OFFICIAL LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 2023-2024 SEASON THREAD

[lawdog1]

^^^ I feel like overall - not just last night - Blake's settling for jumpers too much. The first few games when he was averaging like 30 he was mixing up jumpers, post ups and going to the basket. Now he's playing like LMA or David West. He needs to go back to aggressive play.

 

[shoeking2102]

The clippers are 14-4 when leading after 3 quarters this season. The losses? The warriors twice, the spurs, and the Thunder

 

[lawdog1]

That stat is both good and bad. It shows that we're a good team, just not as good as the teams ahead of us. Our record against West playoff teams in the West is pretty sad:

Warriors - 0-2
Spurs - 0-1
OKC - 0-1
Mavs - 1-1 (the W came when D Will and a couple other guys were out)
Rockets - 0-2
Memphis 1-0
Jazz - 1-1

We also have losses to Denver, Phoenix and Portland.

 

[shoeking2102]

Chris Paul has topped 20 points twice and 30 points once in his past four games while making more than 50% of his shots three times. He’s also collected 10 or more assists in three consecutive games for the first time all season

CP looks to be turning the corner. Need that 14'-15' CP badly

 

[Nipsey3000]

Clips need to break up the big 3.


A change is in order

nah. but a coach with a brain would be nice


breaking up the core and/or going deeper into the bench isnt the issue here.

i think there are some major issues on this team behind the scenes specifically between coach and lance and coach and josh smith. those 2 guys should be given enough on court time to be productive. 10-12 mins wont do. 20-25 is more like it IMO

 

[Nipsey3000]

That stat is both good and bad. It shows that we're a good team, just not as good as the teams ahead of us. Our record against West playoff teams in the West is pretty sad:

Warriors - 0-2
Spurs - 0-1
OKC - 0-1
Mavs - 1-1 (the W came when D Will and a couple other guys were out)
Rockets - 0-2
Memphis 1-0
Jazz - 1-1

We also have losses to Denver, Phoenix and Portland.

agreed.

i think we are far off at times and then not so far off at other times.

we should have beated GSW x2
should have beat OKC last night
should have 1 win vs. the rockets

all those games were either close or we gave them away.

 

[shoeking2102]

Maybe there is some off the court issues that we dont know about, and to that point I dont think doc and smith are seeing eye to eye personally, but imo breaking up the core four isnt the solution to the clippers problem. The core four are fine. They are still the best quartet in the league.

You win and lose with your role players and bench guys in the NBA and in that regard, we're dropping the ball with how we handle everyone outside of the core four.

In my opinion, the second unit has some pieces, but they aren't good enough together to carry an offense for an extended stretch. (Say, 6 min) They arent lighting anyone up offensively, so to me a more defensive disposition is needed moving forward. It wont happen but stephenson / rivers / johnson / smith / aldridge is the way to go.

 

[shoeking2102]

agreed.

i think we are far off at times and then not so far off at other times.

we should have beated GSW x2
should have beat OKC last night
should have 1 win vs. the rockets

all those games were either close or we gave them away.

I don't agree 100% with the we should of won those games. We aren't better than those teams so no we "shouldnt" have won. Could we have win? Absolutely but when we play elite teams, the games are going to be close more often than not and failure to win your fair share of those games kind of just shows you were you are as a team currently.

By the way I dont think the Clippers are that far off and I do think they're going to look very elite by playoff time. I'm just afraid that we may have missed our chance to get some solid seeding and now it looks like we're stuck at the 4/5.

 

[shoeking2102]

Thread is reminding me that I need my own blog ir podcast or something smh

 

[wavycrocket]

Thread is reminding me that I need my own blog ir podcast or something smh

Man, I been thinking bout starting a blog or pod my damn self

 

[lawdog1]

By the way I dont think the Clippers are that far off and I do think they're going to look very elite by playoff time. I'm just afraid that we may have missed our chance to get some solid seeding and now it looks like we're stuck at the 4/5.

I agree that we're not that far off, which is why I find this season more frustrating than previous seasons. I think we legitimately did improve from a talent standpoint in the offseason, but its just not translating to wins. Part of it is Doc not properly managing the personnel and part of it is something intangible that I can't really put my finger on. I think consistently starting Wes at 3 and scrapping the small-ball second unit would help a lot though.

 

[xtianp]

IN for the NT Clippers podcast.

 

[shoeking2102]

I agree that we're not that far off, which is why I find this season more frustrating than previous seasons. I think we legitimately did improve from a talent standpoint in the offseason, but its just not translating to wins. Part of it is Doc not properly managing the personnel and part of it is something intangible that I can't really put my finger on. I think consistently starting Wes at 3 and scrapping the small-ball second unit would help a lot though.

