Why do you think people are sleeping?

Post #1 » by **Manhattan Project** » Wed Apr 9, 2008 3:39 am

Simply put, why do you think people are sleeping on the Clippers next year. It is highly likely that they will be rolling out one of the better front courts in the league with Kaman, Brand and Thornton. They have a potential top five pick that can land either Mayo or Bayless. They have a wild card in Shaun Livingston, if he returns to what he was before the injury (Perimeter defense and Distribution) they have one hell of a starting five.

So the question is why are people sleeping?
- They believe Brand is bolting?
- They think Maggette is the key?
- They forgot who the Clippers were?

PlinkingPanda · Post #2 » by **PlinkingPanda** » Wed Apr 9, 2008 4:10 am

Well to be honest. They probably "remember" who the Clippers are. We have never been known to be a consistent or great team. It actually will be in our favor since we will be able to surprise teams next year. I am fine with people turning their heads and acting like we won't make any noise next season. Our team(if remained healthy) will prove them all wrong.

JJ LoDuca · Post #3 » by **JJ LoDuca** » Wed Apr 9, 2008 4:14 am

As far as the reasons you mentioned, I think it would be the latter. Maybe people have forgotten what the Clippers can be, or maybe they just thought Sam Cassell was the key. That said, I haven't heard any reports that would suggest critics are sleeping on us. I've actually read quite a few articles praising the 08-09 Clips. With all that in mind, I'd rather people kept on shrugging us off...folks did that in 05-06 and we grabbed a few extra W's off those non-believers, so keep on looking past us. I don't think the West will be as good next year, so I'm looking for us to be a 6 or so seed in the playoffs like we were in 2006. Maybe that's too generous when we're coming off a crappy season like this, but just like you explained MP...we got one hell of a unit (if everything goes accordingly). We don't even need any big moves to make us competitive, just health. That alone could be enough.

Post #4 » by **mkwest** » Wed Apr 9, 2008 4:43 am

That's a good question.

I think that people are just used to the Clippers not being a factor. I read what people are saying on different boards. General consensus is that we're either a horrible team, a terrible team or an awful team as opposed to an injured team, depleted team or something of that nature. I see guys whining about injuries...Don't even talk to me about injuries. :lol:

A lot also believe that Brand is gone and will be joining their roster next season (a couple eastern teams' fans). They know who they are.

I don't mind flying under the radar. That's where we were a couple of years ago when we made some noise. With injuries, some of the backups have had the opportunity to grow as players. They were thrust into situations they normally wouldn't have been, and have actually grown in confidence.

My biggest questions are: Who's going to be that lotto pick? How will Livy play? I'm personally hoping for Rose (we've won on the 8's :wink:

) or Mayo. A healthy Livy as you said, would give us perimeter D and improve ball distribution. I really want to see him develop his jumper. We should be a top shot-blocking team, a pretty good rebounding team, and hopefully be able to elevate our team defense to where it was in '05.

If we're fully healthy then we're right in the midst of things fighting for a playoff spot with the rest of them.

illastrate · Post #5 » by **illastrate** » Wed Apr 9, 2008 4:52 pm

People have been sleeping on the Clips since their inception. And there's no reason for it to change next season.

We've had small pockets of success and/or high expectations. The '05-'06 team seems like nothing more than an anomaly. The '02-'03 team with Miller/Q/Odom/Brand/Maggs had high expectations and flopped. I think, by now, people know not to expect too much of the Clips because in the end, you'll only get your hopes up for naught.

I don't mind us being under the radar again. We have no choice but to be underdogs. Hopefully we'll land D. Rose or a high draft pick who will help us immediately, sign a significant FA, re-sign EB, and maybe, just maybe, Dumbleavy will actually create a good offensive set for once(I'm dreaming on this one). If all this could happen, then we'll be a force again. It's wishful thinking, but isn't that what being a part of Clipper Nation all about? :clap:

Post #6 » by **loflin3hree5ive** » Wed Apr 9, 2008 11:07 pm

There are uneducated fans that associate a lot of "if's" with the Clippers future, not realizing that Elton's return and compensation for Corey at the very least is practically a sure thing.

Once people finally comprehend that the Clippers have the same team from their run two years ago minus Cassell plus Thornton and any one of Bayless/Mayo/Gordon/Rose, then we should start to get some respect.

But look at the Hornets. Best record in the west and still nobody talks about them or considers them legitimate contendors. Fans are blind to a lot of things. Consider the Clippers bright future one of those things.

JJ LoDuca · Post #7 » by **JJ LoDuca** » Wed Apr 9, 2008 11:46 pm

loflin3hree5ive wrote:There are uneducated fans

It's a disease running rampant through our communities...just like bitchassness. There are too many "casual" fans, who use the term "casual" instead of "ignorant" to excuse their bias. The people who don't know are the ones who talk, and the ones who do know aren't being heard.

loflin3hree5ive wrote:Fans are blind to a lot of things. Consider the Clippers bright future one of those things.

Our future is so bright...we should start wearing shades already.

Post #8 » by **dockingsched** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:39 am

i think people are sleeping on the clips because simply put the west so tough.

