Got a $100 ticket last night for $5 from a scalper last night. Section 108 row 14. I live walking distance, so I just needed a ticket to get in. Didn't even have to bargin, the guy tried to give me 2, but I gave one back.

Was well worth it to see Thorton play. He better start get 30+ min every game no matter what.

Lately that's been all Al's decision. He's just had issues with keeping his hands off the other team.

It would be nice if he kept passing on the table once in a while though. Sometimes he makes Kobe look like Brevin Knight in the sharing department.

gave the Clippers a 20-point lead with 7:17 remaining

David Courtney, the Kings' PA guy (and L.A. radio traffic reporter), did the Clips' game last night. Has he been doing many of them this season?

As a season ticket holder, I want them to open the game-time wifi again.

For the last two years, there was an open wifi connection during the games. I was surprised that you weren't blogging live from the games.

This year it's gone...

I don't think Al gave a shit about sharing the ball last night. He was too pissed (and rightfully so) about the rookie game snub.

He's the only reason to watch games right now. So happy to see him explode for 33.

Damn, I'm bored.

Here's the latest from SOFO's site:

"With this message, I would like to address all of you that express your empathy on a daily basis. You should know that your love, support and trust in my face give me strength to carry on to the end the effort that has only begun three weeks ago and I hope will be resolved in the best possible manner for both me and Olympiacos.

The situation has been very tough all that time, since apart from anything else, it took a great toll on me in regard to how I should have dealt with it. Last time I took a public stand, I may have caused the impression that I'm confronting Olympiacos, however, this had not been the case. I just wanted to have a chance to express my point of view. My team has stood by my side every minute and despite all confrontations, they have been my basic supporter in my search for the best possible solution, mainly by showing their trust in me till today.

My program has been going very well, I feel fine and hope to return the soonest possible. Until that time, I won't have the luxury of answering to each one of your messages, since the most important thing for me right now is to completely focus in this effort. You will be hearing from me from time to time through this page and I hope we'll meet soon again in the Peace and Friendship Stadium! Until then, thank you and take care..."

http://www.bigsofo.gr/site/...

John R - look at Thornton's college stats. He never passed there either. I suspect that he will learn when and if he's given consistent minutes, but it will take a while.

But really, many of these guys didn't even get halfway to a degree at their respective schools. Does it really matter that much? It's just linking an institution and a ballplayer that really don't have that much in common

Big Al is a baller. His passing will come when he gets the time. I saw him put 40 on Duke when he was a junior. That just does not happen. He is way more polished than any of the other rooks I have seen. I predict that he will be a better player than Durant over the long haul. I think he's better right now too. It just took some injuries to get him the time from the Clip's coach. There is no excuse for him not to start and get 30-35 minutes per game, but I don't see it happening with Ross around.

Big Al was a 4 year man and graduated as far as I know.

He did graduate, and he's 24. Thus, the "long haul" is three years for him. He's going to reach his athletic prime at 27 or 28.

I hope he does. In college he had an excuse, somewhat. As Clippers, I expect everyone to make it a high priority to get EB the ball.

Before the end of the season I'd like to see him consider it an option to create for someone else. That's all I'm saying.

Ross hasn't been taking Al's minutes. Al has been taking his own minutes with bad fouls. He's actually been managed pretty well. As the other rookies are petering out, he's hitting his stride.

Has anyone noticed that TT has been playing really well for the last month. Now, if we could just get Mobley to go thids team could and should win at least half its games the rest of the way. The biggest problem has been, and always will be until something happens, the huge hole at the point guard. Still not many options there. Good point guards are a rare commodity and once found not easily parted with to opponents.

As of right now, the Clippers are the 5th or 6th worst team in the league. That's a projected 5 or 6 pick. Not good enough.

You'd rather them win 1/2 of their remaining games over getting a higher pick? What would that really accomplish?

In this league, being mediocre is not the key to success. You have to be REALLY bad to get good. Almost every single playoff team this year was REALLY REALLY bad before their success came.

The draft is more important than people think or want to admit.

Since the initial goal of reaching the playoffs this year is no longer a possibility, you have to change up your goals.

A) Develop Thornton
B) Get assets for Corey and Sam (cap space & draft picks)
C) Let Kaman grow some more
D) Let EB and Shaun get their feet wet for next year
E) Get a top 3 pick

BREAKING NEWS:

KAMAN SNUBBED. What did you expect?

Sometimes i wonder if being a clippers fan is worth it. Ralph Lawler is going to be PISSED!

