant was a “power forward” in college. his rebounds fell a ton in the nba
SamMays Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
So far Aminu shows none of the skill necessary for an NBA SF… Can’t shoot, doesn’t handle well, can’t create… I have a horrible feeling that this was another wasted draft pick on an “upside” athlete who will never get it together. i wish they would just draft for skill rather than upside…
Darius Miles, Chris Wilcox, Michael Olo… How many of these “upside” guys work out? Not many. I hate upside guys…
VH Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
way to pass judgement on a guy who wasnt expected to contribute right away before he has even played a game in the nba.
closstastic Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Can’t shoot? He was making 3s last night.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 10:54 am
Did we screw up with these selections. There where alot better players in the draft.If these guys were any good we would not be losing by 25 points. I know it is summer league but talent is talent and talent learns to adjust at every level.
EricGordonsLiveStrongBracelet Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
Clippers are trying to develop Deandre feeding him in the post every time down the court. He in turn, cannot walk and chew gum at the same time, so 2 of 3 possesions are turnovers. Relax, that is not the offense these rookies will be playing in the regular season.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 11:36 am
yea but every other team has veteran guys and we got prospects only so be cool about it
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Did anyone see the body language on these guys as the games started? I couldn’t believe it. John Lucas schooled Bledsoe like he was in Jr. high school. SOFO is a waste of space. He’s getting destroyed by Summer league guys so imagine what real NBA players will do to him. T MAC is akin to signing a side show act to sell a few tix. Do you guys really think if he had anything substantial to offer that a dozen other teams wouldn’t have snapped him up. Considering the way average talent is being paid. It’s Sterling’s smoke and mirrors campaign. Please, don’t buy into this gimmick. Be smarter.
clippafan4life Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
we should boycott until something is done
closstastic Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
I’ve yet to see any post game in any of the summer league games.
Calling SOFO a waste of space is an ignorant statement.
His game is much more suited to the NBA than summer league.
TNT Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Well you haven’t been watching the same games I have. This guy didn’t have a clue.
JaySee Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 11:29 pm
Yes he has. You’re just being ignorant. Summer league is more like NCAA ball with a farther 3pt line than the NBA. No offensive sets, no post game. It’s mostly run and gun.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Why couldn’t we go after AL HARRINGTON? 17 points per game. We had the money. No desire. Not only do we have an incomplete starting 5, our depth is non existent. You can’t win without 8 or 9 solid NBA type players. I’d argue we have 4 at best. KAMAN, GORDEN, GRIFFIN and I choke saying it B. DAVIS. There isn’t another player on the team that averages even 10 pts a game. Did I miss somebody?
SamMays Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
If there is a dumber player in the NBA than Harrington, I’d hate to see him.
Steve Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
We don’t need an MBA from Stanford, we need someone else who can board and score the rock.
TNT Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
Uh,yeah Brian cook.
dial4bux Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Harrington wears out his welcome in a hurry. There’s a reason he’s played for more teams than he has years in the league.
@TNT: From where I sit, it looks like there are two realistic possibilities for serious
help at the 3.
1) Pay R Jeff $40M for 4 yrs., realizing that he’s got a lot of miles on his odometer
and his production has decreased noticeably in each of his past 2 yrs. Or,
2) Philly will let Iggy go, but they want a big piece back. In our case, that would
be Kaman, or maybe Iggy and EB (oh joy!) for Griffin and 1 or more #1′s.
Mind you, this would be to get a 3 who’s best suited to be a 2.
I’d like to hear your thoughts along these lines.
Newtybar Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
At this point, Griffin is untouchable.
TNT Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
You can’t give up griffin period. I seriously think this upcoming season is already gone. 30 wins will be it. 35 if we’re lucky.
jgroove Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 11:13 pm
Al Harrington defense is so bad Amare is embarrassed.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
From where I sit, the year is shaping up to be a total disaster and BD will quit on this team when they start 7 and 20 or similar. With all the activity in FA, we have done very little to help the “new” team. T. Mac is over the hill and without a pure shooter (novel idea) teams will pack it in again against the clippers. What are we thinking, I’m tired on next year and while we will not make the playoffs as constructed, managment does need to do more to make the game(s) a bit more fun and competitive. We are not competitive in the west, the only team we can possibly finish ahead of might be Golden State. Neil, find a shooter at the 3
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Sports Nation has a poll up about possible rookie of the year candidates. Blake Griffin is one of the options. Is he really eligible since he did not play in any regular season games?
