RD 1 GAME 6: DEN (3-2) @ LAC (2-3)—THU 5/1 7 PM, TNT

[esqtvd]

Win or Cancun.

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[Clemenza]

Do we have any TMann serum laying around anywhere to inject a couple of guys with?

-Energy guy, rebounds, defends, loose ball grabber(pause), a spark plug, heart of the team, chip on his shoulder, 6-12 points of the bench, etc.

[ERClips]

Feels like it’s too late to tinker the rotation. It’ll be win or go home with the guys who’ve been playing. But since we’re getting killed on the boards & defense I’d definitely appreciate a look at Coffey or Kobe. Won’t happen but they probably could do no worse and quite possibly better than what we’ve brought to this series.

[KL2]

No urgency from the coach or players. They’re treating it like a RS game instead of the playoffs. Disappointments across the board.

Lue said he’d make changes in game 3 if necessary but everything since then is what changes?

Coaches are not serious. The players are not serious.

I’m always wanting to be proven wrong but I think it’s Cancun. They act like they’re on vacation anyway.

[MartinToVaught]

I have zero optimism at all for this game. Kawhi has been closer to a fringe all-star than a superstar for all but one game this series, and even in the best of times, he's not a leader who can rally the troops in the face of adversity. Harden is choking and quitting like he always does. I don't get the impression that either of them really care about winning anyway, they're both on the downside of their careers and their legacies are already set in stone (another obvious flaw with Frank's "get old, stay old" team-building strategy). Norm, Zu, Dunn, Batum, etc. are trying, but if you're relying on those guys to win a playoff series against Jokic and Murray, you're screwed.

Lue's not coaching, he's just watching the games. He won't change the starting lineup that forces us to play from behind every single game. As usual, he won't bench his favorite washed veterans (this year it's Bogi) regardless of how terrible they are. He won't get over his smallball obsession even though defense and rebounding have been huge problems for us all series. He's tried nothing and he's all out of ideas. The series is basically over now that Denver figured out how to shut down Lue's simplistic isoball playbook from 1992. It's inarguable now that Kenny was the real coach for the miracle WCF run, and I'd still like to know why he left after that year.

In the end, even if we somehow scrape out a series win, we're just going to get our asses kicked by OKC anyway. This whole Kawhi era needs to be over now. We've given it more than enough time and it's failed. We haven't won a playoff series since 2021 and, if we do end up losing this series as it looks like we will, even the vaunted healthy Kawhi wasn't enough to change that trend. Any sane franchise in this situation would trade any player with value and reboot the front office and coaching staff, but Ballmer is sadly too timid to make any real changes, so I'm sure we'll be back watching this same mediocre team get even older and slower next year.

[ERClips]

I have zero optimism at all for this game. Kawhi has been closer to a fringe all-star than a superstar for all but one game this series, and even in the best of times, he's not a leader who can rally the troops in the face of adversity. Harden is choking and quitting like he always does. I don't get the impression that either of them really care about winning anyway, they're both on the downside of their careers and their legacies are already set in stone (another obvious flaw with Frank's "get old, stay old" team-building strategy). Norm, Zu, Dunn, Batum, etc. are trying, but if you're relying on those guys to win a playoff series against Jokic and Murray, you're screwed.

Lue's not coaching, he's just watching the games. He won't change the starting lineup that forces us to play from behind every single game. As usual, he won't bench his favorite washed veterans (this year it's Bogi) regardless of how terrible they are. He won't get over his smallball obsession even though defense and rebounding have been huge problems for us all series. He's tried nothing and he's all out of ideas. The series is basically over now that Denver figured out how to shut down Lue's simplistic isoball playbook from 1992. It's inarguable now that Kenny was the real coach for the miracle WCF run, and I'd still like to know why he left after that year.

