Comments on: Clippers vs Mavericks Preview: Playoff Rematch

By: zhiv

zhiv — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 03:58:32 +0000

A couple notes about the game. Dallas has been playing great and they had won 5 out of 6 when Luka didn’t play. They were confident, at home, with some solid NBA Finalist chops, and you could see little wrinkles, mainly from PJ Washington and a little from Lively, that they wanted to keep their foot down on the Clips. And Klay is Klay–only he’s not the Klay of old, but he showed he can still hit shots. He just didn’t get very many good looks at the Clips stayed tough. The now familiar Clipper defensive focus and effort asserted itself quickly, and Zu was a force right away. Shots weren’t falling and the Mavs tried to keep throwing punches. Then the shots started falling, Norm and Harden but also Amir and DJJ, and the Mavs started backpedaling. Zu was phenomenal the whole way, and this was an important team for him to assert himself against. Being a focal point was a new role for him in the playoffs against the Mavs last year, but now it’s familiar, and he showed what he can do.

KPJ was troubling. If he would just get the ball moving and set things up for other people it would make such a big difference. He uses up a lot of opportunities that could be going to other players. His long leash is so baffling. He helped Dallas stay in the game in the first half, and the Clips had to come back, led by Harden and Norm, to be tied at halftime. It looked pretty good when he found hit spot and hit a couple of 3s in the 4th quarter, which is fool’s gold, but it was nice to see.

Norm’s scoring and overall game was great. Whole thing was fun to watch, even if it was a bit too easy. The Clips have strong weapons in TMann and Kawhi about to join in. Game tomorrow should be another good test.

By: John Maclean

John Maclean — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 23:25:26 +0000

A little smoke out there that the Clips might be interested in upgrading at backup center? If that’s the case then Olynyk would be the way to go. Solves two issues. Not only backup 5 but also stretch 4 to play alongside Zu when we need more size.

By: zhiv

zhiv — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 19:28:31 +0000

That was a really good, interesting game. A really helpful win over a key rival. We’ll take all the injury wins that we can get–we’ve certainly been on the other side of that enough times.

Lots of elements to cover. Loved having DJJ out there–apparently he was more or less ready to go against Utah, but they were cautious for that one so that he was better and more ready for this one. It made a difference, and it was so nice to have him on our side rather than theirs. They showed Terance sitting on the bench, moving his finger around a little bit in a soft brace, not a fixed one. So he’s not far off.

With this win the Clippers could lose the next one and go down against Memphis and it wouldn’t be the end of the world, Kawhi coming back for the game against the Warriors. But we can be a little greedy too. Not sure about the Luka and Kyrie status for tomorrow. Don’t even mind playing them so much, with this win under the belt. More analysis of the game later.

By: mlslaw1

mlslaw1 — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 16:55:46 +0000

Very tenous standings. Lose a couple and freefall.

By: dhpat

dhpat — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 05:48:48 +0000

Norm >>> PG

By: dhpat

dhpat — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 05:48:07 +0000

Our Golden Boy is putting up double doubles!

By: John Maclean

John Maclean — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 05:35:39 +0000

I had to miss the game but it looks like we crushed it and also had a good night on the league scoreboard. 5th place now. Crazy.

By: John Maclean

John Maclean — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 23:01:50 +0000

What I’m most interested in tonight is seeing how Norm and Harden fare against an all-business defense. Seems like they’ve both struggled against the upper echelon teams in this regard. If they are productive we should be in good shape to pull it off.

By: mlslaw1

mlslaw1 — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 21:07:17 +0000

“don’t want him to have a set back”

Been thinking of those two words — set back — but in Kawhi’s context. If we see those words, hope goes out the window.

By: KMarsh86

KMarsh86 — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 20:22:23 +0000

I like our chances with Luka out & we probably lose the 2nd match up. 1-1 is fine with me too! I kind of hope DJJr doesn’t play… want to make sure that hamstring is definitely healthy. I don’t want him to have a set back & miss more time. Muscle injuries can be tricky to manage.