Welcome in Clips and Dip episode one forty or one forty one here, depending
on how you look at it. We did a little bit of a clips
and dumble dip last night on Clippers top of myself and Will Updike after a
heartbreaking loss from the Clippers in Game three where they gave absolutely everything they had
out there, considering they didn't have the two one three connection. But welcome
in everyone to another episode of this Clips and Dip live YouTube series we've been
doing recently. I'm Adam Auslin. We got Chuck Mockler, we got Will
Updike. I think we're live. Are we not living? We're live.
I just realized that I didn't change the title for this. So if you
thought this was all about the KWin Leonard injury, what's in a title?
A title? The title, It's about the details of the subjects we're gonna
get into eventually, including what to watch for in game three, what needs
to go right for the Clippers. Could we do a little bit more of
a recap though, to start things off of what happened last night, because
as bad as the game was to lose, yeah yeah, like it was
again, I think it did the same theme of the Suns don't really instill
fear in the Clippers, which is great. The Clippers played with absolutely no
fear despite not having their top guys UM five guard lineup better than four guards
plus Marcus Morris. I just hope. I feel bad for Norm that we
couldn't win. Forty points probably his great I mean, it's as great as
playoff performance ever. It probably will end up being his greatest playoffs performance ever.
I'm bummed for him. We couldn't win, but I'm happy that we
ran the Sun's minutes up right, like they gotta play at Troel thirty two
tomorrow. And not only did they, of course not have Leonard we found
out about that earlier in the day yesterday, not have Paul George, but
they were just in this uphill battle. So much of Clipper Nation post game
was talking about the officiating and the Suns getting forty six free throws, and
I don't want to belabor it too much, but you know, I think
it's kind of fair game because they made the rules. It started with Monnie
Williams back in the room. I'm getting explanations about we're taking too many jump
shots, mid range jump shots like we're playing a physical game. They had
twenty seven free throws in the first half, they end up with forty six.
When do you see a game with forty six free throws? When do
you see a game with forty three throws? Oh? In the playoffs in
favor of the Phoenix Suns. That was audio from about a month ago when
I think the Suns lost to the Lakers, who had a huge free throw
advantage, and he was talking about them taking forty six free throws. When
do you see a game with forty six free throws? Yeah, the Suns
apparently needed more in some ways those shots because the Clippers, I thought,
for the most part, we're out playing them. I thought they played better
as a team. They showed more heart, they showed more grit, and
there's some stuff we've learned already in these playoffs. To me, that fly
in the face of a lot of the things people were saying all season long.
Number one, to me, I mean, coach lou is still a
great playoff coach. Like he's still a great coach. I think if you
switch coaches in this series, Suns are up three zero and the Clippers probably
lose every game by double digits. With the talent advantage that they have had
two very winnable games though for the Clippers in Games two and three, despite
the talent advantage that the Suns have had. Also, we heard all season
long, which Clippers team is going to show up? Who's gonna be there?
Why is anything going to change in the playoffs? Sure seems like something
has changed. I was mocked for calling him possibly to flip the switch team.
Don't know, guys, They're playing really hard for forty eight minutes now,
It's almost like the playoffs are a different animal. But the issue I
think with the flip the switch thing is like I believe Kauai can do it
because he's a champion who's done it. But with all these other guys,
it was like I would have been nice to see a little more effort during
the regular season to trans you know what I mean. Like I'm not saying
they weren't trying, but there's a very noticeable difference, which is there is
there's a frustrating regular season from some effort standpoints, I'm sure, but to
extrapolate that and say there's no way this team could turn it around and play
differently in the postseason, which is what most people were saying, why would
we expect anything different, right, I don't know. It's because the playoffs
are different. It's because they had an eye on the playoffs the entire time.
And the Clippers have shown that they still have that heart and resilient nature
that we saw in pass I think I think when they need it is the
operative word, because I don't know that it's a wanting it thing. But
you're talking about a lot of guys here who have some pretty significant postseason experience
talking about an old team, and like, look, man, I'm not
here to make I'm not here to make excuses for how they performed during the
regular season. It wasn't great. It was a two games of not a
lot of very fun basketball. But this is a different team. I talked
about this with Adam after after Game two, like, this is not that
same Clippers team that we saw the two games up in. As frustrated as
we can be about that for what happened, it's over now. It doesn't
matter now. And what matters is that this team is consistently like giving absolutely,
like it's just giving everything right now on the floor totally and doing everything
that they can. God, God, bless them as shorthanded as they are,
as as stacked as the deck appears to be, or at least appeared
to be in that game three against But man, they're really making a go
of it. Absolutely the effort, Like the effort is wonderful to see and
it's great. But like I we got, I just I don't know how
many more we're giving so much good effort, but we're still losing. I
got in me for ultimate hope, But that makes sense. I'm disappointed in
the loss. I'm not disappointed with how the team played, though. Yeah,
I think that's that's the difference. Didn't we stress process on this podcast
all year long? What more could you have possibly gotten out of that process?
