Game 15: Clippers (5-9) visit Hornets (5-9) on 11/18 @ 7:00 PM ET

[ducler]

[og15]

I know it is on the road, but this is certainly a winnable one.

Not a bad start, a little slow, but picked it up

[og15]

What kind of stupid shot is Austin taking?

[og15]

Loving Blake's activity in the 3rd so far, creating a lot, needs some help

[esqtvd]

down by 2 after 3
good fightback after Austin benched for Lou

4thQ: Austin now leads the 2nd unit
3 HOU guys and Juwan

______________

LATE ADD: Bench did their job--played 'em even for 5+ min, starters got their rest

LAST ADD: Starters come back to a 2-point game and got nuthin
Fade away not with a bang but a whimper, lose by 15

[HoopsMalone]

Yall had literally the entire last 6 minutes to hack-a-dwight and chose not to do it.... Doc Rivers.... man.. where did ya find that guy? He's the worst... there arent many matchups we go in with a coaching advantage these days

[MartinToVaught]

Goodbye, Doc... hello, Porter, Doncic or Ayton!

[MartinToVaught]

Yall had literally the entire last 6 minutes to hack-a-dwight and chose not to do it.... Doc Rivers.... man.. where did ya find that guy? He's the worst... there arent many matchups we go in with a coaching advantage these days

Doc is the Rich Kotite of the NBA. Literally one of the worst coaches in the history of his sport.

[og15]

Blake is a very versatile and good player, but he is not a "point forward", and you can't just run him without a player on the court to take on that playmaker role. Worse off is Austin and Blake on the court together. Doc for some reason puts Austin in roles that actually make him look worse (playing PG, playing SF), and Austin and Blake together, they just devolve too often to isolation and Blake backing down for the whole shot clock like we're back in 2011-2012. The FO needs to go out and grab a veteran PG. I know that the luxury tax is in play here, and the Clippers were right at the border of it, which is likely a factor, but this is out of hand, and we don't have a "system" that can work without someone to run things and create and break down the defense to get the ball moving from the point.

Blake is a very good secondary playmaker, who of course can have games and stretches where he does a lot of playmaking, that's normal, but this whole plan of making Blake a primary playmaker is harming his game and just making him an iso player. To me, there's absolutely no reason Blake should be shooting, I believe he will be under 42% FG after this game. Our 15 game trial has been nice and shown us the reality.

I don't know if any of you guys have looked at the numbers, but over the last 11 games, Blake is shooting 38% FG / 32% 3PT. Blake is having his own issues in contributing to that, but that's a team and coaching issue also, and Patrick Beverley is certainly not solving anything.

I'm not one to say everything is on Doc, but this much losing, even with injuries, that's just not acceptable, we can't blame injuries for an 8 game losing streak and losing 10/11 when we have Griffin/Jordan on the roster and still some decent enough role players. Last seasons team, even with both Paul and Griffin out still were able to go 3-7. Is anyone going to make the argument that this supposedly much deeper team with 3 players injured is worse than the no Paul/Griffin team last season? Not to mention this team has star power. I think it's time for a change, even just for the sake of change. Maybe Doc is saying all of the right things, but if it isn't landing, then it's not working.

[esqtvd]

Blake is a very versatile and good player, but he is not a "point forward", and you can't just run him without a player on the court to take on that playmaker role. Worse off is Austin and Blake on the court together. Doc for some reason puts Austin in roles that actually make him look worse (playing PG, playing SF), and Austin and Blake together, they just devolve too often to isolation and Blake backing down for the whole shot clock like we're back in 2011-2012. The FO needs to go out and grab a veteran PG. I know that the luxury tax is in play here, and the Clippers were right at the border of it, which is likely a factor, but this is out of hand, and we don't have a "system" that can work without someone to run things and create and break down the defense to get the ball moving from the point.

Blake is a very good secondary playmaker, who of course can have games and stretches where he does a lot of playmaking, that's normal, but this whole plan of making Blake a primary playmaker is harming his game and just making him an iso player. To me, there's absolutely no reason Blake should be shooting, I believe he will be under 42% FG after this game. Our 15 game trial has been nice and shown us the reality.

