Time for a postgame. Look, it's your La Clippers. This is Clippers
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Breaking down today's action with the pre and post game voice. If you're
La Clippers, They're locking in every game every night. Adam Osland, the
Clippers make it five straight victories. They have gone nineteen in five in their
last twenty four games. The Clippers domination continues as they are now fourteen and
two since December one. They win in New Orleans for the first time since
January of twenty twenty one, eleven to ninety five, and it wasn't even
that close against the Pelicans in this one. Welcome into your postgame show.
I'm at am Oslin coming up. Yeah, well, Clippers talk. People
are calling in early eight six six ninety eight, seven two five seventy eight
six six ninety seven two five seventy. But first back out to Smoothie King
Center with your radio voice of the Clippers in Carlo Jimenez. Carlo, this
was a tie game heading into the second quarter, and then the Clippers just
brought clamp City with them to New Orleans. That defensive performance was something special.
They were excellent tonight, Adams, and they held New Orleans. But
let's face it, Adams started shooting them all really well. They were five
for their first ten from downtown, then two for their next nineteen from distance.
The Clippers held them to thirty five percent from the field. B I,
who you talked about at pregame, has killed them. Finished with just
twelve points. Herb Jones had only nine. He had eight in a single
stretch against the Clippers in the fourth corner last time they faced them, and
McCollum knocked down four threes, but thirteen shots tonight to get it done.
This was a wire to wire victory since the start of that second quarter and
utter domination and Adams. I think there's something to say about this being a
place where Tyleru hadn't won. It's the only arena as head coach where he
hadn't won. I think the Clippers knew that. I think they came in
with extra focus, an extra level of intensity, and for the second straight
game, Paul George set the tone early. Yeah, it's a great point.
PG thirteen was seven points in the first quarter, eight points in the
second quarter. Was playing elite defense out there. Finished with a team high
well with the starters plus twenty two off the bench. Norman Powell was a
plus thirty six in his minutes, but Paul George would lead them with twenty
four points. Light work in just thirty minutes, but six of ten from
the outside. When you talk about that three point shooting, it starts with
PG thirteen. It does, it does. He was able to hit big
time shots in big time moments, stepped up to the line and knocked them
down. And he really when he's knocking down threes and Terrence man is hitting
threes, this offense just spreads you out so much. It's so tough to
guard. And the Clippers showed that with their efficiency. They started slow from
outside the arc, they picked it up in a hurry and ran away with
things right when they started knocking down threes. That was the key to this
one, Adam. The threes fell and the Clippers went up huge. New
Orleans wasn't going away in that third quarter, and after a slow start from
Kawhi Leonard, he then had eleven of his nineteen points in the period,
and that was kind of that exclamation point that it was just not gonna be
the Pelicans night. The Clippers weren't gonna let it happen. They tried to
chip away at that lead, and every time Kawhi Leonard seemed to have that
silencer, and then PG thirteen joined them later in the quarter. Yeah,
the claw on those ISOs in the posts. It's just so tough to guard
because this Pelicans team doesn't have a defender who can maybe stick with them.
And then the second best defense in the West since in the last twelve ballgames.
But this is just such an explosive, deep talented offense that it's so
hard to find a whole on that end, and the Clippers made sure they
picked at the scab. That was the one on one defense on Kawhi Leonard.
Terrence Man, the three ball is coming around. I believe he has
hit six of his last nine attempts over the last three games. Now after
air bawling is first, then he would get one to go in the first
quarter and had a big three before the half when the Clippers really started to
open this thing up. They led by fifteen to that the half. Yeah,
Terrence Man just doing his thing, just being himself and that has been
huge for this team. Today he has just three shots at him, but
they were big shots every single time, a couple of big offensive rebounds,
doing the little things for this team. They battled for every loose ball.
