Game 53: Los Angeles Clippers (36-16) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (13-39) - 7:30 PM ET

[Roscoe Sheed]

Why is Fratello doing so many games? I don’t mind him but is this planned or did billups quit or get fired?

[MartinRiggs]

Nice win,without any stress. Q1 defense scared Cavs and they never recovered.

[NippySudz]

Nice win,without any stress. Q1 defense scared Cavs and they never recovered.

I was afraid of Drummond getting a 20/20 game. Glad it didn't happen

Sent from my LM-Q710(FGN) using Tapatalk

[Clemenza]

Read on Twitter

Good post.. but que in the Zu haters right about now. They'll create stats, new terms, downplay this and change the narrative.

[og15]

Why is Fratello doing so many games? I don’t mind him but is this planned or did billups quit or get fired?

I was curious about this too.

Fi is going to be a legit core player for this team in a couple years. I have the same gut feeling about him that I did about Trez when we got him in the CP3 trade.

That would be very nice. I had a great gut feeling about Trez too, it was the he played 18 mpg the previous season and was killing it in those minutes gut feeling

[QRich3]

Why is Fratello doing so many games? I don’t mind him but is this planned or did billups quit or get fired?

I was curious about this too.

The news at the start of the season said that while Billups would be the main analyst, Fratello and Maggette would still do games as part-time announcers IIRC. I'm all for more Fratello and less Billups, although lately I've been warming up to the way Billups breaks down plays.

Speaking of color analysts, anyone catch a Pelicans home game lately? Antonio Daniels coked up screaming style has me on the edge of my seat the whole game lol don't know what it is, but I find it hypnotizing

[playaloc916]

Dammit, missed a nice blowout win.

Good first game by Morris, despite missing all of his 3's.

And I'm sorry, he seems like a good guy and all, but I'm so glad I don't have to see Jerome play anymore. He was supposed to be a decent 3 point shooter, but had a 34% overall fg... that's even worse that Ricky Rubio's worst shooting season at 36%... He tried hard on D, but having a reputation as a scorer and shooting like that... It's hard to overlook.

On the flip side, I've been pretty impressed by Amir Coffey so far. Athletic, decent finisher and defender... He's already looked better than both Mann and Robinson... Hopefully he can continue this momentum and earn some more playing time.

[50CalClips]

On to the next.

[Yogatti]

Watch on YouTube

Made some great passes too. Harkless wasn't able to do any of that during his time here

[MartinToVaught]

Good post.. but que in the Zu haters right about now. They'll create stats, new terms, downplay this and change the narrative.

The haters aren't going to want to see this stat:

Read on Twitter

[NippySudz]

Good post.. but que in the Zu haters right about now. They'll create stats, new terms, downplay this and change the narrative.

The haters aren't going to want to see this stat:

Read on Twitter

I believe he's key to a championship. Probably more so than trez.

But I still think the center position is the weakest link. I don't trust both guys in the later rounds.. Hopefully I am wrong.(obviously)

Sent from my LM-Q710(FGN) using Tapatalk

[esqtvd]

Read on Twitter

Good post.. but que in the Zu haters right about now. They'll create stats, new terms, downplay this and change the narrative.

Nobody hates Zu. What is wrong with you people? In fact, he should do even better now with offensive paraplegic Harkless gone and a real offensive player in MM out there to spread the court and pass the ball.

Zu is fine. You underrate Trezz. 19 pts, 9 rebs in 21 minutes. A genuine 6MOY candidate, playing alongside garbage like McGruder, Robinson and other spare parts. That's the only hating going on here.

[esqtvd]

Good post.. but que in the Zu haters right about now. They'll create stats, new terms, downplay this and change the narrative.

The haters aren't going to want to see this stat:

Read on Twitter

I believe he's key to a championship. Probably more so than trez.

But I still think the center position is the weakest link. I don't trust both guys in the later rounds.. Hopefully I am wrong.(obviously)

There are only a handful of true centers worth their weight. Jokic, Embiid, Gobert. Classic NBA center and rebound champ Drummond had close to zero trade value. It's not worth sweating about. In the 21st century NBA, everybody's trying to figure out the equation on the fly.


As for the "rim protection" stat, if it doesn't include fouls at the rim, it doesn't tell the whole story. If it doesn't include points given up because you didn't or can't guard your man more than 6 feet away from the basket, it doesn't tell the whole story. We need more information.

[esqtvd]

Watch on YouTube

Made some great passes too. Harkless wasn't able to do any of that during his time here

Everyone will benefit, especially maybe Zubac.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2020-02-09/marcus-morris-debut-a-record-setter-in-clippers-rout-of-cavaliers

Morris promised that he would fit right in and lived up to it.

