1 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:05,320 Last time that check, Chuck, it was fine, chains on my neck, 2 00:00:05,719 --> 00:00:09,199 It was no smut on mouths. You heard this one before. Clippers 3 00:00:09,199 --> 00:00:14,359 win this time in Memphis one twenty eight, so one nineteen over the Grizzlies. 4 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:19,839 Clippers twenty two and six in their last twenty eight games, They've won 5 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:23,839 seventeen of twenty going back to December first, and eight of their last nine. 6 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:27,760 Welcome back into Clipper stock. I'm at a Moslin eight six six nine 7 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,960 eight seven two five seventy is the phone number, or get to me at 8 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:36,079 follow Adam A. But right now coming on from clips in Dip is Chuck 9 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:41,520 Mockler joining the show. At Chuck Mockler on X is where you find him. 10 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,600 Well, it was a nine point victory, not three, and the 11 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:49,759 Clippers did lead by twenty plus, but things got a little bit hairy, 12 00:00:49,799 --> 00:00:54,479 I guess in that fourth quarter and the Memphis Grizzlies weren't exactly going away Chuck. 13 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:59,159 But still a good one from the Clippers with that high efficiency basketball and 14 00:00:59,399 --> 00:01:03,879 just think to a level offensively right now that is hard to match. Yeah, 15 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:08,640 this one started out a little slow. Paul George again started slow, 16 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:14,200 but after that slow start was absolutely elite when it came to scoring the basketball 17 00:01:15,079 --> 00:01:19,239 obviously, But yeah, the Clippers figured this one out. We kind of 18 00:01:19,239 --> 00:01:21,640 talked about a little bit on our pod how it may have been a little 19 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:23,599 difficult to prepare for this game. If you're the Clippers, you're facing a 20 00:01:23,599 --> 00:01:27,719 bunch of guys who are young and hungry and want to make a name for 21 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:32,079 themselves, and you know, schol they can play hard, and just like 22 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:34,120 the Rafters, it was a different pace to start this game. But this 23 00:01:34,239 --> 00:01:38,400 is now two teams than the Clippers have come up against, and I think 24 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:42,439 last year they maybe split these two games, just just kind of with how 25 00:01:42,439 --> 00:01:46,840 everything was going. This year, we're seeing them maybe get a little rattled 26 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:51,120 or maybe not come out as aggressive as they should, but then settle into 27 00:01:51,159 --> 00:01:55,879 their good process and use that with the talent that they have, you know, 28 00:01:56,159 --> 00:01:59,439 versus these teams that maybe they should take care of business against. Yeah, 29 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:04,280 and they had five turnovers in the first quarter, kind of stunting them 30 00:02:04,319 --> 00:02:07,120 getting a lead early. They were a bit of their own worst enemy. 31 00:02:07,159 --> 00:02:10,719 But as you mentioned, after Paul George missed his first two shots, he 32 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:15,639 was twelve for the next sixteen and went seven of ten from three, a 33 00:02:15,719 --> 00:02:20,719 season high of thirty seven points, and I just ran the numbers. But 34 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:24,360 over his last seven games now he's at fifty five fifty one to ninety shooting 35 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:30,080 splits while getting almost twenty eight points per game. He's back to where he 36 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:34,520 was to start off this year. Yeah, he's peaking at the right time 37 00:02:34,599 --> 00:02:38,639 for the Clippers too. Right, we're going into a two game series, 38 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:40,840 I guess, if you want to call it that, against the two of 39 00:02:40,879 --> 00:02:45,680 the best teams in the Western Conference. We're facing the Timberwolves, who have 40 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:49,759 the best defensive rating, So the Clippers are gonna need all of Paul George 41 00:02:50,039 --> 00:02:53,199 for that game on Sunday, and then against the thunder who could obviously put 42 00:02:53,319 --> 00:02:57,919 up a bunch of points and aren't clouches on defense themselves. So Paul George 43 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:01,080 is playing fantastic. He's dribbling lest which we all like to see. It's 44 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:05,560 saving some people in the front row if we're getting hit with the basketball every 45 00:03:05,599 --> 00:03:07,439 now and then. So it was awesome to see, and we got to 46 00:03:07,439 --> 00:03:10,919 see a glimpse of kind of the no dribble threes that Paul George is getting. 