Los Angeles Clippers (29-21) vs Portland Blazers (24-27)

[LOJ]

VS
Where: Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA
When: Friday, March 30th, 2012 @ 7:30PM (PST)
TV:
Radio: ESPN Radio 360



Starting for the Los Angeles Clippers
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Clippers Bench
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Starting for the Portland Trail Blazers
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Trail Blazers Bench
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Inactive List

Clippers
Mo Williams - Two weeks (Bad toe)
Chauncey Billups - Out for the season (Torn achilles)

Trail Blazers
Elliot Williams - Out for the season (Left dislocated shoulder capsule)
Shawne Williams - Out for the season (?)
Greg Oden - Out for the season (Knee)

We have a 3 win game streak going, lets make it 4 tonight. The Blazers are coming off a win in New Orleans, they're sure as hell not tanking, because they are quite content with the robbery lotto pick they got from NJ. Blake needs to keep taking over, and making those nice assists, it really opens up the floor for us. I hope Nick Young gets it going soon, he would be a huge asset to have if he can give us efficient scoring off the bench. Billups is already more useful than our assistant coaches. He is still an important asset to this team, a true leader. I know it hurts him to watch from the sidelines but boy am I glad to see him there in our corner.

We also got some help last night with the Mavs and the Lakers both losing, we desperately need to keep our win streak going. That 3rd seed is precious to us.

I'm continuing my 90s theme with another one of my many crushes back in the day. This was my favorite tv show for a long time, I still hum the intro song once in a while. Whether she was stabbing vampires or doing it with em, she was too cute for her own good.

Our Lucky Charm: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

[og15]

Random, but maybe somewhat useful stat.

The last three games marked the first time all season that Chris Paul has had 10+ assists in 3 consecutive games.

In the last 8 games, Paul has had 8 or more assists in each of them, also a first for the season, and 9 in each of the last 5, again, something that hasn't happened all year.

Thoughts for the game
Portland is no longer in win mode, but they are still a dangerous team.

While I like what the bench has done as a unit, I'm still not the biggest fan of taking out the whole starting lineup for huge stretches of time. I've always felt that the best way is to find guys that really play well together or benefit each other, and then slightly stagger the lineups to get them on the court together. All this while obviously being aware of the flow of the game, and not taking guys out if they are being very successful, just to stick to a rotation plan.

The things I would like to see are:
-Blake with Young and the rest of the bench for their first few minutes to give a scoring/playmaking option, then when Blake goes off, bring Butler in, which leads to...
-Work Caron's minutes so that when Blake and Paul are both off, Caron is on with Nick Young (Bledsoe-Young-Butler-Kenyon-DJ should play for about 6 minutes a game with Young and Butler as the go to guys, this will allow the bench to hopefully maintain defensive intensity but actually be able to score)
-As much as I like Simmons, with Young, his minutes should go down to about 12/game and Young should take the extra SF minutes which will give more of these lineup (Paul-Foye-Young-Blake-DJ and Paul-Foye-Young-Blake-Kenyon)
-Integrate the almost conventional lineup of (Paul-Young-Butler-Blake-Kenyon) to end the first half, and then to end games maybe go to that lineup, but with DJ at C, and depending on how Caron is playing.

I didn't include Reggie here, but a lot of Kenyon's minutes can be given to him to make things work. Most teams like to go with a 9-10 man rotation. With Reggie getting no minutes, the team already has a 9 man rotation. Unless DJ's minutes are being brought down, it's hard to get both Reggie and Keyon minutes, especially if Kenyon isn't being used at SF spot minutes anymore (which he shouldn't be). Blake plays 36 minutes at PF, and there are 60 minutes left at PF/C. DJ should get at least 28 minutes, so you either play Reggie and Kenyon 16 MPG each, or someone (Reggie) get's the short end of the stick. One could still do it Kenyon (20), Reggie (12) though.

[mj_shoefanatic]

Blazers in spoiler mode. Hope the entire team wears their hardhats tonight for win #4 in a row.

GO CLIPS!!!

[thanumba2clippersfan]

This is a game that we have to win. Like always the Clippers have to defend and rebound.

[ejftw]

A chance to get to a game of the #3 seed, just hope the teams motivated and doesn't sleep on the Blazers.

[Sofia]

Live on ESPN in Australia, I'm pumped. Let's git er donnnnnnnne

[thanumba2clippersfan]

Madelyn Burke ‏ @MadelynBurke

LaMarcus Aldridge (elbow) out tonight vs Clippers, will be replaced by JJ Hickson in lineup

We have to win since Aldridge is out

[Angel strike1]

4th in row and game back of the fakers. here we come

[mkwest]

With Dallas stealing one in Orlando, this game is definitely an absolute must win for us.

[LOJ]

With Dallas stealing one in Orlando, this game is definitely an absolute must win for us.

And we are reminded again, why we want no part of Dallas in the 1st round.

[areg789]

Nice move by DJ

[LOJ]

DJ TWO POST MOVES WTF

[mkwest]

Foye already has 2 fouls.

[mkwest]

4 fouls on the Clips already. In the penalty for almost 9 more mins.

[TheNewEra]

keep up the good start but hit the glass harder

[TheNewEra]

got to rebound better

[mkwest]

Przybilla headed to the bench. He's been killing the offensive glass.

[thanumba2clippersfan]

4 fouls on the Clips already. In the penalty for almost 9 more mins.

That's why he was taken out so early, I didn't have my full attention at the start of the game.

We need to take this one, can't let the Blazers stick around.

[TheNewEra]

thought Blake had that And 1

[TheNewEra]

Young looks very unsure of his shot