(Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Tonight was a mixed bag for the LA Clippers. A mostly good night, but not a perfect night.
On the strength of a 1st half that saw the Clippers lead 57-45, LA held off the Spurs to win 106-101, giving San Antonio only their 2nd road loss of the season. For the 2nd time this season, the Clippers beat the Spurs while not playing the starting lineup at all in the 4th quarter.
But Clippers PG Chris Paul left the game with 4:33 left in the 3rd quarter with a left hamstring strain and did not return. Paul was working the Spurs over, compiling a near triple-double (19 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals) in only 23:23.
Fortunately, the Clippers got a strong night from the preferred bench unit of Raymond Felton-Jamal Crawford-Austin Rivers-Wesley Johnson-Marreese Speights, as they outscored the Spurs 41-37 and compiled a net rating of 13.0 in 18 minutes. From the time that Paul left the game until about 40 seconds left in the 4th quarter, the Clippers outscored San Antonio 32-27, with contributions ranging from Felton’s scoring, Johnson’s rebounding, and Speights’ passing. In other words, things that don’t normally happen.
great team win. 2nd unit was huuuuuge. let's keep it rolling!
— Blake Griffin (@blakegriffin32) December 23, 2016
Felton finished with a season-high 13 points, Johnson finished with a season-high 9 rebounds, and Speights finished with a season-high 5 assists. And, of course, J-Crossover caught another body…
Here at @STAPLESCenter? Be sure to stop by @LALIVE & ⛸⛸⛸ after the game! pic.twitter.com/VOxHGixkQT
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) December 23, 2016
A top performer from the first half was Clippers SG J.J. Redick. Redick made only three baskets all game, but they were all threes in the first quarter within 4 minutes. San Antonio never led after the first quarter, and Redick finished the game with 11 points (3-of-4 threes). In all, the Clippers made 11-of-28 threes (39.3 percent), with the starters combining to make 7-of-9 from downtown (77.8 percent). On the flipside, the Spurs made only 6-of-19 threes (31.6 percent). DeAndre Jordan also had a memorable 1st half…
😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/Pb6PZV20O6
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) December 23, 2016
A key to stopping the Spurs is stopping Leonard – the Clippers didn’t exactly do that, as Leonard went off for a game-high 27 points. But 3 of Leonard’s 4 turnovers came in the 1st half, and after Leonard had 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting by halftime, the Clippers held him to 3-of-10 shooting from the field in the 2nd half.
Now, Paul says that his hamstring injury is minor, but the Clippers play three games in the next four days.
The other concern from tonight? I don’t think you can have Wesley Johnson inbounding anymore. Johnson only has 11 turnovers this season, but he has been an unreliable inbounder:
That was crazy. pic.twitter.com/VDoEvgYQz8
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) December 23, 2016
Overall, the Clippers are starting to stack up some wins again. They have now won 6 of their last 7 since their stretch of 4 days off in 5 days. Not all of the wins have been convincing, and the defense has still been below average, but scoring 106 points against the Spurs with no Griffin and no player reaching 30 minutes is a good look.
The Clippers are 21-29 in the playoffs during the CP/BG/DJ era.
Chris Paul with a lower body injury? Is it the 1st round already?
I hate to be negative but games like this make Doc think his roster is better than it is. That justifies his complacency.
The Clippers are going to win 55 to 60 games. The Clippers are good enough to beat the best teams in the league. But they’ve proven time and time again this roster isn’t good enough to win in the playoffs.
There isn’t a curse. It isn’t bad luck. It’s the 15 man roster.
So, now that DJ’s shooting 55% from the FT line are the Clippers favored to win it all?
Maybe people will focus on the real 4th quarter problems now and not some box score bullshit.
Lets bring back ‘Nique, or Grant Hill, maybe Mark Aquirre?
Or wait, how ‘bout Kerry Kittles or Ryan Gomes??? Yep, I’ll pass, and stick with the 55 to 60 wins, and take my chances in the playoffs. Go Clippers!
As a team the worst thing you can be is good but not good enough.
Drafting poorly and giving away assets compounds that problem.
The CP3 era Clippers are stuck in a hole. The hole has diamonds in it but you can’t cash them in because you’re stuck in a f**king hole.
Man, this is the 6th straight year of the same mistakes. They don’t have the balls to make new f**king mistakes.
How many years have I said the Clippers should be running Pick and Roll with Blake as the initiator? They won’t even do it with CP on the bench. It only happens when Blake and DJ improvise after a play breaks down.
David Michineau update.
He’s played 13 games in the French League. He’s shooting 32% from the field and 16% from 3.
He’s playing 26 mpg and averaging 9 points, 3 assists, and 2 turnovers per game.
The Clippers hired a bunch of new front office people.
Wouldn’t it be nice if they found a diamond in the rough playing in the D-League or overseas?
I’m sure Doc would give him a shot. Doc loves to try new things. It’s not like Doc’s starting Paul Pierce instead of Bass, Speights, or Johnson.
Former 2nd round pick Travis Leslie is doing good things in the D-League.
He’d be worth a look if the Clips decided to trade Jamal and wanted an athletic SG who can defend and rebound.
Nah. Doc would just play Paul Pierce at SG.
The San Antonio win was a very good win. Probably on the fluky side, because most of the San Antonio guards were ice cold (Parker 1-8, Mills 1-5, Simmons 2-10) but still it was a very good win.
Felton is playing better than I remember him playing in recent years. He probably was shocked no team would give him more than the minimum, so he probably got on better shape and started playing for a better contract. The results are good.
I just looked at Felton’s stats. This season he’s shooting 45% from the field and 41% from three range. This is the best shooting season (combining both of those) he’s ever had in his 12 year NBA career. It’s far better than his last several years. Last season he was 40% from the field and 28% from three range.
yep, Felton has been very surprising so far.
I’m confused.
The people who keep saying the Clippers could win it all because of their depth are the same people shrugging off a home loss against the Mavericks when that depth was on display.
Yes, the Clippers have a better bench this year. Austin got better and they made the most out of their minimum signings.
But the bench isn’t the reason the Clippers are 21-29 in the playoffs during the CP3 era. The Clippers have problems with the core of their roster. The Clippers have problems with the guys they put on the floor in the 4th quarter.
SEVEN of the top NINE players in the rotation played against Dallas last night. Those are SEVEN of the NINE guys Doc will be playing in the Playoffs. And THREE of those guys are part of the core roster.
It was a bad loss.
DeAndre Jordan took 0 shots in the 4th.
J.J. Redick took 1 shot in the 4th.
Raymond Felton took 1 shot in the 4th.
Marreese Speights took 1 shot in the 4th.
Jamal Crawford took 6 shots in the 4th.
The Clippers scored 16 points in the 4th quarter. But Jamal got his. That’s what really matters.