GAME 59: Timberwolves (15-42) @ Clippers (39-19)—Sunday 7PM PDT

[Clemenza]

Good win tonight

[TrueLAfan]

Portland on the ropes as of late

Yup. Dame has missed the last two games.

[NickP]

Portland on the ropes as of late

Yup. Dame has missed the last two games.

Would love to see the Blazers in the playoffs even if it means tanking a bit.

[RingColluder]

Portland on the ropes as of late

Yup. Dame has missed the last two games.

Would love to see the Blazers in the playoffs even if it means tanking a bit.

be careful what you wish for

I don't want any part of Dame Lillard in the playoffs, I don't care what the stats have been like in the RS so far.

[NickP]

Yup. Dame has missed the last two games.

Would love to see the Blazers in the playoffs even if it means tanking a bit.

be careful what you wish for

I don't want any part of Dame Lillard in the playoffs, I don't care what the stats have been like in the RS so far.

True that every opponent in the WC is a tough draw but we matchup well against the Blazers. I'd rather face them than Luka in round one although I've no doubt we'll beat both of them.

[RingColluder]

Would love to see the Blazers in the playoffs even if it means tanking a bit.

be careful what you wish for

I don't want any part of Dame Lillard in the playoffs, I don't care what the stats have been like in the RS so far.

True that every opponent in the WC is a tough draw but we matchup well against the Blazers. I'd rather face them than Luka in round one although I've no doubt we'll beat both of them.

I dont like our odds whatsoever against the mavericks. dame is the scariest playoff player in the west arguably. grizzlies or spurs is the best round 1 matchup.

[og15]

I'm not really concerned about matchups. Dame is a great player, but one player doesn't beat a team. If the Clippers can't win even with Dame having a really good series, then they aren't ready, simple.

[RingColluder]

I'm not really concerned about matchups. Dame is a great player, but one player doesn't beat a team. If the Clippers can't win even with Dame having a really good series, then they aren't ready, simple.

There isn't a whole lot I've seen from the team in games immediately after or recently after they play the same team twice that inspires a ton of confidence for me.


We're going to have get very lucky w matchups and other things. But there is definitely a path.

[og15]

I'm not really concerned about matchups. Dame is a great player, but one player doesn't beat a team. If the Clippers can't win even with Dame having a really good series, then they aren't ready, simple.

There isn't a whole lot I've seen from the team in games immediately after or recently after they play the same team twice that inspires a ton of confidence for me.


We're going to have get very lucky w matchups and other things. But there is definitely a path.

What exactly is the pattern from those games that would not inspire confidence?

@GSW: W, L
OKC: W, W
UTA: L (with bench), W
@MEM: L, W
@DAL: W, L
@SAS: W, W

They are 8-4 in those games. They've only lost 2 of their 6 second games, so they are adjusting. 8/12 games have been on the road, so the running percentage should be lower.

For example, splitting a 2 games series on the road vs Dallas is a good outcome. What exactly are you referring to here?

Other close games that weren't right after:
@SAC - W
SAC - W
DET - W
@DET - W

12-4 total, 6-2 in second game.

I mean what are we talking any here, having tough wins? I don't put too much stock in perception without some facts and data.

[RingColluder]

I'm not really concerned about matchups. Dame is a great player, but one player doesn't beat a team. If the Clippers can't win even with Dame having a really good series, then they aren't ready, simple.

There isn't a whole lot I've seen from the team in games immediately after or recently after they play the same team twice that inspires a ton of confidence for me.


We're going to have get very lucky w matchups and other things. But there is definitely a path.

What exactly is the pattern from those games that would not inspire confidence?

@GSW: W, L
OKC: W, W
UTA: L (with bench), W
@MEM: L, W
@DAL: W, L
@SAS: W, W

They are 8-4 in those games. They've only lost 2 of their 6 second games, so they are adjusting. 8/12 games have been on the road, so the running percentage should be lower.

For example, splitting a 2 games series on the road vs Dallas is a good outcome. What exactly are you referring to here?

Other close games that weren't right after:
@SAC - W
SAC - W
DET - W
@DET - W

12-4 total, 6-2 in second game.

I mean what are we talking any here, having tough wins? I don't put too much stock in perception without some facts and data.

