The game is over, Paul George money in the pain, but the postgame
reaction has just begot Kawhi Leonard is so smooth in the mid range. This
is Clippers locker Room, a recap of today's game and a look ahead on
your hope for LA Clippers basketball. And now your host, you, sir,
are a bad man, Adam Ousley. Well, it was a lower
scoring affair this time, you could say, against the Kings. But once
again the Clippers lose by one in heartbreaking fashion with a one twenty eight one
twenty seven final in favor of Sacramento. As the Clippers have lost all five
games after the All Star Break. Welcome into your postgame show. Coming up,
we will have Clippers Talk eight six six nine, eight seven two five
seventy. We'll get the second half high light of postgame box scoring and coach
luin the players. But first, back up to Golden One Center with Noah
Eagle. No, we talked about it early on the mis free throws and
Sacramentore going perfect from the line. Look to be the differ prince in this
one. Yeah, I mean, that's all it is. And that was
the Clippers two years ago, Adam, when they made the Western Conference Finals.
They were the team that would go twenty six to twenty six to the
line and it won them many games, many many games. To go nineteen
of twenty seven at the free throw line in the game you lose by one
is brutal. I mean, there's just no way around it. You cannot
afford with the way this season has gone the way this stretch after the All
Star Break has gone to miss eight free throws in the game and a game
that's tightly contesting the game. You battled so hard in an epic fashion to
come back in this fourth quarter on a second out of a back to back
without Kawaid, Leonard Norman Powell, Marcus Morris or Vietsa Zubots. The little
things are what add up. And I kept saying that this team had a
very small margin of victor, of a small margin of error, and we
saw it play out in that exact fashion at the very end. Now,
do I agree with a foul call with seven seconds remaining. No, Generally
the whistle is swallowed in that case, and I think that the Clippers will
feel the same way. They got the defensive stop they needed to, but
again, it's just second chance opportunities, fouls on potential rebounds, all the
little things that add up, and eventually the Clippers dropped their fifth in a
row. And these are character builders, no doubt about it. But man,
do they really hurt in the moment? Yeah, well, sixteen games
left and it didn't look like Sabonis sold it somewhat. And Robert Covington was
awesome in this game. In thirty one minutes when they couldn't buy a three
early in the fourth quarter, he hit a couple of them. He was
huge, no doubt about it. I mean, they wouldn't have even been
close in this game without Robert Covington. And I know a lot of people
are going to point out that that play where it went right through the hands
of Russell Westbrook, but I do want to say same deal with him.
They wouldn't have been even closed in this game without Russell Westbrook. Twenty seven
points and ten assists in thirty six minutes. I thought he was great.
He twelve sixteen from the floor. He didn't take that many bad shots or
anything. He really didn't turn the ball over. So sure in a big
moment he may have had a blunder. You take way more than of the
good than any of the bad, and for him, there was very little
bad today. So for both those guys, Westbrook not catching and securing the
ball and Covington committing what was apparently the touch foul underneath. I haven't seen
the play back yet, so I can't really speak to it until I do.
But those two guys were great and the team wouldn't have been even in
it if it wasn't for them. And I'm still looking for a closer replay
of the final shot by Paul George where he thought he was fouled on the
right arm. But I did like the assertiveness and he was much more aggressive
in the second half where he took twelve shots and that three point he hit
in the two man game with Russ and also the high off the backboard lay
up he had in the fourth quarter. Absolutely clutch, he was. He
was super clutch, and that fourth quarter he was great, four of eight
from the floor, thirteen points. He was a plus five, but to
him was a plus seven, and again to prove my point from before,
Russell Westbrook was a plus twelve and the fourth quarter at him, they just
don't they don't come back in this game if it's not for the energy come
he comes back with when he re en through the game. I just thought
overall, this was a tough way to lose. And to your point as
well, I gotta take a look at that shot. Upon the first replay,
I saw it didn't look like Peeg got hit, but you know he
felt it. So I would love to take a closer look as well.
Just a tough one. And now they got to get back to the drawing
boards Sunday, and you got a Memphis team coming in that always likes to
take it to the Clippers, and it's the first matchup of the season.
Just a lot, a lot to really get through in that short amount of
time. And so we'll see if LA has that mental makeup which right now,
based on what they did tonight, they proved themselves a whole lot.
And I thought they really showed a lot about their ability to bounce back after
a tough loss last night. Shorthanded tonight down by thirteen and the fourth quarter,
to come back and take a lead and probably give yourself a chance or
maybe should win this game. That says a lot about where the team is.
Yeah, they no doubt fought with key guys out, including Kawhi Leonard,
and come up just short. They lose eight to one twenty seven in
Sacramento to the King's No, what you gonna mentione? It's Sunday. They're
taking on the Grizzlies back in downtown Los Angeles. Tip time for that one
is at seven. We'll have Clippers countdown for you at six. You know,
if you don't mind freeze drying from gym boys for me, maybe you
could have coming up on. I don't know how that cheese stays at him.
That's a lot of cheese. But I know, listen, I know
you get cheesy when it's all gets down to business, especially on your cheap
days. I'm gonna call them cheese days for you. It's easy with dad
jokes too. Yeah, that's what you do best. But there's nothing wrong
with that. No, you go, great call as always, We'll talk
to you on Sunday. Adam can't wait. Coming up next. Second half
highlights. Clippers lose a brutal one in Sacramento. They come up a point
short twenty seven. Your final and favor of the Kings or postgame next here
on the Los Angeles Clippers. Right the animal Clippers fall by one up in
Sacramento to the Kings. The hits keep on coming. They've lost five in
a row since the All Star Break. Welcome back into your postgame show.