Absolutely.

This luc experiment has to stop man, it's eventually going to kill us, if it hasn't already. His "Defense" isn't good enough to warrant starting and playing over guys like Luc and Wes. 

Like, we started LUC RICHARD MBAH AMOUTE against the OKC thunder in 2015. We closed the game out against the OKC Thunder with LUC RICHARD MBAH AMOUTE in 2015. Yikes. And what's most frustrating about this is that there are better alternatives on the team currently.

 

[paidnfull23]

I wouldn't get my hopes up about Doc figuring anything out.  It would have happened already.  Dude is stubborn, full of meaningless platitudes and too attracted to certain players. To him familiar is the best option.  

Only way change comes about is an external factor (injury or removal of power).  This is the EXACT reason why nobody should weld power as both chief personnel decision maker and coach.

Jamal and Baby Doc will play just as much undeserving minutes in the postseason as they are now.  Wes, Lance, Josh and Cole will be in and out of the doghouse.  Our Clips will barely get past the first round and then lost in the semis.  Doc will replace the underperforming (really undercoached) players with new ones hoping for a different result and just run out the ball to have them figure it out.  Rinse, wash, repeat.

 

[Nipsey3000]

I don't agree 100% with the we should of won those games. We aren't better than those teams so no we "shouldnt" have won. Could we have win? Absolutely but when we play elite teams, the games are going to be close more often than not and failure to win your fair share of those games kind of just shows you were you are as a team currently.

By the way I dont think the Clippers are that far off and I do think they're going to look very elite by playoff time. I'm just afraid that we may have missed our chance to get some solid seeding and now it looks like we're stuck at the 4/5.

should, may not have been the word to use. But I do feel that in the 2 games vs. Gsw, we should have won. Had a great chance to win may be more accurate.

Wes Johnson is not as solid on d as everyone is making him out to be. If I had a good/easy video editor, I would show it. Maybe, the best option the clips have, but definitely not solid...or a better word would be consistent.

 

[shoeking2102]

should, may not have been the word to use. But I do feel that in the 2 games vs. Gsw, we should have won. Had a great chance to win may be more accurate.

Wes Johnson is not as solid on d as everyone is making him out to be. If I had a good/easy video editor, I would show it. Maybe, the best option the clips have, but definitely not solid...or a better word would be consistent.

Wes Johnson is an inconsistent defender, absolutely. But he can play defense, and he also can hit 3's from the corner and finish plays. What makes him valuable to the clippers is he can play both sides of the ball. More so than Luc can for sure. Luc damn sure isn't the better offensive player, and if he is the better defender is marginal and he is the best option the clippers have at 3.

At worst, Wes can replicate what Barnes brought and that's not bad at all. 

 

[shoeking2102]

 
I wouldn't get my hopes up about Doc figuring anything out.  It would have happened already.  Dude is stubborn, full of meaningless platitudes and too attracted to certain players. To him familiar is the best option.  

Only way change comes about is an external factor (injury or removal of power).  This is the EXACT reason why nobody should weld power as both chief personnel decision maker and coach.

Jamal and Baby Doc will play just as much undeserving minutes in the postseason as they are now.  Wes, Lance, Josh and Cole will be in and out of the doghouse.  Our Clips will barely get past the first round and then lost in the semis.  Doc will replace the underperforming (really undercoached) players with new ones hoping for a different result and just run out the ball to have them figure it out.  Rinse, wash, repeat.

Baby doc 

Yeah I agree with all of this. He's beyond stubborn and allows his pride to interfere with obvious things that should be done. I would add that in addition to baby doc and jamal, pierce will play undeserving minutes as well.

This season is so anticlamatic to me because we already know how it's going to end, barring some drastic shake up or move. (sigh)

 

[lawdog1]

Absolutely.


This luc experiment has to stop man, it's eventually going to kill us, if it hasn't already. His "Defense" isn't good enough to warrant starting and playing over guys like Luc and Wes. 

Like, we started LUC RICHARD MBAH AMOUTE against the OKC thunder in 2015. We closed the game out against the OKC Thunder with LUC RICHARD MBAH AMOUTE in 2015. Yikes. And what's most frustrating about this is that there are better alternatives on the team currently.

How Doc got the notion that Luc is our lockdown guy is beyond me. Swtiches him on to Harden in the 1st quarter and Harden immediately baits him into two reaching fouls, one on a three, for a quick 5 points. This started rolling down hill quickly for us after that. Brings him in last night to stop KD and gives up the winning bucket. Blake did a better job on Durant.