Draft is a crap shoot. Clippers pick losers more often than not. They got lucky this year because Thornton fell into their lap. Other teams ahead of them screwed up and there were many quality players in last years draft. That's rare. Never play for the draft. Only loser operations do that. The difference between the top 10 picks is squat most every year and especially this year.

We get it that you don't like Maggette. It became clear after your 10th post or so. After your 100th of saying the same foolishness it gets old.

For example, with respect to the draft being a total crap shoot I remember many many homers on this site pleading for the Clippers to draft Nick Young instead of Thornton. Who's Nick Young? I hate to tell some this, but there is basketball outside of USC and UCLA. That's breaking news.

i havent harped on maggs in a while...he's been playing well, actually. but you still have to let him walk and use his combined cap space to sign someone that fits better in dunleavey's system.

Dunleavy DID get the Clips to game 7 of round 2... it's not ALL his fault, fellas.

He's been playing like an all-star. Look at his numbers. Look at the shooting percentage and the efficiency. You let a guy who is playing like an all-star wing walk? ... for a draft pick!? . . . for cap space to overpay someone else? Doesn't make a lot of sense.

actually, it is his fault for trusting the rook to handle raja. and then it was over. was a great ride tho'

Nick Young is having a good year in Washington, he's still raw but he could turn out to be a nice pro. I like the Thornton pick still, but the Koralev pick a few years back MURDERED us.

Am I the only one who thinks it's obvious that if Cassell was in during game five Bell still would have made the shot? He's not exactly a defensive stopper...

well, maybe so. but in a crunch time of that magnitude, i'll take experience over youth unless your youth is a proven stud.

Its time to let that play go. It was no more or less consequential than the 8 second violation or the awful early shots and we all seem to have forgiven Sam for those.

Wow, Lakers just got a lot better and gave up nothing in return except money. Are they ever over the cap now! Lakers give up a bum (Brown) and a rookie that may not be any good, and certainly wasn't going to play given the development of Farmar, for one of the few legit power forwards in the NBA. Just what they lacked they now have. Memphis just basically gave up Gasol for nothing, especially considering that Brown is worthless at best and they already have a point guard of their future in Connolly. You would have thought they could do better than this.

Oh well, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Same old story.

I have always disliked the Lakers and their players and now it looks like they are instant favorites to win another championship. Talk about turning a sow's ear (Brown) into a silk purse.

Well at least the Lakers won't be trying to get Brand now.

Good point. The Lakers can now pull a complete championship purchase if they want by dumping Odom and Radmonovic (probably around 15 mil) and some other trash and picks for Kidd (19 mil). Their payroll would be absolutely astronomical (Kobe 20 mil?? Gasol 16 mil, Kidd 19 mil) That's some serious change.

When are we going to make power moves like that?

On the 12th.

I am excited to be coming to your L.A. Lakers! I hope that you accept me as one of your own very soon. Go Lakers!

Don't know if anyone else has heard, but Mark Cuban is trying to steal Clipper Darrell:

http://pinkhatnation.blogsp...

As much as I dislike the Lakers you have to give them props for letting go of their dead weight (Brown) they really did not give up much. Crittenton was not going to see any quality minutes when they have Fisher and Farmar playing as good. And the first round picks are going to be high anyway. I won't be surprised to come to the Staple Ctr to see another banner up.

Now going back to our (Clipper) problem, we need to make bold moves like that. We need to get rid of Mobley, Aarron Williams, and Cassell. We need a point gaurd that can drive inside and dish out. We need a young point gaurd and we need a shooter. I think we should try to get J.J Reddick from the magic. Whatever player we bring it has to be a real 3 point threat.

i love reddick but dunleavy would never play him because he's not a "defensive specialist"

i hate the lakers even more now

John R - that moment where MDSr put in a rookie to guard Bell is a defining moment for a coach. That's when you make or break your career.

Of course, MDSr's had at least two of those moments - losing the 18 point lead in teh 4th when coaching Portland against the Lakers was the other. Portland was by far the best team in the NBA that year.

Sorry, but he had his chance, and lost (twice). Time to move on.

Gasol to the Lakerss? Come on Elgin, can we make a blockbuster deal for a point guard like Jason Kiddd?

Ahhhh why do you people want Stoudamire or Kidd??? They're OLD! We're not winning a championship this year! You think Stoudamire would come to the Clips instead of the Spurs? You honestly think Jason Kidd is the answer to our problems? What is wrong with you people???

The Clips could clear some cap room [though I urge them not to spend it on the Westside Rentals loon], and rid Staples of his once-endearing, but increasingly tiresome shtick. As I told Abbott this morning, I'd trade Darrell Bailey for a deli spread and three cubic liters of pre-jump-ball talc.