Time for a postgame. Look, it's your LA Clippers. This is Clippers
Locker Room, brought to you by Cedars Sinai, the official health partner of
the LA Clippers, and by Patschonga, official travel casino of the LA Clippers.
Breaking down today's action with the pre and post game voice. If you're
LA Clippers, they're locking in every game, every night. Adam Osland,
the Clippers blow out the Wizards in DC one twenty five to one oh nine,
and welcome into your postgame and locker room show. I'm Adam Oslin coming
up on a M. Five to seventy LA Sports. We'll have Clippers Talk
for you at eight sixty six nine eight seven two five seventy if you want
to get on early. But first let's get back out to your radio voice
of the Clippers in Carlo Jimenez. What a second half? What focus from
this team to put the Wizards away early in the third Carlo, Yeah,
really flexing their muscles and posing their will, stepping on the Wizard's neck,
taking away the match. Whatever you want to use, I mean, that's
what the Clippers did in this one. They were excellent. A forty to
nineteen third quarters at him. They were able to silence that offense of Washington
and dominate from start to finish. And it started with Kawhi Leonard. I
mean four to five steals, thirty one points, nine rebounds, a block.
He was great on both ends, and I think that's why, Adam,
when we get towards all NBA, there's no denying that Kawhi Leonard is
a top five player in this league because of what he does on defense.
Yeah, he's not gonna average thirty a game, but how many guys in
the NBA are shooting fifty percent from the field and from three and then are
third in the NBA and steals a game. There's only one other guy who's
comparable right now. It's Shank Gilders Alexander and he is an All Star starter.
So Kawhi Leonard continues to be excellent, set the tone for this team
and really lock in the entire way. I know the national media tends to
be late with everything. I'm looking at you, Kendrick Perkins, but if
you go back to the last three months of last season, Kawhi Leonard shooting
splits at fifty three, forty seven to ninety, you take it into this
season. He's had an all time run over the past year now, just
unbelievable play from the claw thirty one in thirty minutes tonight, plus five steals,
fourteen of twenty five shooting, and got them off to a quick start
with twelve points in the first quarter and then twelve more in that third when
they made the big push. Carlos Yeah, I mean he was so good
at him. He showed a ground pick on the broadcaster Baallety. He's already
had more dunks this year than he had all of last year and we still
got a whole lot of basketball to play. I mean, this is game
forty six for the Clippers. Has a long way left in this season,
hopefully deep deep into the summer. If Kawhi Leonard keeps playing like this,
the Clippers were fantastic. And how about your player the game James Harden.
Four blocks for a six to six point guard? Are you kidding me?
He has that size to him. Coach Lewis talked about it recently. One
of the reasons he believes they can beat an elite defense is because of James
Harden and what he can do matchup wise. He's a really good post defender.
Most people overlook that he's always had the quick hands, he's always gotten
a lot of steals, but now he's getting blocks two With this Clippers team,
the effort has been there. He showed it again to night, twenty
five points in thirty two minutes, five to three pointers made after the Clippers
have been struggling from the outside. They shoot forty percent from the field in
DC. Yeah, love it, Love that three point percentage, twelve for
thirty on the ball game. I think you'd like to see him. It's
under what they're average heaving for per game, but it's okay. You didn't
really need it today. The Clippers were dominant in the third. And that's
what great teams do, Adam. When you think about the great teams of
the past recently in the NBA, I mean, they get it done in
a single quarter. You impose your will and you're able to rest Kawhi Leonard,
really not play James Harden much in the fourth and get out with some
fresh legs and a big time win. What a performance by this Clippers team,
Exactly what you want. After Cleveland, who if we're gonna check that
score really quick is up seven, They're gonna pull a The Calves are on
top of Detroit, right the Clippers. A great performance, a great defensive
performance in this one. That's what most impressed me tonight. And the Clippers
have now won twenty eight of their last thirty six games going back to the
starting lineup reconfiguration, twenty three of their last twenty eight since December, and
fourteen of their last seventeen games. And as you mentioned, Clippers will be
in Detroit on Friday, same tip time at four. We get to pregame
shows starting at three. Carlo, great call, my friends, safe travels.
We'll talk to you in Motown on Friday. All right, Adam,
I can't wait to keep it rolling. The road trip continue. Clippers three
and one to start off this seven game Grammy road trip. Clippers win one
twenty five to one on nine in Washington, DC. We got second half
highlights next right here on the Los Angeles Clippers Audio Network loading Clippers fully loaded
with Clippers fans. This is LA Clippers basketball. You're listening to the LA
Clippers on the LA Clippers Audio Network. Clippers winning d C one twenty five
to one oh nine in convincing fashion over the Washington Wizards. Welcome back into
your postgame show. I'm Adam Oslin. This is Clippers locker room still to
come. We got Clippers talk on five seventy LA Sports eight six six ninety
eight seven two five seventy eight six six ninety eight seven two five seventy.