I honestly don't know what Doc sees when he watches the games sometimes.

 

[HIM]

Yea, a first round vidtory would actually surprise me at this point. Doc hit a wall. I think we're way better than we were prior to him although we still never reached the WCF. He just has maxed out his potential with us.

Yea, this season I've just been going through the motions. Sucks because I thought we had turned the corner last year. Thought we were behind SAS, GS, and OKC but didn't think jt was impossible to beat any of them. Now, I can't name a team I know we'd for sure beat. Utah, Sac, Phx, Houston, Denver, all could beat us and I wouldn't be in any kind lf shock.


But who knows, maybe we get it together somehow in these last 40 + games


Shoe, do you think Josh could have played better D on Durant? I kept telling my brother I wanted Lance on Russ and Josh on KD to clsoe the game. CP3 is a great defender but Russ is athletic as hell. Lance would have a done a great job imo. Josh I'm not sure about but there is no way he could be worse than Luc. He's long enough to kinda affect his shot I think.


Like you said a couple weeks ago. The worst thing that could have happened was for us to go on that nice little run right when Doc began starting Luc. This dude thought that was the reason we were winning. Aldrich played his *** off last night. I don't expect to see it, but i would love for him to get 15-18 minutes a night and reduce PP, and Luc's minutes.

 

[xtianp]

I wouldn't get my hopes up about Doc figuring anything out.  It would have happened already.  Dude is stubborn, full of meaningless platitudes and too attracted to certain players. To him familiar is the best option.  

Only way change comes about is an external factor (injury or removal of power).  This is the EXACT reason why nobody should weld power as both chief personnel decision maker and coach.

Jamal and Baby Doc will play just as much undeserving minutes in the postseason as they are now.  Wes, Lance, Josh and Cole will be in and out of the doghouse.  Our Clips will barely get past the first round and then lost in the semis.  Doc will replace the underperforming (really undercoached) players with new ones hoping for a different result and just run out the ball to have them figure it out.  Rinse, wash, repeat.

*Slow clap*

EVERY. DAMN. WORD.

 

[Peep Game]

Y'all want Lawson for Josh Smith?

 

[lawdog1]

Y'all want Lawson for Josh Smith?

Pass. Last thing we need is another guard who needs the ball. I'd take Ariza for anyone except CP, Blake, DJ and Reddick in a hot second though.

 

[paidnfull23]

Y'all want Lawson for Josh Smith?

Yes, but you have to take Rivers and Jamal too.  Don't care what the cap filler is from HOU's end.  

But what's up with Lawson?  Y'all don't think it's something that can be fixed with more time?  I just find it strange that he's struggled so much.

 

[shoeking2102]

Shoe, do you think Josh could have played better D on Durant? I kept telling my brother I wanted Lance on Russ and Josh on KD to clsoe the game. CP3 is a great defender but Russ is athletic as hell. Lance would have a done a great job imo. Josh I'm not sure about but there is no way he could be worse than Luc. He's long enough to kinda affect his shot I think.


Like you said a couple weeks ago. The worst thing that could have happened was for us to go on that nice little run right when Doc began starting Luc. This dude thought that was the reason we were winning. Aldrich played his *** off last night. I don't expect to see it, but i would love for him to get 15-18 minutes a night and reduce PP, and Luc's minutes.

Yeah man It sucks that unless something crazy happens we know how this story is going to end. What's worse is that they'll probably finish the last 15, 17 games hot as hell and go into the postseason looking like the team we thought they would be. We've done it the past two years. This year though, it won't matter much due to lack of HC in maybe any round.

But in regards to your question I would have put blake on KD down the stretch. Blake does a fantastic job of keeping KD in front of him and his physicality could have pushed KD off his mark just a bit that maybe could have forced him to miss at the end. Everytime blake is matched up with KD he does a great job. It's something I noticed and with Morrow in the game to close it out for OKC, we could have had Blake on KD and got away with it. 

And yeah man, I was telling a buddy about that. We start Luc during a soft part of the schedule and Doc thinks that that is a key to us winning. He literally does nothing well. Like I said, it's a gross misuse of resources being performed by doc. By no means do I think we're 100% championship team or whatever, but this roster has pieces that could be used much better than they are at the moment. 

 

[shoeking2102]

 
@FlyByKnite    11m11 minutes ago

I've been told Doc has to make the WCF to keep his job. Take that how you will.