What is going on? Clippers fans? Welcome to Season two, episode fifty.
I believe of clips and Dip. It's a frigid night in Los Angeles
and we are here to talk about the Clippers trade deadline activity, lack thereof
activity. What some of the competitors in the West did that maybe gives us
pause and some possible buyout guys, because there are some names that are floating
around that could maybe fit with the Clippers. We're also going to preview that
Piston's game in some of the Timberwolves game. But before I get to all
that, Adam and Will, how are you fellas doing? Adam, how
are you doing after last night's lost to the Pels. I'm okay. I
was prepared for that. I mean, Carlo and I were trying to sell
the game but also tell the truth that it could be a tough one for
the Clippers pregame, just because of the situation with coming back off the road
trip. And we heard where Coach lu said after the game in Atlanta,
it's a tough roe to hoe when you have eight games, eight cities in
thirteen days. But it's good to be here. Episode fifty on the Pod
in Season two, and the Clippers are fifty games into this season, So
how about that one? Wow? Wow, get all together? Well,
how you doing, buddy, I'm good. I actually hate five. Oh
so it's the fifty first episode and the fifty first game for the Clippers.
As far as I'm concerned, I'm doing good. I'm doing good. I
don't I feel like I was measured in my down nests after last night's loss.
If you caught Charles ny On alive, yeah it you know, it's
not a big deal. Clippers have still been incredible. They've shown who they
are what they are, they are, you know, making true on promises
and things that we've heard, and certainly hurting preseason this year. This one
just hurts a little bit because I just feel like we're seeing just sort of
a recurring theme where, you know, larger team, especially teams that are
super physical with the Clippers, it really is able to knock them out of
a rhythm. And they've struggled to get through that. So still the regular
season still uh what about a third of the way to go, so they
got some time to figure it out. But it is something to monitor for
sure. Well interestingly enough, on the trade deadline, the Clippers did not
make any moves to address any trade deadline overall. Oh, let's get that
out of the way. Just the Pistons and Knicks were the big movers.
I like what the Knicks did. I like what the Knicks did. I
I like to have no idea what the Raptors are doing. It makes no
goddamn sense to me. I did. They were not on my board,
even of Kelly Olynic teams. But uh, you know, that's that's where
we are. Adam Howard, is your trade deadline? That Mavericks got a
little bit better losing Grant Williams. I guess the numbers were they were better
with him off the floor because they brought him in for defense. So they're
going to lean into offense even more and be more devastating on that end.
Would not be a fun first round matchup. It never is, of course
against Dallas. We know that all too well. But yeah, Dallas got
better. Dallas and New York really impressed me with the moves today. Yeah,
how did you guys feel, I mean about the Clippers, I make
any moves. We kind of talked it out a little bit last night.
Will and I, You and I were kind of okay with it with just
the pieces they really have to move and how well everyone was playing. Not
a huge surprise they didn't make any moves in this one, I don't think.
No, not a huge surprise, And I mean the Clippers, it's
a bit of a tight wire actor right now, Like as well as this
season is going, I mean, how much of the rotation are you really
willing to upend to, you know, in theory acquire more talent, you
know. Notably, we didn't see Jeremy Grant move who I thought would be
who I thought certainly would somebody would be willing to fork over something considerable to
get him off the Blazers. Not that the Clippers really could have even been
in that bittingmore, but with how limited they were, and especially it seems
like there's a you know, there's a hesitance to give up that twenty thirty
there. There wasn't a lot there. But I do, where are you
guys at on this? Because I do expect them. I would be surprised
if they don't pick up somebody off the buyout market. Yeah, Adam,
how'd you feel about the no moves? Not surprising even if you're yeah,
that happened. I think it's a little bit surprising, just that I wasn't
expecting a huge move something on the margins, and just given the track record
of Lawrence Frank, I think the last seven seasons they have always done something,
so somewhat surprising in that respect. But I put this out on Twitter
at follow out of May, just saying, you know, there are no
perfect teams out there. There are no teams that have this beautiful roster that
is impenetrable. Yeah, there's there's some teams just like everybody else. The
Clippers have some flaws, but they might I have the fewest out of any
roster in the league. And wouldn't you settle for that? Wouldn't you take
that? I think you know somebody was getting on me on Twitter saying we
don't have enough biggs. We can't stop the bigger teams. They always beat
us slick. What happened against Minnesota and the Cavaliers, And I'm going dude,
I Visa Zubas didn't play in either of those games. Like, the
solution to this stuff is zubots being back to one being able to play thirty
five plus minutes. I think you only played what twenty one or twenty two
last night. Uh, that's how you win against these physical teams. They
still have Big Zoo, they still have Mason Plumley, who I know struggled
against Zion Williamson. And for anyone who needed an example of how much better
Visa Zubots is than everybody else on this team when it comes to protecting the
rim and playing against Biggs. For those Zubots haters out there, Carl Tart,
what's up? Uh yeah, Carl Tart friend? Oh yes, Car
not fired. I mean, come on every show he's talking, can jalk
about Avitza Zubas. That's what he's known for. I see the only Clippers
jersey he won't have. Uh he has Tucker jersey, which is insane.
