Simmons' Criticism

[KyletheDingbat]

On his BS report a couple days ago he had Zack Lowe on and at around the 28:30 mark starts discussing his criticisms of the Clippers, including that he thinks the Clippers might (gasp!) miss the playoffs.

http://espn.go.com/espnradio/grantland/ ... d=12133836

They go, basically, as follows:

CP tries half the time
Too many off court distractions
Bad crunch time 5
Worst bench of all west playoff contenders
Boring
Hawes is absolutely terrible
CP and Blake don't like playing together
The team doesn't like playing for Doc

I either agree with him on all these points or I was interested by them. For instance, I had no idea Blake and Doc were yelling at each other the other day, or that Hawes and Doc got into it. Guess that's par for the course, but his insight was interesting. What do you think?

[Neddy]

first of all, Bill Simmons is a terrible excuse of a journalist. he is just another glorified fanboy making a living in today's lackadaisical standard of media.

secondly, for his assessments.

#1. it is not in CP3's nature to half ass anything.
#2. such as what? what off court distraction have we had exactly?
#3. this agree. there is no reason what so ever a bench player like Jamal should finish every game while better defender, better team player, better consistent shooter such as JJ is sitting on the bench. if we are down by 4 and there is 10 seconds to go, yeah Jamal is the league leading 4 point artist. but other than that and his crazy shot selections, he is the worst defender in NBA.
#4. after the Rondo trade, the Mav's bench doesn't look any better than ours.
#5. that is highly subjective. if anyone is boring, the Spurs and Hawks lead the league by a wide margin and there is no contest.
#6. Hawes has been terrible so far. does not mean he will be later. he just joined this team and still trying to figure out how to play with our guys.
#7. I have no clue, and frankly, neither does billy boy from boston.
#8. same answer as #7.


Bill is a major troll who throws **** on the wall and see if it sticks. if anyone wants to listen to some fanboy's guessing job, we have our own wonder boy right here in our own from, Wammy. if anyone wants to hear from negative, self loathing fan, we got that one too in Martin to Vaught.

so in short, **** Bill and his Celtics.

[MartinToVaught]

The more I watch this team play, the more I agree with Simmons on just about every point, although I won't go as far as saying we'll miss the playoffs. We'll be quickly ushered out in the first round by whoever we play, but we'll be in the playoffs nonetheless.

CP3 only shows up against lottery teams or point guards that are worse than him nowadays, he completely vanishes against the other "top" point guards and against contenders. It sure looks like he robbed this franchise blind when he got that $107 million contract. I continue to believe that investing that much money on a player who has never been past the second round of the playoffs, isn't particularly durable, is too easy for other teams to shut down with bigger defenders, and dominates the ball at a position that does not correlate to championship success was a big mistake.

The crunch time offense is statistically awful, something like 26th in the league last I heard. This is a big area where our lack of a legitimate two-way small forward hurts.

We all know the bench is awful, won't belabor that point.

The team is boring to watch, now that it's become a nursing home for all the slow, old, broken-down veterans of the league and Blake doesn't play above the rim anymore. There's literally nothing exciting about Woodson's iso offense, Crawford and Blake chucking hideous jump shots all night and CP3 overdribbling. I greatly prefer watching teams like the Hawks and Spurs instead in terms of entertainment.

Hawes was a waste of the MLE, I personally didn't like the signing from the get-go. Always thought we should have used that money on a small forward.

Off-court, the players seem to have a ton of chemistry, but it doesn't seem to translate on the court. They don't consistently play team ball, and the body language immediately becomes horrible under even the slightest modicum of adversity.

I wouldn't like to play for Doc either if I were a player. I'd be jealous of players who get to learn from actual coaches like Pop, Kerr, Budenholzer, etc. as opposed to a glorified motivational speaker whose only "coaching" expertise is in having assistants draw up the plays, playing favorites (i.e. Farmar and Hawes get all the playing time they want while Cunningham is ignored and discarded like used trash) and making excuses.

Only thing I don't get is the "off-court distractions." Sterling's gone and Blake's club incident has long since disappeared from the news cycle. What distractions could there be at this point?

[Neddy]

lol i rest my case.

[Wammy Giveaway]

if anyone wants to listen to some fanboy's guessing job, we have our own wonder boy right here in our own from, Wammy

I'm not going to agree with Bill Simmons just yet. If the players did hate each other, there would have been a fight on the court, on national television for everyone to see, good enough for some ejections and a suspension. They would have had a three-game losing streak by now as well. But neither has happened. The Clippers know that if they have just one three-game losing streak in the regular season, they will automatically lose in the playoffs, regardless if they make the Finals. After all, no team in NBA history has ever recovered from a 0-3 deficit in the playoffs.

As long as they avoid the three-game losing streak spell, they will be fine. Until I see evidence, don't buy into Bill Simmons.

[MartinToVaught]

if anyone is boring, the Spurs and Hawks lead the league by a wide margin and there is no contest.

How so? In my opinion, true team basketball in the motion offense, like the Spurs and Hawks play, is the most entertaining style of basketball there is. It's a lot more exciting than watching Jamal hoist up terrible shots as if he's playing HORSE in his driveway or CP3 dribble the air out of the ball.