You can get to meet at follow Adam a on Twitter. But if you
bring in that week stuff like Terrence Man is just a placeholder, I'm probably
gonna block or mute you. Clippers now with team Man. Over the last
fifty one games with him in the starting lineup, they are thirty nine and
twelve. Unreal. This Clippers team continues to surge. They'll be in Detroit
on Friday. But it was really the dominance in the second half in DC
today, just led by six at the half, weren't digging in their heels
defensively enough, and then Kawhi Leonard in that third quarter would put this one
away early. James straight away Leonard pump takes the three drives the right alley,
pulls up from eighteen off iron rebound offensive board. Leonard. He puts
it back up, recycling slippers of the ball. James pushing through the lights
past Leonard. The right handed fluid is home. James Horden, Cliffer's conductor
finds his way to some string music with the Assistan Kawhi Leonard end of the
front court comes hard and surveys the scene. Leonard at the top drifts of
the right el both down about a mini ray jumper shakes underneath the rim reverse
Lamb twints it off the window and in dribbles for the right hand crossover twice
step back mid range. Jane sticks it Kawhi Leonard twenty seven Tonight some wizardry
arandc Leonard at the top. He has been de Archer dripples right hand flies
to the ram, muscles right handed Lamb. Kawhi Leonard can't be stopped,
stops on the dime rid Engle extended on the glides of the ram. Leonard
flinchs it up again his fifth steel in the case. Here comes Westbrook cork
screwing fine. Leonard las it up with the left hand and the Clippers are
up twenty five behind thirty one from the claw. Kawhi Leonard with twelve more
points there. In the third quarter, as the Clippers were pulling away,
outscoring the Washington Wizards in those twelve minutes to start off that third quarter forty
to nineteen. They headed into the fourth with a one six to seventy nine
lead, and they go on to win in decisive fashion, one twenty five
to one oh nine in DC over the Wizards. Clippers in Detroit on Friday.
More on that plus postgame audio coming up here in your Clippers locker room
show. I'm adame Oslind and you're listening to the Los Angeles Clippers Audio Network.
The LA Clippers continue their hunt for a LARRYO. B. They still
want to get that Lario B. Don't miss a moment all season long.
This is the LA Clippers Audio Network. Clippers win one twenty five to one
own nine in our nation's capital. They take down the Washington Wizards. Up
next the Pistons in Detroit on Friday. Clippers ended up shooting forty seven percent
from the field, twelve of thirty from the outside. I told you on
Twitter ID follow out of May they were gonna bounce back from three after having
three straight games shooting just twenty eight percent from distance. They go forty percent
from three. They also were scoring in the paint once again, fifty six
points in the paint. The Wizards did have sixty four their top two in
paint scoring. You expect that from them. Just nine of twenty nine from
the outside though. They had thirteen turnovers, not a big number, but
the Clippers turned that into twenty one points. A lot of that was because
they got in a transition. Twenty four fast break points for the Clippers,
just twelve for the Wizards. Clippers was seventeen second chance points, sixteen for
Washington. They were led by Kyle Kuzma, who had twenty three points in
the first half. He finished with just twenty. Kawhi Lennetts, he had
nineteen points in the first half, finished with thirty one in twenty nine minutes,
fourteen of twenty five, shooting one of four from the outside, but
ended up we thought it was five steals. They only gave him credit for
four. In all around masterclass from Kawhi Leonard without Paul George James Harden as
well, my player to watch seven of fifteen, five of his seven makes
were from three win five of ten from distance, twenty five points, five
assists, a couple of turnovers. Off the bench. Norman Powell with fourteen
points. I thought he played pretty well overall. Also, if you haven't
been watching, he's been getting boreded recently. Seven of them. They gotta
do it collectively right now because they don't have Big Zoo Russell Westbrook are much
better. Third quarter helped the Clippers open up that lead where they led by
as many as twenty nine. Russ finished with nine, seven assists, zero
turnovers. Like that number, how about a mere coffee started off four four,
finish five of seven seventeen points, showing up as he typically does,
especially in January, but a mere coffee getting the start with no Paul George.
Clippers go on to win one twenty five to one oh nine in DC
over the Washington Wizards. Up next, they'll be in Detroit Motown on Friday,
tip off, same time in four pregame show starting at three outside of
Los Angeles. We are leaving you until then, but coming up next here
on a M five to seventy LA Sports, we got Clippers talk. This
has been LA Clippers basketball really good on multitude of levels. Don't miss a
moment all season long on their official home. Join us next time on the
LA Clippers Audio Network. Hello Clippers fans, if you're gonna go for it.
If that's what you want to do, you do. Welcome the Clippers
Talk your first chance to react to all the action of Clippers basketball. Do
it to hear every episode. Subscribe to Clippers Talk on iHeartRadio or wherever you
podcast differentation on Henmy right now your host on your home for the Clippers,
they were in attack mode, Adam Ousley. Well, in the second half,
the Clippers made the Wizards disappear. They go on to win one twenty
five to one oh nine in DC over the Washington Wizards. I'm Adam Oslo.
Welcome into your postgame. So this is Clippers Talk here on a M
five to seventy LA sports eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy eight
six six nine eight seven two five seventy What it was staring me in the
face? I could have said they were ganned off the gray in the second
half. I don't know what you want to say when you go on a
sixty nine to forty four run, lead by as many as twenty nine after
it was just a six point game at the half. It was impressive the
way the Clippers flipped the switch pedal to the medal and it starts with Kawhi
Leonard start things off great in the first quarter, had twelve points. Problem
was Clippers only led by two twelve minutes in. Defensively, they weren't present.
They weren't there, making eleven points for Kawhi in that first quarter,
Kyle Kuzma had fourteen and it was thirty seven to thirty five Clippers. Heading
into the second they would start to build up a lead, and there was
something of note after that Cleveland game where the Clippers just weren't good enough closing
out quarters. Kawhi Leonard came back in with five minutes about five minutes left
in that second quarter and went to work once again. He ended up scoring
eight points in the last five minutes of the second and just doing it in
a variety of ways. He started off the game with a three pointer,
then hit the midi a steal and got it to a Mere Coffee who had
seventeen in the ballgame for a layup, getting the start with no PG thirteen.