I'm atam Moslin eight six six ninety seven two five seventy as we have Clippers
stock coming up on AMPI seventy LA Sports eight six six ninety seven two five
seventy. Let's get to your second half highlights. Clippers were down by five
at the half. The score was sixty eight to sixty three in favor of
the Kings. I mentioned it, but Paul George had just four shots in
that first half. He started to get it going though on the third,
trying to get it to George, but Toomb can't do so. Now he
does on the bounce pass just inside the ark, George facing up, Tenna
shoot cross over down the left valley, long strides fan sit in with the
right hand PG. Thirteen with eleven eighty three eighty two, Clippers down by
one, Westbrook left to right, bounce pass right alboh It's George facing up,
tries a fifteen footer and response right over Davis. George now with thirteen
seven in the quarter. Yeah, that's where he had Clippers, though,
we're still down by five exiting the third at one oh one to ninety six,
but at that point Paul George had fifteen points. Now heading into the
fourth, Clippers were down by thirteen early on as they started zero of eight
from the outside in the final period, But then Paul Georges reinserted and he
started to get it going. George driving kick for Westbrook, working on Fox
again down the right alley, kick it out Comington, swing at George or
right wing. Three is on the way and good for Paul George. He's
got twenty three one, twenty two, one, sixteen three fifteen remaining far
side. Said Bonus had it knocked away, but Toom saved it. Gordon
has it. Here it comes Westbrook. A minute of play left to right,
Westbrook on the right wing, guarded by Barnes on the outside. Clippers
can tire take the lead. Bobbing inside. George looks like he was Poald.
Kick it out Westbrook, swing at George. Quarter three coh. Paul
George looks it down one twenty five, one, twenty four, Clippers in
front, forty five seconds left. Fans on their feet here at golden one
center, but toom will inbound far side get it in for George a few
people behind the line. George looking to drive on Barnes down the right alley
to the ram high the window Poe Paul George gets it to go one seven,
one twenty six. Clippers in front PG thirteen with thirteen points in the
fourth quarter, Clippers were in front, in front there with thirty three seconds
left at one twenty seven to one twenty six. They got the miss from
deeron Fox. They got the basketball, almost had an eight second turnover in
the backcourt. They got into the front court, but Eric Gordon threw it
to Russell Westbrook went between his hands and over his head and out of bounds.
Kings would call a time out. Demontis Sabonis ends up getting fouled going
for an offensive rebound by Robert Covington on a miss from deeron Fox was seven
seconds left. He goes to the free throw line knocks down both to put
him back up by one. Since Sacramento goes on to win once twenty eight
to one twenty seven. As Paul George would miss a pull up three pointer
where he thought he was fouled as the buzzer sounded. Clippers lose one twenty
eight to one twenty seven up north to the King's. Second time in a
week they've lost by one to Sacramento. Coming up next well, previous Sunday's
game, Clippers back home taking on the Memphis Grizzlies. You're listening to your
post game show right here on the Los Angeles Clippers or Good Network. Clippers
lose by one, this time up in Sacramento to the Kings, after losing
two and by one in downtown Los Angeles a week ago. Final score Kings
one twenty eight, Clippers one twenty seven, as they would miss eight free
throws, a big one in the last two minutes from Russell Westbrook, who
did have a great game overall, unfortunately missed that free throw and had to
turn over late, but he's still finished with twenty seven points. Tennisis was
a plus eleven out there. Robert Covington fifteen points season high six of eleven,
three of eight shooting from distance on a night where the Clippers still struggled
from the outside overall fourteen of forty one that's thirty four percent. But those
miss free throws the four they had in the last two minutes of the third
quartermake it. Mason plumbly missed two, then a mere coffee miss two,
and Sacramento went twenty six of twenty six from the charity striving. That was
the difference. Clippers lose by one once twenty eight to one twenty seven to
the Kings. Their next one is coming up on Sunday against the Memphis Grizzlies.
I believe we're playing the Denver Nuggets tonight. Yes, they were.
They lost in Denver one thirteen to ninety seven. Gonna be hungry. They
get a day off as well. There'll be the Clippers first game against John
morand the Grizzlies this season. Well, they see him two more times after
Sunday as well. Clippers have to stop the bleeding somehow, some way,
get a victory on Sunday. Before we get out of here. I do
want to remind you tip time for Sunday night's game from Crypto dot com arena
is at seven. We'll have Clippers countdown starting at six. Outside of Los
Angeles, we are leaving you until then, but coming up next year on
AMP five seventy LA Sports, we got Clipper stock. Welcome into Clipper Stock.
Here's a new shore from town. You won't be able to deny it.
