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Clippers 97, Lakers 91: An Eric Bledsoe Recap

Oct 25, 2012
by Charlie Widdoes




Eric Bledsoe’s stat line in 43 minutes: 22 points, 11 assists, 9 steals, 5 rebounds.

His victims, in particular: 2-time league MVP Steve Nash and NBA veteran Steve Blake.

Video proof:

Further video proof, in GIF form.

His reaction, courtesy of Clippers TV.

That’s it, folks. That’s all you need to know from this one. Final preseason game tonight at Denver.

Charlie Widdoes

Latest posts by Charlie Widdoes (see all)

  • http://barmapla.com FD

    To me DeAndre didn’t look so good on Defense last night. Same jumping way out of position to try to block some shots. Hollins looked just as good as DeAndre last night.

    • WammyGiveaway

      Jordan will have a very difficult time defending the Lakers centers. The purple and gold have always went after the best of the best, and Howard is one of those best of the best. Even if Sacre is just a rookie, he should now be in the conversation as an up and coming center – now the Lakers have THREE (Howard, Gasol, Sacre). As long as Jordan can stay focused and perform the same way he did against the other weaker centers in the regular preseason, he should be fine and be able to stand up against the likes of hall of famers Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol, and the rookie Robert Sacre.

      • Clips4

        Sacre is still a long-shot to make the final roster. He looked good only because he was playing with Nash. Nash made Marcin Gortat look like an all-star in PHX last year. Sacre is a very sound defensive player. He was DPOY in the WAC last year. The defensive mentality and defensive fundamentals you have in college translate to the pros and it’s all about timing and execution. DJ is still a work in progress but the improvements are there. Because DJ was working on his game all summer, he did not get a chance to use it in-game. Now he will be able to practice in-game and learn from his mistakes and he will make that jump. D12 is very imposing so the advantage goes to him. Pau Gasol is long and a savvy veteran so advantage goes to him. DJ is not in Pau’s league in terms of game IQ but that will come as DJ gets more exposure. It was a good sign that VDN left him out in the 4th quarter last night.

        • Bongstradamus

          Sacre made the cut. They are keeping him.

          • Clips4

            Wow. If that is the case, the Lakers have good depth at the 4/5 spot.

          • Bongstradamus

            Yea it’s a little disgusting how big they are at the 4/5

  • rogmatic

    Jordan got dominated by Bynum. Surely it can’t be any worse this year against DH.

    • The Blakers

      well considering DH is a worse offensive player than Bynum, it shouldn’t be worse

    • Clips4

      DJ is tiny compared to Bynum as is everyone else. Bynum is thicker and wider and stronger. The only thing DJ could do is play up-tempo and tire out Bynum. With D12, D12 is just as fast and athletic as DJ is but his upper body is so wide and powerful that he’s much stronger than DJ. That is why opposing centers have so many issues with them.

  • DeMote DeAndre

    The tradition continues.

    Robert Sacre, who was the 60th and last pick in the draft and who will the last person to make the Laker’s roster if he makes it at all, had a career night going up against DeAndre, almost doubling his pre-season average.

    Sacre was 6-9 for 13 points. He also had a +/- of +3, which granted isn’t much at first glance, but last night game was the only time in his seven game pro career that Sacre didn’t have a negative +/-.

    • Clips4

      DeMote…. You do realize that Sacre was playing with Steve Nash right? Steve Nash made Marcin Gortat look like an all-star in PHX last year. Oh wait…. You never watched any of those games and you did not watch last night either.

    • Bongstradamus

      DJ only got 6 shots that game. He nailed 4 of them. He still grabbed 7 boards, had a steal and a block and 1 turnover.

      Sacre got more shots, but also had 5 turnovers.

    • zvz

      thumbs downed this without even reading it

  • DeMote DeAndre

    Oh yeah, DeAndre had a +/- of -8, despite the win. He also was 0-2 from the line.

    Ryan Hollins had a +/- of +17, and he was 3-3 from the line. Could be something good happening here.

