Comments on: Clippers vs Hawks Preview: A Fun One in Atlanta

By: John Maclean

John Maclean — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 07:20:38 +0000

I just hope we focus and win this Charlotte game and come out of it healthy. We’re not going to fall out of the 8 spot now no matter what but it would be nice to test Cleveland and OKC at full strength to gauge what we’re made of.

By: Oodypkt

Oodypkt — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 05:28:59 +0000

I want OKC, to be honest, if we are going to be an 8th seed anyway.
Shai will go-off while average like 35p/6r/5a/2s/1b.
But who cares.
If we can lock up everyone else. I still like our chance against them.

By: mlslaw1

mlslaw1 — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 03:19:29 +0000

He’s already proving you wrong. He’s looking focused and making mince meat of opponents when he attacks. Vintage Kawhi beginning to materialize.

By: John Maclean

John Maclean — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 03:04:24 +0000

So the Nuggets are in a struggle with the lowly wizards at the moment. Maybe they’ll pull it out but they had the same problems last night against the Lakers JV squad. I don’t wanna hear any more of this nonsense that we fear the Nuggets. That would be a great match up for us if we can somehow snag that. They’re slow and they’re clunky and can’t run us off the floor like these young quicksilver teams can

By: zhiv

zhiv — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 00:13:31 +0000

I was late starting to watch the game, and didn’t get there until midway through the second quarter. And maybe that was a blessing of sorts, because in that sample Kawhi’s effort and energy and his shot all seemed to be improved, going up a notch. So I must have missed the slow start (could go back and watch, I suppose) and Harden’s turnovers. Adding Batum to the starting lineup (until Norm comes back, and then what?) here in March is paying dividends, and it’s nice to see his shot looking so good. He’s up to 40.7% on 3s, and he’s 16-30 as a starter. Bogie’s 3pt rate is climbing as well. He’s at 36.5%, and seems to have left his ATL/1st Clipper games doldrums behind.

We had no idea, it seemed, what was going on with Ben Simmons and his status, or what might happen with him. He added value in the big Clipper 3rd quarter, and it looked good and also promising. The connections to DJJ were flashy and effective, and it seems like Simmons is likely to find the weapons available to him. So who knows–add that to the way the Bogie moves the ball around, keeps moving himself, seems to get some rebounds and is hitting shots, and with Batum starting/playing more, and Kawhi available and maybe now progressing, the Clips appear to be filling the big hole of the KPJ minutes with a lot of upside. (Leave Terance out of it for now–it’s a lot just to say that he’s not missed, and he didn’t go nuts against us. But he almost never goes nuts.) Taking KPJ away from Ty Lue was going to open things up, improving ball movement.

News coming in as I’m writing this–Norm getting closer, upgraded to questionable… but now Kris Dunn has the familiar “left knee soreness.” Not ideal, especially with the games against MEM and CLE coming up, which will be good tests. But we’ll see.

By: World B. We

World B. We — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 17:33:56 +0000

Khyb’s response 110%
We owe nothing to Kawhi.
The team USA pursuit after that playoff performance or lack there of was unforgivable. He can’t even hit a free throw his absence was so prolonged. Catering to him should have been over with the second he tied his shoelaces for his opening night. Y’know. 3 months into the season. I’m glad he’s playing, but he shouldn’t be considered our focal point. The amount of “practice with consequence” AKA regular season games he’s cost us this season is why we are stuck in the play-in.
May he prove me wrong every game moving forward.

By: dhpat

dhpat — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 17:33:19 +0000

The Play In games are just nightmarish — it is like March Madness.

However, if we can stay healthy, we have as much as a shot as anyone.

How are we going to play against Hou or Okc in a 7-game series?

By: dhpat

dhpat — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 17:31:38 +0000

Agreed — Harden Zu factor is our new “power.” 213 era is history.

Kawhi is only effective if there is a core good team around him — by himself, one great player like Kawhi will not save us.

What if Norm can be ready by late April? This is a huge factor for us.

Can Bogi continue to fill the backup ball handler/6th man role?

Can Dunn consistently hit a 3pt shot?

Harden-DJJ connection very exciting.

Can Ben Simmons stay healthy enough to give us another wrinkle?

If we can get a little lucky with health, the needle might actually move in our favor (for once).

May need to sacrifice that bucket of chicken to the Basketball gods.

By: dhpat

dhpat — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 17:25:35 +0000

Taking to the Cavs! Let’s do it!

By: Oodypkt

Oodypkt — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 17:17:28 +0000

Zu is getting much better this season. Harden’s effect to a big man is real.
What I like most from watching him is his playmaking. He’s not Jokic, obviously. But dude can pass and his BBIQ is pretty decent for a center.
Having high flyer like DJJ on the court is a joy to watch. Throw it up around the rim or even missing some shot is like a pseudo assist to him.
And I love having smart players like Batum, Bogi, Ben & even Dunn (on defense) on the team. Mills is the best cheer leader on the bench.
We might actually end up as 8th seed since GSW & T-Wolves are so good right now.
But if we survive play-in this time and actually match up with OKC.
That might be the most entertaining first round series you can get.
Let’s see how it goes.