[KyletheDingbat]

first of all, Bill Simmons is a terrible excuse of a journalist. he is just another glorified fanboy making a living in today's lackadaisical standard of media.

secondly, for his assessments.

#1. it is not in CP3's nature to half ass anything.
#2. such as what? what off court distraction have we had exactly?
#3. this agree. there is no reason what so ever a bench player like Jamal should finish every game while better defender, better team player, better consistent shooter such as JJ is sitting on the bench. if we are down by 4 and there is 10 seconds to go, yeah Jamal is the league leading 4 point artist. but other than that and his crazy shot selections, he is the worst defender in NBA.
#4. after the Rondo trade, the Mav's bench doesn't look any better than ours.
#5. that is highly subjective. if anyone is boring, the Spurs and Hawks lead the league by a wide margin and there is no contest.
#6. Hawes has been terrible so far. does not mean he will be later. he just joined this team and still trying to figure out how to play with our guys.
#7. I have no clue, and frankly, neither does billy boy from boston.
#8. same answer as #7.


Bill is a major troll who throws **** on the wall and see if it sticks. if anyone wants to listen to some fanboy's guessing job, we have our own wonder boy right here in our own from, Wammy. if anyone wants to hear from negative, self loathing fan, we got that one too in Martin to Vaught.

so in short, **** Bill and his Celtics.

One thing to keep in mind is that Simmons picked us to win the Finals this year. I don't think he hates us; in fact I think he used to love us. But he's soured on us this year.

[TucsonClip]

Watching the Hawks is absolutely fantastic basketball. Shooters and defenders all over the floor, no isolation ball, sets designed to create a wide open three, a PG who can get to the rim at will, the best shooter in the league, and one of the best two way bigs in the entire league (of which the team doenst even need to score).

[Clemenza]

Simmons seems spot on with this one.. And I think some of the off court distractions are all the commercials and side projects of Blake and CP3. Not necessarily saying this is a bad thing but usually all these adds go to players who've won before. Its crazy seeing all these adds from our players and wondering to myself will we even get past the first round this year

[mattd13]

this guy knows nothing and if he is talking I am not watching.. the thing I see is that at the end of close games cp3 has tried to do too much. he has to run the offense and use all his assets. the good pg's on good teams have played better, they get into the lane, and put pressure on everyone else. the coaching at the end of games has been bad. last is this, the bench is very weak, but you knew that!!!! at this point I see a first round exit.

[Quake Griffin]

Amazing how he's clearly throwing **** at the wall hoping it sticks and some people in our community buy into it.

You're not a bitter wife who now has to support all things anti-husband.
chill the **** out.

shotout to Wammy, Ned and Matt for having some damn sense.

[Lindecision]

One of Simmons' main points that wasn't mentioned in the OP was Doc the GM. I do blame Doc for the team's regression. Not because he's a bad coach, but because he's a bad GM. All the problems we've seen these past 2 years is a direct result of the failed Bledsoe trade. Doc knows it. The players know it. Getting Redick was fine, but there were other ways of getting him and not sending Bledsoe to a division rival. What we really needed was a Jeff Green kind of piece on top of Redick, especially given how much value Bledsoe's upside held around the league. The reason why we were so good was because of Bledsoe's impact. We needed to replace that impact in other positions. We could have traded for Tobias Harris. Orlando needed of a PG to pair with Oladipo. This was a year before they drafted Elfrid Payton. If Doc thought Dudley was going to be the answer at SF, then he clearly doesn't have any idea about the general landscape of the league or who the up and coming players are. Even at the time Dudley was a has-been. This place is called Real GM. I honestly believe any one of us wanna-be GMs would have done a better job. Then there's the stuff that came after. Giving Hawes the MLE over Livingston or Pierce or even Collison was stupid. Getting hard-capped as a result was amateur. Trading away our last bit of flexibility just to get Dudley off the books was laughable. He wasn't going to get any worse. Just keep him and see what's out there as the season progresses. At worse he's $4 million salary filler for a future trade.

Simmons is basically on the money with everything he said. Yeh, some of his BS was unnecessary, but I can filter that out. He's still right about the general gist of it. Anyone trying to play it down or question his credibility are deluding themselves. Doc's terrible GM-ing is still the reason this team has regressed, not Simmons' BS. We're pretty much done this year in terms winning a ring anyway. Unless we get a favorable matchup like Houston or Portland in the 1st round. Along with some luck coz they're both better than us in all honesty. After that we might get into a groove and raise our game as the underdog in the 2nd round. But seriously, it ain't happening. We're getting bounced in the 1st round. The Mavs have Rondo now. Memphis just traded for Jeff Green. The Spurs and OKC are constants. Portland and Houston got better. And the Warriors have frikin everything. I came on here after the dubs blew us out saying this team is no longer elite and no longer a true contender. Guess what? Nothing's changed. In fact, that realization is probably the reason why you're seeing players' frustration boil over - Blake and CP's alleged dislike; players getting into it with Doc; etc. Not because they don't like each other, but because of expectations. They've realized their window has slammed shut. At least for now. Luckily Blake and DJ are young and have years of their prime left in them. But that's not the case with CP, JJ, Barnes and Jamal. Its a sad state of affairs.