Then a Kawhi jumper out of a timeout as Washington was making a pushback
nailed it from the free throw line. He did miss a couple of bunnies
in the second and then tapped it in, then had the fade away over
Kyle Kuzma with two point thirty left in the first half. Just nasty MJ
ninety six type of stuff. Then a straightaway jumper, Kawhi had a pump
fake to get multiple defenders in the air, and then just laid it up.
But those eight points in the last five minutes of the second quarter were
key because Washington was not going away and the Clippers needed to close out the
quarter strong to at least have the lead at the half. They did.
It was sixty six to sixty, but you wanted to see this team flex
their muscles a little bit and put the Wizards away and get ready for Detroit
on Friday. And that's what we saw in that third quarter. I don't
believe the Washington Wizards had a point three and a half minutes in to the
third. Clamp City showed up, even without Big Zoo, even without Paul
George. A mere coffee start things off with a three pointer in the third
put them up by nine. Kawhi Leonard gets a bucket, James Harden a
mid range shot, Terrence Man a dunk, and all of a sudden,
the Clippers are up by fifteen. The Wizards didn't score till four and a
half minutes in, make it three and a half minutes in to that third
quarter. Kyle Kuzmo would get the bucket after he had twenty three points in
the first half to combat Colis nineteen. Kuzma was great, but the Clippers
started things off on that run, got up fifteen before the Wizards made a
shot, and outside of Kuzma, they didn't have much else going on in
that third quarter, and the Clippers were off and running. They finished the
game with over twenty fast break points and it was defense leading to offense.
They ended up with twenty four fast break points because whenever Washington was turning it
over, the Clippers were taking advantage in their thirteen turnovers. The Clippers had
twenty one points Off those thirteen turnovers by DC by Washington, by the Wizards,
the Clippers only turned it over eight times eight times in the ballgame.
That's how you build up a lead, win the possession battle. They got
up three more shots than the Washington Wizards. The Clippers ended up with eighteen
let me see that again, eighteen offensive rebounds. Some of them were guys
missing like Kawhi. I mentioned he missed a couple and then tapped it in.
Patten the stats a little bit right there, but we'll give it to
him. It's Kwhi Leonard, come on. Russell Westbrook had a few that
he missed and eventually tapped in. But I just really liked the effort in
that third quarter to say enough is enough, It's time to show who we
are. That's what championship teams do. That's the championship trait to put a
team away that shouldn't have been in the ballgame to begin with. In the
third Kawhi Leonard didn't have to play minutes in the fourth quarter. Great sign
they got tomorrow off too. He finished just under thirty minutes and had thirty
one points on fourteen of twenty five shooting. And in that third quarter,
just nasty stuff from Kawhi and some hustle place. First, he had to
put back off a miss jumper following his shot to start off a third,
then a floater after James Harden went between the legs with a beautiful pass to
Kawhi, then just a reverse on a couple of Washington Wizards who were there
at the rim. Didn't matter Kawhi was toying with them a jumper to end
the third and then before it was over a layup, and that got him
to thirty one points and the Clippers never really looked back. After three quarters
they led one to six to seventy nine. The backups got run Brandon Boston,
and I'm not gonna say this was just inconsequential garbage time from him,
because in that second quarter the Clippers went uber small. They had Brandon Boston
in there, next to Norman Powell, next to Terrence Man, next to
Russ and James Harden and that crew. In about three minutes they were a
plus two. They did well, that's a team in the Washington Wizards you
can play small against and have some success. Clippers were leaning offense over defense.
It worked. They also were doing a good job defensively during that stretch,
shrinking the floor, guys covering for one another. So coach Lou getting
in his bag of tricks, tinkering tie. Just seeing Brandon Boston during meaningful
basketball in the first half was big, trusting him some. He had a
nice lay up early in the second quarter, a big dunk late in the
fourth quarter cocked it back right handed hammer and these were I mean, this
is probably the best game he's had this season in twenty seven minutes, a
lot of them with the game still in the balance. Brandon Boston Junior had
twelve points, five of eleven shooting, even knocked down a three. Had
a fancy layup in the second half where I believe he went around his back
behind the back for the layup. And he's up with Carlo postgame. The
guy puts in work, stay ready so you don't have to get ready.
It was his moment. He took advantage of it. So did a Mere
Coffee where in twenty one minutes he has seventeen points. I mentioned that big
three pointer to start the second half. Those are momentum swings. Those are
big plays from him. He had a three to start the game. He
was fouled on a three at the end of the shot clock in the first
quarter. Washington just doesn't have the discipline whatsoever right now. Young team trying
to figure it out. They got issues, obviously, second worst team in
the East. But then a Mere Coffee, a layup. He turned down
a three in the third after making one, got to the basket, went
into attack mode and got to the charity Stripe got another easy layup after one
of Kawhi's four steals in the third put the Clippers up eighty one to sixty
four. At that point, they were just surging. The floodgates had opened
up and Washington had nothing for him. The Clippers more than doubled Washington's points
output in that third quarter. The Clippers won the third forty to nineteen.
That is what you want to see. That is being dominant, that is
stepping on a team's neck, and the Clippers have to do that against these
teams. I didn't like the first quarter, giving up thirty five points to
the Washington Wizards far too many. Fourteen of those were Kyle Kuzma. You
let him get going. You give a young team life. They can stay
in a ball game for a while for a while. But after that six
point ly at the half, the Clippers showed the team they can be.
And it was Kawhi Leonard leading them defense leading to offense. And I can't
say enough about the lift on Kawhi's jumper right now. He's looking better and
better as the season is going along. He already has more dunks. I
believe Carlo Amennez brought this up earlier during the broadcast than he had all of
last season, and in a three months from January seventh on when he started
to get back to regular minutes. Last year, he was at fifty three
forty seven ninety splits. Well, here's what Kawhi Leonard has done now this
season, in the last twenty six games, he's getting twenty six points per
game on fifty seven percent shooting from the field, shooting from the outside while
giving you elite defense. How is this guy not in the MVP conversation?
