Before the Clippers take on the Cavs at 4 pm PT today, let’s catch you up with a few post-Billups bullets.
- Check out the latest edition of the Clippers podcast featuring Kevin Arnovitz, Jordan Heimer and ESPNLA.com’s editor in chief, Eric Neel. The guys discuss what the loss of Chauncey Billups means, the potential of J.R. Smith, and what the Clippers truly need on the wing.
- Here’s a great piece in ESPN the Magazine by Howard Bryant on the assassin-like nature of Chris Paul and how rivalries between players have changed over the years. My favorite line: “Chris Paul is an on-court assassin with the social network of a sorority sister.”
- Although a torn Achilles for most 35-year-olds would mean it’s time to hang ‘em up, Billups is convinced he’ll be back. “With my work ethic, I’m going to get back to 100 percent,” Billups said. “I’ve still got some good years left to play.”
6 Responses
16-7 after tonight! Go Clippers!
Posted on February 8th, 2012 at 3:44 pm
I have a bad feeling about this game but not nearly as bad a feeling as I had about that Orlando game.
I hope playing with fire and getting away with it doesn’t lead to a tight game here against an under .500 Eastern team with guys out.
I will feel better if we don’t give away the entire 15 pt lead we are bound to grab early, before the second quarter is even half over.
The key is defensive rebounding. We can’t let Jamison get 25pts on silly ass stick backs and half hooks from balls picked up off the floor.
The second key is Irving. Paul needs to at worst outplay the kid.
Posted on February 8th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
The Clippers should win easily tonight. The Cavs are bad, they played last night on th road, and they don’t have a dominant center.
The Clippers are going to be fine during the regular season, and they’ll likely end up in one of the 5-8 playoff spots and will open on the road. The first four teams in the West likely will be the Thunder, the Spurs, The Mavs and The Lakers, maybe The Nuggets or The Blazers. That’s where the problems will start, and the main reason the problems will start there is because five of those six teams have excellent big men and will torch Deandre Jordan.
It will be far worse than during the regular season. In a seven game playoff series, the opposing team will develop focused game plans targeting Jordan. The result will be painful to watch.
People have been talking about the necessity of getting a veteran guard or small forward to come off the bench and help in the playoffs. That’s minor. The major need is a starting center who will not get routinely torched by almost every other team in the playoffs. The Clippers are not getting out of the first round without one, even if they beat out the Lakers in the regular season and open at home.
DeAndre Jordan starting at center is that much of a liability.
EricGordonsAnkleBrace Reply:
February 8th, 2012 at 4:36 pm
The Lakers a top 4 seed? Are you smoking crack?
Clips4 Reply:
February 8th, 2012 at 6:02 pm
The Lakers are old, that is where theirproblems start. You have a hidden agenda against DJ and do not know your basketball. Step your game up!
Posted on February 8th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
Sure enough, we let the Cavs hand around and get some confidence and they actually took it too us late. We need to play from ahead against teams this bad with their star player out. Even on the road.
Luckily, we gutted out the Orlando game which makes this loss a lot less painful. You can’t win em all.
Posted on February 8th, 2012 at 6:55 pm
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