RGM Lottery Summits

[APerna]

Hey posters,

First of all, I'm sorry that your team wasn't able to make the playoffs. You know I'm in the same boat, so I definitely identify with you. I am looking to put together NBA Summits for the fourteen Lottery teams as the playoffs get underway...that should keep things interesting for all parties...

I put together a ton of these on the NFL forums heading into next weekend's draft and they have been wildly successful. I hope for the same here, and I know the population of these boards will lend itself to many responses.

Editor Chris Reina and I have put together these seven question for you all to answer, with the best answers making it into posted pieces on our main page. The only thing that I ask is that you please limit your responses to two sentences per question. Please try your best to heed that request, it makes the Summits easier to read and quicker to put together.

Thanks gang, and best of luck in the Lottery.

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?
2. Where were the team

[Clip34life]

1. Worked on a true run and gun offense without Brand. Traded Maggette midseason for real help.
2. Rebounding and free throw shooting.
3. Kaman and Thornton.
4. Mobley.
5. Somewhat optimistic. I think they'll have Brand back but they need to get a starting SG and PG and I don't know if they're dynamic enough to do it. The fight between Dunleavy and Sterling doesn't do much for my confidence in the FO.
6. PG.
7. Mayo, Bayless, or Gordon, whoever is available of those three, in that order.

[mkwest]

1. Nothing, as the injuries (319 games lost to injury) mounted, this team was left with very little firepower to make it to the playoffs in the west. More ball movement/Less isos, better perimeter shooting, and boxing out for rebounds would have made the team a bit more successful.

2. Free-Throw shooting (6th in league in both makes and percentage) and possibly Blocks. When Brand is healthy we're amongst league leaders in blocks, so this will be an even greater strength next season.

3. Chris Kaman (Kaman2.0) really stepped up after receiving Neurofeedback Therapy/Training and leaves us with great optimism next season when he'll be paired with Brand once again. Al Thornton was definitely a bright spot in this dark and dismal season.

4. Tim Thomas was brought here for his outside shooting and he shot the 2nd worst percentage of his career from beyond the arc. Cat and Sam both were hindered by injuries and either missed a lot of playing time (Sam) or were playing subpar (Cat) while injured.

5. I feel lukewarm about the FO pulling off any major blockbuster trades, although I think they'll be shopping a Maggette S&T to help improve the backcourt. The best thing that could happen to the FO is for us to get a top 3 pick, and for Livingston to have a successful return.

6. We need backcourt help period. Preferably a point because of the uncertainties regarding Livingston, but a young talented shooter/scorer would help as well.

7. Rose if we won a top 2. Mayo, Bayless or Gordon.

[ClipperDomination]

1. Nothing. There was absolutely nothing we could have done in order to make the playoffs. There was no way we were going to trade for a superstar player, and the Western Conference is just way too stacked.

2. The Clipps rebounding was probably their biggest strength, but it's not the biggest strength you want your team to have.

3. Chris Kaman proved why he's a legit center in the league, but Thornton's overall performance exceeded my expectations by a lot.

4. Nobody really, the guys who I expected to have a bad season did have a bad season---Mobley, Thomas, Dumbleavy.

5. When have Clipper fans ever been confident in Mr. Sterlings capabilities? I'll stay optimistic though, as I think Brand will re-sign to a long term deal, and hopefully we can go after one of Agent Zero or BD (praying to god).

6. Our biggest needs in the draft:

1) Derrick Rose
2) Derrick Rose
3) Derrick Rose
4) PF (only if Brand leaves)
5) Derrick Rose



7. The Clippers should trade the pick if they get the 6th overall pick. All players besides Rose and Beasely are question marks on how their NBA futures will pan out. I do not want a combo guard like Gordon; instead try to package the pick and a solid player (Maggette) for a PG we need desperately!

[mkwest]

Rebounding is usually a strength of ours, but it's one of the things that frustrated me most this season. We gave up so many offensive rebounds this season it's not even funny. Kaman looked great individually. Thornton Powell, and Maggette had some nice rebounding games here and there but overall we didn't have our best rebounders healthy. If Kaman and Brand are both playing we'd dominate the boards and certainly not give up all the 18-20 offensive rebound games that we did.

[PlinkingPanda]

1. Nothing much with injuries, but to improve the chances for next year we could have tried to trade Maggette or Cassell.

2. Good defensive play at times.

3. Kaman's breakout season, Thornton's improvement throughout the season, and Powell proving he belongs in the NBA.

4. Thomas was the biggest disappointment.

5. Judging from past experiences not very lol...

6. True PG or pure shooter.

7. Not too sure I don't follow college/HS ball.

[mj_shoefanatic]

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs? Nothing we were doomed from day 1
2. Where were the team

[ClipperDomination]

mj, that's a fantastic sig you have there.

[JJ LoDuca]

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?
Go back in time and prevent the injuries to Brand & Livingston, and also have the bulk of our lineup healthy during the season. 300+ player games missed due to injury. That is all.

2. Where were the team

[mj_shoefanatic]

Thx ladies and gents!

[livingston2kaman]

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?
Stayed healthy besides Shaun and Elton. In the games where we had a healthy roster, or close to it, we were able to play some tough games against playoff opponents. If everyone was healthy besides the two who were out, we most likely still wouldn't have made it, but it wouldn't have been impossible. I'd say a 5% chance.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
Effort. They never gave up and went out there and played. Even Thomas and Mobley, who seemingly had nothing to play for.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
Most will say Kaman, but I'm saying Josh Powell. When he first got playing time, he looked like a poor-man's Kwame Brown, dropping every pass, not grabbing the boards and so on. But as the season went on, he showed signs of being a legit backup big in the league.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
Quinton Ross...he got too inconsistent minutes to do much.

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
Not one bit. Sadly, this offseason is that big of a turning point.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
Too many variables play in, but if we assume that Elton will stick around, then easily we need a legit guard. Be it a point or a shooting guard, or even a combo, but we need a G.

7. Assuming the lottery plays out true, who would you like your team to select?
I'd like to trade down with the Nets and get #11 and #20 so we can take Augustine and Budinger. Kill 2 birds with 1 stone.

[ClipperDomination]

I'm not as high on Budinger as other people are. He plays absolutely no defense, and his lateral quickness is also very slow. I don't think he'll be as good as people say.

[mkwest]

I'm not as high on Budinger as other people are. He plays absolutely no defense, and his lateral quickness is also very slow. I don't think he'll be as good as people say.

I haven't been too impressed with him either, especially when some had him in the top 10 at the beginning of the season.

[thanumba2clippersfan]

I'm not really a fan of Budinger either. He hasn't done anything to impress me. He might turn out to be one of those first round picks that doesn't make a team after a few seasons.