The Clippers took everything that Kobe Bryant and the Lakers had to offer and came away with a win. The Clippers never trailed in this game, and responded every time the Lakers made a run.
Chris Paul led the team, as we suspected he would need to, with a season-high 33 points, 6 assists and 6 steals. He hit big shots time and again. Blake Griffin had 22 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists - a terrific game in which he did not force anything.
For the Lakers, Kobe had his fourth straight 40 plus game, finishing with 42, 30 of those in the second half. But the Lakers were reduced almost comically to being a one man team during the Kobe show, and despite some absurd Kobe makes in the third quarter, it really wasn't particularly difficult for the Clippers to close the game out, since the defense was able to focus almost exclusively on Bryant the entire fourth quarter. More on that another time.
The bad news for the Clippers (and we'll have to wait to determine exactly how bad it is) is that Paul left the game late with four minutes remaining clutching his left hamstrings. You do NOT want to mess with hamstrings. Kevin Johnson, perhaps my favorite NBA player of all time, was never the same player again after a series of hamstring injuries. Like I said, we don't even know what the injury is yet, but if it's a hammie, Paul needs to shut it down for awhile.
Citizen Lawler's Law will be along with a full recap soon. Until then, enjoy. Talk amongst yourselves.
0 recs | 70 comments
JUMBACO!!!!!!!!!
chargerclipperfan - January 14, 2012
Is this Jumbaco thing new?
Cause I never saw it until tonight.
Also, great win. :D
BrentSchmidt - January 14, 2012
yea it just started trending during the 2nd half of the game lol
chargerclipperfan - January 14, 2012
i need to stop sitting out some of the game threads
wanted to give this game my full attention, so sat away from the computer. Now have no idea of the lingo all the cool kids are using.
osamu - January 14, 2012
haha i barley came in during the 2nd half and someone put it
chargerclipperfan - January 14, 2012
Mega gigabyte son!
Dude that sits behind us at staples always yells it.
STUCK IN LA - January 14, 2012 via mobile
MAN! after that commercial, I was saying “mega-gigabyte son…” for a month straight… The greatest!
Takebb909 - January 15, 2012 via mobile
rec'd
cantthinkofagoodname - January 14, 2012
CP3 earned his money tonight
wilriv21 - January 14, 2012
that trade was well worth it
chargerclipperfan - January 14, 2012
They said it was a strained left hamstring
Not awful, but I hope they dont rush him back. If Mo can play on Monday, he needs to, because Foye can not run an offense in the slightest, and isnt scoring very well either.
NewCavsfan - January 14, 2012
how about Billups?
wilriv21 - January 14, 2012
If there's a game to rest C.Paul, it would be against the New Jersey Nets.
That team is injured and D.Williams is under-performing.
UC.Clipper - January 14, 2012
DWill just dropped 35 and 14 or something a while ago.
SportsChicken - January 14, 2012
Ah, didn't see that box score for that one
But overall for the season, it seems/seemed like he’s been a bit behind his normal production
UC.Clipper - January 14, 2012
what is jumbaco
JJClipperfan - January 14, 2012
the newest thing the kids are doing. fully legal
wilriv21 - January 14, 2012
Something that started in the game threads
bestclipfan - January 14, 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJm4rcQEZHY
chargerclipperfan - January 14, 2012
sorry u have to copy and paste
chargerclipperfan - January 14, 2012
its only a matter of time till the world knows
chargerclipperfan - January 14, 2012
who is jumbaco?
big0lbad - January 14, 2012
jack in the box commercial
chargerclipperfan - January 14, 2012
Yo soy JUMBACO!!!
Rubble44 - January 14, 2012
now that Tebow's season is over
Will he sign with the Heat?
osamu - January 14, 2012
nah
he is gonna golf with Tiger
wilriv21 - January 14, 2012
Didnt you hear?
hes running for president
JJClipperfan - January 14, 2012
thats why he threw the game
he had a higher calling
chargerclipperfan - January 14, 2012
serious he will be swinging his clubs at Pebble Beach next month
wilriv21 - January 14, 2012
I think Romo is more likely to be golfing with Tiger
Romo is actually a pretty damn good golfer. Probably because he has plenty of time to practice.
bestclipfan - January 14, 2012
the tournament first priority is to pair Tebow and Tiger
wilriv21 - January 14, 2012
He is going to seclude himself to a monastery
until training camp starts.
bestclipfan - January 14, 2012
Anybody go to the game tonite?
