What is going on? Clippers fans? Welcome to season two, episode fifty
eight of Clips and Jim. I am Chuck Buckler, joined by Adam Austin
and William Updyke. Because today we're gonna be talking, I mean, the
horrible brunchback to back that's coming up. We're gonna be answering some Clippers fan
questions. We got a brand news segment to start the show off with.
But if you're new to the show, welcome. If you've been with the
show, thank you. You can listen to us anywhere you find pods.
Find us on YouTube, over at YouTube dot, complash at Clippers Podcast.
Before we get into this brand news segment, how are my co hosts doing?
Guys? The Clippers are kind of up and down right now. Will
how are you doing on this sunny Friday evening in Los Angeles. I'm doing
pretty good. I'm doing pretty good. No idea what to expect from this
weekend. Really not looking forward to it, man, And that is not
a phrase you hear me say on a Friday and very often that I'm not
looking forward to the weekend. So you know, things are a little up
in the air Clippers wise, but I'm doing great, man, I'm doing
great, looking forward to a couple of early games. I guess, Adam,
how are you today? I'm good. I know what you expect from
this weekend is mister t set in Rocky three pain. Now it could be
for the other team, it could be for the Clippers. We're gonna find
out together. It's great, it could be both. Yeah, they got
the back to back with daylight savings in the middle of it. We're going
to get into all that in just a few but first we have a brand
new segment here on Clips of Deep. If you're watching on YouTube, you're
gonna love this. If you're listening, you're also gonna love it because of
how expressive Adam is when he breaks down some film. Adam, what are
we watching? What segment are we in right now? Well? I don't
know. We kind of impromptu did a little film session last time out.
Chuck and I here on the YouTube and people seem to enjoy it. I
had a good time with it. Now, obviously it helps if you're watching
on the YouTube channel. We appreciate all the new listeners, all the new
viewers, the subscribers here. So I guess I'm calling it and Will's Name's
great Adam song. This may be more illuminating to what we're doing here.
I'm calling it the high five five clips from the last game high as in
highlights here. So the Clippers were able to come back against the Houston Rockets
down by twenty after putting up seventy eight points in the second half of that
last game, they completely turned things around offensively. It was one of their
more impressive offensive showings in some time, especially when you consider when Shuck and
I were previewing that game, we talked about the Houston Rockets, I think
their last ten or last fifteen games or post All Star Break? What were
they, Chuck twelfth defensively? Yeah, they were better defensively than the Clippers.
They were twelve Clippers or fifteenth? Yeah, Well on the season,
Houston is seventh defensively, damn, which is kind of shocking. It shocked
me too. I didn't see that coming, but as I shared the screen
here, I think you guys are seeing what I'm seeing and not one of
my dating app tabs that's open right now on your desktop. Can you use
dating apps ondusktops? I don't know about on dating apps, but well,
uh, plenty of fish. We have the technology in many ways now Christianmingle
dot com. I'm on right now. Uh no, is this farmers only
or so? The Clippers were able to turn things around even though they were
still down heading into that fourth quarter. And let's start with this first clip.
There's some bad clips, there's some negative stuff, there's some positives here.
Five clips for you. First one, a little miscommunication on the defensive
end by the Clippers, something we have seen far too often post the Grammy
road trip. Shengoon just picked up his dribble. He's going up in the
near side short corner against Mason Plumbley, but because he's been cooking, Paul
George comes over to double. He realizes, oh, Shangun just picked up
his dribble. Mason Plumby can take it from here. But on his way
back because Norman Powell came over to cover for PG on Thompson, there's a
little misque here between Paul George and Norman Powell going out to guard Dylan Brooks
on the right wing. It ends up when the easy Chngoon bounce past to
Thompson for the dunk. Watch PG look at Dorman Powell looking back at Paul
George here on this because I believe he knew he was gonna get back on
Dylan Brooks and Paul George had to get back to his man and Thompson.
Yet still a little bit of bickering there after the play. I guess to
some degree you like it because it means they care, they're tried to get
better in that area. The next one's obvious. It's one of the best
plays of the ball game. Is James Harden here after we saw that three
pointer there from Paul George top side. He's got Fred Van vlied against him.
Now, when you lose a bit, a little bit of speed,
as James Harden has in his career, he's had a lot of hamstring injuries.
He's what thirty four going on thirty five now, but he's still got
enough and he was showing it off in this game. He was getting downhill
a little bit more. What you gotta do is start the motor and rev
it up a little bit further out because it used to be with him.
If he's even with his defender, he's leaving no longer the case. So
he starts a little bit further out, blows past Fred Van Vliet, and
this is one of the best passes we have seen so far this season.
It's James Harden. It's something he does. But while Mason Plumbley thought it
might be going to him, he collapsed the defense to the point where he's
got four guys on him. And I mentioned the Houston Rockets being seventh defensively,
they've been really good, holding teams their top ten when it comes to
opponent points in the paint per game. So this is what they do.
They're overly aggressive. Plus the fact that James Harden has already scored once getting
to the basket, kicks it all the way out to Kawhi Leonard. Here,
not only do we have Kawhi wide open, but look at Mason Plumley
here. He gets a little hip check in on Jabari Smith Junior, just
giving Kawhi a little bit more time there to get the three porter to go.
So some of those little things a little veteran savvy play there by Mason
Plumley Like seeing that. Now we have a little bit more from Big plumb
here. I'm calling this a good recovery and this is an entire sequence here
as at leads to our next play. But This was big some transition points
for the Clippers. But before that, we have a little high pick and
roll from the Houston Rockets giving the Clippers a little bit taste of their own
medicine. Sheng Goo's gonna set the screen here on James Harden. It's Jalen
Green with the basketball. Mason Plumbley shows a little too much coming to his
right. We know his limitations defensively, as James Harden's going high on the
screen to try to stick with Green, which is not gonna happen obviously.
So here's Mason plumb Lee just out a position. He's on his heels now.
