2024 Preseason Preview

[Roscoe Sheed]

Sixers fan coming over for some fantasy advice. What's the outlook on Powell this season? With PG gone and Kawhi sidelined, will he eat up a lot of usage and shot attempts? Or could a younger guard take over by new year?

He will probably average around 20 ppg with decent efficiency- he can score at all 3 levels of the floor and get to the foul line too

[Ballings7]

If Kai Jones doesn't stick around, its a travesty.

Like I said, dude should be in the rotation at some level.

Awarded a two-way contract. Bamba is still out so Kai is THE backup center.

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Good stuff!

Glad to get him under wraps for awhile, at least.. not a nba contract buff, but I imagine he'll be converted later in the season to standard spot.

[Bobbymcgee]

Dang, I was kind of hoping Alondes Williams could have stuck around. I'm glad to see he got picked up by the Pistons, though. Hopefully, he gets some playing time.

[Captain Ballmer]

Kawhi not ready.
Mo Bamba not ready.
Tucker away from team.
K.Porter Jr might get suspended.
Christie g-league bound for the beginning.
Hyland is only available because of KPJr' situation.

Ty can only use max. 10/15 of the squad as of now. Welp. Kai and J.Miller will get a lot of minutes.

[Roscoe Sheed]

why hasn't the league already announced a decision on KPJ? What are they waiting for?

[Clemenza]

I heard Kawhi wanted Mo Bamba on the team. Fitting that he's injured too.. Smh

[Clemenza]

Miller wants that NBA standard contract now!

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[og15]

I heard Kawhi wanted Mo Bamba on the team. Fitting that he's injured too.. Smh

What kind of connection do those two even have? Lol

[Dynamix]

I heard Kawhi wanted Mo Bamba on the team. Fitting that he's injured too.. Smh

Their bench sitting chemistry will be off the charts.

[MartinToVaught]

I heard Kawhi wanted Mo Bamba on the team. Fitting that he's injured too.. Smh

Another reason why we need a whole new front office - one that isn't too invested in the sunk cost fallacy to ever say no to Kawhi.

[esqtvd]

Is Bates-Diop ass? At least he's 6-8. Known for good D. Just waived.

We are SO undersized. Besides the 5s, it's Batum and Kobe, and that's it over 6-6.

Keita Bates-Diop (KBD) is a versatile defender for the Phoenix Suns who is known for his effort and smarts:

Solid across the board: While he's not a stopper, he can hold his own against a variety of players, including small forwards and power forwards.
Plays hard and smart: He makes up for his physical limitations with his hard work and intelligence.
Comfortable in his role: He's willing to do the little things on defense, like rotating and closing out.
Guards multiple positions: He spends time defending point guards, shooting guards, small forwards, power forwards, and centers.
Known for his effort: He's known for his effort and smarts.
Closing out hard: He's known for closing out hard.
Fighting through screens: He's known for fighting through screens.
Playing physically inside: He's known for playing physically inside

.

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2024/10/timberwolves-waive-keita-bates-diop.html

[esqtvd]

Van Gundy's D


Lue said that Van Gundy is “doing some different things defensively that we don’t normally see.” Last year’s Clippers defense emphasized taking the middle of the floor away. This year, the Clippers are sending help to the middle of the floor. It should lead to more chances for Ivica Zubac to protect the rim.

Every defense that Van Gundy has been a part of since he joined the NBA in 1989 with the Knicks has been ranked in the top half of the league defensively. The Knicks led the NBA in defensive efficiency three seasons in a row from 1992 to 1995 when Van Gundy was an assistant under Pat Riley. As a head coach in New York and Houston, Van Gundy never had defenses ranked lower than sixth. And if there is one thing Van Gundy takes away more than anything else, it’s the paint. Van Gundy’s defenses allowed the fewest points per game in the paint in eight of his seasons as a head coach, including all four years in Houston.


A strength of the Clippers defense last season was defending without fouling, as the team ranked 10th in opponent free-throw attempt rate. The leader in that category last year was the Celtics, who traded off not forcing turnovers (Boston was 29th in opponent turnover percentage) for not sending teams to the free-throw line.

