On Wednesday night, the Clippers topped the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks on a last-second shot by Chauncey Billups. Friday night, the sub-.500 Minnesota Timberwolves showed the Los Angeles Clippers how the Mavs felt, as Kevin Love hit a long three pointer to break a tie as time expired. How did one of the top teams in the Western Conference standings even get into position to allow Love an open attempt? Well, it went something like this:
After Blake Griffin scored on a putback of his own missed dunk, the Clippers led for the next 45+ minutes, until rookie point guard Ricky Rubio made his first field goal; a three-pointer that tied the game with exactly 20 seconds remaining. When Billups failed to score on a drive with only a few seconds remaining, Love snatched the rebound and the Timberwolves called a timeout with 1.5 seconds to go.
Watching live, it appeared to me that Kevin rebounded the ball, and then took a dribble before the timeout was called. In that case, the timeout would not be allowed to advance the spot of the inbounds pass. This makes a big difference. The spot where Minnesota recieved the ball was much, much better than the spot where Love dribbled the ball, all the way back at the Clippers' free throw line. But, the referees decided that Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman had called timeout before Love's dribble, so Luke Ridnour threw the inbounds pass from the frontcourt.
Here's some notes from the game:
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Ricky Rubio: Despite being relatively quiet on the scoreboard, Rubio had his fingerprints all over this game. He shot only 1-11 from the floor, but his make was the aforementioned three pointer that tied the game with 20 seconds left. While Rubio did not score until midway through the final period, he still finished with 9 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals- stuffing the stat sheet as he has all season.
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Injured Clippers: Still playing without Chris Paul (sore hamstring) and Eric Bledsoe, the Clippers also lacked starting small forward Caron Butler (hyperxtended knee) tonight. Paul and Butler should return soon, while Bledsoe is still several weeks away as he recovers from knee surgery.
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ClipperWolves: Due to the injuries to Paul and Butler, former Timberwolves Randy Foye and Ryan Gomes started the game tonight. Billups, who has started every game this season when healthy, also played for the Wolves earlier in his career. These three Wolves-turned-Clippers combined for 43 points tonight, but only shot 14-32 from the field.
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Three-Guard Lineup: Since the Clippers only had only one SF on the active roster tonight, Vinny Del Negro went to the three guard lineup for around 12 minutes. Hopefully, if Bulter is going to miss extended time, Olshey can find another forward.
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Darko Milicic: Timberwolves starting center Darko Milicic, who is playing only 18 minutes a game this season, logged 34 tonight and crushed his previous season high of 12 with tonight's mark of 22 points. Yes, that would be nearly seven times his season average. He attempted 15 shots tonight, where he is averaging only four a game on the year. Milicic also beat his season averages in assists, rebounds, FG%, and blocks. Do they have jumbacos in Minesota? If so, he certainly will feast this week. Let's move on.
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Mo Williams off the Bench: After having a terrific game off the bench against Dallas, where he made his first seven shots, Williams started the game tonight by... making his first seven shots. Early on, Mo was called for a technical foul when he slammed the ball into the floor after he was called for a push off. In the 4th quarter, Williams got caught arguing a foul call with the official. He might not have been ejected for his plea, but on PrimeTicket I could plainly hear a Clipper player yell that magic word that seems to garuntee a tech, and I assume that it was Mo. He finished with his second great performance in a row, scoring 25 points of 10-15 shooting while also logging 5 assists. I would like to know how this game ends if Williams isn't ejected and plays the last five minutes.
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Statistical Dominance: Skimming the boxscore, you might think that the Clippers won this game. Los Angeles shot better FG, 3PT, and FT, and won the rebounding battle. But 18 turnovers while only logging 12 assists (on 33 made FGs is terrible) won't cut it. The Clips were also outscored 46-24 in the paint. Yikes.
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Backup Center: It appears that Solomon Jones may have replaced Brian Cook in the rotation, to the relief of many members of Clips Nation. Jones logged 11 minutes tonight and blocked two shots while a healthy Cook never even took his warmups off. I will be interested to see how Jones fits into the rotation in the weeks to come.
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The Big Picture: While a buzzer beater loss is ertainly devestating for this Clipper team, perhaps more concerning is how it affects the standings. Even though the Clips are still ahead of the Lakers for 1st in the Pacific division, a win tonight would have placed them in third place in the conference, ahead of San Antonio, who also lost tonight, and only 2% behind Denver for 2nd place. Wednesday's game agianst Staples Center's other basketball team could go a long way in determining who wins the division, and in turn, who gets home court in the playoffs. It will be crucial to have CP3 back for this game.
You can find the full NBA.com boxscore here.
Chat with Minnesota fans at Canis Hoopus (unless you've been banned).
Terrible 4th.
BrentSchmidt - January 20, 2012
i say 3rd
game was lost then..
