The Clippers concluded SPL play yesterday with 78-80 loss to the
Hornets, finalizing a 2-3 record amid quite an eventful week or two in
the front office.
The five games served their purpose for the three Clips that matter
most in terms of development for the season. Al Thornton, Eric Gordon,
and Marcus Williams all posted solid averages throughout.
Though he only played two games because of a strained hammy,
Clippers’ first-round draft pick Eric Gordon led the team in PPG,
posting 19 in addition to his 5.5 RPG and 2 APG. Al Thornton played all
five games, averaging 15.8 PPg and 5.6 RPG.
The Clippers had two regular season roster players with the free
agent tag playing in the SPL. Marcus Williams averaged 11.6 PPG and 5.8
RPG and Nick Fazekas averaged 9.2 PPG and 5.2 RPG.
A lot of eyes were on the second round picks, center, DeAndre Jordan
and guard, Mike Taylor. Jordan led the team in RPG, with 7.2 in
addition to his 7.4 PPG. Mike Taylor averaged 10.2 PPG despite posting
an embarrassing 5.8 turnovers per game...
Rookie,
Joe Crawford made headlines Wednesday night as his buzzer-beating
runner granted the Lakers their second win in the Vegas summer league.
His game-winning shot was backed with 10 points and six rebounds on the
night. Four other Lakers finished in dubs, including Brian Roberts and
Lorenzo Mata-Real, who both finished with 12.
Coby Karl kept pace with his SL averages, scoring 14, but the show was stolen by an unlikely contributor.
Nik Caner-Medley with 19. Who? Let’s open the file.
Nik Caner-Medley, a product of New England, led Maryland in scoring
in his junior and senior year (2005-2006), in route to a no-show at the
draft. Nik signed a Summer League contract with the Pistons in 2006,
only to go down with a foot injury for five months. Since then, he has
played in Germany, back in the SL with the Kings, in the NBADL, and
most recently in Spain. He’s a 6-8, 200lb forward. If he keeps posting
big numbers, maaaybe we’ll see him don the purple and gold come November. This guy is new to me, but I’ll be keeping my eye on him.
Oh yeah… I forgot to mention that the Lakers beat the T-Wolves.
Kevin Love (probably my favorite rookie) lit it up. 18 points and 17
rebounds. I’m really excited to watch this guy ball. Corey Brewer put
up 19, and POOH JETER! chimed in with 15.
"The Los Angeles Clippers today signed free
agent guard William “Smush” Parker. Per team policy, terms of the deal
were not released."
There you have it. In lieu of Sam Cassell's buyout, the Clipps signed Smush Parker -- a real classy dude.
In nine games with the Heat this season, Smush averaged 4.8 points, 1.7 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game. Smush also happened to (reportedly) injure a 41 year-old female valet attendant over a $12 fee this past November.
That said, Smush makes his triumphant return to the glitz where, for two seasons with the Lakers, he put up a little over 11 ppg. Despite my harsh words for Parker, this isn't a bad move by the Clippers by any means. They're a team facing a big rebuild (considering the rumors), and he's a semi-proven guy with adequate experience.
Halftime Thoughts: It's the Battle of Los Angeles, and thus far the Lakers have the upper hand. The Lakers are 0-2 in games live-blogged on VHP, and from the looks of things, they might take one step closer .500 tonight. Kobe is apparently playing through that strained hamstring we saw on Friday Night, but from the looks of things, he is 100%.
Kobe has 18 through the half, on the wings of some borderline heroics, drawing a foul behind the arch, making all three, then stealing the ensuing inbound pass, and almost netting a half-court three; all with one second on the clock. Lamar has 10, and Bynum has eight points with five blocks.
Chris Kaman leads the Clipps with 12 points and nine rebounds.
Third Quarter
11:15 - This is a beat up Clippers team (heh, what we're used to), we even saw Corey Maggette score on himself.
10:19 - I'm really disappointed that Kaman cut his hair. He's lost the caveman mystique.
9:52 - D-Fish just got his fourth foul. We saw a similar situation with Baron Davis on Friday night, and look what happened...
9:35 - Luke nails a three to bring the lead to 64-49
9:15 - Ah, the first "ambient court noise" expletive of the quarter!
8:52 - Kobe is not human. Went up for a shot, got hacked, basically landed, threw it up, and made the basket. AND ONE.
8:30 - Stu Lantz is a Chargers fan? Speaking of the Chargers... 51 POINTS! Flipping insane.
8:14 - Luke meets his season high; 6-6 from the field for 15 points.
7:02 - Lamar bricks another shot.
5:51 - Dependable Lamar misses again!
5:51 - Again, Luke Walton is 6-6 from the field and 3-3 from three point land. Props to Luke.
5:35 - This game has REALLY slowed down from the pace of the second quarter.
5:30 - Second "ambient court noise" exploitive.
5:09 - Bynum WITH AUTHORITY! 75-58 Lakers.
4:36 - Kaman just looked like rec leaguer. Double dribble.
3:50 - Lamar blows another decent opportunity.
3:47 - Farmar just took Maggette down hard.
