Simers: Clippers' big kids shouldn't need a baby-sitter now

[mkwest]

Clippers concerns: Chemistry not the issue

The Clippers that spoke at practice, including Griffin, Chris Paul, Caron Butler and head coach Vinny Del Negro, all attributed the supposed animosity to recent losses. Basically: when teams win, everything’s great and everybody loves each other; when they lose, no one can stand each other and they have chemistry issues. That’s typical stuff.

There’s a possibility, though, that the 17-game win streak was a gift and a curse.

It proved to the Clippers just how talented they were, confirming their contention status and giving them something to fall back on whenever in doubt. Since then, though, they’ve been somewhat lackadaisical and just coasted by, knowing they can turn it “on” when necessary. Except, it hasn’t always worked in their favor, as you can’t play with your backs against the wall against good opponents.

Perhaps Caron Butler said it best:

“It’s a marathon (the season). When we were winning 17 in a row and having fun and every night was Groundhog’s Day, I told everybody, ‘It’s a marathon. Remember this moment. Remember how everybody’s feeling now. This is the summer of the season. Everybody’s feeling super great about each other. When the fall and winter part come, remember how we feel now and what we know we’re capable of doing.’”

Jovan Buha, ClipperBlog

[Angel strike1]

caron is deep

[mkwest]

Clippers succeed thanks to him and really crummy Lakers

I don't want to take all of the credit for bringing the Clippers together; like Chris Paul, I'm more interested in the assist.

But as soon as I got on the guys for losing sight of the finish line, they won a division title.

And a lot of sportswriters, players, coaches and administrators have tried over the decades to make winners out of the Clippers only to fail.

I wrote about the immaturity of DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin and problems with Paul that have threatened to sidetrack my favorite team in town, no one more of a Clippers honk than Page 2.

Shoot, I went to Memphis with the Clippers a year ago and no one goes to such a rathole unless it's to be there for their family.

But then you know what it's like raising children. You can't be their friends. Sometimes you have to lower the boom, and toss in a little discipline even when it might hurt you more than them.

"I don't like Chris," shouted Jordan in the crowded Clippers locker room after the win to demonstrate he's no longer immature.

"I don't care," yelled Paul in return, a good time had by all as Jordan started yelling he also doesn't like Griffin.

TJ Simers, LA Times

[og15]

Yea, it was mainly Simers, lol

And a lot of sportswriters, players, coaches and administrators have tried over the decades to make winners out of the Clippers only to fail.

Most useless comparison ever

[mike3]

What the hell is this

"I don't like Chris," shouted Jordan in the crowded Clippers locker room after the win to demonstrate he's no longer immature.

"I don't care," yelled Paul in return, a good time had by all as Jordan started yelling he also doesn't like Griffin.

How do they have the ok to say that without it being somewhat true?


I like the discussion this has brought on but all in all, this seems like rubbish, I haven't seen any truth and I believe the players. This stuff can't be true. Our chemistry is fine and until there's real proof.. ugh. Some stupid reporters out there.

[Angel strike1]

What the hell is this

"I don't like Chris," shouted Jordan in the crowded Clippers locker room after the win to demonstrate he's no longer immature.

"I don't care," yelled Paul in return, a good time had by all as Jordan started yelling he also doesn't like Griffin.

How do they have the ok to say that without it being somewhat true?


I like the discussion this has brought on but all in all, this seems like rubbish, I haven't seen any truth and I believe the players. This stuff can't be true. Our chemistry is fine and until there's real proof.. ugh. Some stupid reporters out there.

That's them making fun of the media

[mike3]

What the hell is this

"I don't like Chris," shouted Jordan in the crowded Clippers locker room after the win to demonstrate he's no longer immature.

"I don't care," yelled Paul in return, a good time had by all as Jordan started yelling he also doesn't like Griffin.

How do they have the ok to say that without it being somewhat true?


I like the discussion this has brought on but all in all, this seems like rubbish, I haven't seen any truth and I believe the players. This stuff can't be true. Our chemistry is fine and until there's real proof.. ugh. Some stupid reporters out there.

That's them making fun of the media

oh.. guess I should read things through

[mkwest]

That's them making fun of the media

oh.. guess I should read things through

After the game, Simers came into the locker room. When they saw him come in, they yelled out some playful jabs at each other.

[Ranma]

T.J. Simers, Los Angeles Times (4/9/13)

I had written that Griffin and teammate DeAndre Jordan had grown weary of Chris Paul's voice, while knowing Paul never shuts up on the court.

Griffin dismissed such a suggestion but said he did send a text to Paul with the suggestion they meet before Sunday's game with the Lakers.

"We had kind of a heart-to-heart before the game," he said. "It wasn't anything like we were beefing. It's just that sometimes the frustration of losing can make guys focus almost too much on themselves. I'm not saying he was doing that. I was the one doing it.

"We need to be on the same page, which brings everyone else along and makes us better as a team."

And so rather than tell Paul to shut up, Griffin said, he asked Paul to talk to him more.

"I told him, I need you to come to me and tell me what you are thinking every single play. I might already know what he's going to say and I'll try to tell him before he says it, but I need him. And that's what we did against the Lakers. We were talking all the time and it really worked well."

"I absolutely 100% agree with you I need to mature and get better with officials," Griffin said. "I've had that conversation with not only you, but my teammates, my coaches, my dad, friends, everybody."

He said it's very much like his development as an outside shooter, just something that will come but in time and with some pain.

"It's about the process," said Griffin, and a waste of brute strength at times when allowing the defense a break and settling for a step-back jumper.

