Cannon Fodder Or Cinderella? An Argument For An Upset

Wammy Giveaway · Post #1 » by **Wammy Giveaway** » Tue Mar 26, 2019 6:13 am

The Clippers will secure a playoff spot very soon. But everybody seems to want them for some reason. Select tweets:

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(For Mile High Sports, fast forward to 6:29)

They all share the same sentiment: no All-Stars, no experience. And in the case of Nuggets and Blazers, they've won the season series, 1-3 each, versus Clippers. Warriors have a well-known history of spanking the Clippers during Lob City era, plus they want to avenge their 2014 loss in order to cement their dynasty.

"One MORE thing!" - Sab Shimono, Uncle Chan, Jackie Chan Adventures

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During the Lob City era, the Clippers playoff losses were to teams where they secured a season series victory. Excluding the first Grizzlies meeting due to the shortened nature that was the lockout season, Clippers have never drawn an opponent where they lost a season series to. Usually when that matchup happens, the prediction is an automatic sweep in favor of the season series victor. But the latest tweets I've read regarding Clippers match up reveal a blatant disregard to their opponent. Their sentiment is, "It's the Clippers, they always choke in the playoffs, history says so!" The Lob City era had issues with taking competition seriously; The Revenge Of The Role Players, on the other hand, have the makings of a Spurs team - no egotistical, knuckle headed, entitled primadonnas, just Good Samaritan team-first players who value chemistry over talent. Many a team have lost to San Antonio on account of not taking their opponents seriously. They may look like guys better suited for the G-League or overseas, but give them a system to run on behind a no-nonsense coach and watch those guys become All-Stars for a day!

Give me a good reason why Clippers have an ability to upset any opponent in the playoffs regardless of seeding or conference. In fact, is an upset the only way for free agents to come to Clippers next season? My thinking is they need a 1st round victory to get Kawhi Leonard. They refused to tank, they lost an additional pick to trade for Anthony Davis or to attempt a sign-and-trade. Now the Clippers must prove their choice was right by pulling off an upset.

Galloisdaman · Post #2 » by **Galloisdaman** » Tue Mar 26, 2019 12:23 pm

That is a good question. I think a lot will come down to confidence. I think Lou and Gallo will have it but this team is full of youth and inexperience. I hope they are ready. The Clippers have grinded a lot of wins but in the playoffs other teams will be playing harder. I really hope Wilson can step up because I feel they need a high ceiling guy to contribute offensively and defensively. If not Wilson who? Green? Temple? Wallace? Rome?

esqtvd · Post #3 » by **esqtvd** » Tue Mar 26, 2019 8:51 pm

this Clipper team could win because it has closers, Lou especially but also Gallo
and Pat Bev's out there raising hell on D and sticking key 3-pointers

the Golden Era teams had no closer
JJ was a 4th quarter cipher
all you had to do with DJ was foul him
and BG didn't really want the big shot and CP was not a pure scorer

in fact, only Jamal wanted the shot but then again he wants EVERY shot

Jamal Crawford Scores 17 4th Quarter Points
BY SLAM STAFF MARCH 25, 2017

Watch Jamal Crawford's 21-point 4th quarter vs. Nuggets
Crawford erupted in the fourth quarter to help push the Clippers past the Nuggets.
By Jason Patt Jan 27, 2015

JAMAL CRAWFORD SCORES 14 POINTS IN THE 4TH QUARTER VS PISTONS
David Astramskas
| November 27th, 2014

Galloisdaman · Post #4 » by **Galloisdaman** » Tue Mar 26, 2019 9:29 pm

Jcraw was the man. He hit a lot of clutch shots in his career but he would miss a lot as well.

Post #5 » by **og15** » Tue Mar 26, 2019 11:17 pm

Oh Jamal, he had his moments, but overall, if he's one of your top guys, which he was always a top 5-6 minutes guy for the Clippers, then you better be super top heavy if you want to be a top contender, unless he's just not reliable enough in what he does well (scoring / shooting) and just doesn't do anything else at a high enough level.

Many compared Lou to Jamal, and it makes sense, but his ability to be a playmaker and passer consistently and get to the line at a high level really separates him. Hope the playoffs are good to him though.

esqtvd · Post #6 » by **esqtvd** » Tue Mar 26, 2019 11:47 pm

precisely

Jamal having to be our closer was a big reason the Golden Age struggled when it counted

even Chris's series winner vs the Spurs was a garbage shot
a runner over 2 guys and one of them was Tim Duncan
luck

Watch on YouTube

Post #7 » by **og15** » Wed Mar 27, 2019 12:45 am

esqtvd wrote:precisely

Jamal having to be our closer was a big reason the Golden Age struggled when it counted

even Chris's series winner vs the Spurs was a garbage shot
a runner over 2 guys and one of them was Tim Duncan
luck

Watch on YouTube

IIRC Chris Paul has hit like 5 or so game winners in his career with type of right handed floater shot, so it probably isn't luck, but it is not an easy shot. He hit the same/similar one against Tony Allen to win game 2 vs Memphis in 2013. I think that lack of strong 6-8 man depth, size on the wing and therefore difficulty to close down defensively were far ahead of not having a "closer," so I wouldn't call it a big reason for their struggles. I don't even remember Jamal doing much closing when the playoffs rolled around, he was usually used as a spot up shooter in 3 guard lineups, and I also remember that he was actually very effective as a spot up shooter in that role too. Every team just can't be good enough, it's alright.

