Juwan Howard may typify this current incarnation of the Blazers perfectly. While most everyone expected the Blazers to fall apart long ago, they simply haven’t. Tonight the 36 year old Howard throws down a devastating jam on Chris Kaman at the end of the first half that defies all logic, but logic just doesn’t seem to apply to these Blazers. After all, this was a Portland team who had won six of their last seven games coming into tonight despite having eight regular rotation players injured. There’s a certain level of confidence a rogue unit like this develops and carries, and when it goes unchecked it can lead to results similar to what we saw five days ago.
Clippers 105, Portland 95
On January - 5 - 2010
Memphis 106, Clippers 91
On November - 19 - 2009
The Clippers are now without their most efficient offensive and defensive players, and the consequences of those absences are on full display tonight at the Pyramid. The Grizzlies finish the game with 106 points in their 93 possessions (114.0/100) and they do it by brutalizing the Clippers within 15 feet of the basket and by luring the Clippers into a series of bad defensive decisions.
Clippers Waive McNeal and Roberson
On October - 19 - 2009
From Clippers.com:
Los Angeles Clippers today waived guards Jerel McNeal and Anthony RobersonIn two preseason games played with the Clippers, McNeal averaged 3.5 points in 4.5 minutes per game. Roberson tallied 1.3 points and 5.3 minutes in three preseason games played.
The Clippers’ training camp roster currently stands at 15 players.
Kareem Rush is the lone training camp invitee still standing. It’s been mentioned before that Dunleavy typically carries a 14 man roster into the season, so it will be interesting to see if Rush can stick. Ricky Davis isn’t exactly what you would call “dependable,” so there’s a good chance Dunleavy will keep Rush around for added insurance as a perimeter shooter.
Dave Berri: Optimistic With Caveats
On October - 19 - 2009
Dave Berri has a new post up at The Wages of Wins Journals prognosticating the Clippers as a vastly improved team in 2009-10.
Berri’s optimism is based on a number of factors:
- Blake Griffin’s monster collegiate numbers translate well to the pro game. Assume — and it’s quite an assumption — Griffin puts up numbers commensurate to Tim Duncan’s rookie season (19.5 wins produced), when you subtract that from Zach Randolph’s 3.5 wins produced in 2008-09, that would still leave the Clippers short of .500.
Hopes & Fears, Part Two: The Defense
On October - 7 - 2009
The Clippers spent a good part of Tuesday’s practice working on defensive rotations. During the team’s 5-on-5 scrimmage, the coaching staff would have one practice squad run a high pick-and-roll, with a direction by Mike Dunleavy to go left or right off the action. The defensive unit was then ordered to trap or “red” the point guard, which means the PG’s primary defender would crowd him directly on his shoulder, with the screener’s defender joining his teammate out on the perimeter.