"I understand," said Griffin. "I shot better than 60% from the field in college because I was dominating inside the paint. So why would I shoot out there when no one can really stop me inside?

"But to be better as a player, I have to take those outside shots. If I don't take those shots, then in time it's going to be harder and harder on me."

Clippers' Blake Griffin could have a monumental career

[mkwest]

Thanks for posting the article Ranma. Simers actually includes some quotes this time.

Blake is doing what he should be doing in speaking directly to Paul. Everybody gets caught up in whose team this is and all of that, but it is truly a collaborative effort. Blake has taken somewhat of a backseat since we've added vets like Paul, Billups, Butler, etc. The team doesn't need him to do that. He may be younger, but is a still leader and needs to put both himself and the team in a position to be the best that he/they can be. He and Paul need to be on the same page with the direction of this team. Chemistry is more than getting along, it's knowing what the other is thinking without them saying it. It's not as serious, but it's like a marriage. There's good times and bad times, bumps in the road, but communication, honesty, respect and the ability to be understanding are the keys.

[Ranma]

Well said, mkwest. Also, you're welcome. I'm glad to contribute.

[mike3]

T.J. Simers, Los Angeles Times (4/9/13)

I had written that Griffin and teammate DeAndre Jordan had grown weary of Chris Paul's voice, while knowing Paul never shuts up on the court.

Griffin dismissed such a suggestion but said he did send a text to Paul with the suggestion they meet before Sunday's game with the Lakers.

"We had kind of a heart-to-heart before the game," he said. "It wasn't anything like we were beefing. It's just that sometimes the frustration of losing can make guys focus almost too much on themselves. I'm not saying he was doing that. I was the one doing it.

"We need to be on the same page, which brings everyone else along and makes us better as a team."

And so rather than tell Paul to shut up, Griffin said, he asked Paul to talk to him more.

"I told him, I need you to come to me and tell me what you are thinking every single play. I might already know what he's going to say and I'll try to tell him before he says it, but I need him. And that's what we did against the Lakers. We were talking all the time and it really worked well."

"I absolutely 100% agree with you I need to mature and get better with officials," Griffin said. "I've had that conversation with not only you, but my teammates, my coaches, my dad, friends, everybody."

He said it's very much like his development as an outside shooter, just something that will come but in time and with some pain.

"It's about the process," said Griffin, and a waste of brute strength at times when allowing the defense a break and settling for a step-back jumper.

"I understand," said Griffin. "I shot better than 60% from the field in college because I was dominating inside the paint. So why would I shoot out there when no one can really stop me inside?

"But to be better as a player, I have to take those outside shots. If I don't take those shots, then in time it's going to be harder and harder on me."

Clippers' Blake Griffin could have a monumental career

This is why I'm such a fan of Blake.
Yes he might winge to the refs, complain to much, be lazy. But he acknowledges just how much he's got to fix and get better at, he's only human, he knows he has flaws in his game. He talked honestly, talks the truth. I love what he said about talking to CP during and before the Lakers game. Great few quotes. Thank's for that.

[og15]

Being an adult isn't having no flaws, but an adult takes responsibility to their actions and flaws, and looks to get better, someone who lacks maturity ignores their flaws or tries to place blame on others or situations.

Blake has his flaws, but he shows a lot of signs of maturity, and I'm not talking about as a basketball player, just as a person. That's always a good thing.

[mkwest]

Clippers' Chauncey Billups and DeAndre Jordan use the buddy system

Jordan, 24, and Billups, 35, have developed a bond that has benefited the center and the Clippers.

"I look at him a lot," Jordan said. "No disrespect to our coaches, but I'm looking at him and he's like, 'Get over there' if I mess up. He'll tell you. He doesn't care if you get mad at him. But at the end of the day, I know he's telling me the right thing."

"I'm always telling him what I see and what's going on during the game," Billups said. "Not only that, but what I need him to do. If I see him make a mistake on a play, I tell him what happened."

Asked what it has meant to him to have Billups to lean on, Jordan repeated the word "huge" three times.

"He keeps me locked into the game," Jordan said. "He's done it, man. Chauncey is like a sensei, know what I'm saying? He's going to tell you, 'No, you [messed] up. You need to do this.' When you do it right, he's going to tell you, 'All right, that's not your fault. You did that right.' "

Clippers turning corner?

"I think it's our energy," said Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro, who gave his team Sunday off. "I think it's just overall concentration, mental toughness. I think we're staying in the moment a little bit more. We're getting a lot of contribution from a lot of guys and that's how you win."

Brad Turner, LA Times

[og15]

I have noticed that on the court, DJ and Chauncey do have a good connection, mainly that Chauncey might look for him more than others. Might be because of his experience playing wit Ben. He knows the importance of just allowing your big man to get the ball, if only to make him more active on defense the rest of the game.

Good to hear that DJ has ears wide open to him

[mkwest]

I have noticed that on the court, DJ and Chauncey do have a good connection, mainly that Chauncey might look for him more than others. Might be because of his experience playing wit Ben. He knows the importance of just allowing your big man to get the ball, if only to make him more active on defense the rest of the game.

Good to hear that DJ has ears wide open to him

It was evident even last season. They seemed to click even if they had only played 20 something games together.

I know that the knock on DJ has been maturity. He has some work to do, but I think that he has the right intentions and is motivated to grow and improve. This guy has had some of the most respected players in the game (e.g. Billups, Hill, Camby, etc.) advising him on basketball and in life. That's more than some similar young players can say. He needs to soak it all in while he has them around him.