I don't know if any of you guys have looked at the numbers, but over the last 11 games, Blake is shooting 38% FG / 32% 3PT. Blake is having his own issues in contributing to that, but that's a team and coaching issue also, and Patrick Beverley is certainly not solving anything.

I'm not one to say everything is on Doc, but this much losing, even with injuries, that's just not acceptable, we can't blame injuries for an 8 game losing streak and losing 10/11 when we have Griffin/Jordan on the roster and still some decent enough role players. Last seasons team, even with both Paul and Griffin out still were able to go 3-7. Is anyone going to make the argument that this supposedly much deeper team with 3 players injured is worse than the no Paul/Griffin team last season? Not to mention this team has star power. I think it's time for a change, even just for the sake of change. Maybe Doc is saying all of the right things, but if it isn't landing, then it's not working.

Well, we have won games in the past [though not many] with Austin pressed into being the starting PG. But add in a non-rotation player [WeJo] and a G-Leaguer [a game but green Sindarius] instead of Luc and JJ, and that's a critical mass of suck. Blaming Austin, who's a 2, not a 1, is like blaming a 2nd baseman when he has to fill in at shortstop. Somebody else has to pick up and aside from Lou, nobody--esp our two max-contract players--has. Blake was 6-17 tonight.

If we did pick up a temporary PG on a dumpster dive, Austin would still start at the 2, and deservedly so.

https://clipperholics.com/2017/08/03/which-guards-will-start-for-the-la-clippers-breaking-it-down/

[In 2016-17] Rivers made his presence as a starter known whenever played in the starting lineup at the point, shooting guard, and small forward positions. Here are his stats as a starter last season: 16.1 points, 3.8 assists, 2.9 rebounds in 34.5 minutes shooting 45.8% from the field and 42% from three-point range. He’s a clear choice for a starting guard.

I think the hope is not Beverley, but Gallo's return being key to righting the ship--added playmaking, and a genuine #2 option [if not #1a] to take the weight off Blake and open up the court. That was how this team was designed.

[thanumba2clippersfan]

Very good post OG

I don't watch the Clippers day-to-day so I can't really say what the issues are besides the injuries. You're right this team that we have now should be better than the team that didn't have Chris or Blake last year. I never thought that we would lose 8 straight games at any point this season. I'm still hanging in there because at this point the team could surprise us and win. When I did watch us play against the 6ers the other day I didn't see much happening on offense. Just a bunch of standing around and taking tough shots.

I'm sure this 8 game losing streak has gotten the attention of the front office and I'm sure they are thinking of ways to help the team. It's a process and I hope we can still have a winning season this year. (If we don't make the playoffs at least we can get a lottery pick)

[HornetJail]

gg dudes...

How's Thornwell been for you guys? He's always going to have a special place in my heart as the star of that Final Four Gamecocks team.

[Akklaim1]

I remember when 2-game losing streaks would make us depressed. Now we'd be happy if we could avoid a 10-game skid.

[esqtvd]

gg dudes...

How's Thornwell been for you guys? He's always going to have a special place in my heart as the star of that Final Four Gamecocks team.

Sindarius is the most pleasant surprise of the year so far. Slated for mostly G-League, he worked his way into the back of the rotation immediately with dogged defense, and is starting because of injury to 2 of the top 4 guards. Not only that, but he's hitting the occasional 3 [47%], which was the biggest concern for his transition from SF to SG.

[Akklaim1]

Thornwell is the first ever draftee by Doc that he has actually used.

[Roscoe Sheed]

Blake is a very versatile and good player, but he is not a "point forward", and you can't just run him without a player on the court to take on that playmaker role. Worse off is Austin and Blake on the court together. Doc for some reason puts Austin in roles that actually make him look worse (playing PG, playing SF), and Austin and Blake together, they just devolve too often to isolation and Blake backing down for the whole shot clock like we're back in 2011-2012. The FO needs to go out and grab a veteran PG. I know that the luxury tax is in play here, and the Clippers were right at the border of it, which is likely a factor, but this is out of hand, and we don't have a "system" that can work without someone to run things and create and break down the defense to get the ball moving from the point.

