2024 Preseason Preview

[Clemenza]

Clippers always find a brutal way to lose. lol

Some observations:

Kris Dunn is a pest. I can almost see him starting.

KPJ is going to be a favorite.

Brown and Miller deserve minutes.

Kai Jones is athletic as heck and very active around the basket. I don’t see any of the others beating him for that final 2-way spot.

Dunn has the defense but he was bad on offense. Some of that was guys passing up open shots and dumping the ball back to Dunn to shoot before the shot clock expired. A lot of heads are ripping KPJ, but he's going to get it together in a couple of weeks and look much better. I can see Norm starting especially after he said he knows he has to give more defensively. I wish Miller would get a standard NBA deal and off that two-way contract. After that bad Bones and KPJ stint, Miller came in and instantly things changed for the team. Somebody get in Kobe's ear and tell him to go full bully mode. He's a tank, a finesse style of play isn't him. Kia's got potential. Develop him! I hope the lower level 3rd string sits from here on out. They'll be starting and getting 30+ minutes a game on the San Diego Clippers this year. All the extra time should be going to Christie, Kobe, Miller, Kai, and hell even KPJ needs to be out there to shake the cobwebs off. We'll know more after a couple more preseason games.

[Clemenza]

Lob City was overrated. They was what they was, and they won about about as much as they should've. All this talk of them underachieving and shoulda won all these titles is a laugh: 2 All-stars who hated each other, a center and a SG who were useless in crunchtime, and a 6th man who couldn't or wouldn't play defense.

CP3 never averaged 20 points a game, Blake only got over 22 ppg twice and never led the league in any category. DJ was such a liability at the FT line you had to yank him in the final minutes, JJ disappeared in the 2nd half of every game, and 6th man Jamal [there is no D in] Crawfor was the leading scorer in the 4th quarter. Add in the revolving door at the 3, and there's no there there.

They weren't a serious title contender, but they absolutely should have made it past the second round. There was no valid excuse for that Houston series.

That 19 point lead going into the 4th was perfect for CP3 to game manage, milk the clock, curate, get to the free throw line, and guide us to that win to close out Houston. But it didn't happen

[esqtvd]

Lob City was overrated. They was what they was, and they won about about as much as they should've. All this talk of them underachieving and shoulda won all these titles is a laugh: 2 All-stars who hated each other, a center and a SG who were useless in crunchtime, and a 6th man who couldn't or wouldn't play defense.

CP3 never averaged 20 points a game, Blake only got over 22 ppg twice and never led the league in any category. DJ was such a liability at the FT line you had to yank him in the final minutes, JJ disappeared in the 2nd half of every game, and 6th man Jamal [there is no D in] Crawfor was the leading scorer in the 4th quarter. Add in the revolving door at the 3, and there's no there there.

They weren't a serious title contender, but they absolutely should have made it past the second round. There was no valid excuse for that Houston series.

That 19 point lead going into the 4th was perfect for CP3 to game manage, milk the clock, curate, get to the free throw line, and guide us to that win to close out Houston. But it didn't happen

Very good point. A quarterback. A captain. A coach on the floor. As you mention it, I don't recall CP ever taking charge of a game like that in the 4th at any time. MJ did. Bird did. LeBron does. Steph Curry does. Durant doesn't. Blake didn't. What I DO remember is Jamal being the only one who wanted the ball, or at least be willing to take the bull by the balls.

In fact, on the last possession, a lot of top teams at least run the two-man game with their two best players, but Lob City didn't even do that. CP and BG didn't work together at all. CP didn't lead and BG wouldn't lead OR follow. And that was the name of that tune.

Again, very good call, Mr C. I think Chris is more or less the best Clipper of all time, but there's also a reason he's on his 5th team in 8 years now. Something doesn't click.

[Clemenza]

Progress is being made. Love it!

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[KL2]

They did this last year and he came back and got lots of minutes. I won’t be happy until he’s really off the team.

[Bobbymcgee]

I watched the first pre-season game yesterday, and the only guy who looked like he could get his was Zubac. Even he was rusty and fumbled a few easy ones.

Harden will see major minutes this season, and he was already back to his old tricks of getting himself to the free throw line for easy points in the first preseason game.

Mann still doesn't seem to want to shoot the ball. DJJ, KPJ, and Bones didn't impress. Norm looked fine, and I think the Clippers will rely heavily on him this season as the second or third option. Dunn had some moments on defense but didn't know what to do with himself on offense. Hopefully, that fixes itself in time.

Thank goodness they brought Batum back. Because the Clips are going to need him.

The rest of the squad is very green, and it will take time to see who pans out. But watching the progress will be painful.

The two main concerns I see right now are a lack of shooting and rebounding.

[og15]

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?s=19

Guy is funny

[Roscoe Sheed]

I agree, Dunn looks like a liability on offense, but he is a very good defender- bigger than I remembered him- he looks even bigger than the 6'3" he is listed at

[esqtvd]

You is what you is. And that'll have to do, at least for now. You just can't grab some rando off the street and plug him in. At least Mann knows where to go and what to do.


Clippers' Terance Mann: Joins starting lineup
Rotowire
3m ago
Mann will move into the starting lineup for Tuesday's preseason game against the Nets, Law Murray of The Athletic reports.

Analysis:
Mann came off the bench Saturday against the Warriors to open the preseason, but he'll replace Kris Dunn this time around. Mann played 10 minutes against the Warriors, scoring two points with three rebounds.