“He will make what we’re running better because of his ability to space the floor,” Rivers said. “He’s another guy you can’t help off of and that’s one of the things I thought our guys noticed right away.

“Lou and PG were like, ‘It’s amazing the room with just having one more shooter on the floor.’”

The difference between the teams was stark from the start. Zubac had two baskets, a block, an assist and a screen that freed George for a mid-range jump shot all within the first three minutes.

Having 2 placeholder starters who were offensive liabilities was asking a lot. And now at the close of games, we can have FIVE 19 ppg scorers out there--that's sick, man. Pick your poison.

Plus, depending on the score, a kamikaze defender in Bev and a 3-point sharpshooter in Shamet as reserves. Double sick.

[NippySudz]

The haters aren't going to want to see this stat:

Read on Twitter

I believe he's key to a championship. Probably more so than trez.

But I still think the center position is the weakest link. I don't trust both guys in the later rounds.. Hopefully I am wrong.(obviously)

There are only a handful of true centers worth their weight. Jokic, Embiid, Gobert. Classic NBA center and rebound champ Drummond had close to zero trade value. It's not worth sweating about. In the 21st century NBA, everybody's trying to figure out the equation on the fly.


As for the "rim protection" stat, if it doesn't include fouls at the rim, it doesn't tell the whole story. If it doesn't include points given up because you didn't or can't guard your man more than 6 feet away from the basket, it doesn't tell the whole story. We need more information.

No offense, but that's the definition of a rim protector. Someone who lives in the paint. That's the role of a rim protector. a rim protector isn't a perimeter defender most of the time. They protect the paint. He's good, just admit it man lol.

The only question is how good defensively will zu be in the playoffs? He's a young player that's not battle tested and is expected to play a key on a contender. Will he be consistent or will he be like clint capella? Clint capella plays his best basketball in the regular season, but when the playoffs come around, all his numbers dip, including his defensive numbers.

[NippySudz]

The nuggets just don't seem to get up for sub .500 teams. The spurs are in control. hopefully, they can get the win

[NippySudz]

the nuggets are getting waxed by the spurs with no derozan, and you have comments like the clippers aren't getting out of the first round and are not in the mix. Incredible.

[esqtvd]

I believe he's key to a championship. Probably more so than trez.

But I still think the center position is the weakest link. I don't trust both guys in the later rounds.. Hopefully I am wrong.(obviously)

There are only a handful of true centers worth their weight. Jokic, Embiid, Gobert. Classic NBA center and rebound champ Drummond had close to zero trade value. It's not worth sweating about. In the 21st century NBA, everybody's trying to figure out the equation on the fly.


As for the "rim protection" stat, if it doesn't include fouls at the rim, it doesn't tell the whole story. If it doesn't include points given up because you didn't or can't guard your man more than 6 feet away from the basket, it doesn't tell the whole story. We need more information.

No offense, but that's the definition of a rim protector. Someone who lives in the paint. That's the role of a rim protector. a rim protector isn't a perimeter defender most of the time. They protect the paint. He's good, just admit it man lol.

The only question is how good defensively will zu be in the playoffs? He's a young player that's not battle tested and is expected to play a key on a contender. Will he be consistent or will he be like clint capella? Clint capella plays his best basketball in the regular season, but when the playoffs come around, all his numbers dip, including his defensive numbers.

The first question is what the "rim protection" stat given here actually tells us. Or doesn't tell us. No further information seems forthcoming. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Rim protection, as a concept, is great to have. Much better to have it than not have it. But what is it worth giving up to get it? Is it worth carrying a guy who can neither score or defend outside of 6 feet from the basket?

Acc to this, Clint Capela was traded because his rim protection did not make up for his net negative effect on the Rockets, particularly Westbrook.

https://clutchpoints.com/rockets-rumors-houston-trade-of-clint-capela-was-to-maximize-russell-westbrook/

Was it true? Will it work? I have no idea. But obviously it's a live question in the NBA 2020.


I have no axe to grind with Zubac. He's doing fine. I have an axe to grind with taking away minutes from Trezz at the present time. Maybe the addition of a real two-way player in MM will change everything for Zubac.

As the Clippers ate Sunday morning and tried moving on from their 27-point loss from the previous night in Minnesota, new forward Marcus Morris approached center Ivica Zubac. Morris had been on the roster for all of three days, following a trade from New York, and he had questions.

“He came up and asked me what kind of pass I like,” Zubac said. “I asked him, does he like coming off [screens] left or right? So when I’m running up and setting the screen, I can flip the pick whatever way he likes.

“Little things like that can really help, because we’ve never played together.”

https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2020-02-09/marcus-morris-debut-a-record-setter-in-clippers-rout-of-cavaliers


I was never down on Zubac. I'm up on Trezz. I was REALLY down on Harkless, and said often that we were playing 4-on-5 on the offensive end with him out there. But it's a brand new ballgame now with MM. Anything could develop. Even some 4th quarter minutes for Zu.