I don't think anyone was upset with how the team performed. Were people
upset with how the Clippers played last night who were Clippers fans? No,
I'm just saying that level of frustration is a little bit softened for me because
the team did everything they could and it was just a talent advantage. They
ran out of talent and run out of heart. They didn't run out of
effort. It was forty six free throws and some ridiculous calls including a take
foul by Devin Booker, who raised his hand afterwards. The game was so
lopsided in favor of the Phoenix Suns that even when they tried to foul,
they wouldn't give it tool. That was just Yeah, that was one of
the toughest calls I've really ever seen, one of the toughest games. I
had a Laker fan telling me it looks like Kings Lakers two thousand and two
right now, that's how bad it was last night. I mean, the
free throw disparity was insane. Like that's my biggest gripe with last night,
like not having Paul George Basis, so Devin Booker has a lot easier at
a time, which is shitty. But the refts, like we can't the
refs and the turnovers. You can't win when the refs are playing like that,
and some of the turnovers are a little brutal, but like that's to
be expected when we're running out guys who found out it shoot around that Kui
wasn't going to be out there, which is he goes, ref's got an
X ray after had that dog. You know, the refs showed up man.
Uh yeah, I don't fault them for having eighteen turnovers to your point
when you don't know who's going to be on the floor with you, when
there's constrations due in the head with a pass, which feels like I think,
I think the first half where I believe they had twelve turnovers in the
first half, so only six in that second half. It was remarkable progress
for a team that found out at shoot around that their best player and the
best player in the series so far would not be present. Like I think
that, I think at twelve turnovers to be expected, I agree with like
the Zoo in the head one, Zoo has not looked good at these last
two games. I put a note in here if we want to start talking
about game four, because like, what is up with Zoo? Like is
he okay? Like could we run Lucas Ham brought this up on Twitter.
Could we run four guards plus Zoo if Zoo is feeling it tomorrow if a
four guard was Morris, because I'd feel a lot better about that. Right
to me, Viza Zoobots looks like a guy who's suffering from paralysis by analysis,
Like there's too much responsibility on his plate and he's not being instinctual at
all the last couple of games, just with his defensive responsibilities and coverages out
there. That's what I'm seeing. No, that's totally fair. Like I
don't he's not him hurt, but I think you're right, he's thinking a
lot. We could we could talk with a little bit about the niggas in
game four. But before we end on on this little segment, can we
talk about Bones? Can we talk about how great Bones was? He was
great? He should I mean, he should have a huge part of the
rotation next year, Like he should maybe be starting for this team, depending
what the guys. Well, I'm gonna say, I gotta give those rules.
I gotta give the biggest shout outs to our boss. And not just
because he's the head of the two and three hoop team Fire, but Lucas
has been saying maybe Bones should be the starting point guard, and he certainly
had a case last night there in Los Angeles. Man, if he can
do it again tomorrow, that would be fantastic because I think he's got another
two think you think he's got another twenty point game in him. I don't
know if it's gonna be twenty points on fifty percent shooting, but if he
can give us a glimpse into like maybe a more median Bones, right,
because the games before this it was one for six from two for seven and
then he goes six for twelve. I will say if if tired legs do
prevail, as as you know, we'll talk about it in our game four
preview, but as you know, it's possible they might. I'm kind of
like him Bones eyes, Yeah, in that type of a scenario. Same
Also, he started so rough his first couple of free throw times. I
like Paul, I looked out and I was like, what is he doing?
Like has he always been this bad of a free throw shooter? And
I somehow just never noticed it. But it was clearly nerves and he tightened
up a lot as the game went on. And I think the nerves thing
is has been a factor for Bones through first two games prior to last night
as well. And maybe I just didn't give that enough credit just because you
know of the accumat of of you know where where he spent the majority of
his of his young career um. But you know, this was both a
playoff minutes high for him and h playoffs scoring high. So I love,
right, we talked about it after the first two games, even though my
olive garden, he's free bread sticks just for walking in the door. He
was a plus the first two games, even while not shooting the basketball.
Well, he was in those nine ups that made runs. It is no
but I'm saying, and then you get the shooting in game three. If
he could carry over that performance and some of that confidence, you know,
if that three rattled home that looked to just go in and out the top
of the blue off, I feel like Anket can go and still come out.