You're going to go to the NBA Finals. I believe it in my
heart. This is the best team in the history of the franchise. I
am all about the Clipper Nation. This is Clippers Talk. They're trying to
win the whole thing. A postgame look, it's your La Clippers recapping the
game, the stars and looking ahead to what's next. To hear episodes you've
missed. Subscribe to Clippers Talk on iHeart Radio or wherever you podcast. Now
your host of Clippers Talk. Here's Adam Oslin. Whoa God, no,
God, please no, whoa, whoa, whoa. Another day at the
office for the Clippers. Another loss, unfortunately by one again to the Sacramento
Kings, this time up north. They lose. Wasn't even that high scoring
one twenty eight to one twenty seven. I'm kidding, but after the one
seventy six one seventy five game a week ago, Yeah, low scoring nineties
basketball affair, Clippers lose by one again. Deja vu. They have lost
five straight. Welcome in the Clippers Talk. I'm at dam Oslin eight six
six ninety eight seven two five seventy eight six sixty nine eight seven two five
seventies the phone number. You can also get to me on Twitter at follow
Adam as. Many are some trolling, some with some serious and suggestions of
how the Clippers can turn this free fall around. Maybe Zach will pick up
on that and play the late great Tom Petty heading into the break here coming
up on the show, we're looking propost game audio from coach lou and the
players. I mentioned the desperation mode the Clippers have to be in right now.
Paul George said it after last night, and I thought we saw it
this underman squad without Norman Powell, Kawhi Leonard of Vita Zoobots, Marcus Morris
on the second night of a back to back after giving away at twelve point
lead early in the third quarter against Golden State last night, they were the
ones down thirteen multiple times in the fourth quarter, and they battled. It
was one thirteen, one hundred, eight nineteen left, then the Clippers down
one sixteen to one h three, was six fifty two left, and they
kept coming. And Paul George, who I went after a little bit in
the first half because he only took four shots ended up with thirteen points on
the fourth a latch three off the two man game with him and Russell Westbrook
in the far side corner. A layup in traffic could have been an a
one maybe, but just a ridiculous shot that he hit to put him up
by one high off the top of the backboard. It would drop and somehow
the Clippers had a one point lead with thirty three seconds left at one twenty
seven to one twenty six, and I thought it was going to be a
classic Clippers turnaround come back, a gritty effort win by an underman shorthanded squad
like we had seen over the years. But like we have seen this season,
they come up just short as there would be a tough call on the
other end, as Demonte Sabonis was fouled by Robert Covington minimal contact, But
we'll see what a two minute reports says tomorrow. Not that it will make
anyone feel better if they say it was a bad call. Roco was called
the foul in a game that he played great in and they would hit both
free throws, Sabonis knocked him down. Paul George had a look glad he
took that shot. That's what you have to get from your stars. He
thought he was fouled. Still haven't seen a replay that was close enough to
know if he was. I think it was dear and fox on him.
But he would miss that three pointer and the Clippers lose by one again to
the Kings, not in double overtime. Final score in regulation one twenty eight
to one twenty seven. I mentioned Robert Covington having a sour play at the
end of this one that a lot of people are gonna remember, but I
hope instead you remember how well he played, because in thirty one minutes,
for a guy who was getting Dnp's left and right all season long, I
can't understand it either. His defense was great, but also his offense.
When the Clippers started that fourth quarter down by five, they missed their first
eight three pointers till Roco hit a couple clutch shots, and when he wasn't
hitting threes and went three of eight from distance, he was taking guys off
the dribble and getting layups, attacking closeouts. Finished with two steals, but
I mean he had deflections also ended up his steals for others four boards in
a season high of fifteen points. I gotta think he starts playing more.
There's sixteen games left in the season. He and Nicholas batoum on the court,
trapped, Sabonus turned into a steal, and I believe a Russell Westbrook
lay up on the other end. Another guy that people are going to point
to for being the goat you don't want to be. And he's been scapegoating
far too much this season by Lakers and their fans, and this loss is
not on him. Get it the turnover late as the Clippers are up by
one, and there probably should have been an eight second violation. Anyways,
it didn't look like they got into the front court in time, but Eric
Gordon tried to pass to Russ who was open, and he was looking where
he was going before he caught the basketball as it went over his head and
out of bounce. And it's really unfortunate because he played great. And honestly,
if you think he's the problem right now, if you think he lost
this game tonight, I'm probably gonna call you a casual. The guy was
a plus eleven in a game they lost by one. He was absolutely keeping
them in it. He had I want to say, fifteen and seven at
the half, was leading them and scoring, was setting guys up, playing
aggressively going out. Daron Fox had ten assists, hit a three, twelve,
was sixteen from the field, sixteen shots first twenty seven points. He
was efficient. It is a damn shame that a lot of people, and
I know the casuals and Sports Center highlights are just gonna zero win on that
play at the end and that turnover that didn't lose the Clippers the game.
You would say it was a bad caller or a weak caller or tiki tack
call. At the end, guy's going for an offensive rebound and maybe if
Sabonis doesn't get found there, he comes down with it and puts it up
in any ways, but it's not on Russ. Don't oversimplify things. And
the majority of his games so far he's played really well. Even in the
last two games where he had struggled in second halfs, he was very good
in first halfs. This team only has seven turnovers. Tonight, I saw
Michael Eaves. I believe it was anchor at the Evil four letter looking for
low hanging fruit, and maybe I him for even giving him attention here.
I think it was him, but somebody was pointing out the amount of turnovers
the Clippers have had since Russ has been on the team. They had seven
tonight. It's great number, half as many as they average. Yeah,
he had five of them and that one late. At least one of them
wasn't on him. It was a passing Nicholas Batoum who didn't meet the basketball
in the second half. Still Batoum hit big shots too. The Clippers fought.
It was a different type of loss, a loss none the same.
I see a lot of people on Twitter saying I'm more encouraged by this,
but it's still five straight losses and the hemorrhaging continues and they're falling down the
standings. I'll update you on those eight six six nine eight seven two five
seventy eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone number.