In the end, even if we somehow scrape out a series win, we're just going to get our asses kicked by OKC anyway. This whole Kawhi era needs to be over now. We've given it more than enough time and it's failed. We haven't won a playoff series since 2021 and, if we do end up losing this series as it looks like we will, even the vaunted healthy Kawhi wasn't enough to change that trend. Any sane franchise in this situation would trade any player with value and reboot the front office and coaching staff, but Ballmer is sadly too timid to make any real changes, so I'm sure we'll be back watching this same mediocre team get even older and slower next year.

sounds like OKC is the perfect team for you! It’d be a lot easier to get on with these game threads.

As a real Clippers fan from the 80’s of course there’s been disappointment. And always hope. So many things to hate about the last 2-3 games. Winning this series is less likely now but not impossible. I’d rather we turn this around and win it! I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t. Then you would have nothing to post about. That’s no Clippers fan

[MartinToVaught]

sounds like OKC is the perfect team for you! It’d be a lot easier to get on with these game threads.

As a real Clippers fan from the 80’s of course there’s been disappointment. And always hope. So many things to hate about the last 2-3 games. Winning this series is less likely now but not impossible. I’d rather we turn this around and win it! I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t. Then you would have nothing to post about. That’s no Clippers fan

I'm a Clippers fan and will always be one. You can be a fan and still keep it real. There's a lot to criticize at the moment and no real signs that anything's going to turn around. Game 4 should have already lit a fire under this team's ass and it didn't.

I'll be optimistic when there's reason for optimism. A team of geriatrics who can barely win a playoff series, let alone seriously contend for a title, isn't giving me much to work with here. This was the healthy Kawhi year we were told for the last three years to shut up and be patient for and it is now most likely going to end with another first-round exit.

I'd love nothing more than a miracle run like anyone else, I just don't see it at this point. Even if we manage to win this series, we'll be at a significant rest disadvantage against a younger, deeper, more athletic, and better-coached team that also has HCA. I think we needed to wrap this series up in 5 to have any realistic chance against OKC. But we'll just have to see.

[esqtvd]

Do we have any TMann serum laying around anywhere to inject a couple of guys with?

-Energy guy, rebounds, defends, loose ball grabber(pause), a spark plug, heart of the team, chip on his shoulder, 6-12 points of the bench, etc.

OTOH, dumping him and his 3yr/$47 million contract might have been L-Frank's best move all year:

https://soaringdownsouth.com/hawks-gave-too-much-terance-mann-already-haunting-them

But another player who will be talked about this offseason is Terance Mann. Acquired at the February trade deadline, his impact on this group has left something to be desired thus far. Mann's offensive limitations are clear, and he was not able to provide a meaningful enough lift to prevent Atlanta from losing two straight play-in contests this past week.

Mann was a negative as Hawks were bounced from postseason

Against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, Terance only saw 10 minutes of action and scored two points, finishing the contest a -13 in plus/minus. Then on Friday against the Miami Heat, he finished with five points and was a -8 in plus/minus. If Mann is not scoring, he can typically still affect the game in different ways. However, his usefulness was totally diminished in these two games as the Hawks were eliminated.

This would not hurt so bad for Hawks fans if this team had not given up so much to acquire him. Back at the deadline, Atlanta sacrificed Bogdan Bogdanovic and three second-round picks in order to receive Mann and Bones Hyland's services. As we know, the Hawks would waive Hyland soon after the trade was completed. As for Mann, this past week has served to amplify how detrimental his acquisition is currently looking.

Number 14 is still under contract for three more seasons in Atlanta. There is still time for Mann to redeem himself and become a player the Hawks can rely on in a postseason setting, but the fact that this roster's overall future looks uncertain at the moment is not going to give Hawks fans a positive outlook on his situation.

[ERClips]

sounds like OKC is the perfect team for you! It’d be a lot easier to get on with these game threads.

As a real Clippers fan from the 80’s of course there’s been disappointment. And always hope. So many things to hate about the last 2-3 games. Winning this series is less likely now but not impossible. I’d rather we turn this around and win it! I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t. Then you would have nothing to post about. That’s no Clippers fan

I'm a Clippers fan and will always be one. You can be a fan and still keep it real. There's a lot to criticize at the moment and no real signs that anything's going to turn around. Game 4 should have already lit a fire under this team's ass and it didn't.