Jalen Green said, I'm not going to try to go around him and
then run into Kawhi Leonard, even though he could have given it up to
Smith Junior. Instead, he gives it back to she Goon. He's going
the other way. Mayson Plumbley's behind him. But here's a nice recovery by
the Clippers on the defensive end. They completely collapse the paint here. Sheng
Guon's wried about an offensive foul against Norman Powell, which gives Mason Plumbly time
to recover. Here on the back end, for the huge swat. Now
the Clippers got numbers, they're going the other way. Sh Goon's complaining on
the other end whether it was a foul or not. You know, if
you're a Clipper fan, you're not feeling bad for anyone. Clipper's got five
on four. Here, you gotta give it to your ball handler. So
here's Norman Powell to James Harden. Harden with the basketball and he sees that
Dylan Brooks is still has his back to Kawhi Leonard here. Now give it
to your big dogs. Kawhi Leonard on the right wing with it. Dylan
Brooks has to recover and overreacts on the close out. Kawhi maybe could have
got it to Mason Plumbley there down low as he ran the floor the right
way for a big man get to the basket. Instead, he goes in
collapses the paint once more. Look at this feed from Kawhi Leonard. He
looks to his left looking like he's gonna give it up to Norman Powell to
the point where Green gets spun around, and instead Kawhi gives it up to
Paul George on the far side corner for a wide open three pointer. Just
a beautiful pass and one of Kawhi's two no look passes in the ballgame.
One more for you here in are high five and this is kind of any
things on a low light here. This is more bad defense by the Clippers
here after Kawhi got that in one bucket to go over. Jabari Smith Junior.
Okay, so here's Fred van Vliet. Paul George is on him.
Jabari Smith Junior comes over, James Harden reacts like he's gonna set a hard
screen on Paul George and they're going to switch instead. It's a ghost screen.
It's Jabari Smith Junior just faking out the screen. James Harden's way out
of position here still, but both guys are so he gets a wide open
three pointer when the Clippers are up by five. This was a huge shot
to get the Houston Rockets right back into it with another two minutes left.
They just have to tighten things up. There. Not enough communication you see
here James Harden looking at Paul George. I think Paul George was in the
right on this one. But there you go. Just five plays there.
Some stuff the Clippers can work on, some positive things as well. There's
your little film breakdown here on clips and Tip. That was the first Atoms
High five. We did it, the first officially licensed one. The Clippers
play the Bulls in Bucks this weekend. Oh we got all, Adam right
here? What if we did this one? Do? How do I change
that? This is not the way right? Well? Yeah, nay,
yeah, leave it all right? So the Clippers play the Bulls at one
on Saturday, then they get to enjoy daylight savings time before playing the Bucks
at twelve on Sunday. I don't know the last time a team had to
play two games in less than twenty four hours, but it doesn't feel like
it happens very often. This is horseshit, right well, this yeah schedule,
absolutely absolutely. I mean it feels like we're getting every single last one
of these either terrible brunch games or a rough as hell old back to back
thrown at us in our final year booking in Crypto dot com arena. So
I'm so ready to be done with this. Man, I'm like I got
senioritis with this brunch game ship. Yeah, I'm just drilling holes in the
piece of it right now, Adam, You're gonna be at both of these
games? Correct? How are you? How are you? No? I
can't. I can't. You know why because they're early games, because what
the Kings play later tomorrow and the Lakers play later on Sunday night? So
I get kicked out because I wouldn't be able to do the postgame show because
they're breaking stuff down right after the Clippers game is over. That's a long
process and undertaking for the Those are crazy nights. If you've ever been able
to watch them start that process, it's pretty terrifying just in terms of how
much stuff has to actually get done. The Lakers have a game on Sunday
night. I think they have Who are they playing? Is its? No?
They play the Timberwolves on Sunday on Oscar Night. Well, it's like
weird, seem weird? I don't know, I guess. And the awards
a mostly consistent team in the league because the Oscar should be held at Staples.
No. Absolutely, Uh, all right, we're gonna do our Oscar
picks later in the show. But we got to talk about uh, Clippers
versus Bulls. The Bulls are five and three since the All Star break.
We're shooting just under thirty five percent from three Their top eight in offensive rebounds
per game. They only score in the mid range pretty much. I was
looking at where their points come from bottom ten and percentage of points from paint
buckets and bottom five and percentage of points from the three point line, So
their buckets are coming from the mid range. Adam, is this kind of
a case we don't really know zoos availability, So let's say zoos available.
Is this a case of like you kind of clamp down all tomar and things
become seemingly infinitely easier for the Clips. Yeah, that's something the Kings were
not able to do when Chicago came back on them down twenty two. Zamar
got cooking. But this is an interesting matchup because recently who did they do
it against? The Bulls have thrown out Vucevich and Andre Drummond. They've gone
uber big, and I wonder how the Clippers are going to try to counter
that. Are they going to go even smaller? That's something Robert Flaum said
on two or three Hoops recently, like are they going to try? I
don't know. Daniel Tice next to Mason Plumber or Visa Zubats, PJ.
Tucker has had plenty of those opportunities. Next to one of those bigs with
Daniel Tye has not gotten one. It's just so yeah, I mean he's
been shooting more, he has, he's been making less love taking those shots,
but he is taking that. No, that's fair. Yeah, I
don't know, it's if Zoo doesn't go, I'm way more worried about this
game. Vooch's averaging twenty two to twelve since the All Star break, which
is quite a bit of points. Will It seemed like they were just like
worried about Zoo having headaches and stuff like that, Like where's yet with the
Zoo timeline? The entry report will probably come out in a couple of minutes
here, But I'm worried if you can't go, Yeah, yeah, certainly.