Let's go to Damien La Damien, and you're on Clipper stock without I'm awesome,
Adam Adam Adam man. Another tough loss, bro. I want to
start it off with a positive though, because I listened to you guys on
the broadcast tonight. What a call by you and Noah, And you know
what a call by Noah I'm just glad to be here. Hey, you
know you're contributed, bro, and I appreciate everything you brought to the table
too, especially in the post game, free game and halftime shows. But
yeah, Noah was on fire tonight, and you know, like, we
really don't deserve you a Clipper nation. You guys are awesome. But I'm
encouraged. I'm encouraged a little bit by some of the things I saw.
I want to rant for like ten seconds, Bro. The refereeing. You
know, they've been getting really involved in competitive matchups. I don't really know
what that's about, seeing as the ratings of them down for the last five
years. But the refereeing, you know it. I'm not I'm not interested
in complaining about the officials tonight. I'm not. I know. I know
you want to go after the Sabonus play or the Paul George play or something
specific. Okay, but just saying overall the refereeing, I'm not interested.
Well no, no, no, no, I know I just went around
a little quick. I have to get that out of my assistem. I'm
done. But you know, but one thing I do want to say,
actually want to piggyback off of what you said, because I too have been
on Twitter and I've seen all the Westbrook slander and everything like that. You
got to stop with that. Man. If you think that he's the reason
why we're losing games right now, you're really, really, really just distorted
in your basketball views. He's been playing better every single game. He's improved
in the areas where we need him to be improving in. Like I said,
you know, when I was at the game the other day, I
told you, and he get well, he gets the fifteen assists, we
won't lose. So when they figure it out, when they get all these
guys together, when we get healthy, I really think it could be something
dangerous. But the problem is we're losing time. Man. We gotta win
games. We gotta find ways to win game. If that means we've got
to be more regrets, if that means we got to come out and play
harder, whatever it is we have to do. We have to get off
things that aren't working quicker. We just got to play from the hip a
little bit better. And I trust Tilu to do that because he's a field
guy. How do you feel I feel like I think Clippers have lost five
in a row. And four of these games were extremely winnable. And I
don't know if that's encouraging or discouraging to you. It depends on how you
look at it, because I did say this here night. At times it
has felt like they had forgotten how to win these close games. That's what
it is looked like at times. Now they battled back and they were under
man tonight, and I do think there were some good signs. And Russell
Westbrook, no, he was not the problem. You didn't watch. If
you're just going out and posting oh and five with Russell Westbrook like you didn't
watch, you did do? I think Paul George should have been more aggressive
in the first half. Yes, did he step up late? Yes?
Did the Clippers lose this one? At the free throw line? They actually
got more attempts than Sacramento if you want to point to the officials. The
problem is they miss eight of the twenty seven attempts. Sacramento didn't miss once
on their twenty six. Clippers lose by one to the Kings. We'll update
you on the standings. We'll get back to your phone calls eight six six,
ninety eight seven two five seventy eight six six ninety seven two five seventy.
You're listening to Clippers stock. You're on em by seventy l a sports
something. I said, huh, the Clippers losing by one one twenty eight
to one twenty seven and sacraments up to the Kings. The pattern continues,
not just the losses, but the close gut punches. They were more like
a John Claude punch. And was fort eight six six nine eight seven two
five seventy eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone number.
Welcome back into Clipper Stock. I'm Adam Oslind. Let's go to John
in Santa Monica, California. John. What's up John? Europe? Hey,
Adam, how's it going? Yeah? I mean I can't believe we
still haven't won a games since All Star. You know, you see the
game at Phoenix, you think we're really going in the right direction, and
to think that, you know, we haven't won a games since then,
it's just beyond disappointing, you know, especially when you see players like Westbrook
having a great game tonight and Gordon having a great game tonight, and just
that you know that past obviously wasn't what it caused us to lose the game
tonight. But it's frustrating, you know, it's just you hope this team
hasn't but you just you see more and more, and I mean it's just
it breaks your heart. They're finding ways to lose right now and that is
a little bit troubling. Am I wrong? No, Yeah, it's exactly
it. And there's just like you said earlier, these close games where you
know they're more than winnable against teams that you know, you feel they could
they could beat this team. You know, there's no reason why. And
I feel like a night late tonight tonight, even though Covington played great,
you still miss Zobots tonight. You know, I think it's Zubosch was in
the game. I think maybe we would have had a little bit obviously better
defense than we had going to against against the bonus. I'm concerned about Big
Zoo now because when he came back against Minnesota, I thought, yeah,
there's a good chance he doesn't play both on the back to back, but
not playing either game the last two there's a level of concern there. And
it's the right calf injury, and we've seen the way these things can be
managed. It seems to be like a hamstring where you just don't know.
It's a little bit more unpredictable and trying to manage it. But yeah,
I hope Zoo can come back soon. They desperately need to give it coming
two minutes. I mean, if this is going to be right now,
then at least I hope they start keeping Covington playing right now, because I
mean, while I think Plumble's played great for us, I just don't think
you know he's playing on jumping into the starting role as center right now.