[Forte IV]

The only thing that plague's this team is Doc as GM and losing Alvin Gentry. If you start believing other things you might as well switch to being a fan of the Lakers, because that's what a lot of you sound like. Whiny brats who expect winning winning winning. I like Doc as a coach. But the person we are truly missing is Alvin Gentry. I'm willing to bet if the Warriors didn't have him they wouldn't be the top team in the league. They'd be the same team as they were with Jackson.

[Wammy Giveaway]

You know, it's because of Bill Simmons that the rumors of Blake Griffin for Carmelo Anthony have resurfaced, even if the size of the gossip is miniscule.

[Neddy]

One thing to keep in mind is that Simmons picked us to win the Finals this year. I don't think he hates us; in fact I think he used to love us. But he's soured on us this year.

come on we all have dated women who have no neutral zone. it is always a bipolar swing from sweet love to extreme hate. Bill is that type of a bitch.

[MartinToVaught]

The only thing that plague's this team is Doc as GM and losing Alvin Gentry. If you start believing other things you might as well switch to being a fan of the Lakers, because that's what a lot of you sound like. Whiny brats who expect winning winning winning.

Convincing argument. "Agree with me or you're a whiny brat and a fake fan."

[Neddy]

The only thing that plague's this team is Doc as GM and losing Alvin Gentry. If you start believing other things you might as well switch to being a fan of the Lakers, because that's what a lot of you sound like. Whiny brats who expect winning winning winning.

Convincing argument. "Agree with me or you're a whiny brat and a fake fan."

well clipper fans from the old sports arena days were hopeless romantics and forever optimists. I don't remember anyone being negative during the Larry Brown days because we couldn't beat the Rockets, we were thankful that we had pushed the series to the last and deciding game and big old Stanley dunked on Hakeem. we were grateful that Ike Austin gave us a great effort for half a season when he didn't stay. we are better than ever now. from my personal experience of growing up in LA, Forte's assessment isn't inaccurate. I saw a lot of so called hard core Lakers fans rocking Bulls jerseys after MJ's first championship against the lakers in my high school years, but for us, once a clipper fan, you are a fan for life.

[Forte IV]

The only thing that plague's this team is Doc as GM and losing Alvin Gentry. If you start believing other things you might as well switch to being a fan of the Lakers, because that's what a lot of you sound like. Whiny brats who expect winning winning winning.

Convincing argument. "Agree with me or you're a whiny brat and a fake fan."

Coming from the guy who wants us to trade our best rebounding and defensive piece in a trade that lands us Lance Stephenson. Who, by the way, has shooting averages of 38.6% FG, 15.1% 3pt & 63.5% FT. And, by the way, the Hornets are 9-5 without him, and 6-19 with him. But, you're reasoning to wanting him is because he played in the conference finals last year. Because that argument makes sense.


Oh and the easiest way to end this do the Clippers hate each other thing is for me to just text my friend. He's a "players assistant" aka the guy who gives them towels. He's in that locker room every game, so I'm sure he'd know.

[KyletheDingbat]

One thing to keep in mind is that Simmons picked us to win the Finals this year. I don't think he hates us; in fact I think he used to love us. But he's soured on us this year.

come on we all have dated women who have no neutral zone. it is always a bipolar swing from sweet love to extreme hate. Bill is that type of a bitch.

Well you may know him better than me.

Here's what I think: I think we can win the championship. Felt that way before the season started and it hasn't changed. We either need a trade OR we need our current guys to step it up a notch. Last year, Blake turned it on around this time and skyrocketed to MVP candidate. If he can knock it up even another notch the rest of the way, that may be all we need, as long as CP becomes Isiah Thomas in the playoffs. Maybe this team just needs the playoffs. I like Doc a lot.

But amid all that optimism I'm still interested in hearing what Bill was saying about the players yelling at the coach, or our crunch time problems etc... He makes a lot of sense. Maybe those are issues that need to be solved for us to reach our potential.

[Neddy]

Well you may know him better than me.

Here's what I think: I think we can win the championship. Felt that way before the season started and it hasn't changed. We either need a trade OR we need our current guys to step it up a notch. Last year, Blake turned it on around this time and skyrocketed to MVP candidate. If he can knock it up even another notch the rest of the way, that may be all we need, as long as CP becomes Isiah Thomas in the playoffs. Maybe this team just needs the playoffs. I like Doc a lot.

But amid all that optimism I'm still interested in hearing what Bill was saying about the players yelling at the coach, or our crunch time problems etc... He makes a lot of sense. Maybe those are issues that need to be solved for us to reach our potential.

I simply dislike today's media letting fanboys like Bill to be in front of cameras, making a mockery out of live TV like he did on Christmas day, was it a few years ago when he went on a personal attack on Doc? my memories are a bit fuzzy now but the matter here is that guys like Bill Simmons should be a blogger with a cult following at best. he should not be representing any main stream media simply because he lacks the professionalism to be a journalist, which is what he portrays himself to be.