To help you keep track of the events and injuries in the NBA during this lockout-shortened season, I will be writing weekly, starting now, to let you know how the Clippers compare with other teams in the West.
We are one month into a young NBA season that sees the Los Angeles Clippers in the playoff picture for the first time in, well, a very long time. LAC hasn't started a season this well since the fateful season in 2006. Despite the slow schedule for the Clips so far, it has been a crazy start to the season. We've seen major injuries, surprise teams, and underachievers.
The All-Star voting results are coming in, and the standings are starting to fall into place as we pass the euphoria of the early-season games and enter the grind that is the NBA regular season.
Let's start off with injuries.
We all knew it was coming. With games coming at a much faster pace this season, everyone knew that depth and youth would be key to sustained success. Star players on contending teams have missed time, including for the defending champions, where last year's finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki is going to miss four games with a sore knee, and Jason Kidd has already missed time with back problems.
Spread across the other fourteen West teams, many more stars have been injured (Nene Hilairo, heel, 4 games; Stephen Curry, ankle, 9 games; Chris Paul, hamstring, 4 games; Zach Randolph, knee, 11 games, 4-6 more weeks; Eric Gordon, knee, 14 games, 2-3 more weeks; Manu Ginobli, hand, 12 games, 4-6 more weeks).
That's not every injury. That's only the stars. Oklahoma City, the top team in the conference standings, hasn't suffered an injury to a major player yet (although they lost backup guard Eric Maynor). Other teams such as the Lakers, Houston, and Utah are all in good shape and haven't missed many games due to injury (Bynum's 4 missed games are due to suspension).
While injuries occur every year, there is no doubt that the schedule has caused more this season. But now let's look at some of the overachievers and underachievers, a trend that happens in every season:
- Denver Nuggets: Wow. I mean, they are #2 in the entire West. Weren't they supposed to be worse without traded superstar Carmelo Anthony? Shouldn't they be rebuilding? No. They are here, they are good, and George Karl hasn't let them miss a beat. The reason that they are so successful is because Anthony is no longer ball stopping for isolations. Here's how I can prove that: they are #1 in the NBA in assists per game with no player averaging more than 6.7. That's impressive. Not to mention that they have six different players averaging double figures, and every player on the roster has a PER of over 11. Ruling: Legit
- Utah Jazz: Another team that looks puzzling at first. The difference is that, upon investigation, Denver can be understood. Utah? I have to assume that this is a fluke. Sure, they have a super-productive frontcourt with Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Derrick Favors, and Enes Kanter, but who else is on the team? Devin Harris, Raja Bell, Gordon Hayward, Josh Howard, and Earl Watson are all playing more than 20 minutes per game on the perimeter. How long can this possibly last? Ruling: Overachievers
- Los Angeles Lakers: Ah, here we go. The anti-Laker bias spree. Doesn't it seem like even constructive criticism automatically makes you a Laker hater? Well, unfortunately for me, that's where I'm headed. The simple fact is that a team that contends for a championship needs to at least have a decent offense (LAL is 21st in ppg), and the Lakers haven't figured it out on that end yet. New head coach Mike Brown seems to be running the same system he did in Cleveland: the 1-on-5 offense. But with the Cavs, he ran it with LeBron, who is a great passer. Not only is Kobe a worse distributor than James, but Bryant has Gasol and Bynum at his disposal, two all-star big men who aren't getting their touches this season as Kobe shoots more shots than he has in six years. Note: After their home loss to Indiana tonight, the Lakers fall to 10th place in the conference. Ruling: Underachievers
- Dallas Mavericks: Ladies and Gentlemen, your defending NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks, with an astounding record of... 10-7. Not so great. They've even played eight home games to nine road games, so the schedule won't be getting easier. Does that mean we should expect the same pace through the rest of the season, and a low playoff seed? Don't count on it. Three of their seven losses are by three points or less, and after a sluggish start Dallas is 9-3 in their last 12 games. Considering Dirk didn't play basketball over the summer, and the Mavs are still a very new team (newbies Delonte West, Vince Carter, and Lamar Odom in the rotation). Ruling: Underachievers, so far.
Good read LJ
Yes let’s look at this again after February when the Clippers have played many road games. That will help define our true postion in the West.
