This team sucks, here's why
Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 10:05 pm
Reasons (on a scale of 1-10)
Coach (8/10)
Dunleavy is way too controlling and it doesn't seem as if the players listen to him anymore. I could get into more detail but this has been rehashed over and over again. This begs the question of what available coach would make this team better? There really isn't a coach out there in the middle of the season that I think would significantly improve this team unfortunately. The move to make would be to fire Dunleavy as the coach and put John Lucas in during the interim. His passion would motivate the team and at least make the team watchable. I don't think he's had the best record as a head coach so he would most likely be replaced at the end of the season.
GM (7/10)
Dunleavy has done a decent job acquiring talent but the fact of the matter is our bench is absolutely atrocious.
Camby - He stole Camby for peanuts. That was a great move. But aside from that he hasn't shored up the depth of this team. Camby puts up great stats but focuses too much on chasing the blocked shot. He's a great leader though and can turn the tide of a game based on hustle alone.
Telfair - Sebastian Telfair is too one-dimensional to be anything other than a liability. He couldn't defend a rock, much less shoot it.
Ricky Davis-Ricky Davis is hot garbage.
Skinner-Skinner is washed up for all intents and purposes. As it he doesn't embrace his role as a rebounder at times and tries to do some kind of fancy move to the basket.
Smith - See skinner.
Davis- He's clearly lost a step but he seems to be playing the best ball he can. He was overpaid but who else were we going to get with the money?
Kaman- Great offensively but pretty soft when it comes to defense. I would trade him now while his value is at an all time high.
Gordon-Good draft pick.
Thornton-Good draft pick. Has improved but his defense is atrocious.
Rasual Butler- We got him for nothing so what's to be expected. He's a shooter, and that's it. And that's when he actually performs...
Griffin- Injured. Which brings me to
Training and Conditioning (10/10)
The real problem with this team is that they've retained the same conditioning staff throughout the years. This staff is consistently sub par when it comes to injury prevention. Without a new training staff it may very well make NO DIFFERENCE what kind of talent we get if we can't keep them on the floor. This issue, more than any other, will affect the long term future of this team.
SOLUTIONS:
1. It's doubtful that this team is going to get LBJ. Right now barring a trade to clear cap space it is impossible. It would be better for this team to look for ways to capitalize on their assets. The biggest assets they have right now are Camby and Kaman. I am confident the Clippers can get a some decent young talent in exchange for Camby. Hopefully we could get a young player at the PG position as well as either the PF or SF position. I think Kaman should be traded straight up for a starting SF ala Butler, Prince, Howard etc. along with a young prospect. One idea would be to trade Camby for Gortat and Pietrus. Then trade Kaman for a Gerald Wallace type. Then throw some expirings like Davis and Butler for a slightly overpaid center. Maybe even target Eddy Curry. We would have a year to see if he worked out.
Coach (8/10)
Dunleavy is way too controlling and it doesn't seem as if the players listen to him anymore. I could get into more detail but this has been rehashed over and over again. This begs the question of what available coach would make this team better? There really isn't a coach out there in the middle of the season that I think would significantly improve this team unfortunately. The move to make would be to fire Dunleavy as the coach and put John Lucas in during the interim. His passion would motivate the team and at least make the team watchable. I don't think he's had the best record as a head coach so he would most likely be replaced at the end of the season.
GM (7/10)
Dunleavy has done a decent job acquiring talent but the fact of the matter is our bench is absolutely atrocious.
Camby - He stole Camby for peanuts. That was a great move. But aside from that he hasn't shored up the depth of this team. Camby puts up great stats but focuses too much on chasing the blocked shot. He's a great leader though and can turn the tide of a game based on hustle alone.
Telfair - Sebastian Telfair is too one-dimensional to be anything other than a liability. He couldn't defend a rock, much less shoot it.
Ricky Davis-Ricky Davis is hot garbage.
Skinner-Skinner is washed up for all intents and purposes. As it he doesn't embrace his role as a rebounder at times and tries to do some kind of fancy move to the basket.
Smith - See skinner.
Davis- He's clearly lost a step but he seems to be playing the best ball he can. He was overpaid but who else were we going to get with the money?
Kaman- Great offensively but pretty soft when it comes to defense. I would trade him now while his value is at an all time high.
Gordon-Good draft pick.
Thornton-Good draft pick. Has improved but his defense is atrocious.
Rasual Butler- We got him for nothing so what's to be expected. He's a shooter, and that's it. And that's when he actually performs...
Griffin- Injured. Which brings me to
Training and Conditioning (10/10)
The real problem with this team is that they've retained the same conditioning staff throughout the years. This staff is consistently sub par when it comes to injury prevention. Without a new training staff it may very well make NO DIFFERENCE what kind of talent we get if we can't keep them on the floor. This issue, more than any other, will affect the long term future of this team.
SOLUTIONS:
1. It's doubtful that this team is going to get LBJ. Right now barring a trade to clear cap space it is impossible. It would be better for this team to look for ways to capitalize on their assets. The biggest assets they have right now are Camby and Kaman. I am confident the Clippers can get a some decent young talent in exchange for Camby. Hopefully we could get a young player at the PG position as well as either the PF or SF position. I think Kaman should be traded straight up for a starting SF ala Butler, Prince, Howard etc. along with a young prospect. One idea would be to trade Camby for Gortat and Pietrus. Then trade Kaman for a Gerald Wallace type. Then throw some expirings like Davis and Butler for a slightly overpaid center. Maybe even target Eddy Curry. We would have a year to see if he worked out.