11/10 - POSTGAME | LA Clippers (111) - (120) Oklahoma City Thunder

M2J · Post #21 » by **M2J** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 9:26 am

Way to go PG. I'm liking this newest trend of him getting around 40 min per game. He's young enough and paces himself enough to play 37 to 39 per game. That will really help the bench and team overall. If Russ gets on track, I would like him to get over 36 as well, with Melo under 34. I feel the bench plays stronger with Melo, but PG should be able to handle the minutes.

It got dicey in the 4th when Russ wanted to lose it again, but Paul held them together,

Great feel good win. Lots of contributors

Post #22 » by **bondom34** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 9:33 am

Also Dakari should be in the rotation.

M2J · Post #23 » by **M2J** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 9:42 am

bondom34 wrote:Also Dakari should be in the rotation.

For sure, his length and activity alone accounted for some extra possessions and rebounds that they typically lose. He didn't beast on the boards, but lots of tip aways from DJ. His offense was a nice surprise too.

Osirus89 · Post #24 » by **Osirus89** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 10:24 am

I need to see more of this type of game before I am convinced of them "turning the corner". However, this is the first game probably since the season started where I was generally happy with how the team looked from start to finish.

PG had a great game and was the MVP of the game, but that team meeting must have worked because there was definitely a motivation to make the extra pass tonight. Some brief periods of iso stuff, but they would return to ball movement shortly after. Abrines having as much of an impact as he did is proof enough that they are finally trying to play the way they need to.

Criticism of Russ is certainly warranted after the last few games, but he is still the straw that stirs the drink for this team. The team still largely goes as he does.
Glad to see him knocking down FTs tonight.

InTheSabonus wrote:I missed the second half. Can I get a brief rundown? Seems like PG did some things.

Our assist numbers from our starting 5 look good, were we moving the ball?

How did Dakari go?

Second half was a little odd at first. Team started off like they have been over the previous games, but to Donovan's credit, he called a TO pretty quick to try to refocus and stop the bleeding. They were back on track by the middle of the third for the most part.

Yeah PG doing things is a pretty apt description of what happened. :lol:

Interestingly, it seemed like the lineups with George and the bench unit was more successful than it had been in previous games. Not just because PG was hitting shots, but the ball moved a lot more. He had 5 or 6 assists. Carmelo and Russ lineup that had been decently effective before was kinda bad tonight. That lineup coughed up a lead in the third. The team on the whole moved the ball probably better than they have all season.

Dakari had a good showing for himself being thrust into a starting role on such short notice. The first thing I noticed was that he is a much more willing passer than Enes was. Made Deandre jordan work hard all night. As long as Steven is out, he showed he can contribute if the other team starts a physical center.

Pillendreher · Post #25 » by **Pillendreher** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 11:21 am

NaturalThunder wrote:And something's definitely wrong with Russ. He's not himself. The explosiveness isn't there.

It's his head, not his athleticisim. Dude was gambling for steals in the 4th and we gave up 6 straight points because of that. He needs to maintain focus.

bondom34 wrote:Also Dakari should be in the rotation.

It's so blatanly obvious that we're playing with much better with a true Center manning the 5. And somebody please explain this to me: How is Dakari not even part of the rotation, yet when Adams goes down, he starts? How are you not good enough for bench minutes, but when push comes to shove you're starting?!

BadWolf · Post #26 » by **BadWolf** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 11:38 am

Is PatPat as bad as the boxscore says?

Bergmaniac · Post #27 » by **Bergmaniac** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 11:57 am

Pillendreher wrote:
NaturalThunder wrote:And something's definitely wrong with Russ. He's not himself. The explosiveness isn't there.

It's his head, not his athleticisim. Dude was gambling for steals in the 4th and we gave up 6 straight points because of that. He needs to maintain focus.

He seems as quick as ever to me, but his lift is clearly not as it was last season, he keeps blowing badly layups which he made in his sleep last season. That's not excuse for his bad D or careless passes, of course. His effort was also there on D in this one for the most part, but way too much gambling, and at the worst times too.

George finally showed his star quality on offense, about time. More passing in this game, less quick shots and "my turn, your turn ISOs". Still not pretty and laboured often, but workable. I thought your D was better than the score indicated, far from great, but Lou Williams and other Clippers made a bunch of ridiculous shots. And the refs were embarrassingly bad, so many terrible calls.

Pillendreher · Post #28 » by **Pillendreher** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 12:16 pm

Bergmaniac wrote:
Pillendreher wrote:
NaturalThunder wrote:And something's definitely wrong with Russ. He's not himself. The explosiveness isn't there.

It's his head, not his athleticisim. Dude was gambling for steals in the 4th and we gave up 6 straight points because of that. He needs to maintain focus.

He seems as quick as ever to me, but his lift is clearly not as it was last season, he keeps blowing badly layups which he made in his sleep last season.

I don't know what to tell you - before last night his FG% 0-3ft. away from the basket was his highest since 2013. His problem is that the midrange jumpers has not been there for him so far and that's killing his 2P%.

