Sure it's only 21 games in, I'm still gonna applaud

[Kelphus]

Breaking News:

Best record in the NBA is held by the... Clippers , the only team with 16 wins.

Yeah yeah killjoy trolls, sure it's all about the playoffs blah blah blah. Sorry you sad sacks can't just enjoy everything there is to enjoy. But it's a nice moment in Clipperland and I'll take it.

[Clemenza]

Here here!! We need to enjoy every part of it

[nickhx2]

i think what i appreciate more than anything is seeing how much smoother the team looks compared to last year. last year it just seemed so hard at times, in spite of a strong record. but it was mostly kinda just letting kawhi carry the team while hoping the surrounding players would do enough to fill the gaps (PG included). and while he was absolutely fantastic most nights, you'd always get the feeling that if he had an off night the team had little chance in a tight game.

but now it just seems like all the parts are working together, in synergy and with a solid rationale behind each lineup. the offense is transformed. and the defense, while not elite just yet, is almost assuredly going to get there.

night in and night out we're seeing the team grow the way it needs to, in order to succeed at the highest levels.

[NickP]

This post was deemed buzz kill and since been deleted!

[Kelphus]

NickP, why mess up what could have been a nice thread with attacking another poster? what a buzz kill dude!

[NickP]

NickP, why mess up what could have been a nice thread with attacking another poster? what a buzz kill dude!

Attacking? That's a bit strong, dude. But I'll try and delete it. No worries.

[esqtvd]

Breaking News:

Best record in the NBA is held by the... Clippers , the only team with 16 wins.

Yeah yeah killjoy trolls, sure it's all about the playoffs blah blah blah. Sorry you sad sacks can't just enjoy everything there is to enjoy. But it's a nice moment in Clipperland and I'll take it.

right on, this is how normal people do it...even in Philly lol

save it for the offseason and enjoy it all while it lasts

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[clipperlover]

The regular season means jack squat if you get bounced before the conference finals. This is just performance tuning. Sure, enjoy the games, but this team proves nothing until they compete in a 7 games series vs the big boys and not against regular season fodder.

Facts:
1. This team has not beaten a team currently more than 2 games over .500 since Games 1 and 2.
2. In our last 10, 8 of the opponents are currently under .500.

We have the high scoring, no defense nets up next, but then don't face a top opponent until the jazz on 2/17 and 2/19. I would include Boston, but Smart is out and he is a huge loss for them.

[SK21209]

i think what i appreciate more than anything is seeing how much smoother the team looks compared to last year. last year it just seemed so hard at times, in spite of a strong record. but it was mostly kinda just letting kawhi carry the team while hoping the surrounding players would do enough to fill the gaps (PG included). and while he was absolutely fantastic most nights, you'd always get the feeling that if he had an off night the team had little chance in a tight game.

but now it just seems like all the parts are working together, in synergy and with a solid rationale behind each lineup. the offense is transformed. and the defense, while not elite just yet, is almost assuredly going to get there.

night in and night out we're seeing the team grow the way it needs to, in order to succeed at the highest levels.

I enjoy watching this year's team SO MUCH more than last year's team. Everyone is looking to make a play for someone else. Lue's 2016 and 2017 Cavs teams were juggernaut offenses with middling regular season defenses who ramped up the intensity on the defensive end in the playoffs. I see a similar trajectory for this team and believe establishing an efficient, free-flowing offense is the more pressing concern right now.

That being said, I see two problems that needed to be solved before the playoffs: (1) Lou's easily-exploitable defense and (2) Kennard's inconsistency. I think a Lou for George Hill ish kind of trade solves both problems by forcing Kennard to take on more playmaking responsibility with the second unit. I love what Reggie is doing right now, but we could use a more reliable defensive presence at the point behind Beverly.

[Clemenza]

The regular season means jack squat if you get bounced before the conference finals. This is just performance tuning. Sure, enjoy the games, but this team proves nothing until they compete in a 7 games series vs the big boys and not against regular season fodder.

Facts:
1. This team has not beaten a team currently more than 2 games over .500 since Games 1 and 2.
2. In our last 10, 8 of the opponents are currently under .500.

We have the high scoring, no defense nets up next, but then don't face a top opponent until the jazz on 2/17 and 2/19. I would include Boston, but Smart is out and he is a huge loss for them.