I mean I don't know. I talked a little bit about that post
game, and like, I luckily, I mean not luckily. It's still
not great, but it's like an illness situation because I thought what the originally
said on the broadcast was that he was having some issues mobility. It was
worded weird. Yeah yeah, and they said like he wasn't moving well,
which I think exactly right. Yeah, you're automatic like so he's hurt or
something. Like that, whether soreness or tightness or something. Yeah. Yeah,
being like a physical illness is definitely different. I wonder if he was
just having a migraine something. Dude, that'd be brutal. Kobe fights another
guy who could maybe light the Clippers up a little bit in terms of a
guy who's fast and from point of attack. He's also playing forty minutes a
game this season or since the All Star breaks. Sorry, he's playing forty
minutes a game, which makes me think, like, if we're not putting
Damar in action on defense, let's put the guy who's gonna have to play
ninety five percent of the minutes in this game, let's have him running around
out there. I don't mind that DeMar Derozen by the way, has been
averaging twenty seven over like his last fifteen to twenty games. Now, I
just looked Chicago's last ten games. They're tenth offensively. Now, they're twentieth
defensively during that time, but they're tenth offensively the last ten games. They've
been playing much better. No, Zach Lavine doesn't seem to matter. This
team still has enough I guess, potent offensive players to scare you. So
you can't take them lightly as actually on the front end of the back to
back, you would hope best case scenario is what the Clippers put them away
late in the third quarter. Is that being because you just want to win
it this scenario? Yeah, Well, I mean, their their shot profile
is super weird too, right, So that offense like had like you know,
it kind of revolves around the mid range. So how the Clippers opt
to deal with that, I think we'll say a lot about the game,
and if they're they're able to throw them out of a rivet like Rhythm Tomorrow
especially, it definitely gives them a much better shot. Uh. But on
the other end of the floor, it just depends on what version of the
Clippers offense we're going to see. You know, you showed some some highlights
there, but I feel like there's kind of been a lot of low lights
recently. You know, Tyler certainly talked about how slow they are to get
into everything, and this is a recurring theme, Like this isn't even the
first time that he said something like this. Zach Lowe, who is like
one of the one of the larger media people who does talk about the Clippers
on a fairly regular Basis constantly brings up the quote where early on in James
Harden's tenure where Tyler said, we're just walking around on offense, and it
feels like that has kind of been a through line for this Clippers team.
So yeah, I like, I'm not overly optimistic for a two to zero,
but I would really like to see another step in the right direction.
Adam and I talked about this a little bit after the Rockets win postgame,
and yes, after being on the losing end of a couple of twenty point
swings or double digit swings, it's nice to get the win in. I'm
now looking for like some more sustained good play from this team, because it
just when I actually look at the calendar, it hasn't been that long,
but it feels like quite a long time since the elation of the Grammy road
trip. Yeah, the process, I'm kind of on the same train of
like, let's get the process in play here and this like at you know,
this is a defense. It's going to test the clips a little bit.
Harden and Kawi have not been shooting well since the All Star break.
From three, Kawhi is at twenty nine percent, Hardens at thirty four percent
Hardens obviously taking a lot more than than Kawhi, but I mean, I
hope they can. It goes back further with Kawhi, it's it's been kind
of under the radar, like his last fifteen games, he hasn't shot it
well from three after for so long he was at fifty percent or above.
Yeah, and you could say that's coincided with the Clippers not shooting well from
three. Going into that game against the Houston Rockets, they were what thirty
five percent their last eleven games post Grammy road trip. Now they ended up
shooting I think forty one percent from the outside, and Houston held teams going
into that game the thirty four and a half percent from three. So they
actually finally in the second half when they got hot and what were they at
like sixty five percent or sixty percent from the field in the second half,
they had seventy eight points, Like they got unlocked and it was just high
pick and roll, and coach lou said postgame, he basically gave out the
numbers like when we get into our offense within the first twelve seconds of the
shot clock, we're one of the top three offenses when we don't. We're
one of the worst offenses in the league. It's that simple. Get so
it's almost encouraging that it's not necessarily a talent thing or somebody they're missing.
It's just play faster, not necessarily in transition. Just play faster within the
half court, get to the pick and roll faster. That shouldn't be that
difficult. And it's contributing to this at this point, Like does this team
feel that they've they've seen enough, they've they have done enough that they can
kind of like rest a little bit for lack of a better term, Like
I I'm just unclear because you know, like I said, we've been saying
the same things. Tyleru has certainly been saying the same things. You know,
there's not much more he can do. Uh, you know, Yeah,
we have Kawhi giving you know, second quarter motivational speeches to the team.
Like, I'm just not sure this like lethargy is really stemming from I
don't know if it's sort of an in game and in game rest thing where
like, you know, there's some tentative miss with being in indulgence of the
season and trying to maybe keep a little in the tank. For UH to
finish out the year and head into the playoffs. But it's not a conference
where you can afford to rest, and certainly not for this Clippers team,
with how up and down they've been and how I mean, you don't want
to fall lower than four. I feel like at this point the ceiling for
anything above that feels pretty much closed. But you don't want to fall any
further. I think they'll stick it four. Yeah, I'm not worried about
them. They're three and a half games up on the pills. Look,
I think they're gonna be at four. But I do I agree that it
feels like we're in the switch flip territory. We're in the switches down now,
and then they're gonna flip it up when they want to really start getting
don't. I don't know, but I see what you're saying with that.
While four does seem the most likely landing spot for the Clippers in the standings,
it's becoming more and more concerning to me because the Nuggets are coming for
that one seed. Guys. Now, with Kat out for the Minnesota Timberwolves,
the Nuggets have lost one game post All Star Break. They gave it
up in a big comeback by the Phoenix Suns as they probably were looking ahead
to that Boston game that they ended up winning last night, and they're humming
now like they have locked in this Nuggets team. They know they have three
games left against Minnesota. They are a game back of them, Minnesota's gonna
be without Cat, and they're only a half game back of the OKC Thunder.
I think there's a real good chance the Denver Nuggets end up with the
one seed, which means you do not want to be four, because then
you'll get them in the second round. That is very true. Clips are
two games out of the three seeds, so not inconceivable that they could get
the three seed. But you know what, that would have really helped getting
the three seed. Beat the Bulls at one pm on Saturday. How have
we felt about Bones as the backup point guard. He got some time with
Paul George out there. We did see him and Norm a little bit in
that game against the Rockets, and Bones of the fourth quarter lineup was kind
of rough, but they were trying to buy PG a little bit more time.