Maybe the blessing in disguise coming out of this one is that Robert Covington got
to show what he can do and still do to help this team on both
ends, because I thought it was a breath of fresh air to see him
out there and see some of those wings stop lineups with him and Nicholas Patum
on the court at once. John. I appreciate the phone call, my
friend. We'll talk to you on Sunday. Okay, take care, let's
go to Let's see hey Zeus and Plinza. Hey Zeus, you're on Clippers
staff without Hm Bastin. Hey, Adam, thanks for having me on man
and I just want to say I appreciate everything you do with Will and Chuck
in the clips and bit podcasts. Really love you're back and forth and you
guys is you guys are views and opinions on the Clippers. Man, so
thanks for having me on. And I you know, like you were saying,
like everyone else has been saying, Man, this is really a heartbreak,
this loss. But you know, it did actually give me some hope
because I saw while there was like some sloppy play like in the in the
in the third, second and third quarter and stuff where you know, affectiment,
I took the leads. I did see some essence of the comeback Clippers
that we that we kind of got used to seeing in the past few years,
like you know, without Kauai or of those times like when we had
like Lou William on the team. Still you know, I was like we
were able to fight back, you know, and get back in the game.
You know, Paul George, despite everything he said on the JJ Reddick
podcast, I really thought that he he showed leadership tonight. I mean despite
you know, you know, a couple of errors here and there, and
then you know that missed by by you know that turnover by Russell Westbrook at
the end. You know, it really sucked, man, because he had
such a such a great game, you know, but I really thought,
you know, Paul George started slow, but he really like kind of came
came in for us, came through for us towards the end, despite the
slimiss shot at the end. Obviously. Yeah, Paul George had twenty two
of his twenty eight in the second half. Yeah, nine in the third,
thirteen in the fourth quarter. Hit the big shots, hit a tough
layup, a big three pointer. Russ found him for that. I thought
Russell Westbrook was so good throughout and I appreciate the phone call his Zeus early
on this one. He had a steal on Sabonis, He went coast to
coast, went at Fox for a layup. You know, there were times
where he was the one trying to wield the Clippers back when they got down,
when they had to battle, because Sacramento is that good, and the
Clippers were without Kauai and a Visa Zubots and Norman Powell. There was a
time where he turned down a three and took a fade away in the first
and started talking to the crowd who was getting on him. They saw him
lining up for that three pointer, he didn't take it. He has done
this multiple times now in his five games as a Clipper. That's not Russ
being Russ. That is someone much more in control making better decisions out there.
But that layup he had off the PG strip in the second half was
special, and he got he got to steal on Deer and Fox a couple
of them, and those two were kind of going back and forth. You
liked the competitiveness. You would have liked to see a Clippers victory, though.
They need one desperately, and they don't get any easier. They got
three more games with Memphis. First one starts on Sunday, So this is
a team that they have to play desperate, They have to play with urgency.
I thought we saw some of it tonight. They certainly didn't quit.
There were a lot of people saying, look, it's Sacramento. You're going
into the Lions then, and they locked the door behind you. That's a
really tough place to win. They're looking to light the beam and light you
up with their shooting, and they could get on top of you quick.
And I thought the Clippers the most part, just kept battling down many guys.
Let's go to Alex and Fresnell. Alex, what's up? You're on
Clippers sock without? I am awesome, hey man, A big fan this
once say, I think we played with without Kawai. I think we played
pretty good game tonight. But I want to say too, I mean with
a different roster. I mean, what a couple. What when when we
had Kawai NPG come back from injury, we lost? I think we went
oh and four games straight. So I think it's just the matter of finding
a greight roster at this point. But you said, when Kawai and Paul
George come back from injury, what's the right roster? Then you don't want
those two? No, I know what he's saying. I want the most.
No, it's just at this point, I think TYLERU is just trying
to find a good point to fit within. I mean, what we got
bones Gordon and Westbrook could I think we're just trying to find this right roster
to play, and I think it's still all mixed up at this point.
No, I can't get to disagree with that. Alex. They they haven't
had a continue and coach lew had talked about. I think the quote was
something about getting a nine man rotation going by next week. They're sixteen games
left. I asked the question on Twitter. But it's hard to have a
sense of urgency while also shuffling lineups this much. Some of it is just
out of necessity. They have new guys, they have to try them out,
but they are running out of time and I don't know if they can
escape some of the bad habits they've had all season. Tonight, While you
can say that one turnover killed them late, overall that kept them in it
the way they took care of the basketball before that, they had a lot
of turnover issues and three of the last four games they were okay against Denver,
but against the Kings the first time they had twenty five turnovers. Against
the Minnesota Timberwolves, I want to say they had another twenty five against Golden
State, they had sixteen. And sometimes it's when they happen as well,
they just end up being crushing blows, self inflicted wounds that this team can
ill afford to have. Let's take a quick time out. We'll come back
looking for postgame audio from coach Lou Clippers lose on one twenty seven in Sacramentos
of the Kings out scored him by four and the fourth after being down thirteen.
It looked like it was going to be a classic Clippers comeback, but
we said it a lot this season. Those comebacks have been coming up short
lately. We'll Clippers stop next during a five seventy l A sports to get
me in trouble. You want me to their old school, I'm not gonna
do it, Zach Clippers one twenty eight, one twenty seven in Sacramentso they
lose by one again, four of their last five games during this losing streak
extremely winnable, but they're finding ways to lose now. They also found a
way to come back, and they found a way to have a thirty one
to seven assist to turnover ratio better than four to one. That's fantastic.
That kept them in it. But they did settle early in the fourth quarter.