Lawler's Law - January 20, 2012
Minny top 5 in defense 4th qtr
big0lbad - January 20, 2012
That Rubio kid is pretty good... even when he's having a terrible game
shay - January 20, 2012
he scored when it mattered most
Xfactor26 - January 20, 2012
yeah, he played some clutch defense and actually ran offense when it mattered
dan73962 - January 20, 2012
hey Blake, note to self,,, make your fts
big0lbad - January 20, 2012
this
Xfactor26 - January 20, 2012
Would not have matter since we left their shooters wide open for threes
Jayq - January 20, 2012
blake missed 2 fts down the stretch that would have put us up comfortably
he had all summer to work on this, instead of bullshitting on the movie set, he should have been in the gym,,,,, just a thought
big0lbad - January 20, 2012
I'm thinking that Blake's FT form is like the old Chuck Hayes lite
He just pauses before shooting the ball and all that momentum that goes into pushing the ball is gone.
penguin35 - January 20, 2012
Blake made 7-11 which is good for him
he’s just not clutch like Love in this game.
chrisd - January 20, 2012
I do wonder if Griffin will be a clutch crunch time performer during his career. CP, Big Shot are closers however I do not get that warm fuzzy feeling with the game on the line and the ball in Griffin’s hand.
wilriv21 - January 20, 2012
missed them when they mattered.
shap - January 21, 2012
but then, they would have to foul Clippers to get the ball back
Clippers would have been up by 1 with possession with 20 seconds left if BG made FT
totally different game there.
dan73962 - January 20, 2012
What?
No? In the fourth Rubio had 9 Pts, 3 Ast, 2 Rb, 1 St, 1 Bl
Daddyfatsax - January 20, 2012
I think he was typing this mid-game
penguin35 - January 20, 2012
correct
LJ Hann - January 20, 2012
I hope we don't turn into the NY Knicks of Los Angeles
although Clippers history is unmatched in epic failures in all sports franchises.
dan73962 - January 20, 2012
I'm convinced
let’s give VDN an extension, he clearly deserves one!
ClipperChuck - January 20, 2012
Can we make him GM too?
shay - January 20, 2012
vdn outcoached in that last call
but blake should have put it away with his 2fts…2starters out and 6man out
Lawler's Law - January 20, 2012
It Is Hard To Believe That Darko Outplayed DJ
Buddahfan - January 20, 2012
really? why? DJ has yet to prove anything
wilriv21 - January 20, 2012
Darko Sucks
DJ is a better than that
Buddahfan - January 20, 2012
Darko sucks
when the offense is run through him. He’s actually a badass defender, and on the rare occasion when his hook is dropping, he can be an offensive force. Like tonight.
Cynical Jason - January 20, 2012
darko is much better than hes given credit for
shap - January 21, 2012
An objective Wolves fans perspective...
Cynical Jason is right. He watches the games. If you all get a chance, check out the box score after tonight’s game against Utah. Chances are he checks out and has another 6-4 and 3 fouls in 20 minutes type of games.
Daddyfatsax - January 21, 2012
It still amuses me that
Half of the NBA players don’t know how to guard or run simple pick & rolls…
dan73962 - January 20, 2012
KLove said he could tell by the way the Cliipers set up their defense
on the final play he would get an open look.
PV Mike - January 20, 2012
Help me Rhonda
wilriv21 - January 20, 2012
Liar
it was clearly because the Clips give open looks all night long.
madglove - January 20, 2012
god fire vdn already
shap - January 21, 2012
Minny is gonna be good
Like their coach and have many talented players. Even some trading chips to fill any holes.
wilriv21 - January 20, 2012
As Long As They Can Keep Beasley Off The Court LOL
Buddahfan - January 20, 2012
he is one of their trading chips if they do not want him as a 6th man
wilriv21 - January 20, 2012
6th Man?
12th Man
It is addition by subtraction with regards to Beasley
Buddahfan - January 20, 2012
would you like him to bolster the Clip bench?
wilriv21 - January 20, 2012
Minny is actually better than most people give credit to
penguin35 - January 20, 2012
I think this is a playoff team.
LanceArmstrong_LIVESTRONG - January 20, 2012
because their wins against
the likes of the hornets pistons wizards and kings are terribly impressive?
lol
JJClipperfan - January 20, 2012
No. It's there play overall.
They’ve had one bad loss all year. They’ve looked impressive all season long.
LanceArmstrong_LIVESTRONG - January 20, 2012
Those aren't
But their wins agaisnt SA and Dallas are, they also have close loses to Miami, OKC and Memphis and have a decent point differential, the wolves could very well contend for the 8th seed.
XXDC2XX - January 20, 2012
not this year
maybe next
i see them winning about 30 games this year
shap - January 21, 2012
Sucks for N.O either way.
mustang6944 - January 21, 2012
Didn't think about that
No wonder the Clips gave away this game, whether it was conscious or not. Letting Minnesota beat them and get a win reduces the value of the pick the Clippers traded away. Direct action of taking away ping pong balls, or even getting Minnesota out of the lottery.
Defeat makes the Chris Paul trade better for the Clippers. Sort of.
citizen zhiv - January 22, 2012
eh
The pick was traded. Kind of better to close the door on it; it’s gone. I would obviously rather get a win, and really the draft day ramifications for NO doesn’t matter to me. If anything, I wish that the Hornets can use their 2 lotto picks to put some good pieces around Gordon.
LJ Hann - January 22, 2012
but no first round draft pick this year
chrisd - January 20, 2012
Actually that'd help us
Since it’s going to Nawlins’
penguin35 - January 20, 2012
If The Get Rid Of Beasley That Will Be Just As Good - LOL
Buddahfan - January 20, 2012
Give Beasley time with Adalmen
He’s having an awful year but I still want to see him back. If this team has any chance of becoming great this year, Beasley will have to come back and fulfill some of his potential.
LanceArmstrong_LIVESTRONG - January 20, 2012
He Has Had An Awful Career
You could see it coming when he was at Kansas St.
Droopy eyelids, stoned all the time.
Buddahfan - January 20, 2012
Damn his droopy eyelids.
I still liked what I saw from him at K State.