It was like that ad basket that he almost hit the beat the Clippers
a couple of years ago, remember that one that like rolled around. No
Bones, I don't think he'll lack the confidence at all tomorrow. I think
we're good there. But yeah, man, if he can if we can
get another one from him like that, like this is what coach was chasing,
This is what Coach Lou was looking for. People will question after the
first two games, should Bones still be playing in this series? Yeah,
Well, you keep a guy out there, you keep him involved, and
eventually you could get that Bones Island game. Unfortunately, they still lost for
some reasons that we're outside of their control. But I gotta give it to
the Clippers. And look, Russell Westbrook. This was one other point I
was going to make about things that change now that we've seen this playoff series
unfold. How many people are going to keep saying, oh, they were
tenant four, they shouldn't have brought in Russell Westbrook right before the All Star
break. How much longer can you say that? After what we've seen from
him now as a Clipper and in this playoff series specifically. I mean,
it's been great. He's been as good as he's maybe ever been for a
team. So like I we need and I hate to say it, we
needed a game tomorrow at twelve thirty, right, Like it's brutal, like
his responsibility his skyrocket, and he's been able to handle it, which has
been awesome. I just wish he didn't have his responsibility for his sake and
the team, you know, in a nice way like well, And I
think part of that and part of my own sort of reason why I was
critical about it, which you know i'll ecrow here, I was, you
know, I was wrong. Russ has been net neutral, depositive, definitely
forced for the Clippers, and more positive certainly since Kawhi and Paul George have
been down. But working under the assumption that this team was still something else,
you know, like that that it was still this wingstop identity, that
it was still this this team primarily the offense was going to be initiated through
forwards. The move still didn't make a whole lot of sense. But now
that that is not the case, and certainly with you know, now all
of the two, one, three out, I mean, you know,
we're we don't even have a fighting chance in this one, you know,
in that scenario without Russ and I know the box score says six turnovers.
Well one of those was the play with Devin Booker intentionally fouling him, which
would have gave him two shots and the ball late one of the that was
the only turnover he had in the second half. Yeah, and it was
a play that was a take foul. He was outstanding. So really it
should be twelve to five assisted turnover ratio. Look at the way he started
the game. He ripped it from Kevin Durant, got it to Norman Powell
who gets an easy one which probably got him going, which snowball for him
offensively in a good way, he's what two boards away from a thirty point
triple double. Yeah, Russ was unbelievable. His defensive intensity and the energy
he plays with has been very much infectious so far. He's filling some of
what I think they lost without having Patrick Beverley, you know the last year.
Yeah, that's a that's a great comparison. He's bringing what those vibes
that we've needed. Um. Someone in the comments just said, Uh,
it's crazy to me that the that PG and choir not playing in the playoffs
and somehow the vibes are not abysmal. A huge part of that is Russell
Westbrook. Yeah, and that was what was so weird too, even if
you were against it from a basketball perspective, the whole stuff about him being
a locker room vampire was insane. Like even the biggest rust attractors were like,
I don't know about that. That doesn't make any sense. So,
and you talked about tired legs tomorrow if I hope they put Russ in some
kind of fast recovery chamber because if he's shot out of a cannon again,
I like our chances to really fluster the Suns. Yeah, so let's look
ahead now to Saturday. I mean a mere twenty hours from now. I
don't know. I'm not good at time. Maybe nineteen hours. Anyways,
tip off isn't pending. There's less than a day looking ahead. Where are
you guys out on Kauai. I don't know. We got some funny news
today from home that Tyler has a game plan with and without Kauai for tomorrow
at twelve thirty, So I don't think they know right now. I would
lean towards him probably not playing. I don't know if he is gonna play,
but I'm gonna say I'm feeling better just knowing he does have a game
plan. If Kawai plays, it's not totally off the table. Yeah.
Yeah, They're not preparing solely as if he's not going to be there.
One thing that we haven't really talked about is I know that, you know,
publicly, the franchise and coaching staff and everything, and I'm not blaming
them, it's, you know, kind of their job, but they've been
a little bit coy about this niece brain as compared to the Paul George one,
u Kui was never on crutches. He was still walking around as of
yesterday and did play another game on it, so I you know, once
again I talked about this Charles with Adam. It's like hard for me to
gauge whether that's better or worse that he played another game on it, you
know what I mean? Like, I like, is the the risk of
you know, further aggravation worse or is it a reading or is it an
encouraging side that the mobility was still good enough that even like with a little
bit of soreness or whatever, he was still able to do what he did.
Um. Yeah, the the Kwai thing is a big question mark.
I'm gonna go ahead and say I don't think that we see him in this
one. I still think though that Kauai Game five, after a little bit
more rest istra days a possibility. Sure, Yeah, I mean well,
no, I'm not ruling it out. Yeah, the injury report today will
be interesting, right. Half of me expects the Clippers to mark him is
questionable, just because that's kind of their emo sometimes with this kind of thing.
So if he's questionable, sign me up for a Game five return,
maybe keep him out tomorrow. Does it matter though, whether or not the
series is three one or two two. If it's three one. Are you
gonna push to bring Kawhi back for Game five? Absolutely, if he's ready,
Sure, But I'm not gonna be like no matter, Like why not
serious? Like seriously, why not from what you've seen so far? From
how beatable this Sun's team, Like, it's not if we can win.