“I think it’s got to be a smart physicality,” Lue said after the team’s first preseason game against the Golden State Warriors in Honolulu. “We want to play hard, we want to be physical, but it all depends on how the game is being called. So we just can’t be out there fouling and grabbing, especially when teams are in the penalty.”

Another factor the Clippers want to take from the Celtics is how they want to defend 3s. The Clippers allowed the 14th fewest 3s in the NBA last season, while the Celtics were 15th. But the Clippers were tied for 15th in corner 3s allowed, while the Celtics allowed the fewest corner 3s.

“The game is so different, teams are taking so many of them; you really can’t stop teams from taking 3s,” Lue said. “But I think you got to pick and choose which ones you want to give up. So we don’t want to give up corner 3s. Above-the-break 3s, we want to get out, challenge and contest. But in the corners, we’ve got to make sure we’re running guys off. We’re not letting guys take corner 3s, because they shoot a higher percentage from those spots.”

In the first half of preseason games through Wednesday night, the Clippers have ranked fifth in opponent turnover percentage, and only the Heat and Sacramento Kings have averaged more steals.

“We’ve got to be aggressive,” Lue said. “JVG is doing a great job of implementing a system that we want to run defensively, and we’ve got to create more turnovers.”

One reason the Clippers will need to be so good forcing turnovers is because they project to be a poor defensive rebounding team. Last season, the Clippers were 24th in defensive rebounding percentage. This preseason, in the first half of games when regulars are likely to play extended minutes, only the Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks have been worse on the defensive glass among NBA teams. And the Clippers have struggled to get back in transition, allowing more fast-break points than every NBA team except for the New Orleans Pelicans in the first half of games.


https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5817511/2024/10/23/jeff-van-gundy-clippers/?source=freedailyemail&campaign=601983&userId=3761288

[Ballings7]

Is Bates-Diop ass? At least he's 6-8. Known for good D. Just waived.

We are SO undersized. Besides the 5s, it's Batum and Kobe, and that's it over 6-6.

Keita Bates-Diop (KBD) is a versatile defender for the Phoenix Suns who is known for his effort and smarts:

Solid across the board: While he's not a stopper, he can hold his own against a variety of players, including small forwards and power forwards.
Plays hard and smart: He makes up for his physical limitations with his hard work and intelligence.
Comfortable in his role: He's willing to do the little things on defense, like rotating and closing out.
Guards multiple positions: He spends time defending point guards, shooting guards, small forwards, power forwards, and centers.
Known for his effort: He's known for his effort and smarts.
Closing out hard: He's known for closing out hard.
Fighting through screens: He's known for fighting through screens.
Playing physically inside: He's known for playing physically inside

.

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2024/10/timberwolves-waive-keita-bates-diop.html

Watched a lot of KBD with the Spurs.. guy can 'ball, space the floor a bit, rebound, defend, and finish in the paint.

Very long, deceptively athletic, but mobile and versatile enough on both ends for PF, and covering bigger wings. Able to hit the open three.

Would be a nice fit for big forward depth, and a good get IMO..

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[Ballings7]

I still believe this team will be better than a lot of people think.

Kawhi should play enough barring no major issues, and thats the key.

I think without major health issues they'll be able to win mid-to-high 40s (say 44-47 wins); if not a bit more than that.

People still underrate Kawhi and have too short of a memory and lack of content since they don't watch the team on a regular basis; they see him against their team 2-3 times a year, and maybe some highlights and maybe a couple mainstream TV games, spaced out and don't have a credible familiarity with how good he actually he is as an all-around player. Still an elite player when healthy.

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=2404672&start=80#p115047352


Just a little bump in the road here : )


And then Ty Lue...

When you lose a guy of Paul George's stature, instantly people [think] oh, they can't win or they're not going to be competitive," Lue told ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk. "But that just challenges me even more. OK, people are counting us out or people don't think we're going to be good.

"That right there just gives me an extra dose of [motivation]. I can't wait to prove everybody wrong."

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10133456-ty-lue-clippers-cant-wait-to-prove-everybody-wrong-after-paul-george-nba-fa-exit

Lue and the whole staff have gotta have some degree of swag the last few weeks as the team has really settled in well.


Defensively is what has stuck out the most on this team -- basically the whole year.. I thought they'd be solid, but not quite this consistent and capable.