LanceArmstrong_LIVESTRONG - January 20, 2012
think if he had the same motor MJ. Rose, Bryant, Paul or Griffin
wilriv21 - January 20, 2012
True
LanceArmstrong_LIVESTRONG - January 20, 2012
He Was Superior To The Unstoned When He Was At KS State
No way it works in NBA
Buddahfan - January 20, 2012
That shot on national TV was like KLove winning the lottery!
It solidified him getting the extra year on a max contract.
PV Mike - January 20, 2012
He Refused To Smile
Buddahfan - January 20, 2012
the kid can play He is avg 25/15 which is kinda good
wilriv21 - January 20, 2012
yep
you’re welcome kevin love. Think he needs to take DJ out to dinner.
osamu - January 21, 2012
We had 12 assists to 18 TO's.
That’s gonna make you lose every time. Chauncey had 1 assist, 1 and next to him Randy Foye had 2. That is AWFUL for a backcourt. Yes, they kept us in the game with their hot shooting but still…
chrisd - January 20, 2012
Stat of the game
MikeV7297 - January 20, 2012
+100
that’s the stat that keeps my attention. 12 assist?!?!…. 18 TO’s ??!?!??!!? …madness. It would have been a miracle if we won that game with those numbers.
Man chris paul makes the hugest difference to this team in so many ways. Im sorry i every winked at his greatest before.
Takebb909 - January 21, 2012
Rubio's assist/TO numbers
6/3 — although I have to think that’s kind of charitable, considering the number of passes he made that didn’t look to end up in his teammates’ hands. Perhaps the TO was credited to the teammate that didn’t catch the ball. Anyway, some of the excitement when Rubio is in there is caused by the uncertainty that his wonderful passes will be caught.
pipedreams - January 21, 2012
where are the "Foye has great chemistry with the bigs" guys?
Last night reinforces why he’s fools gold.
ganima - January 21, 2012 via iPhone app
What's the consensus on this Clips team?
If they turn into a 3 seed in the West will fans be happy? Will they be happy ONLY if they make it to round 2? Where’s the pulse at?
LanceArmstrong_LIVESTRONG - January 20, 2012
For me:
Beat the Lakers and Conference Finals
wilriv21 - January 20, 2012
Finals or Bust
shay - January 20, 2012
2nd Round at Least, hopefully conference finals/finals
This is a top 3 team in the West at least.
XXDC2XX - January 20, 2012
win Pacific Division
anything else is gravy…i look at next season as being the one that we really threaten for WCF and possibly title
Joe Wolf's Mullet - January 20, 2012
if they dont get past the first round, i will be pretty upset
assuming the team is healthy
i wouldnt be surprised if they made it to the wcf, but the second round will also be about matchups
shap - January 21, 2012
I want this team to make the Conference Finals at least this season. Championship next season.
baby steps..
tenkaistar - January 21, 2012
I think I just heard Dirk's deep voice bellowing "Karma"
PV Mike - January 20, 2012
Isn't It Ironic
After nailing all those 3s the Clips give up two treys to blow the game
wilriv21 - January 20, 2012
Chauncey off the bench next game
One damn assist you sit and mo starts
KillaClip - January 20, 2012 via mobile
You people are cruel...
Chauncey has no slack with you people? What more does Big Shot Bob have to do?
LanceArmstrong_LIVESTRONG - January 20, 2012
learn how to run a play in the 4th quarter
shap - January 21, 2012
you mean the same play we run all game?
And our opponents eventually figure out how to defend in the 4th?!
ganima - January 21, 2012 via iPhone app
why in the hell is our oldest player taking someone off the dribble
Why not run a play for Blake to finish
KillaClip - January 20, 2012 via mobile
he's mr big shot
oasisman - January 20, 2012
guards take last shots in the NBA
That’s just how it is most of the time. In the post, they can foul, but refs tend to swallow whistles at the end of the game.
oasisman - January 20, 2012
Play call was still bad
Iso at the top with a younger, longer defender? That’s just plain dumb.
madglove - January 20, 2012
young guards and Billups should run a set play for a jumper
In no case should he go iso and have to create
KillaClip - January 20, 2012 via mobile
would you rather have Foye or Gomes take the shot?
I just hurled in my mouth. Any other game it’s CP3 or Mo taking the shot. Based on who is available Chauncey is the best option. Not the best look but he had a rookie guarding him.
ganima - January 21, 2012 via iPhone app
I think the order would be
CP3/Billups/Mo taking the shot. To be fair Billups got a pretty good shot off, it was a contested layup but that’s generally better than a contested jumper.
ClipperChuck - January 21, 2012
Mr Big Shot
Who do you think you are!
PV Mike - January 20, 2012
then run a play for a set jumper
Dude is to old for that off the dribble crap
KillaClip - January 20, 2012 via mobile
F*ck Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio
I hate the Wolves Loves thinks the world should revolve around him. I want a blowout against the Raptors
KillaClip - January 20, 2012 via mobile
You Will Get It
They suck
Buddahfan - January 20, 2012
There Starting Center
has only one good hand and its not even his shooting hand.
So how good can they be? LOL
Buddahfan - January 20, 2012
Oh well...
Missing two starters all game and the sixth man and leading scorer in this game at the end, it is what it is. The Clippers were living on jump shots all game and in some ways were lucky to be up as long as they were. Obviously LA wins that game if Paul plays, or if Williams doesn’t get chased.
It sucks that the call that set Mo off was such a terrible call, but still he’s got to be smarter than to get teed up twice.
Moving on. Beat Toronto Sunday, beat the Lakers Wednesday, and I’m good.
