Los Angeles Clippers VS Los Angeles Lakers
Where: STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA
When: Wednesday, April 4th, 2012 @ 7:30PM (PST)
TV:
/ ESPN / 
Radio: KFWB News Talk 980
Season Series: 1-1
Part I: 1/14 on Clipper floor; Clippers over Lakers 102-94
Part II: 1/25 on Laker floor; Lakers over Clippers 96-91
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
Injury Report:Chauncey Billups (Left Achilles) and Mo Williams (Sprained Left Big Toe) are out.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go3yO_LfOBc[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9Ep15uM9UY[/youtube]
PG: #7- Ramon Sessions SG: #24 - Kobe Bryant
SF: #15 - Ron Artest PF: #16 - Pau Gasol
C: #17 - Andrew Bynum
Reserves
Blake | Barnes | McRoberts | Murphy
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IExei3pH70[/youtube]
Injury Report:Andrew Bynum (Sprained Left Ankle) is questionable.
Christian Eyenga (Lacerated Left Toe) and Jordan Hill (Sprained Right Knee) are out.
Team Leaders
Blake Griffin - 20.9 Points and 10.9 Rebounds (5th)
Chris Paul - 8.8 Assists (3rd) and 2.4 Steals (2nd)
DeAndre Jordan - 2.1 Blocks (4th)
Team Performance
97.1 Points Per Game - 12th Overall
41.8 Rebounds Per Game - 19th Overall
20.9 Assists Per Game - 15th Overall
94.8 Points Allowed - 13th Overall
13.3 Turnovers Per Game - 2nd Overall
14.2 Turnovers (Opp.) Per Game - 19th Overall
Offensive Rating: 108.2 Points Scored Per 100 Possessions - 5th Overall
Defensive Rating: 105.6 Points Allowed Per 100 Possessions - 20th Overall
Pace: 88.9 Possessions Per Game: 28th
Kobe Bryant - 28.1 Points (1st) and 1.3 Steals
Ramon Sessions - 6.8 Assists
Andrew Bynum - 11.9 Rebounds (3rd) and 2.0 Blocks (5th)
Team Performance
96.3 Points Per Game - 17th Overall
45.7 Rebounds Per Game - 2nd Overall
21.9 Assists Per Game - 8th Overall
93.9 Points Allowed - 11th Overall
15.2 Turnovers Per Game - 20th Overall
11.5 Turnovers (Opp.) Per Game - 30th Overall
Offensive Rating: 105.4 Points Scored Per 100 Possessions - 13th Overall
Defensive Rating: 102.8 Points Allowed Per 100 Possessions - 11th Overall
Pace: 90.3 Possessions Per Game - 21st
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZHCSFtB6Qg[/youtube]
Clippers Marching On From Trying TimesPulling a black sleeve over his right arm as he spoke at his locker, Chris Paul wasn't prepared late Monday night to proclaim that the Los Angeles Clippers are officially cured.
No chance of that when the little assassin with the bruised right elbow won't even acknowledge that the search was on for a vaccine less than six months into his life in Clipperland.
"We ain't fixed," Paul insisted, "because we were never broke.""We should not be trying to find our identity at this point in the season," Butler said. "We should have that already. So we discussed it and we agreed that we've got to get everyone involved. Since then this team's had a totally different disposition. Guys are making the extra pass, we're sharing that ball and that's what we've got goin' right now. When we play defense and share the ball, we're a scary team. With all these weapons, it's tough to load up on Chris and Blake."
Said Griffin: "We had a mindset [after the loss to New Orleans] that this isn't it, this isn't our team, this isn't the team we're gonna be. We've done a good job. I'm proud of the way everybody's playing."
Marc Stein, ESPN
The Clippers got out of Dallas just in time. The tornadoes have been causing a lot of damage in Texas. The Mavs were on lockdown earlier in the day while at practice. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by or in the immediate area of the devastation.
This meeting between the Clippers and Lakes marks the final the game between the two teams in the regular season. With the season series tied at 1 apiece, this game not only gives the winner bragging rights, but more importantly a tie breaker should the two teams finish the season with an even record. For divisional and seeding purposes, this a huge game for both teams.
Since the 1st 2 meetings of the season, both rosters have undergone significant changes. The Clippers have lost Chauncey Billups for the season to an Achilles injury; demoted Ryan Games to non-inbounding, butt glued to the bench status; signed Kenyon Martin, traded away Brian Cook for Nick Young and reunited with former MIP, Bobby Simmons. The Lakers have traded away a fan favorite and locker room leader in Derek Fisher for Jordan Hill. They actually managed to trade away the Trade Checker/Machine's most frequently used asset (Luke Walton) and Jason Kapono for Ramon Sessions and Christian Eyenga.
Both teams have had a little Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde element going on this season. The winner could very well be determined by which personality shows up.
mkwest's game thread record: 9 - 4
