Where: STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA
When: Wednesday, December 19th, 2012 @ 7:30PM (PST)
TV:
Radio: KFWB News Talk 980
Previous Meeting:
11/26 in Los Angeles: L 98-105
PG: #3 - Chris Paul SG: #34 - Willie Green
SF: #5 - Caron Butler PF: #32 - Blake Griffin
C: #6 - DeAndre Jordan
Reserves
Bledsoe | Crawford | Barnes | Odom | Turiaf
PG: #21 - Greivis Vasquez SG: #25 - Austin Rivers
SF: #42 - Lance Thomas PF: #23 - Anthony Davis
C: #15 - Robin Lopez
Reserves
Roberts | Miller | Aminu | McGuire | Anderson
Inactive List:
Chauncey Billups (Left Foot Tendonitis), Grant Hill (Knee - Bone Bruise) and Trey Thompkins (Knee - Bone Bruise) are out.
Eric Gordon (Sore Right Knee) and Jason Smith (Sprained Right Shoulder) are out.
Team Leaders and Statistics
Blake Griffin - 18 Points, 8.8 Rebounds in 32.5 MPG
Chris Paul - 9.2 Assists (2nd) and 2.2 Steals (1st) in 33.1 MPG
DeAndre Jordan - 1.6 Blocks in 25.8 MPG
Team Performance
101.6 Points Per Game - 7th Overall
41.4 Rebounds Per Game - 18th Overall
11.3 Offensive Rebounds Per Game - 18th Overall
12.0 Offensive Rebounds Per Game (Opp.) - 24th Overall
23.0 Assists Per Game - 3rd Overall
93.1 Points Allowed - 4th Overall
14.5 Turnovers Per Game - 9th Overall
17.4 Turnovers (Opp.) Per Game - 1st Overall
34.8% on 3 point field goals - 16th Overall
37.6% allowed on 3 point field goals - 26th Overall
Offensive Rating: 110.5 Points Scored Per 100 Possessions - 4th Overall
Defensive Rating: 101.3 Points Allowed Per 100 Possessions - 4th Overall
Pace: 91.5 Possessions Per 48 Minutes - 19th Overall
Ryan Anderson - 19.0 Points in 33.6 MPG
Anthony Davis - 8.2 Rebounds, 1.4 Steals and 1.9 Blocks in 29.3 MPG
Greivis Vasquez - 8.8 Assists (4th) in 33.3 MPG
Team Performance
92.1 Points Per Game - 28th Overall
40.3 Rebounds Per Game - 26th Overall
10.9 Offensive Rebounds Per Game - 21st Overall
11.1 Offensive Rebounds Per Game (Opp.) - 13th Overall
21.3 Assists Per Game - 18th Overall
98.3 Points Allowed - 19th Overall
14.6 Turnovers Per Game - 10th Overall
13.2 Turnovers (Opp.) Per Game - 29th Overall
40.1% on 3 point field goals - 4th Overall
40.5% allowed on 3 point field goals - 30th Overall
Offensive Rating: 103.4 Points Scored Per 100 Possessions - 18th Overall
Defensive Rating: 110.4 Points Allowed Per 100 Possessions - 30th Overall
Pace: 88.1 Possessions Per 48 Minutes - 29th Overall
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XUT6L1ZEhI&list=CLgY-FjaPWXxY[/youtube]
What does this have to do with the game? Absolutely nothing, but it's worth a watch
The New Orleans...Pelicans?
The owner of the New Orleans franchise has filed to change the team nickname this offseason. The Pelicans has been rumored to be the favorite with the colors likely to be red, blue and gold. Today, the NBA filed trademarks for the Pelicans as well as the Swamp Dogs (e.g. Cajun slang for Gator), Rougarou (e.g. Mythical creature of Lousiana folklore resembling Werewolf or Sasquatch), Bullsharks, and the Mosquitoes. Those are some interesting names and this could be the last time that a New Orleans basketball team visits the Clippers at Staples while being called the Hornets.
Griffin vs Davis
Blake Griffin and Anthony Davis have had their names linked together since it was clear that Davis was going to be the number 1 pick in the 2012 draft. Both were seen to be franchise changing power forwards coming out of college. This game will give the general public the first look at each young phenom squaring off head-to-head. Although each brought high hopes to the teams that drafted them, they couldn't really be any different from each other. Blake was more of a stocky offensive-oriented player whose game flourished on brute strength and out of this world athleticism. Davis was seen as more of a gangly, but skillful defensived-minded prospect with potential that extended out to the perimeter. A Charles Barkley/Antonio McDyess (Pre-injuries)/Amar'e Stoudemire/Karl Malone type of player as opposed to a Kevin Garnett/Marcus Camby/Blake Griffin meets Tyson Chandler type of player.
Due to an injury sustained in the Team USA practices, Anthony Davis took the place of Blake Griffin and went on to win an Olympic Gold Medal. Davis is also seen as the Batman to the Robin of Eric Gordon in New Orleans, which we all know as the former dynamic duo in Clipper Land. Unfortunately, EJ will be sitting this one out for injury. That is another thing that Griffin and Davis have had in common.
The last loss that the Clippers suffered was at the hands of the New Orleans Hornets at Staples Center. I made that game thread and was totally disappointed. We then began our current 10-game winning streak. The team views this as a revenge game and I know we all do as well. We could tie a franchise best streak if we can pull it off. The Hornets can not be approached as a team with a 5-19 record, they have to be approached as a team fully capable of beating any team in this league on any given night. The first game back after a road trip is usually tough. Will the Clippers prevail and keep the winning streak alive?
