Game26: Los Angeles (18-7) @ Denver (10-15)

[LACtdom]

I kinda wish JJ changed direction to try and draw a 3pt foul instead of jacking up an impossible shot.

The loss sucks but we didn't deserve to win so hopefully we learn some things from this game.

[SnapBack30]

The refs in this game were decidedly biased against the Clippers. The rash of tech fouls in the 3rd quarter provided Denver with a points cushion they did not deserve and seemed to deflate the Clips intensity and fight. I feel like the refs played for Denver tonight.

[Wammy Giveaway]

Jordan's flagrant foul to Timofey Mozgov could have been an ejection, but his was a Type-1, so he didn't get tossed. If the NBA suspends DJ for that hit, the next game could be an automatic loss. With Spencer Hawes yet to return, and if there is a suspension, a new weakness will be revealed: big man depth. It's as if the Clippers never did address their backup big issue.

[Quake Griffin]

not a good game to lose with SAS on the road coming up

[Roscoe Sheed]

Jordan's flagrant foul to Timofey Mozgov could have been an ejection, but his was a Type-1, so he didn't get tossed. If the NBA suspends DJ for that hit, the next game could be an automatic loss. With Spencer Hawes yet to return, and if there is a suspension, a new weakness will be revealed: big man depth. It's as if the Clippers never did address their backup big issue.

an ejection and/or suspension for an unintentional arm graze to the head? no way. That wasn't even a flagrant foul.

[Wammy Giveaway]

an ejection and/or suspension for an unintentional arm graze to the head? no way. That wasn't even a flagrant foul.

The refs don't care. All they wanted was an ejection. In fact, on the Nuggets telecast, the commentators actually said they would have loved to see a Clipper player ejected. They specifically pointed to Chris Paul when he got his technical foul.

In the preseason, they got J.J. Redick ejected. On the Clippers-Suns game, the referees threw Jamal Crawford out of the game on the first T. The referees hate the Clippers, and want to make sure that they lose in any way, shape or form. Clips have the Warriors coming up next week, and we all knew what happened last year. Mark Jackson rigged the game to get Blake Griffin ejected. The Warriors stole a win, while Griffin became the subject of trade rumors for Carmelo Anthony.

On the Clippers side, I've noticed that when a player gets a T, they start playing cautiously, as if they're afraid of getting ejected. They have to face that fear and risk the ejection, even if it means putting yourself on the trading block, which happened to Griffin last year, even if it was unjust. You cannot allow the refs to put a leash on you just because they caught you in the act. This is why I hate games where multiple players get a T, yet nobody is ejected. Getting one of your guys tossed to the locker room should count for motivation - that's how Blake Griffin took over, to the tune of shooting that Sudden Death 3 in overtime to win the Suns game.

The Clippers don't know what it means to "take one for the team." All they know is that they want to stay in it. And if used improperly, that could be a problem.

[pageC4]

not a good game to lose with SAS on the road coming up

No, it definitely wasn't a good game to lose. As is, our record against teams over .500 isn't great, so we need to keep pace by beating teams like this that we are supposedly better than. This loss, like the one against Milwaukee is going to hurt the team, but I can't help but be angry at our own team. And most of all I'm angry at Doc. I think he's well aware of our deficiencies, but hasn't shaken up the roster to improve them. Little by little I see some of these free agents get taken up by other contenders. Dallas got better with the addition of Rondo and O' Neal, and that is one team that just surpassed us in the standings. Now we are sitting at 6th place with a proven San Antonio at our heels, and OKC getting ready to take back a top spot once Durant comes back from that sprain.
I honestly fear that this team is going to be out of the playoff picture, and Doc needs to do something about it by making some moves because this group that we have isn't cutting it.

[mttwlsn16]

We've lost too many stupid games so far

[LACtdom]

not a good game to lose with SAS on the road coming up

No, it definitely wasn't a good game to lose. As is, our record against teams over .500 isn't great, so we need to keep pace by beating teams like this that we are supposedly better than. This loss, like the one against Milwaukee is going to hurt the team, but I can't help but be angry at our own team. And most of all I'm angry at Doc. I think he's well aware of our deficiencies, but hasn't shaken up the roster to improve them. Little by little I see some of these free agents get taken up by other contenders. Dallas got better with the addition of Rondo and O' Neal, and that is one team that just surpassed us in the standings. Now we are sitting at 6th place with a proven San Antonio at our heels, and OKC getting ready to take back a top spot once Durant comes back from that sprain.
I honestly fear that this team is going to be out of the playoff picture, and Doc needs to do something about it by making some moves because this group that we have isn't cutting it.