PV Mike - January 23, 2012
BTW, great photo
I downloaded it for the Poetland Taxidermist to view as I love this god-like pose of Blake as a possibility when we stuff and enshrine him in the museum.
PV Mike - January 23, 2012
peotland is not as nice of a place as it sounds like
LJ Hann - January 23, 2012
to be fair...
Steve Blake has been injured for the Lakers.
banandy - January 23, 2012
backup
Eric Maynor has been out for the thinder, Bledsoe for the clippers, etc.
LJ Hann - January 23, 2012
Great job, LJ
You could improve it by using pace-adjusted stats. PPG, APG, etc are so archaic.
ReignMan - January 23, 2012
wow that UTA frontcourt is pretty deep
dan73962 - January 23, 2012
Paul Millsaps PER is 26.70, 3rd highest in the NBA!!!
ClippersUK - January 23, 2012
What do you think of the Blazers?
over or under achieving?
They looked good at the start of the season, lost 6 of the last 10 but only sit 1 game behind the Clippers even though we sit 3rd and they are 9th.
I like their depth but are hard to predict what they will do at the moment.
I do like the Denver roster though, they have depth at all positions. I would imagine they will stay the course and be a top 4 seed in the west.
ClippersUK - January 23, 2012
Great question
Obviously we’re missing a few teams, or more than a few. But maybe that’s a refreshing format. No San Antonio. Thunder are the class act, aren’t worth talking about; not yet at least. The big thing is that we have to keep our eye on the loss column, especially with the Clips leisurely start, with lots of home cooking. Things are going to get brutal, and it could happen very quickly. But the Clippers might be ready. They’re making great progress and showing all kinds of nice things, but they have a long way to go.
citizen zhiv - January 23, 2012
Looking better each game
I’m really glad we got this slower schedule to give us plenty of practice time.
Erik O - January 23, 2012
I think they are where they will end up
A little over .500, maybe in, maybe out. They have a great supporting cast, but I believe Kurt Thomas is their first big off the bench, which is not good. They really need a legit perimeter star(like Brandon Roy, sigh) to compete for a top-4 spot. Crawford is great, but he isn’t a #1 perimeter player.
LJ Hann - January 23, 2012
Sorry LJ
Buttttt I would rather watch Keeping Up With The Kardashians than read another installment of Keeping Up With The Rest of the West. Come on dude! You can’t just throw a bunch of ideas together like you’re at home making a Jumbaco smoothie in your Ninja Pulse blender. You gotta write articles like CP3 runs the point. It’s gotta flow and you gotta have a clear objective. I know that feeding BG and DJ for oops might be a little bit easier than appeasing the entirety of Clips Nation, but if this is gonna be a weekly thing, I’ll be looking for some improvements. And don’t get your panies in a bunch, a little constructive criticism never hurt anyone…
TinkyTime - January 23, 2012
For Example ....
What does the bit about the All Star voting have to do with anything? Did you just add that so the cover photo didn’t appear completely out of context? Remember one thing LJ, it’s not about how many times you post, but the quality with which you post. I know that if I was gonna put my name on the cover of Clips Nation, I wouldn’t put it next to some half-assed article about injuries and all stars and legit overachievers or whatever that alternative presentation at the end was supposed to be about …
TinkyTime - January 23, 2012
Respectfully disagree
The injury update was very interesting, and the information about Denver was also interesting and something I didn’t know about before reading this.
Erik O - January 23, 2012
My own critique would only be to add in more teams. Or all of the top 8 teams in the West, as well as pointing out any teams that seem uncharacteristically out of the playoff picture.
Erik O - January 23, 2012
I agree with that
seemed weird to talk about only 4 teams. I guess you just think everyone else is just about where you think they should be? I did have to go look up the current standings in the west, since I wasn’t even really sure about that, which could’ve been added. and maybe some analysis of the relationship between injuries and team record rather than just a list of people injured?
osamu - January 23, 2012
I would agree with this as well and ClippersUK
How do you write about over and under achievers without mentioning Portland? Plus, with the article titled the way it is, I feel like you have to include the Top 8 teams and their standings. The whole thing just felt really lazy — too lazy for the front page of Clips Nation.