    • Nrm

      Welcome back. People missed you

    • Bongstradamus

      Who cares about free throws? Can D12 hit free throws? Could Shaq hit free throws? Which big men do you know of that are 80% free throw shooters? Theres not very many at all. Can probably count them on a single hand.

      Hollins had more shots than DJ that game. He also had more fouls, and less rebounds as well as getting his shot blocked twice.

      +/- doesnt mean much. You need to read those box scores a little more closely.

  • griffin

    Omg the devil troll is back. See what you did fd.

  • LobCityPD

    The fact that Demote has nothing to say unless DJ has a bad game makes his analysis worthless. Where were you the rest of the preseason when DJ was putting in work? In all seriousness, Demote’s comments are satire and not to be taken literally. Just laugh when you see them.

  • http://clipperblog Tim

    Willie Green has played well enough these last couple of times out to remove the Gomes comparisons. Green is out there finding his way and he’s not out there embarrassing himself in the process. Props for Vinny staying the course and running that guy back out there. #34 is not a liability, and quietly making contributions. Lets recognize.

    • griffin

      All that said he shouldnt be in the rotation ahead of barnes let alone being a starter

      • Clips4

        I concur. Green is easily the worst player on the team.

        • WammyGiveaway

          He may be the worst player on the team stat wise, but his +/-, or intangibles are actually good. He knows how to take care of the ball and make the smart pass, and he doesn’t make as many costly mistakes as that of Ryan Gomes.

          I’m gonna sound mean, so feel free to give me negatives, but I feel that Vinny Del Negro would rather have a “weakest link” player on the starting lineup instead of another qualified starter so that the bench stays strong and intact. He did it last year by keeping Mo Williams on the bench and bringing in Randy Foye for the SG spot. The entire team knew how much they valued Billups, and I think that thought finally crept into VDN during the Spurs sweepstakes. Billups is irreplaceable. If there’s a Clipper curse, Mr. Big Shot is the Clipper’s lucky charm.

        • http://clipperblog Tim

          Just like last year when you were so critical of Foye early in the season, and I told you, Foye would make you eat your words, Green will make you eat your words this year Clips4. Green is not the worst player on this team.I’m a fan of the Clippers, and to me this year, there are no worst players on our team, they are all good players, some great, but none worthy of the worst player on the team title. Travis Leslie is not better than Green, but all the players on this team are good, and serviceable. Last year Gomes was deserving of his title as worst player on the team, because he single-handedly lost games for us. Green hasn’t done anything to deserve that kind of lable. Give the man time to get acclimated. He’s on this team because of Chris Paul, and to me, that a hell of an endorsement.

          • Clips4

            Travis Leslie does not have a guaranteed contract. Green does. That’s why I say he is the worst player on the team. Until the final roster is set, I’d rather have Marques Blakely in and cut Travis Lesley. Foye did one thing well last year and that was spot up. He was horrible everywhere else. Foye is basically a poor man’s Eric Gordon and has the frame to take contact. He played scared for some reason and would never drive. When you have the ability to be a knockdown shooter like Foye was/is and also have the ability to drive and draw fouls, you have to be a two-way player on offense to keep defenses honest. Outside of CP and Blake last year and to a small extent with Mo, nobody could create their own shot. This year, Crawford can create his own shot, Matt Barnes can slash, LO when he’s right can create for himself and for others. We do not have guys who specialize at one thing but are more well-rounded. Green from what I have seen has been horrible. I’d rather have Bledsoe slide in as the starting 2 because he’ll get the 25-30 minutes he deserves. When CP comes out, slide Bledsoe to the 1 and then stagger CP back in. Willie Green is not the knockdown shooter Foye was but he’s also not that great of a finisher either.

            • http://www.clipperblog.com Andrew Han

              Not to divert the conversation, but can you link a source for Leslie’s contract still being non-guaranteed? I’ve been trying to hunt down a solid answer for weeks now to no avail. Best I’ve been able to uncover is that his contract guarantee deadline was July 1. But there was no news that his contract became guaranteed or that the date had been moved.

