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Just like a month ago, the Clippers find themselves squaring off against the Phoenix Suns in a post-food coma game. Last time it was the day after Thanksgiving, this time is the day after Christmas. And while they don’t have to go on the road for this matchup, they do tip off at noon, which can feel like an ungodly hour to play. If they retain their same attitude and habits, it’ll probably result in another 42 point first quarter and trail-the-whole-way loss again. But this team, if nothing else, does seem to learn from their many mistakes (with exception of free throw shooting). The opponent three point shooting percentage has been slowly falling since it topped out at 42%, they’re playing better defense (holding the last 9 of 12 opponents under 100 points), and the offense has been steadily improving.  More...

Many Christmases ago, I argued with another fan about the deficiencies of the team. As I rained blows upon him, I realized that there had to be another way! So I searched until I found a holiday that, instead of trying to mask the quarreling and the spite of the holidays, embraced the true antipathy of this time of year: Festivus. A time when you can tell everyone around you how they’ve disappointed you over the past year, a time when you don’t have to be distracted by tinsel on a tree, a time when you can celebrate the petty miracles of life, a time when disagreement over the running of your particular sports franchise can gloriously lead to blows instead of being a shameful fight with gravy in front of your horrified grandmother and mother. It’s a time for the rest of us! Festivus!  More...

The Clippers fail to extend their season high three game winning streak, and head into the Christmas break after losing a highly entertaining back and forth game to Rockets, 97-92. The Rockets led the entire game, and while the Clippers managed to cut that lead to a single point on several occasions, they could never find the basket to get them over the hump. It was another close, winnable game, but (refreshingly) lacked the soul-crushing qualities we’ve suffered through in so many of this season’s losses. The Clippers didn’t miss 100 free throws, or turn the ball over thirty times — they simply came up a little short in a wild game. (I’ll keep this recap concise and bullet-pointy, partly because I’m saving all my secondary thoughts for a special clipperblog Festivus post, but mostly because my DVR decided I didn’t really need to see the first 18 minutes of the second half.)  More...

Streaking into their matchup with the Rockets, the Clippers find themselves with a rudimentary identity: rebound the ball well (2nd in the NBA in rebound rate) and get out in transition. They are only 17th in the league in pace, but that may have more to do with the instant slowdown when the fastbreak doesn’t present itself. They are hardly close to elite on the defensive end, but Demopoulos’ zone defense is starting to show some positive effects as the Clippers slowly trudge out of the basement in Defensive Efficiency Ratings , they are now 20th in the league after being 30th just a few weeks ago. Dwayne Casey (sound familiar) has learned a similar zone from Demopoulos and it’s working pretty well for the Mavericks, so there is reason to believe that the improved defense can continue.

While the Rockets appear to be a mediocre team, their record is a quotidian 13-15, there is argument that the Rockets are a better team. They’ve won 7 of their last ten games, the last two are wins on the road and they sport a positive point differential despite having a losing record. They have the 10th most efficient offense in the league, spearheaded by Kevin Martin and the settled and recovered Kyle Lowry. Once again, the Rockets have suffered a huge setback with the injury to Yao Ming, but they are not a team to be taken lightly.

Keys to the game:

- Kevin Martin v. Eric Gordon. Both teams’ scoring revolves around their young shooting guards. Kevin Martin is an efficient guard despite owning one of the more awkward shots in the league and he is playing the best basketball of his career. He averages 23.4 points on 45 percent shooting from the field and from 3. Gordon will have some difficulties with Martin’s height (6’7”) but not with strength (Martin only weighs 185).

- Go to the rim. Since Yao is out, the Rockets don’t have much interior defense, let alone shot blockers. The closest interior shot blocking presence is Jordan Hill, but he doesn’t have the offensive repertoire to earn minutes. Brad Miller may be tall, but he might have some of the worst hops in the league. And Chuck Hayes is a great defender, don’t get me wrong, but he’s 6’6” tops. There is no way that any of those guys be able to keep up with Blake, let alone the rest of the Clippers, should they get to the rim.

- Distributor Baron. Come on, Baron. You know you want to pass, it’s what can save your career now. It’ll help the team and make you look better, it’s a win-win. Just keep it up. Manage your shots. Try to take fewer than ten and steer clear from those turnaround jumpers on the baseline and those chucked threes. Please. Last game was great. Even Gordon gave you a compliment.

Injuries and Transactions:
Kaman, Cook and Craig Smith are all out, which led to the signing of Ike Diogu. He’s not exactly the missing piece to a puzzle, but he’ll give some front court depth for a while.