It's like, I just, dude, I just I guess I'm just scarred
because I don't want to put him in there. He loses the rhythm.
We bring him back in and the thing and I say what I like,
I say, what's What's I mean? Like, like I just I just
said I'd be worried he just gets hurt. Like that's fy only worry.
That's found enough for me. I know Adam is bookie, but that's not
me. It's not me in this situation either. You know. Load management
has taken a lot of incoming over the years, but recently of course with
the Clippers, with both of their stars being out for the playoffs, where
you try during the regular season to baby them and handle them with kid gloves
enough to get to this point so then they can play heavy minutes in the
playoffs. But I would just say this, it's one thing for a guy
to get hurt in a one of eighty two regular season game, It's another
for a guy to get hurt when they really matter in the playoffs. I
think there's a distinction there. There's a difference. And some people were saying,
well, you can get hurt at anytime, you know, what's the
point. Yeah, but if you get hurt against the Orlando Magic in a
game during the regular season where somebody didn't need to play, and let's say
it's a back to back or something like that, it doesn't look as bad
as getting hurt when the stakes are as high as they are in the playoffs.
There is a difference. Yeah, I'd agree with I agree with you.
My thing is just like you want to get you want to win the
you Like, I get what you're saying, Like, we have a chance
to beat this team. We have a chance to beat the team with just
Kauai, So like, I get that totally. Like I'm just saying,
if it's three one sons, right and you're back in Phoenix, Kawuhi is
more is ready to go, and the medical staff is fifty one percent confident
that he is not going to get reinjured, Well, I mean, honestly,
what are you waiting for? Like, and maybe that's the wrong obviously
obviously, I'm you know, like, if he's if he has questions about
it or something, then no, the answer is no. But if he
thinks he's ready to come back, medical staff is more confident good to go,
then like what are you waiting for? Well, so you're basically saying,
if he's fully cleared to go by everybody, should you go then yeah?
But like the medical staff, what's been so frustrating is it Kawhi does
want to play, Like Tyler was talking about it, like he was like,
he's frustrated for Kawhi, feels bad for him, like that kind of
thing. So like, I don't know, I'm not like, I totally
get the logic. I'm just a Clippers fan who would be terrified to see
him out there if the medical staff was like he's I'm a Suns fan,
I'm terrified to see him out there it's over. Oh yeah, I'm I'm
terrified for everything. Well, they are extremely vulnerable right now. That's another
thing we learned about this series. This matchup against the Suns is infinitely better
for the Clippers than taking on the Sacramento Kings there's no debate about that anymore.
This route looks much more favorable. Granted the bad luck with the injuries
going on with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard that hurts tremendously, of course,
But there's something to what we'll say in there of what are you waiting for?
The entire point short right now is to win now in the playoffs when
you have an opportunity too. So if there's a time where you are going
to push things and risk things, I would think it would be during a
playoff serious like this. The question is how much are you willing to risk
things? What's that percentage chance at if he reaggravates the ACL then because the
knees already weakened, that's what you can't have him. Well what if it's
two two and or the medical staff. So you're saying going no matter what,
like look man, unless like yeah, unless the risk of injury is
is more likely than not. I mean, I have to be I have
to be honest. I this is your I just feel like this is the
last this is the last chance. This is the Agree with that and I'm
not even saying that that's you know how the front office feels or how other
people feel or maybe that's even too knee jerky of a reaction. Uh,
but man, at some point, you gotta go, You gotta go all
in. I would think nothing less from blow it up deck. Okay,
but what is fifty one percent means? He's only I he stopped talking about
least percentages and pop about the game? Alright, we got a couple I
do want to address basketball game because yeah, because because the Kawi things.
We won't spend any more time on this because he still might not even play.
But we got a couple of great questions on the stream that I do
want to address. Looking ahead of game four, your boy Greg said,
Nico still gave us nothing on the scoring board. What's it gonna take for
him to get going? Also, do you who who do you still keep
in the starting lineup? Or do you put someone else in his place?
What if we go Terrence in for Nico? So you're going to ruck,
You're going to russ Norm Terrence jan it's small. Yeah, Tyler's not going
to do that as the Olive Garden branch manager, like Tie's gonna do that.
I feel like I was watching Nico closely last night because he only took
one shot. Where's his confidence level at? Defensively though, He's still so
damn good at times. He had the block DeAndre eight and at the rim,
I watched him lock up Kevin Durant for a possession, who was trying
to isolate and thought he could take Nico off the dribble. He couldn't.
