Game #74: OKC @ Clippers Thursday 3/23 7:30PM NBA-TV

[Clemenza]

Now that was a good win. Getting production out of everybody. Hyland was doing it all out there, scoring, passing, steals... This is where depth really comes into play.

When and if he finally uses the depth. Its a shame it takes an injury to finally see lineups like this

[NickP]

Kawhi-Mann-Batum have to play together more minutes

All those have great BB IQ.

[esqtvd]

Its just Lue putting the right guys around the one lone star player. Same thing when Kawhi went out in the playoffs and we finished the Jazz off and took the Suns to six games in the WCF. Just play the right people

No combination works the same against every matchup. That's why coaches keep juggling. And a matchup that didn't work in the first half suddenly jells in the second. Or vice versa.



Yeah, just play Batum-Plumlee-Mann-Hyland for 40 minutes, all of whom were around plus+30 with Kawhi who was plus+16.

Everybody else was in the minus. Bench them. Problem solved. Who needs a coach?

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401469251



Mann 27 min
Plumlee 26 min
Hyland 24 min
Batum 19 min

It's almost as if the coach noticed who was in the plus and in the minus without even seeing the stats sheet...? And played them accordingly?

It's bizarre how often Ty's coaching moves are backed up by the stats. Eerie, even.

[NickP]

This game makes a louder case why Lue should fire himself now.

[MartinToVaught]

This turned out to be a really good win. I'm very down on Bones' prospects, but I can't deny he had a great game.

Mr. Plus/Minus: 3-10 (0-4 from three) in 25 minutes, and -9 (so the usual excuse can't be used for his awful play).

[Roscoe Sheed]

I was happy to see the 3 point shots finally begin to fall.

On a side note, does anybody else think that SGA gets a very favorable whistle? He basically gets free throws for any drive to the basket even when there is minimal contact. Kawhi and PG almost never get such a favorable whistle.

[Roscoe Sheed]

of course, who does OKC play tonight on a segababa (second game back to back)- the Lakers! It's happened so many times this season that the Lakers get the segababa after the Clippers played them. I hope SGA plays- don't let them off the hook!

[madmaxmedia]

This turned out to be a really good win. I'm very down on Bones' prospects, but I can't deny he had a great game.

Mr. Plus/Minus: 3-10 (0-4 from three) in 25 minutes, and -9 (so the usual excuse can't be used for his awful play).

Bones is a lights out shooter, and a very aggressive player with some wiggle with the ball. He’s not going to match Kennard’s 3PT%, but neither are we going to complain he doesn’t take his open 3’s.

After that there’s a laundry list of weaknesses, but he does have some true standout NBA skills. For 2 2nds I was really happy with the trade for such a 2nd year rookie, even if he’s no sure thing. If he was, we’d have no chance of getting him.

[Bobbymcgee]

Loved the energy from the team once Morris went to the bench. Feels like we haven't seen that all season.

Morris looks like a guy who is about ready to call it a day and is just showing up to collect a paycheck till he retires. That's nice and all but the Clippers should just let him do that while sitting on the bench till they can trade him in the offseason.

Hopefully this means Lue is going to give the other guys more of a chance because it was fun to see Mann, Westbrook, Batum and Hyland out there together with Leonard.

[Clemenza]

of course, who does OKC play tonight on a segababa (second game back to back)- the Lakers! It's happened so many times this season that the Lakers get the segababa after the Clippers played them. I hope SGA plays- don't let them off the hook!

He's gotta play after all the sh*t he said about Bron

[MartinToVaught]

Loved the energy from the team once Morris went to the bench. Feels like we haven't seen that all season.

Morris looks like a guy who is about ready to call it a day and is just showing up to collect a paycheck till he retires. That's nice and all but the Clippers should just let him do that while sitting on the bench till they can trade him in the offseason.

Hopefully this means Lue is going to give the other guys more of a chance because it was fun to see Mann, Westbrook, Batum and Hyland out there together with Leonard.

If Lue was ever going to bench Plus/Morris, he would have done it by now.

[Scoundreldays]

I mean I feel kind of bad for Morris because he was great the last few years but I feel he has had more than enough chances to get out of his slump.

In the last week we have had 2 instances where the team looked much better with him off the floor. Yes he had a good Knicks game but unless his shot is falling he is pretty useless on the court. His legs look shot. Unfortunately he is not the 2021 or even 2022 Morris.

[Roscoe Sheed]

I mean I feel kind of bad for Morris because he was great the last few years but I feel he has had more than enough chances to get out of his slump.

In the last week we have had 2 instances where the team looked much better with him off the floor. Yes he had a good Knicks game but unless his shot is falling he is pretty useless on the court. His legs look shot. Unfortunately he is not the 2021 or even 2022 Morris.