Starting the quarter down five, they took a ton of threes. I
want to say six of their first seven shots at least were from distance,
and they weren't falling bones Highland. God bless him because he's so aggressive out
there. One of nine, but oz of six from three. He was
putting them up. I don't mind it, that's what he's out there to
do. But in twelve minutes had just four points and again one of nine
shooting. He's young, they'll continue to get better. It was a steal
to get him for two picks. But we said at last game, you
know, the Clippers settled in the second half. They had thirty two points
in the pain in the first half against Golden State. Yesterday they had just
ten in the second half, and I thought they settled too much down the
stretch in the fourth to let the Kings build up that thirteen point lead to
where the Clippers did come back admirably. I mean they battled, they had
some of that heart and toughness. And coach Lou said it. I put
up this clip earlier in the day, but he said, you can't give
in. Yeah, you can miss shots, yeah, you can have turnovers.
You can't get in. You can't get down on yourself. You have
to continue to compete and fight. And they're in a hole and they've dug
it for themselves. And I know a lot of people are just going to
focus on Russell Westbrook and say they're oh of five since getting RUSS. I
don't think it's nearly that simple. They've been consistently inconsistent all season long.
When they had a six game losing streak, was Russ there, No,
this is who they've been. That's their identity. Unfortunately, being consistently inconsistent
and not building enough good habits. They give up too many key offensive rebounds,
including fouling Sabonis on a key one late. He would put them up
by one. Paul George had a shot at it, thought he was fouled,
couldn't get the three to go. Clippers lose by one. Lenny and
Inglewood, you're on Clippers stock with Adham Austin. What's up Lenny, hey
man? I I mean, it just seems like they say it's getting late
early, and I'm just curious in a situation like this, if they do
go play out the rest of the season and looks like they're gonna fall,
they fall short way short of their goals, which was to me get into
the finals. And I'm with you. I've said it all along. It
is a championship type or bust year. Yeah, it has to be.
It's year four. Paul George and Kawhi Leonard and Kawhi has been playing at
too high of a level for them to be losing games. In fact,
I posted this earlier today on Twitter at follow out of May and Lenny will
get right back to you. Hold on. But it's amazing to me how
good Kawai has been. And I want to say, it's the last twenty
one games now, and I got it for you right here. Since he
started playing regular minutes again at thirty seven a night since January seventh, in
his last twenty one games, he's getting twenty eight points on fifty three fifty
ninety shooting splits, and the Clippers in those games are twelve and nine.
That just seems impossible. They are wasting a top five player performance that they're
getting out of Kauai every night lately, and they're not getting victories. And
I told you also before their defense just hasn't been good enough all season long.
That has been a constant. You take out the first seven games of
the season, and they basically have been bottom ten in the last almost sixty.
Now that that's maybe who they are on that end, it shouldn't be,
and maybe the difference is personnel in some ways, and having Robert Comington
out there was great tonight. But let me keep going. I'm sorry,
No, I think those are all excellent points, and I you know,
to me, you know, just I think Kawai man hasn't vindicated with the
whole oh low management thing, and I think they really can't put that hang
out on him. But they handled him right. And anyone who's mad that
he's not playing tonight, look at how good he's been. He is back
to one twenty twenty one Kawhi Leonard level and that is remarkable in his first
year back off the a c L. Absolutely, And my last point is
this, you know, Kauai is just you can't you just can't put anything
like that up on the block. But I mean, there's there's no way
you can take this same team into the next year. So I'm just curious.
I mean, do you think there's going to be some shakeups or what?
Lenny, I don't even want to go down that road yet. Let's
cross that bridge when we get there. Season's not over all, right,
I get it, they've lost five in a row. It is disheartening,
discouraging in some ways. It's worse than the six game road or losing streak.
It probably is. I said this after they lost four yesterday, because
it's so late into the season to hit the skid like this. So I
understand, but there's games to be played when there's not I'll tell you what
I think. But I appreciate the phone call my friend Ryan and Burrbank.
You're on Clippers, soife without im Austin yeh, Adam, it's a pleasure
to talk to you with always. Look, man, I mean there's to
me when it comes down to the Clippers right now. Number one is Covington's
gotta get minted. He has to get minted. Look Marcus Morris during the
playoff run, it's twenty twenty, twenty twenty one. It look great.
I know he's had big shots. Give me Covington. Gives those minutes to
Covington at this point, he looks more athletic, he looks better defensively,
and Adam, I think he hit the nail on the head really, because
the thing is, I don't find the Clippers taking three. I don't find
that because that's what the league is. You look at the you know,
most of the last couple of champions five the Lakers a bubble they've been three
point union styled teams. But the biggest constant that has happened to season as
it's terrible, it's not good. And and again you have a game like
this where you had a chance to win this game again after the Toronto over,
so forget the turnover for a second, and you couldn't get the rebound
from Sabonis and then you foul live well, and it was going to Rocco,
but they called the foul. I watched it again and Sabonis it looked
like he sold it. He did. Was there some contact? Did it
look worse than it was? Yes, I can see why it was called.
My question of you having would that be called to foul in the playoffs?
Probably not, But if it was gonna happen, it was gonna happen
for the home team, and they were in Sacramento and Sabonis was an All
Star this year. So so my thing though is again though, if you
weren't trying to win a Gamian again, the threes don't bother me as much
as because look, the three will come to three will go and and in
today's NBA you're shooting more three thing or none. But again, do we
have to play defense to actually get into guys and stop guys. Don't tell
me that these guys can't any I mean I'm looking at some even Aaron Born
at that time, so I'm like, dude, I've seen him play the
people for the bouts, thank you. So when I look at all these
players, I'm like, where's the defensive mentality? Birth Like, I want
to play Ryan. That's one of the most baffling things all season long with
this team that Coach Low keeps saying, defensive mindset, come out, hit
first, make a stand on that end. Shots are gonna come and go.
