Game Thread: Clippers (10-18) vs. New Orleans (20-11)

[ClipperDomination]

vs.

When: Wednesday, January 2nd
Where: Staples Center
Time: 7:30 PST
TV: FSN Prime Ticket
Radio: 710 ESPN

Fun Fact: The Clippers are averaging 92.9 PPG, while the Hornet's opposing PPG average is 92.9 PPG. Who knew?

Clippers Starting Lineup


Cassell-Ross-Maggette-Thornton-Kaman

Hornets Starting Lineup



Paul-Peterson-Stojakovic-West-Chandler

Injury Report

Clippers:

Tim Thomas (knee) is out.
Aaron Williams (wrist) is questionable.
Paul Davis (knee) is out.
Shaun Livingston (knee) is out.
Elton Brand (Achilles) is out.

Hornets:

Ryan Bowen is out (knee).
Melvin Ely is out (eye).

Key Players:

It's time to give Al Thornton some serious minutes. He has only played over 30 minutes twice this season (the Clippers are 1-1 when he does). Everyone should remember his great performance in the loss at San Antonio (10-17 FG, 25 Points, 6 Rebounds). Dumbleavy needs to leave him in the game during cruch time. What do we have to lose?

If there is anyone that can stop Kaman in the post, Tyson Chandler is the guy. He possesses tremendous defensive, blocking, and rebounding skills, which can force Kaman to have a bad shot selection. If Chandler can hold Kaman to under 15 points, this game may not be close.

Since the Hornets have a better record on the road (11-5) than at home (9-6), this game will be even tougher to pull out. The only thing we have going for us is that we are coming off of a win, while New Orleans is coming off of a home loss to Toronto. Let's go Clipps!

[mkwest]

I went to the last meeting between the 2 teams. 9-point loss without Maggette & Knight. Peja made us pay from the perimeter. I know the difference in level of competition is night and day, but hopefully Clippers play with the drive that they did in the 4th quarter against the Wolves.

Also, in the last 3 games, West is averaging 26.5pts & 12rebs and Paul is averaging 20pts, 12assts & 3.3stls.

[Tommy Trojan]

I want to wish you guys good luck. Any news when Brand is coming back?

[ClipperDomination]

I want to wish you guys good luck. Any news when Brand is coming back?

Read the first couple of posts on the 6th page of the "Injury Updates" thread.

http://realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php? ... 5&start=60

Most likely after the All-Star break.

[sarah42]

Fun Fact: The Clippers are averaging 92.9 PPG, while the Hornet's opposing PPG average is 92.9 PPG. Who knew?


wow! i didn't know the Hornets had that in them! and gotta say, that's about the same average ppg for the Nets, yet they don't have someone like Elton Brand missing or the countless other injured players.

where did you get that info? and cool logos! where did you get those?!

[ClipperDomination]

Fun Fact: The Clippers are averaging 92.9 PPG, while the Hornet's opposing PPG average is 92.9 PPG. Who knew?


wow! i didn't know the Hornets had that in them! and gotta say, that's about the same average ppg for the Nets, yet they don't have someone like Elton Brand missing or the countless other injured players.

where did you get that info? and cool logos! where did you get those?!

I was looking at the NBA.com game preview, and found that interesting stat when I was looking at each team's overall stats.

As for the logos, you can thank mkwest for finding them. You can find all of the logos here:

http://s172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/RareNBALogos/

Thanks for posting here, sarah! We could use more NBA outsiders in our forum.

[ClipperDomination]

UPDATE: Tim Thomas is out.

Forward Tim Thomas, nursing a sore knee, said he will be out tonight against the New Orleans Hornets and would use three days worth of practice to prepare himself for Sunday's game against the San Antonio Spurs.

From the LA Times (same article as the Kaman becoming a vocal leader article).

[sarah42]

no problem. i hate the lakers , and i'm also a raptor fan so i can relate to injuries problems this year, and oh yeah, all around suckage in terms of long droughts to get into the playoffs.

i watched the last game btw the clippers and the hornets, and man do a lot of your players post up! obviously you need some shooters right? i think it was maggete who totally schooled Mopete. he couldn't help but foul. Magette didn't shoot well, but he went to the free throw line a lot!

come into the hornets forum, and in their game thread. cuz its kinda quiet in the big easy now.

