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I know, I know. It's early. Russ could melt down at any time.

And yes, the team is 0-2 with him (though they could easily be 2-0).

That said, the Clippers getting him -- and Bones Hyland -- is looking very good. And it's early, in a good way.

Lue is still figuring out how to use the new pieces. In the first Russ game (loss to Kings), Russ finished the game and Bones didn't play.

In tonight's loss at Denver, Russ did not finish the game and Bones played.

Here's how these guys help the team:


* RUSS IS A REAL POINT GUARD -- something the Clippers have lacked for years now. He can pass, etc.

* RUSS LETS KAWHI AND PG REST MORE -- keeps them fresher for later in games

* RUSS LETS KAWHI AND PG FOCUS ON SCORING -- Kawhi can now go Full Super Scoring Mode & not worry about playmaking

* RUSS INCREASES THE TEMPO OF THE CLIPS -- without Russ, the team gets stagnant and bogs down. He helps this.

* RUSS BRINGS ENERGY -- 5 steals against the Nuggets. He's intense, and it rubs off

* BONES IS A BLOWTORCH -- he can score at will. If he gets hot, he can win a game by himself


There are plenty of downsides for each guy, but taken together they bring a lot to the table and they can help the Clips a lot, IMO.

To put it another way:

Russ + Bones + Gordon + Plumlee > Wall + Jackson + Kennard

...at least for what the Clippers need. Now and moving forward.

The Clippers are better, and more balanced, now after the trades and the Russ pickup. They still aren't perfect (really need a true backup point guard and could use a third legit big man), but they're a lot closer to being a complete team than they were.

These were 2 of Russ’s better shooting games of the season and the Clips still lost. Their defense has become horrible. Give it time my friend…it will revert back to the mean.

This is not a jab at Russ’s career accomplishments but I don’t think this is a good sign for Clips fans. Russ having a couple games early on where he shoots above his averages will only prolong the Westbrook experiment. He started off the season on better percentages too.

Up-And-Coming wrote:These were 2 of Russ’s best shooting games of the season and the Clips still lost. Their defense has become horrible. Give it time my friend…it will revert back to the mean.

This is not a jab at Russ’s career accomplishments but I don’t think this is a good sign for Clips fans. Russ having a couple good games early on will only prolong the Westbrook experiment. I guess we’ll see…

I think things will work out great. Actually it looks better than I thought it would.

If they can get 15-20 minutes from Bones per night, that would also be big.

No one beats full-health Denver in Denver. So I can't fault the Clippers there. And they're missing Zubac.

The Sacto games was one of the most insane games in NBA history. Clips had it and blew it. It happens.

The Clips desperately needed a real point guard. Russ is that. If he stays in his lane, he can help immensely IMO.

He was a -12. And it only took one game for Lue to figure out Brodie was unplayable in crunch game.

This isn’t exactly a great endorsement. So far he hasn’t destroyed the team because he has been DECENT, but even his decent play hasn’t translated to wins yet. Which is also standard for Russ’s career in a nutshell. The ultimate stat padder.

I actually agreed with Lue there down the stretch. Russ is such a double edged sword giving him more minutes and responsibility will make it so he's prone to more mistakes. Plus he kills crunch time spacing.

But Morris was so awful and Gordon looked washed I can see them talk themselves into giving him a bigger role now.

Russ looked good today, Bones didn’t. Gordon running the point for the 4th quarter comeback looked the best for the Clips. Russ in limited minutes is good for the Clips as it improves their energy & tempo, they play at a slow pace. Gordon>Mann>Westbrook>Bones for the point.

Kobe187 wrote:Russ looked good today, Bones didn’t. Gordon running the point for the 4th quarter comeback looked the best for the Clips. Russ in limited minutes is good for the Clips as it improves their energy & tempo, they play at a slow pace. Gordon>Mann>Westbrook>Bones for the point.

Yeah. Russ was great today.

Lue has to figure out what pieces to put in when. It's going to take time. He has 4 new guys, and Zu will be coming back at some point.

I don't have a problem with him not playing Russ down the stretch. He has to see what works.

Lue experiments a lot. He'll figure it out.

Russ totally changes the energy and function of the Clips offense. As long as he stays in his lane and stays happy, he can help them a great deal IMO.

So far so good. Taking the Nuggets to OT in Denver is a massive accomplishment. I think they've only lost 1 time there all year when they had all their starters.

No, it's a terrible pick up because he is starting and taking minutes away from the better player Mann.

Play Russ in the clutch, basically play 4 on 5 on offence, PG and Kawhi get doubled nonstop.

Don't play Russ, get poor offence and turnovers.

Gordon wasn't the answer, dude was bringing the ball up passing and then just becoming another stand around three point shooter.

Need Big Zu back pronto

Up-And-Coming wrote:These were 2 of Russ’s better shooting games of the season and the Clips still lost. Their defense has become horrible. Give it time my friend…it will revert back to the mean.

This is not a jab at Russ’s career accomplishments but I don’t think this is a good sign for Clips fans. Russ having a couple games early on where he shoots above his averages will only prolong the Westbrook experiment. He started off the season on better percentages too.

brotha, i'm embarrassed for you.

the losses had nothing to do with russ being in the lineup

if you take a look at the league overall the first thing that should jump out at you is that it is a topsy turvy year. teams are getting beat unexpectedly. all expectations of the vet stars/teams from the past decade should be thrown out the window forthwith. all the anticipations regarding the cohesion of teams are NOT coming to fruition. especially when a team gets that unexpected injury, like the very one the bucks are dealing with now et.al

i don't think this is a year to make pronouncements. russ is giving lac exactly what was anticipated and what they wanted

Dr Aki wrote:Play Russ in the clutch, basically play 4 on 5 on offence, PG and Kawhi get doubled nonstop.

Don't play Russ, get poor offence and turnovers.

Gordon wasn't the answer, dude was bringing the ball up passing and then just becoming another stand around three point shooter.

Yup, double edged sword.

People won't realize it for a long time.. but Lue isn't a good coach. He's slow to react and never pushes strategy on other teams, only slowly reacts to what other teams are doing. When Clips get eliminated in the second round.. I think he's out after next season.

Yeah Clippers have the most tricky chemistry situation after the deadline. Playing with a new floor general through which you run a lot of plays plus changing your defensive anchor around which your defense revolves. Given the situation, the signing has looked good and the team has looked better than I expected. I thought they'd have a rocky start but they have been competitive in tough games.

I do think it's better to start Gordon than Morris and pushing Kawhi/PG up to the 3/4 spots. How is Morris doing defensively? Gordon is a really good defender, floor spacer and backup PG - would bring a set of steady, experienced hands to the backcourt and lots of off ball value on both sides of the floor.

I really think the trick for Clippers would have been to acquire Myles Turner. They need a C who can give them some 3pt shooting for minutes with Russ. I doubt they had the assets but I would have loved to see the fit with this roster. Maybe Batum/Covington can be used for this.

Ruined their title chances for a buyout type guy, literally one of the worst pickups ever.

Meanwhile Lakers are on a 3 game winning streak where in those games Bron didn't even look too good.

Westbrook just has a bad aura around him.

Only steals are coming from Russ' turnovers.

As a dubs fan I have to wonder: You guys got new players signed or traded?
AND THEY PLAY?