I think that's one of the reasons why it's so fun to watch them play
at him. And hopefully we described this one in the radio, is the
Clippers are diving for every fifty to fifty ball. They're on the deck,
they're getting to the rim, they're working offensive rebounds. They continue to just
hound teams when the plays are up for grams and that intensity, that ability
to attack when it's just an effort play is huge. Momentum swings and the
Clippers who've seen that swing their way multiple times during this winning street. Yeah,
we're talking about the hot shooting, but they won this game with their
defense holding a team to ninety five points, and really they got going later
in that fourth quarter during garbage time where New Orleans had twenty seven, but
they look like at one point where they're gonna break the eighty five point barrier.
The Clippers were just so good and relentless as you bring up defensively,
swarming, holding a team to thirty five percent from the floor and a team
this good that just took down the Minnesota Timberwolves had one four straight, was
on their home court and got off to a quick start. And the Clippers
just I mentioned it early on, but it seemed like they were tightening things
up. They were down I want to say, by six early on,
but they kept competing and it just looked like they knew. They had that
confidence that hey, we can figure this out. We're gonna overwhelm them with
talent. At some point here, they're gonna start missing shot and that's when
we'll make our move. Yeah. And it all starts, like you said,
on that defensive end, when you're getting stopped, when you're forcing tough
shots and the Pelicans are making it, you know your time is coming at
some point. It just has to with how efficient and effective this offense is.
And they stuck with it and got it done. And Adam, as
we flipped the calendar, Oh, does that game on Sunday look so so
nice? If you can make it six in a row. Yeah, and
a get back victory against the Lakers, who broke the Clippers winning streak against
them. Of I want to say eleven straight earlier this season. But as
we have said many times throughout this broadcast, this is a different Clippers team
right now than what we saw just a month month and a half ago with
James Harden. Now, with this new starting lineup, they are nineteen and
five over their last twenty four games, just playing some of the best ball
in the history of this franchise. Can't overstate that enough. They win in
New Orleans for the first time in four years, one eleven to ninety five
over the Pelicans. Carlo Jimenez, great call, Talk to you back at
Crypto on Sunday. Tip off against the Lakers is at six thirty. Love
your pregame show starting at five thirty. Safe travels, my friend, and
again great call as always, Thank you so much. Gna monsaid, who
just can't come quick enough. How much fun is this? Nineteen and five?
Let's keep it rolling, let's go coming up second half highlights, Clippers
dismantle the Pelicans in New Orleans. They end up winning one eleven to ninety
five, and you're listening to the Los Angeles Clippers Audio Network. The LA
Clippers continue their hunt for a Lario be They still want to get that Lario
beat. Don't miss a moment all season long. This is the LA Clippers
Audio Network. Yeah, the Clippers will be back in Cali tomorrow. Make
it Sunday night against the Lakers. After a victorious road trip, they win
one, eleven to ninety five in New Orleans. They they have won five
straight after losing two in a row, where before that they had won ninth
straight. They have been lost in their last twelve games. When Kawhi Leonard
has been on the floor. They dominate the New Orleans Pelicans and win in
a place they hadn't won in since twenty twenty one, eleven to ninety five.
What's your final? Clippers led by fifteen at the half after they went
on a twenty three to seven run to end that second quarter, and they
kept it going in the third when Kawhi Leonard came alive. Leonard's open near
corner three for the claw. New pats Kawhi from distance sixty six forty four
Clippers by twenty two. Frank corner Leonard open, doesn't shoot the three now
He'll try damn come act go Whi from downtown, bounce past Leonard at the
free throw line. Chimneys and shakes free throw line jumper bottoms Oh Kawhi with
back to back buckets, seven to shoot. It's claw against Ingram. Everybody
on the other side, baseline jumper audience. Leonard's going to school and he's
taking Ingram with them. Kawhi had eleven of his nineteen points in that third
quarter. To end the period, Norman Powood hit a three pointer. The
Clippers went on a sixteen to five run, and heading into the fourth they
led by twenty four. It was ninety two to sixty eight. They go
on to blow out New Orleans as they had won four straight as well,
one eleven to ninety five. In New Orleans, they went over the Pelicans.
Big coming up next, We'll get to your final box score right here
on the Los Angeles Clippers Audio Network. They want to bring a banner with
them to the into it down more LA Clippers basketball on the LA Clippers Audio
Network. Clippers win one eleven to ninety five in New Orleans over the Pelicans.