But we can talk more on him a little bit. Oh we will a
Vitza Zubats. The missing piece is internal. It's getting Avitza Zubats back to
Yeah. Yeah, Well, And I think something worth noting too is like
the Pelicans are a bit of an anomaly in these larger type of teams that
give the Clippers trouble in that they actually have a really good offense. You
look at the Lakers, you look at the Timberwolves. Yes, very solid
defensively. Those teams do give the Clippers issues on offense, there's no way
around it. But they can stop those teams, and those teams already struggle
to score. So it's it's offensively, I think is where is where they
need to get things together against some of these larger teams. It's not like
they're being dominated on that end. It's that they have been struggling to score.
They've been struggling to find a rhythm when they're playing against these teams that
play really physically against them. That is a really good point. People look
at the Pelicans and they think, oh, it's just a team that has
the Clippers number. No, they have a lot of the league's number.
There were fifth i think a net rating on the season coming into last night's
game, and have great balance on both ends where they're almost the top ten
defense in offense out there. And they've also struggled with health for years.
But when they have been healthy, when they have it together last season,
I think for two weeks they were at the top of the West, then
they got banged up. But when they're together, when they're a whole,
that's a team that could contend for a top four spot in the West.
So I'm not surprised that the Clippers struggle against them, because a lot of
teams have their issues against Zion Williamson, who really didn't take over till the
fourth quarter. He ended up with thirteen if I think it's twenty one points
in that fourth quarter. The Clippers did do a good job against him before
that, but at some point, and I think there was some urgency on
his part to try to put the game away. When you play off of
him like that like Mayson Plumley was and dare him to shoot and then he
just goes bawling and china shop towards the basket with these crazy acrobatic layups.
It's like, yeah, we don't have a guy who can stop this.
Uh, no one can stop this. This is insane. He's a very
unique, talented, gifted player of the ilk of. I don't know Charles,
I say, Charles Barkley, Blake Griffin, and Larry Johnson, like
he's part of all those guys. So he's just a problem some of these
guys. When people complain about, oh, we don't have a big to
stop this guy, nobody does. But I'm okay going up against the Denver
Nuggets with Big Zoo, Mason Plumley, Daniel Tice, and even PJ.
Tucker I think for a few minutes. Yeah sure, Yeah, we'll see.
We'll get to the tuck stuff in a bit. So talking the size
thing, buyout guys, right, we were talking in the group chat earlier
about some buyout candidates. The Clippers have a full roster, but there's you
know, you could cut Josh Primo if you really wanted to add someone who's
gonna help you in the playoffs or something like that. Who have you,
guys seen who do you like? I know? So will you kind of
opened my eyes to uh fir Con? Yeah, which, yeah, I
don't know. I kind of like that idea. Freakhon is interesting. Look,
if you look at his numbers on the season, nothing is going to
jump out at you. The thing that I like is he has somewhat of
a guard's skill set. You know, he's kind of like a tweener shooting
guard, small forward. But he has played a decent amount of time at
the four for the Philadelphia seventy six ers, and he's he's a pretty solid
shooter. I believe his career thirty six thirty seven percent, but in his
lone season, taking nearly five attempts per game, he's shot forty percent.
Like the shot is there, and he, to me, is kind of
the mold of a guy who just needs a new situation. Lest we forget
fer con Core Prons has two of the most silent and under the rug trade
requests that we're both denied one I believe in twenty eighteen, and then another
later one and he's still remained on the Philadelphia seventy six ers. My friends,
he just needs a change the scenery. And again it's I'm not saying
that you would be a starter. I'm not saying that he is the missing
piece that of this Clippers team over the edge. I am saying that he
is a guy who I could see as being more valuable in a rotation than
PJ Tucker currently is. And PJ Tucker, you know what, kind of
stuck with him do the contract stuff. But you get the point of what
I'm saying, Like, having one extra person who could play the four in
the rotation would be nice, right, That's kind of where we have all
landed in. If we could make an addition to this team correct. I
had yes, I had no idea. He had two trade requests and they
were just like no, we kept it really quiet. He kept it really
quiet. But it's professional. Yeah, but like just like I would like
to leave and they're like no. I mean, I guess that's kind of
what the Cooper's name with PJ. Tucker. I'm not the cork Mas historian
that will is. Yeah, he knows his stuff and we've been educated.
But the other benefit is he's still young. You know, he's still only
twenty six or twenty seven in the league. I was looking at somebody like
that. He is young, who's thirty five, but still has game.
He just recently went six for six with boards and assists against the Clippers and
look pretty darn good. Uh. That's that's another piece out there. And
then we just saw that Danilo Gallinari was waved by the Pistons former Clippers legend.
I'd be super down for gal. I mean I don't. Yeah,
it'd be fun, I guess, but I think that and Corklas are those
are guys that on a buyout. Yeah. Like that's what's tough too,
is like people talk about trades and you get kind of in your head that
there's gonna be large pieces moved, like the rotation moves, and people were
asking, you know, who does a LINUX, who does like whose minutes
does a LINUX take? Like stuff like that, which is kind of interesting
when you think about the power forward spot. If you think about what Kawai
said about like getting a real power forward or whatever, is it a meres
minutes that would be distributed to this guy in the regular season to get them
up to speed. It seems kind of that way. Daniel Tye or Tice
is yeah, like, but it adds another kind of thing for Tyler to
figure out. I'm happy everything's going so well offensively that like, it's not
like an issue, but it is still kind of a new thing to figure
out if you add a power forward for this team that's also been going small
more often. And let's not forget when I talk about, you know,
being a little bit surprised with the Clippers not making a move one because PJ.
