OFFICIAL LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 2023-2024 SEASON THREAD

[shoeking2102]

Clippers also have been the product of some serious bad luck during the past five seasons. (The Houston series to me isn't bad luck. That's just...Yeah...That's not what I mean from bad luck)

The best team in the CP / DJ / Blake era was the 12'-13' squad. 17 wins in a row that year, was very elite. Vinny's last season w/us. First year with Jamal, had ebled, Ghill, Ronny, etc. coming off the bench. Go up 2-0, Grizz battle back, but Blake Griffin freaking breaks his ankle in the MIDDLE of a playoff series b. Can you imagine Steph Curry or Draymond essentially breaking their ankle in R1? Like, that is legit PEAK CLIPPERS. We lost that series that I feel we would have won and from there who knows but that's bad luck right there.

Then in the middle of a heated 7 game series the year after tapes leak confirming that your Owner is an idiot and a racist. 

Then the Clippers are in a heated battle w/the Spurs in a playoff series, you get to game 7, and your star PG pulls his hamstring after playing all 82 games 

again, PEAK CLIPPERS man. Yeah they ended up winning the game, but if CP isn't injured maybe that series ends in four? I don't know, but your best player pulling his hamstring is never a good thing obviously, especially in the playoffs.

Beyond that, the regular season bad luck has really altered the Clippers chances in the playoffs. They haven't been able to get homecourt past the first round in these past five years, but they've consistently ran into HUGE problems w/injuries to their best players. One season it's CP missing 18+ games due to injury, the next season it's Blake catching a staph infection forcing him to miss 15+ games, the next season it's your star PF missing over 41 games due to a torn quad muscle and a broken hand. So what you're looking at here is back to back to back to back years of your best players missing significant time due to injury (luck) and while the Clippers are good enough to remain afloat when one of their best players is out, they aren't good enough to secure a top two seed w/their best players missing that much time. (Although they came very close last season) So they've failed in the playoffs but the bad cards they've been dealt during the regular season has played a significant part in all of this. 

 

[HIM]

Oh yea, I mentioned how the houston series would have been a sweep hd Chris Paul played gme two but of course it just sounds like an excuse. I'm still made at Doc for not going for the jugular and playing Chris Paul. 2-0 on the road? With 3 of the next 5 at home? Over.

Even if we lost to GS int the WCF i think it would have been one of the most entertaining series in recent history. Bad blood. Elite offenses. Superstars. We blew it for nba fans everywhere

 

[shoeking2102]

Oh yea, I mentioned how the houston series would have been a sweep hd Chris Paul played gme two but of course it just sounds like an excuse. I'm still made at Doc for not going for the jugular and playing Chris Paul. 2-0 on the road? With 3 of the next 5 at home? Over.

Even if we lost to GS int the WCF i think it would have been one of the most entertaining series in recent history. Bad blood. Elite offenses. Superstars. We blew it for nba fans everywhere

Unfortunately, we're probably going to make it up to them in the 2nd round this season smh

 

[shoeking2102]

We've been playing very well as of late, and while the competition hasn't been stiff, I don't pay too much attention to who pwe play as opposed to how we play. The Latter IMO is much more important.

When we're at our peak, we're one of the five, maybe six best teams in the league anyway, so it's really about how we're playing.  With the playoffs around the corner, the hallmark of our teams under doc has been to go on a nice little win streak to go into the postseason w/some momentum and It looks like we may be doing that again.

The Clippers, even though we've maligned them and their bench at length this year, are top six in the league. I say that because over the past five games or so, Austin and Wes have really come on, especially with their shooting. At this time last year, Lester Hudson and Big Baby and Hedo were guys we were seriously hoping could contribute come postseason. The ceiling on this team, if things break right in the next few weeks, is MUCH higher and that's probably why I'm a bit more optimistic as of late. 

You win and lose w/your support guys, and our support guys are inconsistent, but if they can find a wave, there's some potential good basketball out of that second unit. Rivers, Crawford, Wes Johnson, these guys can help and they're going to have to help if we're going to make things interesting in a few weeks.

