Game 34: Clippers (14-19) visit Lakers (11-22) on 12/29 @ 10:30 PM ET

esqtvd · Post #2 » by **esqtvd** » Sat Dec 30, 2017 12:49 am

who is D.J. Wilson

Post #3 » by **mkwest** » Sat Dec 30, 2017 1:07 am

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Post #4 » by **mkwest** » Sat Dec 30, 2017 6:16 am

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esqtvd · Post #5 » by **esqtvd** » Sat Dec 30, 2017 6:22 am

I loved everything. The energy, the rotation. I don't know if I dampened my emotions while Blake was out, but I sure got excited by that 3rdQ, when the fLakers threw everything they had at us and we still won the quarter 29-28. We've had better wins but this just seemed for real. With Blake out, there was an excuse for losing, so nothing seemed that urgent.

I've wanted an energy big for years and feel in love with Montrezl [15 and 9] when he came into summer league and dominated without even practicing with the team. I knew that meant the end for Brice, who was barely treading water against future G-leaguers and Walmart assistant managers.

Sam is making himself useful too, now that he's giving up on the 3 and is in attack mode. MRI on Austin's achilles tomorrow. Jeez. Just when the sun comes out, another cloud appears. :roll:

Roscoe Sheed · Post #6 » by **Roscoe Sheed** » Sat Dec 30, 2017 7:18 am

I really hope Austin didn’t tear his Achilles. He has been playing the best he ever has and the team can’t afford another injury. It looked very innocuous so hopefully it isn’t too severe

Dynamix · Post #7 » by **Dynamix** » Sat Dec 30, 2017 7:22 am

I've seriously had it with all these injuries, but at least we have the roster to make up for it. With Austin expected to be out for at least a month, it's time for Sin to step up.

Akklaim1 · Post #8 » by **Akklaim1** » Sat Dec 30, 2017 8:44 am

That's 6 straight seasons of winning the season series against LAL. If you have to ask, hell yes, I'm enjoying it.

Post #9 » by **thanumba2clippersfan** » Sat Dec 30, 2017 3:12 pm

Glad we won again and good to see that we controlled the game against the Lakers. Good to see us win more too even tough we're under .500, but we're getting closer. Sorry to hear about Austin, I hope his injury isn't too serious. It's like one player comes back and one player goes out. Hopefully Blake can stay on the court for awhile and not have any setbacks.

MartinToVaught · Post #10 » by **MartinToVaught** » Sat Dec 30, 2017 6:37 pm

Akklaim1 wrote:That's 6 straight seasons of winning the season series against LAL. If you have to ask, hell yes, I'm enjoying it.

The latest excuse from Laker fans is that they're "lost without Lonzo." Uhh, last I checked, we beat them twice with Lonzo and he played like total trash in both games. We still would have won this game even if Lonzo played.

MegaDeal · Post #11 » by **MegaDeal** » Sat Dec 30, 2017 7:55 pm

MartinToVaught wrote:
Akklaim1 wrote:That's 6 straight seasons of winning the season series against LAL. If you have to ask, hell yes, I'm enjoying it.

The latest excuse from Laker fans is that they're "lost without Lonzo." Uhh, last I checked, we beat them twice with Lonzo and he played like total trash in both games. We still would have won this game even if Lonzo played.

Lol. Trying to find these "excuses" you're referring to or are you just adding your own examples. Ridiculous to think Clippers win because Lonzo was out with the way this team is playing.

esqtvd · Post #12 » by **esqtvd** » Sat Dec 30, 2017 9:16 pm

only a strain

WHEW! :party:

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With the MRI returning negative for a tear, Rivers is expected to be day-to-day, league sources said.

Rivers, 25, is averaging career highs of 15.8 points, 3.6 assists and 40.5 percent 3-point shooting over 32 games this season.

Post #13 » by **og15** » Sat Dec 30, 2017 9:39 pm

Austin has been playing very well, glad it isn't too serious.

