ROUND 1, GAME #4 SUNS @ Clippers—12:30PM TNT/Bally

[MartinToVaught]

I’d re-sign Westbrook in a heartbeat, he has a home with the Clips if he wants it.

Going to be Reggie Jackson 2021 playoff run all over again

I understand the comparison, but I don't really see Russ as a "contract year" guy. You always know what you're going to get from him as a player, provided you have a roster that fits with him.

I'd love for him to stay with the Clippers too. He's been a consummate professional and very easy to root for, and he's still productive.

[Akklaim1]

Hot take: Westbrook has become the best player on the Clippers. George and Leonard have both been huge letdowns.

Russ being happy is a plus but he cannot be your best player, not at this point of his career at least. That’s why we’re down 3-1.

[nickhx2]

Even if we won't be a better team, I'd rather keep Russ and find some suckers to take Kawhi and PG. Atleast Russ gives it 110% everytime

i think you should know you're complaining to the wrong guy. also gonna assume you're not trying to say they should be playing through knee sprains, but at any rate:

i don't have issues with kawhi having to do what he's done this season because there is no such thing as injury recovery in a vacuum. his chronic knee issues on top of recovering from the ACL still are all contributors to his current state. kawhi's a guy who loves to play, wants to play, but is hindered by his body.

i will say that paul george did say something late in the RS though about maybe not playing in a b2b, and that's something that struck me as far sillier than it should be.

happy to keep kawhi and westbrook at this point, provided we move paul george. ty lue needs to be on the move of course, as well.

No definitly not saying they should play through knee sprains but they can not be relied upon for anything. This is the 3rd season in a row one of them has been injured when we need them most. Our only healthy season was the bubble season and even then PG had hamstring issues before the lockdown.

I just want a fun team, this team is not fun.

thanks for clarifying, i almost jumped to that conclusion at first because i think there are a lot of people who think plenty of injuries can be played through, but really, some you can't

1000% agree that they are not reliable. and that for sure makes it super unfun and frustrating for us, on top of all the other stuff. worse also than blake/cp3 because this team you have higher expectations.

a legit part of me wants to blow it all up to just enjoy the team again, so i hear you. running it back i can see, maybe, despite me not wanting paul george. but not with lue. and certainly not with this exact same blueprint for the team. i'm with you

[nickhx2]

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yikes!

[MartinToVaught]

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How anyone can still defend this guy is beyond me. This is one of the most insulting things I've heard a Clippers coach say.

[Roscoe Sheed]

Lue is trash. Hes a terrible coach. Playing Morris is almost criminal at this point. -19 plus/minus. And was terrible the whole season. Yet Lue kept trotting him out there to get cardio. Lues hatred of Roco is shameful

Robert Covington isn't good nor is he a game changer. There's a reason he's included in trades. Clippers weren't going to win.

It's not even about RoCo himself, it's that Morris is unplayable and Batum is washed. At some point, you have to try someone else.

I generally agree, but with PG and Kawhi out, the options are so limited- who should play instead? Boston? Having said that, I think Covington is a better defender, so he should play instead of Morris for most of the minutes.

[Roscoe Sheed]

Robert Covington isn't good nor is he a game changer. There's a reason he's included in trades. Clippers weren't going to win.

It's not even about RoCo himself, it's that Morris is unplayable and Batum is washed. At some point, you have to try someone else.

Well, he has to do better guarding KD. He picked up two quick ones (shooting fouls), that's probably why.

one of those fouls was bogus though

[Scoundreldays]

i think you should know you're complaining to the wrong guy. also gonna assume you're not trying to say they should be playing through knee sprains, but at any rate:

i don't have issues with kawhi having to do what he's done this season because there is no such thing as injury recovery in a vacuum. his chronic knee issues on top of recovering from the ACL still are all contributors to his current state. kawhi's a guy who loves to play, wants to play, but is hindered by his body.

i will say that paul george did say something late in the RS though about maybe not playing in a b2b, and that's something that struck me as far sillier than it should be.

happy to keep kawhi and westbrook at this point, provided we move paul george. ty lue needs to be on the move of course, as well.

No definitly not saying they should play through knee sprains but they can not be relied upon for anything. This is the 3rd season in a row one of them has been injured when we need them most. Our only healthy season was the bubble season and even then PG had hamstring issues before the lockdown.

I just want a fun team, this team is not fun.

thanks for clarifying, i almost jumped to that conclusion at first because i think there are a lot of people who think plenty of injuries can be played through, but really, some you can't

1000% agree that they are not reliable. and that for sure makes it super unfun and frustrating for us, on top of all the other stuff. worse also than blake/cp3 because this team you have higher expectations.

a legit part of me wants to blow it all up to just enjoy the team again, so i hear you. running it back i can see, maybe, despite me not wanting paul george. but not with lue. and certainly not with this exact same blueprint for the team. i'm with you

Yeah I didn't word my initial reply properly, that was more of complimenting Russ than dissing Kawhi and PG.