[Clemenza]

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[og15]

Lob City was overrated. They was what they was, and they won about about as much as they should've. All this talk of them underachieving and shoulda won all these titles is a laugh: 2 All-stars who hated each other, a center and a SG who were useless in crunchtime, and a 6th man who couldn't or wouldn't play defense.

CP3 never averaged 20 points a game, Blake only got over 22 ppg twice and never led the league in any category. DJ was such a liability at the FT line you had to yank him in the final minutes, JJ disappeared in the 2nd half of every game, and 6th man Jamal [there is no D in] Crawfor was the leading scorer in the 4th quarter. Add in the revolving door at the 3, and there's no there there.

They weren't a serious title contender, but they absolutely should have made it past the second round. There was no valid excuse for that Houston series.

That 19 point lead going into the 4th was perfect for CP3 to game manage, milk the clock, curate, get to the free throw line, and guide us to that win to close out Houston. But it didn't happen

Haha, for sure, though Corey Brewer and Josh Smith becoming snipers is as unlikely a result as you can expect too.

[madmaxmedia]

They weren't a serious title contender, but they absolutely should have made it past the second round. There was no valid excuse for that Houston series.

That 19 point lead going into the 4th was perfect for CP3 to game manage, milk the clock, curate, get to the free throw line, and guide us to that win to close out Houston. But it didn't happen

Very good point. A quarterback. A captain. A coach on the floor. As you mention it, I don't recall CP ever taking charge of a game like that in the 4th at any time. MJ did. Bird did. LeBron does. Steph Curry does. Durant doesn't. Blake didn't. What I DO remember is Jamal being the only one who wanted the ball, or at least be willing to take the bull by the balls.

In fact, on the last possession, a lot of top teams at least run the two-man game with their two best players, but Lob City didn't even do that. CP and BG didn't work together at all. CP didn't lead and BG wouldn't lead OR follow. And that was the name of that tune.

Again, very good call, Mr C. I think Chris is more or less the best Clipper of all time, but there's also a reason he's on his 5th team in 8 years now. Something doesn't click.

That's the thing about that game and why I thought they were doomed once the momentum started to swing, Chris Paul was doing only the game manger, milk the clock, control the ball thing which I guess minimizes your downside...but it absolutely kills your upside as well (which is to score the basketball.) It felt like 15 seconds of him pounding the basketball, then maybe trying a low post entry pass to Blake but that's not his forte either. Ugh that was like watching a car crash in slow motion. I know my memory of all the particulars is suspect, but I still remember vividly how it all felt going down.

To be fair (I guess), he's not the player Durant or Steph is, so he doesn't really have the ability to take over playoff games in that way. But his attempt to control the game by playing it overly safe hindered as much as it helped that game. If CP3 was a QB he is one who doesn't turn the ball over but is a check down master- at least in that Houston game.

[KL2]

Who knows how it’ll unfold this season but the vibes have been off the charts so far.

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[esqtvd]

Who knows how it’ll unfold this season but the vibes have been off the charts so far.

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Looks like some Benjamins. Rook needs some walking around money, you know? This way they let him earn it.

[esqtvd]

CLIPPERS VS NETS

No broadcast and I'm not gonna follow it via text. But The Clips zoomed out to a 12-0 lead. T-Mann still the Glue Guy. Can't just throw randos out there and call it a team.

[KL2]

Man. Clippers have some tough choices to make.

Kai Jones has some warts but his activity is off the charts. With the big situation it’s hard to believe he doesn’t get that last 2-way contract.

OTOH, Alondes Williams is showing some stuff too.

We’re talking end of bench guys I know but still. Both would be nice to have on board.

[Clemenza]

I guess KPJ is the new ISO king. It could either be good or bad, hopefully on the positive side. Honestly the guy starting next to Harden should be KPJ or if we really take a swing it would be Jordan Miller. Such a solid high IQ player with upside.Mann and Norm shouldn't start imo. Kai doesn't look like a NBA player for one quarter then bam, he's running the floor, rebounding, and finishing under the rim with power and athleticism. Not the best night for Harden and Zu, but Lue is tinkering trying to see what clicks. Coffey was solid, not sold on Kobe. That kid at point Alondes Williams might get that last two-way and man that ClipperVision camera is awful.

[esqtvd]

I found a feed via CLIPPERVISION. No commentary, but the Clips brought the starters back.

BEARD
ZU
MANN
POWELL
DERRICK JONES

They are ASS

gave away the lead to a crap Nets team and Zu has 4 fouls before halftime. Down 57-54. This shtt will not work. Without Kawhi, this is a 30-win team. I'm APPALLED. Take the under.

[esqtvd]

I guess KPJ is the new ISO king. It could either be good or bad, hopefully on the positive side. Honestly the guy starting next to Harden should be KPJ or if we really take a swing it would be Jordan Miller. Such a solid high IQ player with upside.Mann and Norm shouldn't start imo. Kai doesn't look like a NBA player for one quarter then bam, he's running the floor, rebounding, and finishing under the rim with power and athleticism. Not the best night for Harden and Zu, but Lue is tinkering trying to see what clicks. Coffey was solid, not sold on Kobe. That kid at point Alondes Williams might get that last two-way and man that ClipperVision camera is awful.

I'm gonna give you an AND+1 just because you found a feed, Mr C. FTR: The game isn't televised by either team, so it's amazing it even this good. Just guys working the arena feed.

It's too early to be disagreeing, and yeah, we're agreeing Ty is throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks.

I don't even think they're playing badly. That's what's worrisome. The spaghetti is limp and just slides to the floor.

[esqtvd]

Also ASS

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