TinkyTime - January 23, 2012
LJ's still a youngin'
Like DJ, LJ will get better and eventually earn a million dollar contract for blogging.
peterghost - January 23, 2012
I certainly hope so
I’m worried that I will have to struggle along in a grunt journalism job after college. I love writing here, where I can write with style. I could never be an AP writer.
LJ Hann - January 23, 2012
Sure you could
You’d just have to write other stuff as well, to satisfy yourself. Being good at writing basic and boring stories to make money isn’t so bad (at least I don’t think that it would be, but what do I know), and quantity plus pay are good complementary ingredients. But “writing” is something else. Infinite number of ways to go.
citizen zhiv - January 23, 2012
Well
I could, but I wouldn’t like it.
I would love to be a beat reporter or a broadcaster, who travels with the team all over and knows the players.
LJ Hann - January 23, 2012
You would have to be careful being a fan
or wanting to be the players friend would not cloud your writing objectivity.
PV Mike - January 23, 2012
also I have to graduate high school
LJ Hann - January 23, 2012
Not sure how your grades or wallet dictate where you go to college
but there are many good California Schools for journalism ranging from Stanford and USC to CA State Northridge or Fullerton.
PV Mike - January 23, 2012
grades good
wallet not so much lol. It’s gonna get interesting next year when I’m a junior.
LJ Hann - January 23, 2012
Junior year is not fun.
Especially when you have 6 APs.
SurfinQ00 - January 23, 2012
I'm gonna have 5
I meant from a college standpoint.
LJ Hann - January 23, 2012
Good luck with college man!
It’s getting tougher and tougher. My dream has always been Stanford, but it is just that, a dream.
SurfinQ00 - January 23, 2012
I have an SU of my own
looking eastward, to Syracuse, where they have the SI Newhouse School of Public Communications. That’s my target right now, but alot figures to change. If I can get a academic/athletic scholarship to a good school that’s where I’m headed.
LJ Hann - January 23, 2012
Same here regarding an academic scholarship.
Honestly, the question doesn’t seem to be if I can get a scholarship; rather, the question is where I would get it. I think my lowest school would be UCSD, but that is really only if I get a scholarship there. I sound a tad cocky, yes, but I don’t work my butt off so I can get into some random school.
SurfinQ00 - January 23, 2012
yeah UCs are hard
what year are you in
LJ Hann - January 23, 2012
cool stories bros
(see I’m just kind of a dick by nature. You’ll get used to it. Or you won’t and you can hate me forever. Either way.)
TinkyTime - January 23, 2012
I know these are cool stories.
They should be published into a book or I should tell it again. Anyways
I am a junior right now and I just finished my first semester with a 5.0 :D
SurfinQ00 - January 23, 2012
5.0.... gahhh
I have like a 3.7 total now, just finished my 1st semester of my sophomore year.
LJ Hann - January 23, 2012
Advice from the unemployed... Go wherever gives you the most money
Looking for a job is no fun when you are saddled with college debt on top of that. School tuition has risen disproportionately, and spending 100k for college is going to look like a terrible investment in the future. Good/bad news is that this student loan bubble should crash soon.
shay - January 23, 2012
I agree with that to some extent.
Although I firmly stand by the idea that a good college means better opportunities. I don’t know if it is just my family, but my siblings colleges are leading them to a very bright future.
SurfinQ00 - January 23, 2012
Medill School of Journalism
Northwestern U. I didn’t go the sports route, but my degree has served me quite well in my chosen journalistic field. And two of my classmates now have sports-journalism gigs that pretty much any sports fan would kill for. Syracuse is better if you want to go the TV route, but if you’re interested in writing you should put Medill, Columbia, and Missouri on your list.
boltsfan21 - January 24, 2012
Many of the sports guys
like Mike Wilbon and Mike Greenberg (Mike and Mike), Brent Musburger, Rich Eisen etc. went there.
PV Mike - January 24, 2012
Regarding Columbia.
I wouldn’t consider that a place to merely “put on your list”. Columbia is one of THE TOP colleges in the country; in no way am I doubting LJ’s intelligence, but I would just like to point out that Columbia is no cake walk for ANYONE.
SurfinQ00 - January 24, 2012
This
I know a girl who went to Berkley for 4 years, got her degree, and went to Abu Dhabi to be a reporter. After around a year, there was some scandal with one of her roomates and she decided to return to the US, where she is now at Columbia.