Blake is a very good secondary playmaker, who of course can have games and stretches where he does a lot of playmaking, that's normal, but this whole plan of making Blake a primary playmaker is harming his game and just making him an iso player. To me, there's absolutely no reason Blake should be shooting, I believe he will be under 42% FG after this game. Our 15 game trial has been nice and shown us the reality.

I don't know if any of you guys have looked at the numbers, but over the last 11 games, Blake is shooting 38% FG / 32% 3PT. Blake is having his own issues in contributing to that, but that's a team and coaching issue also, and Patrick Beverley is certainly not solving anything.

I'm not one to say everything is on Doc, but this much losing, even with injuries, that's just not acceptable, we can't blame injuries for an 8 game losing streak and losing 10/11 when we have Griffin/Jordan on the roster and still some decent enough role players. Last seasons team, even with both Paul and Griffin out still were able to go 3-7. Is anyone going to make the argument that this supposedly much deeper team with 3 players injured is worse than the no Paul/Griffin team last season? Not to mention this team has star power. I think it's time for a change, even just for the sake of change. Maybe Doc is saying all of the right things, but if it isn't landing, then it's not working.

It’s not Beverley so much that they’re missing on offense it is Teodosic and Gallinari. When are these guys going to come back?

[og15]

Blake is a very versatile and good player, but he is not a "point forward", and you can't just run him without a player on the court to take on that playmaker role. Worse off is Austin and Blake on the court together. Doc for some reason puts Austin in roles that actually make him look worse (playing PG, playing SF), and Austin and Blake together, they just devolve too often to isolation and Blake backing down for the whole shot clock like we're back in 2011-2012. The FO needs to go out and grab a veteran PG. I know that the luxury tax is in play here, and the Clippers were right at the border of it, which is likely a factor, but this is out of hand, and we don't have a "system" that can work without someone to run things and create and break down the defense to get the ball moving from the point.

Blake is a very good secondary playmaker, who of course can have games and stretches where he does a lot of playmaking, that's normal, but this whole plan of making Blake a primary playmaker is harming his game and just making him an iso player. To me, there's absolutely no reason Blake should be shooting, I believe he will be under 42% FG after this game. Our 15 game trial has been nice and shown us the reality.

I don't know if any of you guys have looked at the numbers, but over the last 11 games, Blake is shooting 38% FG / 32% 3PT. Blake is having his own issues in contributing to that, but that's a team and coaching issue also, and Patrick Beverley is certainly not solving anything.

I'm not one to say everything is on Doc, but this much losing, even with injuries, that's just not acceptable, we can't blame injuries for an 8 game losing streak and losing 10/11 when we have Griffin/Jordan on the roster and still some decent enough role players. Last seasons team, even with both Paul and Griffin out still were able to go 3-7. Is anyone going to make the argument that this supposedly much deeper team with 3 players injured is worse than the no Paul/Griffin team last season? Not to mention this team has star power. I think it's time for a change, even just for the sake of change. Maybe Doc is saying all of the right things, but if it isn't landing, then it's not working.

It’s not Beverley so much that they’re missing on offense it is Teodosic and Gallinari. When are these guys going to come back?

Yea, that's actually why I said Bev won't help because he might be back soon, but the problem persists with him. Teodosic won't be back for some time, so they need to get someone to be a real point and give Blake help.

Gallo does help, but Lou is a good other scoring option, the problem is that they are and were still too iso heavy event with Gallo.

[donemilio21]

It felt like no one had the energy or the will to even try to play in the 4th quarter.
There is a huge problem that we are facing now. The team has gotten used to losing. I dont think Beverly or Gallo coming back is gonna change that. You need a leader out there who will refuse to lose, and motivate the rest of the team.
Blake doesn't look like a 35 million a year player at all.

[og15]

Blake is a very versatile and good player, but he is not a "point forward", and you can't just run him without a player on the court to take on that playmaker role. Worse off is Austin and Blake on the court together. Doc for some reason puts Austin in roles that actually make him look worse (playing PG, playing SF), and Austin and Blake together, they just devolve too often to isolation and Blake backing down for the whole shot clock like we're back in 2011-2012. The FO needs to go out and grab a veteran PG. I know that the luxury tax is in play here, and the Clippers were right at the border of it, which is likely a factor, but this is out of hand, and we don't have a "system" that can work without someone to run things and create and break down the defense to get the ball moving from the point.