- CP hasn't played in the 4th over the last what, 3 games? And we won't be seeing him tonight either. Some good rest here for him as well as the rest of the starters. Like to see that.

 

[lawdog1]

We've been playing very well as of late, and while the competition hasn't been stiff, I don't pay too much attention to who pwe play as opposed to how we play. The Latter IMO is much more important.

When we're at our peak, we're one of the five, maybe six best teams in the league anyway, so it's really about how we're playing.  With the playoffs around the corner, the hallmark of our teams under doc has been to go on a nice little win streak to go into the postseason w/some momentum and It looks like we may be doing that again.

The Clippers, even though we've maligned them and their bench at length this year, are top six in the league. I say that because over the past five games or so, Austin and Wes have really come on, especially with their shooting. At this time last year, Lester Hudson and Big Baby and Hedo were guys we were seriously hoping could contribute come postseason. The ceiling on this team, if things break right in the next few weeks, is MUCH higher and that's probably why I'm a bit more optimistic as of late. 

You win and lose w/your support guys, and our support guys are inconsistent, but if they can find a wave, there's some potential good basketball out of that second unit. Rivers, Crawford, Wes Johnson, these guys can help and they're going to have to help if we're going to make things interesting in a few weeks.

- CP hasn't played in the 4th over the last what, 3 games? And we won't be seeing him tonight either. Some good rest here for him as well as the rest of the starters. Like to see that.

Came in here to say a lot of this. Definitely like what I'm seeing the last few games. Seems like maybe the news Blake is coming back got the team a bit energized. Would like to see us keep blowing teams out so CP can get some rest.

 

[HIM]

We won't be seeing him tonight either. Some good rest here for him as well as the rest of the starters. Like to see that.

Im Sorry shoe, weren't you just saying players shouldn't sit games out for rest?


But I agree with most of what you said. Still gonna get washe dby GS doe

 

[lawdog1]

Im Sorry shoe, weren't you just saying players shouldn't sit games out for rest?


l

Doc going full Pop tonight. No CP, JJ or DJ. Austin, Jeff Green and Cole World going to lead us to the victory tonight though

 

[shoeking2102]

Im Sorry shoe, weren't you just saying players shouldn't sit games out for rest?

But I agree with most of what you said. Still gonna get washe dby GS doe

- As a Clippers fan, sure. But I wasn't speaking as a die hard Clipper fan. For more than a few reasons, i'm invested in the Clips success. The more rested they are, the further they go, the more we get paid, etc. etc.

I don't speak for the Common fan that goes to games though. I've been to every single Clipper game for the past 2 years, Preseason, regular season, and postseason. That was in reference to the majority of fans who go to games, that of which do not do so under the same conditions that I do. By and large, most fans are going to what, 1 game a year? So I can't use myself (or season ticket holders, or anything of that nature) as a barometer for why Rest is good. Surely you can see that My view on the Clippers =/ the average consumer and when I was speaking on this topic in the NBA thread, it was from a more grand viewpoint that takes into account who actually makes up the majority of people that attend NBA games.

I personally understand why one would want rest, but I'd imagine that most fans that make up the attendance of games do not care about CP being healthy and rested for the playoffs, they want to get their money's worth, especially if that's the one game they are going to for that season.

 

[shoeking2102]

We will lose tonight, but if we can keep this somewhat competitive, then there are some positives we may be able to gain from tonight. Mainly, from a confidence standpoint. 

 

[wavycrocket]

Clippers also have been the product of some serious bad luck during the past five seasons. (The Houston series to me isn't bad luck. That's just...Yeah...That's not what I mean from bad luck)

The best team in the CP / DJ / Blake era was the 12'-13' squad. 17 wins in a row that year, was very elite. Vinny's last season w/us. First year with Jamal, had ebled, Ghill, Ronny, etc. coming off the bench. Go up 2-0, Grizz battle back, but Blake Griffin freaking breaks his ankle in the MIDDLE of a playoff series b. Can you imagine Steph Curry or Draymond essentially breaking their ankle in R1? Like, that is legit PEAK CLIPPERS. We lost that series that I feel we would have won and from there who knows but that's bad luck right there.