3:37 - 33% of Corey Maggette's career points are from the stripe.
3:16 - I still can't believe that Brevin Knight is still in the league
3:16 -The Clipps are on an 8-0 run. 77-66.
2:57 - WOAH! Chris Mihm actually scored!!!!!
2:29 - Kobe is the king of drawing fouls.
2:29 - The D-Fenders won again. Coby Carl posted 22 points. He is benefitting so much from getting so much playing time in the D-League.
2:02 - Lamar almost airballed a free throw, and smiled it off. Great attitude Lamar.
0:59 - Corey Maggette is BUILT.
0:36 - Lamar misses ANOTHER shot.
0:00 - ouhreghibgjrfaj COREY MAGGETTE JUST NAILED A SIDEARM HALF-COURT SHOT! Off the glass to boot. Unreal.
0:00 - Just like that, the Clipper pull within six. This game is eerily similar to Friday night's game. The fourth shall be entertaining.
Fourth Quarter Lakers 82, Clippers 76
10:52 - We see some of Sasha; pull up jumper for two.
9:39 - Sasha for three, bringing the Lakers lead to 13.
AGH. I'm having some "whoops" issues.
5:37 - Lakers 101, Clippers 80 on a huge Sasha three.
5:16 - Ronny Turiaf is belly dancing?
4:50 - Kobe just nailed a DEEP three. He has smiled more tonight than he has all season. 32 points, and this guy is supposed to be injured.
4:13 - Magic is chilling with Denzel Washington. How Lakers game is that?
3:30 - 106-86
2:44 - Sasha again! 14 points. Sasha is one of the most unpredictable players on this team.
2:44 - Coby Karl sighting!
2:32 - Dan Dickau for three. Gonzaga.
1:06 - WE WANT TACOS, WE WANT TACOS.
0:57 - Ronny just took a three? haha.
0:00 - TACOS.
Final Score Lakers 113, Clippers 92
Post Mortem This was a huge win for the Lakes going into a long road trip, facing some mediocre teams. Kobe, who was supposedly suffering from a strained groin, was lights out, posting 32 points, and pulling down eight rebounds. Walton set a season high with 15. Andrew kept the haters at bay, looking good with six blocks, 14 points, and eight rebounds. Sasha put up 14; all of which in the fourth, and Lamar had 12 and eight, on 3-8 from the field.
Corey Maggette did his thing, putting up 27. Chris Kaman kept on pace with the great season he's having, posting 18 points, and 16 rebounds.
This win was the big confidence booster that the Lakers needed going into a four-game road trip leading up to the huge Christmas Day game against the Suns.
Coming tomorrow: A Comprehensive breakdown of the Lakers road trip
[The Lakers are now 1-2 in games live-blogged on VHP]
I'm not even going to attempt to talk about last Friday's Laker game. I made the hour and a half drive home for my high school's homecoming football game this weekend. Coincidentally, the game coincided with the Laker game. Basically, all I know is that they won; which they should have, going up against one of the worst teams in the league in the T-Wolves. I know that Odom made his debut with a double-double, and I know that despite dropping two games this weekend, the Clippers are still winning the battle for Los Angeles.
The Clippers two losses do, however signify that this team is not unstoppable. While they did face two tough opponents this weekend (Pistons and Cavs), there's really no excuse for a 4-0 team to get beat by anyone by 24 points (Friday: Spurs 103, Clippers 79) . Though the Clipps did play solid ball en route to a 103-95 loss to Clevaland on Sunday, it looks as if they have lost some momentum.
Momentum is something that the Lakers certainly could use going into this feared two-game road trip that has been dubbed the Texas Two-Step by the local media... I know. Let me explain.
The Texas Two-Step
1. Tuesday | Lakers @ San Antonio - 5:30 pm PT
2. Wednesday | Lakers @ Houston - 6:00 pm PT
Who would have thought? Two games in Texas in two days = The Texas Two-Step.
All jokes aside, these two games will be a pivotal point in early part of the season. Two big wins over two 6-1 teams might bridge the gap between mediocrity and contention.
It was a rather slow sports day in Los Angeles. No Lakers game, no Clippers game, and though nobody truly cares here, no Ducks game and no Kings game either.
Here's run through the rumor mill, news stand, and garbage pail:
A-Rod, who is seeking the biggest contract in the history of the league, is now ready to venture out into the free agent market. His agent, Scott Boras, a.k.a the dude that "ruined" game four of the World Series, reportedly used this week's GM meetings to pimp A-Rod to anyone who would listen. Among those listening closely, the Red Sox, Dodgers, Mets, and Angels. The Angels, however, stepped things up and appear to be the front runner, with this statement from GM Tony Reagins:"We're interested. We're going to speak to his people and see where they are," Reagins said. "They'll know where we stand and we'll go from there. You look to try to improve your club. If that's a piece that improves your club, you go for it."
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the mother of Clippers G/F Corey
Maggette has said "Corey would love to be a Bull.'' This is obviously a
case of "what were you thinking," but with Corey being the highlight of
the team while Brand is out, combined with the Clipps' 4-0 record,
countered by Chicago's 1-4 record (they finally won a game), I think
he's staying put.
