Game 64 : Los Angeles Clippers @ Houston Rockets : Mar 1 8:00 PM

[KL2]

Am I mistaken? This is Coffey’s 50th game. So he has to be converted to keep playing with us?

Anyone surprised Hood wasn’t waived so he could maybe catch on with another playoff team?

[MartinToVaught]

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Move over, Tillman - Zubac is officially the new owner of the Rockets.

[Clemenza]

How many games does Coffey have left?

Supposed to be unlimited this season because of Covid. I think he's still needs a real NBA contract to play in the post season.

Good win tho. Let's beat the Lakers on Thursday

[NickP]

Nice win. Solid.
Multiple guys scored when Luke didn't get it going. Let's beat the Lakers to go 3 over . 500.

[Max Headrom]

I've said it but I just have to say it again. Mann is SOOOOOOOO much more decisive with the ball in his hands. He looks like the player we thought he would be. He could be the Clippers Iggy which is a damn good player on a contender. Swiss army knife

[madmaxmedia]

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One of those teams would have to really suck for that to happen, and that is while the Clippers also win a good chunk.

Both are 36-25, Clippers are 32-31. So they both have 21 games left. Let's say they go 11-10, that's 47-35. Clippers would need to finish 16-3 to surpass that, I'm not looking at tie breakers and such. Okay, let's say one of them just does really poorly and finishes 8-13, which is unlikely, but let's say it happens, that's 44 wins. Clippers would still need to go 12-7 to match and 13-6 too surpass that.

Yea, very unlikely to happen, but it's a good "lofty" goal for the team.

Exactly- give them something to shoot for, not just feel good about playing better than expected.

I mean yeah its a long shot but can you imagine, if we somehow passed one of those two teams with the guys we got? (I love our guys but we got no MVP candidates playing right now...)

[donemilio21]

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One of those teams would have to really suck for that to happen, and that is while the Clippers also win a good chunk.

Both are 36-25, Clippers are 32-31. So they both have 21 games left. Let's say they go 11-10, that's 47-35. Clippers would need to finish 16-3 to surpass that, I'm not looking at tie breakers and such. Okay, let's say one of them just does really poorly and finishes 8-13, which is unlikely, but let's say it happens, that's 44 wins. Clippers would still need to go 12-7 to match and 13-6 too surpass that.

Yea, very unlikely to happen, but it's a good "lofty" goal for the team.

Exactly- give them something to shoot for, not just feel good about playing better than expected.

I mean yeah its a long shot but can you imagine, if we somehow passed one of those two teams with the guys we got? (I love our guys but we got no MVP candidates playing right now...)

I don't see us getting to 6th seed, but that is what we need to play for. Worst case, we should hold the 7th seed and host the play-in game against (most likely) Minnesota. Our last game is at home, so is Minnesota's. It'd be nice not to travel, and let them come to us.

[esqtvd]

Jackson has been such trash.

this happens every gamethread lol

without PG, Reggie is our leader and MVP--scored 300 more points than any other Clipper, has the most assists and is even 4th in rebounds

[ejftw]

Man, I wish I wasn't in FB jail to troll all the anti-Zu posts over the course of the season.

Just wish Zu keep this up against other teams as well, especially when facing those that don't have a big man.

As far as climbing to 6th, it's a possibility, we just need to take it a game at a time. Next five for each team:

Clippers; vs Lakers, vs Knicks, @ Warriors, vs Wizards(B2B) @ Hawks: 4-1 is a possibility, but I'ma pencil in 3-2 for the sake of this post.

Wolves: @ OKC, vs Portland (b2b), vs Portland, vs OKC, @ Orlando: Minnesota will probably end up going 5-0, but I'ma give them 4-1 for the sake of this post.

Nuggets: vs OKC, vs Houston, vs NOP, vs GSW (b2b), @ Kings: I'm going to say 3-2 here with a loss to Golden State and either NOP or Sac, both of whom are trying to make the play-in.

Mavs: vs GSW (b2b), vs Sac, vs Utah, vs NYK, @ Houston: Could see 4-1, could see 1-4. Let's go with a generous (for the Clips) 2-3.

If all of those hold, we have:

Denver: 39-27
Mavs: 39-28
Wolves: 38-30
Clips: 36-33

2.5 to make up on Minnesota before we can even consider the 4 game gap on Dallas. Its going to be a long shot, but if any team has the grit for long shots, it's this Clipper team

[NickP]

6th seed is definitely not happening. As a 7th seed you still get 2 shots to make the playoffs.
The play in was a good idea in the bubble but not when teams are playing full 82 games.
Scrap the damn play in.