But don't discount the possibility that MM could do wonders for Trezz [and Lou] too, on both ends.

[NippySudz]

There are only a handful of true centers worth their weight. Jokic, Embiid, Gobert. Classic NBA center and rebound champ Drummond had close to zero trade value. It's not worth sweating about. In the 21st century NBA, everybody's trying to figure out the equation on the fly.


As for the "rim protection" stat, if it doesn't include fouls at the rim, it doesn't tell the whole story. If it doesn't include points given up because you didn't or can't guard your man more than 6 feet away from the basket, it doesn't tell the whole story. We need more information.

No offense, but that's the definition of a rim protector. Someone who lives in the paint. That's the role of a rim protector. a rim protector isn't a perimeter defender most of the time. They protect the paint. He's good, just admit it man lol.

The only question is how good defensively will zu be in the playoffs? He's a young player that's not battle tested and is expected to play a key on a contender. Will he be consistent or will he be like clint capella? Clint capella plays his best basketball in the regular season, but when the playoffs come around, all his numbers dip, including his defensive numbers.

The first question is what the "rim protection" stat given here actually tells us. Or doesn't tell us. No further information seems forthcoming. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Rim protection, as a concept, is great to have. Much better to have it than not have it. But what is it worth giving up to get it? Is it worth carrying a guy who can neither score or defend outside of 6 feet from the basket?

Acc to this, Clint Capela was traded because his rim protection did not make up for his net negative effect on the Rockets, particularly Westbrook.

https://clutchpoints.com/rockets-rumors-houston-trade-of-clint-capela-was-to-maximize-russell-westbrook/

Was it true? Will it work? I have no idea. But obviously it's a live question in the NBA 2020.


I have no axe to grind with Zubac. He's doing fine. I have an axe to grind with taking away minutes from Trezz at the present time. Maybe the addition of a real two-way player in MM will change everything for Zubac.

As the Clippers ate Sunday morning and tried moving on from their 27-point loss from the previous night in Minnesota, new forward Marcus Morris approached center Ivica Zubac. Morris had been on the roster for all of three days, following a trade from New York, and he had questions.

“He came up and asked me what kind of pass I like,” Zubac said. “I asked him, does he like coming off [screens] left or right? So when I’m running up and setting the screen, I can flip the pick whatever way he likes.

“Little things like that can really help, because we’ve never played together.”

https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2020-02-09/marcus-morris-debut-a-record-setter-in-clippers-rout-of-cavaliers


I was never down on Zubac. I'm up on Trezz. I was REALLY down on Harkless, and said often that we were playing 4-on-5 on the offensive end with him out there. But it's a brand new ballgame now with MM. Anything could develop. Even some 4th quarter minutes for Zu.

But don't discount the possibility that MM could do wonders for Trezz [and Lou] too, on both ends.

seems like the scorers really like zu's screens. You seem to pick and choose which advanced stats you believe in when it comes to zu. You give me blocks per 36 but when all the advance analytics points to zu, you seem to dismiss the evidence for it. It would be more simple just to say you prefer trez offensive skillset than to dismiss the stats or question them.

I believe zubac maximizes the potential of the roster . You got 3 guys who can get their own shot plus a rim defender. I think trez's scoring is can be overrated. It's good in the regular season, but I think it will not prove itself in the po season in a deep run. The defense will.If you're giving up as much as you're scoring, then you're a net neutral at best. If we play the rockets and we play small, neither zu or trez will be on the floor. They cannot space the floor and marcus morris will be at the five.

Defense wins championships as the old adage goes so that's why I lean more to zubac.

The only issue I have with zubac is that he's 22 years old with no virtually no playoffs experience, so that's where I see trez could perform there. I'm seesaw on both, even while typing this. I am excited to see doc's vision of the clippers come playoff time.

Oh and I forgot to mention, zu is a better passer and he's better at handling pistol action, i like his dribble handoffs.

Watch on YouTube

PS:spurs choked a 17pt lead. Goddamn the spurs

[Clemenza]

Read on Twitter

Good post.. but que in the Zu haters right about now. They'll create stats, new terms, downplay this and change the narrative.

Nobody hates Zu. What is wrong with you people? In fact, he should do even better now with offensive paraplegic Harkless gone and a real offensive player in MM out there to spread the court and pass the ball.

Zu is fine. You underrate Trezz. 19 pts, 9 rebs in 21 minutes. A genuine 6MOY candidate, playing alongside garbage like McGruder, Robinson and other spare parts. That's the only hating going on here.

We love Trez and prop him up all day which he deserves but a Zu compliment is not a knock against Trez. What's the matter with you?