I gotta hope those are on point. Tyler with the serious rotations would
be nice to see uh on Saturday. But what are we grade in Bones
so far as it's still kind of an incomplete It's such a big role to
hop into with so much time off, But I want it to be a
little better, don't know, I like incomplete and con it's just I mean,
he's a plus contributor in the four games since Russ went down. Oh
he's been. Sorry, he's been a plus contributor in two of the four
games. Uh, he is. He was a slight negative in the win
over Houston and the game at Milwaukee. Both of those make sense though contextually
with the Clippers. Yeah, going down early and then you know, choking
up a lot of points. So you know, that's not that that that
wild. It's kind of net neutral. Yeah. And that lineup again to
start the fourth quarter, what was it? Bones Harden Howell man was They
didn't have PG out there, they didn't have Kawhi Leonard. It was tough
defensively, that's just okay. It was Bones, plumb hardened a mere man.
That was the starting line. The Bones had a couple of really nice
downhill attacks in the layup, though, turning the corner on his defender and
showing off the speed and athleticism and things were just not used to seeing at
times with this Clippers team because they're older. It was kind of it was
very refreshing to see. I thought. I thought for the most part,
he's I would say he's been solid, Like he has not been a glaring
negative or as much as yeah, they could have used Russ at times against
the Rockets, at times against the Milwaukee Bucks. Bones hasn't stood out in
a bad way. He hasn't gotten huge minutes yet. Until the Rockets game,
they were completely staggering him and James Harden. When James was on,
he was off vice versa. So I'm okay with it. I think bringing
him along slowly like this makes a lot of sense because he was out of
the lineup in rotation for just so yeah, physically, he's got to get
back. We know he's young, but it's still it's different when you're playing
in an actual game. Lot Murray brought up a thing about Bones as interesting
too, is kind of he's got a little bit of the catch and shoot
hesitation that James Harden had when he first got to the Clippers. His quote
was getting both actually shoot it and not hesitate or need to bounce into it
has been a thing going back to Hawaii for training camp, But as we
all learned a month later, the catch and shoot comfort is a relatable struggle
for some guys because bones and PG together can be a fun thing. That
there's something a little bit there. That was a thread from Elik Clipper's film
on Twitter, But there's something there. Real quick? Are we getting the
lick back versus the Bucks? Are we going to beat this Bucks team on
twenty three hours in between time with daylight savings? You know they're going to
be partying for daylight savings? Isn't daily savings? Doesn't it happen at the
night on Sunday? I don't know. People are buating Monday, so it
technically Monday morning. Yeah. Wait, the time doesn't change, does it?
No, it changes Sunday morning at three am. It happened. It
happens at like two am or three am, late Saturday night, early Sunday
morning. Here, we don't need it anymore? Oh I disagree? You
love it? Yeah this schedule? Oh no, I thought you meant daylight
savings. Oh I did mean daylight savings. I don't like losing an hour
or whatever, but I like it being lighter out later. Also, you
know who doesn't do daylight savings or daylight spendings Arizona? You want to be
more? Do you want to have more policies like Arizona? I really do
not, Adam, are they getting the look back? First? The Bucks
probably gonna be a healthier Bucks team this time. Yeah, Johannis is likely
to play now. The Bucks just got blown out great thirty five Golden State
Oarders, but they're taking on the Lakers tonight at the time of this recording,
so they're looking to get there like that, and they're no Lebron in
that game. That's confirmed. See, I'm telling the Lakers now are just
like whatever we're we can't get above ninth, so we might as well just
prioritize health and just be as healthy as possible for the play and which is
smart because they're not going. Yeah, they're not getting out of that.
But I I hope the Lakers still challenge them tonight and make them earn it.
I guess I want them to lose in the end. As always,
I don't care if they're playing Denver. I don't care if they're playing okay
See or Minnesota. I can't help myself. I can't root for the Lakers,
even when it would benefit the Clippers for them to win. So it
it's kind of dependent on what happens with the Clippers against Chicago and how difficult
that game is, and it could be very difficult. And it's also dependent
on what the Bucks do against the Lakers. But they're going to be waiting
for the Clippers, so that's obviously no good. I think they got a
good chance of winning that game on Sunday. Like I said, I think
it's what's the weekend fair? That's a diplomatic way to say that. Who
is No, I do not think they went on Sunday. I'm just gonna
go out. I hope they do. That's a tough game. I wish
I wish it was flipped. Who is our Kawhi Leonard Player of the game
picks for both games? One player for both games, who's gonna have a
who's gonna have the best brunch weekend of their life? And daylight savings time.
Mmm. We haven't talked about any of the backup centers, but they
might be incredible. They're going to be incredibly important this weekend. If he's
plumb at a hell of a second half against third quarter that was major.
Oh oh oh, we got the injury report. Kawhi entered, Paul George
and James Harden are all questionable for the game against Chicago. Kawhi with left
growing soreness, Paul George with left growing soreness. James Harden with a left
shoulder strain. If these guys some crystals, folks, all the left side,
what's going on? What side is your walling on? Can I forget?
What side do you see you on? That doesn't feel good? Right?
Do we have to start over now? We don't have to the season?
No? I mean, well, I'm going highway. Yeah, that's
that's a big bones game. Now mere coffee is my pick? What the
fuck do we do? If all three of those guys are out, Kobe
Brown tied chances all three? That makes you feel better? Does that make
you feel better about Sunday? Chuck? Maybe? Because they'll play someday.
Sit them all, Get the young guys, some run against the Bulls.
We'll lose by thirty five. We'll beat the Bucks. It feels like they're
looking at Sunday. They're looking towards Sunday a little bit. Yeah. Maybe,
we certainly hope so, but it feels like they are. Maybe Big
Zoo Okay, Big Zoo wasn't on right, Hey, Big Zoo not on
there. Maybe the two days of rest, big Zoo is back into form.
He can go heavy minutes and battle against the bigs from the Chicago Bulls
tomorrow. All right, that's fair. I'm gonna go. Uh PJ.
Tucker, He's probably gonna get some run in these matches if these guys are
out. Is gonna be is your Kawhi Leonard player of the game. Yeah,
he's gonna He's gonna average point seventy five and two and we're gonna need
it. Uh No, I'm gonna go. Uh it's Norm. Norm's gonna
go. Norms. Why doesn't Norm get arrest? This is bullshit, that's
true. Norm has a giant scar on his forehead after being elbowed harder than
anyone's been. Oh, this is something I brought up and I wanted you
guys take before we get in the Clippers fan questions. In your memory,
has there ever been a season where the Clippers as a team have collectively bled
this much? Oh? Wow? Oh that there will be blood. There's
a lot of blood. I mean Norm was leaking jersey coming back. I
think Terence took a cut, Like, didn't he get elbowed in the nose
last game? He did? I think we got a break like it's pretty
close other than on Austin Rivers Old faithful season. Yeah, it's tough.