The defense has to be a constant for them, and it hasn't been.
They've been close to bottom ten the entire year. It is perplexing as
anything, but some of it. I do think a lot of three guard
lineups early on some guys that aren't here anymore. They've been trying so many
things with lineups and roster moves and and there was just another big shake up
with having to incorporated guy into the starting lineup in Russell Westbrook. And I'm
not blaming him at all. This is what they wanted, this is who
they wanted. They want a point guard. They got him. But a
guy who's playing thirty five minutes a night and played thirty five minutes in this
one, it's hard to get him up to speed with everyone else. When
there's so many moving parts going on. There was bound to be a learning
curve, and there has been. I don't think tonight at all, he
was the problem. I think it was just they were down guys. They
fought, they battled, they gave what they could. I didn't like the
three pointers early in the fourth quarter. They took far too many. But
outside of that, I can't put much on these guys. They fought right.
Let me ask you something. When I screened your call, your phone
sounded amazing. What happened? You put me on the bluetooth? Just be
honest, yea yea killing me brother, killing me? Man? How are
you gonna Are you gonna fake me out like that? When I screen you
and you sound so good, h D and then you put me on the
boot. I hope you're driving safe, clippers. I'm not gonna make a
film on Louise reference here. They're driving. There's some bumps in the road
right now. They gotta figure things out. Tonight you can say there was
some positive but in the end they lost, and there's sixteen games left in
the season. I'll update you in the standings. We'll hear from coach lu
Next we'll get back to your phone calls. Eight sixty six nine eight seven
two five seventy eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy. This is
Clippers Talk, Karen MP five seventy l a sports somebody I want to show
love to. In this game. They also have zero shot without Eric Gordon
playing the way he did. Eight of thirteen, three of seven had a
steal, had some deflections leading to steals for others. Twenty one points,
best plus minus on the team, a plus eighteen in a game the Clippers
lose by one up in seven Recramento to the Kings. This still could be
a first round matchup, but I gotta be honest, the Clippers wouldn't be
the three seed in that scenario, They'd be in the sixth spot. Welcome
back in the Clipper stock. I'm Adam Oslin eight six six nine eight seven
two five seventy eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy. Clippers right
now are in the eighth spot behind Minnesota, who beat the Lakers tonight,
half game behind them. And remember Minnesota winning that game against the Clippers here
to night. I told you this was a brutal loss. Because they won
the season series, they have the tiebreaker over them, Kings have the tiebreaker
over the Clippers. They have pretty much l zero shot at three seed.
That's what it is. Clippers three and seven now their last ten, they've
lost five in a row. David and Sino, you're on Clipper stock without
Am Moslin, Hi, Adam, thanks making my call. Another brutal lost
night. But there are some positives out of there. I gotta give credit
to Sacramento making every every single one of their free throws. It would have
been nice we could have made a couple more there. Those free throws at
the end of the third quarter, two miss by Plumley, two miss by
a mere Coffee who was out in transition. Some people will saying he's not
a good free throw shooter. He should have given it up to somebody else.
That those two really hurt because they could have been down one head against
the fourth. And the good point about Eric Gordon, it was a good
pick up there, and you know, and so there's some things we got
to take away from tonight, and it does feel like worse than the sixth
game losing streak earlier this year. But we're still around and now they're still
was sixteen games left, so be okay, all right, Dave. I
appreciate the phone call. I like the positives. Eric Gordon got things started
with an N one. He was really good, I thought, after the
last two games where he struggled mightily last couple. Now he stepped up in
a big spot. Third quarter. He hit a big three to put him
up by two. He had a big layup. He had all twenty one
of his points before the fourth. I'm not sure how much he ended up
playing in the fourth quarter. Terrence Mann had eight points. But you know,
it's more about the defense and doing some little stuff. But he hit
a couple of three pointers that were big. Chris in LA, you're on
Clippers stoff with that. I'm anster. Thank Chris. It's been tough.
It's been tough man, But I don't know why Tyluke can't see it.