Tucker has made it known vocally that he wanted to be out, so
it's a little bit surprising he's still on the team. Yeah, But also
I had feared that Bones Highland was going to be lost at this trade deadline
to package with PJ. Tucker. Most likely Bones Hyland is still a Clipper
and that's great news today to me. Yeah, I'll take that. I
was. I was. I'm bummed for him. Development wise, I would
say, unless you know, something crazy happens in March. But I'm happy
Bones is still a Clipper. As Will says, you need good, cheap
players, and for the next season, he's pretty good and very cheap for
the Clippers. Is there anyone else on the buyout market? Do you think
the Clippers would maybe kick the tires on or will they even sign somebody they
could be fine with the roster as is. It depends on how that comment
from Kawhi Leonard landed. Really, I think, you know, but the
fact that they didn't go out and make a trade for somebody makes me think
that, you know, they have a pretty good beat on their superstar and
Kawhi Leonard and what he needs and what he wants and what he's about and
what he can do out there. Obviously, he's been playing the power forward
position, was guarding Zion Williamson a ton last night and when he was guarding
him, he wasn't scoring. So he's capable. The question is how much
the season goes along. And this goes back to stuff we talked about last
summer. What's more taxing playing the four or playing the two and the three
when you've got to cover guys around the perimeter more. What's going to take
more out of his body to where you have shooting ice like last night and
granted you only took ten, but he's just four of ten. But just
something that SAPs your energy. And I don't know if that's the four yet.
If Kawhi feels like that, then yeah, that's a little bit of
a concern. Yeah, yeah, I think that's that is fair. Well,
I'm not sure what's hard. Yeah, I'm just trying to Yeah,
sorry, Yeah, I mean I can totally understand standing pat the Kawhi comments.
I'm I'm a little bit baffled by, to be perfectly honest, just
because it has seemed like internally there's been a lot of like there's been a
lot of excitement, there's been a push to get a lot of guards on
this roster, and when that happens, these guys have to shift down a
position like that's just the way that it works. It can't work any other
way. We got rid of all the wings, we got rid of all
the fours. You guys didn't want those guys. And I love the James
Harden trade. It's worked out very well. But like there has to be
here, there has to be some sort of understanding that, like there's only
fifteen roster guys, when you got this many guards, you're gonna have to
shift down a position as to ultimately what's more taxing. It's just very matchup
dependent, man, Like it's it's very matchup dependent. I would say,
there's not a lot of forts like Zion in the league, so that's kind
of an outlier, Like that's an outlier cover. But even with that cover,
I mean, had he been able to come in earlier in the fourth
quarter, you know, maybe Zion doesn't go five for five or whatever.
He went there to go on that run that ultimately sealed the game for the
Pelicans last night. Was just by the comments, I guess I just don't
know what to say about it. I'm baffled by it. He's baffled.
Well, it's also just such a small comment. It wasn't within a paragraph
or anything like that. It just said something to the effect it was from
Lot Murray of the Athletic that until we get a real one, yeah,
and that's it. There was no other context to it, So I don't
know what the conversation was. The question anything he's saying, like my we
need a real power forward T shirt is answering a lot of questions or cast
of questions already answered by the shirt. And the Clippers move wise, already
did the big move. They got James Harten, They did the big move.
There wasn't anything that was gonna be in comparison to that. Lawrence Frank
made that known that this was our big move and we got it done earlier
in the season, and thank goodness, they did. So. Of the
teams that made moves today in the Western Conference, you got the Timberwolves,
they got Monty Morris, Thunder got Gordon Hayward, which is kind of maybe
a sneaky good pick up for them. MAV's got gafford in PJ. Washington,
Sons got Royce O'Neil, and the King's got Robin Lopez. Which of
those teams do you guys think fortified themselves in a way that makes it more
difficult to maybe face them by the Kings, Oh, was he I took
that note earlier. Let me double check, all right, disregard the Kings
then, because I don't think they were gonna be number one anyway. Disrespect
to the Kings, but Royce O'Neil definitely raised an eyebrow with me, just
because we've talked about the Suns and what they're missing, and that's a perfect
fit for them. But I also have confidence in the fact that they are
very aware of him and have cooked him in the playoffs before a couple of
years ago. He's good, he's solid. He'll be out there with a
lot of small ball liaups with probably Kevin Durant at the five, but he
doesn't necessarily, you know, strike a ton of fear into me with guarding
Kawhi and Paul George. Still, yeah, that's a good call, I
think, though. I mean, the MAVs just getting bigger. I know
they kind of leaned into offense, but again that's still it's they got a
little bit bigger. With the Gafford and the Washington stuff, I think they
did the most to try and not to not specifically they got smaller though.
Yeah, that's fair because Grant can like kind of guard up. Yeah,
that's true. They likely got worse defensively, but but I don't know,
because Grant wasn't a good fit for them, so it was just addition by
subtraction anyways, getting them off the floor and off that team. Plus you
bring in some really talented rim runners that are gonna make life hell for you
trying to card Luca Dontonson, Kyrie Irving with them constantly getting to the basket.