All right. Well, let's answer some Clippers questions after this break. Now
we got the news that Kawhi, Paul George, and James Hardener questionable.
That's a good time. I guess, I don't know. Man, all
right, we'll coming up after these perhaps loud ads. We're gonna be answering
Clippers fans questions. If the AD's been load for you, go ahead and
turn it down. If they haven't, consider yourself lucky. We got ads
and then Clippers questions coming up in three two one. Welcome back into Clips
and did we just got handed some very surprising injury news right at the break.
If sometime you're tuning into this mid episode, you're insane. Thank you,
But uh the Clippers will be down, uh j Kawhi, Leonard and
Paul George they are all questionable. Uh yeah, they might be down.
Those guys there, we don't know, maybe all of them. But anyways,
Uh, we took some of your Clipper questions over on over on Twitter
dot com. That's at Clippers Pod. Yeah, let's let's get into it.
Daniel Press wants to know what does a successful March look like? Charles,
as the resident march expert, what good march look like? To you?
Good process is what I want to see the most of as the Clippers
close out March. That kind of goes back to what you were saying against
the Bulls. Is that what you're saying? Yeah? Maybe now, record
wise, anything over ten and I'm pretty astatic that's a good seventeen game month.
Three games over five hundred essentially sure, anything over ten or ten or
more I'm okay with. But the process is what I want to see.
We have not seen good process in a minute from the Clippers. And if
they can stack that for the back two weeks or whatever, A, they'll
get wins because it's very rare that they would lose with good process, and
b will feel a lot better going into April where they do get a little
bit of time to rest. But I just want to see good process.
I want to see Paul George back to more consistent. See when it comes
to shooting, I'm not worried about Kyle Leonards three point percentage that's going to
come back up. Hope Bones can get more comfortable in his role because that's
going to be maybe an issue in the playoffs as well. Right like Russ,
the reports are very optimistic right now, it feels like, but we're
not going to know for a while. Yeah. Ten plus wins and good
process the last two weeks, That to me is a successful March diplomatic answer
week week? What do you want me to say? Play sign? You
know what they should want to sign? Kai Jones? That's what you wanted
me to say. You wanted me to join the Kai Jones conspiracy crew?
Lo, I mean we got a we got a question coming out later about
one of your favorite quippers, Jason Preston. Yeah, who maybe needs to
be tossed in the next Do you think he'll get run in this bulls game?
Anyways? Adam, where are you at on March? What do you
want to see? What are you hoping for? Give us your bold record?
I mean I picked eleven and six, but I think twelve and five
are above would be successful because I gauge it by staying in the I gauge
you by staying in the hunt for a top three seed, and I think
twelve and five are better will do that for this team, because while Denver's
rising Soda without Karl Anthony, Towns could fall back a little bit, Denver
has the easiest schedule of the top four remaining. It doesn't see, but
I thought, okay, see, he had one of the easiest schedules.
Uh, well, it's not as easy as Denver's basically top of the top
three teams remaining. Okase, he's at fifteen, Denver's at twenty two.
Minnesota is at twelve. All of a sudden, they got because of those
three games left against Denver, they got two against the Calves, two against
the Suns, two against the Lakers, one against the Clippers. Obviously,
they still got a game against Golden State Warriors. There is a chance that
the t Wolves could backslide here, and that's who the Clippers could maybe jump
to get the three spot. I don't know, could be interesting unless Ant
is blocking the living s out of everyone to win games in the most dramatic
fashion possible. He's great. Uh so, yeah, I think twelve and
five or better would be very successful. But I picked eleven and six.
I'm kind of regretting what they're three and one so far? Uh yeah,
I think so yeah, will what's your successful? Will my week successful?
You just let's see thirteen and four. Damn, I mean that would be
a very successful march. This is, this is, this would be like
lights out. They've achieved every single expectation for me. I don't you know.
It's more of a hope, I guess than a prediction. That's I
mean hope verse prediction. That's a that's an incredible run in this month.
Uh yeah, My prediction is probably closer to when you said chuggling ten,
seven, eight, something like that. Not everyone has as rose colored glasses
as you, you know, not everyone's as and everyone can as positive.
Not everyone can believe in the Clippers as much as you do. Just looks
like more of a violent Yeah, all right. Passing Paisa, though assuming
an Italian person who's very good at distributing the basketball said, do you guys
think that the clips tendency to start slow is sustainable in a playoff context?
I understand that the boys are long in the tooth, but I don't think
we can rely on comeback. Wonderfully worded question, Thank you. I don't
want them to be slow starting in the No, it's not sustainable. I
don't think if I don't want them to be down double digits in the first
quarter of every playoff game. You know, we talked about flipping switch,
and as much as I like, I hate the idea of that, and
it's kind of become like a cliche thing. I do expect the play to
look somewhat different, but you know, we might see in a series like
Game one or two, sort of those slow starts I think between ty Lu
making some adjustments to the lineup and just guys, you know, knowing at
that point, you know, you're not really seeing a whole lot new from
your opponent. It just kind of comes down to the possession battle. I
would expect things to look a lot differently, but you know, let's not
forget this team's this team's best playoff run so far came when they went down
two in every single series, So you know, it's it's not unprecedented that
they would drop a game or two due to this kind of style. But
I don't think it would be a consistent through a seven game series if it's
one year hoping to put away. So I'm not so concerned about them starting
slow in the playoffs because earlier today I had this thought regarding this issue because
since February first, they're twenty second in net rating in first quarters and Clippers
it's been bad. But remember last season they were even worse in first quarters
throughout the entirety of the year, where the Clippers actually started off much better
in that area. This season through the first couple of months, and then
Game one hit against Phoenix and we all were like, oh, they did
flip a switch. They look completely different. They are energized, they are
playing hard every single possession. Now I think the same thing can happen.