I'll be optimistic when there's reason for optimism. A team of geriatrics who can barely win a playoff series, let alone seriously contend for a title, isn't giving me much to work with here. This was the healthy Kawhi year we were told for the last three years to shut up and be patient for and it is now most likely going to end with another first-round exit.

I'd love nothing more than a miracle run like anyone else, I just don't see it at this point. Even if we manage to win this series, we'll be at a significant rest disadvantage against a younger, deeper, more athletic, and better-coached team that also has HCA. I think we needed to wrap this series up in 5 to have any realistic chance against OKC. But we'll just have to see.

That’s cool & you’re certainly entitled to express your opinions. But this Clippers thread is different than every other team’s. We have maybe 10-15 max who ever jump into any conversation. That said we KNOW how you feel. You hate the coach. You hate the GM. You hate every player over 30. You’re not feeling Balmer as owner. We get it. Even if we win this series & the next we KNOW your position won’t change. I’m sure endless negativity is appreciated by a few but it’s simply too much of the same thing over & over & over & over & over.
Just someone else’s opinion

[MartinToVaught]

You’re not feeling Balmer as owner.

It's more nuanced than that. I think he's done a good job with everything outside of the on-court product. Intuit is very impressive. It just becomes frustrating that he's too willing to settle for mediocrity with the FO and coaching staff and is generally not proactive enough to make necessary changes. Doc sticking around long enough after that Houston series to blow another 3-1 lead years later with a completely different roster kind of sums up the problem.

I've said it before, but I'd love to see Ballmer flex his financial advantage over the other owners by going out and building the best FO and coaching staff money can buy. Under the new CBA, that's honestly the best and most impactful way he can spend his money anyway. Go get Hurley or one of the top Euro coaches, give Presti a blank check and tell him to name his price.

Just because I'm not high on the current GM, coach or roster doesn't mean I think it's all bad. We have the best arena in the NBA and one of the most loyal ride-or-die fanbases in the NBA. There's potential here, it just hasn't been tapped into yet.

[Jay555]

Just watched Lakers vs Timberwolves G5.

Lakers started the game with the small ball line up, going extremely small. Got owned on the boards..

That's exactly how we lost the games..Denver's starting 5 is too big for us.

Anyways...We might get G6 but it's going to take another Kwahi G2 performace to win this series.

[Clemenza]

Do we have any TMann serum laying around anywhere to inject a couple of guys with?

-Energy guy, rebounds, defends, loose ball grabber(pause), a spark plug, heart of the team, chip on his shoulder, 6-12 points of the bench, etc.

OTOH, dumping him and his 3yr/$47 million contract might have been L-Frank's best move all year:

https://soaringdownsouth.com/hawks-gave-too-much-terance-mann-already-haunting-them

But another player who will be talked about this offseason is Terance Mann. Acquired at the February trade deadline, his impact on this group has left something to be desired thus far. Mann's offensive limitations are clear, and he was not able to provide a meaningful enough lift to prevent Atlanta from losing two straight play-in contests this past week.

Mann was a negative as Hawks were bounced from postseason

Against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, Terance only saw 10 minutes of action and scored two points, finishing the contest a -13 in plus/minus. Then on Friday against the Miami Heat, he finished with five points and was a -8 in plus/minus. If Mann is not scoring, he can typically still affect the game in different ways. However, his usefulness was totally diminished in these two games as the Hawks were eliminated.

This would not hurt so bad for Hawks fans if this team had not given up so much to acquire him. Back at the deadline, Atlanta sacrificed Bogdan Bogdanovic and three second-round picks in order to receive Mann and Bones Hyland's services. As we know, the Hawks would waive Hyland soon after the trade was completed. As for Mann, this past week has served to amplify how detrimental his acquisition is currently looking.

Number 14 is still under contract for three more seasons in Atlanta. There is still time for Mann to redeem himself and become a player the Hawks can rely on in a postseason setting, but the fact that this roster's overall future looks uncertain at the moment is not going to give Hawks fans a positive outlook on his situation.

