Game 8: Los Angeles (4-3) VS Miami (8-2)

[mkwest]

Los Angeles Clippers VS Miami Heat
Where: STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA
When: Wednesday, January 11th, 2012 @ 7:30PM
TV: / ESPN
Radio: KFWB News Talk 980



PG: #3 - Chris Paul SG: #1 - Chauncey Billups

SF: #5 - Caron Butler PF: #32 - Blake Griffin

C: #6 - DeAndre Jordan


Reserves

Williams | Foye | Gomes | Cook | Evans





PG: #15 - Mario Chalmers SG: #3 - Dwyane Wade

SF: #6 - LeBron James PF: #1 - Chris Bosh

C: #50 - Joel Anthony


Reserves

Cole | Jones | Battier | Haslem | Pittman



Inactive List:

Eric Bledsoe (Lateral Meniscus, Right Knee) is out.


Dwyane Wade (Left Foot Contusion, Plantar Fasciitis) is probable.
Eddy Curry (Bruised Hip) and Mike Miller (Sports Hernia) are out.



Team Leaders and Statistics



Blake Griffin - 23.7 Points (8th) and 10.5 Rebounds (5th)

Chris Paul - 8.4 Assists (3rd) and 2.7 Steals (1st)

DeAndre Jordan - 3.0 Blocks (1st)


Team Performance
99.7 Points Per Game - 6th Overall
35.3 Rebounds Per Game - 30 Overall
22.8 Assists Per Game - 6th Overall
96.3 Points Allowed - 23rd Overall
12.7 Turnovers Per Game - 1st Overall
15.9 Turnovers (Opp.) Per Game - 12th Overall
Offensive Rating: 109.3 Points Scored Per 100 Possessions - 2nd Overall
Defensive Rating: 105.7 Points Allowed Per 100 Possessions - 24th Overall




LeBron James - 29.7 Points (1st), 7.5 Assists and 2.0 Steals (3rd)

Udonis Haslem - 10.3 Rebounds (6th)

Dwyane Wade - 1.9 Blocks (5th)

Team Performance
108.3 Points Per Game - 1st Overall
43.4 Rebounds Per Game - 10th Overall
24.6 Assists Per Game - 1st Overall
96.6 Points Allowed - 24th Overall
17.9 Turnovers Per Game - 29th Overall
19.8 Turnovers (Opp.) Per Game - 1st Overall
Offensive Rating: 108.1 Points Scored Per 100 Possessions - 5th Overall
Defensive Rating: 96.3 Points Allowed Per 100 Possessions - 3rd Overall

Chris Paul Stars In New Jordan Brand Commercial



Now that the shoe has dropped, you knew that the next thing to release from our friends over at Jordan Brand would be Chris Paul‘s solo commercial for his new signature shoe, the Jordan CP3.V. In this new 15-second spot titled “Quick Controls Chaos,” watch as CP3′s quickness creates chaos on and off the court.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjZfXdEA8hU[/youtube]

Also, Jordan Brand lets you can watch this craziness unfold from anywhere on the court as you take control of the viewing experience HERE.

Aron Philips, Dime Magazine

After a frustrating loss against Portland at the Rose Garden, the Clippers will make their way back to STAPLES to battle with the Miami Heat who are coming off of an overtime loss to the Warriors in Oakland. Both teams feature some of the biggest and brightest superstars in the NBA and will square center stage in front of national audience on ESPN. Chris Paul will be taking on a couple of his best friends and will be launching his new shoe, the CP3.V on Wednesday. He will not want to disappoint.

It has been almost year a to the day (1/12/11) since the last meeting between the two teams in Los Angeles. Last season, the Heat were on a 9 game winning streak and were caught off guard by a motivated Clipper team that put up a mind blowing 44 points in the first quarter to give the Heat an early 18 point deficit. We won't be sneaking up on the Heat or any other team this season. With Miami coming off of a loss, they're going to be even more amped to come out of this game with a bounce back win. We had to hop on a plane and fly a greater distance back home, so we're in the same boat as them. The only difference is that our guys got to sleep in their own beds.

Miami is perennially one of the best defensive teams in the league. Thankfully, we have one of best offenses (statistically) with numerous options. Miami is a strong rebounding team, which is our primary weakness outside of defense. Both teams will want to get out and run, so it can become a very uptempo game that should be exciting to watch. Our assistant coach, Dean Demopoulos, is supposed to be a zone defensive guru. The zone has caused Miami plenty of trouble since LeBron and Bosh took their talents to South Beach. I hope that he proves himself true and that the Clippers are able to force Miami into lower percentage shots in the half court. Outside of Mario Chalmers (1.7 3PM on 48.4%) and James Jones (1.73PM on 48.4%), the rest of the team is neither attempting many 3's nor are they making them. LeBron and Wade have combined for less than 5 attempts on the season.

This is a statement game in a statement week for this team. I don't want to say that this is a must win game, but it is a game that we need to win.

[donemilio21]

nice thread mk! I will be at the game, really excited for it. I think we will have an extra ticket too, so if anyone is interested let me know!

[thanumba2clippersfan]

Miami had a tough OT loss to the Warriors last night. So this could go two ways either the Heat are exhausted from putting out that effort or they are motivated to come out strong because they lost last night. Either way this should be an entertaining game and this will be tough. I hope we can pull it out and I hope that we'll be motivated because we lost.

[azncorruptedo17]

we're easily gonna win!

[illastrate]

I think we have a better chance tonight because we're at home and the Heat are coming off a b2b as well. But it won't be easy.

[scratch21]

this could be ugly

[Kobeoverrated]

miami by 15+

hopefully griffin will get some highlight dunks though

[Forte IV]

I don't get why the Heat start Anthony. Every game he only gets about 18 minutes(not foul trouble) and Haslem ends up coming in at center getting around 25-30 minutes. Why not just start Haslem

[Sofia]

This could be a real danger game for us. Afte all the noise being made about them dropping the game in OT last night against the Warriors, the Heat could be looking for revenge on the league. I expect CP3 to back up big after his lackluster performance last night, but I'm hoping the other guys got plenty of rest today in the lead up to the game. We can't have a tired performance tonight.

[mkwest]

Of all 30 teams in the league, James' lowest scoring average (23.1 ppg) is against the Clippers.

[LOJ]

LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOO

[mkwest]

Left Chalmers wide open.

[mkwest]

Chris Paul to Blake!

[mkwest]

Another wide open 3 for Chalmers.

[TheNewEra]

Attack the basket

[mike3]

early signs not good, but it is only early

[mkwest]

LOL who was Bosh passing it to?

[Leor_77]

Just have to watch the Heat's shooters.

[mkwest]

Wow! Orlando is beating Portland by 20 in Portland. Wallace has 0. Seems like the Blazers go as Wallace goes.

[mkwest]

Thank God Chalmers missed that 3.