Steve Perrin - January 20, 2012
Loss isn't a big deal, but warts are
Teams lose…whatever. OKC just lost to Washington.
But the concern is the consistent warts. Awful defensive rotations, consistent failure to adjust and questionable rotations.
The TWolves didn’t run some houdini trick play. It was a simple pop out to one of their best players. No reason at all he should have been wide open like that.
And no reason they should have even been in that position if the play before wasn’t a Chauncey Billups iso, or if the Clips had any idea how to defend the pick and roll against a PG who was 0-9…go under the freaking pick people.
madglove - January 20, 2012
Any coaches out there a better alternative to VDN?
LanceArmstrong_LIVESTRONG - January 20, 2012
There's a dude who called the Orl-Lakers game
who’s pretty good.
And some guy who was in Utah for a while…
madglove - January 20, 2012
Hell,
the guy who called the Clippers-Wolves game would be an upgrade. Hubie’s old, but goddamn, does he know basketball. It was a joy to listen to him tonight.
Cynical Jason - January 20, 2012
exactly what i was just gonna say...he knows his stuff and he's in town a lot
Joe Wolf's Mullet - January 20, 2012
Agreed
madglove - January 20, 2012
Yep The Brothers Brown Know Their Basketball Sheet . Thats For Sure
Buddahfan - January 21, 2012
Hubie is my favorite as he knows basketball so well.
The one thing I do not agree with is the last two games he talks like Blake’s 18 foot jumpers are" like money in the bank"
PV Mike - January 21, 2012
Maybe that's a pop culture reference
regarding the banks of today.
ClipperChuck - January 21, 2012
Not Sure What You Mean But It Sounds Funny - LOL
Buddahfan - January 21, 2012
Billups iso
But truthfully, what was working on offense tonight? They were roughing up Griffin and he wasn’t getting calls. Mo Williams was basically the only reliable scorer on the team tonight, and he wasn’t there.
I’d like to see a play as opposed to an iso, but the reality is that 9 NBA coaches out of 10, probably higher, give the ball to a perimeter play and let him make a play in that situation. Remember, you don’t want to go too soon and give the other team a chance to win in regulation. (oh, wait.)
Two possessions earlier, it was Ryan Gomes taking a jump shot. I guess I’m not that concerned about the warts that showed up on a team missing three of their six best players.
Steve Perrin - January 20, 2012
This wasn't the first time these warts showed up
That’s the problem. It’s the consistent warts that concern me.
This was just a dumb loss. But they really need to figure out how to play some semblance of a team defense. Giving up two WIDE OPEN 3s with the game on the line is inexcusable.
madglove - January 21, 2012
this
And we probably would’ve won the game with just one of the 3 missing players avaiable down the stretch. Tossing Mo for complaining about a ridiculous call was really the difference in this game.
boltsfan21 - January 21, 2012
I agree one hundred percent...
Bad call. Game over.
John Raffo - January 21, 2012
Feel like I need to call out the vet chauncy
and it isn’t fair since we were down two starters and our sixth man. But come on he should be able to seal this game. Know your limitations.
Jeez.
Jax - January 21, 2012
Yup
Just unfortunate. Waking up this morning thinking about how many times we’ve had to wake up to similar disappointment over the years, giving away a winnable game. It probably had to happen sooner or later, just to balance out the win over the Mavs perhaps. We know that the Clips will be a better 3rd and 4th quarter team, especially with Paul coming back, and even just with Billups. The shocker was that Billups missed the short little shot that would have won it, but that’s the way it goes. The Clips will have tough games, and they’re still a work in progress, but I don’t see them giving away a lot of games like this.
Losing Mo was huge, since he was the Clips offense. And it’s funny how he has another absolutely spectacular game, but because of circumstances he doesn’t make the headline and barely registers in the digest. He’s just in such great shape, and he’s so finely tuned right now. He’s clearly a guy who would start on so many teams, and be a big force, but having a weapon like this coming off the bench will make the Clips a superior team.
Just a drag that Billups missed an easier shot than he had the other night, that Mo got himself kicked out, and that (for the 2nd time too) DJ and VDN weren’t properly prepared to defend the opponent’s last shot. Bit them this time.
citizen zhiv - January 21, 2012
It would be great if Mo embraced his role
like Jason Terry does. He can be as important as any starter and depending on how things are going could very well be in the lineup at crunch time at the end of a game.
PV Mike - January 21, 2012
I'm not sure I buy the idea that Mo Williams is "a guy who would start on so many teams"...
They would probably not be very good teams would they? Or they’d be teams like the old Cavs where it was LeBron and a bunch of weird parts.
Mo’s game is certainly better than it was last year, but he’s still too small, too shoot-first, too much a defensive liability to be a starter on most teams. But when he comes in off the bench running and gunning, he’s shown he can really be effective.
John Raffo - January 21, 2012
As a starting PG
he’s in the middle of the pack at best. We’re in the golden age of PGs of different kinds, the scoring ones, the pure passing ones, the cagey veterans and so forth.
There are some good teams with a need for a PG (Heat and Lakers spring to mind) like Mo. There in lies the problem, a bad team wouldn’t need Mo because he’s not young enough to build around, the good teams usually already have a comparable if not better PG and the teams that do need Mo are capped out or don’t have the trade pieces the Clips would want.
ClipperChuck - January 21, 2012
I wonder if this trade would work
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=6r2uynr
Mo Williams for Mike Miller, Norris Cole and Dexter Pittman
Miami gets a veteran starting PG who loves playing with Lebron.