How is the national media sleeping on this team and Kawhi Leonard still? I
know some of them have put them at the top of the power rankings.
It took them far too long, but you know they're a little slow on
the uptake. The Evil four Letter got it wrong about five different times when
they brought in James Harden, Kendrick Perkins saying, oh, pray for coach
Lou in this situation, Steven A. Smith saying, oh, they or
coach Lou needs to get out of Los Angeles. Yeah, it's laughable to
look back at some of the cold takes with this Clippers team. When they
brought in James Harden. I know a guy who said he was the perfect
fit and would unlock the best version of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Not
to pat myself on the back too much, but I set it back in
July. I don't know what people were watching the last two years with James
Harden, because he had already adjusted his game in Brooklyn, playing next to
Katie and Kyrie. I made the comp saying it worked next to those two
guys when they were healthy, when they were whole, they were dominant.
It took this is telling with how lucky unfortunate you have to be to win
a championship. It took Kevin Durant having a shoe and a shoe size too
big that was on the line in that game seven against the Milwaukee Bucks for
that only to be a two pointer for the Bucks to eventually go on and
win that championship. With Kyrie out, with James Harden hobbled, they still
took him to seven. That team was dominant and James Harden was a focal
point. He was the playmaker. He was making life easier for everyone else.
How people slept on that and didn't think it would work next to Kawhi
and Paul George when you already had the archetype the blueprint with what happened with
the nets, You guys just don't know Wall I guess I don't know.
He slept on it. Casuals weren't paying attention. He's been the perfect fit
for this team. He was more player to watch seven of fifteen from the
field, five to three pointers when the Clippers were struggling, as was he
two for his last eleven from three. The last two games, he goes
five of ten from three in this one, gets the twenty five points,
did a lot of damage in that third quarter as well. I want to
say he had eleven of his twenty five points there. He was still in
the game though on the fourth still hitting deep threes, six of six from
the charity stripe nine boards. I think he wanted his tenth. Mason plumbly
led them with eleven. He also had five offensive rebounds, and I thought,
after a bad first half, was really good in the third quarter.
He wasn't getting a ton of run, wasn't getting a lot of looks,
but he did have a dunk early in the third quarter, and he's saved
multiple possessions. The Clippers would eventually continue to miss, but he grabbed multiple
offensive rebounds for them in that third quarter. The effort was there. He
was really good. Nineteen minutes, five points, eleven boards, five of
them being offensive. You'll take that plus twenty three. He and Kawhi led
them in the plus minus category. Clippers win one twenty five to one nine
in Washington over the Wizards as they continue to just be a buzz saw and
prove that that game against Cleveland, the team that has been surging themselves,
was just a blip. They're not gonna let it bleed into the next game.
Even with a first half that wasn't very impressive, they turned it on
that third quarter. Let's go out to DC with Bargo, Gove Gov.
He's part of the big government. What is the bargo? What's up?
You're on Clippers top with that of Maslin. Is that how you saying?
I hope I got that right? Uh bar? What up? Adam Bargo,
Bargo governor, Big Gov. God, Let's go my guy, Adam.
Hey, shout out to you man, you're you're damn good at your
job. Bro. So shout out to you, dude, man, I'm
actually a diehard Wizards fan since the late nineties, been a huge Kawhi fan
the last ten years so, been on the Clippers bandwagon since twenty nineteen.
And man, this is a fun one. This was a fun one.
The team, the vibes look, great, positivity, a lot of great
energy, Kawhi athletically man impressive like you've been talking about. Just a great
team effort to bounce back after a rough first quarter. Defensively impressive stuff.
Man impressive stuff, Tylu general of the ship doing his thing. It was.
It was a real pleasure to watch this seam live. Man bark,
great bargo. Let me ask you about the Washington Wizards and what do you
think they're gonna do with the trade deadline? Is Kuzma gonna be dealt?
He just signed that contract. I know a lot of Clippers fans will love
to have them. I don't know if that's on in the cards. But
what do you think the Wizards do from here? Yeah? From the Wizards
standpoint, the question is when is sell high on Kuzma? You know,
when is that time? I think perhaps it's now the deadline, if you
know, you know he can get two first rounders. It seems like a
lot, But I don't know, maybe you can leverage some team that's desperate
or whatever things he can put him over the top. Generally for the Wizards,
the goal for me is just developed Bilal and Denny. You know,
they're the two long term guys. Everyone else really is just you know,
trade fodder. Just want to kind of inflate their value and eventually dump them
for assets. So yeah, I don't know, Man, hopefully if it's
Tias Jones or Kuzma, Gafford, even maybe even Kissbert. I mean,
all these guys should be on the table for, you know, to be
moved for assets. But what did you think of Koula Bali Man? I
mean, I'm pretty impressed with him as a raw rookie. He looks good
out there, physically, moves well, he defends. What were your impressions
of him? I haven't watched a lot. Granted I haven't seen the Washington
Wizards a ton this season, but nineteen points in thirty seven minutes knocked down
a three point or two. Yeah, he had a good showing. I
agree with the game plan that you have there. That's what when you're in
a hard rebuilt situation, you're hoping to drive up the price on a few
guys and get a bidding war going for maybe someone like Kyle Kuzma. But
it'll be interesting to see Michael Winger. I have all the faith in the
world in your GM, because obviously we saw him in your President of Basketball
Operations as you should say now former GM with the Clippers and Michael Winger,
So I think you guys will be pointing in the right direction eventually here Bargov,
keep the faith. Hey, I agree, man, I appreciate that.