It will offensively, that is not fun for anybody who has to take
on that team in the first round, because you are going to app to
outscore them. Can the Clippers do that? Yeah, they could outscore anyone
probably and they'll get more stops than Dallas would against them, you would hope,
but it's it's gonna be crazy and it could take a lot out of
your legs playing that team. Yeah, I think they got the most.
I mean, I still obviously I feel fine about the Clippers, and against
them in the first round, it would you know, it would be difficult.
It's still six games, like, but I still confident the Clipers way,
but I think they maybe got the most. I wouldn't sleep though on
the Thunder getting one more like actual rotation player, like I think that that
is maybe going a little under the radar. We did somebody on the chat
yesterday when I said, I still think the Clippers are probably the deepest team
in the West, top to bottom, and someone else said the thunder and
this was before the Hayward trading, and I was like, I just don't
see how you figure that. Like, there are guys, there are guys
in their rotation who I have never heard of, and so sorry, you
know, like that's no disrespect to them, it's just it is what it
is. It's a young team, it's sort of an unknown entity, which
can work in your favor. But I think adding another, you know,
rotation player who is of that caliber, a former All Star caliber, is
a good move for them. Yeah. It also opens up money for them
this summer because he makes I think thirty million dollars and it's coming off the
book, so Sam Presty light years, He's doing some really smart stuff.
Makes them better now, and it could open up a slot to bring in
someone even better next season. It's scary. It is a little scary.
That's fair. Let's talk. We got to talk about the PJ Harden stuff
that happened today before we get into the Pistons game. So, first of
all, I miss this James Harden quote that proves that Adam and James Harden
are maybe connected neurally system the system. Yeah, they got the intra link
going on there. James Harden said last night this about PJ Tucker. He
said he needs to get locked in as far as getting in the rotation because
he's a game changer. Not the words that I don't think Will would use
to describe PJ. Tucker in his spot on the Clippers, but it is
what James Harden called him. Is this a directive or a not a directive
that feels too harsh, But so it's on tie. It's more like a
game boy link PJ Moore. This is like, this is kind of saying
like PJ, just get locked into their rotation. We gotta get it this
figured out because I think he was hyping I think he was hyping him up
a little bit though to a trade deadline. Well, no, I just
mean being a good teammate being like, no he can play like you're not
gonna, you know, be dismissive of a guy on your own team.
Well yeah he wasn't. Yeah, he sucks it. Didn't come out of
nowhere, right, But he was probe with a question regarding just just before
the trade deadline. Of course he's gonna say glowing things about him and then
he can still help this team. He's on the roster. He still is
on the roster. And he made his feelings perhaps known about that on Instagram
after the trade deadline. He said all this shit is a fucking joke in
text on his Instagram. I love when like thirty eight year old man is
a baby on Instagram. So twenty twenty four, man, what a time
to be a lot. Here's my thing about the situation. I'm just confused.
I'm not like, I'm just what's going on over here as what happens
now right, Like I guess you guys don't know. Ball must not.
He's been Adam, as you pointed out, he's been on the bench.
He was talking up Terrence. He's been a good like you knows, a
good soldier. He's been. Yeah, he hasn't rocked the boat really until
maybe this Okay, except for the multiple interviews where he's talking about how he's
unhappy with his playing time. He can help this team. But that's also
what adds to my confusion. I'm just like, so where like it's he's
being a consummate pro with the with the players, it seems like he hasn't.
There's been no reports that the locker room's weird or anything. I think
with the media now, there's a difference between being a good teammate and I
would never do that, you know what, As you said it, I
believe it. Yeah, you have the intel, you know everything. There's
a difference between being a good teammate and respecting the guys who were going out
there on the court and having disagreements with the front office or the coaching staff
and how you're viewed as a player. And I think that's where you know,
there's two sides of PJ. Tucker make things a little bit confusing in
that respect. Yeah, it's gonna be I don't know. Maybe he'll get
some more time, Maybe Adam will get his wish And I don't give me
what about Will wanted him in the starting lineup. That's true, man,
That was That was a crazy time on the pot. That was the greatest
nickname of all time, the greatest name tag in CND history. He sucks
start. I don't think he sucks. By the way, I stand by
this, I think there's a lot of recency bias with PJ. Tucker.
I understand he's an older player. I'm not trying to compare him to where
he was five years ago. But I've watched him plenty over the last year,
and I still think he can have utility out there, especially on a
team with this much firepower. Now, if he's not taking threes at all,
that's one thing, and that's kind of what played him off the court.
