Comments on: Clippers vs. Suns Game 3 Preview

By: khyber jones

khyber jones — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 22:07:30 +0000

Looks like Team Kawhi is doing that thing again where they’re being very cryptic about his status. They’re keeping information from the team itself. Ty Lue doesn’t even know if he’s available for Game 4.

Don’t really know what to think, but my working assumption is that he’s not going to be playing in Game 4. That said, it’s less than 24 hours before the game and he hasn’t told the team that he is definitely ‘out’.

The simplest analysis is that he has new inflammation in the area close to the original injury to where his doctors/staff playing the long game and are looking to sit him out to make sure he minimizes the risk of a more significant, career threatening injury.

A different take could be that Kawhi is load managing b/c of the NBA’s ridiculous 4 playoff game in 6 day schedule (we will have completed 4 games before the Lakers have even played 3). We’re not even getting 48 hours between Games 3 and Games 4 in our own building!!! By keeping his views close to the vest he takes the responsibility for doing it and doesn’t involve the team. If the team were involved, it would raise issues with the league and cause leaks that could hurt his rep. After all, KD and CP3 are playing heavy minutes and aren’t taking games off. He comes back on his schedule at his time, and doesn’t have to admit that this is load management.

Another possibility is that the medical staff that manages Kawhi has certain metrics that they use to evaluate the condition of his knees and overall lower body. If he doesn’t meet those metrics, he sits, period. It could be a metric driven process and they make no exceptions. He may have some discomfort and could play through it but the goal of this recovery process is to not do that in order to ensure that his body returns stronger.

By: sjake

sjake — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 14:39:29 +0000

Yeah, as painful as it is. I’m not ready to blow this up yet either. I’m actually expecting to still see PG and Kawhi on the court together this playoffs. I must be a Clipper fan.

By: KingAlfonse

KingAlfonse — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 08:34:06 +0000

Do you sincerely think you can count on pg or kawhi or both being healthy come playoff time?

By: lying dog-faced pony soldier

lying dog-faced pony soldier — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 07:21:12 +0000

This was Powell’s breakout Clippers performance. Otherworldly on offense, surprisingly stout on defense. Westbrook overall great. Whenever Hyland has the ball, I’m expecting good things to happen. Just a couple more shots falling, a couple fewer mistakes by refs, a couple other guys stepping up just a little, and this could have gone the other way.

By: lying dog-faced pony soldier

lying dog-faced pony soldier — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 07:02:09 +0000

Nah, I’ll take a pass.

By: khyber jones

khyber jones — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 06:41:42 +0000

For an optimistic take: the Clips have really pushed the Suns to the limit and have exposed the ineffectiveness of their role players and bench. They can’t really afford to stagger Booker and KD because no one else can really carry them against playoff competition. They started wearing down in that Q4 and it may be reasonable to expect that the Suns might not have a very good shooting game in Game 4. The Clippers are playing a lot of players who can bring energy and effort led by Russ and co. If Ty Lue makes some more nimble decisions on using personnel (no Marcus Morris, please and more T-Mann and, yes, Roco) we do have a very decent chance to tie this series at 2-2. Tonight’s defeat probably instilled a sense in the team that they can beat the Suns despite being shorthanded if they take care of the ball better and are more judicious with their shot selection.

At that point, it would be anyone’s series.

By: WhyNotTyler

WhyNotTyler — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 06:34:10 +0000

I see where you’re coming from in theory. My scepticism stems from not seeing that happening much next to Hyland so how is it happening next to Russ with less spacing? Further, when I check the 3 weeks before the trade deadline, there’s 8.5 points and 2.5 assists there in 25 minutes a game, that doesn’t exactly back up the claim if it didn’t happen over the best stretch.

Would agree with mix and match and higher shot quality. Need more time though to be sold on Mann as a PRIMARY initiator, he strikes me more as a secondary guy who exploits an advantage that a primary playmaker has created. Might be wrong though

By: khyber jones

khyber jones — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 06:19:00 +0000

Also want to give a shout out to Norm Powell, not just for his alpha dog offense, which matched Booker’s scoring and put us in a position to win, but for his defense. I’ve been critical of his D most of the season but he was on his game tonight. That’s very encouraging.

By: khyber jones

khyber jones — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 06:16:22 +0000

Mann was doing exactly that when he was the starting PG before Russ came on board. He jolted the first unit into playing with some intensity. It’s really about offensive efficiency. Russ is often open from the 3 pt line, but Mann can actually hit those shots. When there is a hot hand or a wide open player in the corner, we have to move the ball in that direction. We just can’t have hero ball on every possession when we have better scorers on the court that need touches. It took Lue several minutes in the 2nd half before he ran a high screen and roll with Zu and Norm to free Norm up for a 3. The point guard and the coach have to be better to win playoff games when you have a low margin for error.

Having a mix and match where both guys are on the court playmaking makes the Clippers unguardable and Russ more efficient. A coach should be able to figure that out. Lue is more of the ride or die type and I don’t think that’s good enough for a championship level coach.

By: dhpat

dhpat — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 06:14:21 +0000

Wow, King. I’m not sure that I can leave yet.