Real quick question for you. I was listening to Nikey is duncan Nate
Jones talk about the Clippers pretty in depth and in terms of one of the
criticisms that he has had is he cited a stat how Kawhi in the poll
is uh the highest percentage of a double teams in the post out of any
player, which obviously is a testament to his greatness, but he was basically
saying that the points per possession out of double teams when he's post up is
not very good. He said there's a lot of stagnancy, not a lot
of moving when he's in the post. So it sounds like it just wasn't
as elite as you would think considering the guys next to him, right,
right? Do you think that's more so about the lack of movement? Do
you think Kauhi's facilitation is not up to part? What would you say about
that? And what would you say about Kauai's ability just as a facilitator overall.
I've had some friends that have been critical, Oh, he doesn't rack
up assists, he doesn't create opportunities for others. I don't agree with that.
But what would you say, you know, what? How would you
answer that? Well? I appreciate the phone call, Bargava call back,
Bargov big go from DC. Uh. Yeah, I saw that same clip.
I thought it was interesting. I still think one of the big reasons
that they lead the league in three point shooting and they bounced back after three
bad games shooting just twenty eight percent from the outside and shot forty percent on
twelve of thirty shooting against the Wizards is because they tend to get you in
rotation when Kawhi is doubled. I haven't seen I only saw a part of
the clip. I haven't seen all the data on that and what the points
per possession are when Kawhi gets doubled. But I also wonder how far they're
going back with that. Are they just taking it from December first on when
the Clippers have really been in this groove, because obviously they lost six in
a row, five in a row when they first brought in James Harden.
That could skew the numbers two. I need a little bit more contexts there,
but I'm not overly concerned with it. I think Kawhi Leonard has always
been an underrated passer. In Game one as a Clipper, he had instant
chemistry and a connection with a Vita Zoo bots and was finding him in the
pick and roll. Oh okay, Kawhi Leonard not just iso score mid range
assassin. This is someone who, look, you gotta pass the basketball when
you start off with the San Antonio Spurs. You have to play hot potato
and find the open man. So he's always played ball the right way.
He doesn't force things, he doesn't take bad shots, and his turnovers have
always been down. So it's never been a major concern for me. But
I understand when you project out to the playoffs and teams doubling him, you
always have to make the opponent play pay in those situations. I'm not overly
concerned about it. I appreciate the phone call, though, high level stuff
there. Well take a quick time out before we do, though, Let's
pause ten seconds for station identification here on AM five seventy LA Sports, this
is LA Clippers Basketball. AM five seventy KLAC Los Angeles, ninety eight seven
KYSR HD two Los Angeles and iHeartRadio station. Come back after this. We'll
get back to your phone calls at eight six, six, nine, eighty
seven two five seventy eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy Clippers three
and one on the seven game Grammy road Trip. After bouncing back, they
lost to Cleveland by ten. On Monday, they win in DC one twenty
five to one oh nine over the Wizards. More Clippers stock next, I'm
out of Mosland and you're listening to A five to seventy LA Sports. They
want to bring a banner with them to the Into It Dawn. More LA
Clippers basketball on the LA Clippers Audio Network. Clippers were up by six at
the half, then they won the second half sixty nine to forty nine.
I misspoke earlier. Only won the second out by twenty led by as many
as twenty nine. At one point they were on a fifty four to thirty
three run. They put the Washington Wizards to bed early in that third quarter.
Clippers eventually go on to win by a final score five to one O
nine in DC over the Wizards. Welcome back into Clippers Talk. Coming up.
We got big Will Updeck joined the show from Clips and Dip. But
first back to your phone calls eight sixty six nine eight seven two five seventy
Morris in Long Beach, Morris here on Clippers Talk without amazin. Hi,
Morris, the climper. They're heading next Troy two, have a knife for
Adam? Is that Hank Wlimes? Thank you Morris, appreciate the phone call.
Yeah, it's that type of night. Morrison, Long Beach, providing
the parodies typically after Clippers wins. Let's hear from Coach Lou postgame. After
the Clippers just dominate in that second half as they should. They're now thirty
one and fifteen on the season and a game over five hun on the road
at twelve and eleven, three and one to start off this seven game Roady,
here was your leader in Coach Lou postgame speaking with the media out as
a small lineup enhance you defense because they did have what thirty five first quarter
points, and then you slowed them down significantly and got controlled the game,
being able to switch, you know, making them play one on one,
you know, against our shrinks and our help and not allow them to get
downhill versus drop with our bigs on the floor. And you know, Gafferd's
are dynamic rollers, so you know our bigs are in between and so and
their guards getting down here with pace. You know, it makes it tough,
you know to try to stand between you know, your man in the
basket, especially when Gafferd's such a great roller. So just switching it up,
just try to give them a different look, and it was able to
work in that second quarter. Short and sweet there from coach Lou. Yeah,
they went small in the first half and it worked started that second quarter.
Made a note I was interested to see how it would go. Terrence
Man, Russ Harden, Boston and Norm and they were a plus two out
there, and they did take control of the game, and they were switching
and very connected defensively. Love seeing that effort. Sometimes when you take a
big off the floor, there's more of a sense of urgency. Guys know
they have to take up the challenge of staying in front of their man because
they don't have that back line help. They don't have that rim protector behind
them. And it showed with the Clippers team. It got them laser focused,
more engaged on defense. Plumbley then came back played well, I thought
in that third quarter when the Clippers made their run again, led by as
many as twenty nine. I can't say enough about Kawhi Leonard though. Right
now, and just the lift he has on his jumper, he looks better
than ever. Thirty two. The guy looks twenty two, beating the heat
in the NBA Finals back in twenty fourteen. That's what he looks like right
now. That explosive second year back off, the ACL back off the niscus
injury from Phoenix in the first round last season, and the fatal ways are
so lethal, and he just keeps refining his shooting stroke. He just gets
more and more efficient, more and more accurate, like zoning in or sighting
a scope. It just gets a little bit finer, a little bit more
detailed, and the attention of detail from this Clippers team was really good in
the second half. Wasn't quite Boston Celtics level, but it was good.