Lamar Odom is expected to return to the Lakers starting line-up for Friday's game against the T-Wolves. Odom, who was sidelined in May after undergoing shoulder surgery will likely replace Luke Walton in the line-up in lieu of Ronny Turiaf's stellar play in the first four games of the season.
Good old Phil Jackson is already talking about next season... four games into this season. When asked about the status of his standing contract with the Lakers, he said "It will probably be before Thanksgiving, or around Thanksgiving time. That's a good time period." Jackson, who is still recovering from his second hip replacement surgery has mentioned that his heath, as well as the team's propensity to win a championship play a strong role in his decision.
Much to the chagrin of change-seeking Lakers fans, Jerry West has been said to be very much enjoying his retirement down time.
Ex-Euro soccer star Ruud Gullit will be announced as the new coach of the L.A. Galaxy in a press conference friday morning. ...Yet another expenditure that will likely get the Galaxy nowhere. Here's to hoping Gullit doesn't go down with a knee injury.
Well, it turns out they are, and with a huge win over the Pacers tonight, it's only a matter of time before these guys start making headlines.
That "washed up point guard" everyone was talking about... Sam Cassell... He just dropped 35 in the face of the now 3-1 Pacers.
That "tall white guy" that isn't enough of a presence down low... Chris Kaman... He just pulled down 22 rebounds.
The bottom line, is that this team is playing with heart. For those who don't know why this is even more amazing that it would usually be, the Clippers are playing without their franchise player, Elton Brand until at least February. Elton, by far has been the most productive Clipper in recent memory, and when he went down in August, tearing an achilles in a daily workout, the 2007-2008 season instantly went down the drain; or so we thought.
ESPN the Magazine predicted the Clippers to finish the season 14th out of 15 in the Western Conference, and judging by how last season went, nobody really doubted it.
Still though, I leave myself wondering "when is this going to end?"
Give 'em some credit
This is the media's worst nightmare. All summer long; Kobe this, Kobe that. All September long; Kobe this, Kobe that. All October long; Kobe this, Kobe that. Basically, in Los Angeles, the media is fixated on the enigma that Kobe Bryant is, and the impact that he has on the Lakers.
It's a fact that there is an overwhelming majority of Lakers fans Southern California, but if the Clippers keep getting swept under the mat by the media, something needs to be done.
The Lakers, fresh off of two convincing victories, fan's hearts hand, returned to style of play that strikes resemblance to a time when things weren't so great in la la land. That time happened to be the first three quarters of opening night, and just about the majority of the last two seasons.
The Lakers home loss tonight against New Orleans brought fans back down to earth from that two-day acid trip that the midday radio hosts had them strung up on. "The Lakers are BACK." "This team is for real." "Kobe is happy."
Sounds a lot like me the other day, eh?
Anyhow, The Lakers still posted four in double figures: Kobe, Ronny Turiaf, Jordan Farmar, and Vladdy, but nothing really out of the ordinary jumped out at me this game.
The real story was on the other side of the ball.
Chris Paul broke a team record with assists, dishing out 21... yeah, 21 FREAKING ASSISTS.
Peja Stojakovic also broke a team record; three-pointers netted in a game, with 10.
Regardless of what really went on in this game, the hardcore Laker fans are going to say that the Hornets played unusually well. Considering the win brings their record to 4-0, we may have to eradicate the "unusual"; the Hornets look hot.
Around the league:
Speaking of hot, the team that ESPN the Magazine projected to finish 14 out of 15 in the west is undefeated. That's right, in case you missed it, the Clippers embarrassed the Bulls by a score of 97-91 tonight. An embarrassment by only 6 points? YEAH. We're talking about the Elton Brand-less Shawn Livingston-less Clippers going up against an Eastern Conference top five team at home.
Tally?
Clippers 3-0
Bulls 0-4
As cute as it is to see the Clippers on top of the Pacific Division standings, you just have to think that this can't last much longer.
I'm a realistic observer of the vast world that surrounds the Los Angeles Lakers. You can thank Nick Van Exel, Eddie Jones, Elden Campbell, Cedric Ceballos, and Vlade Divac for making that possible. The greatest person of all time is Francis Dayle "Chick" Hearn. There's no getting around that. Me? I'm eighteen years old and working my way to a journalism degree.
Rookie,
Joe Crawford made headlines Wednesday night as his buzzer-beating
runner granted the Lakers their second win in the Vegas summer league.
His game-winning shot was backed with 10 points and six rebounds on the
night. Four other Lakers finished in dubs, including Brian Roberts and
Lorenzo Mata-Real, who both finished with 12.
The Texas Two-Step
That "washed up point guard" everyone was talking about... Sam Cassell... He just dropped 35 in the face of the now 3-1 Pacers.
The Lakers home loss tonight against New Orleans brought fans back down to earth from that two-day acid trip that the midday radio hosts had them strung up on. "The Lakers are BACK." "This team is for real." "Kobe is happy."