[sarah42]

just a question. if there is a game btw the lakers and the clippers - who do the fans root for? maybe its a stupid question or an obvious one. like how is the staples center set out? practice times etc.

[mkwest]

-= original quote snipped =-
As for the logos, you can thank mkwest for finding them. You can find all of the logos here:

http://s172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/RareNBALogos/

Thanks for posting here, sarah! We could use more NBA outsiders in our forum.

They were made by a RealGM poster named Rare who is a Raptor fan as well.


Laker/Clipper games...let's put it this way. If it's the Lakers floor there will be a lot more Laker fans. If it's the Clippers floor, tickets will be less expensive and the majority will be Clipper fans, but there'll be a lot more Laker fans in attendance than there would be Clipper fans at a Laker game. Two seasons ago, I remember a game where we beat the co-tenants and fans of both teams were chanting M-V-P for their main player (EB and that other guy).

As far as practices, each team has their own facilities (well sort of). We'll have our own official facility in April. Lakers have their own. Also, there's been quite a few double headers (on some Sundays) where the Clippers have the matin

[ClipperDomination]

no problem. i hate the lakers , and i'm also a raptor fan so i can relate to injuries problems this year, and oh yeah, all around suckage in terms of long droughts to get into the playoffs.

i watched the last game btw the clippers and the hornets, and man do a lot of your players post up! obviously you need some shooters right? i think it was maggete who totally schooled Mopete. he couldn't help but foul. Magette didn't shoot well, but he went to the free throw line a lot!

come into the hornets forum, and in their game thread. cuz its kinda quiet in the big easy now.

Yeah, we have Kaman, Mobley, Thomas, Sammy, and Maggette who sometimes fall in love with the post game.

We could use another shooter, since Mobley and Thomas are very inconsistent, but I think we would address that after the season, unless we go after a Mike Miller type.

I'll definitely check out the Hornet's game thread.

[Copperhead]

no problem. i hate the lakers , and i'm also a raptor fan so i can relate to injuries problems this year, and oh yeah, all around suckage in terms of long droughts to get into the playoffs.

i watched the last game btw the clippers and the hornets, and man do a lot of your players post up! obviously you need some shooters right? i think it was maggete who totally schooled Mopete. he couldn't help but foul. Magette didn't shoot well, but he went to the free throw line a lot!

come into the hornets forum, and in their game thread. cuz its kinda quiet in the big easy now.

Magette didn't play in the last meeting.

[JJ LoDuca]

Magette didn't play in the last meeting.

Na, he didn't, but she got everything about his game exactly right. Hopefully she's just a prophet of some sort and it goes something like that for Maggs tonight!

UPDATE: Tim Thomas is out.

Figures. In that case, we're gonna need some extra help scoring-wise from guys like Al Thornton, Q Ross, Frahm, and even that Powell guy we're luggin' around.

We can't have another dry night from behind the arc if we're gonna think about winning either-- Mobley, Frahm, & Cassell need to have their stroke on point tonight. More importantly, we're gonna have to play like we want it through four quarters. Last game, we got away with playing one quarter and won the game. But the Nawlins Hornets ain't the Minnesota Timberwolves. If we wanna string some wins in a row here, we're gonna have to jump on 'em early and keep the pressure on throughout.

[SD2042]

This game will be a tough one indeed. CP3 has been on fire this season and is looking to earn all star status here. Athleticism and defense production will be the keys in this game. To which team has the better athleticism motor to outplay the other will dictate who wins this matchup. Apply defensive pressure to CP3 and Peja. Kaman has to bring his game against Chandler and keep him from grabbing double figure rebounds.

[mkwest]

Powell will get the nod to start at the 4. Thomas is available but not likely to play as his knee is still limited by injury.

[ClipperDomination]

Kaman controlled the tap! When is the last time that happened?

[ClipperDomination]

David West.

He just owns the Clippers.

[ClipperDomination]

Chris is being way too pass-friendly. He needs to catch the ball in the post and make his move.

[mkwest]

Peja cold from 3 point range.

[ClipperDomination]

5:12 left in the first, and the Hornets are up 12-10.

What is up with Peja? He's taken two three pointers, and both were not even close.

I love the way Powell is playing right now. His athleticism is really paying off right now, but he needs to lock up West.

The Clipps are playing good ball right now, but Kaman needs to be more active in the offensive game for us to have a chance at winning this game.

And right as I type this, Chris scores a nice bucket. Let's go Clipps!