I was just curious how many Laker fans were there. In the past there were was always quite a large and very vocal group. I did not hear them as much tonite on TV or see as many gold jerseys as usual.
PV Mike - January 14, 2012
heard way TOO MANY Laker fans tonight on tv
wilriv21 - January 14, 2012
About 50:50
Better than past years but still a Laker town. They were loud and obnoxious as usual but most in my section left with several minutes still left in the 4th.
ganima - January 14, 2012
CP3
I think VDN might rest him against the Nets and have him play the last 2 of our back-back-back.
Hengtime81 - January 14, 2012
My bad...
I was trying to help citizen LL out with the quickie thread, and he was one step ahead of me… concentrate the conversation over on his thread, as you anxiously await his recap. My profuse apologies.
Steve Perrin - January 14, 2012
finished my recap...
still below this thread…Thanks for getting this post up…
Lawler's Law - January 14, 2012
so are we gonna be happy if we go 2-1 the next three games?
nauticazn25 - January 14, 2012
i'll take that if we don't have CP3
chargerclipperfan - January 14, 2012
I expect win vs NJ, win @ Utah, loss vs Dal
LJ Hann - January 15, 2012
Probably about 60-40 Clips Fans
They were quiet most of the time except when the Lakers were rallying in the 3rd quarter. When they tried to chant MVP for Kobe, clips fans drowned them out.
thewhiteshadow - January 14, 2012
CP3: 27 against the Heat and 33 against the Lakers? The guy is just unbelievable.
But I still think Derek Fisher is better… LOL Sorry I just couldn’t say that with a straight face.
lovinglosangeles - January 14, 2012
Anyone Know Bledsoe's Status?
Is he practicing yet? I thought he is supposed to be back in late January.
thewhiteshadow - January 14, 2012
right now, its only mid January
I say give it another week before we start questioning whether or not he has a time vortex injury
peterghost - January 14, 2012
Couldnt participate but I watched the whole game..
2-1…. Suck it Sheridan!!
ClipperBEAST - January 14, 2012
Could've been 3-0
CP3 took the blame for the Portland game, then he took a giant dump on Miami and the Lakers. Love it
Ricekrispy10 - January 14, 2012
Well
Tried to have a smart discussion with a couple of laker fans on their blog, should have known better after all those are fans that say things like ‘’how about we send gasol + pieces to nj for deron, and lamar tpe + pieces to utah for millsap?’ ’
XXDC2XX - January 14, 2012
probably smart should be replaced by rational.
XXDC2XX - January 14, 2012
what does it mean when your comment is green
chargerclipperfan - January 14, 2012
that people like it.
XXDC2XX - January 14, 2012
alright thanks
chargerclipperfan - January 14, 2012
I learned my lesson, but Silver Screen and Roll.... Arrghhhh
ClipperBEAST - January 14, 2012
i know, i gave up after the second answer.
XXDC2XX - January 14, 2012
It really isn't worth venturing onto SSR
The guys who run the site are smart but the rest of the community is filled with idiots like the ones quote above.
bestclipfan - January 14, 2012
lol
There is no indication that he would rather be a Laker than a Clipper…the Hornets GM was acting out of his best interest to pursue the deal with the Lakers because of the package they got in return…and of course CP3 was okay being traded to the Lakers…
He would never stay in NO because of the toxic situation created by the NBA owning the team and the fact that he has no confidence in the moves that the front office had made over the 6 YEARS he had been with the team…as long as the front office acts in the best interests of the team there is NO REASON why he would want to stay with the Clippers
JJClipperfan - January 14, 2012
Lakers fan,
just saying congrats on the win. I haven’t gotten a chance to watch too much of the Clips this season, and I was pretty surprised with how well the team played. Solid defense, decent depth, and Chauncey and Butler looked really comfortable in their roles on offense. Cool to see another LA team as a serious contender.
