RealGM

Where: Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, China
When: Saturday, October 13th, 2012 @ 9:30PM
TV: NBA TV
Radio: KFWB News Talk 980


Clippers Projected Starting 5

Paul | Green | Butler | Griffin | Jordan

Key Reserves

Bledsoe | Crawford | Hill | Odom

Heat Projected Starting 5

Cole | Wade| Battier | James | Bosh

Key Reserves

Allen | Miller | Lewis | Pittman

Inactive List:

Chauncey Billups (Left Achilles) and Trey Thompkins (Bone Bruise) are out.

Joel Anthony, Mario Chalmers and Jarvis Vanardo are out.

CLIPPERS ARRIVE IN SHANGHAI

SHANGHAI–It was nearly sunrise by the time the Clippers arrived at their hotel in the Pudong district of Shanghai.

After trekking through security at the airport in Beijing, taking the nearly 3-hour flight, and walking through a practically vacant airport in Shanghai, the team was bussed another 32 miles to the hotel on the banks of the Huangpu River.

What once was considered a small agricultural area, Pudong has grown rapidly over the last two decades, emerging as one of the most cosmopolitan parts of China. The hotel is blocks away from the river with a number of places to shop and dine within walking distance.

Friday evening is highlighted by a welcome reception in the hotel ballroom with NBA Commissioner David Stern expected to be in attendance. It will likely be similar to an event in Shanghai in which a traditional Chinese performance was conducted and the teams were introduced on stage after which Del Negro and Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra addressed the crowd.

Eric Patten, Clippers.com

Some highlights from the first game

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

Oh man you guys, it has been SO LONG. I don't think I've logged on here in a full calendar year...I missed a PLAYOFF SEASON with you guys! I ran into adiedanny on twitter tonight (I'm @real_jj, for reference) and I started reminiscing like a muhhhh. The forum looks great, like nothing has changed! Shout out to mkwest and thanumba2clippersfan for holding it down! Missed you guys, and I hope to remain a regular here again this season!

If CP3 plays I think we'll have a chance at winning. Also, surprised that Crawford isn't starting over Green and Barnes not added to the key reserves.

JJ LoDuca wrote:Oh man you guys, it has been SO LONG. I don't think I've logged on here in a full calendar year...I missed a PLAYOFF SEASON with you guys! I ran into adiedanny on twitter tonight (I'm @real_jj, for reference) and I started reminiscing like a muhhhh. The forum looks great, like nothing has changed! Shout out to mkwest and thanumba2clippersfan for holding it down! Missed you guys, and I hope to remain a regular here again this season!

So cool to have you back. It will be great to see you posting again. always cracked me up lol

mj_shoefanatic wrote:If CP3 plays I think we'll have a chance at winning. Also, surprised that Crawford isn't starting over Green and Barnes not added to the key reserves.

I believe VDN wants Crawford to be comfortable with the second unit because that will be his role. He's the Ginobili/Harden type player of the team. He isn't starting, but he will be getting more minutes than the starter, and until Billups returns and is fully healthy, he will likely be the one finishing games.

I agree about Barnes. I had wanted him since the off-season began, and I think he will find a way to carve out minutes. What I really like is his rebounding from the SF spot, or in small ball lineups. I wonder if it is possible for us to end up seeing an early season rotation of:

Paul / Bledsoe
Hill / Crawford
Butler / Barnes
Griffin / Odom
Jordan / Turiaf

I don't believe Green's two pre-season game play mean much though. He will be better next to Paul and over a larger sample size. Over his last 203 games spanning through 3 seasons, he's shot 45.4% FG / 37.4% 3PT, had a .537 TS% / 12.2 PER and has per 36 averages of 14.9 / 3.2 / 2.3 / 3.5 3PTA

Just for reference, here was Randy Foye last season: 39.8% FG / 38.6% 3PT / .522 TS% / 13.5 PER and per 36 averages of 15.2 / 3.0 / 3.1 / 7.0 3PTA

Foye is the greater 3PT threat in terms of taking double the rate of 3PTA, but Green isn't really far back in production in all other areas, and has been more efficienct over the past three seasons. I didn't include 3 seasons for Foye because last season was his most efficient scoring season since his rookie year. If we only include last season for Green, he is a little ahead in this comparison. Green starting over a guy like Hill does give better 3PT shooting when his production normalizes.

JJ LoDuca wrote:Oh man you guys, it has been SO LONG. I don't think I've logged on here in a full calendar year...I missed a PLAYOFF SEASON with you guys! I ran into adiedanny on twitter tonight (I'm @real_jj, for reference) and I started reminiscing like a muhhhh. The forum looks great, like nothing has changed! Shout out to mkwest and thanumba2clippersfan for holding it down! Missed you guys, and I hope to remain a regular here again this season!

Welcome back home Ms. JJ

You've definitely been missed. The playoffs were so exciting, but that was just the warm-up session for the big things to come . I really look forward to reading your take on things again.

VDN should go to hell for starting Willie Green. What is his fetish with starting bad SGs?

CP3 gets introduced last. It's usually Blake. Interesting.

I like him starting Green. Might as well see what he can do next to CP3.

Floor is slippery as hell.

No one better get hurt.

dj's looking good

DJ's putting in work in the paint.

DJ looking studddddddddddd

DJ has 9 of our 17.

dj is looking freaking really good!

i wonder if they even waxed that floor lol. everyone is just straight up slippin

I'm not missing this game tonight. DJ looking good to start, Heat are breaking us down on D

mkwest wrote:DJ's putting in work in the paint.

Ya, I love how aggressive he's gotten.

areg789 wrote:Ya, I love how aggressive he's gotten.

He's showing a lot of confidence. Hopefully it'll carry over to the line soon.

NICE D DJ~! glad he's not trying to swat