It's where it needed to be against this Washington Wizards team without Paul George,
with out of Vitza Zoobots, You're missing two starters. Big Zoo is so
missed right now. Somebody was getting at me on Twitter. I'd follow out
of May saying, oh see Mason Plumbley and Daniel Tys, they can make
up for the lack of Aviza Zoobots, no one can. You gotta do
it collectively, Clippers did. They out rebounded the Wizards by seven. They
almost hung with them with points in the paint, but the Clippers were playing
more inside outside because they were knocking down three pointers. They need to get
that back in order. They're right at their season average basically in this one.
I think they came into it shooting thirty nine point three percent from three,
best in the league. Well, they went exactly forty percent from the
outside after three straight games, just ice cold from distance after eleven straight games
where they were shooting almost forty seven percent from three. You gotta trust in
the work, have confidence in your shot and the law of averages. Coming
back in your favor. Continue to shoot them, they'll fall. You can't
shy away from it. Just because they had a couple of games where they
were in a rut and they still went two to one in those three straight
games, shooting twenty eight percent from three. They beat Boston going ten to
forty from three. I just like the different phases, dimensions, and elements
of this Clippers team offensively. They can beat you in a variety of ways.
That is a very good sign. Coming up next, will Updyke will
join me here on Clipper as they win again once five to one oh nine
in Washington over the Wizards. Will preview Friday's game in Detroit. They made
it interesting in Cleveland. They only lost that game by seven. It was
I think tied early in the fourth quarter. You can't overlook anyone, Okay,
see just lost to Detroit. Yeah, they're six and forty one,
worst record in the NBA after they lost what thirty plus games. But they're
gonna be a meltown with the little Caesars Arena, pizza, pizza, their
house. Can't let your foot off the gas. Now, gotta get this
victory, get to four and one. That is the goal, because you
got a back to back coming up then on Sunday Monday, to close out
the road trip. I Madame Oslin, this is Clippers stock here on NI
seven E, LA Sports loading Clippers fully loaded with Clippers fans. This is
LA Clippers basketball. You're listening to the LA Clippers on the LA Clippers Audio
Network. Clippers win one to one nine a victory in DC over the Washington
Wizards. I'm Adam Oslin. They improved a three to one on this seven
game Grammy road trip. Welcome back into Clippers Talk. Coming up. We'll
get back to your phone calls eight six six ninety seven two five seventy eight
six six ninety seven two five seventy. But first you hear the music.
You know, we got big Will Updike on from Clips and Dip for Little
Clips and double dip here on Clippers Talk. Will. I've been talking a
lot about Kawhi Leonard rightfully. So his elevation right now, elevation on his
jumper is just insane. It's it may be higher than ever. I am
I crazy? Am I am I seeing things? No, No, not
at all. I was watching on the broadcast forty five donks already this season
which surpasses his entire year last year at forty two. But he definitely looked
at on the court. He's talked a little bit about how he feels more
himself. You know, we know that coming back from the surgery, Like
you know, we always want the timeline to just be a season, but
it seems like guys kind of need to play the better part of a full
season and then they're ready the season after that. So it is something you
gotta be kind of patient with. And I think last season two it was
it was a tall order, especially with him not being in the starting lineup.
But now he looks I mean, I mean, he looks indistinguishable from
what Kawhi looked like at his peak. To me, at least, I
think that he looks as strong as ever. So it's definitely good to see
and we can use his physicality, especially with Paul George down for who knows
at least the game. Yeah, Kauhi with four steals in this one plus
nine boards, four assists, those thirty one points on fourteen of twenty five
shooting. Yeah, I still remember people saying, like Steven a he should
retire. Now he looks like the best player in the game. I don't
know what it's going to take for and maybe you know that win against Boston
certainly woke some people up, and how much winning the Clippers have been doing
that helps, But put him in the MVP conversation, it looks like,
I don't know if the news came out with Joel Embiid and that knee injury
from yesterday. I know he got an MRI, but this is someone who
should be right up there with Embiid, with Giannis, with Nikola Jokic,
with SGA because of what he does on both ends. The offensive numbers if
you just look at the traditional stuff, Okay, just points, all right,
he's about twenty five per game, but the efficiency is so absurd right
now, you have to take that stuff into account. It's twenty twenty four.