I think this is just an older team that is going through the motions at
times in the regular season because it's long and daunting and unforgiving, especially in
March. That's a good Yeah, they're an older team. Long in the
tooth, is not wrong. Like, they look completely different against Phoenix from
possession to possession. From the opening tip. Remember Russell Westbrook was dog and
KD he had like a stealer block on him. Right away. They were
completely engaged and it trickles down from Kawhi, who is the ultimate person.
We try to be able to use this perhaps risky strategy because we've seen him
do it and do it very well. Alex Webb was the Zoo benching precautionary
or will this ultimately lead to a change at center in the starting what?
Adam, why don't you go ahead and take this one, big fella,
I've reached oblivion. I don't know where I'm at right now. I can't.
I can't take any more of this talk. We heard it last season
when they first brought in plumb by the anti Zoo people. Oh, they'd
be better with going with Mason Plumbley. Actually, look, he has the
reverse dunks. For the love of Pete Guys, Aviza Zoo Bots is one
of the top five rimp protectors in the league. Can we stop with this
nonsense? Do I have to pull the off numbers defensively from this Clippers team
when it Viata zubats is on the floor and what he means to them defensively.
It's been like this for years. We have to stop. I know
he fumbles the basketball here and there. That stands out to you much more
than all the times that guys shy away of going to the basket because of
Vitza Zubats is there apparently so this season. On the court, they're a
one to ten defense. Off the court, they're a one point fifteen.
It's been more dramatic than that at times, though they obviously recently have had
some slippage on that and collectively as a team, but they're still over five
points better per one hundred possessions defensively with the Viatza Zubots on the floor,
I can't do it anymore. I love Big Plumb. You know this.
He and Daniel Tice are not close to the interior defenders that Iviza Zubats has
been. In fact, he's one of the best in the league. When
will it be acknowledged? Well, on this pod, we've certainly never given
Zoo any praise. Here is that Carl's story about having a Zoo jersey but
not wanting to frame it because it's not signed, so he would just have
an unsigned frame Zoo jersey. It's very funny. No. I saw someone
on Twitter saying that maybe the Clippers, if they played the Timberwolves in the
playoffs, should start Daniel Tice, which while I do agree that Daniel Tye
has a place against the Minnesota Timberwolves. It's not at the very beginning of
the game, you starting center like, Yeah, Zoo was the starting center.
He's been the starting center like for the entirety of his tenure. It's
for a reason. I mean, of course, there have been questions about
his ability to close out games. You know, that's been the biggest development
we've had this season, is the trust and the ability for him to be
a big enough offensive threat to be in those positions late in games. We
already know what he can do defensively and the way he's been able to improve.
So, like I said, I mean, this is a bit.
This is like in all caps, what was the question market an exclamation point?
I just don't I'm sorry, I just don't see it at all caps.
What I like that. I'm going catatonic. I can't handle anymore.
All I see is big Zoo being their best protector of the rim, and
that's what you need, guys. He's a defensive stalwart in that area and
it has been his entire time with the Clippers. I posted this stuff and
follow out of me before. What what do you want not to mention his
pick and roll prowess when he and James hardwore humming and they had it going
when the Clippers were at their best. And I'm sorry, I'm just because
the gun out, the gun feels like it's maybe coming out. No,
this is like the weapon where the gun is like, you got the gun
in his mouth. Well, what's the next question, Let's get off the
zoo. Well, when you were here, I had to get I had
to bring at him out of the depths of his bere At one point,
he was really digging himself a hole. Right, I love Jael Tye's effort.
Have you also seen how many times he gets dunked on? My god,
he can't protect the rim like I beats a Zoo boss. He's way
undersized, all right, clips er Die says during the Grammy road trip,
this team looked like probably the best Clipper team ever. What do you feel
is the reason for decline between how the team had played during the road trip
and post All Star break. Do you feel like we can get back to
that Grammy road Trip form Grammy Road Trip? Uh, yeah, I think
they can. I think that coincided with Zoo being out for a little bit
and with Paul George having an injury too, like it can come back.
We talked about just a second ago kind of Zoo starting in that trust being
there. It feels like he's gonna have to rebuild some more of that trust
than maybe I want him to have to rebuild, if that makes sense.
The Zoo, the leash on Zoo is shorter than any other player when it
comes to what's happening on the court, and think really good things are happening.
When he was closing for the Clippers, so I think I was losing
his damn mind. So I think when Zoo is able, when Tylu is
fine with whatever Zoo is doing to the point that he's closing again, we'll
see the Clippers closer to that point. But this kind of a lot of
this does kind of hinge on bones a little bit and how he's starting to
look because the Clippers were all every single person on the Clippers was playing phenomenal
during that stretch. So I think they can get back there. But I
think it's been Tiki Taki injuries and guys in and out of the rotation kind
of story of the Clips Clips issues. Yeah, I'm curious to see,
like whether it comes this month or whether it's you know, early next month
leading into the playoffs. I expect them to have another dominant run like that.
I expect them tune it up and like really string together some wins in
a in a way like it's they're not gonna I just don't see them doing
this sort of back and forth play to finish out the rest of the season,
like you know, taking tagging injuries and tiredness and lethargy or whatever.
Be Dan. I think that we'll definitely see one of those. It's just
a it's just a question of when. And I guess, you know,
it does beg the question where the Clippers peaking too soon? And I still
think no, I don't think that they reach their pinnacle yet. Uh.
And while we're in a bit of a downswing, it it feels like,
you know, there is the potential to turn that around. So I think
we're gonna have another dominant stretch like that. I'm just not sure it's gonna
be this hoalacious month or to start out April. Second time you said lethargy,
Well, I mean that's just a good word. Adam. Are you
out at this? Are you out of the Catatonics. Can you smell and
see again? I'm spiraling. I just like how there's this thinking that you
can pick and choose sometimes when you peak. It's almost like in NFL,
oh score too early, man, you guys are idiots, like you could
just pick and choose when you want to score sometimes or when you want to
peak. In this case in the NBA, the Clippers definitely got up emotionally
for that road trip. They wanted to go six and one. They did
go six and one. They proved something to themselves. I think the dog
days have hit since then. I think there was mental fatigue coming off of
that. I think not having a beach Zubots close to being the same guy
is having an effect on this team right now. They need him to be
in the place he was back in December, and it's just natural to have
a little bit of a letdown. Now. Last twelve games post Grammy road
trip, they are twentieth off defensively and they are nineteenth defensively. But if
you're looking for positives over the last five, they're seventh offensively and they're sixteenth
defensively. They're trending upwards. They're trending back to where they were. I
think they's still that team. I'm not overly concerned about it right now because
we've seen while it's been a weird week and a half where for their last
five games either had them blowing a double digit lead or them coming back from
a double digit lead. I still think it's all there with this team.