The Mavericks back to back games were not good at ALL. Not sure what you saw.
The Spurs 2nd game was way too close after adjustments were made
Did not like how we looked against Denver after playing them the first time
Golden State as you mentioned
Both Boston games

Not evne referring to games close together, in general we seem to always get caught flat footed when playing a team for the 2nd time. Just because we get a win doesn't mean the way we got there looked good, and whatever issues arose in those games will only be amplified in the playoffs.


Look, our team looked fantastic last year in the regular season and the excuse was, "we didn't practice together as a full lineup". Same issue this year. But as I vividly remember, we looked totally out of sorts and lost for both the Mavs series (which we probably lose with a healthy Porzingis) and the Nuggets series obviously.

I'm hopeful Rondo can help whatever chemistry issues we had last year when things got tight, but our track record is not pretty. Just because I'm a bit more leery of certain matchups shouldn't be seen as a slight. It's just a reality of the foundations of this team.


We are very matchup dependent. It's not a bad thing and we've placed ourself in a position to succeed, but I will be watching the 6-10 seeds very closely moving forward.

I'm also of the belief we're not seeing all of the cards of the teams we might play like the Trailblazers and Warriors in the RS (as they probably Arne't seeing w us). Nurkic was out the last game and neither him or Dame is playing tomorrow, and the big man is a primary component of their team. I don't want to play them and I don't want to play Dallas.

[NickP]

^^ Let's put a word to the league and see if we can play the Wolves in round 1, kings in round 2 and somehow get the Magic in the finals. Yep I think that should work.

[og15]

There isn't a whole lot I've seen from the team in games immediately after or recently after they play the same team twice that inspires a ton of confidence for me.


We're going to have get very lucky w matchups and other things. But there is definitely a path.

What exactly is the pattern from those games that would not inspire confidence?

@GSW: W, L
OKC: W, W
UTA: L (with bench), W
@MEM: L, W
@DAL: W, L
@SAS: W, W

They are 8-4 in those games. They've only lost 2 of their 6 second games, so they are adjusting. 8/12 games have been on the road, so the running percentage should be lower.

For example, splitting a 2 games series on the road vs Dallas is a good outcome. What exactly are you referring to here?

Other close games that weren't right after:
@SAC - W
SAC - W
DET - W
@DET - W

12-4 total, 6-2 in second game.

I mean what are we talking any here, having tough wins? I don't put too much stock in perception without some facts and data.

The Mavericks back to back games were not good at ALL. Not sure what you saw.
The Spurs 2nd game was way too close after adjustments were made
Did not like how we looked against Denver after playing them the first time
Golden State as you mentioned
Both Boston games

Not evne referring to games close together, in general we seem to always get caught flat footed when playing a team for the 2nd time. Just because we get a win doesn't mean the way we got there looked good, and whatever issues arose in those games will only be amplified in the playoffs.


Look, our team looked fantastic last year in the regular season and the excuse was, "we didn't practice together as a full lineup". Same issue this year. But as I vividly remember, we looked totally out of sorts and lost for both the Mavs series (which we probably lose with a healthy Porzingis) and the Nuggets series obviously.

I'm hopeful Rondo can help whatever chemistry issues we had last year when things got tight, but our track record is not pretty. Just because I'm a bit more leery of certain matchups shouldn't be seen as a slight. It's just a reality of the foundations of this team.


We are very matchup dependent. It's not a bad thing and we've placed ourself in a position to succeed, but I will be watching the 6-10 seeds very closely moving forward.

I'm also of the belief we're not seeing all of the cards of the teams we might play like the Trailblazers and Warriors in the RS (as they probably Arne't seeing w us). Nurkic was out the last game and neither him or Dame is playing tomorrow, and the big man is a primary component of their team. I don't want to play them and I don't want to play Dallas.

I guess have a different perspective on a teams performance on the second road game against the same team. In fact the Clippers are expected to lose those games (depending on opponent), because a home team just lost to them, they are watching film of all that went wrong and have more motivation to not lose the second than the Clippers would have to win it.

So for me to start complaining that they didn't win convincingly enough in a second road game vs the same team, even when they DID win doesn't make much sense. Winning games you are expected to have less fire in and when things aren't smooth is a good thing, not bad.