As far as T-mac, I am kinda interested in the Clips signing him. There is an obvious need for a veteran who can play SF. If he gives a good work out and they can get him for one-year dirt cheap, I say I why not.
FD Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Yeah, he’s eligble. Cousins and Wall look pretty good though. And there’s a reason why the Rockets wanted no part of Tmac. But I guess chemistry doesn’t really matter when you don’t have a team to begin with. Might as well go after, AI, StarBury, and Rodman.
Kurt Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Re: T-Mac
He probably is a lost cause. What does it say about the situation the Clippers, and their fans, are in that this is actually a discussion. It almost as if we have given up on the season already and are trying just to make due until next off season.
FD Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Actually I have a lot more hope this season than the last few cus the Dunce is gone.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
We came into this off-season brimming with hope for a new beginning… What has management given us? Foye, Gomes and Cook… We came into this off-season desperately needing a SF. Well, free agency is all but done, the draft is over and after signing a SF and drafting a SF, we still desperately need a SF.
This off-season has been a disaster and what I’ve seen so far from Aminu makes me wish we’d drafted Hayward, George or Babbitt.
And we can’t really give credit to management for Blake Griffin, because he was on the roster last year.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
I can’t wait til Blake starts playing and everyone realizes he sucks. Hes a glorified dunking machine. He doesn’t have much else. We are screwed. I wish we hadnt won the draft and we’d have Tyreke Evans or Steph Curry right now… damn.
FD Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
You’re assuming that Dunleavy would have drafted Evans, Curry or Jennings. Blake was pretty good in the preseason last year. I wouldn’t say he sucks. If he’s the same after the knee surgery is a question though.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
Let’s start a poll as to the team’s record this coming season. Based on the way the roster looks, with or without T Mac I’m predictinng a lackluster – 32 and 49. Any other thoughts on the great job management has done in this off season.
On thing worse than being a Clipper fan right now would be if I were one of the ticket sales people, guess their opening remarks would be…you get to see some really good teams come in and destroy the Clippers.
FD Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
I’m gonna guess 40-42. I think BD will have a good year without Dunleavy. I expect Aminu to play about 10min a game and 5min a game for Bledsoe
Pez Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
I guarantee they won’t go 32 and 49…even the clippers aren’t that exceptional.
Assuming no further roster additions from today I’d give us 30 wins. With TMac I think we can manage 35.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
CAN we hurry up and resign Butler before I totally lose faith in this season? SHiyyit, can we at least get back Al Thornton? I have no faith in AFA.
chris. Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
I think AFA will develop into a solid player, but he’s not ready now, nobody thought he’d be, he’s 19. I’d like to resign Butler & Rhino (2-3 years) to give us some sense of not going backwards at least. Also sign Sofo and then be done with it. Let the young guys develop without taking a step back.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
I have been on the Rasual Butler wagon all summer.. He is a decent 3 . His man to man defense is adequate and his shooting is consistent enough to open up the paint.
Not the most fancy player or house hold name , but I’d rather have him over who ever is left
in the free agent mania of 2010.
The Clipboard Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 10:13 pm
Hope we get Rasual back too. He’s good glue.
The one thing we can all agree on — this group of rookies (Bledsoe, Aminu, Warren, and Sofo) are all projects and are not going to make big impacts right away. Clipper fans are going to have to be patient, and that’s a thin commodity around here right now. Clipper fans don’t want to hear “patience” anymore.