Oh, and that point guard guy you have is pretty good!
Aethereal - January 14, 2012
Thanks for being classy
I have to admit Kobe played pretty well, unfortunately when Kobe went into Kobe mode everyone else just stood around which doomed them once the clippers started double teaming Kobe.
bestclipfan - January 14, 2012
Agreed,
the other Lakers missed the memo that went out saying they should try to move on offense from time to time. I can dismiss this game as a clerical error, right?
Aethereal - January 15, 2012
This was definitely a tough game for the Lakers
I hate excuses, but we’d be making the same one playing on a back-to-back with the 2nd on the “road”. Definitely seemed like a Clippers crowd for once, which is all the more advantageous for the Clips. Sadly, because it’s “the Clippers” people will make a big deal about it, but really playing any .500 team in those situations would be a tough position. I definitely don’t have any problem with the Lakers dismissing the loss, as long as they don’t mind me cherishing it, haha. I think it means more to the clips to help try and prove their current record isn’t a fluke, and just helps establish that they are a pretty decent team to be reckoned with in the west. Lakers fans should just admit that the clips are a tough team, and have a formidable roster, and given the circumstances, this loss doesn’t really take anything away from their season
osamu - January 15, 2012
Oh, I was joking abotu dismissing it haha,
that said, I could definitely see this as a schedule loss. 4th game in 5 nights, ughhhh.
And my take on the Clips is basically that they are a tough team, although I can’t speak for every Laker fan. This was a Clippers win, and not just the Lakers coughing it up. Paul was dominant, every one had their place and played their role well, the offense was smooth throughout, and the defense was better than I had expected.
To be honest, the main thing I was impressed with was how well the Clippers adapted to the physical play. Paul, Chauncey and Butler all react really well to being challenged, and they add an extra layer of toughness to the team. When things got chippy and physical, Kobe starts to step up, and baskets get harder to come by, most teams shrink against the Lakers. They play out of control, force a lot of shots (TBF, I thought Foye took a few bad ones, but not too many), etc. Instead, the Clips played calm, in control, and took the punches like real contenders do. I was impressed, personally.
Aethereal - January 15, 2012
Erm. That should read "when things get chippy".
It’s been a long day heh.
Aethereal - January 15, 2012
haha
don’t worry, I had enough to drink, I don’t know how I’m forming somewhat cohesive sentences, but yea, I was just trying to say if this game were against utah, san antonio, or even a team like golden state, I don’t think there’d be as much commentary about this game. Glad you have some insight on the clips. Definitely Foye is a chucker, and I was yelling at him a lot. Glad he was able to prove me wrong a few times late in the game, but 2-11 is simply unacceptable if Mo or Paul are going to be out any significant amount of time.
Regarding the physical play, I thought it played in the Clips favor even last season, mostly due to Blake Griffin. With Baron too, seemed to thrive in the most emotionally intense moments. Definitely seems like a strength the clips have, and it’s good, because things seem to get chippy a lot with Blake.
osamu - January 15, 2012
i've been trying to figure out if I have a lucky shirt
wearing all my jerseys, world b free shirt, even a random andre ethier shirt I have. So far none of them have worked two games in a row.
Sadly for my sake, I’m 3-0 in games I’ve gotten hammered before the 4th…. including the last two, and a preseason game vs. the Lakers. If this trend keeps up, It might be a long season for my liver. I’ll keep you guys up to date to see if this trend continues.
osamu - January 15, 2012
You are required to do so now
Jax - January 16, 2012
you can have John R's liver
LJ Hann - January 16, 2012
I brush my teeth with this shit!!!!
Akram47 - January 15, 2012
At one point during the game I thought,
imagine if CP3 had gone to the Lakers. Made me shudder for a brief moment.
Jonee - January 15, 2012
we would be in trouble
chargerclipperfan - January 15, 2012
As long as they have Bryant, a PG like Paul probably isn't the best for them.
Not since they would be losing one of their strengths (size) by trading for a player of his caliber.
Lawler 4ever - January 15, 2012
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