He's still so valuable regardless of what he's shooting out there. What I would
do to work on those inbounds buddy, the inbounds play was that was like
the only play of the series so far. I'd say, Okay, Clipper's
effort not the best right there. That was more regular season style. Yeah,
they gave up those three straight three pointers and that was the last one
to Devin Booker. I think it was CP three before that and a KD
before that, but that that was a big momentum swing. But then the
Clippers took it right back. But my point is with Nico, get him
an easy one on a backdoor cut. He's good at getting to the basket
like that. Just let him see the ball go through the hoop and see
if he can catch a rhythm just by just by an easy layup like it's
hard to get him in the space though, with ruts out there, I
think, yeah, to get him anything other than a stationary shot, I
think, uh is, you know it's gonna be difficult, and we'll see,
Like I think, the ball man, I'm curious to see what it
looks like on on less rest than we've had and what has already been a
very abbreviated playoff schedule. What if we swap Man for Gordon? Eg has
been very streaky and up and down. I know that's defensively though, I
feel like he's been sound. He has been great possessions on Durant, yes,
for sure, But like I mean, I don't know, Like I
just wonder if Ties got something different. I want to know what the two
game plans are basically, Um, I'm not that worried though about who's starting
still with this team. They ended the game with that small ball line that
run and it worked. It worked they had in three. You have to
acknowledge that worked and it worked with and Kevin Durant, and like it works
with everyone on the like on the suns on the floor. Yeah, or
I guess it was was it Craiger or Kogi that they ended up closing with
it was Craig and has been very good from three in this series. Those
corner threes from him, So first three games, he's eight of eleven on
corner threes. The rest of the Clippers and Phoenix Suns are seven for thirty
two combined, and he's eight for freaking eleven. He has been a killer.
He's backed up some of his talk. Yeah, but I don't know
how far you can go with a small ball, like in that situation.
I mean, this was a throw, This was a down thirteen in the
fourth quarter. None of our stars are here, let's do it and it
works, and Biggs are weren't playing good Biggs. The Biggs didn't play well.
So if you're not getting stops already, he might as well try to
lean into office. Do we what's up? Okay? So what's up with
Morris? He cannot, he stinks he's bad. He can. I don't
know what's up with that, Like he's gonna get run. Rocco was also
not very good last night, which I feel like Adam is hiding because he
wants to say it's on the Rocco played three minutes, I know, but
Tyler didn't like those three minutes, which is like that means he's banished,
which is bad. I did see people also stinks I'm sorry, doesn't stinks
he's been He's got. Here's a difference between him being the savior that some
people think he could be for this team, which I think is outland is
ridiculous, or just being a better option. And I think he is a
better option than some of the stuff that they've done this season. Yeah.
I mean, if Marcus Morris didn't bank in that three bother beater, he
would have been destroyed. Um well, I remember, I think I was
talking about this. I was talking about this with Chuck postgame, like,
I feel like they Marcus Morris got a little bit of grace defensively, uh
initially from some of the like from from some of the Son's offense that just
weren't directly attacking him, and then Devin Booker drove on him baseline. Uh
yeah, and it was like, you know, it was a it was
an easy trip to the it was an easy trip to the rim, and
I think everyone was like, oh, yeah, this guy's a traffic come
uh and a lot. Yeah, that's why the five guard lineup work and
four guards plus Marcus didn't, um, yeah, I don't know. There
was an interesting So Nicias Duncan put out like a whole thread on Suns versus
Clippers, which everyone should go watch. We were talking about Zoo a little
bit. They've kind of figured out this thing where Zoo was on crag on
the perimeter, and then Craig brings Zoo into the paint kind and you're kind
of like, oh, okay, I guess that's fine. But then he
hands off to Durant after a screen and then Durant gets Zoo on him,
which is not ideal. So I'm wondering if the Suns will spam that more
to start the game, because again, if they put Zoo in foul trouble,
that's a little rough just for like an like an early start. Guys.
It's honestly shocking how beatable the Suns look right now. I thought it
was a decent matchup heading into the series. Had clanked too off the side
of the backboard. In the fourth quarter, Chris Paul, who's like a
ninety percent free throw shooter for his career, missed two straight free throws.
They looked rattled in downtown Los Angeles with that crowd with the Clippers and the
energy they brought. Like this team even without Kawhi Letter, even without Paul
George. If they're both missing for Game four, the Clippers can still beat
this Phoenix Suns team. They really can't. Definitely. I just I we
need, like what's tough is we need kind of almost everything that happened last
night, except for the refing to happen again. And I hope the Norm,
like I'm Norm was. I know I set it up top, but
god damn he was. If you missed the Norm Powell performance last night,
please watch it on YouTube till that was phenomenal. I hope he's got the
legs in him. Like I wish so bad this game wasn't at twelve thirty.
It's so stupid, But we've been running their rent minutes up. K
D and book and CP three are playing so many minutes right now. I
saw Lucas hand put this out there. But Devin Booker has played more minutes
than anyone in the playoffs so far, and Kevin Durant is second, and
then Chris Paul I think is fifth. The distance between the top two and
Booker and k D and the next couple of guys is pretty drastic. They
could start to to beat five little guards. You got all the kings man.