LJ Hann - January 24, 2012
I meant for journalism specifically
Northwestern isn’t exactly easy to get into either. But those are the 3 best J schools. Didn’t realize you were only interested in safety schools.
boltsfan21 - January 25, 2012
Madelyn Burke's future little brother intern.
PV Mike - January 23, 2012
you've done a great job here thus far
shap - January 23, 2012
What's with the "lazy" again?
I don’t think it felt lazy at all… do you think those stats just fall off trees? No, they were well-researched. That’s a hell of a lot more than I can say for half of yahoo’s articles. You also don’t give any kudos to LJ for writing stylishly and cleverly. You say you’re just trying to give him constructive criticism, but it seems a lot more like an (unnecessary) attack.
Erik O - January 23, 2012
hahah I disagree Erik
thank you though. The carzy guy on my Portland article, eclips or whatever, was attacking. TT gives points that he would like to see included, and actually sparked a conversation that is full of ideas for me to put in next week.
This one is a little wierd because I’m almost playing catch-up for the first month of the season. I’m hoping that with feedback like this, I can eventually mold it into a post similar to previews where there a the same sections every time (big picture, antagonist, subplot).
The reason I didn’t include more teams is beause I was trying to stay away from making it a power rankings.
I hope to eventually include a few other sections I thought of (such as a game of the night every night of the week) and really get it going.
But, TT, I do think lazy is the wrong word. As Erik pointed out, I don’t just know stats. It requires research. But, I suppose you could argue that it is lazily organized, which I explained earlier in this comment.
LJ Hann - January 23, 2012
You are freakishly mature for your age.
And you’re going to be better for it. If you don’t take it as an attack, then it’s not an attack. My bad TT.
Erik O - January 23, 2012
it is nice to have defenders
for example, on the attack on my portland article, something like 8 or 9 different citizens stepped up and I eventually had to calm them down. Poor eclips left one poorly worded comment and I don’t think he has been back.
Maybe all of the people who defend should morph together into one 7’2 backup center and go play for VDN?
LJ Hann - January 23, 2012
“It’s like they’re forming some sort of megaperson!”
Erik O - January 23, 2012
"oh me oh my"
LJ Hann - January 23, 2012
It's a good update and post
Just not a great one. TT is pushing LJH in a friendly, sporting manner, I assume. Swami Raffo, “It’s the Law!” and LJH are doing all kinds of great work under the calm and relaxed aegis of the Leader who, like myself, is deeply enjoying this fascinating ride. These are strange days for the Nation. You don’t see me doing it. Everything is so different, and it includes the switch to SP as Publisher, not to say editor only because he has found really great citizen writers and let’s them do their thing. But I take TT’s note as a sign that standards are high around here, especially for the front page.
So yeah, I’d like to see a few more teams next time. But this is a great and helpful start.
I don’t know about you guys, but with Chris Paul coming back and a little stretch of anticipation time before the Laker game on Wednesday night, it seems like time for a shout out to Club Optimism.
citizen zhiv - January 23, 2012
Definitely man
It’s all in good fun. I might have taken it a little too far when I said “half-assed” but I also didn’t realize I was dealing with a high schooler. I only support hassling high schoolers when they start acting like punks and LJ is definitely not acting like a punk. I don’t think you should be offended by my post LJ, but if you are, my bad. You’re getting really good experience writing for such a badass site so early in your journalism career. That’s the sick thing about writing on the web — you get instantaneous feedback. Sure, it’s fun and great when everyone likes your stuff, but you’ll learn a lot more about yourself and your writing when people don’t like your stuff and they have the balls to tell you. Not saying I have a huge set of ‘em (I do), but you know what I’m saying. So what, I didn’t like your post. Big deal. But I think if you go back and read it again (which I’m sure you have a 100 times by now) you’ll be able to find about 5 or 6 different places where you could have been better. It’s just the way it goes. You publish something and then immediately think of 10 different things you should have changed.
Oh and one last thing LJ … Always try to tell the difference between the people who are just out to attack you (not me) and the people who are just offering criticism (me). Sure, I could have done it in a nicer way, but I don’t support the wussification of Amurrica. You’ll learn quickly LJ … not everyone is gonna like your writing. It’s okay. It’s just part of the deal.