I agree. I'm not sure whether we need a roster change and/or a system change but unless we get significantly better defensively, we won't be a chance of getting to the WCF. This far into the season and we still leave opposition players wide open for 3's is a joke.

[pageC4]

not a good game to lose with SAS on the road coming up

No, it definitely wasn't a good game to lose. As is, our record against teams over .500 isn't great, so we need to keep pace by beating teams like this that we are supposedly better than. This loss, like the one against Milwaukee is going to hurt the team, but I can't help but be angry at our own team. And most of all I'm angry at Doc. I think he's well aware of our deficiencies, but hasn't shaken up the roster to improve them. Little by little I see some of these free agents get taken up by other contenders. Dallas got better with the addition of Rondo and O' Neal, and that is one team that just surpassed us in the standings. Now we are sitting at 6th place with a proven San Antonio at our heels, and OKC getting ready to take back a top spot once Durant comes back from that sprain.
I honestly fear that this team is going to be out of the playoff picture, and Doc needs to do something about it by making some moves because this group that we have isn't cutting it.

I agree. I'm not sure whether we need a roster change and/or a system change but unless we get significantly better defensively, we won't be a chance of getting to the WCF. This far into the season and we still leave opposition players wide open for 3's is a joke.

What's amazing is that we actually do have some players that can help other teams, which means that there is trade value for some of these guys. I can think of Jamal Crawford for one, he is a good offensive player that can help a defense heavy team. He doesn't fit well here because we sorely need defenders, not fancy shooters. But he can help other clubs out. I find it hard to believe that we haven't received calls for him, so I have to conclude that perhaps Doc is saying no to proposals or may be asking for too much in trades.
Also, what are we doing with Wilcox and Bullock? I'm all for having rookies/youth provided we are grooming them to do something on this team, but Doc isn't giving them any time, so you would think you could package those two for a defensive vet. Yet we don't hear anything about these guys.
Then there are the guys like CDR, Farmar, Udoh, and Turkoglu who are for the most part being paid to sit on the bench. What a waste you would think Doc would find someway to use these guys or at least come to terms that they aren't working out here and trade them.
I'm starting to really question if Doc is capable of operating as a GM.

[LACtdom]

No, it definitely wasn't a good game to lose. As is, our record against teams over .500 isn't great, so we need to keep pace by beating teams like this that we are supposedly better than. This loss, like the one against Milwaukee is going to hurt the team, but I can't help but be angry at our own team. And most of all I'm angry at Doc. I think he's well aware of our deficiencies, but hasn't shaken up the roster to improve them. Little by little I see some of these free agents get taken up by other contenders. Dallas got better with the addition of Rondo and O' Neal, and that is one team that just surpassed us in the standings. Now we are sitting at 6th place with a proven San Antonio at our heels, and OKC getting ready to take back a top spot once Durant comes back from that sprain.
I honestly fear that this team is going to be out of the playoff picture, and Doc needs to do something about it by making some moves because this group that we have isn't cutting it.

I agree. I'm not sure whether we need a roster change and/or a system change but unless we get significantly better defensively, we won't be a chance of getting to the WCF. This far into the season and we still leave opposition players wide open for 3's is a joke.

What's amazing is that we actually do have some players that can help other teams, which means that there is trade value for some of these guys. I can think of Jamal Crawford for one, he is a good offensive player that can help a defense heavy team. He doesn't fit well here because we sorely need defenders, not fancy shooters. But he can help other clubs out. I find it hard to believe that we haven't received calls for him, so I have to conclude that perhaps Doc is saying no to proposals or may be asking for too much in trades.
Also, what are we doing with Wilcox and Bullock? I'm all for having rookies/youth provided we are grooming them to do something on this team, but Doc isn't giving them any time, so you would think you could package those two for a defensive vet. Yet we don't hear anything about these guys.
Then there are the guys like CDR, Farmar, Udoh, and Turkoglu who are for the most part being paid to sit on the bench. What a waste you would think Doc would find someway to use these guys or at least come to terms that they aren't working out here and trade them.
I'm starting to really question if Doc is capable of operating as a GM.

Doc also leaves me scratching my head sometimes. I'm happy to support him but I hope he treats the team like a business and doesn't keep Jamal/DJ purely because he likes them as people. I never believed that crap about how he was resting Antwon Jamison for the finals (after he realised he was useless) and then dropped him anyway. I agree, either play players or trade them.