Uh yeah, let's get a quick ad break in. Uh and then
we're gonna come back and talk about um, I don't know, game four
more and why Mason plummy is has been bad. But we got ads coming
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in three two one. Welcome back in Clips and dip episode one forty one
forty one. We're not sure we got the YouTube live for you guys.
This will also be podcasting later, hence us taking a break awkwardly during a
live, but we're still with you. You can send us questions here.
Yeah you mention the big Man going out. I honestly feel like the last
two games, Plumbly has been better than a Visa Zoo Boss. Now maybe
last game Bizmac, I mean he was good, he was game too.
Um yeah, I know, Plumbly. It's just like we're not grabbing rebounds
when plumblys on the floor, Like it's just I don't know, Um,
I just want him to play better than Bismac Bimbo. I guess would be
what I really hope for. But again, I'm not sure the alternative.
This is what's so tough. The margins are so tight right now because we
don't have, you know, the best basketball player in the world. Zoo
has to be better for Mason Plumbing. This is about a visa zoo Bos
the last two games, overthinking things. That's what it looks like out there
on the court. You can see the wheels turning. He has to play
just more aggressive instinctual basketball. Because I counted this, almost half of their
eighteen turnovers in that ball game, and most of them in the first half
were them trying to force the ball to beat the Zoo Bos. Literally almost
half of those turnovers came with them trying to get Zoo going and them knocking
the basketball off his head one time. It wasn't very good. It wasn't
very good, and some of those passes weren't great either, But like that
connection and that lack of chemistry out there was just so noticeable. But also
it just looks like he's not sure where he needs to be defensively or offensively
the last two games. And that's a little bit alarming and surprising. It's
weird. And I know I mentioned that four guard plus Zoo lineup. But
now that you mentioned that defensive thing, that might be a goddamn nightmare because
then we get into that thing where you know, maybe Zoo's doing the right
thing, but he's not getting help on the backside, so it looks like
Zoo blew something and he tries to overcompensate. Because I can't imagine. While
I take that back, I'm sure Tyler's maybe runs some four guards plus Zoo
in practice before, but I just don't know if it's playoff ready, like
five guards, they can just be insane and run around. But I think
Zoo would have a tough time with that if he would the five for that,
if he was playing well right now, if he seemed to be in
a rhythm and there was a little bit of continuity. But we've talked about
guys that they have to have go off like Norman pell did. We talked
about it after the first two games. If Norman Pale doesn't start playing better,
but there's not much you can do, You're going to lose the series.
You have to play him, You have to play a beata zoobots.
Those are just two guys that are critical to the Clipper success and they have
to perform and be better. You have to ride or die with them.
They only have so many options right now. Yeah, man, the margins
are they're thin, would I would say, And I still worry about a
KD game coming, by the way, So that's what I wanted it.
So like, no, doesn't that come at the cost of a Booker game
because he's clearly been like the favorite and the volume guy on offense because no
one's there to stop him. No PG, even with Kauai No PG means
that it's just like book has a lot more room because we're focusing on KD.
But yeah, do they split that difference? That's a good point.
Will, Like, do they just because we've tried to double Durant and he's
so damned tall that he was just like no, thank you. But I
think you're right. I wonder if that does sacrifice because like other than I
mean going one of three from three, I mean, I don't like Kevin
Durant has been efficient the whole time. It's just the number of shots.
He's kind of been around this fifteen number, and yeah, well you worry
about him going off. I mean, ultimately those shots still have to come
from somewhere, So I would assume that means Devin book are not taking twenty
nine. So it's just like it's it's a little bit of a balancing act.
I mean, it's not like they just because of the shots that he
gets. It's not like they can say, Okay, Tory Craig, you
just take less shots. Now. Well the difference could be though, instead
of one guy doing the majority of the scoring, they could just both combine.
Right for the seventy three points, one guy has thirty five, the
other guy has thirty eight or something like that. There's just a little bit
more balanced. And by the way, since I'm out on the outs with
Shane Young, now I guess but calling, we're calling that first game not
a steal by the Clippers because they outplayed them for the most part. We
would have stolen the game last night. That would have been a fantastic heist.
Have we gotten that win either the last two I would have said,
yes, qualify as steals. But game one no. And he posted on
Twitter and I don't know if he's a reporter for the suns now or what
his role is. He writes for Forbes, but it seems like all his
coverage is on the Phoenix side. I don't know how else to put it,
And he posted look at Devin Booker and Kevin Durant combining for seventy three
points, and somebody underneath it's like, look at Russell Westbrook and Norman Powell
combined for seventy two points. Like I don't think Phoenix should be feeling that
great right now they have played, nor should the reporting be slanted tours.
Oh, look at the Suns and how unstoppable they can look out there.