Pillendreher · Post #29 » by **Pillendreher** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 12:29 pm

BadWolf wrote:Is PatPat as bad as the boxscore says?

No. He's our 5th best player, but Donovan is using him like the 10th and is asking things of him he's not equipped to do. Patterson is a 4 who should be used as a glue guy on both sides of the floor, yet we're using him as a 5 who has no change grabbing boards with Grant next to him. We need to trade Grant and play Patterson as a 4 next to a true backup Center. Just having a big body out there who can set a proper screen is doing so much for our offense.

sleestak33 · Post #30 » by **sleestak33** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 12:46 pm

They needed a win like a fat kid needs a doughnut...thank goodness they got one. One of their biggest issues is somebody to backup Adams and maybe Johnson can be a guy who could be a rotational player at maybe 12-16 minutes per game. That would be a huge plus is he can just be productive when Adams is out. This game shows how important it is to have scoring from the shooting guard position as Abrines' 14 points were a big part of winning this game. He dramatically helps improve spacing when he's on the floor and they have to find more ways to get him going when he's out there. Heck of a game from George. Reminded me of a certain cupcake that used to play here.

oken · Post #31 » by **oken** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 12:51 pm

Yeah we won against Sİndarius Thornwells and Jawun Ewanses.. Big deal!

Such wins cannot make a dent in our glorious tank! We are still ranked 14th and still have our own pick!
http://www.nbadraft.net/2018mock_draft

I am sure our guys will make the necessary corrections and continue chucking 3s mindlessly next game.

We will get that pick! #WHYNOT

Old Man Game · Post #32 » by **Old Man Game** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 12:58 pm

It's not that I've turned on Westbrook. His lack of discipline has just gotten old. When locked in he's a top five player in the league. I want him to play like it.

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Old Man Game · Post #33 » by **Old Man Game** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 1:09 pm

bondom34 wrote:Also Dakari should be in the rotation.

I don't think we should get ahead of ourselves, but I did like what I saw last night I went to see more. He does a pretty nice poor man's Steven Adams routine.

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Pillendreher · Post #34 » by **Pillendreher** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 1:13 pm

Old Man Game wrote:
bondom34 wrote:Also Dakari should be in the rotation.

I don't think we should get ahead of ourselves, but I did like what I saw last night I went to see more. He does a pretty nice poor man's Steven Adams routine.

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He's a body who can do work on the boards and he can set screens. We need guys like that.

Pillendreher · Post #35 » by **Pillendreher** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 1:33 pm

Melo was making a real effort on defense which was nice to see. He even told Westbrook where to go - I didn't know if I should laugh or start crying.

Old Man Game · Post #36 » by **Old Man Game** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 1:49 pm

Pillendreher wrote:Melo was making a real effort on defense which was nice to see. He even told Westbrook where to go - I didn't know if I should laugh or start crying.

That was a lot closer to the Anthony I thought we were getting in the trade. If he will play like that (doubtful) the rest of the way we'll be all set.

(To your point though RE: laugh or cry, absolutely pathetic that Russell Westbrook at his age has to be told this. This is the sort of stuff that has gotten on my last nerve about him. A top 5 talent with an NBA journeyman's brain).

Old Man Game · Post #37 » by **Old Man Game** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 1:50 pm

Pillendreher wrote:
Old Man Game wrote:
bondom34 wrote:Also Dakari should be in the rotation.

I don't think we should get ahead of ourselves, but I did like what I saw last night I went to see more. He does a pretty nice poor man's Steven Adams routine.

Sent from my Pixel using RealGM mobile app

He's a body who can do work on the boards and he can set screens. We need guys like that.

He is super physical. Just not clear to me what would happen once the scouting report got out. He's not the most mobile big I've ever seen. Still, I'd be willing to give him a 5 game audition to find out.

Post #38 » by **slick_watts** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 2:20 pm

bondom34 wrote:Yeah I don't get the turn on Russ but J hasn't ever been a fan. And DT is crazy cynical. I'm a cynic and it makes me look tame. Then again some places he went from near concensus top 5 to out of it because of TS and having worse support.

baron isn't doing anything this year that he hasn't done before except now he's been performing poorly on top of all that. i don't see the issue with criticizing a player for playing poorly and especially someone who is supposed to be the leader.

the only way to fix problems is to be real about what the problems are. and baron has been a problem the first 11 games of the season.

Post #39 » by **slick_watts** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 2:25 pm

hardenASG13 wrote:Your Baron comment isn't funny, intellegent(sia), or anything but disrespectful to the face of the franchise. He has a few bad games, to start an 82 game season after he was the entire team, and you start acting like he can't play. He's adjusting. It's very early. This is all about the playoffs, kiddo.

it has less to do with his individual ineptitude than it does his abject refusal to remain focused and execute on both sides of the floor. he certainly is adjusting, no argument there. baron has never been a leader of a team with expectations- his warts will (and should) be picked apart more than ever.

thekaoswithin · Post #40 » by **thekaoswithin** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 3:52 pm

Didn't watch the game: did we win because PG went nuclear, or was there good play on offence from the whole team? (ball movement, not iso, etc).

Player(s) of the Game