Game 49: Los Angeles (27-21) vs New Orleans (12-36)

[mkwest]

Los Angeles Clippers VS New Orleans Hornets
Where: STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA
When: Monday, March 26th, 2012 @ 7:30PM
TV:
Radio: KFWB News Talk 980

Hornets lead the season series 1 - 0

Previous Meeting:
3/22 in New Orleans: Hornets over Clippers 97-90



PG: #3 - Chris Paul SG: #4 - Randy Foye

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

C: #6 - DeAndre Jordan


Reserves

Bledsoe | Young | Simmons | Evans | Martin




PG: #2 - Jarrett Jack SG: #8 - Marco Belinelli

SF: #1 - Trevor Ariza PF: #42 - Lance Thomas

C: #15 - Gustavo Ayon

Reserves

Vasquez | Henry | Aminu | Landry | Johnson

Inactive List:

Chauncey Billups (Achilles) and Mo Williams (Sore Toe) are out.

Eric Gordon (Arthroscopic Right Knee Surgery), Chris Kaman (Flu-like Symptoms), Emeka Okafor (Sore Left Knee) and Jason Smith (Suspension) are out.

Team Leaders



Blake Griffin - 20.9 Points and 10.8 Rebounds (6th)

Chris Paul - 8.6 Assists (3rd) and 2.4 Steals (2nd)

DeAndre Jordan - 2.2 Blocks (4th)

Team Performance
96.9 Points Per Game - 13th Overall
42.3 Rebounds Per Game - 15th Overall
20.7 Assists Per Game - 17th Overall
95.5 Points Allowed - 14th Overall
13.3 Turnovers Per Game - 2nd Overall
14.1 Turnovers (Opp.) Per Game - 20th Overall
Offensive Rating: 107.8 Points Scored Per 100 Possessions - 5th Overall
Defensive Rating: 106.3 Points Allowed Per 100 Possessions - 23rd Overall
Pace: 89.9 Possessions Per Game: 29th




Jarrett Jack - 15.6 Points and 6.2 Assists

Chris Kaman - 8.1 Rebounds and 1.5 Blocks

Trevor Ariza - 1.7 Steals (8th)


Team Performance
89.0 Points Per Game - 29th Overall
41.4 Rebounds Per Game - 23rd Overall
20.9 Assists Per Game - 16th Overall
93.8 Points Allowed - 10th Overall
15.4 Turnovers Per Game - 23rd Overall
14.0 Turnovers (Opp.) Per Game - 21st Overall
Offensive Rating: 99.9 Points Scored Per 100 Possessions - 29th Overall
Defensive Rating: 105.2 Points Allowed Per 100 Possessions - 17th Overall
Pace: 88.5 Possessions Per Game: 30th

This game will mark the 2nd in a 5-game home stand for the Los Angeles Clippers who are in the midst of a heated playoff battle. With the next 3 home games against teams they are battling with (Phoenix, Portland & Utah), it is important that they win as many games as possible. The last meeting between the Clippers and Hornet got a little intense toward the end, so it is likely that the Clippers will not be overlooking this match-up. At this point with 18 games remaining in the season, it is do or die, and win or go home for many teams. The Clippers currently sit in the 4th seed by a few hundredths of a percentage point ahead of Dallas who we'll play in a week. A couple of wins or losses means the difference in being a mid-seeded team or on the outside looking in.

In the previous game, the Clippers showed a balanced effort offensively and defensively to pick up a convincing victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. With th many ups and downs that have occurred this season, along with the uncertainty surrounding the Clipper head coach, each game is a mystery to the fans and the basketball world. Which team will show up? A team simply going through the motions or a team that is motivated and looking to attack, adjust and outhustle the opponent?



This game will mark the return of former Clippers, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and Eric Gordon back to STAPLES Center for the first time in front of Clipper Nation. Eric Gordon will not be suiting up due to injury, but will be traveling with the team. He plans to return to practice sometime in this upcoming week. Chris Kaman spent 8 seasons with the Clippers and is 5th on the franchise leaderboard for games played with 493. I'm personally looking forward to seeing the type of reception that our former players receive.

mkwest's game thread record: 8 - 4

[ejftw]

After the emotions of the last game, I can see the Clips coming out swinging and taking this by a comfortable margin, but then again, I've thought that a few times on the year. Sunday was a pretty good day in terms of the playoff hunt as the Lakers, Jazz, Nuggets all lost with Memphis getting a W. Chance to get to within 2 of the Pac Division crown as well.

[mike3]

we HAVE to win this one

[RiversideClips]

I agree w/ Mike, this is a MUST win! The Clippers played some of their best basketball of late on Saturday, will that mean they will show up again?
These are games that the Clips need to win, so we can solidify a good playoff seed. I think that it is important that we get Home Court for at least the 1st Rd. If we want to go farther, we better start playing w/ that Killer instinct; when our opponent is down, we finish them off. We saw a little bit of that against the Grizz, we need to see a lot more in the last 20 games.

[mj_shoefanatic]

REVENGE on my mind. I pray it's on our teams mind too.

[-[Clippers]-]

Let's whoop their ass and handle business. I bet the team will be amped up over Jason Smith, ready to get revenge.

[scratch21]

Blake's avg's are slowly going down

[800LoanMart]

This is a big game for the Clippers. Some of the second string players will have an opportunity to play without Williams in the lineup. Hopefully Williams makes his way back to the team within a week or so.

[Neddy]

we should have more balanced offense now. i fully expect them to blow these guys out.

[thanumba2clippersfan]

We need to jump on the Hornets early and take them out. That loss was embarrassing and I literally almost cried after that loss (it was a sad day). This team didn't forget the hit Griffin took by Smith and how they lost to the Hornets. Defense is always key with this team. The Clippers just need to win this one period.

[og15]

Blake's avg's are slowly going down

March (16 games):
19.3 ppg | 10.1 rpg | 2.8 apg | 2.1 tpg | 0.8 spg | 0.7 bpg | 50.9% FG | 54.5% FT | 14.8 FGA | 35.3 mpg

He's down about 1-2 MPG from January and February, but in February (22.3 ppg), he shot 56.4% FG and 60.6% FT, so there's a scoring decrease even if he was taking as many FGA (16.1 in Feb). At least he's doing better than the 48% FT shooting in January.

I think for him the understanding should be there that this off-season he needs to have a mid-range jumpshot that can go in >40% of the time from the pick and pop, and even if not 70%, at least get up to 65% on his FT's.

[Neddy]

^once griffin can get up to 75% with FTs the problems will solve themselves, in both efficiency and scoring average.

[og15]

They really will. And if he's shooting better at the line, it is quite likely that his set shoot will improve also.

[Angel strike1]

^once griffin can get up to 75% with FTs the problems will solve themselves, in both efficiency and scoring average.

drool

[thanumba2clippersfan]

I heard no Kaman tonight and maybe no Ariza, we have to take this one.

[Neddy]

They really will. And if he's shooting better at the line, it is quite likely that his set shoot will improve also.

yup. just like karl malone the lane will just open for him once he gets FTs down.

^once griffin can get up to 75% with FTs the problems will solve themselves, in both efficiency and scoring average.

drool

lol whatup man

[mkwest]

As if it wasn't already a must-win game, Denver and Utah both picked up wins and Houston has a chance to beat the Kings in overtime. The Clips better take care of business.

[Angel strike1]

nm. we better win this

[mkwest]

Mo is projected to be out 2-3 weeks with the toe injury.

[Neddy]

Mo is projected to be out 2-3 weeks with the toe injury.

with "turf toe" like injuries it could be indefinite.