[Roscoe Sheed]

Just to salt the wound, CP has to make clutch shot after clutch shot after struggling or refusing to do so in a Clipper uniform

[MartinToVaught]

Just to salt the wound, CP has to make clutch shot after clutch shot after struggling or refusing to do so in a Clipper uniform

It's easy to be "clutch" against a depleted, exhausted team full of backups.

[SaveTheHens]

My mini conspiracy theory is that Kawhi was so disgusted with not getting the ball at the end of game 2 when Russ had consecutive tip turnovers, seeing the game he was so close to winning evaporate. Kawhi needs to be fed the ball and trusted to win you the game, thats why he's here. But anyways if they took game 2 I think Kawhi may rest game 3 but come back game 4 but I did say its a conspiracy theory lol

[wakelaunch1]

All that load management only to lead to Kawhi missing crucial playoff games.
We are cursed until we’re not.

JB probably wants out of Boston and Kawhi hates cold weather cities. That's where I'd send him in a trade if I were an angry owner.

Morris/PG/ and one of our young guys for JB and

Zubac for any decent big.

Batum for some skittles.

Let EG walk.

resign Plumlee.

[Wammy Giveaway]

This is the third time Clippers will be down 3-1 in a playoff series.

Moment 1: 2019 vs. Warriors, lost in 6
Moment 2: 2021 vs. Suns, lost in 6

Clippers have never been eliminated in five games when down 3-1. But this is perfect in terms of narrative, if that's what Lue wants. To defeat Chris Paul, the former savior who once made them relevant, they must force him to relive the nightmare that is the 3-1 collapse. Durant has also had one before: 2016 vs. Warriors, resulting in his defection from Thunder to Warriors the following season. So here's what on the line:

1. A massive rebuild with firing of Tyronn Lue, dismissal of Lawrence Frank, and a trade of either George or Leonard
2. One game away from "three strikes yer out" to Suns, who has already defeated them in 2006 and 2021
3. One game away from "three strikes yer out" to Durant, who has already defeated them in 2014 and 2019
4. A forced rebuild due to "three strikes yer out" - last time they lost to Jazz to make it 3-0, Paul and Griffin were traded, Clippers missed playoffs entirely

[MartinToVaught]

My mini conspiracy theory is that Kawhi was so disgusted with not getting the ball at the end of game 2 when Russ had consecutive tip turnovers, seeing the game he was so close to winning evaporate. Kawhi needs to be fed the ball and trusted to win you the game, thats why he's here. But anyways if they took game 2 I think Kawhi may rest game 3 but come back game 4 but I did say its a conspiracy theory lol

That would be worse than Pippen's temper tantrum against the Knicks. Especially since Russ is, you know, actually still playing and giving it his all in a bad situation.

It's frustrating for Kawhi to be out again, but I don't think he's that much of a diva.

[mttwlsn16]

I’d re-sign Westbrook in a heartbeat, he has a home with the Clips if he wants it.

Ditto. Love what he's brought to this team

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[KL2]

I’d re-sign Westbrook in a heartbeat, he has a home with the Clips if he wants it.

Same. He’s been a breath of fresh air.

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This is rough.

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[Dynamix]

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[LamarWho]

Nice to see PatPat sharing his perspective on Doc 2.0.

Regarding Roco, no one says the outcome of the game would be different if we play him more instead. But when you keep playing those 2 donut guys instead, you need to be held accountable.

[clipperlover]

Was in the house for this one. So, disappointing that we didn't win either home games. Morris was a -14 at the half, but Lue trotted him back out there.

The 3 pt shooting was abysmal and the officiating didn't do us any favors.

However, the Ty Lue bears some major responsibility. There were 2 simple things he could have done:
1. Phoenix tried to hide Chris Paul on Morris, Baturm, Roco or Gordon. Only Roco took advantage of that match-up by taking it to the rack for a dish to Plumlee.

2. In the second, Durant picked hi 3 foul with a lot of time left in the quarter. Only one time did they try to attack him. Westbrook took him to the rack and Durant backed off.

No excuse for not trying to attack those situations.

Guy behind me kept yelling "Suns in 5" in the 3rd. I yelled out "LUKA" and he got quieter.

[Roscoe Sheed]

All that load management only to lead to Kawhi missing crucial playoff games.
We are cursed until we’re not.

JB probably wants out of Boston and Kawhi hates cold weather cities. That's where I'd send him in a trade if I were an angry owner.

Morris/PG/ and one of our young guys for JB and

Zubac for any decent big.

Batum for some skittles.

Let EG walk.

resign Plumlee.

I think Gordon is under contract for 1 more season