In the playoffs, the expectation on the road is to try to split. If they were having trouble at home, I could have some concern, but those second games after winning the first are supposed to be close games. Beating any 500 or higher team one game, the next one on the road should be very tough.

The GS two game series was like games 7 and 8 of the season, the bench was trash, three starters were +10 or more, PG was +/-0 and Kawhi -1. This tells us that the bench lost the game. That bench unit isn't even on the team anymore. So when I'm looking into the actual details of the game, it's even much less of a worry, not more.

[RingColluder]

^^ Let's put a word to the league and see if we can play the Wolves in round 1, kings in round 2 and somehow get the Magic in the finals. Yep I think that should work.

I guess you failed to read or purposely ignored the part where I said our best first round matchup is the Spurs or Grizzlies which are very possible outcomes.

[RingColluder]

What exactly is the pattern from those games that would not inspire confidence?

@GSW: W, L
OKC: W, W
UTA: L (with bench), W
@MEM: L, W
@DAL: W, L
@SAS: W, W

They are 8-4 in those games. They've only lost 2 of their 6 second games, so they are adjusting. 8/12 games have been on the road, so the running percentage should be lower.

For example, splitting a 2 games series on the road vs Dallas is a good outcome. What exactly are you referring to here?

Other close games that weren't right after:
@SAC - W
SAC - W
DET - W
@DET - W

12-4 total, 6-2 in second game.

I mean what are we talking any here, having tough wins? I don't put too much stock in perception without some facts and data.

The Mavericks back to back games were not good at ALL. Not sure what you saw.
The Spurs 2nd game was way too close after adjustments were made
Did not like how we looked against Denver after playing them the first time
Golden State as you mentioned
Both Boston games

Not evne referring to games close together, in general we seem to always get caught flat footed when playing a team for the 2nd time. Just because we get a win doesn't mean the way we got there looked good, and whatever issues arose in those games will only be amplified in the playoffs.


Look, our team looked fantastic last year in the regular season and the excuse was, "we didn't practice together as a full lineup". Same issue this year. But as I vividly remember, we looked totally out of sorts and lost for both the Mavs series (which we probably lose with a healthy Porzingis) and the Nuggets series obviously.

I'm hopeful Rondo can help whatever chemistry issues we had last year when things got tight, but our track record is not pretty. Just because I'm a bit more leery of certain matchups shouldn't be seen as a slight. It's just a reality of the foundations of this team.


We are very matchup dependent. It's not a bad thing and we've placed ourself in a position to succeed, but I will be watching the 6-10 seeds very closely moving forward.

I'm also of the belief we're not seeing all of the cards of the teams we might play like the Trailblazers and Warriors in the RS (as they probably Arne't seeing w us). Nurkic was out the last game and neither him or Dame is playing tomorrow, and the big man is a primary component of their team. I don't want to play them and I don't want to play Dallas.

I guess have a different perspective on a teams performance on the second road game against the same team. In fact the Clippers are expected to lose those games (depending on opponent), because a home team just lost to them, they are watching film of all that went wrong and have more motivation to not lose the second than the Clippers would have to win it.

So for me to start complaining that they didn't win [u][b]convincingly enough in a second road game vs the same team, even when they DID win doesn't make much sense. [/u][/b]Winning games you are expected to have less fire in and when things aren't smooth is a good thing, not bad.

In the playoffs, the expectation on the road is to try to split. If they were having trouble at home, I could have some concern, but those second games after winning the first are supposed to be close games. Beating any 500 or higher team one game, the next one on the road should be very tough.

The GS two game series was like games 7 and 8 of the season, the bench was trash, three starters were +10 or more, PG was +/-0 and Kawhi -1. This tells us that the bench lost the game. That bench unit isn't even on the team anymore. So when I'm looking into the actual details of the game, it's even much less of a worry, not more.

Yes exactly. There are plenty of games depending on the circumstance where even a loss is a "win" depending on injuries or how we played (and just missed shots). It's not black and white "we win = good, lose = bad". Especially in the regular season. Playoffs is a different story, but so much of the RS is about process and adjustments.

That's why LeBron and Kawhi don't care much about the regular season, just how they play and prepare for the playoffs. Process process process.