EZ Hitting the Wall

[JohnVancouver]

http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lak ... down-a-bit

[jellybean8]

Scrub status nowadays

[leeprettyp]

He was solid today. He'll bounce back, a solid role player for our team. Intangible guy

[moonpie]

I think he's playing injured. Heavy minutes as well as playing backup C seem to have caught up to him. I'm confident we'll see a resurgence once Pau gets back and eases some of the burden on him, liked his hustle today.

[TARIQ]

He's going through a tough stretch! He played well today! He defended Boozer/Dend great

[DEEP3CL]

It's like what moonpie said, he's hurting but to me he's not killing us and that's the key. I think some times guys look for offensive numbers way too much. He's still rebounding pretty decent, and he's mainly on the floor for his defense anyway. If it was about having offense on the floor Jamison would be starting.

His surge coming out the gate was to show he can play, he played so hard that he took some knick knack injuries that slowed him up a bit. We know his plateau, now he just has to play steady. For me if he averages 9-10 points and 8-10 boards that's more than enough gravy on the table.

[AcecardZ]

Earl played well today. Hopefully he can get some rest when Pau returns and be 100% ready for the playoffs when they begin.

In the meantime I can't say enough good things about the guy. He stepped up and helped keep us from falling out of playoff contention when Pau got hurt.

[chefy]

He was solid today. He'll bounce back, a solid role player for our team. Intangible guy

+1


This is what I like about him the most. The guy knows how to play ball.

[Wreckus13]

We don't need a huge impact from him. Just d up and don't make mistakes. I like that about him. He makes the smart and safe play.

[JohnVancouver]

Exactly - so long as he doesn't get down and start doubting himself. Huge change to go from no minutes, to 12 or so in ORL, to 30+ here on a big stage. But I;m sure EZ is feeling he love - Lakers fans dig his game

[EArl]

Clarky came in handy today!!
Someone needs to make a Clark sig.

[Speedlot]

Honestly, I just think the coaches know how to play against him now. They can't coach against his hustle though, so I think he'll be fine. That work ethic is good.

[Beethoven]

Give him a few bad games once in awhile that is fine don't criticize him all of a sudden. He still shows effort a good attitude every game that's what counts. He's going to be great in the playoffs.

[LaLa]

Maybe we should bring him off the bench when Pau comes back, make him the energizer off the bench for us like a LO.

[LApwnd]

I disagree about this D, he was a disaster against Tor, got owned on that one play by Anderson where he totally got lost and Anderson got wide open for a 3 and wasn't much better when he got put on Derozen, he did a poor job on Boozer compared to Metta, Boozer was actually able to get into the paint rather then settle for fade away jumpers when he faced Earl and he didn't do a good job on Deng either, Deng just missed WIDE open shots. He takes really bad angles when he's about to get screened, same result as getting screened because he's completly out of the picture on D. This is why I laughed when posters were clamoring to resign him at all cost with that early stretch, players like Clark happens every year, solid stretch for a minute and law of average catches up with them. With that said hopefully this is more injury related than him coming back to earth cause we do need him to be productive.

[Dr Aki]

i still think he's playing exactly the way we need him to. he's a perfect fit thus far.

sure, teams are using a scouting report now, but in the end, if he's able to knock down an outside shot here and there, and when they try to take away that shot, that he's still good enough to put the ball on the floor, drive and kick. he'll be fine.

he just needs to understand that the NBA wasn't going to be easy forever and keep working hard and hustling on the boards and shift those feet on D

[moonpie]

EZ interview with Mike Trudell. Here's some snippets.

http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/130311_earl_clark

MT: Do you remember your first TV crush, like Kelly Kapowski on "Saved By The Bell."
Clark: There was this show called "One on One," and I liked the daughter. It was on UPN, and the dad was a sportscaster; his name was Flex Washington, and his daughter was real pretty. I think her name is Kyla Pratt*.
*IMDB agrees with Clark. Her name was Breanna on the show.

MT: Fair enough. OK, a few questions about your teammates: who's the best and worst dancer on the Lakers?
Clark: The best dancer I'd say is Dwight. He's really into it; he knows all the new dance moves, is watching the videos and knows what's up right when stuff comes out. The worst? Man, I'd have to say (Robert) Sacre. He looks like he can't dance, and has no rhythm. At this age, it's over … he can't really be helped unless you get a "Dancing with Stars" instructor. As for me, I have a lil' two-step, but I don't do too much. I'm too tall to do a lot. I'm always seeing 6-10 guys trying to do some new dance, but it looks crazy. I just keep it simple, pop it a bit, enjoy myself.

MT: The best rapper? It's Pau (Gasol), right?
Clark: Nah, man. Come on. I'd say it's probably (Devin) Ebanks, because he takes it the most serious. He'll go in the studio, and is practicing on the plane, writing raps. Metta (World Peace) is pretty good, too, but I think he just likes to do it here and there. Devin writes every day, and is only getting better. I like a few of his songs. Nobody else really raps.

MT: Isn't Kobe always reciting lyrics?
Clark: Yeah, yeah. Kobe is a big Jay-Z fan, and that's what he's been into the most lately. I haven't heard him rap anything other than Jay-Z this season.

MT: Jay-Z's book, “Decoded," is a great read, by the way.
Clark: Oh for sure, I read half of it. He's legit.

MT: What's the funniest locker room moment of the season?
Clark: Something happens every day, man, but I'd say Darius Morris is the most funny in the locker room. He's always debating something with somebody. Whose draft class is the best, who the ugliest guy on the team … Darius and Jordan Hill are always saying the other one is ugly. Metta and C-Du (Chris Duhon) and Antawn (Jamison) are always messing with Sacre, making him do rookie stuff. Like, "Go get me one blueberry," or "Go get me one strawberry," or they'll just knock the balls of the rack and make them pick them up. Or make sure their towel isn't wrinkled. Jodie's pretty quiet; he doesn't say too much. Dev be rapping. Pau keeps it pretty quiet.

MT: And Kobe?
Clark: Kobe is sometimes in the zone, but he will watch "Court TV" in the lounge area. Kobe and I were watching this recent trial, and it gets you locked in sometimes, you want to see what happens. You gotta check it out! Otherwise, Kobe is always stretching and getting work in, but other times he'll come talk, tell us old stories about winning championships and certain things like that. He'll give good advice, and let us know when to get serious. Then Steve Nash – he's funny, he makes people laugh when he says stuff. He's always got a good comeback if you try to say anything to him. He'll say stuff out nowhere sometimes to crack us up. He's cool, fun to be around, and he has good advice too, like Kobe.

MT: Finally, Earl, what's it been like going from being essentially buried on the bench to being the starting power forward for the Lakers?
Clark: Man, it feels great... I've been waiting for this moment my whole NBA career. I've put in a lot of work in my career. For people to notice that I can play, and to get my teammates' and coaches' trust and for (General Manager) Mitch Kupchak to (notice) … it's great. It's all I ever wanted, just a role on this team, which I got, and I think I'm doing a good job of providing energy, guarding the opponent's best player and rebounding. I'm just happy, man, to have the opportunity. People got hurt, that's the only reason I played, but that's how it happens sometimes. Since then, a lot of people call me now and text me, but those are mostly the people that I don't hit back, because they had doubts in the past. I have to eliminate that out of my life, and keep in contact with the people that have supported me all along. Just keep the positive vibes coming.