I like that it's all there. It is there. They know exactly what
they gotta do. Venice s two K asks what are your thoughts on Jason
Preston Loki averaging a triple double in the G League? Jock your favorite player?
You should answer this one. I think it's great for Jason Preston.
I don't care about the G League. I've seen him in NBA games.
Yeah him, he looks like he's gotten way more like Jordan Miller. He's
killing it in the G League. Jordan in the G League he is,
so should he be starting for the Clippers now? Mister Jason Preston also looks
like he's just grown as a human being, Like size wise, he was
so small and had the foot is you know, like, I'm happy it's
great. I hope he makes it onto the squad and gets significant minutes in
the NBA level. I still think there's something there with him. It's just
wasn't gonna happen on this Clippers team, obviously, especially once you bring in
James Harden commercials for him. I hope he's in more commercials, be cool.
I don't know. All right, A couple more questions here, Little
Son says, if he can get a shot back to his career average,
is there any chance of Bones sticks in the rotation when he puts someone else.
We're just gonna say Russ, it's fully healthy. He's looked so under
control, and that's been conspicuously missing from the non Harden. It's basically,
if Russ comes back, his Bone's still going to have time in this rotation.
I think that depends on the bos, but I mean there's certainly the
potential there. I think that, you know, I everyone on this podcast,
and you know a sub section of Clippers fandom is really in on Bones
and sees a lot of the potential there. You know it going from not
playing to you know, fifteen plus minutes is essentially what he'll average while Russ
is out and less things are going terribly wrong, not Saturday. Maybe it
is a tough it is you know, that's a bit of a tough road
to hope from not from not playing at all. So it's I think it's
natural that it hasn't looked super like I guess he is an individual scorer,
hasn't looked super smooth, you know, defensively never really been his thing.
He has the physical tools, though, and I think even with more time
and communication on the floor, that's one of those things it can be improved.
That's one of those things that can keep you in tay Lou's rotation.
Yeah, it's it's he has the keys right now. I mean, like
he really has an opportunity here, you know, for for better or for
worse, to carve out I mean more than to demand a spot in this
rotation. So I'm I'm really eager to see what he's able to do with
it through this month. That's exactly it. And I think it could come
down to if his three point shot turns around. If he finds that,
then coach lu can say, oh, there's utility with him as a playmaker,
as a ball handler and spreading the floor from the outside, which is
obviously very different than what Russ breaks. That's what I think could end up
getting him minutes. Even when Russ comes back. Yeah, there's gonna be
yet another guard crunch uh and more tools for we need more shooters in the
playoffs. You look at the rotation and the three point shooters. It's a
little tough after like norm and that's yeah. Jonathan Ang asks, given Paul
George's recent performance being very inconsistent, what do you think his contract value is
worth? He is definitely not a max contract player because of his inconsistencies.
I tweeted this out during the first part of that Rockets game. Will and
I had spirited discussion about it. Well, I think less than Kawhi is
what I think. Why took what three for one fifty four? Three for
three for one nine point eight, So let's call it three for one fifty.
I think he's top top, top of the ceiling. Three for one
fifty. It's really tough. It's just really tough because we don't have the
assets to make a trade. But I want to timestamp that also, wait,
sorry, so I don't get completely frozen. Takes as of Friday,
March eight, five, forty one PM, three for one hundred and fifty
dollars. That's yeah, fifty bucks a year. Yeah, and the free
agent class isn't particularly good, so he does have a little bit of leverage
in that department. I think, though, if he's looking for much more
than three for one point fifty, that to me would be a let's talk
in the off season conversation. I think if I'm if I'm the front office,
because I could see maybe a little bit more, like I could see
maybe more money on a one in one or something like that, but like
a like a commitment of more year, like max years, max money.
I don't know that I've seen enough. And like it's hard too, because
it is a value proposition, like Kawhi has already kind of set the market
value, and it's gonna be really difficult to argue for much more than that,
especially you know, when we have to keep I mean, when we're
you know, likely the intention is to keep James Harden, who's gonna need
to be taking care of as well. That's a lot to be taken care
of, given what happened and fil I mean, and and you know,
I mean, like, look, it's not the Clipper's fall, it's it's
nobody's fault. But the guy's left a lot of money on the table he's
gonna be you know, he he's not gonna take I don't I don't foresee
him taking a big discount unless this team wins a championship. But for Paul
George, like, yeah, if if three for one point fifty, maybe
three for one sixty isn't getting it done? That to me, if I'm
the front office, I'm like, Okay, well, you know we're interested.
I think we should touch base again in the office. Circle let's circle
back, I mean less circle back. Yeah, h adam uh. Obviously
Kahi set the market. He didn't get the max. He didn't want the
mask, apparently because I'm sure he could have got it, but he took
less and try to keep the team together. So I feel like that should
be what everybody's trying to do. Right. You want to win, you're
back home, you get the perks of all that. You grew up a
Clippers fan. I would like to point out though, speaking of turning things
around, Paul George in three of the last four games now is getting twenty
four points on fifty one percent shooting. Over his last six games, he's
shooting like forty three percent. Three people are like missing that parh lately.
Yeah, it's just look at the Rockets game. He started one for six,
he had two points in the first half, he goes six for his
next nine and has nineteen in the second half, include two huge three pointers
in the fourth. And that's what he's coming out in consistencies, dude,
Like that's what people fans are especially so frustrated. But it's like he's coming
out of it. He was. He's a little banged up, so and
I think, you know, like at the end of the day, like
we take the ups and downs, Adam. I like that you point point
out that he is back on the swing because I do feel like he draws
a lot of heat from Clippers fans. But like, if you're talking about,
like how many Killer playoff series does Paul George have to as a Clipper,
I think you'd be hard pressed for me to agree to more than one.
