Game 44: Los Angeles (28-15) @ Toronto (28-15)

[mkwest]

This game doesn't mean much today, but it could end up making a difference when the season draws to a close.

This game will serve as a tiebreaker for the 5th best record in the league. If the Clippers finish the season with the 6th best record or worse, they will have the right to swap second round picks with the Nets (likely a top 3 pick). Obviously, there's still 38 games to go after this one is finished, but the play of the Raptors the rest of the way could end up playing a factor in the Clippers receiving what is basically a late first rounder.

In the event that the Clippers finish the season with a top 5 record, the 2nd round pick would go to Cleveland. If the Clippers were to tie for 5th place, the Clippers would hope to lose a coin toss for the 1st round draft slot (because the loser gets the higher of the 2 slots in the 2nd round) in order to get Brooklyn's pick.

[nickhx2]

can anyone catch me up? was busy watching the nfl game.

[nickhx2]

i see the bench is up to its old tricks again.

i love how toronto built its roster. tons of defenders to supplement their star offensive players. too bad doc doesn't have a clue about that.

[og15]

I missed a little bit, but stated off well, were up, then the bench came in and ruined everything, turnovers, can't grab boards, poor defense.

It's like every game there are just reminders of why I'd want the team to rid of Austin and Jamal, that combination just hurts me to watch.

[og15]

Now, there is one good thing here. If the Raptors continue to win, Clippers get a solid 2nd round draft pick, but I would like them to get all those wins against eveyone not named the Clippers

[mattd13]

we had a 13 pt. lead that turned into a 25-5 run. wow, it is painful to watch Austin and jamal. please hurry back blake. paul pierce is just not helping. I hope we make some kind of trade soon. we need help.

[nickhx2]

I missed a little bit, but stated off well, were up, then the bench came in and ruined everything, turnovers, can't grab boards, poor defense.

It's like every game there are just reminders of why I'd want the team to rid of Austin and Jamal, that combination just hurts me to watch.

pipe dreams, friend

[nickhx2]

lowry is really freaking good. not that often i see chris get beat this much.

[nickhx2]

i don't know if we could ever swing it but i think this team would be so much improved if we could somehow trade lance/jamal for jennings. we desperately need legitimate scoring penetration from our backup unit and that's not something we'll ever have as long as jamal is around.

[VinBaker6]

Man how do you guys deal with watching Austin Rivers? I'm **** furious watching how he's destroying your team man... And Doc just keeps trotting him out there.... The nepotism is sickening man.

Why not use Lance to run the second unit?

Sent from my XT1034 using RealGM Forums mobile app

[Ranma]

I've missed most of the game but reading through this thread, it doesn't surprise me that our bench blew another lead after the starters built up a cushion. The fact that this continues to be a major weakness is pathetic for a GM at any level. Good grief. The entire bench has been putrid based on the stat sheet but Junior Rivers is -32 while Crawful is -33 so far tonight.


Edit: Crawford and Rivers finished with -33 and -28, respectively, while both C.J. Wilcox and Jeff Ayres came into garbage time and finished with +3 apiece in 5 minutes.

[mattd13]

nick, you do not want Brandon j on this team. he is a black hole who is only interested in himself a la josh. he is another guy who should not be in the nba.

[wegetitin08]

GG I can't wait until Bake is back one of my fav player in the league

[Ranma]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/DanWoikeSports/status/691436330434211840[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/FlyByKnite/status/691409486490144769[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/FlyByKnite/status/691409720230309888[/tweet]

[og15]

Man how do you guys deal with watching Austin Rivers? I'm **** furious watching how he's destroying your team man... And Doc just keeps trotting him out there.... The nepotism is sickening man.

Why not use Lance to run the second unit?

Sent from my XT1034 using RealGM Forums mobile app

That's a very good question, and I'm not sure. I guess we don't deal with him since most of us aren't huge fans of him or Crawford, and even more so the combination of both.

[Wammy Giveaway]

This has been Doc's problem ever since he took over. Find the right type of players, starters and bench, that can duplicate his 2008 Celtics championship team. The 2008 Celtics championship team is history now.

[Troubadour]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/DanWoikeSports/status/691436330434211840[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/FlyByKnite/status/691409486490144769[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/FlyByKnite/status/691409720230309888[/tweet]

Consider that clock malfunction a tradeoff for the foul on Mbah a Moute running into Jordan.

[Ranma]

Consider that clock malfunction a tradeoff for the foul on Mbah a Moute running into Jordan.

In the grand scheme of things, it didn't matter whether each of those instances were officiated correctly. The problem I have is the continued blatant incompetence of NBA officiating. Like umpires in baseball and referees in football, if NBA refs are not being noticed, then they tend to be doing their jobs. I'm sick and tired of biased and incompetent officiating regardless of what calls are made for and against whichever teams. Some of these refs even seem to think that the fans come out to watch them given how much they insert themselves into the game.

I don't want to care about whether Tony Brothers or whomever else is going to be officiating a Clippers game any given night. I don't want to hear referees asking for player autographs and players feeling obligated to sign. I definitely don't want to hear them committing fraud with NBA-provided plane tickets or calling games in favor of one team over another due to gambling interests.

It's one thing to miss a call during the heat of the moment in fast-paced game action, but it's entirely another to miss an obvious and rudimentary thing during a moment of slowed action. Most self-respecting referees will stop play in order for the shot-clock to reset or to add tenths of a second to the shot-clock. Contrast that to what the officiating crew of Eric Dalen, Bennie Adams, and Michael Smith did tonight.

[nickhx2]

yeah those refs were questionable to say the least on those calls lol.

[Kabookalu]

I didn't catch that play with the clock running down even though Paul didn't touch it, but that's just pure incompetency on their part. Are they trying to get one of their bosses fired? Looked like they were doing their best LeBron impression.