His defense is poor, but you would at least expect him to make wide open 3s- but he doesn't do that any more either unfortunately

[esqtvd]

I mean I feel kind of bad for Morris because he was great the last few years but I feel he has had more than enough chances to get out of his slump.

In the last week we have had 2 instances where the team looked much better with him off the floor. Yes he had a good Knicks game but unless his shot is falling he is pretty useless on the court. His legs look shot. Unfortunately he is not the 2021 or even 2022 Morris.

The problem is that Batum has done no better. Last night was his best game this month--he's basically been meh since he played 37 minutes on March 3 [35%/35%]. Since then, Ty has cut back his minutes to 18 per game. And we're 6-2 in those games.

We can all hope that Marcus is getting these minutes in March to rest up Batum for a bigger workload come the playoffs.

[Scoundreldays]

I mean I feel kind of bad for Morris because he was great the last few years but I feel he has had more than enough chances to get out of his slump.

In the last week we have had 2 instances where the team looked much better with him off the floor. Yes he had a good Knicks game but unless his shot is falling he is pretty useless on the court. His legs look shot. Unfortunately he is not the 2021 or even 2022 Morris.

The problem is that Batum has done no better. Last night was his best game this month--he's basically been meh since he played 37 minutes on March 3 [35%/35%]. Since then, Ty has cut back his minutes to 18 per game. And we're 6-2 in those games.

We can all hope that Marcus is getting these minutes in March to rest up Batum for a bigger workload come the playoffs.

True but I also think his confidence isn't there anymore I have noticed he has hesitated to take shots he normally does.

But I think another thing is we can't have all these old vets in at the same time. The energy and athleticism isn't there. Need to find a way to continously mix the young guys with the vets.

[clipperlover]

Glad Hyland could come in and have a good game. Just wouldn't be expecting it from him regularly. He can be used is spots against the 2nd unit of other teams (especially vs teams with younger players).

Was only our 5th 20+pt win of the season, but the best opponent. The game helped highlight why Mann was dumb to get tossed in the prior game. Mann getting tossed early impacted us significantly.

Wonder if the PG injury has helped Westbrook elevate himself mentally to the Robin role again rather than trying to fit in as a 3rd wheel.

Wanted to give let every see the Morris highlight reel from last night:

Watch on YouTube

The 1st 60 of just watching Morris are quite fun. Other Morris "highlights" scattered throughout.

[esqtvd]

I mean I feel kind of bad for Morris because he was great the last few years but I feel he has had more than enough chances to get out of his slump.

In the last week we have had 2 instances where the team looked much better with him off the floor. Yes he had a good Knicks game but unless his shot is falling he is pretty useless on the court. His legs look shot. Unfortunately he is not the 2021 or even 2022 Morris.

The problem is that Batum has done no better. Last night was his best game this month--he's basically been meh since he played 37 minutes on March 3 [35%/35%]. Since then, Ty has cut back his minutes to 18 per game. And we're 6-2 in those games.

We can all hope that Marcus is getting these minutes in March to rest up Batum for a bigger workload come the playoffs.

True but I also think his confidence isn't there anymore I have noticed he has hesitated to take shots he normally does.

But I think another thing is we can't have all these old vets in at the same time. The energy and athleticism isn't there. Need to find a way to continously mix the young guys with the vets.

The important thing is to not miss defensive assignments. Trying to work Westbrook in was dangerous enough without putting in TWO new starters. The time was never right to take a flyer on Covington and he's still not impressing in whatever limited duty he does see.

Frankly, Mann was slumping too after his demotion and Ty still gave him burn. It wasn't Morris over Covington as much as Mann and EJ over Covington. [Covington has the worst plus/minus on the Clippers over the last 10 games. Morris is 5th, Batum is 6th, EJ is 7th and Mann is 9th.]

Over the last 8 games Morris and Batum have about the same numbers. I don't care which one of them gets better and certainly Batum is first choice since he's the better glue guy. But at least one of them HAS to come around.

[The High Cyde]

I don’t understand why we can’t just give all of Morris’ minutes to Covington. He scored more in 5 mins of garbage time than Morris did all game, he’s clearly the better player.

[esqtvd]

I don’t understand why we can’t just give all of Morris’ minutes to Covington. He scored more in 5 mins of garbage time than Morris did all game, he’s clearly the better player.

Because Covington was 1-8 in 7 minutes the game before and has the worst plus/minus on the Clippers over the last 10 games?

[Scoundreldays]

I don’t understand why we can’t just give all of Morris’ minutes to Covington. He scored more in 5 mins of garbage time than Morris did all game, he’s clearly the better player.

Because Covington was 1-8 in 7 minutes the game before and has the worst plus/minus on the Clippers over the last 10 games?

I mean I get it but it's hard to get in any kind of rhythm when you are constantly dnp'd. Not saying he is the Clipper's savior but if he had more consistent time I think he would atleast be a little better.