I was talking with a buddy who's the son Marcus Morris combined for twenty five
Buddy, how about that? Realize? Realize? I think that's the thesis
here. I was talking to a son's buddy and he's like yeah. He's
like, dude, I don't know what the hell we're gonna do if we
get past the series. We have to play Denver. We don't look,
there's a bunch of standing around on the Sun's offense when Katie has the ball,
which you know, sure, I guess that makes sense, but like,
no, this Clippers team is showing how to beat the Suns, and
that's five guard lineups. I do have a Suns buddy's from my old job.
He's a chill guy. Um but uh yeah, I don't know like
who We're due to a cool off game at some at some point the five
guy lineups though, really that sustainable, like it was a necessary thing.
It worked, Phoenix will be more prepared for it the next I totally agree
and I forty minutes Sam Rasuls, Yeah, Russ takes the job's work.
Maybe what if we just run what if we just start cherry picking? What
if we run five guards and just started cherry picking? Egregiously, Now I
think we'll see four guarding. I mean, we're definitely gonna see four guards
again, Oh don't. I don't know we'll if we'll see five unless we
find ourselves in the exact same scenario as last night, which isn't impossible,
right, Like definite certainly not impossible to be down on before to the sun
Steam. Yeah, I did predict what was like the wild outlier moves segment
we did that Coach Luke could go to in. Yeah, I was like
terriss man at the five. Well, it didn't take too long to get
to that sixteen hours away from seeing that for the most part, Um,
I man, I think we should give a shout out to the crowd last
night too. At at the stadium, they were phenomenal. Shout out to
everyone who went um. The energy was palpable and like Adam said, man
if that Bones three would have fallen, woo, that would have been very
loud Cryptocome Arena. I'm hoping the twelve thirty crowd can match that energy.
I have no qualms of people getting there late because it is Los Angeles and
twelfth are on a Saturday is crazy. But I do do not get their
late. Do not get their late. This game is far too we need.
Yeah, I wish part of me, which as the Clippers, hadn't
just have recycled last year's playoff here. So there's maybe some cooler incentives to
get people. But um, whoever is going to be there on time,
be loud, get ready? Um what are we looking for for player of
the game. I'm not doing something we can't do Surprised performer of the night
because all of the people who wouldn't surprises everyone out of the water. With
my last prediction in Norman Powell, Yeah, I think it's I think it's
because everyone who would be uh, these guys are officiating. The Suns is
now heat me down, thrust into an actual role. So who's the player
of the game tomorrow? Will up take Terence Man? Terence Mann. I
think, um, he's done a lot good. Obviously, there's a reason
that he's been on the floor. We thought his minutes would dip and they
did a little bit at points yesterday with no Kawhi, which was certainly a
surprise. Eight points in the first half, eighteen in the second. I
think per minutes. Sorry, I think Terrence Man is. I think Terrence
Man is due for a great offensive game as well. That corner three he
made that got the crowd to erupt had shades of Game six Clippers versus Utah
Jazz from a couple of years ago. I felt it for a second when
Terrence Man made that shot, I just wanted to take more, like he
has to be more aggressive. The thing, too, is like the volume
has been low, so obviously this is going to be dependent on that.
But I think Terrence Man is due for a for a twenty point plus perform
a hot street. Yeah, and he has been good against the Phoenix Suns
obviously, his best game of the season, one of the best games of
the regular season career for him came against Phoenix, and he has wrecked CP
three at times in this series. It's not just bones going at him.
Hates being picked up by Terrence Man. Hates Yeah, literally, I want
to see Terrence give a little like a literal, a literal rock the baby.
So who are you picking? Adam? Okay uh. This may be
a little bit controversial, but I've watched too many Playoffs series in my lifetime
and I've seen this game being played many times before. You've I am doctor
Strange. I've I've seen coaches campaign for calls after a game like this,
and I think the Clippers are going to end up getting some calls in Game
four go their way. It's just natural. It happens all the time in
a seven game series, one team feels like they get a bad whistle.
Coach lew started his press conference saying the difference was free throws and Devin Booker.
It looked like he was controlling himself and muzzling himself from being fined.
At the very end of the postgame press conference, By the way, I
think we'd all pitch in and start a kickstarter for Devin Booker. No for
coach lew if you got a fine calling out the refs last night. Absolutely,
Yeah, Well maybe not. He's a lot wealthier than I am.
I think you can cover it. But I think the Clippers, though they
are going to get a more friendly whistle, you're not gonna see I mean,
when do you see a team get forty six free throws in a game.
I don't think you're gonna see it again. That's my point. Though
Monnie Williams campaign for it, they got it. They got a better whistle
the rest of the season. The Lakers campaigned for it after what happened in
Boston with Jason Tall not campaign well enough. Those were some of the best
refuse sucks chances of her. Yeah. Shout out to the crowd for those.
Unfortunately, bitching works in the NBA when it comes to complaining about call.