Blake is a very good secondary playmaker, who of course can have games and stretches where he does a lot of playmaking, that's normal, but this whole plan of making Blake a primary playmaker is harming his game and just making him an iso player. To me, there's absolutely no reason Blake should be shooting, I believe he will be under 42% FG after this game. Our 15 game trial has been nice and shown us the reality.

I don't know if any of you guys have looked at the numbers, but over the last 11 games, Blake is shooting 38% FG / 32% 3PT. Blake is having his own issues in contributing to that, but that's a team and coaching issue also, and Patrick Beverley is certainly not solving anything.

I'm not one to say everything is on Doc, but this much losing, even with injuries, that's just not acceptable, we can't blame injuries for an 8 game losing streak and losing 10/11 when we have Griffin/Jordan on the roster and still some decent enough role players. Last seasons team, even with both Paul and Griffin out still were able to go 3-7. Is anyone going to make the argument that this supposedly much deeper team with 3 players injured is worse than the no Paul/Griffin team last season? Not to mention this team has star power. I think it's time for a change, even just for the sake of change. Maybe Doc is saying all of the right things, but if it isn't landing, then it's not working.

Well, we have won games in the past [though not many] with Austin pressed into being the starting PG. But add in a non-rotation player [WeJo] and a G-Leaguer [a game but green Sindarius] instead of Luc and JJ, and that's a critical mass of suck. Blaming Austin, who's a 2, not a 1, is like blaming a 2nd baseman when he has to fill in at shortstop. Somebody else has to pick up and aside from Lou, nobody--esp our two max-contract players--has. Blake was 6-17 tonight.

If we did pick up a temporary PG on a dumpster dive, Austin would still start at the 2, and deservedly so.

https://clipperholics.com/2017/08/03/which-guards-will-start-for-the-la-clippers-breaking-it-down/

[In 2016-17] Rivers made his presence as a starter known whenever played in the starting lineup at the point, shooting guard, and small forward positions. Here are his stats as a starter last season: 16.1 points, 3.8 assists, 2.9 rebounds in 34.5 minutes shooting 45.8% from the field and 42% from three-point range. He’s a clear choice for a starting guard.

I think the hope is not Beverley, but Gallo's return being key to righting the ship--added playmaking, and a genuine #2 option [if not #1a] to take the weight off Blake and open up the court. That was how this team was designed.

Of course, we can win games with Austin at PG, but it is a bad spot for him, and it neither helps the team nor makes him look good. All it does it add even more criticism to him for not being a PG, something he doesn't even claim to be, but is it his fault that his dad decides to play him there? I don't care about Austin starting or not, I just don't like him being forced into the PG role, a role he's terrible at, and also forcing Blake to try and parade as a primary playmaker, something he is not.

When he's on the court, they don't use him too much in the role, and he is a rookie, but even using the rookie Evans more in that role might not be a bad thing to try, just because he at least has that PG brain and his role will be primarily to set things up and shift the defense a bit and just make things a tad bit easier on guys.

[og15]

It felt like no one had the energy or the will to even try to play in the 4th quarter.
There is a huge problem that we are facing now. The team has gotten used to losing. I dont think Beverly or Gallo coming back is gonna change that. You need a leader out there who will refuse to lose, and motivate the rest of the team.
Blake doesn't look like a 35 million a year player at all.

Lucky for us, he's only making $29.5M .

Sorry, I had to, but I get what you are saying, on one hand, he's been dealt a tough hand, but on the other hand, he's not a rookie, and he's not the first or only player to have that happen. He's a 28 year old experienced player, and as a guy paid at that level, there is some expectation to be able to will your team to a victory or rally your guys to defend well enough in at least two or three of the past 8 games. It's a long season, but Blake might have to learn that he can't be the quiet nice leader for this team. Bev is on the bench, he's supposed to be the vocal leader, but not sure if he's having much impact, Blake might have to be the "bad guy" to get this group of guys going, even with other guys back. We can look to the injured players returning, but this lack of any sort of resiliency and toughness and heart is not something that is solved by better health. They will still be prone to losing games they should win with everyone back if they don't remedy this issue.