We get it.. relax and take a deep breath. Yes you're 100% correct -its all about the post season with this team. We all know this BUT at the same time, lets ease up and have some fun. Enjoy the play, the ball movement, PG & Kawhi, the additions of Batum & Ibaka, better coaching, x factors stepping up, etc. Because of our choke in the bubble nobody wants us to enjoy this team. As far as the schedule, everybody is playing cupcakes for the majority of their season. We started the season @Lakers, @Nuggets, Mavs, Blazers, @Jazz, @Suns, Spurs, @Warriors, @Warriors, etc. So we started the season with the toughest schedule in the league while the Lakers played nothing but cupcakes and are just now playing better teams 20+ games in. Covid is still here, folks are dying, economy is bad, so lets enjoy this ****. F*ck the media narratives. Look at how they said we lost in free agency now that the smoke has cleared we actually had one of the best off-seasons out there. We're first place in the west and what do they say now about us- "We're not good.. We need to make a trade!"

Enjoy this season fellas.. I'm surly am.

[Kelphus]

No the regular season does not mean "jack squat." Enjoy the trip, not just the destination. Maybe it's something we oldsters just learn with time. I enjoy each win very much, even the close losses. I became a subscriber long ago at the now-gone LA Memorial Sports Arena because I love the game. That subscription lasted over 20 years - not because of championships but because it was fun to have a team to root for, and fellow Clipper-holics to get to know.

Sure, I want to see a Larry O'Brien trophy in Ballmer's hands, but that is not the only source of happiness and enjoyment.

Enjoy the ride, brothers and sisters, allow yourselves to have some fun!!!

[Scoundreldays]

I have very much enjoyed watching this team play this year. They are a fun team to watch compared to last year where I felt that even when we were winning games I was always in a bad mood watching them. Fingers crossed we keep this same energy and continue to make improvements as the season continues and into the post season.

[NickP]

My TV is definitely thankful since I'm screaming less at it these days.

[esqtvd]

I have very much enjoyed watching this team play this year. They are a fun team to watch compared to last year where I felt that even when we were winning games I was always in a bad mood watching them. Fingers crossed we keep this same energy and continue to make improvements as the season continues and into the post season.

Last year's was a very selfish team. Kawhi and PG had THEIR OWN PRIVATE LOCKER ROOM, Trezz and J-Myke were on salary drive, Shamet never caught up and Senior never meshed, and Pat Bev was still all mouth and showboat go-it-alone defense. That team was never a team.

This year, everybody came back humbled and professional, ready to do what it takes. Just as what was needed and just as I hoped. [A rededicated PG in particular, IMO.]

And you can't undervalue adding two ultraprofessional rocks in Batum and especially Ibaka. They don't play that $%^.

[esqtvd]

miscellaneous cool stuff

last year we were in the 20s most of the year until rallying to finish 13th [14.6]

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Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[jengmann3]

I appreciate this thread. NBATV after the Knicks game yesterday tried to say the whole "it does not really matter until the playoffs" thing, but 4 weeks prior when the Clips got destroyed by the Mavs they went to every postgame interview, demanding an answer and asking what was wrong with the team. This is why I don't like watching to much media coverage in general relating to basketball. I do enjoy watching this team. I'm a bit concerned about Kennard, and their defense against elite guards, but overall they share the ball and work well together.

[nickhx2]

the takes where people say that such and such does not matter tend to be pretty stupid, in general. it's just most often used as a way to dismiss the legitimacy or recognition of something good happening.

the reality is that everything is a factor in a long season, and that we should be taking reasonable bits and pieces away from each win and each loss. there are no teams that can turn on the switch. each game is about progress, whether it's positive or negative. you look at each game, the overall track record, add them up and you go from there.

[NickP]

So does this mean Kawhi is not gonna bolt?

[esqtvd]

the takes where people say that such and such does not matter tend to be pretty stupid, in general. it's just most often used as a way to dismiss the legitimacy or recognition of something good happening.

the reality is that everything is a factor in a long season, and that we should be taking reasonable bits and pieces away from each win and each loss. there are no teams that can turn on the switch. each game is about progress, whether it's positive or negative. you look at each game, the overall track record, add them up and you go from there.

And THAT is the difference from last year--the level of focus and commitment, which is evidenced by our turnover rate climbing towards the top in the league. That 50-point asskicking from Dallas was the best thing that could have happened to us. They were saying all the right things to the media at the start of the season but they were still not walking the walk.

And you don't hear very much of last year's big talk at all these days, do you?

[TheNewEra]

Very fun season so far