Clippers playing better without Baron Davis?

DerickG · Post #1 » by **DerickG** » Wed Jan 7, 2009 8:52 am

Yes we have lost vs. Pistons, Suns, and now Mavs but we are playing with a different attitude. Tonight we really only had 7 players. I loved the effort out there. We need to minimize the mistakes and get healthy. Have you given up on this year? What do you think? I like Mardy!

Purpose · Post #2 » by **Purpose** » Wed Jan 7, 2009 5:37 pm

I mentioned the first game baron was out that I wouldn't be surprised if they went on a winning streak. Obviously they have lost the last 2 games, but they are actually playing better basketball on both ends of the court. Im really curious how they will do when Zach and Kaman return.

JJ LoDuca · Post #3 » by **JJ LoDuca** » Wed Jan 7, 2009 8:02 pm

Yup. With this undermanned squad, all 5 of the guys on the floor are playing hard. It wasn't so with Baron. Zach is a more important part of this team when it comes to producing wins. I guarantee that if Z-Bo had been able to play these last 5 or so games, we would've gone on that winning streak Purpose was talking about.

madmaxmedia · Post #4 » by **madmaxmedia** » Wed Jan 7, 2009 11:48 pm

I still think that realistically having both ZBo and Baron back gives us the best chance at winning, and with other healthy rosters gives us a pretty decent team. Though EJ's emergence has a lot to do with that.

EJ has ripped off 20 or more in 5 straight games, I think that's the biggest difference. Unless one made the argument that Baron hurts EJ's game.

It's very faint praise, but I think Baron will play much harder and better when things are going well for the team (which will hopefully be soon.) There's a reason why Baron has made headlines at certain points in his career, yet largely goes under the radar most of the time. I wasn't really expecting anything different from him here.

Post #5 » by **mkwest** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 12:44 am

Randolph returning will really help us the most. I've been interested in seeing what our rotation will look like when Kaman returns as well.

The guys are really playing hard right now and I truly appreciate that. As great as it has been to see EJ light it up, I don't like the fact that he is playing 40+ every night. Despite the dreaded rookie wall, I don't want him to be more vulnerable to injury as all the minutes add up.

madmaxmedia · Post #6 » by **madmaxmedia** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 6:16 pm

He's young and spry, he can take it.

40+ for a short to medium stretch of games is no big deal from an injury risk perspective IMO. But I do think the extended PT will really help his development. It's not like we need to save him for the playoffs...

Learning to play 15-20 minutes a night of solid ball is one thing, playing entire games is a whole 'nother level. The fact that he has really delivered consistently and so early in the year is a really great sign.

aznkillabeezZz · Post #7 » by **aznkillabeezZz** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:46 am

I got a question. I am watching the clipper laker game at staples center next week. Is Baron or Z-bo likely to come back from injury and playing ?

Post #8 » by **mkwest** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:19 am

It's kinda hard to say. Both are looking to be back within a week or two. Apparently Z-Bo may be back a little sooner than Baron.

aznkillabeezZz · Post #9 » by **aznkillabeezZz** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:53 am

mkwest wrote:It's kinda hard to say. Both are looking to be back within a week or two. Apparently Z-Bo may be back a little sooner than Baron.

what i thought baron would be back sooner. If one of them comes back, i'd rather watch z-bo. He's more exciting and he actually hustles during games.

Post #10 » by **mkwest** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:40 am

aznkillabeezZz wrote:
mkwest wrote:It's kinda hard to say. Both are looking to be back within a week or two. Apparently Z-Bo may be back a little sooner than Baron.

what i thought baron would be back sooner. If one of them comes back, i'd rather watch z-bo. He's more exciting and he actually hustles during games.

Same. Z-Bo is the one I miss most, purely for the fact that he consistently produced on the team. It's the strangest thing, because I was always against us bringing in Zach, but so far I've appreciated his play. The knocks against him have not been a factor so far (although there's plenty of time left), and the same can be said for Camby. Otoh Baron has been as advertised (by Warrior fans)

Jeezo1 · Post #11 » by **Jeezo1** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 7:02 pm

Yeah, the Clippers are playing better without Baron Davis. Ever since his injury, they've lost 11 straight games. Now that's an improvement. :roll:

Purpose · Post #12 » by **Purpose** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 2:57 am

Jeezo1 wrote:Yeah, the Clippers are playing better without Baron Davis. Ever since his injury, they've lost 11 straight games. Now that's an improvement.

way to state the obvious :roll:

playaloc916 · Post #13 » by **playaloc916** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:10 am

It almost seems like Baron plays good/decent every third game. The rest of the time, he has horrible shooting nights, like 5-15 or something along those lines, and makes bad decisions late in the game. I definitely want Z-Bo back sooner. He's the guy that would get me fired up when he has a dominant game. He'd hit the same shot over and over again, making it look easy. Then he'd hit some impossible fadeaway shot and just jog back up the court and point at the assist man. Damn that Jake Voskul! He single handedly cost the Clippers a couple of games.

Post #14 » by **mkwest** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 6:09 am

Raptors fans were loving Voskuhl's thuggery. He had a couple of dirty plays in the game that made me really heated. It'll be interesting to see what happens (or if he even plays) when we play again in March.