          • Clips4

            And let’s be realistic here. Green does not deserve more minutes than Bledsoe. In fact, I would much rather see Green with DNPCD’s and give Bledsoe 25-30 mpg.

            Here’s how the minutes should break down:
            CP3: 35-40 minutes
            Blake: 35-40 minutes
            Caron: 25-30 minutes
            DJ: 35 minutes
            Hollins: 10-15 minutes
            Turiaf: 5 -10 minutes
            Barnes: 20-25 minutes
            Crawford: 20-25 minutes
            Bledsoe: 30 minutes
            LO: if healthy 20 minutes
            Grant Hill: 5 to 10 minutes

            Realistically, some guys should expect not to play.

          • Clips4

            Oh ok. I am not sure if this does any good, but Hoopshype.com lists Leslie with a team option for the year. Trey Thompkins has a guaranteed contract.

            http://hoopshype.com/salaries/la_clippers.htm

          • Clips4

            http://www.hoopsworld.com/los-angeles-clippers-team-salary

            Hoopsworld says Leslie’s contract is non-guaranteed.

      • http://clipperblog Tim

        The reason Green is starting is, we all know, the bench will consist of Bledsoe, Crawford, Barnes, Turiaf, and Hollins, and when Billups comes back, Green is benched, and when LO comes back, Turiaf is benched, and when Hill comes back, Barnes and Hill will split time as back up 3, with a little Hill at the 2 if Crawford is clanking shots. Even when Billups gets back, hes’ going to miss games here and there, insert Green. This team has conceivably 12 players who could start in the Association. Vinny appears to already have an idea how he will use the players, and I agree. The bench has it core players, the starters have their core players, and Greens game closely resembles what Chauncey is going to bring the table. And?? Green hasn’t been that bad these last few nights out, a few highlight worthy plays, he’s going to be ok. Barnes has proven through-out his career that he’s not a starter. The guy plays his best hoops in training camp, and pre-season, because he’s usually fighting just to make a roster. I’ve always liked Barnes’ skill-set, but Green is better suited from a skill and temperment level to run with the starters, and Barnes is perfectly suited for bench-duties. Lets recognize the valued contributions this entire roster has to offer, and stop the ‘who’s on first, whats on second, I don’t knows on third” approach. Barnes makes his impact on a game from the bench. He can’t impact as a starter, Blake, DJ, and CP handle that, sprinkle in a little Caron, and that’s it, and thats plenty. Green? Run the floor, stay in front of your man, get a hand up on the 3’s, guard passing lanes in transition, that’s all he has to do. Green is capable. No need to rebound, that’s Blake and DJ’s job, something Barnes excels at, but something Blake and DJ need to do, to get better as NBA players, and to best assert themselves, and best establish their dominance. Barnes sneaking rebounds away from Blake and DJ stunts their growth as players. Everyone has to play their roles. Right now, Bledsoe needs to be the best back up point guard he can be, and the entire team needs to do what Vinny has been saying all along, “work your minutes!” If they do that, this team will win 58 games, Jordan! I am feeling you!

        • griffin

          Green is the worst player on the team doesnt mean he cant contribute. It just means he shouldnt be starting nor should he be getting the mins he has been getting. Also leslie contract is guarnteed i read an article that all 15 guys were under contract. and I wouldnt necessarily have him start but I would rather develop him and give him more mins then green based on he is raw talent and has huge upside as to green who is a completed player.