This teams playoff performance is hard to gauge. Staying out of 8th would be the first step, even 7th. GS would be really difficult, but Denver is also not a good matchup based on the season series.

esqtvd · Post #8 » by **esqtvd** » Wed Mar 27, 2019 2:00 am

og15 wrote:
esqtvd wrote:precisely

Jamal having to be our closer was a big reason the Golden Age struggled when it counted

even Chris's series winner vs the Spurs was a garbage shot
a runner over 2 guys and one of them was Tim Duncan
luck

Watch on YouTube

IIRC Chris Paul has hit like 5 or so game winners in his career with type of right handed floater shot, so it probably isn't luck, but it is not an easy shot. He hit the same/similar one against Tony Allen to win game 2 vs Memphis in 2013. I think that lack of strong 6-8 man depth, size on the wing and therefore difficulty to close down defensively were far ahead of not having a "closer," so I wouldn't call it a big reason for their struggles. I don't even remember Jamal doing much closing when the playoffs rolled around, he was usually used as a spot up shooter in 3 guard lineups, and I also remember that he was actually very effective as a spot up shooter in that role too. Every team just can't be good enough, it's alright.

If not Jamal, pretty much you're agreeing we didn't have a closer at all. IIRC, he was still always our leading 4th quarter scorer, as in 2016.

https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/4/19/11458974/jamal-crawford-sixth-man-award-clippers

I know Doc wasn't crazy about having having Jamal [sub-40% from the field] in at crunchtime because he kept trying alternatives, but as I said, there was nobody else: Barnes and Luc were OK placeholder wings, but not offensive threats. DJ was useless and a liability if fouled; JJ is a bad 4th quarter player [as the Sixers are finding out], and a 40% 3-point shooter is not what you need when you're down by one or two.

Even if CP was game for taking the last shot, he's not an iso player. Basically what I'm getting at is I blame Blake, who was a max player. If you can't hand the ball to your max guy and say, 'Go win this for us,' he's not a max guy. Aside from that historic comeback against Memphis, this was not a crunchtime team. We won by building a lead and turning it over to the scrubs, then bring the starters back with 6 minutes left to try to crawl across the finish line.

That was the classic Clipper victory profile. Take a lead and limp home. Seldom did we go into crunchtime behind and come out with the W.

Galloisdaman · Post #9 » by **Galloisdaman** » Wed Mar 27, 2019 9:45 pm

Just made the playoffs. Why do I feel like the only one excited? Where are you guys? Quit your jobs and talk hoops with me!

illastrate · Post #10 » by **illastrate** » Wed Mar 27, 2019 10:01 pm

Galloisdaman wrote:Just made the playoffs. Why do I feel like the only one excited? Where are you guys? Quit your jobs and talk hoops with me!

It's a wonderful time to be a fan. No matter what happens in the playoffs, we already achieved the impossible.

Galloisdaman · Post #11 » by **Galloisdaman** » Wed Mar 27, 2019 10:19 pm

illastrate wrote:
Galloisdaman wrote:Just made the playoffs. Why do I feel like the only one excited? Where are you guys? Quit your jobs and talk hoops with me!

It's a wonderful time to be a fan. No matter what happens in the playoffs, we already achieved the impossible.

I think the team has 2 guys that have been among the top 40-50 this season if not higher. A third guy that is in the top 70.
No they are not all NBA guys but I'm ready to roll with them!

esqtvd · Post #12 » by **esqtvd** » Wed Mar 27, 2019 10:20 pm

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esqtvd · Post #13 » by **esqtvd** » Wed Mar 27, 2019 10:32 pm

NSFW but well worth it LOL

Spoiler:

esqtvd · Post #14 » by **esqtvd** » Wed Mar 27, 2019 10:40 pm

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esqtvd · Post #15 » by **esqtvd** » Wed Mar 27, 2019 10:53 pm

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madmaxmedia · Post #16 » by **madmaxmedia** » Wed Mar 27, 2019 11:47 pm

We have toughness, we have energy, we have shooters, we have closers, we have a coach. I think there's a solid chance that gets us past the first round with a good matchup.

We just don't have a superstar in a superstar driven sport, but that will come.

esqtvd · Post #17 » by **esqtvd** » Thu Mar 28, 2019 12:05 am

madmaxmedia wrote:We have toughness, we have energy, we have shooters, we have closers, we have a coach. I think there's a solid chance that gets us past the first round with a good matchup.

We just don't have a superstar in a superstar driven sport, but that will come.

Vae Victus · Post #18 » by **Vae Victus** » Thu Mar 28, 2019 1:41 am

esqtvd wrote:
madmaxmedia wrote:We have toughness, we have energy, we have shooters, we have closers, we have a coach. I think there's a solid chance that gets us past the first round with a good matchup.

We just don't have a superstar in a superstar driven sport, but that will come.

Hmm... for Doc it seems like it's coming full circle. Play well enough to attract 2 superstars. But which 2 superstars?

Obviously the answer is easy.

Kawhi and KD

BBall gods willing, you then trade for AD as the 3rd wheel to form the most dominant trio possible.

The stronger the Clippers play in the playoffs, hell even getting through a round and putting up a hellacious fight vs whoever beats em, only makes the team look even MORE attractive to prospective FAs.

It's a crazy ass situation.

Also **** Boston. Enjoy your #23 or thereabouts pick

Wammy Giveaway · Post #19 » by **Wammy Giveaway** » Sat Mar 30, 2019 12:06 am

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Captain Ballmer · Post #20 » by **Captain Ballmer** » Sat Mar 30, 2019 5:13 am

Doc hasn't denied about Stardoms to be honest.

We will see how far our team from the top(one superstar away maybe*). Our crew will be well tested for their position in 2019 summer. The guys who stays will be the winners of whatever the outcome is in the playoffs.