LOL, what they thought Mann was going to join the Hawks and become their star player. He's a role player. Their best player Jalen Johnson has been out since the all star break and Trae Young is a terrible #1 option who doesn't play one fraction of an ounce of defense. Not to mention Georges Niang thinks he's Klay Thompson and sabotages half their games from his endless chucking. TMann is like an app that assist the main component. Him backing up Kawhi, Harden, and Norm is exactly what we need right now.

[Clemenza]

Just watched Lakers vs Timberwolves G5.

Lakers started the game with the small ball line up, going extremely small. Got owned on the boards..

That's exactly how we lost the games..Denver's starting 5 is too big for us.

Anyways...We might get G6 but it's going to take another Kwahi G2 performace to win this series.

They can be beat though. Ant and the entire Wolves chucked endless threes instead of taking it to the basket against the shorter and older Laker squad. With the Wolves shooting like sh*t and Gobert the only thing keeping them afloat, all JJ Redick had to do was throw Jaxson Hayes or Alex Len on Gobert to at least have a body on him and slow him down and get the win, but nope. They would've lost the series regardless because of how banged up and exhausted Bron and Luka are but still. Watching that was surreal. Just image if Ty Lue only believed in 5-7 players on the team and only played those seven period and that's it. JJ blew the last two games in a row imo.

[MartinToVaught]

Just image if Ty Lue only believed in 5-7 players on the team and only played those seven period and that's it. JJ blew the last two games in a row imo.

Not to defend his Thibs-esque rotations, but the roster is pretty bad outside of LeBron and Luka. JJ didn't have much to work with. Think Pelinka deserves a lot of the blame here. He's the rich man's Frank, he can get big names but the finer points of team-building elude him.

I'm still thanking the basketball gods that the Lakers were too cheap to get Hurley. LeBron and Luka with Hurley's system would have been a near-unbeatable juggernaut. JJ is just another average-at-best coach who will be Jeanie's next scapegoat.

[Clemenza]

Just image if Ty Lue only believed in 5-7 players on the team and only played those seven period and that's it. JJ blew the last two games in a row imo.

Not to defend his Thibs-esque rotations, but the roster is pretty bad outside of LeBron and Luka. JJ didn't have much to work with. Think Pelinka deserves a lot of the blame here. He's the rich man's Frank, he can get big names but the finer points of team-building elude him.

I'm still thanking the basketball gods that the Lakers were too cheap to get Hurley. LeBron and Luka with Hurley's system would have been a near-unbeatable juggernaut. JJ is just another average-at-best coach who will be Jeanie's next scapegoat.

Agreed on their roster being sh*t outside of the starters, but Minny went 7-47 from three last night and you sit there and let Gobert have a game for the ages? Hayes and Alex Len are not good at all but if JJ throws one of them on Gobert to make him respectable, they win the game. They're losing the series regardless, but I'm just saying.

[Roscoe Sheed]

It seems like the Clippers got intimidated (the dust up) or demoralized after game 4 or perhaps Denver just woke up. The Clippers have basically let go of the rope ever since. I just want to see some desperation and fight the entire game. Of course, I hope they win, but I can be satisfied with a full effort all 48 minutes.

I'm just worried that if the game is close in the end, Murray, Jokic, Gordon, and MPJ will hit clutch shots while the Clippers muddle around for 15-20 seconds doing basically nothing and then heaving up desperation shots- we have seen that many times before and I sadly suspect that is what will happen tonight.

I'm pondering going to the game as I live less than 3 miles away, but it kind of feels like I would be purchasing tickets to a funeral.

[clipperlover]

Win or Cancun.

Read on Twitter

Actually, we don't need James Harden to show up. We need someone that is engaged on both sides of the ball that doesn't make bad decisions with time and shot selection.

In Game 2 and Game 4 both, Ty had to use a timeout in the last minute of the game because Harden got himself pinned on the sideline and was stalling the offense. Calling the timeout was the only way he could get the ball in Kawhi's hands.

Tell James to go out and bust his butt for the 2 and a half quarters. Then, sit him.

[clipperlover]

I have zero optimism at all for this game.