[TrueLAfan]

Yeah, Nick is right ... the good thing is we're almost sure to be in the 7th or 8th seed--win one game in the play in to make the playoffs. We're as far out of the 6th as we are ahead of the Lakers right now ... and the Lakers may have a slightly easier schedule than we do, but definitely have plenty more away games. Going .500 and making the top 8 would be a massive accomplishment.

I'm going to put in a shout out for Roco too. I did say that he wasn't washed up--never thought he was. What he basically is at this time is ... well, a lot like Batum. RoCo is smaller put plays bigger. both glue guys, both guys that score enough to keep teams from leaving them alone, both great locker room guys. When you talk about getting "veteran help on the court and in the locker room," you're talking about a guy like Covington.

[madmaxmedia]

At one point shortly before all star break our remaining strength of schedule was very favorable overall, but 3 games against the Rockets was a big part of that. Going forward there are some tough stretches, I will be pretty happy (and very impressed overall) if we finish .500.

I think this next Laker game is the real trap game for us. The Lakers got blown out by the Pels then lost a close one against Dallas, not sure if they will be up for Thursday or a bit demoralized. It would be great if we could come out strong and dominate the 1st half, they might mail it in after that.

[madmaxmedia]

Yeah, Nick is right ... the good thing is we're almost sure to be in the 7th or 8th seed--win one game in the play in to make the playoffs. We're as far out of the 6th as we are ahead of the Lakers right now ... and the Lakers may have a slightly easier schedule than we do, but definitely have plenty more away games. Going .500 and making the top 8 would be a massive accomplishment.

I'm going to put in a shout out for Roco too. I did say that he wasn't washed up--never thought he was. What he basically is at this time is ... well, a lot like Batum. RoCo is smaller put plays bigger. both glue guys, both guys that score enough to keep teams from leaving them alone, both great locker room guys. When you talk about getting "veteran help on the court and in the locker room," you're talking about a guy like Covington.

It looked like Covington was looking forward to coming here, we will definitely want to keep him, and we have Bird rights on him. I didn't actually know Portland gave up 2 1st round picks for him in 2020, from that standpoint he was disappointing in Portland but for us he has become much more than throwaway salary filler.

Assuming a reasonably healthy roster where we aren't missing literally our 3 best scorers, Marcus Morris is the obvious candidate to move, if only to shave a year off of outgoing money so we feel more comfortable re-signing some of these other guys. Morris has been a good Clipper and I feel bad he always hears his name in trade chatter, but he has $64M to console himself (which he's earned), and its really only going to be better teams that would be interested in picking him up.

[nickhx2]

i'd feel less bad if he could get more than 2 rebounds a game lately

[esqtvd]

i'd feel less bad if he could get more than 2 rebounds a game lately

in 115 games as a Clipper, MM averages 5.5 rebs per 36 minutes and 6.1 for his career

in 10 games as a Clipper, RoCo averages 9.4 rebs per 36 minutes and 7.0 for his career

[TrueLAfan]

Yeah, Covington’s issue isn’t rebounding. His rebounding has been creeping up slightly as he’s aged which is a good sign (I think) for us. When he was younger and played at 200-210, he stayed with most SGs pretty well, and was great with SFs as well. He was a little light at the PF and got pushed around. He’s maybe 15 pounds heavier now, and a little slower footed. Can’t really stay with many SGs—buot he’s still fine with SFs. And Covington never has had a problem at PF; all of his multiposition D is a byproduct of his wonderful length. That 7’2” wingspan counts for a lot—DeAndre Ayton, who is not a small guy, said “Covington is a big dude” in 2020. He’s not a real C, or even a permanent rotation C. But he’s a spot player there; he can give you at least 5-10 minutes regardless of matchup. With his other abilities, that ability to play at all the frontcourt positions is terrific for us.

And you never have to worry about Covington’s motor or his effort. That’s what separates him from someone like JaMychal, IMO. Covington has occasional games where he doesn’t make an impact because, well, that’s the way it is for most of the non-Elite NBA players. But Robert Covington isn‘t going to have a two week stretch where he doesn’t do stuff. He can score respectably—but if he doesn’t, he also rebounds well. He gives you 2 steal games as often as not, and gets nearly a block a game too. He’s more of a needle mover than his stats indicate—and his stats are very good. He was a great pickup.

[madmaxmedia]

BTW nickhx2 was talking about MM not Covington. But yes Covington has been a revelation as a Clipper, so hopefully here’s to seeing more of him next season.

[nickhx2]

ya

[Clemenza]

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[ejftw]

Well, OKC beat Denver, putting us 4 back with, I believe a game left.