But if he is at least being somewhat of a threat in the corner,
his defense is still good. Guys. I think in a game like
last night, he would have done a much better job against Zion than Mason
Plumber would have. Maybe James, maybe James Harden can get him into the
James Harden catch and shoot academy, because James Harden was having a difficult time
getting used to catching and shooting with the Clippers. You get PJ. Tucker
in there on an accelerated program or something for March we're in business. I
just think in a seven game series, you throw him on Zion or Jokic
for five minutes here and there, he can be a disruptor. He can
disrupt the flow of an offense. He's just a different wrinkle. I've posted
video multiple times of what he's done against Nikola Jokisch in the past, and
even in that game where they lost and didn't play Zubos down the stretch in
Denver when they were going through their losing streak initially with James Harden. I
saw some flashes in that game with PJ. Tucker against Jokish. I was
like, Okay, we're not talking about twenty five minutes. We're talking about
five to ten minutes here and there against the right matchup where you can completely
utilize what he does best and with that with minimizing his weaknesses. That's I
think that's still there. I don't I don't know if that's not what the
Clippers are thinking about. But remember when coach lou said that Terrence Man was
going to be the starter after the James Harden trade, that he was still
back in and when Russell Westbrook was put to the bench, he said the
decision was between Terrence Man and PJ. Tucker. He said that, I
know, so he might view him differently than the fan base than the front
office. Who knows and maybe Kawhi Leonard reviews him differently too, and is
he the guy that he wants at the floor position? I know he's got
thirty four dnps. I understand, I mean, I mean it just it
begs the question. And I don't think that you're I don't think that you're
completely off base he or anything, but I could be if that if that
is the plan, And I mean, you would hope it's a mystery just
because he's filling a roster spot, you would you would hope that there's some
vision of utility for him in the future. But if that is the case,
and with a cooling month coming up like March, should they be peppering
him into the rotation, like where are you at? Because I don't think
yes, so old. I don't think you can just come into the playoffs.
No, that's my thing to my thought was always with him and bones
that if they're still on the roster, March is when you're going to get
a look at guys deep on the bench and see what they have. Because,
as we have seen, last night was a great example. We were
tweeting about it. This is a preview of what could happen in March.
With guys being this worn down and you simply have to give minutes big chunks
to lesser players, but players with more energy to expand out there. It's
gonna happen in March. So that's the other reason on the last pot,
I didn't need to be Debbie Downer when I was trying to say, like,
hey, pump the brakes a little bit cool. The Jets, they're
great. I understand this, and you should celebrate this moment in time because
they've never looked better in the regular season. You also got to understand,
as Chuck has made known, March is coming. It's still February and they
have seventeen games. It's not just about having seventeen games in a month,
it's when that month is. And it's so close to the playoffs. That's
what's concerning. Because you can't ride guys too much. You can't play your
superstars heavy minutes in a seventeen game month right before the playoffs start. So
peekaboo, some guys are gonna be popping up and be like, hey,
I'm still on the team and I'm getting I'm playing twenty minutes in this game.
All of a sudden, you shouldn't be shocked by it. Yeah,
I mean once fur Con gets in there, those twenty minutes are gonna be
that's gonna be unbelievable. Uh yeah, sat Id's of March I will take
that. If you're wondering what names we're talking about. Also, you can
watch the podcast over on YouTube dot com Slash at Clippers Podcast. Thank you
everyone who's listening to. We're getting some new listeners because the Clippers are good
and we get new listeners and viewers when that happens. Uh. Coming up,
we're gonna be talking Clippers versus Pistons, a little bit of Clippers versus
Timberwolves. But first there are some ads. If you've been listening to the
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clips and did look the trade deadline is over. Stop sending us screenshots of
your trade machine of West. They're not has been happening, And yes I'm
talking to you, Joseph Ryan Award if you're listening. Oh, anyways,
now that now that the trade deadline is firmly in the rear view mirror.
It's time to look ahead to another dreaded brunch game for the Clippers as they
take on the Pistons and that the old pals, the Timberwolves. Yeah,
I think this is the third to last brunch battle. I think I'll shed
a tear at that last one. I think this is the most warranted and
appropriate matinee madness game in Clippers history, considering the Super Bowls the next day,
and they're taking on the Pistons like, now, you don't take up
lightly. They're just won in Sacramento last night. They'd smoke them in the
fourth quarter, and they obviously won against Okay see recently. But it does
feel like one of those games where it will get buried within the news cycle
very quickly. Yes, I agree one hundred percent. The two things I
think most people are gonna be looking for in this game. If you watch
this game, if you're a complete psychopath, pg's health and does the defense
look good? But there's been a lot of time off, not a lot
in the context of the Clipper season. They're getting it quite a bit of
time off in between the Pelts game and this flow summer break. Yeah,
right, Like I wonder what hobbies are all going to pick up. They're
out the ropes course right now. Nothing rope swing, rope swing, sorry,
doing backflips into a pool or something. But I want to Yeah,
it's the deep, right. I want to see the defense looking good,
and I want to see Paul George looking in for three quarters and then having
to not play because the fourth quarter it's it's out of hand. I'll be
honest. The Pistons, you don't have to play at all at him.
I don't want to play at all, not after guys he went he started
over nine. He was bad. You look like the team overall looked like
they were just mentally drained and somewhat checked out. Not everybody. And I
was giving me some Plumley credit last night, just because even though it was
an effective he played really physical defense on Zion and played with some edge out
there, the two Duke guys, but they look doa They're down seventeen in
the first quarter and Paul George can't hit a shot and I know he doesn't
lost because no, the some of the some of the worst turnovers, which
is saying something we saw from Paul George in that game, just inexcusable.