Not sure how this is different than any of the last 5000 games. Maybe you could replace the Fire Doc banner with that to save you some extra typing.

[clipperlover]

Do we have any TMann serum laying around anywhere to inject a couple of guys with?

-Energy guy, rebounds, defends, loose ball grabber(pause), a spark plug, heart of the team, chip on his shoulder, 6-12 points of the bench, etc.

OTOH, dumping him and his 3yr/$47 million contract might have been L-Frank's best move all year:

https://soaringdownsouth.com/hawks-gave-too-much-terance-mann-already-haunting-them

But another player who will be talked about this offseason is Terance Mann. Acquired at the February trade deadline, his impact on this group has left something to be desired thus far. Mann's offensive limitations are clear, and he was not able to provide a meaningful enough lift to prevent Atlanta from losing two straight play-in contests this past week.

Mann was a negative as Hawks were bounced from postseason

Against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, Terance only saw 10 minutes of action and scored two points, finishing the contest a -13 in plus/minus. Then on Friday against the Miami Heat, he finished with five points and was a -8 in plus/minus. If Mann is not scoring, he can typically still affect the game in different ways. However, his usefulness was totally diminished in these two games as the Hawks were eliminated.

This would not hurt so bad for Hawks fans if this team had not given up so much to acquire him. Back at the deadline, Atlanta sacrificed Bogdan Bogdanovic and three second-round picks in order to receive Mann and Bones Hyland's services. As we know, the Hawks would waive Hyland soon after the trade was completed. As for Mann, this past week has served to amplify how detrimental his acquisition is currently looking.

Number 14 is still under contract for three more seasons in Atlanta. There is still time for Mann to redeem himself and become a player the Hawks can rely on in a postseason setting, but the fact that this roster's overall future looks uncertain at the moment is not going to give Hawks fans a positive outlook on his situation.

TMann was in the house for Game 4. He sat about 8 rows back from the Clips bench. Bet he would have liked to have been on the bench to provide that spark.

[esqtvd]

Do we have any TMann serum laying around anywhere to inject a couple of guys with?

-Energy guy, rebounds, defends, loose ball grabber(pause), a spark plug, heart of the team, chip on his shoulder, 6-12 points of the bench, etc.

OTOH, dumping him and his 3yr/$47 million contract might have been L-Frank's best move all year:

https://soaringdownsouth.com/hawks-gave-too-much-terance-mann-already-haunting-them

But another player who will be talked about this offseason is Terance Mann. Acquired at the February trade deadline, his impact on this group has left something to be desired thus far. Mann's offensive limitations are clear, and he was not able to provide a meaningful enough lift to prevent Atlanta from losing two straight play-in contests this past week.

Mann was a negative as Hawks were bounced from postseason

Against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, Terance only saw 10 minutes of action and scored two points, finishing the contest a -13 in plus/minus. Then on Friday against the Miami Heat, he finished with five points and was a -8 in plus/minus. If Mann is not scoring, he can typically still affect the game in different ways. However, his usefulness was totally diminished in these two games as the Hawks were eliminated.

This would not hurt so bad for Hawks fans if this team had not given up so much to acquire him. Back at the deadline, Atlanta sacrificed Bogdan Bogdanovic and three second-round picks in order to receive Mann and Bones Hyland's services. As we know, the Hawks would waive Hyland soon after the trade was completed. As for Mann, this past week has served to amplify how detrimental his acquisition is currently looking.

Number 14 is still under contract for three more seasons in Atlanta. There is still time for Mann to redeem himself and become a player the Hawks can rely on in a postseason setting, but the fact that this roster's overall future looks uncertain at the moment is not going to give Hawks fans a positive outlook on his situation.

TMann was in the house for Game 4. He sat about 8 rows back from the Clips bench. Bet he would have liked to have been on the bench to provide that spark.

I'm glad T-Mann got PAID. I'm also glad it's not us who's paying him.

I can see him making his way back here someday to finish up as a Clipper for Life. But he turns 29 in October, which means he'll be 32 when the contract's up. Not a kid anymore. Feel old?