RealGM

Los Angeles Clippers VS Los Angeles Lakers
Where: Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA
When: Wednesday, December 21st, 2011 @ 7:30PM
TV: / NBA TV



Projected Starting 5

Paul | Billups | Butler | Griffin | Jordan

Key Reserves

Williams | Foye | Gomes | Cook


Projected Starting 5

Fisher | Barnes | Artest | Gasol | Bynum

Key Reserves

Blake | Ebanks | McRoberts | Murphy

Inactive List:

Travis Leslie (Ankle) is doubtful.
Eric Bledsoe (Meniscus, Right Knee) is out.


Kobe Bryant (Torn Ligament, Right Wrist) and Derrick Caracter (Meniscus, Left Knee) are out.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kd4adDBR3Q[/youtube]

This is the last game of the preseason and our final true tune-up before opening night. I honestly do not know what to expect. The Lakers were not prepared for us on Monday night and may want a little revenge (even though it's only preseason). We'll be playing on our own floor in front of our STH's, so there will be added incentive to come out strong once again. The media is giving us a lot of hype right now, but a critic's memory is typically only as long as the most recent game. After tomorrow they'll either continue to run with it or scale it down a bit.

Our players were lights out on Monday and that type of performance should not be expected every night. However, Griffin didn't have the easiest game and that can't be expected every night either. I'm looking for him to bounce back and be a bit more visible in the team's production. He was bothered by the length (and has been in the past), but he's fully capable of putting up good percentages against the Lakers. Reggie Evans was just signed on Tuesday, so it's not yet known if he'll suit up, but he'll likely be in attendance at the very least.

A few quotes from the team...

"I want the other team to forget about me when we walk in the arena," Foye said. "That's when I come out and some nights I'll have 20 [points] and some nights I'll have four, or whatever. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter as long as we get the 'W.'"

- Randy Foye speaking on his new role

Had wayyyyy 2 much fun 2nite...felt gr8 to get up and down the court and compete in front of the fans...we still have A LOT of work to do!!!

- Chris Paul on his first game with Clippers

“I think we stole Trey Thompkins in this draft. He’s been one of the best basketball players in this camp so far from a basketball skills standpoint,” Olshey said. “Travis Leslie’s got incredible upside.”

Neil Olshey on the upside of our rookies

“We really do have a great outlook, but in all actuality we haven’t won a game yet,” guard Chauncey Billups said. “And the difficult thing is that everybody knows we should be a lot better, so we don’t have the advantage of sneaking up on teams anymore. Teams are going to be ready, you’re going to start getting teams’ best punch.”

- Chauncey Billups on the team's outlook

"Teams are gonna be gunning for us," Paul said Tuesday

- Chris Paul speaking of the target on the Clippers' backs

Also, as a heads up, the Hornets will be playing against the Grizzlies at 5pm (PST). The Ex-Clippers will be making their debuts in front of their new home crowd.

The last game went really well. The only aspect that I wasn't satisfied with was that the Lakers our rebounded us. Hopefully we do a better job on the boards. We got a win already so I just want to see another entertaining game. We also need all of our main parts healthy for the start of the season.

Is Reggie Evans going to play tonight? Do we expect anything from him? I am hoping that the CLIPS come out w/ the same sense of urgency as the other night. It would be a great Xmas gift if we could smash on the Lakers 2 games in a row ( I know,probably highly unlikely)that would be great.

I expect more aley-oops this game, since Paul is just getting used to play with DJ and Blake

Kobe not playing tonight:

@ESPNSteinLine: Kobe's listed day to day but injured right wrist officially diagnosed as a torn lunotriquetral ligament

illastrate wrote:Kobe not playing tonight:

@ESPNSteinLine: Kobe's listed day to day but injured right wrist officially diagnosed as a torn lunotriquetral ligament

yeah I heard he might be out for a few games, not just this one. With also Bynum suspended 5 games, lakers would be looking to a rough start.

Guess I shouldn't take my time to post news. If Kobe's wrist was bothering him I wonder why he went back in in the other day. Lakers will have a rough start and I totally forgot that Bynum will be suspended. With no Kobe we have a much better chance of winning tonight. (even though it doesn't count) Still I would like to see a win.

Id actually prefer kobe playing, higher chance of us not slacking off getting too complacant, not that I think we will, our mind set is better than that but still... anyways, go clippers!

Any chance of a mod PM'ing me a link to watch this for international fans? Missed last game because I was in Sydney

Lob citay!

Kapono's Sweatband wrote:Any chance of a mod PM'ing me a link to watch this for international fans? Missed last game because I was in Sydney

You can't ask for links. What kind of ship do you think we're running here?

mkwest wrote:

Kapono's Sweatband wrote:Any chance of a mod PM'ing me a link to watch this for international fans? Missed last game because I was in Sydney

You can't ask for links. What kind of ship do you think we're running here?

A "champion"ship...

Clip34life wrote:A "champion"ship...

Damn straight

If I didn't know better I'd think that Blake was the star pg. He's assisted 4 of our first 7 baskets.

mkwest wrote:

Kapono's Sweatband wrote:Any chance of a mod PM'ing me a link to watch this for international fans? Missed last game because I was in Sydney

You can't ask for links. What kind of ship do you think we're running here?

You are the best mkwest! Waited all day for this game!

Kapono's Sweatband wrote: You are the best mkwest! Waited all day for this game!

Thanks. Me too

High scoring quarter. Clippers down 36-33 to the Lakers to open things up. I hope the Lakers don't continue to hit shots like they have been.

We trail 36-33 at the end of 1. Both teams shot 67% from the field. Lakers have controlled the boards 10-4 and have led the game most of the way. Both coaches would probably prefer better defense.

Although he hasn't done that much I do like the look of Butler. He had a nice off the dribble look that he missed, but having him on the wing looking for his shot as opposed to Gomes being tentative as a starter is SUCH an asset.

Thompkins! I wanted Jeremy Tyler, but I'm loving the pick.