The frustration from Clipper Nation is palpable. Exactly when we need the Clip ship to sail into the playoffs, we could be looking at another dismal finger pointing losing season. Guys named “Pittman” and “Booker” have been destroying the Clipper bigs in summer league and it has been embarassing. Although we MUST all give it up to Clipper Darrell for representing in Vegas! He’s been the best part of summer league so far for the Clips.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
My only hope is that there’s still time left in the summer for moves. I can’t help but think of the summer of 2004. We struck out on Kobe but then pulled off the Kerry Kittles trade at the end of July. Even though Kittles struggled, it was a decent fall back move at the time and I pray we have something similar lined up over the next couple of weeks.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Are you KIDDING about Kittles. Other that the drafting of Olawakandie (sp), Kittles may have been the worst move the Clippers ever made and I was there! He was to say the least inept and oft injured. Played for only 11 games (as a Clipper) and scored a grand total of 28 points as a Clipper – you call that decent, get real!
SJ Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Really, you were there, in the front office while the deal was made?! Wow.
Like I said, it was a decent fall back move AT THE TIME. He was only 30 and coming off a 82 game season while playing 35mpg and on a solid playoff team. So yeah, AT THE TIME, it was a solid move to fill a gaping hole. Who knew the guy would fall apart after taking the court, but no one would fault us if we made a similar move to pick up a veteran 3 in a salary dump.
TNT57 Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Kittles, Korelav I was there for all the great Clipper moves. But Brian Cook might be the lowest move yet. Can you imagine the team when they come together in a few weeks and there’s Brian Cook…with a jersey on! I hope the team has a grief counselor.
EricGordonsAnkleBrace Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 9:17 pm
I actually WAS there that year and I quit that summer. Thank you very much.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
Aminu is outplaying Babbit and showing upside. 13 pts in 1st half.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
SOUNDS like you guys are finally starting to see what I’ve been saying for a month. Everybody wanted me run off the blog but this is exactly what Sterling had planned. Gut the salary cap and pocket the cash. Don’t support this slumlord by buying tix to Clipper games. Let him choke on it.
30 wins will be lucky.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
I am so sick of you Clipper fans that are as addicted to losing as like the many drunk degenerate gamblers that love to boast about bad beats like it’s a good thing. Sometimes people feed the need to lose by dumping money at the casino just to gt a rush…the thrill of putting it on the line…but when you “know” you’ll probably lose you do end up losing….
It’s called the self fulfilling prophecy…am unfortunate disease that a fear has plagued all of Clipper nation since Arriving in Los Angeles.
Until the days of forecasting another diaasterous losing season cease to exist will the Clippers ever actually win…
Forget the losing self fulfilling mentality and start projecting hope into the future. Dunlevy could have been the cause of the Clippers almost but not quite stint. Maybe a solid winner of a coach will change the fortunes of a team that has struggled historically. Maybe his voice wasn’t heard.
I don’t believe for one second that Donald Sterlings cheapish ways and poor reputation Is enough to outweigh all of the suffering and anguish Clipper nation has suffered for 20 plus years here in LA…
We deserve winner and we will get one. We have some studs and with anothe 2 pieces we could be a supremely talented team. I have seen blake griffin play and he is a stat beast cause he hustles an snags every lose ball in play. He has the makings to be the next Karl Malone and if Eric Gordon can find some confidence he will be an elite scorer for years to come and a potential All-Star if he can put it all together now not later. Kaman to me has always been iffy but there aren’t too many bugs pit there with his size and game but I would not be opposed to trading him or Baron if they don’t start taking responsibility for the team and play hard every night. Deondre Jordan must Step up significantly this year he has kore tools than most big in the league yet hasn’t found a way to be a dominant force.
Bledsoe looks like he is an elite athlete a potentially huge player for us long term. Aminu has had lashes but nowhere near starting in the NBA. Bottom line is we need t Mac or RJ and we as a nation of clipper fans need to he be more positive…sometimes good fortune comes to those who will it to…the power of the will is underated.
dial4bux Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 9:40 pm
This team has 4 spots locked in. We have an all-star 5, a huge potential guy that has to play at the 4, a proven producer at the 2 and a guy with all-star credentials
at the 1. The free agent options currently available for the 3 are really ugly. It’s
going to take 4 yrs. at $40M to sign R Jeff, whose production has dropped off each of
the past 2 yrs., and who’s got a lot of mileage on him. If you sign T Mac, it will be
because Miami didn’t offer him a min slot. This what you want? Or you could throw
$ at J. Howard, who’s carrying heavy, off-court, baggage and won’t be ready for the start of the season.