Look at the advanced analytics. I mean, the Clippers are nine points
worse per one hundred possessions with Kawhi off the floor. Defensively, he's too
damn good and integral to what they're able to do on both ends of the
floor. Yeah, I mean, I agree one hundred percent, and I
definitely don't want to discredit what he has done so far this season. As
far as the MVP race is concerned, is concerned. He's having a ridiculous
season, but it just looks like with that new game's minimum, I think
he can only miss after the night, I think he only has five or
six maybe left that he can miss. So I don't know that that I
think that might rule him out. So then looking ahead, yeah, I
feel like you have Jokic Kawhi, and Kawhi has to be right under him
if they're not neck and neck in the Western Conference. And then I mean
Giannis for sure, with the way the Bucks have looked this year and some
of like defensively, which obviously isn't his fault. That's more of a team
thing and a coaching thing. I don't know if he I could have him
in the same tier necessarily as Kawhi, but I could certainly hear the argument
SBA, I think is really interesting. The thunder are such a great story
and what they've been able to do this season. But yeah, I haven't
heard his name seriously mentioned in any conversation that's veered towards the MVP talk,
and it is pretty shocking to me, especially when you look at his availability,
which has really been the biggest knock on him, right, I feel
like that's the only thing you can discredit to Kawhi. His skill set,
his career so far has been some injuries, like some bad injury luck well,
and we've both been going off about him not being a starter in the
Western Conference for the All Star Game, and I understand this is not something
he cares about. He just wants to Larry o b. But we're gonna
stick a form. We are Clippers fans, obviously. I know my bread
is buttered, and I don't think it's a subjective, biased opinion to say
Kawhi has been as good as anyone this season when you take everything into account,
and it's really difficult to wrap my head around the fact that a top
seventy five player of all time, who's having his best regular season ever and
his team's top four in just a game and a half out of being the
number one seed in the West, isn't getting more recognition. And it makes
me think that, yeah, well, when you're not even a starter in
the Western Conference, you're still that bleeds into being also overlooked for being an
MVP candidate. Yeah, No, I mean I agree one hundred percent,
and I think, look, I have nothing but love for Lebron and and
what he's done for the game and what his career has been. Same for
Kevin Durant, But if those are the forwards that are starting above Kawhi,
I mean, I feel like it's laughable and both you know, both guys
obviously all time greats. Kevin Durant really good season, but like it's not
the same, especially on both ends of the floors what Kawhi is doing.
And I get that, you know, the All Star Game isn't about defense,
that's not what it's about. But I still think that like those talents
and what he's what he's done this season should be acknowledged and praised that I
mean honestly the highest level because you just don't get to see there's not that
many players this special. There's not that many guys like this, and careers
in the NBA don't last forever, and I think like these moments are,
like I said, our thing is that deserve to be celebrated because what he
is doing is truly special. And obviously he'll get in tomorrow as a reserve
when the voting comes out, But I don't think it's nitpicking to go after
the fact that he's not going to be a starter. I understand it's a
popularity contest, but to me, it is the twenty twenty four All Star
Game, not the lifetime Achievement Award All Star Game. It is who's been
the best in the twenty twenty three twenty twenty four NBA season, and that's
how it should be looked at when you look back on it. Historically,
that's supposed to tell you who was at their best that season. So that's
where I'm coming from. We can move on from that, though, Will
I'm just glad I got somebody with me on the grind when it comes to
getting a little bit pedantic about All Star Game voting. How about Brandon Boston
in this game? Will his best game of the season? I think easily
because he actually was in there for meaningful minutes in that second quarter with that
small ball unit that did some nice work. Yeah, this was an interesting
one for me just because of where he sobbed into the rotation over some other
players, which I'll get to in a second, but it's nice to see
him step up into the opportunity. Kind of more of what we know from
Brandon Boston. UNI right, a bit of a chucker, not particularly efficient.
I like the effort, and he is definitely more aware on defense,
but he doesn't bring like a whole lot of facilitating to the table. He's
a He's an interesting piece. Still very much feels like a project for the
Clippers. But I am a fan of his game. I do like especially
when it's going well for him. I do like seeing him play offense.
The thing that I alluded to, though, is it was interesting seeing him
come into the rotation so much earlier than Bone Piland Boston saw minutes in the
in the second and played twenty seven. The Bones is just five minutes and
it you know, it begs the question is that indicative of a potential move
on the horizon for the Clippers. I know there have been some rumors out
there. It could have just been, you know, he's six to seven
bones is what six' three or something like that. They didn't want to
go that small because they didn't have a big on the floor and Norman Terrence
Man and James Harden and Russ were out there. But yeah, I've seen
the same rumors we talked about well there, Yeah, yeah, I was
just saying, has it stopped taylu before. No. Well, this season
though, like he came in, they said they're gonna take it more seriously,
he said multiple times, the numbers aren't good when they go too small,
and for the most part they have not gone small. They have been
playing bigs much more often, and when they did go small today it worked.
Yeah, but it looks like Bones definitely seems to be out of the
rotation. But we knew that when James Harden came in, Bones was get
the guy that was going to take the biggest hit. I mean, I
call him the skeleton key before they had James Harden. But now, yeah,
obviously there's trade rumors, and you don't know what's going to happen with
a guy who's just not getting minutes right now, who you want to see
get minutes for somebody because he's he's good enough to he's good enough to be
a consistent rotation player gaining twenty to twenty five minutes a night. So we'll
see what happens with that, if he's long with the Clippers or not.
Still like the fact that he had that big throwdown near the end of the
fourth quarter, but a mere coffee, I mean minutes are at a premium
because guys like that have stepped up to this degree. Once again without Paul
George, he gets the start he has seventeen and just look for the part
out there. He doesn't make mistakes, he just blends in. He plays
good defense. But he also has just been on a heater. I think
over his last what fifteen games or something, he's shooting like sixty five percent
from the field and over fifty percent from the outside. He knocked down two
more three three pointers today in Washington. Yeah, he's absolutely unreal. I
mean just the efficiency tonight, seventeen points on seven shots is just absurd.