          • http://clipperblog Tim

            Chris Paul makes Willie Green a much better player. During the pre-season in games where Green and Paul started together, Green is +11.5, and in games where Green and Bledsoe started together, Green is -9. Part of being a good point guard is making the players around you better. I find it hard to believe that a player who is potentially a +11.5 guy, could equate to your worst player on the team. It doesn’t add up in my book.
            Blakely? A Career d-leaguer. Leslie? Plain and simple, with no disrespect to the OG Clipper, but the guy can’t shoot. Green is a smart saavy NBA player. With CP in the backcourt, Green is a serviceable, and highly productive player for the role he is asked to play. Blake, CP, and Caron are going to score with a little DJ sprinkled in. To can’t upset that apple-cart, it’s a proven winner. Green has to find other ways to be productive on the court, and his +11.5 when CP’s on the floor is a clear indication that he knows his role, and plays it well. There’s only 1 basketball, and only 2 superstars, you can’t have Bledsoe running around, controlling the game. That’s Chris Paul game Bledsoe is controlling. Think about that, and be careful for what you ask for. Bledsoe is nice, and at times you give him an extended run, but just like Vinnie the microwave Johnson, you can’t have Bledsoe running with the starters, even if Dumars or Thomas is having an off night. Paul and Billups is a proven winner, and Green is a nice place-holder until Billups gets back. Let Bledsoe soak up his promotion to back-up point, which is more responsibility than he’s ever been trusted with. Work your minutes son, and we’ll see what we have for you next year. Prove you can back-up the point. Prove you are ready every time Paul needs a rest, and just work your consistent backup point guard minutes. Green is the perfect player to not upset the applecart, and smart enough to be productive, by playing his role, as starting shooting guard for the 2012-13 Los Angeles Clippers, until Chauncey returns. Credit Del Negro for figuring that out, and don’t look now, but Vinny is a few wins short of becoming the winningest coach in Los Angeles Clippers history, percentage wise. Let that man call a few shots, now why don’t you!

          • Clips4

            Blakely is a very good defender. THat’s what the scouting report has on him. The only thing he can’t do well is shoot. Since Thate is hired as the Clippers’ shooting coach, sharing some of that wealth with Blakely would do him a lot of good.

  • Mv22

    Deandre will have an outstanding season. He’s a little ahead of schedule . Big men take longer to develop than other players. DJ is only 24 yrs old and now he’s added apost game. No, it wasn’t his best outing of the season but he’s had an exciting exhibition season and he will continue to improve. Very impressed with Hollis as a back up center. Demote only watches dj’s off games so he can continue to prove he’s right. He has very low basketball I.Q. Btw, Bledsoe is pretty good.

    • Clips4

      He forgets that because Kobe wasn’t playing last night and Nash had the ball all night, Sacre looked like an all-star the same way Gortat looked like an all-star last year playing with Nash in PHX.

  • Clips4

    Wow… Kevin Harlan just put VDN and George Karl in the same sentence under the description of bright coaches…. VDN is not even in Karl’s league as a coach.

    • Bongstradamus

      I just read a coaches ranking in hoops hype. Vdn is 25/30

      • Clips4

        I think VDN is a worst coach than Alvin Gentry. He should be 26. He, by virtue is better than Mark Jackson, Jaque Vaughn, and Mike Dunlap because he has more coaching experience at the NBA level than all 3 of them combined.

    • http://barmapla.com FD

      George Karl can’t win the in the playoffs. Denver is always an easy out. I don’t consider him a good coach either.

      • Clips4

        George Karl got the Nuggets with a very dysfunctional team with Melo to the playoffs when he had throat cancer. He also got the Sonics in the 95-96 season to the NBA finals against Michael Jordan and the Bulls.

        The reason Denver is an easy out because they did not have a star last year nor this year. Carmelo Anthony was also a second-tier star. He had Allen Iverson for a few years too and when you have two renown coach killers in Iverson and Antonhy, you know he’s not going to do so well. If you have a superstar like Kevin Durant, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul then George Karl can do better. He always gets the most out of the talent he has on his roster. You cannot say that he is not a good coach. A coach is only as good as the pieces he has on his roster.

        George Karl is a Coach of the Year candidate almost every year because he coaches his butt off. I love George Karl as a coach and would love to have him here. If you ask me, the top 6 coaches in the NBA are: 1) Pop, 2) Rick Carlisle, 3) Doc Rivers, 4) Rick Adelman, 5) George Karl, 6) Tom Thibideau. I would say Between Karl and Adelman you could make them interchangeable at their rankings. I put Karl and Adelman ahead of Thibs because they have a bigger sample size and a longer head coaching career than Thibs. Their work speaks for itself.