The Clippers had eight of them in the first quarter, finished with eighteen like
that is an indication of mental fatigue going on. You combine that with what
he's dealing with with his body. I just don't think, how are you
going to get fully healthy before the playoffs if you keep trying to play through
this. If it continues to be sore and there's games coming up all the
time, eventually you need a big enough break to fully heal. And he
said postgame regarding the All Star Game, I think it was Tomarazzarli who asked
him this question in the locker room that his number one priority is his health
right now. So maybe there's a chance that he doesn't play at all in
it or just skips it. Who knows, because he doesn't look great at
all. The shooting numbers have been woefully down after a season where he was
really hot and having his most efficient year just two weeks ago. So I
hope he doesn't play on Saturday. They shouldn't need him against Detroit and he
needs to get rest because the season is going to be defined by the playoffs.
I mentioned this before, but I hope Paul George isn't pushing things to
fight against the stigma of load management and that narrative for years to prove a
point now, because I'm here to tell you that point will be proven in
the playoffs. Your legacy is made. Then people are not going to go.
Yeah, but he played those games in February when he was hurt.
That's that's not wanted to find the season. I just I understand as a
contract year two, there's a lot of pressure going on. But yeah,
just get healthy because they need him desperately, but they need him to be
himself more importantly, he needs some time to get his dips together for the
super Bowl party. Yeah, that's some good cross. Oh yeah, do
we have to do dip recommendations because this is clips and dip for the jam.
I guess you have to. I think you just convinced me, Adam.
I'm on team sit Paul George. The day before the super Bowl.
Now, it's only a day off before a game against the other number one
seed. Who knows what the seeding is going to be between the top four
at that point they could be one. We could before it could be switched,
you know what I mean? That's a really big game against the Timberwolves.
We have two more games against them, I believe, maybe three,
but this is one of them. I think is a back to back.
One of them is away like this, That game on Monday is really important,
and this would give him four days off. He doesn't play next two
days. He doesn't play Saturday, he doesn't play Sunday. I think I
think I'm on I think I'm on team Adam. I think he should maybe
sit this game. Will you want him to play forty minutes? Yeah,
run on the fast break and then okay. So other than not Paul George
being there, is it the defense? I would like to see some lockdown
ish defense from the team, not you know, I know what Kawhi can
do. I want to see some kind of everyone's on the same string out
there. There's there's not the pointing there, you know what I mean?
Like locked in mentally, not an indication of mental fatigue from that. Aside
from that, like the fourth quarter is slipping away, And I do think
we talked about it last night, but I do think some of that was
like rotation wise, Tyler was a little bit up against it with managing guys
minutes, you know, notably Zoo and stuff, but like he took late
in the first quarter. He didn't play for a whole first quarter for once.
Yeah, but like defensively, I mean there was some good stuff there,
like they did really none of the big three for the Pelicans had rain
double digits at the half, I believe. Yeah, you're right. Yeah,
it felt like a game where they were like, Okay, if we
can just hang around and if we're close enough, we can put it together.
Somebody gets hot, we make one push at the end and steal it.
But we know we don't have the gas right now. But if we
just get our second wing later on in the fourth quarter somehow, maybe we
can get this one. But they could. They had it to within four
multiple times on our night where PG and Kawhi what combined seven of twenty five
shooting. It's crazy. Will and I were like, how this should be
a blowout kind of that maybe should have been like an ass kicking, but
the Clippers showed it wasn't. Adam. You weren't on the stream last night.
We missed you. Obviously. The chat was begging they go, where
is Adam oson? You guys could have came by and said Hi. I
jumped on for a second come to say hi, damn it, you're in
the building. Do the Clippers are we still gonna be seeing the small ball
lineup now that Zoo's healthy? Is that surprising? I'm a little like we're
going We're just we're going with it now, like it's Zoo's healthy, but
we're still doing the small ball lineup. I'm not against it because again against
the Hawks, it was very effective. I know Zoo wasn't in that game,
but like is We're probably gonna see it Monday. One thing I did
think that was a little baffling. Again, I'm just baffling, no one.
Thing that was a little bit perplexing was when Valanchootters was out of the
game. We didn't choose to really exploit that mismatch, especially on a night
where two of your stars are having like some of their worst shooting nights.
I just I that one was I don't know. And then they went small
they took Zoo out. Zoo had two buckets on dance and like three possessions,
and then they were like, let's what if we went small and he's
still on a ministerstriction he's not right. Yeah, that's true. Like he
came out afterwards and said, I don't know where it is. I just
I agree with you. They were they combined to go nine of ten,
and they weren't looking for them, and it made me think, Oh,
this team's been playing without Zubos for so long. They're back in that bad
habit situation where they just forget about him even though he's dominant out there and
they have nobody that can stop and when Valancunas is out of the ball game.
I was frustrated by that. I think there was a path to win
that game if they just exploited matchups with their bigs, and they didn't do
it. And we've seen that far too often. But finally, zubats playing
so well James Harden and they were getting him touches within the starting unit with
Kawhi and Paul George out there. He was still being featured in used but
then he's out of sight, out of mind, I guess. And now
they got to get back to doing some of that with meats Zubas because he's
been too good offensively this year. Yes, question though, do you think
we're still going to be going small? Is that part than now is that
part of the Clippers thing now? Yes, yes, judging judging by the
lack of move today, yes, yeah, because like I we're gonna see
it on Monday. It. Oh, it got us a little hot water
against the Timberwolves last time we played him, but it also almost brought the
game back like and that's all the more reason not to go back to Adam's
point again that maybe PG should sit. If we're gonna play small versus the
Timberwolves, you probably want to be one hundred percent for that matchup because it's
new and they're a giant team that kind of like to push you around.
