The Los Angeles Clippers today acquired guard Steve Blake, forward Travis Outlaw and cash considerations from the Portland Trailblazers in exchange for Marcus Camby.
Blake, 29, is in his seventh NBA season and is averaging 7.6 points, 4.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 51 games in 2009-10. In his career, the former University of Maryland star has appeared in 470 NBA games, making 289 starts with career averages of 7.6 points, 4.2 assists and 2.6 rebounds. Originally drafted in the second round (38th overall pick) of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards, Blake is a career 39 percent three-point shooter and has played for a total of five teams, spending time with the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets as well as the Wizards and Trailblazers.
Trade Becomes Official, Ricky Davis Waived
The Running Game, Part One: The Wings
The expected stylistic change brought on by interim head coach Kim Hughes raises an all-important question: Can the Clippers function effectively as a running team? I took the opportunity to watch a ton of game tape to get a better sense of the Clippers’ tendencies, strengths and weaknesses when they push the ball in transition. Let’s take a look and see who is fit for the running game.
The Wings: Gordon, Butler, Thornton, R. Davis
Cleveland 114, Clippers 89
The first two 3-pointers in Cleveland’s record-setting first quarter, during which they drained 11 of 13 from beyond the arc, come in identical fashion:
Shaquille O’Neal has DeAndre Jordan posted up on the left block. The Clippers send help in the form of one of their guards — Eric Gordon on the first (1st, 8:05), Baron Davis on the second (1st, 7:36). Once the double-team arrives, O’Neal kicks the ball out — to Anthony Parker on the first, then to Boobie Gibson on the second. These shooters have found some open space along the arc behind the stretched Clippers’ defense. In both instances, better communication between Gordon and Davis might have given the Clippers a chance to close out more aggressively.
Boston 95, Clippers 89
There isn’t a game on the schedule where Eric Gordon doesn’t come in handy, but against Boston’s ball pressure in the halfcourt, EJ’s absence is especially costly. The Celtics’ defense focuses on cutting off large swaths of the floor with hard traps. The best way to alleviate that pressure? Perimeter spacing, something that can be achieved with a couple of lethal perimeter threats. Without a shooter like Gordon keeping the defense honest, the Celtics’ tighten their vise even further.
Denver 105, Clippers 85
When you consider the Clippers’ shot selection, early foul trouble and that they’re woefully undermanned, the first half goes about as well it can. The wrong guys take the wrong shots for much of the half, and Denver amasses a trove of free throw attempts. Yet the Clips protect the basketball and force the Nuggets into enough bad shots of their own to go into the half with a one-point lead. Offensively, Chris Kaman takes advantage of Denver’s decision to confront him with man-to-man coverage. He goes 6-for-10 from the floor, though the Nuggets keep him off the line. Apart from that, the Clippers get lucky that a few of their long 2-pointers fall.