        FD, you have to take a look at context and perspective. If Karl were coaching the Clippers right now, I would lock them into the WCF at the minimum barring injury.

  • http://barmapla.com FD

    I thought Hollins looked better than DeAndre tonight. But this is pre-season, doesn’t matter. Gotta try DeAndre going all 4 quarters for the first 10 games.

  • Clips4

    I say cut Travis Leslie and keep Marques Blakely and see what he can do.

  • DeMote DeAndre

    Funhouse distortion mirrors, the kind that distort little into big, that’s the way most people here seem to be viewing DeAndre Jordan.

    Well, either that or a few people here are watching the games inside padded cells at an asylum for the delusional.

    Take a look at last night’s game, the last game of the preseason when players should be showing what they really are. Jordan, playing against second rate Kostas Koufas, was a blase 2-5 from the field, both of the baskets on wide open dunks. Jordan could make wide open dunks last season. He could make them his rookie season. This season’s version of Jordan is nothing new. He’s the same inept player he’s been since he got here his rookie season.

    To make it even worse, Jordan was the only one of the starters who didn’t have a positive +/-. Griffin was +10, Butler +13, Paul +6 and Willie Green +7. Deandre was 0.

    By the way, Ryan Hollins was +12.

    Kosta Koufas is not much of a center, but he still managed to work DeAndre the same way so many other bad centers do. Kosta Koufas played more minutes than DeAndre (30 to 27) and yet Koufas both outscored him (12 to 9) and out rebounded him (10 to 6).

  • DeMote DeAndre

    I’m still holding out some hope for Lamar Odom, but I doubt that’s realistic.

    It was reported today that Odom wants a family and so Khloe has been doing fertility treatments, but now she’s stopping them because she’s choosing career over family and is now going to be a host on “The X Factor”. This sounds like it will be a good subject for one of the Kardashian shows, but it doesn’t sound like it’s going to be good for whatever is left of Odom’s head since he slipped into that swampy Khardahian whirlpool.

    Since he reported to training camp so out of shape, I don’t see how he can suddenly be in good enough shape to play effectively, not after sitting out the preseason with a bone bruise on his knee.

    I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt for awhile, but it seems likely he’s going to be worthless.

    Still, there’s at least a chance he can get it together, and if he does he will be a far better center than DeAndre Jordan.

    • zvz

      youre so stupid, please stop

    • http://barmapla.com FD

      Really Odom just needs to play center in the 4th quarter. He doesn’t have to be in great shape.

      • The Blakers

        well, so far, who has done better, DJ or Odom. DJ has earned his right to be in over Odom and until Odom proves me wrong DJ should be ahead of him

        • http://barmapla.com FD

          I’ll give you that for the first 10-15 games. DeAndre should be playing 30+ minutes to see what he can do.

    • Mv22

      Dumb as a rock, particularly as an observer of basketball.

  • griffin

    Is the clipperblog writers getting lazy where is the recap of the denver game

    • Patrick

      Give them some slack they are preseason games, they don’t really matter.

      • griffin

        Still even in preseason they still recap every game

  • Clips4

    I just listened to the NBA Today podcast and it had Adam Stanco hosting it with ESPNLA’s Dave McMenamin. When they came across the topic of the Clippers, I heard McMenamin’s Laker bias. He apparently forgot what Blake Griffin did to the Lakers when Blake was hitting that 17 foot jumper like it was nothing. He still has doubts about Blake expanding his game with his jump shot and I felt that was a total insult to the Clippers. Come November 2 when Blake lights up the Lakers because they’re going to keep giving him that shot all day, McMenamin will eat his words.

    • Mv22

      Ralph lawless sai in talkin to Bo that’s Blake’s shooting coach, that’ve told him tha Blake will not be a good shooter, he’ll be a great shooter by the end of this season. Blake as progressed in75 days, more than Jason Kidd progressed in 135 games. Look out league.


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