Comments on: Clippers to Sign Ben Simmons

By: Oodypkt

Oodypkt — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 02:58:24 +0000

You’ve got the good decision about expectation.
This team welcome me with Blake’s lost rookie season so it kind of prepared me us fan as anything can happen.
What I like about Ben’s interview is he always said “Appreciate that” to reporter welcoming him.
This is from a guy who seemed quite arrogant in college and the first few years in the league.
Experience humble guys, no matter how big of the head that guy has.
As always, let’s see how it goes.

By: osamu6238

osamu6238 — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 22:52:07 +0000

My one concern is that he came here since the FO views him as a point guard. That means he views himself as a point guard. While I like that idea on offense, I do really hope he’s willing to take on the bigger guys on defense. Not saying I want him to go bang around with Joel Embiid, but I could see him needing to switch onto like an Alex Len, Zach Edey, or Steven Adams without getting killed.

On a scale of John Wall to Nico Batum as far as redemption arcs, right now I’m thinking this will go about as well as Westbrook. Keeping my expectations super low, in hopes he impresses beyond my very limited expectations.

By: Oodypkt

Oodypkt — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:33:41 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RkFAmHAQR4
Ben’s press con.
Looks mature and confident at the right level.
He feels wanted. That’s theme for a lot of guys we sign in the past few years
Maybe the buy-out-turned-vet-min bring out the best in him.
We’ll see.

By: Oodypkt

Oodypkt — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:22:45 +0000

This^

By: mlslaw1

mlslaw1 — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 04:03:02 +0000

Memphis looking deep and strong. Hoping they play a lot of minutes in a very tite game

By: khyber jones

khyber jones — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 02:54:04 +0000

Not that worried about Ben’s shooting because he does drive to the basket. That will draw defenders which creates spacing and passing opportunities. At his height, he’s going to be tough to stop if he starts getting downhill. Guys just have to move with him. Amir Coffey should be able to get open, trailing 3s with Ben pushing the pace, for example.

I like the idea of Ben and Zu on the floor at the same time. We could have a dunk a thon.

Mainly, Ben helps take the load off Harden. If we have any chance of playoff success, we’ll need Harden with fresh legs being that one man offensive machine, much like he was when the Clips won Game 4 in Dallas last season after a one legged Kawhi gifted them Game 2 and PG barely showed up despite being healthy.

Bogdanovic, if he finds his shooting touch, would probably eclipse Coffey as the first or 2nd guy off the bench. If he’s on his game, he competes at both ends better than Amir does.

The team doesn’t need Kawhi to play a lot of minutes to make the play-in or playoffs. What they need from Kawhi is to play in space off Zu/Norm on offense so as not to mess things up, and improve his physical fitness and show it on defense.He can be an overqualified role player if he’s defending his position better and cutting down on turnovers and over dribbling.

By: dhpat

dhpat — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 01:44:24 +0000

Finally, I’m just bummed out about T. Mann’s trade to ATL.

I’m hoping that Bogi has something left in the tank, and his injury history doesn’t bite us.

As Yoda said: “Clear not, the future.”

By: dhpat

dhpat — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 01:39:41 +0000

TBH, the Clippers have made decisions trying to capture lightning in a bottle with the 213 Era that just didn’t work out.

John Wall, Russ, Rondo and hopefully, not Harden.

Each of the above older veterans ended up taking valuable playing time away from younger Clippers: iHart, Bones, T. Mann.

Not like the Clippers or Coach Lue was going to play younger players in this win now mode.

Hindsight is always 20-20. Sigh.

By: osamu6238

osamu6238 — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 23:55:17 +0000

Surprised the Lakers are letting go of Wood over Reddish. Feels like keeping a 3rd big would be more valuable.

I know Wood is not good, but he always ends up on my theoretical “all-LA guy” championship team. While that Palmdale guy is off the team, Kawhi, Harden, Norm, and Wood would make for a solid 4 LA/SD guys. Feels like there are worse 3rd stringers in the league.

By: dhpat

dhpat — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 20:28:51 +0000

I listened to the podcast with Rob and Dr. Shap about the trades, and looking at the 213 Era, which was a disappointment in only one WCF appearance, but the damage is greater to rebuilding.

Steve Ballmer is the wealthiest owner in the NBA and has built an awesome new arena, but resigning Kawhi and Coach Lue to extensions may end up being continuing bad decisions.

Even great franchises go through rebuilding years, but maybe worse is just being good enough to make the playoffs, but never making it past the 3rd round.

Hope that Kawhi comes back to 80% of his super self, Bogi can show some of the sharpshooter of old, and maybe, Ben Simmons can turn his career around with the Clippers like Reggie and Nico did. Time will tell. Lot of variables.

But, if the above scenarios do not happen, we will need a hard reset.