And I look, the thing with Coffee is he's like one of the most
consistent figures with the Clippers organization, right and it's always been a question of,
you know, when's he going to get a real shot. And I
just think that he's surpassed everything that they've asked him to do. His scoring,
especially is at a level that I didn't think that he was this far
developed. And I've been a big Coffee advocate, I'm a big Coffee fan,
but what he's able to do like that, I mean, that's such
a big ask he's filling in for Paul George. He's filling in with you
know, the the one be or you know, the number two on this
roster. And sure, you're playing you're playing the Wizards, but he has
that kind of trust. And not only does he have the trust, but
he can step up in those kind of moments. And I'm I'm just really
excited for him because you know, depending on what he does in the playoffense,
I imagine he will be a part of the rotation. I mean,
he's looking at a potential life changing sum of money when his contract is up
after next year. Yeah, he's on a very team friendly deal right now.
Clippers team win in one twenty five to one O nine in Washington over
the Wizards. They'll be in Detroit on Friday. He is Will Updyke of
course from Clips and Dip. We got a new YouTube coming tomorrow. Will
thanks for the double Dip tonight here on Clippers Talk with me, my friend.
Absolutely always a pleasure. Coming up. Next, your phone calls will
close things out and we'll preview Friday's contest in Detroit against the Pistons. This
is Clippers Talk here on the M five seventy LA sports. The LA Clippers
continue there hunt for a Larry O b. They still want to get that
LARRYO beat. Don't miss a moment all season long. This is the LA
Clippers audio nets. Clippers are victorious in Washington, d C. They win
one twenty five to one oh nine over the Wizards. I meant of Ozzlin,
this is Clippers talk quickly before we get out of here. Mark and
Huyinson Beach, Mark, what's up? Hey, you weren't the only one
that wanted Harden When I found out that he wanted to come to the Clippers,
I think it was July when you said that statement. All I took
a lot of verbal abuse at my sports bar here and hunting in Beach,
And then when we finally got him those first zho to six, there was
even more verbal abuse. Oh see, Mark, you were wrong. So
I was right there with you. I wanted him for the day I heard
he wanted to be a Clipper. Let me ask you this, Mark,
let me ask you this. Are those same guys now saying but what about
the playoffs? Have they shifted their argument? Have they moved the goalpost to
yeah, you're winning, But what about the playoffs? Actually, they're kind
of saying, you know what, you guys might actually go to the finals.
I've actually come around. Well they're fair. Then you got good friends
or guys who had a few drinks and that makes it a little bit easier
to Yeah. Yeah, I got a coaching question for you. Let's make
you coach, lud Do you play George Friday or not? Depends on how
he's feeling. I want to know. This injury goes back to I think
December twelfth, where they took him out in the second half of a ball
game with the left growing injury. Look, they're playing Detroit, they're the
worst team in the league. They have a huge talent disparity in their favor.
I would lean towards not playing him unless there's no chance of reinjuring it
or yeah he's just one percent. I think that's how it has to be
right now. Mark, Yeah, that's how I am too. It's like,
you know, we did pretty good tonight and I don't know how we
match up compared to the Wizards as far as their lineup with Detroit. But
just let him out one more game, you know, save him for the
back to backs. Yeah, we'll see if that's a game plan. I
mean, this is part of the reason you bring in James Harden, So
if one of Kawhi or George are out, you could still get by and
be dangerous really against anyone, let alone Detroit. Jose in Downey, you're
on Clipper stop without a Mazon. Hey, idam nice to call in again.
Man. They've been playing great. Man. That Cavaliers game, I
think it was those stretch bigs really showed us out. But I like to
fight that. They brought it in the second second game. And I hope
Paul George gets back soon. Man. We really need him there. Keep
going with the rotation and keep figuring out their shots and just playing that hard
defense man. All right, Jose, I appreciate the phone call. I
just wanted to be healthy. You don't want to bring him back too soon.
You'd rather lose him for a week than a month, right if you
exacerbate the injury if you're worsen it. So there's definitely a decision to be
made there, but I would not push things. These games are not what's
going to define the Clipper season. It will be in the postseason, and
you need Paul George for that one more call Asan and Anaheim. You're on
Clipper stop without a masle, close things out thirty seconds? A son,
A son, Okay, not closing strong here, Katie Newton in the bank,
our producer extraordinaire. Let's get to Katie Newton's casual NBA corner. You
got a question for me tonight, Katie. Yeah, you know, it
was a pretty big score differential tonight, and you know a little bit,
well it was for a while when I wrote down this question. Anyway,
what's the biggest score discrepancy that there's been like modern? I know the Clippers
beat the Lakers by forty eight one time, but there's been worse than that.
Teams have lost by sixty. Maybe somebody's lost by seventy. I want
to say. I think there was a playoff game once between the Hornets and
the Spurs where the Hornets, with Byron Sky as their head coach, somehow
lost by like sixty points. So yeah, they they can get like that.
The Clippers lost a game by fifty one before like bringing that up,
but you asked the question. It didn't have to be that one, didn't
matter. They still got to the Western Conference Finals. It ended up being
meaningless. So Clippers win big, not that big. They win once,
forty five to one oh nine over the Wizards, led by as many as
twenty nine. Before we get out of here, I do want to thank
the Clippers organization, Ralph Laller, Brian Seaman, Noah Igo, Carlo Jimenez
on the call, big Brother, Jake Warner, our head engineer, Katie
Newton, our head producer here in the bank. Thank you Katie, the
callers, the listeners until Friday with your pregame show starting at three, Clippers
in Detroit taking on the Pistons. I'm at a Moslin. We will talk
to you then. Ma Whi was doing his thing. All they want to
do is win in La. I win. I thought they gave everything they
had. I'm very proud of This has been Clippers Talk, the official postgame
reaction of the LA Clippers. God bless Paul George. Are you not?
It did changed? Don't miss an episode all season law Go to wherever you
podcast and subscribe today. Well up the show. I got your on the
iHeartRadio. You guys are great. Thank you for joining us for another exciting
broadcast of LA Clippers basketball.