Clipper fans might remember following the 2008 Rookie of the Year contest in microscopic detail. It was quite a sweepstakes. Derrick Rose and OJ Mayo jumped out to an early lead, both starting and getting big minutes and big usage. Around this time two years ago, between 10 and 20 games in, Russell Westbrook started to make a name for himself, getting minutes on a struggling but promising young team, scoring points and grabbing a whole lot of rebounds for a point guard. Local UCLA fans knew that Westbrook was an amazing athlete and hard worker who was just beginning to grow into his talent. And at same time Cuttino Mobley was traded by the Clippers (subsequently retiring), and Eric Gordon moved into the starting lineup.  More...

Clipper fans are used to being hopeful in the midst of dysfunctional and desperate situations. We all knew that his would be a tough season, with some promising young players on the roster along with Chris Kaman and Baron Davis, while the gaping hole at small forward wasn’t filled by some free agent savior, and instead seemed to be solved on the cheap. All of that, a new coach and system, and a challenging early season schedule plus some classic untimely Clipper injuries, adds up to the poorest start in recent memory in Clipperdom. And that’s saying something, of course.  More...

Clipperblog contributor Charlie Widdoes breaks down the Clippers most recent frustrating loss.

The last time these two teams met, it took two overtimes to decide the final outcome. The Jazz won that night, but there was plenty to like about the Clippers’ play, including a performance by Eric Gordon that would foreshadow his emergence as a budding NBA star. On Sunday, the Clippers were only able to hang with Utah for a little more than a half before losing, 109-97, reminding us that it takes more than Gordon and Blake Griffin to compete with the top teams in the Western Conference. When both teams shot over 50% from the floor in the first half, one had to wonder if the Clippers could sustain that level of play so dependent on the duo. Ultimately, they couldn’t, and it comes as no surprise that a few great individual efforts came up short against Utah’s balanced attack.  More...

Three days after Turkey Day, the Clippers better be ready now. Watching that first quarter on Friday against the Suns, it was clear that the Clippers players weren’t ready to play. How else can you explain 42 points in the first quarter? The defense should have the goal of holding teams to 42 points in a half. While Steve Nash didn’t have a gaudy line (for him), 16 points on 4 for 12 shooting and 10 assists, he did still draw the defenses around him that allowed Jason Richardson to lounge on the perimeter and calmly knock down shot after shot. The Clippers did fight back, getting within 4 points a couple of times, but they never completely recovered from the complete defensive abomination in the first quarter.  More...

Maybe it was tired legs on the second night of a back-to-back. Maybe a team lunch of Thanksgiving leftovers left them drowsy with tryptophan. Maybe Marv Albert jinxed us by complimenting the Clippers’ tight defensive rotations one time too many on Thursday night’s national broadcast. Or maybe the Clippers are simply destined to always look their worst against the Suns. Whatever the reason, the Clippers came out flat in the first quarter and were practically run out of the building, allowing 42 points and trailing by as many as 25. Yes, they battled back, twice cutting the Suns’ lead to a mere four points in the third quarter, but the hole was simply too big to overcome.  More...