Will be looking forward to the next installment because you know what, fuck watching the Kardashians. That is one of the worst ideas I’ve ever had.
TinkyTime - January 23, 2012
read my above comments :)
LJ Hann - January 23, 2012
One thing ...
I know this site wasn’t just made for me, but I’m gonna tell you what I’d like to see since I’m a Citizen and you’ll be contributing on a weekly basis. Maybe you’ll see something in my ideas and run with it. I’m the type of fan that gets 98% of his NBA news from this site. I don’t know if I’m alone in that, but one thing I think I would like to see in a “West Run Down” is the WC standings with your commentary on what each team has done in the last few weeks. I don’t think this would be too much work, but I know you punk high schoolers have better things to do sometimes. Just an idea. Then you can tie in injuries and stats in a way that is easier to read and more pleasing to the eye.
WC Standings: Clever title here about what the week’s story has been
1. OKC (14-3): Your commentary here
2. Denver (12-5): And here too
3. CLIPPERS (9-5): Can’t forget about them
4.
5. etc…
It’s concise and is true to what a western conference update should be about. It’s not a power ranking, it’s just the facts. Let me know what you think LJ, or just show me in next week’s post! Good luck to you Citizen LJ!
TinkyTime - January 23, 2012
also thanks for giving me JUMBACO
it’s changed my life
TinkyTime - January 23, 2012
I considered that format
but the problem is that I don’t want this to be a power rankings. Either I want to do a power rankings, or do this. And right now I’m not sure what this is going to look like.
And I know you said it’s not, but in general it’s the same thing in regards to the format:
team-analysis
team-analysis
team-analysis
Which has been done. I’m going to have to think about it.
I feel like doing your format is easy, and it is what it is. I’m hoping that after some work this format can become a unique feature that can only be found here and still delivers to readers.
And don’t thank me. Thank Jack.
LJ Hann - January 23, 2012
fair enough!
TinkyTime - January 23, 2012
thing about a power ranking
is those usually make judgements on which teams are “better” after taking into account strength of schedule, injuries, etc. They usually more project future success, and how teams are playing now.
I think what TT was talking about was just a straight forward list of record and position in the conference (especially since the pacific division on the main page still appears to be broken), since I guess he’d rather see just the full rundown of records, then maybe just a few notes about each team and how they’re playing. I don’t really see that as a power ranking, but since it does take into account more teams, so obviously you can’t get into too much detail about each one, so yea, might sacrifice some creativity and entertainment factor, which is what you tried to provide here. I think this article was fine, I just had to look up the current rankings to get a reference point for where these teams stand in the conference.
osamu - January 24, 2012
Good point, good suggestion
The idea of not doing a power ranking is a great point. Too many of them out there already, and they’re too glib.
But TT’s elaboration on your concept of a Western Conference update, with some more substance around the hot spots, seems like a good one.
citizen zhiv - January 24, 2012
The picture
was to make it western conference, but still tie it in with the clips.
LJ Hann - January 23, 2012
Also because Blake looks like he's doing this
Erik O - January 23, 2012
Actually now that I look at it...
He’s got a Criss Angel thing going on.
Erik O - January 23, 2012
that explains Garnett/Gasol/Allen/Rondo/Pierce's faces
LJ Hann - January 23, 2012
this is awesome!
rec’d!!
Duby Dub Dubs - January 24, 2012
Looks like the bug that smashed on my car window today.
PV Mike - January 24, 2012
I somewhat agree with the constructive criticism
And I DEMAND my MONEY BACK!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)
BoSoxFan45 - January 23, 2012
that reminds me of what my economics' professors (tenured of course) said to our class when we complained about not learning much from him
“that’s what you get, low tuition, low quality”
banandy - January 23, 2012
Can't complain about that in the UC's
the fees are high so does that mean I get to request a refund if I don’t receive equal value.
bestclipfan - January 23, 2012
Good effort, if you really want to broaden your writing, you should contact Eric Stephen who runs the Dodger Sister blog here called True Blue LA. He’s the sports editor for SB Nation LA and could use more Clipper context. At the moment he has a soccer blogger doing the Clipper recaps.
meercatjohn - January 23, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Clips Nation to post a comment.