Last 18 games, Clippers are 10-8, Blake was out for 14 of those games. They are 10-6 in the games Rivers has played in that span. Rivers has averaged: 19.1 ppg, 4.4 apg, 2.1 tpg, 46.7% FG, 41.6% 3PT, .580 TS%. His season TS% is now up to .530 TS% and his Ortg is now up to 105 Ortg. If he keeps this up, well that is actually a pretty good player, whether you hate him just because or not.

Clippers are in the playoff race. 15-19
Pelicans: 18-17
Blazers: 18-16

The Clippers are a win streak and one of those teams a losing streak away from things changing quite drastically. We ended up going 6-8 without Blake, almost .500, and would have likely won this game even without him. With Blake, we should be playing at a .600 level now. Our favorite scapegoats, Doc and Austin were big contributors to staying afloat without Blake, and of course, the return of Milos, and all the scrappy and hungry guys Doc gave minutes to.

esqtvd · Post #14 » by **esqtvd** » Sat Dec 30, 2017 11:35 pm

Akklaim1 wrote:That's 6 straight seasons of winning the season series against LAL. If you have to ask, hell yes, I'm enjoying it.

Glad this got so many And+1s. :clap:

As an East Coaster, I'm hardcore, and not down with these lukewarm fans who like both LA teams, depending on who's winning. The other half of the fun is hating on your rivals and cheering for whoever's playing them at the time. When the Clippers are off, I can flip over to the Laker channel and root against them.

One thing I think is disastrous--why tanking is garbage--is its destructive effect on team culture. When playing time is given out depending on who you are, not what you do, that's not what sports is about. Some of the Lakers' best players are getting hosed because of the big FO schemes of signing LeBron or whatever. That is total BS.

Rumors of tumult emerged last weekend after a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers when Andrew Bogut, disclosed the anxiety building among teammates, per NBA.com.

“Pouting? Possibly. Guys are frustrated,” Bogut said. "Everyone knows what is going on with the salary-cap situation next season and all that. That is just distractions that we can’t let affect us. That is part of the league, the business decisions that front offices and coaches make. So if that is distracting guys, that is going to be like that your whole career. That is just the nature of this league.”

...

Julius Randle is reportedly upset with his diminishing role behind Larry Nance Jr. and due to the exacerbating influence of Kyle Kuzma’s emergence, he’s been hounded by trade rumors throughout the season.

Jordan Clarkson, who is owed nearly $26 million over the next two seasons has been one of the most consistent Lakers, and despite performing like a Sixth Man of the Year candidate, the organization is trying to dump him in order to create salary cap space for a second max level player slot next summer. He’s also playing the fewest minutes of his career, which is an unexpected development in the wake of of D’Angelo Russell’s ouster from L.A.

Even the veterans are living in limbo. Bogut is playing on a one-year-deal. Meanwhile Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who’s unable to leave the state of California while finishing a work-release program, signed a one-year-deal this summer. It’s not quite Elgin Baylor missing away games during the 1962 season so he could serve in the Army Reserves. Brook Lopez, who’s spent most of this decade on a trading block, has one year left on his deal.

As things currently stand, Brandon Ingram, Kuzma and Lonzo Ball are the only rotation players guaranteed to still be Lakers next season.

Hopefully, the Lakers won't be rewarded for this crap.

LeBron James joining Lakers? Three reasons why Cavs superstar won't be heading to LA

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/news/lebron-james-free-agency-lakers-2018-contract-lonzo-ball-kyle-kuzma-brandon-ingram/1rd658g86aegq1wa92we0fnenj

JGOJustin · Post #15 » by **JGOJustin** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 2:57 am

og15 wrote:Austin has been playing very well, glad it isn't too serious.

Last 18 games, Clippers are 10-8, Blake was out for 14 of those games. They are 10-6 in the games Rivers has played in that span. Rivers has averaged: 19.1 ppg, 4.4 apg, 2.1 tpg, 46.7% FG, 41.6% 3PT, .580 TS%. His season TS% is now up to .530 TS% and his Ortg is now up to 105 Ortg. If he keeps this up, well that is actually a pretty good player, whether you hate him just because or not.

