Westbrook is here! How do we make this work?

[Jaykoolzboy]

Great signing , thou, I still believe RW is better coming off the bench (when everyone is healthy(.


1. We all know KL and PG will be out here and there, now we have another legit triple threat in the arsenal with one of them out.

2. I've been a RW supporter for the last decade, he is a very good passer and facilitator (his issue is mostly hot headed , sometimes out of sync) , something this Clips team desperate needs. I will take the pros over the cons.

3. People complained about his vanished athleticism , but a 90 percent RW is still more athletic than 95 percent of the players out there.

4. We need to let RW be Russell, that's why I think a 2nd unit commander would be the best position for him at this point.

Ideal lineup

Mann (20 - 25mins) / RW(25 - 30 mins)
Claw (32 to 35 mins) /EJ (20 -25 Mins)
PG (32 to 38 mins) / Powell (28 - 30 mins)
Morris (25 mins) / Batum (15 - 20 Mins)
Zu (28 mins) / MP ( 22 - 25 mins)

With Robert Covington being the wild card ( 15 - 20 mins) for SG/SF/PF fillers and Bones for combo guard (10-15mins)

Russell will start if either of both PG/Claw is out.

He s the perfect flex element for the whole puzzle on this Clips team.

[MartinToVaught]

For Lue I see the appeal. If we didn't sign him, he'd have an excuse of not having a traditional point guard/playmaker. Now he has the excuse that Westbrook was a horrible fit and was brought on because the players wanted him. He at least must have learned that from Doc.

I'm not sure it'll work out as well for Lue. Doc was able to get away with most of his excuses because he was also the GM and president of basketball operations. If this Westbrook experiment fails, Frank can say it wasn't his fault and blame Lue because everyone knows he also wanted Russ.

[esqtvd]

On the verge of blowing a 3–1 lead, in a game seven, a superstar shoots and hits the side of the backboard, wide open? Make sense?



https://medium.com/top-level-sports/from-playoff-p-to-pandemic-p-paul-george-is-and-has-been-overrated-5c96bff24664

Better pray Wayoff P is really dead. 0-9 from 3 in the All-Star game.





Doc Rivers died for their sins

[esqtvd]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[esqtvd]

Read on Twitter

[Akklaim1]

On the verge of blowing a 3–1 lead, in a game seven, a superstar shoots and hits the side of the backboard, wide open? Make sense?



https://medium.com/top-level-sports/from-playoff-p-to-pandemic-p-paul-george-is-and-has-been-overrated-5c96bff24664

Better pray Wayoff P is really dead. 0-9 from 3 in the All-Star game.





Doc Rivers died for their sins

I want to forget that the playoff bubble ever existed. I’m glad we didn’t reach the WCF, or even win the Finals. We would’ve just been roasted for winning a Mickey Mouse championship. Laker fans can get away with it since they have other rings to flex. But for us as the only ring? I can’t imagine the illegitimacy talk from haters we would’ve endured.

[clipperlover]

I hope Lue doesn't play Russ, Norm and Gordon together. Absolutely, no reason to give play those three together regularly.

Since Mann is our best cutter, him and Powell getting more time together isn't a bad thing.

[wakelaunch1]

Westbrook 15-18/Mann/25/Bones/12-15
PG 25-28/EG 20
Kawhi 27-30/ Powell 20
Covington 12-15/Batum 15/Morris 15
Zubac 20-23/ Plumlee 25

Sometimes Im playing Kawhi/PG at power forward defensively as that is our weakest position. Russ can guard the post too. When we go no power forward, have EG/Mann/Westbrook out there.

[NickP]

On the verge of blowing a 3–1 lead, in a game seven, a superstar shoots and hits the side of the backboard, wide open? Make sense?



https://medium.com/top-level-sports/from-playoff-p-to-pandemic-p-paul-george-is-and-has-been-overrated-5c96bff24664

Better pray Wayoff P is really dead. 0-9 from 3 in the All-Star game.





Doc Rivers died for their sins

Lol. The superstars carried Doc. Had Doc actually coached (which he still can't), we wouldn't be in that position. After all, Doc is a hall of Fame coach, no?

[esqtvd]

I hope Lue doesn't play Russ, Norm and Gordon together. Absolutely, no reason to give play those three together regularly.

Since Mann is our best cutter, him and Powell getting more time together isn't a bad thing.

The Mann-as-point guard experiment did not succeed. His plus/minus over the last 15 games is at the bottom of the pile except for the G-leaguers. But at a shade under 6'5" he may be a great complement for any of the other guards, who are 6'3" or below. Ty has to determine quickly if he has any mojo with any of them.