If you don't, they may not notice the fact that they were that
bad in Game three. I'm gonna we need a Zoo tantrum. We need
Zoo to just do the Lebron falling to his knees smashing the floor for not
getting calls. Um, I'm gonna pick your boy. Greg said it in
the comments. He said Nico is the ultimate surprise. At this point,
I'm going nicktum, I'm going nick mtum. He's gonna be the same thing
that he's been bringing on defense. But he's gonna make three threes. Is
what's gonna happen. And what's not gonna happen is people are hopefully not gonna
go on Twitter and at his wife and try and make her life terrible because
that's insane. But Nico's gonna do his thing. All of all of Garden
Branch Ranger will is telling me seven threes from the bag. Excuse me?
So I think Nico's got it? And okay, so who's gonna score more
than thirty? Because someone's got to score more than thirty? Is it gonna
be rust? Well? I saw that. I think Norm needs thirty.
I think needs close to thirty. He's capable. I mean every time he
got the norm combining sleep walks, the guy sleepwalks into twenty. Russa norm
combining for sixty. That's the first thing that needs to happen for the Clippers
to win. I think, yeah, and you know, you never know
who could show up with why? Also, assuming he doesn't play, there
was this quote that also came out from earlier today from Joey Lynn asking coach
LEU about what made him go away from Rocco after just four minutes in Game
three. Coach lew said, we'll see tomorrow. Wow, I mean,
whoa, I don't want to get you too excited. Hut whoa, Yeah
that's man, I'm hyped up off that good stuff. All right? Should
we? Should we end this one on a phone? Question from you boy,
Greg? Yeah, let's do it, all right, you boy,
Greg said, fun question for the pod. Adam would make a great doctor
Strange. What Marvel character should you guys be as a trio? Will and
shut? Question? Mark, I think I gotta go. I don't know,
Will, What do you think? What would you pick for me?
Adam? How about you pick your doctor Strange? You've seen all the outcomes,
how elasts? How much elasticity do you have in your pants? Like
if you go full chuck Hulk, well those pants will those I'm also I'm
wearing jeans, but I think Hulk makes sense. I think that's a fair
comparison. But I think, yeah, I think that's fair because I mean,
you get worked up sometimes I do. Hey, that's the secret.
I'm mad all the time, literally exactly. All right, So who's will
Will in this case? I mean they're about to get the X Men in
the Marvel Disney universe right here? Can can Will be beast? He's got
the glasses on. That's pretty I am. The film adaptation of Morbus.
Great movie. I think we're getting I think we're getting our asses kicked.
If we got Morbus at the three, look at the two and then Strange
at the one. Um, all right, so what do we got?
We got? We got a double dip tomorrow after the game, Adam,
you'll be on pre and post game of course, chuckle beyond the chuckle beyond
the post game and lest the Clippers win. Yeah, and that's how well
they played last night. Even though they lost, Will was still I said
that. I said that when I tweeted it out. It wasn't technically a
victory. Oh. Someone on YouTube said, Tyley said, it's Morbid time.
Um, so we're doing a double dip after the game, potentially a
full postgame pod. We'll see where the vibes are at, but we're for
sure doing a full tripod on Monday for everybody so we can preview the ever
important game. Five, Adam Will Where can Will? Where can people review
us? They're watching us on YouTube right now. Shout out to everyone's watching
us, so you can review us over on Spotify or iTunes. Got a
shout out from starmant HIV about the video on Spotify. It's something we'll look
into. Currently where we host our podcasts that doesn't support Spotify video. It's
a whole long thing. Anyways, you can review us on either I can
do Spotify. You can listen to us on either one of those platforms.
We're also on Google Podcasts, We're on Stitcher, We're on Deezer or Amazon
Music. Basically anywhere you listen to podcasts, you can listen to the show.
If you some how get podcasts in some different way that we don't know
about yet, let us know. We like to learn new things kind of
sometimes. You can also check out this podcast over on YouTube that's at clippers
podcast and please to know what you're saying, But what's you're up to?
Hit us up over at clippers pot on Twitter. No check all vibes,
Yeah, no blue check. We're not paying for that unless you want to
pay for it, and which case we will gladly take the blue check.
We will definitely use it for the blue check. Yeah, not two loose
beers. Here's here's to a clean injury report for the Clippers. Should be
out around five pm today. And Adam, I hope you've seen only the
good outcomes for the brunch battle tomorrow and down tell Us Angeles. I'm seeing
the Clippers getting some calls tomorrow. Maybe they'll get the Lakers two thousand and
two Game six fortunate calls where you get twenty seven free throws in a fourth
quarter somewhere in there. I don't know. They're gonna balance things out.
It always balances out right in the seven game series, even though that's totally
not true. Yeah, we're gonna be fine. So everyone come loud tomorrow.
We'll all be at the stadium. If you see us, stay what's
up? Someone saw Will and I and said what's up, but didn't introduce
themselves, So I hope that person is doing well. And yeah, hey,
we'll be back and talking to y'all on Saturday. And let's go Clips.
Let's go Clips.