Clips (who would cut unguaranteed guys Fortson and Jones) get a starter/6th man capable of playing SG/SF and a great shooter. Another PG prospect with trade value and well Pittman is just filler so they can decline picking up his option in the summer.
ClipperChuck - January 21, 2012
i think i will rather keep Mo
XXDC2XX - January 21, 2012
+1
ganima - January 21, 2012 via iPhone app
plus I'd rather have Battier than any of those 3 mentioned from the Heat
chrisd - January 21, 2012
This
Mo >>>>>>>> Mike Miller
Jax - January 21, 2012
Maybe we need to break it down
The overall “point” is that he’s a starting-caliber PG, even though the position is becoming extremely dynamic with lots of great young players. And it’s not that they wouldn’t be good teams: in some cases, Mo could be the difference between them being a good team or a bad team, or even making a good team great. Some very good teams don’t have good point guards.
Take the Lakers or Miami for instance, just to begin with. Really good teams where Mo would be a critical improvement and a starter. Mo was a key player as a starter in Cleveland.
The elite PGs, off the top of my head and aside from Chris Paul, are Rose, Williams, Rondo, Westbrook, and aging Nash, with Wall and it looks like Rubio joining them. I’m probably missing one or two, but not many. As CC says, Mo is in the middle of the pack, but it could be argued that his ability to score, and being a little too shoot first for pleasant aethetics and overall team success, gives him the nod over a lot of the midrange guys.
I agree that we’re discovering that he’s perhaps even better suited to this 6th man role, and it would be great if he can get used to it. He worked so hard in the offseason because he knew he needed to be his best to be the PG on a team with Griffin, Gordon, DJ, Kaman, Aminu and a free agent SF (Butler), and his hard work caused him to guarantee a playoff spot. He knew he was ready to hold up his end. And then it all flipped on him, but in a great way for the Clippers, it seems. Now he’s a fearsome weapon. And he has been amazing the last two games.
As Clipper fans we know all too well what it’s like to have nothing but problems at the PG position. We’ve seen guys who weren’t that great in the first place go down, and the team play long stretches with 2nd and 3rd string players. In that context Mo looks pretty good, especially in this amazing swing since he came back from the minor foot injury.
citizen zhiv - January 22, 2012
In such a competitive division it is a killer to lose games like this at home.
I hope it does not bite us in the ass when it comes to playoff seedings at the end of the year.
PV Mike - January 20, 2012
Need big wins
Win against Raptors and Lakers erase this
KillaClip - January 20, 2012 via mobile
You could feel the "Mo"mentum change
After Mo got ejected, the air left the balloon slowly. The Clips just ran out of Fire Power at the end. Billups probably should have burned a second more on the clock at the end, but whatever. He also seemed to run out of gas. Like the Utah game, when 2 out of your Top 3 guards are out and now in addition Butler, there just wasn’t many weapons left.
Now I know why Cook always got minutes. it’s really painful to watch BOTH Evans and Jones on the floor at the same time. Zero offense from them. With Cook, there’s always a hope he can hit a 3, with these two…nada. Thompkins needs to crack the lineup.
oasisman - January 20, 2012
Clips have probably won some they shouldn't have, so this is a way of evening things out
sucks to get your heart ripped out in that fashion, but overall nothing to panic over. beat toronto and i’d call it a great week considering no Paul.
Joe Wolf's Mullet - January 20, 2012
That was an agonizing game to watch
as a Wolves fan. What the hell was going on with Mo Williams? I wanted someone to shank him. It’s like he couldn’t miss.
I really like the Clips (except when they’re playing the Wolves). It helps that you have a few ex-Wolves on the roster. Love Chauncey as a backup. I’d like to see the Clippers and Wolves become the dominant forces in the Western Conference. That would be fun.
Cynical Jason - January 20, 2012
I think bringing Foye and Gomes back is just what you guys need.
Please feel free to pass this on to Kahn. Good luck the rest of the season.
PV Mike - January 20, 2012
Good luck to you guys as well.
Kahn doesn’t listen to me, though. The restraining order even says he doesn’t have to.
Cynical Jason - January 20, 2012
your team is a blast to watch
loss killed me but i generally like your team, good luck
shap - January 21, 2012
dammit we needed this win before the road trip
Get Bledsoe behind in the game let him work his way into shape
KillaClip - January 20, 2012 via mobile
He wants to play but they will not let him yet.
PV Mike - January 20, 2012
That Is A Lot Smarter Than The Raptors
If a player wants to play they let him play
Amir Johnson played
Last Mar and April on one good ankle
He is now playing with one good hand
He wants to play so they let him play SMH
Buddahfan - January 20, 2012
Anybody else notice CP3 always sits next to Robert Pack
and is in his ear a lot during the game. Maybe he is diplomatically giving coaching ideas during the games
PV Mike - January 20, 2012
If so, he needs to ditch the diplomacy
madglove - January 20, 2012
Pack
Billups and Pack were teammates in MIN. Pack seems tight with both Billups and Paul.
Steve Perrin - January 21, 2012
I have watched the Wolves play with and without Beasley this year
He is definitely an offensive talent but I think they play much better without him. He is a ball stopper. They also were missing the little gnat JJ Barea.
PV Mike - January 21, 2012
We really want Beasley to succeed,
but what you see is what we see. If he can stop being a black hole, and if he can put forth some effort on defense (as he was doing prior to his injury) he’ll be valuable. Otherwise . . .