Unfortunately Mann-Powell is minus-0.2 on the season and a disappointing minus-2.8 over the last 15 games and minus-3.1 over the last 10. Gordon looks more promising [plus+3.0].

https://www.nba.com/stats/lineups/traditional?GroupQuantity=2&LastNGames=10&TeamID=1610612746&dir=D&slug=traditional&sort=PLUS_MINUS

Frankly, I'm a little worried about how Powell fits. He's putting up points but over the last 10 games, at minus-3.3, he's even worse than Mann [minus-0.9]. Plus/minus isn't everything but it's not nothing either.

[MartinToVaught]

On the verge of blowing a 3–1 lead

This could be the title of Doc's biography.

[Akklaim1]

Has Russ made an appearance at the practice facility yet? Good thing this signing happened during the all-star break. That valuable week off was needed.

[clipperlover]

Has Russ made an appearance at the practice facility yet? Good thing this signing happened during the all-star break. That valuable week off was needed.

No. He isn't signed yet. He has 48 hours to clear waivers. The earliest he can sign is tomorrow.

[og15]

Hopefully the fact that this might be his last chance in the NBA,.

What absolute nonsense. Westbrook AVERAGED a triple double two seasons ago. The guy can still play. Is he worth $47M? No, but he can still play. Mann is going to be able to pick up from Russ the intensity that will take him to another level.

If you actually look at Westbrook's numbers this season. A few things stand out:
1. When he has a positive +/-, the Lakers were 15-6 (14-2 with +4 or above).
2. When he had 5rbs or more in a game, the Lakers were 19-11.
3. When he had 8+ assists, the Lakers were 17-8.


Westbrook played 52 games for the Lakers this year and was on the roster for 55:
1. 0-3 without Westbrook
2. 3-7 with Westbrook and AD, LeBron out
3. 11-11 with Westbrook and LeBron, AD out
4. 1-3 with Westbrook, LeBron and AD out
5. 11-6 with Westbrook, LeBron and AD - Considering there are only 4 teams in the West 5 games above .500 currently

Russ will be an asset.

Let's be real now, Russ' reputation is at rock bottom and he's getting older. He's not Mr. Triple-Double anymore, but the knock on him now is that he still thinks he is and hasn't adjusted his game. If he comes in here, still refuses to adjust his game, and plays poorly, I wouldn't be surprised if teams are reluctant to give him any more chances after that, especially with all the media and fan toxicity that seems to come with him.

You are right about his intensity, though. That's one thing I've always liked about Russ and it's a dimension that our lethargic and old team desperately needs.

One thing with Russ is that his intensity seems to be most active when he has the ball in his hands and when he's on the ball defensively.

Off the ball on both ends (unless it's for grabbing rebounds), suddenly the intensity is not so easily found.

[nickhx2]

hm ya waning intensity and people who don't care about games in the middle of the actual games

it's almost like the front office should have recognized that was a problem, the players should have recognized that was a problem, and the coach should have recognized it was a problem. and that they should have done what they could to avoid adding to that problem.

hm ya i wonder how that's gonna work out!

[og15]

Hopefully the fact that this might be his last chance in the NBA,.

What absolute nonsense. Westbrook AVERAGED a triple double two seasons ago. The guy can still play. Is he worth $47M? No, but he can still play. Mann is going to be able to pick up from Russ the intensity that will take him to another level.

If you actually look at Westbrook's numbers this season. A few things stand out:
1. When he has a positive +/-, the Lakers were 15-6 (14-2 with +4 or above).
2. When he had 5rbs or more in a game, the Lakers were 19-11.
3. When he had 8+ assists, the Lakers were 17-8.


Westbrook played 52 games for the Lakers this year and was on the roster for 55:
1. 0-3 without Westbrook
2. 3-7 with Westbrook and AD, LeBron out
3. 11-11 with Westbrook and LeBron, AD out
4. 1-3 with Westbrook, LeBron and AD out
5. 11-6 with Westbrook, LeBron and AD - Considering there are only 4 teams in the West 5 games above .500 currently

Russ will be an asset.

Well, one would hope they won more in his better genes. Clippers were 9-4 when Reggie had 15+ pts and 14-7 when he had 4+ assists.

The Stars are the consistent factors then when an additional player has a solid game, there's a higher chance of the team winning.