Then in the middle of a heated 7 game series the year after tapes leak confirming that your Owner is an idiot and a racist. 

Then the Clippers are in a heated battle w/the Spurs in a playoff series, you get to game 7, and your star PG pulls his hamstring after playing all 82 games  again, PEAK CLIPPERS man. Yeah they ended up winning the game, but if CP isn't injured maybe that series ends in four? I don't know, but your best player pulling his hamstring is never a good thing obviously, especially in the playoffs.

Beyond that, the regular season bad luck has really altered the Clippers chances in the playoffs. They haven't been able to get homecourt past the first round in these past five years, but they've consistently ran into HUGE problems w/injuries to their best players. One season it's CP missing 18+ games due to injury, the next season it's Blake catching a staph infection forcing him to miss 15+ games, the next season it's your star PF missing over 41 games due to a torn quad muscle and a broken hand. So what you're looking at here is back to back to back to back years of your best players missing significant time due to injury (luck) and while the Clippers are good enough to remain afloat when one of their best players is out, they aren't good enough to secure a top two seed w/their best players missing that much time. (Although they came very close last season) So they've failed in the playoffs but the bad cards they've been dealt during the regular season has played a significant part in all of this. 

Just seeing this. These are all facts. Even 2012 before I became a fan. As an outside observer...I was like...damn. Tough luck.

On another note. Blake is coming back in 2 games?

 

[shoeking2102]

Just seeing this. These are all facts. Even 2012 before I became a fan. As an outside observer...I was like...damn. Tough luck.

On another note. Blake is coming back in 2 games?

Yup against Wizards Sunday.

 

[wavycrocket]

Yup against Wizards Sunday.

It's lit. Normally I'd root for my guy Wall and the Wiz...but season over. So Imma ride with Clips. Wanna see Cp3 average 20 & 10. He's at 19.9ppg & 9.9apg. Wish the game was in DC. I gotta see Blake and Cp one time.

You need to hop in this TAY groupme too big dog.

 

[shoeking2102]

It's lit. Normally I'd root for my guy Wall and the Wiz...but season over. So Imma ride with Clips. Wanna see Cp3 average 20 & 10. He's at 19.9ppg & 9.9apg. Wish the game was in DC. I gotta see Blake and Cp one time.

You need to hop in this TAY groupme too big dog.

Y'all got it started already? I been trying to join 

 

[shoeking2102]

.

 

[shoeking2102]

Austin Rivers had an outer body experience in the first half, but he's been trending this way for a minute.

Shooting 38% from 3 since Xmas. He's going to be so important to what we do or don't do come playoff time

 

[wavycrocket]

Y'all got it started already? I been trying to join 

Hit @Suberzat1 pm

 

[Nipsey3000]

we (clippers nation) really under achieved this year. with the rough start to the season, BG32s absence and the team issues that existed w/ lance and josh smith. we did hit a little bit of a stride after xmas, but with BG out, and a soft schedule..hard to find out what that really means.

i still think we have what it takes to win in the playoffs...although its hard to determine what a successful playoff run entails.

for me, a WCF appearance thats competitive following a 2nd rd upset of GSW would be a major win. IMO

if that happens i cant really see us beating the spurs 2x in a row in the playoffs. the spurs have a shaky history w/ okc so who knows.

really hoping we can keep this team together minus some bench players and add a dynamic elite wing like KD. lebron leaving cleveland is far fetched, but with his shaky feelings regarding the team now, and another playoff failure along with his tight relationship with chris paul...one can dream.

either way...ready for the playoffs.