Clippers are in the playoff race. 15-19
Pelicans: 18-17
Blazers: 18-16

The Clippers are a win streak and one of those teams a losing streak away from things changing quite drastically. We ended up going 6-8 without Blake, almost .500, and would have likely won this game even without him. With Blake, we should be playing at a .600 level now. Our favorite scapegoats, Doc and Austin were big contributors to staying afloat without Blake, and of course, the return of Milos, and all the scrappy and hungry guys Doc gave minutes to.

On the money with everything and the pels and blazers both lost tonight. Great news for LAC. It looks like if they can avoid the injury bug from here on out, they'll find themselves solidly in the top 8. They are far and away to me the best team in the 4-8 range of the conference.

As you've said, Austin's been flat out spectacular and the Clips have won 10 of the last 16 games that he's played in and Doc has been really good at pushing the right buttons w/riding CJ and Jamil in the starting the lineup up until Blake's return. Good stuff and I'm happy because when BG got hurt the clips could have folded. Great competitive spirit.

JGOJustin · Post #16 » by **JGOJustin** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 2:57 am

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esqtvd · Post #17 » by **esqtvd** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 4:47 am

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Don't wanna be a wet blanket because I'm way into #MilosMania meself but I'm getting Milos @ 102-112 ORating/DRating

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/teodomi01.html#per_poss::none

JGOJustin · Post #18 » by **JGOJustin** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 10:29 am

esqtvd wrote:

Read on Twitter

Don't wanna be a wet blanket because I'm way into #MilosMania meself but I'm getting Milos @ 102-112 ORating/DRating

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/teodomi01.html#per_poss::none

Most people are using Stats.NBA.com as it tends to be more accurate via it's relationship w/synergy as opposed to bball ref, which is often times just formulaic estimates.

esqtvd · Post #19 » by **esqtvd** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 10:52 am

JGOJustin wrote:
esqtvd wrote:

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Don't wanna be a wet blanket because I'm way into #MilosMania meself but I'm getting Milos @ 102-112 ORating/DRating

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/teodomi01.html#per_poss::none

Most people are using Stats.NBA.com as it tends to be more accurate via it's relationship w/synergy as opposed to bball ref, which is often times just formulaic estimates.

Surely you're right--making Basketball Reference pretty useless for advanced stuff like this. The disparity is too great. Thx for the correction.

With only 10 games on the books, these numbers can't hold: Surely he's not that good a defender. But I do tend to believe the O number will stay up, and amazingly enough he's doing it while only shooting 34%/30%. Just imagine if and when his shots start falling!

JGOJustin · Post #20 » by **JGOJustin** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 11:09 am

esqtvd wrote:
JGOJustin wrote:
esqtvd wrote:

Read on Twitter

Don't wanna be a wet blanket because I'm way into #MilosMania meself but I'm getting Milos @ 102-112 ORating/DRating

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/teodomi01.html#per_poss::none

Most people are using Stats.NBA.com as it tends to be more accurate via it's relationship w/synergy as opposed to bball ref, which is often times just formulaic estimates.

Surely you're right--making Basketball Reference pretty useless for advanced stuff like this. The disparity is too great. Thx for the correction.

With only 10 games on the books, these numbers can't hold: Surely he's not that good a defender. But I do tend to believe the O number will stay up, and amazingly enough he's doing it while only shooting 34%/30%. Just imagine if and when his shots start falling!

You're absolutely right. It's encouraging that he actually looks for his shot on offense though because he isn't this bad of a shooter. I think he can get to above average and if he gets there, look out.

But yeah, the defense numbers probably will regress, but he hasn't been the turnstyle that one would of assumed off the eye test. And he's played a ton of his minutes w/ Austin/CJ/Jamil/DJ and that lineup has been fantastic defensively which help his defensive metrics big time.