1) Lakers were 6-14 when Westbrook took 15+ FGA
2) Lakers were 5-9 when Westbrook had 5+ turnovers
3) Lakers were 6-14 when Westbrook attempted 5+ 3PA

So you don't want him shooting too much. You don't want him trying to do too much. You don't want him being baited into taking a lot of three's.

Russ is a better point guard then Paul George, that's at least a reality

[esqtvd]

One thing with Russ is that his intensity seems to be most active when he has the ball in his hands and when he's on the ball defensively.

Off the ball on both ends (unless it's for grabbing rebounds), suddenly the intensity is not so easily found.

I'm afraid RoCo quite [diplomatically] agrees.

“Watching him when I played with him, we definitely seen him jump into MVP-caliber form,” Clippers forward Robert Covington, a teammate on that Rockets team, said in October. “The way the floor opened up and the way he attacks seams and everything. But it’s just like — when he doesn’t have the ball in his hands, it’s like a different dynamic, he can’t be as effective. Saying that, it’s not that he can’t be effective. It’s just — Russ is a playmaker. And when he doesn’t have the ball in his hands, it’s a different dynamic for him.”

That said, the Clippers have historically suffered from too much passivity back to LobCity and even before. The only guys who STEP UP have been PG and the late, great, dearly departed Reggie Jackson. The rest are content to be "role players" and spend a lot of time watching.

Frankly, the problem is our superstar and "leader," Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers org is flummoxed as to what to do with The Sphinx. A Hall of Fame talent who only shows up and puts it on the line when he absolutely has to. And sometimes, not even then.



Kawhi has a 3-1 choke on his resume too.

People can douche Playoff/Wayoff/Pandemic P all they want [and I do lol] but he gives it all every night, every quarter. That's why Kawhi wanted him and why Kawhi now wanted Russ. Reggie gave it his all but he's simply not good enough. Russ is a HOFer, and even at 34 is instantly the Clippers' 3rd most talented player.

Can Russ play winning basketball? That is the question. Melo couldn't. Wall couldn't, and a dozen other HOFers too.

[NickP]

One thing with Russ is that his intensity seems to be most active when he has the ball in his hands and when he's on the ball defensively.

Off the ball on both ends (unless it's for grabbing rebounds), suddenly the intensity is not so easily found.

I'm afraid RoCo quite [diplomatically] agrees.

“Watching him when I played with him, we definitely seen him jump into MVP-caliber form,” Clippers forward Robert Covington, a teammate on that Rockets team, said in October. “The way the floor opened up and the way he attacks seams and everything. But it’s just like — when he doesn’t have the ball in his hands, it’s like a different dynamic, he can’t be as effective. Saying that, it’s not that he can’t be effective. It’s just — Russ is a playmaker. And when he doesn’t have the ball in his hands, it’s a different dynamic for him.”

That said, the Clippers have historically suffered from too much passivity back to LobCity and even before. The only guys who STEP UP have been PG and the late, great, dearly departed Reggie Jackson. The rest are content to be "role players" and spend a lot of time watching.

Frankly, the problem is our superstar and "leader," Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers org is flummoxed as to what to do with The Sphinx. A Hall of Fame talent who only shows up and puts it on the line when he absolutely has to. And sometimes, not even then.



Kawhi has a 3-1 choke on his resume too.

People can douche Playoff/Wayoff/Pandemic P all they want [and I do lol] but he gives it all every night, every quarter. That's why Kawhi wanted him and why Kawhi now wanted Russ. Reggie gave it his all but he's simply not good enough. Russ is a HOFer, and even at 34 is instantly the Clippers' 3rd most talented player.

Can Russ play winning basketball? That is the question. Melo couldn't. Wall couldn't, and a dozen other HOFers too.

Stop struggling so much bro. You're reaching now by saying Kawhi has a 3-1 choke on his record.
Kawhi is a two time NBA champion and finals MVP while Doc is a fraud at best.
The Clippers are flummoxed? Who told you that? Lawrence Frank? Or Lue?

[esqtvd]

One thing with Russ is that his intensity seems to be most active when he has the ball in his hands and when he's on the ball defensively.

Off the ball on both ends (unless it's for grabbing rebounds), suddenly the intensity is not so easily found.

I'm afraid RoCo quite [diplomatically] agrees.

“Watching him when I played with him, we definitely seen him jump into MVP-caliber form,” Clippers forward Robert Covington, a teammate on that Rockets team, said in October. “The way the floor opened up and the way he attacks seams and everything. But it’s just like — when he doesn’t have the ball in his hands, it’s like a different dynamic, he can’t be as effective. Saying that, it’s not that he can’t be effective. It’s just — Russ is a playmaker. And when he doesn’t have the ball in his hands, it’s a different dynamic for him.”