47 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:15,159 Tyler dribbled up out of a time out early in this one, and 48 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:20,159 it just goes Paul George looks so comfortable out there, thanks in part to 49 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:23,639 James Harden. Yeah, he's making life easier for everyone. We talked about 50 00:03:23,719 --> 00:03:27,719 on the podcast and I mentioned it a little bit earlier, but his catch 51 00:03:27,759 --> 00:03:31,360 and shoot three point percentages is up ten percent, the amount, the frequency 52 00:03:31,439 --> 00:03:37,439 of them. That's all due to James Harden, and that is a big 53 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:40,520 number and a big difference. And you're seeing it across the board because the 54 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:46,879 Clippers, very quietly, I guess, are creeping up on the Okase Thunder 55 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,960 to be the top three point shooting team in the league. They're just fractions 56 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,479 of a point behind them now, after the Clippers have shot I think forty 57 00:03:53,479 --> 00:03:58,120 six percent from three over their last six games. And you know that has 58 00:03:58,159 --> 00:04:01,360 been the one consistent, I guess, this identity of this team offensively with 59 00:04:01,479 --> 00:04:05,719 coach lou they've always been great from beyond the ark. They've had a historic 60 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:10,639 season in twenty twenty one where they had a top five shooting season. I 61 00:04:10,639 --> 00:04:14,199 think they ended up at like forty one point from three. That was an 62 00:04:14,199 --> 00:04:16,879 all time mark in NBA history. This team, though, Chuck, they 63 00:04:16,959 --> 00:04:20,319 might get better from the outside, they might even shoot it better than that. 64 00:04:21,639 --> 00:04:25,759 Yeah, it's really surprising, especially if you look at you know, 65 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:30,000 uh, terris Man starts this season from three obviously was bringing things down a 66 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:34,519 little bit. Now it's helping bring things up. Norm Powell has been absurd 67 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:39,319 too. He's he's like Lou Williams two point zero almost. He just goes 68 00:04:39,319 --> 00:04:41,759 out there and scores. That's all he really needs to do, and he's 69 00:04:41,759 --> 00:04:45,879 doing a great job of it right now. So it is pretty astonishing that 70 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:49,360 with this mix of guys who you wouldn't necessarily consider, you know, shooter 71 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:54,319 at the top of their you know, trait list or something like that, 72 00:04:54,439 --> 00:04:58,279 but they're getting efficient shots. The offense doesn't take a lot of shots, 73 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:00,600 but they don't really need to with how they're set up and the pace that 74 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:04,079 they want to play at right now. So it is surprising. But we'll 75 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:08,680 take what week and get and let's hope they kind of peep this up and 76 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:11,560 can peek at the right time later of the season as well. I think 77 00:05:11,639 --> 00:05:15,279 Kawhi Leonard is at forty eight percent on catch and shoot threes. Paul George 78 00:05:15,319 --> 00:05:18,639 is now at forty four percent as opposed to pull up three he's just thirty 79 00:05:18,639 --> 00:05:23,399 six percent. For people who are wondering why you talk about catch and shoot 80 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:26,879 versus pull ups, it's a lot easier when you don't have to do it 81 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:30,759 off the bounce, and that is what James Harden has provided this team. 82 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:33,360 I thought Russell Westbrook had a nice bounce back game with twelve points, five 83 00:05:33,399 --> 00:05:36,439 of ten shooting. He knocked down a three pointer as well, a couple 84 00:05:36,439 --> 00:05:40,680 of nice assists I think, both of them to Big Zoo in this one, 85 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:44,759 but just a little bit more in control out there and a nice spark 86 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:46,399 for them, I think near the end of the third quarter where we're seeing 87 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:51,879 him paired next to Kawhi with Paul George paired next to James Harden. The 88 00:05:51,959 --> 00:05:56,680 analytics say that's the way to go, and coach Lou spoke about it last 89 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:59,639 post game and said, yeah, he likes it as well. So they're 90 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:02,800 starting to figure things out with the big four too. Yeah. Who the 91 00:06:02,879 --> 00:06:08,079 felks that a coach who appreciates analytics and using them would do that to the 92 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:12,079 betterment of a basketball team. That's a pretty cool thing to see Tyler do 93 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:16,040 for this two one three era a Clippers team. But and we again, 94 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:18,680 we got to get credit Tyler. He's plulling the strings at the right time. 95 00:06:18,959 --> 00:06:25,560 He's stuck with that amre coffee tyst lineup tonight then did absolute damage and 96 00:06:25,639 --> 00:06:30,079 kind of started everything for the Clippers in terms of pulling away from the Grizzlies. 