And he's played in five total. Just not not a lot of body
of work. He was good against Dallas in that first round too. No,
but he had that all games I had like thirty and we lost.
Why was unrealist? Why was it unreal? I'm just saying overall, like
he had a good series, like the first time round against Dallas, he
had a solid series. Two it was the last clos four games against the
Nuggets were good. There were some good there were a lot of good games
in there. There were I'd say he's had two or three. You because
like the the Utah series, you got a Utah series for sure. The
Phoenix series without Kawhi, you got to give him, I don't think so.
You don't think he didn't miss that. That's series goes that series,
it gets extended by at least another game. I mean he extended it in
game five in Phoenix to get it to a six game Like, I think
the overall that was a good series without Kawhi, especially when you consider the
rebounding he was doing and everything else. Okay, i'll go I'll go as
high as two point five. So yeah, the three for one, that's
how we should have go. Just like that's not yeah, there that's the
KA I think right, Like it's he's the one who's saying, what I
want to get as much as you can get, as much, should want
as much as possible. Right, that's not he has to have made more
probably on a shoe deal than why Right, Like the PG it is like
one of the was like one of the biggest shoes. It was the most
worn shoe a couple pgs ago. Right, it wasn't like the three the
most warm shoe in the NBA by NBA players. I believe it wasn't it.
I think it was pre the crazy Kobe crunch. But yeah, I
don't know. Well, thank you everyone for the questions he gave me.
We got these from Twitter. No really know how to segue out of that.
Sometimes you just need a little pause. Uh, thank you everyone for
the questions on Twitter. You can send us questions. Most of the time.
Over at clippers Pod, we're not answering anything about kai Jones, So
go yell at seventy six reporters tell Adam about it. On Oh, Carl
says he would love. That's not even my cross to bear like. I'm
more about the zoo. Carl says he wants to go on the radio at
some point. He's too scared to call, he said, but he would
love. Does he go on No, he doesn't want to go in as
a caller. And now we're having he wants he wants the celebrity treatment.
We can see what I said. I said I'll hook him up with the
hotline and everything, but he starts talking bad about Zoo. He's gonna be
tru We're gonna have double dips all weekend for you. We hope your weekend
is relaxing and enjoyable. We hope you love Daylight Savings as much as Will
Updyke does. But we're gonna have the double dips. Adam, what are
the double dips? Well, that's when one of these guys comes on with
me post game. When your Clippers post game call in show, it's called
Clippers Talk, one of them will come on for a meaty segment. Usually
unless we're up against the clock. What will was the last participant? Uh,
it's a big deal. It's a fun time. Sometimes I really need
them after losses, especially after I ludgends with negativity by callers, with negative
stuff from callers. You know, I need a little bit of positivity.
So hopefully we don't have to do that this weekend. Hopefully they take care
of business twice. Get PJ. Tucker in there. Average point seventy five,
A couple of boards will be good. If the Clips do something crazy
or something weird happens, we will go live but only if something weird happens.
This is a horrible brunch matchup. It's gonna be some rough basketball Saturday.
Name he scores more than ten, one of us will be live for
sure. I will demand that. And then we're gonna have an episode out
on Monday with the matchup against the Wolves happening on Tuesday. So a lot
of big games. No Karl Antony Townsen that one. But we thank everyone
for listening and watching. Will Where can these people who are listening, if
they or if they're watching and they want to listen, If they're listening and
they want to watch, where can they go for that? If you're listening,
you can do that wherever you listen. If you wanted to rate and
review us, you can do that over on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It
help us out. We really love it. But if you want to watch
this show, go check it out over on YouTube. A'ts YouTube dot com.
Slash at Clippers podcast. We come at you, I don't even know,
at least three times a week, so it's a good time. Adam,
do you want to do one positive thing? We've been really you've been
having to do Adams high five? You got any positivity in you. Yeah,
I got something positive for you. Guys here Ofviatza Zoobots is not even
close to rounding into shape yet. Maybe he will this weekend. Maybe the
illness that he's been dealing with is almost through him. Because guys, we've
talked about it before. He's the fourth most important player on this team.
At worst, they need Avitza Zoobots to get healthy. I bring you more
good news. Do you know what players are shooting against him within six feet
of the rim? Would you like to take a guess off Eatsa Zoobots this
season rim protection wise, opponent field goal percentage Chuck thirty nine point eight,
Will thirty six point even, Well, he's only behind of guys that have
been stalwarts and have played enough minutes. Christaphs Porzingis, who's at forty nine
point three percent within six feet of the rim, and Rudy Gobert, who's
at forty eight point What was the I'm sorry? What was the question again?
Eats is sorry only giving up? He's only given up forty nine point
seven percent. That's his opponent field goal percentage within six feet of the rim.
He's in good company next to two other elite guys. He is third
in that area so far. Mason Plumbley's at fifty seven. Daniel Tye,
I'm looking forward right here, a couple of pages out. It's above it.
So can we stop with other people? Should be starting over beats the
zoo bos. There's not much more important starting center that you need, very
good point. Within six ft of the rim, he's top three. Man,
we got the top three. Baby, he's kissing the top two.
He's right there. He's freaking elie. I mean, if he's number two,
should he even be starting? Why wouldn't we simply start the best rem
protecture. We need that positivity. You're gonna get that positivity on the double
dips. Who's gonna crush this week? He's a weekend and the whole week
he's gonna hold vooch under twenty two and twelve. He's gonna stymy whoever the
damn bucks are gonna throw at him. It's gonna be a good weekend.
Uh. I'm gonna run right through that. Only we're gonna run through.
He's gonna run through that. Daniel Tice is giving up sixty two at the
rim within six feet. Zoo Box is at forty nine percent. But who
is that guy that said they just against them against Minnesota. Adam's gotta go,
Adam's gonna go dunk his head in the bowl of ice water. Uh,
we're gonna get out of here. You know the end of Space Honesty,
where you're seeing all the colors rushing at the screen, that's when we
started that, right after the high five. We'll be back with the full
crew on Tuesday, and as always, let's go clips