That said, the Clippers have historically suffered from too much passivity back to LobCity and even before. The only guys who STEP UP have been PG and the late, great, dearly departed Reggie Jackson. The rest are content to be "role players" and spend a lot of time watching.

Frankly, the problem is our superstar and "leader," Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers org is flummoxed as to what to do with The Sphinx. A Hall of Fame talent who only shows up and puts it on the line when he absolutely has to. And sometimes, not even then.



Kawhi has a 3-1 choke on his resume too.

People can douche Playoff/Wayoff/Pandemic P all they want [and I do lol] but he gives it all every night, every quarter. That's why Kawhi wanted him and why Kawhi now wanted Russ. Reggie gave it his all but he's simply not good enough. Russ is a HOFer, and even at 34 is instantly the Clippers' 3rd most talented player.

Can Russ play winning basketball? That is the question. Melo couldn't. Wall couldn't, and a dozen other HOFers too.

Stop struggling so much bro. You're reaching now by saying Kawhi has a 3-1 choke on his record.
Kawhi is a two time NBA champion and finals MVP while Doc is a fraud at best.
The Clippers are flummoxed? Who told you that? Lawrence Frank? Or Lue?

Um, actually I ran across the Kawhi thing on the internet from a semi-credible reporter, didn't make it up. And it adds up. He is NO leader. The best and highest-paid player is NO face of the franchise. We're not even going to win 50 games ffs. The Kawhi Era has been a fckn MISERY, man. Without at least a Finals appearance, Ballmer has gambled on The Sphinx and he lost. So he's doubling down.

Do you really think they make the Westbrook move without Kawhi's nod and a wink? He's been passive-agressing his desire for a REAL point guard even after Mann was elevated and he IS in private contact with Russ.

Duh. With Kawhi's option to bail after next year BEFORE Ballmer opens his $2 Billion Intuit Pleasure Dome in 2024? Ballmer has his d**K in his hand after dropping another $2B on his arena? There was no choice.

C'mon. get off my back. I made a lot of money analyzing corporation politics. Believe it or don't. IDGAF. There's no mystery here.

Not struggling at all bruh. Just answering the tiresome blame of Doc Rivers when it was Pandemic P and Kawhi who went AWOL and blew the 3-1 against Denver in the Bubble. Doc took the fall because Ballmer could hardly fire Kawhi and George after trading away the Clippers future for the next decade to get them.

I thought Doc was unfairly blamed but I AGREED with the decision. Ballmer's back was against the wall--as it is now.

Because to return to the present--you should be worrying about PG, not Ty or Lawrence Frank or Westbrook or glorified scrubeenie Terance Mann's PT. PG's stats this year are really up and down. I think the whole thing rides on him. If we get last year's Playoff P, we're gold. If not, it's all over but the scapegoating.

[UKClipperfan]

Well now that it's actually happening, we're gonna see if it's gonna work pretty soon. Around 10 games? I've seen him play a few times this season. He's not washed, still has alot to offer. Felt like he was shackled if anything, and the fit want there with that roster. On paper it should work, but championships aren't won on paper. It could backfire, who knows.

We probably weren't good enough to win the championship anyway, even after acquiring EJ, Plum and Bones, so I guess it's good the FO were willing to make this move. All in all, this is signing an MVP, multiple time all star, with multiple WCF & Finals appearances, to a vet min contact. That's as low risk high reward as you can get.

This was the key question right here as I too wondered, even with the new additions playing well, if we had enough to come out the west. We got Russ for basically nothing while the Lakers gave up their best role players and a couple of first rounders to acquire him and to get rid of him. Its still a low risk high reward scenario. Basically he just needs to have a better shot selection not to mention he was playing pretty good with the Lakers this season. He was the only guy on the floor trying to win the game where Bron broke Kareem's record to become the all time leading scorer.. that's for sure.

Now with KD & Kyrie joining the west, definitely not. Things just got alot tougher. I wonder if that motivated the FO to move for Russ. Maybe not if they didn't buy into the hyper criticism and just saw it as flaws in his game that can be mitigated. But yeh the price for Russ definitely affects perceptions. There won't be so much drama from our side whether it works out or not. He'll just be seen as another role player, at least that's how I'll see it. At the very least Russ can do his thing when Kawhi & PG load manage, surround him with the shooters that we have and win some games. Or not closing out close games.