Cynical Jason - January 21, 2012
i forgot beasley even played on this team during this game
shap - January 21, 2012
Hopefully Adelman Forgets For The Entires Season That Beasley Play Them - LOL
Buddahfan - January 21, 2012
Wtf just seen the score
Agh this is the kind of shit that happens when your girl wants to go out for dinner. I hate my life right now
Controversysells - January 21, 2012 via mobile
not you don't
you watch that game and then you’ll hate your life haha. At least you went to dinner with, what I can only assume, was a lovely lady :)
dulciusXasperis - January 21, 2012
Well the good news is
the Clips were missing their best player period, their best player tonight and one of their solid rotation players.
The Wolves aren’t as bad as they were the last few years so this isn’t as bad as losing to the Cavs last year.
The bad news is the team still has a ton of defensive breakdowns that will cost them more close games like this if they aren’t addressed by the coaching. I rewatched the play a few times and it appears that DJ didn’t know he was suppose to switch out. Seems like something every coach would teach and stress so there was a coaching lapse coming out of a time out.
ClipperChuck - January 21, 2012
DJ (and or Mo) also blew the assignment on Terry at the end of the Dallas game
and the coaching staff was freaking the f out on the sideline as it was happening, so 2x in 2 game, maybe this has to fall on the players themselves.
Joe Wolf's Mullet - January 21, 2012
I thought...
Kevin Love was playing C so DJ was naturally guarding him. The way I see it, Adelman set up a good play when he had Williams run Griffin through several screens on a curl to the basket – which of course shifted DJ’s attention off K Love for a split second. That, along with the double screen, allowed K Love for a wide open look at the top of the key. I knew that shot was money the moment he shot it. Anyway, I thought it was odd that neither Gomes or Foye switched to Love the moment they realized DJ was double screened. It’s not like Minny had time to make an extra pass.
Gotta give Minnesota credit for pulling this game out. The team has heart, kind of reminds me of last year’s Clippers.
Rob Lo - January 21, 2012
Right on the money
The one in the Dallas game was on DJ, but I don’t think this one was. It was a well designed play by Adelman. Love was DJ’s man, but there’s no way he can get through that double screen. If anything Gomes should’ve tried to pop out to the shooter, but that would’ve taken lightning-fast recognition. Sometimes it’s not anyone’s fault — you just tip your hat to the opponent.
boltsfan21 - January 21, 2012
I get home
turn on the tv. and see a replay of Kevin love hitting a 3 with the clock running down. I was hoping it was like at the end of the 3rd, or something, or didn’t matter, but sadly, it was just what I thought it was…
osamu - January 21, 2012
shap's few points
i went to this game tonight, great tickets in the 109. first time in staples in ages, was a heartbreaking loss but overall had fun and was glad to finally see blake live. im going overseas in a couple of weeks so im so bummed that this game was a loss that i might try and catch one of the next couple of home games.
-man.. that second T mo got drove me nuts. what a terrible foul call, rubio simply tripped. mo shouldve kept his cool, but ugh. that swung the entire game. mo again was fantastic, but you take him off the team along with paul, and this team has no one that can take anyone off the dribble aside from griffin’s occasional face-ups.
-griffin has been a bit frustrating to me this year. some of u might think im just being too hard on the guy, but griffin still feels so raw to me.. hes settling for too many jumpers, jumpers he cant even hit consistently when the team is warming up, his post game is all almost entirely based on his athleticism, his free throw shooting has been terrible. dont get me wrong, i love blake, i just understandably have expectations for him. im not comfortable when he has the ball and the game is on the line.
-12 assists and 18 turnovers. team needs chris paul.
-liked what i saw from gomes today actually, but the entire time i was worried about how we’d back him up without butler. we could use a super cheap 3rd string SF, why not just reach out to keith bogans? would address a couple of major needs, i feel like there are types like that out there who could be had for cheap. we dont need a huge impact player, just someone since caron is a bit injury prone.
-liked what i saw out of solo.
-this team goes from being run by the savviest player in basketball probably to a train wreck when paul is hurt. i dont like billups’s itchy finger to close games, he very often takes bad shots as i mentioned in my last points.. the mavs win covered up another point that did us in tonight: substantial last minute leads blown because last minute execution is absolutely atrocious. that love was so confident he’d get open speaks on what a limited coach vdn is. he better be gone next year.
-i miss chris paul. hopefully butler is back soon.
shap - January 21, 2012
I missed the game due to work, but I saw the highlights.
It seemed like on that Love shot no one rotated..AGAIN. When I saw that shot I literally felt sick. It’s one game, move on. We’ll get the Wolves next time.
tenkaistar - January 21, 2012
Nobody's EVER going to rotate...
unless we get a coach who can drill it into them.
82-0 - January 21, 2012
Rotated?
Rotated from where? This was a set play with 1.5 seconds left. “Rotating” had nothing to do with it.
boltsfan21 - January 21, 2012
i think he meant teleportation rather than rotation
ganima - January 21, 2012 via iPhone app
we are ...a below "500" team right now.
using that certain algorithm; 1 road win Vs. 2 home losses.
but prior to this game, we had the toughest schedule in the league up til then.
Takebb909 - January 21, 2012
One thing I don't like,
and not just in this game or with this team, is how when the refs make a bad call they just stare at the player who was wronged until they can give them a tech. That’s what happened to Mo on the second T. Hubie even mentioned how the ref was staring down Mo as he stormed away from Rubio after he slipped. I don’t know what Mo said, but it was such an obvious bad call the least the ref could have done was walk away.
jtballard2 - January 21, 2012
Sick of this bullshit...
Get a REAL coach please, the VDN experiment has clearly failed.
82-0 - January 21, 2012
Figures...
I bet this was serious.