97 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:32,399 So he's done a great job and if the analytics are in favor, 98 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:36,800 Tyler's probably gonna use it. Yeah. I just saw Justin Russo post the 99 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:42,879 lineups and the number one lineup in this game that was out there for twelve 100 00:06:42,959 --> 00:06:46,560 minutes and eighteen seconds and we're a plus fourteen was James hardenex to norn Poal 101 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:50,360 a mere coffee, Paul George and Daniel Tice. That's kind of how they 102 00:06:50,399 --> 00:06:57,040 opened up the game. So it's exciting to see how many different combinations and 103 00:06:57,079 --> 00:07:00,600 still stuff they have to work through while winning the figuring this stuff out now 104 00:07:01,079 --> 00:07:05,360 when before it took losses for them to make those adjustments. But this is 105 00:07:05,399 --> 00:07:12,319 a special squad. What do you expect against them with Minnesota on Sunday, 106 00:07:12,319 --> 00:07:15,680 As you mentioned, the best defensive team in the league, and it's not 107 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:18,920 just Rudy Gobert. They have a lot of guys that are playing great defense 108 00:07:18,959 --> 00:07:25,240 and of course has been on a heater that has almost been of the Kawhi 109 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:30,759 Leonard variety. Yeah, you look at the Timberwolves just that they're starting three 110 00:07:30,839 --> 00:07:33,519 four and five, and that's with the way this season is going. It's 111 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:38,160 the toughest three four and five the Clippers are going to go again so far 112 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:44,560 this year. Right, you have mc daniels in there and go Bert, 113 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:49,519 like, it's a lot of really really huge guys. Also Minnesota Timbins who 114 00:07:49,519 --> 00:07:53,920 were playing great collective defense. So we need Paul George to be as best 115 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:57,800 as he can be and what he has been doing, and we need Kawhi 116 00:07:57,879 --> 00:08:00,920 Leonard to set the town defensively. He has been doing that. But this 117 00:08:00,959 --> 00:08:03,720 is gonna this game might have a bit of a playoff feel to it. 118 00:08:03,839 --> 00:08:07,480 Both of these teams are playing so well. Everyone for the most part should 119 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:11,279 be available for this game. So I'm expecting two and three to keep doing 120 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:15,920 what they're doing. And this is you know, maybe the highest you know, 121 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:18,519 profile game for James Harden to kind of show what he can do. 122 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:22,199 Right, he's playing the number one defense. The last league of defense they 123 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:26,199 played was the Pelicans and the Clippers kind of dismantled them with that pick and 124 00:08:26,279 --> 00:08:31,399 roll they have going on. So the Timberwolves are better than the Pelicans defense. 125 00:08:31,399 --> 00:08:33,960 They're a lot bigger. Clippers have struggled against size. So we're gonna 126 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:37,480 need PG and Kauhi to be their usual selves, and we need Norm to 127 00:08:37,519 --> 00:08:41,360 be hot in the first half. He's had a couple up and down games 128 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:46,320 in the first half. Yeah, we need the bench to really separate themselves 129 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:50,600 from the Timberwls bench early too. And if anyone out there is wondering, 130 00:08:50,639 --> 00:08:54,039 Minnesota tonight won handily, won sixteen to ninety three at home over the Portland 131 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:58,240 Trail Blazers, where none of their starters had to play more than twenty eight 132 00:08:58,279 --> 00:09:03,399 minutes. I was under thirty minutes, Paul George did hit thirty five, 133 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:07,720 but outside that, everybody else was below thirty minutes. So it should be 134 00:09:07,759 --> 00:09:09,440 a very good test. On Sunday, tip off is at four. We 135 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:13,759 got you pregame show starting at three. He is Chuck Mockler. Follow him 136 00:09:13,799 --> 00:09:18,039 at Chuck Mockler, one of the hosts on Clips in Dip and I believe 137 00:09:18,159 --> 00:09:24,080 we got another YouTube live maybe even coming tomorrow. Chuck. Yeah, something 138 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:28,000 like that, something close to it. If not exactly what you just said, 139 00:09:28,279 --> 00:09:31,879 I don't know if we'll have another giveaway. Do I have to give 140 00:09:31,919 --> 00:09:35,639 away the Dragon Dagger? That thing was pretty expensive? But if the hey 141 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:39,480 you know what, Yeah, not yet, Okay, Okay, I'll wait 142 00:09:39,519 --> 00:09:43,080 for that one. That'll be something. Uh we'll really push and uh use 143 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:48,399 a nice marketing strategy on Okay, Chuck, thanks for doing this tonight here 144 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:50,519 on Clippers Talk, my friend and that little tease for the Power Rangers. 145 00:09:50,519 --> 00:09:56,799 We always love that. Thanks for having me. Let's go clip Clippers winning 146 00:09:56,159 --> 00:10:00,799 again. They make it three straight. Eat it the Last Night nine with 147 00:10:00,879 --> 00:10:05,000 a one twenty eight to one nineteen victory in Memphis over the Grizzlies. We'll 148 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:07,799 get your phone calls or back to them next eight six six nine eight seven 149 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:13,399 two five seventy eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone 150 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:16,279 number. More clipperstock next year on the M five seventy LA Sports