Tucker74 · Post #9 » by **Tucker74** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 4:17 am

loflin3hree5ive wrote:There are uneducated fans that associate a lot of "if's" with the Clippers future, not realizing that Elton's return and compensation for Corey at the very least is practically a sure thing.

Once people finally comprehend that the Clippers have the same team from their run two years ago minus Cassell plus Thornton and any one of Bayless/Mayo/Gordon/Rose, then we should start to get some respect.

But look at the Hornets. Best record in the west and still nobody talks about them or considers them legitimate contendors. Fans are blind to a lot of things. Consider the Clippers bright future one of those things.

Unfortunately, the argument cuts both ways. Same folks probably either already have or will comprehend that it's the same team from a year ago +/- that fell flat on its face.

Unfortunately, fans have short memories. If the Warriors don't make the playoffs, you think anyone outside of the Bay is going to be remember last year's playoff run or the previous decade of ineptitude. Probably the latter.

Grunt · Post #10 » by **Grunt** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:09 am

The thing is, I really like the future of the Clippers too... but if I had to put my money on eight playoff teams for next years go around, Clippers would be too big a risk.

Brand still has to show he will be back in prime condition, Kaman has vastly improved... but I still have a tiny bit of doubt lingering - will he be as good on a good team?

And Livingston, I was one hell of a fan when he was playing, and following his rehab it all looks good... but will he prove durable? Will he have lost som tenacity or speed?

Maggette... will he be a team-player?

Best case scenario might be great, but better than the Warriors, Nuggets, Trailblazers (with Oden)? Even Kings show some muscle now and then.

Only teams that might fade a bit next year is Spurs, Suns and Mavs, and even if they do, they'll still be locks for the playoffs. So will the Lakers, Jazz, Hornets and Rockets.

The biggest difference will be, that Rudy Gay is growing, and so is part of his supporting cast. Durant and Green are growing, and there is a solid supporting cast there too. The Wolves are getting Foye back, and he doesnt look too shappy. Those teams wont make the playoffs in the West, but the wont be walk overs like they were this year either.

Livingston - playmaker, defender and who knows, maybe an improved shooter
Mobley - perfect spot up shooter for Shaun
Thornton - power and hustle
Brand -
Kaman -

With Maggette and top-rookie coming of the bench... if kept together, it might be real nasty in 2009/2010.

Sid the Squid · Post #11 » by **Sid the Squid** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:25 pm

Maybe people are sleeping on the 08-09 clips because we're still playing the 07-08 regular season?

Just a wild hunch on my part.

madmaxmedia · Post #12 » by **madmaxmedia** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:27 pm

Yeah, this season isn't even over yet, and the Clips have a bad record.

But anyway, I think another big factor is that every time a big season is actually expected, the Clips for some reason or the other (injury, incompatible personnel, whatever) end up disappointing in a big way. Then everyone goes, "Oh yeah, what were we thinking, this is the Clippers."

The Andre Miller year was definitely a big one, and then 2 years ago was the even bigger disappointment.

So the more likely chain of events is that we'll actually surprise people next year with guys returning at full strength, draft, etc. Then when people are expecting big things in 2010, we'll tank!

cinnamon · Post #13 » by **cinnamon** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:31 pm

I don't think a lot of people trust Clippers ownership/management to make good decisions in troubled times --- which is a category this year really falls into --- as have so many.
Jet's face it --- there have been some pretty dicey draft choices in the past, and really promising potential trades passed over, and so on.
We can only hope that Elton and Shaun regain it all, that there is a truly astute draft decision, that a summer move or two are made which really meet the team's needs, and that we go into training camp with a team that will amaze all the people writing the Clippers off now.
Hey, we deserve it.

NetsForce · Post #14 » by **NetsForce** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:11 am

I want to see whether Kaman is able to play at the extremely high level he did this year alongside Brand, what also worries me about the Clippers at this point in time is their backcourt. Even if they draft a big-time prospect with their pick it's going to take more than that to develop a good backcourt, I mean no offense right now the Clippers are starting Dan Dickau and playing Smush Parker...

I think there's also the fact that the West is just SO good right now, I mean with 9 very good teams in the conference and the Clippers having such a bad year can you really fault people for not jumping on the 2008-2009 Clippers bandwagon?

illastrate · Post #15 » by **illastrate** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:50 pm

NetsForce wrote:I want to see whether Kaman is able to play at the extremely high level he did this year alongside Brand, what also worries me about the Clippers at this point in time is their backcourt. Even if they draft a big-time prospect with their pick it's going to take more than that to develop a good backcourt, I mean no offense right now the Clippers are starting Dan Dickau and playing Smush Parker...

I think there's also the fact that the West is just SO good right now, I mean with 9 very good teams in the conference and the Clippers having such a bad year can you really fault people for not jumping on the 2008-2009 Clippers bandwagon?

Some good points. Obviously Kaman's numbers will go down with Brand in the mix. And where they land in the lottery who determine who they draft...and who they draft will determine who they sign via FA. If they can get both a quality SG and PG. Add those guys to a roster of Brand, Thornton, Kaman, Livingston, Mobley, etc. and you've got a solid rotation.