Kim Jong Stop N Pop over at CanisHoopus has already unleashed his fury on Clippers fans? Dudes over there are out of control. Not everyone over there is as trash as the mods. the actual posters are smart, relaxed folks.
Daddyfatsax - January 21, 2012
There are no dictators over there.
To get banned from CH, you really need to act like an ass. It’s a pretty simple system, really.
Cynical Jason - January 21, 2012
CH is much more relaxed than the asshole laker, heat, and kings blogs.
On those sites once they found out I was not a laker, kings, or heat fan it was practically an automatic ban. CH is not as cool as CN of course.
tenkaistar - January 21, 2012
Disagree
I got banned for a comment identical to this on Twolvesblog. I didn’t even get banned for anything I did on CanisHoopus. I just said sh*t like, “they are a bunch of dictators”.
So, Clips fans who got banned, don’t fret. Most folks over there are decent (like this dude CJ).
See ya’ll in April I think? Is that when the teams play next?
Daddyfatsax - January 21, 2012
oops, a reply to you Cynical Jason
Daddyfatsax - January 21, 2012
the reference is actually a Wolves fan who joined our game thread because he said he got banned by CH.
he admitted to being a douche sometimes which is why he was banned.
chrisd - January 21, 2012
They mentioned the crowd at Staples roared when Rubio was introduced.
I wonder if this is just the genuine enthusiasm based upon is charisma and reputation or demographics of cheers coming from Spanish speaking fans.
PV Mike - January 21, 2012
do not remember fans cheering th Gasols
wilriv21 - January 21, 2012
It's Ricky
Kid’s a star. Did you see the 4th quarter. As advertised, maybe better. He’s the iPad of floppy-haired European pgs.
BoSoxFan45 - January 21, 2012
Let's hope...
…that they learned something from this loss and will be better for it down the road…
saxmanager - January 21, 2012
Next game is Toronto
Dont fall asleep on the Raptors…. DeMar DeRozan and Jose Calderon is who the Clippers should put most of their focus on.
ClipperBEAST - January 21, 2012
If the Clips lose to the Raptors at home
Its time for coach VDN to go the way of Old Yeller
RedHotHollywood - January 21, 2012
I think they have lost 7 straight
PV Mike - January 21, 2012
Yep
Raptors are bad team even with Bargnani but without him it is questionable if they will a game.
Buddahfan - January 21, 2012
how is dwane casey
doing?
It came down to VDN or Casey when the Clips were looking for a coach. I have to say I was more in favor of Casey at the time, although neither option was that appealing. It’ll be interesting to see how he’s doing, or at least see if he’s making some impact on their defense this early in the season.
osamu - January 21, 2012
Good On Defense
Hard to tell about his offense since two of his main four scorers have been down, Bargnani for as I recall five games now and Bayless since game #4
On top of that he is starting Amir Johnson who while not a scorer (about 9 PPG last two seasons) is playing with only one good hand. His right hand and wrist have been heavily bandaged since the first week. His hand/wrist have gotten so bad that he is has only taken four shots the last two games combined. No idea why he is still starting.
There is a reason that Casey and Triano before him dubbed Amir Johnson “The Warrior” He also played six weeks last March and April on only good ankle which was then operated on in June. Johnson just fights on through the pain and extreme physical limitations due to injuries.
What is interesting is that Johnson’s on/off court numbers are by far and a way the best on the Raptors this season except for Magloire even playing with only one good hand. Magloire is hardly playing now that Gray is active. I guess that tells you all you need to know about the Raptors. LOL They suck
But Jonas is coming next season as well as probably a top five pick in the June draft so there could light at the end of the tunnel for the Raptors.
Jonas Valančiūnas 36 points vs Serbia full highlights (FIBA WC U19 Final 2011)
Jonas is the only player in European history to be named MVP and win a gold in all three of the U16, U18 and U19 tournaments.
Bayless and Bargnani may play tomorrow.
Buddahfan - January 21, 2012
Can we have some dribble penetration once in a while?
I know this is CP3’s forte, but Billups and Foye have to drive once in a while,which would set up easy baskets for DJ. Settled for jumpers WAY too much
Thretch - January 21, 2012
Clips should learn from this hopefully
Definitely easier to forget about what you need to work on if we got the win (rotating on defense sharper excutions, freethrows etc.) I hope this lost lingers on the players`minds and be used as motivation to improve their game.
cliptakular - January 21, 2012
Does anyone know if Caron's hyperextended knee
is the one he had surgically repaired?
PV Mike - January 21, 2012
No.... i have 50/50 chance of being right
deux02 - January 21, 2012
or 33.3%
If you know what i mean.
PV Mike - January 21, 2012
I don't think
he was asking about Greg Oden . . .
Cynical Jason - January 21, 2012
Yes, sane knee
His right. But it’s supposedly an unrelated injury. He’s day-to-day, which in Jasen Powell time means he’ll be out 4 to 6 years.
boltsfan21 - January 21, 2012
not so sure it's sane since he missed the game, but it is the same.
chrisd - January 21, 2012
Let's just say it is
Insane in the membrane!
PV Mike - January 21, 2012
LOL
and I can’t even blame autocorrect this time.
boltsfan21 - January 21, 2012
Three things why we lost this game.
Deandre was sleep walking on defense this game. How in hell do you let
Darko whatever go off on you and then when they switch him on Love big
no no. Two Mo needs to keep his composure because we needed him
at the end of the game ( KEEP YOU MOUTH SHUT AND STOP COMPLAINING).