I hope Zoo by then you get one more game against Detroit. He's around
twenty minutes. I'm hoping by Monday, maybe he can give you thirty.
Maybe they'll give him a little bit longer time out there. But they haven't.
We haven't really heard much exactly on how he's feeling. He says he's
feeling fine, but I think they're just babying him because he just came back.
Yeah, that's a good call. One thing I did just realize about
the Pistons. We're playing a bunch of brand new guys. Yeah, no,
no Bogdanovich, but always no Bogdanovic. But this is always a wild
card. This is usually the game where the Clippers are like, who are
these guys? Why are we down eight? They were just nicked in the
first quarter in Detroit. They eventually won, but they got down early.
Yeah, so there's there's some unknowns, but the Clipper should handle this one.
That Timberwolves game, I was looking at the stats from that game,
and it's weird because it was pretty even for the most part. Clippers lost
boards, but not by anything crazy. They won turnovers. They want assists.
However, they got doubled up almost on second chance points thirteen to seven
on second chance points, and the Wolves shot fifty six percent, which is
crazy, and the Clippers shot forty three percent, so in the below average
night. So yeah, we're really going to Zoo to set the tone in
this one. Minnesota eight more points on the paint last time. So I'm
excited for that matchup. That is, it's gonna be very tense, but
I'm hoping everyone's healthy for it well, and Western Conference standings implications, it's
gonna be like this. The rest of the way. The Clippers were at
first. They lose last night. Now they're in fourth place, but there's
still just a half game back. We're gonna be coachly talked about a postgame
or a pregame jocking for position. He said, so, don't get,
you know, overreact too much because it's musical chairs in the Western Conference at
the top with the top four. Yeah, that's a good call. I
know. I'm looking at the Eastern Conference of Celtics or in first. They're
just five games ahead. There's just five games ahead. They're playing terrifyingly good
basketball right now. Will who is your pick for player of the game for
Detroit and Minnesota? Who's gonna be good against both teams? Can't say cool,
it's great pick. I love it. Who is Detroit center? Did
they trade their center today? They still Bagley's in d C. Isaiah Stewart's
hurt. They do an open calls before the game. I guess it's Rashid
Wallace. Is that guy who plays Jordan's gonna be suiting up for the Pistons?
Adam, who's your pick for player of the game for the brunch battle
in Monday? I don't want to see Lamber out there against the Clipper,
I really do so. The center rotation is Jalen During, Mike and James
Wiseman. Damn okay, Zoos seems like a good pick at least for Saturday's
game. For sure. This may be great timing to play Detroit. I
mean, I know it's been great timing all season long, but especially on
Saturday. Record in the league, come on, I'm hats off to you,
that was wonderful. Who you're going I'm going with? I had Norm
Powell last time out, performed pretty well. I wanted Big Zoo, but
Big Will took him. I'm gonna go with I'm not going PG Terrence Man.
Damn it, Yeah, that's a yeah. What are your reasons for
choosing Terrence Man? I just like his versatility. I thought I thought he
had some good minutes against Minnesota. Uh, they need him to but Terrence
Man has looked much more confident over since twenty twenty four. Think he's shooting
thirty nine percent from the outside here in the New Year. I was gonna
pick Terrence because I thought the whistle was super weird in that game against the
Peals, and he had he picked up three fouls. He was frustrated.
He was frustrated. I'm picking him to have a good bounce. I was
gonna pick him for the defensive side of the ball. Just guy, I
think he wants to show. I think he wants to bounce back from because
that that game was called very odd. Yeah, it was either really TICKI
tack and tight or do it help speaking a lambierd. Let's take it back
to the eighties. Yeah, all right, so we got Zoo, we
got Terrence picked. I can't say norm because Adam did him last time.
You know who's going to be good at twelve thirty? Uh, and who's
going to be crucial to be in the small ball lineup against the Wolves.
I think this is the first time I've picked this player, Russell Westbrook.
Russ is a perfect twelve thirty against the Pistons the day before the Super Bowl.
Guy, you want to get a triple double Russ, go for it,
buddy, do it. Run him into the ground man, and then
play some great disciplined small center ball against the Timberwolves. I think that,
Yeah, I think that is something that could maybe happen. Finding Zoo is
going to be so big. I feel like in that Timberwolves game, Adam
talked about how like there's they're a little out of sync from what we saw
previously, and like that's another game where you know they get the offense off
to a slow start. Come on, man, Russ, let's let the
big guy work. Russ had twelve, eight and thirteen against the Timberwolves.
Last time they went from with that small ball lineup. Didn't they get down
by fourteen to then have it within three points or one point or something.