I've been saying it all along. I really believe Terrence Man needs to be
in this starting lineup. If you if you set out Mooke, I love
Mooke, but he's got to sit out, and you bring Kawai at the
four, PG at the three, Man at the two, Westbrook at the
at the one. Bording comes right off the bench with Bones Thailand. Whoever
catches a group between those three close out the game pretty hopefully Norman Powell will
be back to come off the bench with Eric Gordon. Yeah, yeah,
no, I'm sorry Norman Powell and h and Eric Gordon, but we gotta
find a way to get Bone some minutes. He looks off because he's a
rhythm player. He's got to get comfortable and we need his spacing, we
need his three point shooting. But more so, we gotta get we We
gotta get Terrence Man in that starting lineup. He was the reason for that
winning streak. He's got to get minutes. He's he's the glue. He's
the young Nico on our team and we need that. And I don't know
why Tyler can't see it. And it just sucks that Rust missed that because
he had such an amazing game and I'm still rooting for this guy. I
still see good things. But all you have to do is catch that ball
that would have been free throws or even an open layup. Man. That
was a tough game, dude, and it's it's tough because I've been a
fan since Poul Richardson and this is a tough ride. Man. Yeah,
Well keep the faith, Chris, as I like to say, they got
sixteen games left, they have time, and they have I still think the
right coach to figure this thing out. Last call before we hear from coach
Lou Morris and long beach. Morse, what's up? You know what,
Adam? Let me share something with you. I'm gonna say what nobody else
wants to say. The reason why folks don't like Russell westbook is because he
don't know how to dress. Have you seen some of the clothes this man
where I have? He's got style. Okay, And I'm gonna tell you
something. Nobody dresses like that. He probably had his own person making this
clothes for him. That's that's number one and the reason why we lost this
game. You got the statistics, I don't. We lost this game because
I believe Sacramento got twelve points off of offensive rebounds. Can you check that
for me, Adam, I'll check it for you right now. You got
anything else, Morrise, No, I just to say this. Lenny didn't
want to say it, but I'm gonna say it. H If we don't
do what we're supposed to be doing this year, we can't go in the
next year with this, with this team at him. And I want to
feel so bad for mister Bamber. I've never met the man, but he
reminds he won us. He's a fan. But I feel so bad for
the guy because he's doing all he could do. He's playing the luxury tax,
He's given the players everything they want. They played once a week,
and what do we got for him. We're not We're not really giving him
a good return on his investment. Let me say the best advantage is in
sports. His ownership and the Clippers do have the right guy that has to
give you hope. Well, you know what, I'm Adam, I'm gonna
take that run with it. I'm gonna take that run with it, and
I do have hope. I'll get with you next time, all right,
Morse, I appreciate the phone call. I got hope still because Coach slew
the chiropractor tinkering tie. He proved it in twenty twenty one. He was
able to out adjust the opposition and make the right moves when they had to.
Let's hear from a post game after the Clippers lose one twenty eight to
one twenty seven, and the sacraments of the King's good job. But just
you know, firing and Fox getting the ball of his hands. My rotations
is really good. It hurts when a couple of rebounds because the bonus is
down there, But I thought, overall just fine. Just trying to get
the ball in his hands and rotating was pretty good. And then offense he
was able to score the basketball. Finally makes me shots. In that fourth
quarter, I see that that's a possession came down to a loose ball foul.
I'll read out there, like, what would you see just on that
possession? Like you got to stop obviously, God call I didn't get a
chance to see it. Yet. Who was so good? We attack the
pain tight. I'm curious when he went out though and air with him.
I laid after a quarter, it seemed like the shot section was almost all
threes. Really not attack them. They're very many, which you need.
Could just a shot slation in that second half in the fourth quarter, I
don't understand it. In the fourth quarter, Yeah, I mean, I
don't know. I mean, I don't understand what you're asking. I'm just
wondering late if you felt like the shots that they got were once you're happy
with, or heil you get or settling for jumpers. Oh you mean in
the f in the fourth quarter? Starting the fourth quarter? Ye oh,
I mean they were twitching one through five, you know, because we were
you know, when we go small. But I thought when maces on the
floor and we got a chance to get downhill and attack, we did.
We got some pretty good shots, and we got some open threes. And
so if a team was gonna collapse and helping the pain, you can't get
to the rim, then you know, you gotta kick it out, you
know for open shots and open threes, which I thought we got some good
looks that we just didn't make it earlier on especially like it, like you
said, in that fourth quarter, we just didn't make What did you think
of for us, especially after the last nine years? Segonder spotlight? If
you think they played against him what he bounced back tonight, I thought it
was great, you know, I thought they try to you know, protect
the pain and sag Off, I mean did a good job of just catching
him still attack and getting into the basket, getting to the rim and making
the right play, you know. And so I thought he did a good
job of just you know, reading what the defense was giving him, and
he did a good job of attacking. Derek had a really strong game,
especially the first half where he helped Russ something that's scoring everything. Uh.
I thought he gave him a start yesterday. How do you feel like he
was able to take advantage of that better today? Yeah? I thought he
was. You know, he was good. I thought, you know,
just with that starting lineup, just able to get shots and Russ and PG
those guys, you know, manufacturing open shots, and we know he could
shoot the basketball and so have him on the floor and also be able to
attack and get down hill and get into the paint and get some a couple
of layups as well. And so I thought it was really good tonight.
Let's just see what the true I've seen somewhere as the rotation. Yeah,
I play the night. What would you think of this minutes? I thought
it was great, just his deflections. I thought a couple of block shots,
uh, driving clothes out, was getting to the basket, making the
right play, I thought he did a really good job, just you know,
on both sides of the basketball. I think he was talking about Roga
there. I just trying to hear that correctly, that question by Andrew Griffe
at the ly time. So they're talking about early in the fourth quarter all
the three points shooting. I just went through the game blog and it looks
like nine of their first ten shots or from three to start off the fourth.
Yeah, and they miss their first eight. So a couple of things
you could point to for what did the Clippers in tonight? Boils down to
this. They got sixteen games left, they're in the eight spot and they're
holding onto that by a game. The Lakers are in the eleventh spot,
two games back of the Clippers, still outside of the play in just one
baby Al David style. They gotta take down the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.
Tip time for that one is at seven. I'll love Clippers countdown at six
before we get out of here. I do want to thank the Clippers organization,
Noah Eagle, Brian Seaman, Ralph Lawlor, big brother, Jake Warner,
a head engineer, Katie Newton who's out. But Zacho called you filled
in beautifully for her. Our producer tonight until Sunday Sunday Sunday with the pregame
show starting at six I metam Osla. We'll talk to you that. This
has been Clippers Talk, a postgame conversation about your LA Clippers with Adam Oslay.
If you like the show, subscribe to Clippers Talk on the iHeart Radio,
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