Three the Refs were out of control with Griffin because he was getting hammered,
and no calls. I had a feeling when Mo got thrown out that we were going to
lose this game. Reminded me of the old Clippers. Well i guess you got to
take the bad with the good. Lets get the next game with Toronto and i sure hope
CP3 comes back to restore order. Oh and one last thing on Kevin Love i
thought he was a humble guy but the Jesus super star pose after that
winning three was a little cocky or maybe being a prick.
ENCUEROMAN - January 21, 2012
yeah i didn’t like that pose by love. last season when griffin hit big shots he never gave any poses, just let out a smile sometimes or kept playing like nothing happened. never knew love was so cocky. i guess he knows he’s getting a big pay day.
tenkaistar - January 21, 2012
In Defense Of Love
Very very few of the NBA pundits especially on ESPN ever thought he wold amount to much of a player. Truth be told he did get screwed out of the ROY award by ESPN then golden boy T. Evans.
Buddahfan - January 21, 2012
KLove is a beast
24.7
14.5
and not a lot of loving’
wilriv21 - January 21, 2012
Love was the #5 pick in 2008. Derrick Rose was the ROY.
Tyreke Evans was the following year.
tenkaistar - January 21, 2012
thought Griffin, Evans and Rubio were from same draft class
wilriv21 - January 21, 2012
nope. love is '08. griffin evans, and rubio '09.
tenkaistar - January 21, 2012
My Bad
Buddahfan - January 21, 2012
I like Love, but didn't like the pose either.
It’s kind of funny. There are so many Blake haters out there that are calling the guy cocky, a b****, a douche with a sense of entitlement and a slew of other names, but none of them criticized Kevin Love’s pose after the game. They didn’t really blast him that much for self-anointing himself the best power forward in the game. Blake doesn’t talk a bunch of trash or put himself on a pedestal like some of these players do, but still gets the hate.
Lawler 4ever - January 21, 2012
eh, it didn't bother me
huge shot like that, after a tough game, sure go ahead and be excited and pose. now if he had yelled in anyone’s face or danced on the midcourt logo, then maybe.
Joe Wolf's Mullet - January 21, 2012
LOL I think it would be hilarious if he danced on the logo.
It would be totally out of character. My main beef is with the haters.
Lawler 4ever - January 21, 2012
This game...whatever
I’ve seen to many Clips losses in my life to get depressed about this one game. What I don’t get is the super star treatment that Rubio was getting from the refs down the stretch.
lbclips - January 21, 2012 via mobile
minnesota was getting demolished by mo
there have been too many suspect calls over the past two games for my liking. Billups getting molested last game and rubio’s bs trip and subsequent ejection of mo. We all know there is a bias against our team but playing the twolves it should be nullified. Seeing Rubio have an absolutely horrible game, just to be warmed up with free throws and hit the game tying basket was enough for me. This is becoming unbearable to watch, I think I need a break from this for a bit to figure out what is enjoyable about watching our team being handcuffed and beaten over the head with bad calls at the end of games. Clipper fans have more suffering in store and we should probably consider whether we can actually EVER win with this kind of unfair treatment. Can we ever really win a championship if the refs are in the way 90% of the time? Can you imagine the playoffs and what lies ahead for the magicians in black and white and potential injuries from violent fouls. I need a vacation…
flightofthegriffin - January 21, 2012
If you ask any fan from any team we have played, we get too many calls.
It doesn’t matter if their team has shot more free-throws or if our team has more fouls called against us. It’s ridiculous. No team in the history of the NBA has been more screwed by the refs than the Clippers. Other teams (e.g. Kings) have been screwed on a bigger stage, but it’s still not touching the treatment that we have had to deal with.
Lawler 4ever - January 21, 2012
The hate for the Clippers has always been there, but now it's at an all time high.
It’s weird how some people will just not accept the Clippers being good in any way. Even the media seems to hate the team. We do something good, they say nothing. If we do bad it’s all over the place. No doubt the refs are harsh toward our team. Just have to chip away at everyone’s misconception of the team and we can only do that with winning.
tenkaistar - January 22, 2012
Sigh.....
CP3 and Caron both questionable for the Raptors. How are we going to choke that one away without them?
82-0 - January 21, 2012
I think they'll both play.
They’ll get less minutes, but will probably be back in action. Then they’ll have a couple of days off to rest and further recover before playing the Lakers.
Lawler 4ever - January 21, 2012
funny how day-to-day turns into our for weeks
dulciusXasperis - January 21, 2012
it always does for this team
in jasen powell we trust
i’d personally rather they both rest and come back for LAL
Joe Wolf's Mullet - January 21, 2012
yep...
…there’s that good ’ol Clipper fan can-do attitude.
Jeff Shepherd - January 22, 2012
Buddahfan - January 21, 2012
Vinny on Paul
On Bledsoe
dulciusXasperis - January 21, 2012
I only have one thing to say. I hate DeAndre Jordan’s poor excuse for actual defense. His weakside defense is great. His actually one-on-one or team defense is atrocious. Good God man.
FlyByKnight - January 21, 2012
Sounds Like The Opposite of Bargnani - LOL
Buddahfan - January 21, 2012
His 1 on 1 D is actually pretty good
He usually takes the tougher assignment between him and Blake. He doesn’t seem to know when to switch or how to defend the pick and roll/pops.
ClipperChuck - January 21, 2012
His one-on-one defense is only good when he stays down and doesn’t try to go for the block all the time.
The main problem he has is that he’s way too block happy. It’s exposing the rest of the defense.
FlyByKnight - January 22, 2012
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