What was the final score on that one, chuck, let me check the
game chart. Yeah, they had it was uh, it was one of
nine, one five. It was incredibly it was a very close game for
the end of it. It's not close in the middle. Small ball wasn't
working until it was and they made a run at it with out a Eatza
zoo bots. Yeah, what do you guys, because if they don't end
up, let's say they pick up somebody, even on waivers. But we're
talking about maybe ten minutes a night. Yeah, the goat. Uh.
I was thinking about this earlier because I'm being inundated with people saying they're still
too small. They didn't get that tween or four or five guy that can
shoot, and it's like guys. There are no purpose guys. It was
great. Uh let them clear. Uh Russ, Terrence Man and a mere
Coffee are really gonna have to guard elite players in the playoffs now if they
don't somehow make a move for somebody, that really starts grabbing minutes in the
rotation on the waiver wire, those three guys, because people are just bringing
up we can't have Kawhi and Paul George having to guard the other team's best
players all the time in the playoffs. It will wear them out and they
won't have their legs for offense, which we saw a little bit last night.
Now that was a unique situation. Eight games, eight cities, thirteen
days. But I think some of these smaller guys, even a mirror because
of his wingspan, they're going to have to guard up a lot more.
They're going to have to do what Roco well, what but Tom was able
to do for them in twenty twenty one, Maybe what Marcus Morris was able
to do for them in twenty twenty one he got bought out. They can't
because his contract their second apron and out of other reasons, no, that's
the only one. Just contract. So yeah, post deadline. That's a
big development to me, though. Those guys are going to have to really
guard the other team's best players. Russell wants to be first team defense.
I know it's a regular season award and he has been good, but in
the playoffs a lot is going to be demanded out of them. A guy
in a mere coffee who just got in the rotation all of a sudden a
month and a half ago and has been this revelation for this team and then
we've seen it before. But that is uh, I don't know. I
don't want to say concerning, but it's it's something to think about. Do
you think to motivate Russ Well, do you remember when the Iba call Ante
Clippers gave out those weird team awards Like it was like the best Dribbler Award
or like something like that. It was really weird at it, Like you
should they gave remember it was a couple of years ago. They should invent
those to give to Ress. To motivate him, they should be like,
you're the playoff first team all defense, dude, and like have a have
a celebration or anything like that. I think that could help motivate him.
People have been talking about this man. People have been talking about him for
six Man recently, which is interesting because, like Well normOn Powell is also
on the team. They could easily split the vote. But I guess that
happened with Lou Williams and Mantrez Harold and Harold still got it. Yeah,
I don't think either of them were winning it. I guess, well,
I way to go. We'll see what happens in March. If one of
them averages twenty four in March, give them the damn trophy, there are
going to be minutes to be had in March. Bones Highland. He could
win six Man of the Year, how well he plays in March. Yeah,
March. I've always said, all right, anything else before we send
these people out on this frigid Thursday evening in Los Angeles, big bounce back
against Detroit. Let's go big bounce back against Detroit. After the game,
Uh, Will, I believe you and I are going to be live on
YouTube for the brunch battle recaps. Perhaps perhaps Will will be there, Perhaps
Will be indevotably detained. Maybe a double dip. We couldn't get one last
night because of the powers that be. Uh didn't want Adam to they wanted
to silence us, basically as what we were doing shows at the same time
and scheduling conflict. Sure, no, it's the first time here. We're
gonna be doing a double after after the game on Monday, just to say
it. I'm We're not gonna do a podcast on Sunday. It's Super Bowl
Sunday. We're not gonna do a podcast unless something crazy. Unless they signed
for CON or for CON. If they if they signed cork Mas, we'll
be partying, and will it be partying in the streets. We'll have to
put out an APV for all update Educate, educate the cork Mas casuals.
Will's gonna be Will's gonna forget what I called the toon. Just don't forget
about That's true. Will's gonna be out there on the sandwich board in the
megaphone at like a cross being like for CON for CON. So when's the
introductory press conference? Who has lords Freak's number? We appreciate everyone watching fifty
games. That's incredible. The Clippers are at the fifty game mark, fifty
one, fifty one for some of us, for one of us. Will,
if people wanted to give you this podcast, I'm going to look up
if there's any good recent ones we can read. Where could they possibly do
that? Where should I look up these reviews? So you can rately review
us over on Apple Podcasts. You can also do it on Spotify. We
really appreciate it if you do something helps us out. You'd listen to this
show either there, you can listen to a basic meeting where you get your
podcast as far as I'm aware, Amazon Music Stitch your dzer. Yeah,
anywhere you listen to the podcast. You want to get the full clips and
dip experience. A double I mean maybe a triple did really you got to
check us out on YouTube that's at Clippers Podcast. Yeah, and you can
chop it up with us anytime over on Twitter or x that's at Clippers Pod.
Adam, we make you do this every single episode. The people love
it. We need one positive thing. We've been so negative this whole episode.
We need one positive thing to go out on. You know, the
Clippers were miserable from their stars at least and Kawhi and Paul George. James
Harden was pretty good with Kahi and Paul George. I think we're seven of
twenty five and they almost feed the Pelicans. If they're miserable against the pistons,
they can still win. There we go. If they're miserable against the
pistons, they can still win. Wise words from a wise man. We
thank everyone for listening, hope you have a great time. Come hang out
on the live stream on Saturday, and as always, let's go clips.