I’d like to see the club re-sign Rhino, and then sit back and pick up a solid 3 when
others need to straighten out their roster or their payroll. That won’t be long.
ClipperMarc Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
I believe that is why we are all Clipper fans. In the hope one day OUR team will be a WINNER.
clippafan4life Reply:
July 16th, 2010 at 10:37 am
lets all sing kumbaya and hope the clippers win? Yea that sounds like a winning strategy. The NBA is run by corporations (teams) that need to generate revenue. The only way you win is by having the best players and selling the most junk. Let’s get better players, start winning for a change so we can turn blake griffin into a superstar and then we can sell lots of jerseys and gatorade and get a few calls down the line. Then MAYBE… MAYBE he will resign with us, but probably dump us when he realizes he can go play with a team that has more pull and a better chance of winning. TIME TO GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF THE SAND AND REALIZE THE NBA IS A BUSINESS AND NO ONE CARES HOW MUCH FANS LOSE AS LONG AS THEY SELL YOU THE DREAM.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
all of you on this board are a bunch of glass half empty guys….right now there are three options at SF….TMac, RJ and Josh Howard….each would make the team better right now, because each has been to the playoffs and contributed on those teams. You idiots expect to wake up one day to this miraculous turn around. Five of your players are 21 or younger, and none are Kevin Durant…so quit wishing for the sky and accept 30-35 wins next year. An improvment over what we had the prior year is progress!!!!
SamMays Reply:
July 16th, 2010 at 8:44 am
Not sure how any Clipper fan with a memory can be anything other than a glass half empty guy… We’ve been trained over 30 years of failure… Anything else smacks of Pollyanna.
I’ll believe this team is finally on the right track when Gordon and Griffin sign extensions.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 8:18 pm
Why we should consider TMac:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfuy-eTbxIg
I know as a Clipper fan we have been trained to forget the past but in this case don’t forgett about yesterday..
EricGordonsAnkleBrace Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
Awesome. We’ll be down by 10 at the end of every game so he might be a good pickup.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Clips win!
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
Even though sofo only played 10 minutes, I thought he looked pretty good and could be useful off the bench. The announcers seemed to agree. Aminu and Bledsoe are not ready for big minutes yet. It’s a shame they got rid of Thorton.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
*****Alert****
Anytime you have to discuss a player “changing positions” and “adjusting his game” you are screwed I fear. Basketball is emphatically the least “teachable” of the major sports. You’re a baller or not. Baseball, Football, Soccer, Hockey, I feel like there is more room for improvement and position changes than Basketball.
Aminu looks lost in the summer league. I hate to say it. Woulda rather had Babbitt or Hayward. Aminu is toast.
Sad Face.
The Clipboard Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 10:15 pm
Word on Hayward.
AfishLClipp Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
Completely disagree, you can’t teach nature, but you CAN teach nurture.
avonhun Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 11:43 pm
Tim Duncan, Kevin Durant, Dwayne Wade, Rajon Rondo, Antawn Jamison, Brandon Roy all switched positions coming out of college just to name a few.
and Babbitt missed the game tying free throws yesterday.
SamMays Reply:
July 16th, 2010 at 8:47 am
Say what? Duncan, Wade, Rondo, Roy and Jamison all play the same position they played in college. All had supreme skill sets. Aminu has none of that… He has to learn to dribble and shoot as if he were just starting out…
Athletic players drafted on upside potential almost never deliver; Darius Miles, Marvin Williams, Michael Olowakandi, Chris Wilcox…
VH Reply:
July 16th, 2010 at 9:26 am
You are wrong, go look it up. Your negativity is clouding your judgement.
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Looking forward to a 25 win season, 30 if they’re lucky..
Posted on July 15th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Last year we were able to “defend” home court by going 21-20. In order to have a more productive season, we need to do a better job of that this year (ie 26-15) while improving the crappy 8-33 on the road we did. It may not be good enough for playoffs, but hey, its respectable… for us
Posted on July 18th, 2010 at 11:55 am
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