 

[HIM]

Idk, man. GSW is literally the best team ever in the history of basketball, record wise. Haven't lost at home, haven't lost two in a row all year. We wouls have to win on the road for sure and most likely win two in a row in order to beat them. I don't think it would be a disappointment to lose to them. I would honestly be more disappointed if we beat them and then lost in the WCF.


Although upsetting GSW would definitely be great. I'd most likely get banned to be honest

 

[lawdog1]

Idk, man. GSW is literally the best team ever in the history of basketball, record wise. Haven't lost at home, haven't lost two in a row all year. We wouls have to win on the road for sure and most likely win two in a row in order to beat them. I don't think it would be a disappointment to lose to them. I would honestly be more disappointed if we beat them and then lost in the WCF.


Although upsetting GSW would definitely be great. I'd most likely get banned to be honest

All of this. But mostly, yeah, if we somehow get past the Dubs in round 2, it would be pretty disappointing to not bring the whole thing home. But it would also be very Clippers of us.

 

[shoeking2102]

Idk, man. GSW is literally the best team ever in the history of basketball, record wise. Haven't lost at home, haven't lost two in a row all year. We wouls have to win on the road for sure and most likely win two in a row in order to beat them. I don't think it would be a disappointment to lose to them. I would honestly be more disappointed if we beat them and then lost in the WCF.


Although upsetting GSW would definitely be great. I'd most likely get banned to be honest

Yeahhhh if we were to beat GSW in the 2nd Round I would not only get banned, but get fired, and have to be hospitalized for a week due to alcohol poisoning along with an incredible amount of coke being in my system...and I'm only half joking 

In all seriousness though, I'm high on this Clippers team. This is the best team in the Doc Rivers era and IMO the 2nd best team we've had since CP has gotten here. That being said, I can't imagine a series w/GSW not ending in 5 games man. They don't lose at home, and they will for sure get at least one. Off that alone, tells you that the series would end in either four or five games 

 

[HIM]

Game 1 vs GSW at Lawdog's mansion. It'll be the one game where we'll foolishly believe we have a chance at winning.


Also, we keep talking about the 2nd round like we're a lock to make it. We still hve to deal with those punk *** ***** *** mark *** **** boys in Memphis.

 

[shoeking2102]

Including last night, Austin is shooting 41% from 3 since Christmas, on over 3 attempts per game and shooting 48% from 3 on catch and shoot situations. 44% from 3 since the AS Break. 

Funny, the moment he ***** up people have unlimited nepotism jokes and what not, but never can acknowledge when he does well. That's another story for another time. Anyway...

If we're going to perform this miracle in the playoffs like it or not, he's going to play a HUGE part in what we do / don't do. He's one of the few two way players on the team and his size and defensive talents allow us to have another wing defender on the floor with CP. If he can shoot like he has for 2016 in the playoffs, then his value for us goes through the roof. 

Truly think how competitive we are with GSW, (and Memphis / Portland that matter) will largely depend on what kind of Austin we get in the playoffs, as well as Wes Johnson, Jeff Green, and Jamal Crawford. 

 

[shoeking2102]

Game 1 vs GSW at Lawdog's mansion. It'll be the one game where we'll foolishly believe we have a chance at winning.


Also, we keep talking about the 2nd round like we're a lock to make it. We still hve to deal with those punk *** ***** *** mark *** **** boys in Memphis.

Tbh Memphis isn't even penciled in as that five seed lowkey.

But if we play memphis, I would be dissapointed if it went longer than five games. I can't imagine a healthy Clips squad struggling too hard with a depleted roster like Memphis has. But then again we are The Clippers so...

 

[HIM]

First regular to say F Word Golden State gets my 2 tickets today.

Excluding Shoeking because I assume you'll be there anyway


Got a bbq to go to on the other side of town.

-EDIT-

To avoid hving the tickets go to waste, I'm gonna give you guys until 10:30 to claim these tickets. After 10:30, I'll give them away to my Lakers/Warriors fan roommate. (I Know )

 

[certifiedflyboi23]

**** Golden State!