Welcome back into your postgame show. I'm at a Moslin. Clippers make
it five straight nineteen their last twenty four contests. They have won twelve straight
with Kawhi Leonard and dare I say this is the best regular season run this
franchise has ever had. I know they won seventeen straight back in the twenty
twelve twenty thirteen season, they weren't as dominant as this. They weren't beating
as high level of competition like this team is right now. They just destroyed
the Pelicans. After a game that was tied in the first quarter, they
blew them out the rest of the way. Won the second quarter thirty to
fifteen, won the third thirty six to twenty seven. Win the ballgame one
eleven to ninety five, quick time out. We got one more break for
stations following us here. We'll be right back after this. Clippers win by
sixteen, but it wasn't even that close. In New Orleans, listening to
the Los Angeles Clippers Audio Network, the LA Clippers continue their hunt for a
Lario be. They still want to get that Lario beat. Don't miss a
moment all season longed. This is the LA Clippers Audio Network. Clippers win
one elevens and ninety five in New Orleans over the Pelicans in a game they
led by as many as thirty one in starters got to rest much of the
fourth as Paul George had twenty four and six threes twenty four points on just
fifteen shots, Kawhi with nineteen on fifteen shots. Clippers go fifteen to thirty
six from the outside. After starting off three of sixteen, they would hit
twelve of their next twenty one from three against a team that holds teams their
lowest shooting percentage from the outside in the New Orleans Pelicans, not tonight.
The Clippers hold the Pelicans is just thirty six percent from the floor ninety five
points, and really it wasn't even that close. Some stat padding in the
fourth quarter from the Pels as the game was out of reach. Clippers make
it five straight nineteen of their last twenty four, fourteen of their last sixteen,
twelve straight victories when Kawhi Leonard is out there, and they're now twenty
two and twelve. That six game losing streak that was so last year.
Clippers now eight and eight on the road, coming back home, although technically
a road game on Sunday against the Lakers, tip off is at six thirty.
I'll have your pregame show starting right back here at five point thirty.
Outside of Los Angeles, we are leaving you until then, but coming up
next here on AM five to seventy LA Sports, we got Clippers Talk.
This has been LA Clippers basketball really good on multitude of levels. Don't miss
a moment, all cease and long on their official home. Join us next
time on the LA Clippers Audio Network. Hello Clippers fans, if you're gonna
go for it, if that's what you want to do, you do.
Welcome the Clippers Talk. Your first chance to react to all the action of
Clippers basketball. Doing to hear every episode. Subscribe to Clippers Talk on iHeartRadio
or wherever you podcast on Henry right now your host on your home. For
the Clippers, they were in attack mode, Adam Osley. I mean they
call it the Big Easy for a reason. And tonight finally it was for
the Clippers. They blow out the Pelicans in New Orleans one eleven to ninety
five, led by as many as thirty one. Welcome in the Clippers Talk.
I'm ant a Moslin eight six six ninety eighty seven two five seventy eight
six six ninety eight seven two five seventy or get to me follow Adam A
on X still going through it with the cold so more time for you,
as there was more garbage time in this one than I ever would have expected.
But that's how good the Clippers were. They improved to twenty two and
twelve, eight and eight on the road. They're coming back to take on
the Lakers Sunday night. They've won five straight, longest winning streak in the
West. Both teams had won four straight heading into this one. The Pelicans
just won in Minnesota only the second time the Timberwolves and lost at home.
Pelicans just beat them, and the Clippers just made them look small. A
team with that size was Zion when Jones, Valanciunis, Herb Jones his length,
brandon Ingram just twelve points. The defense showed up the Clippers defense in
this game. I'm gonna pull the box score after the third quarter because that
was more indicative of how the game went. New Orleans was under thirty six
percent from the floor at that time. They had just sixty eight points through
three quarters. This is not nineteen ninety five. That type of stuff is
unheard of. The Clippers holding them to fifteen points in the second quarter,
leading by fifteen at the half, just suffocating after the game was tied twelve
minutes in, it was twenty six all, but it was the end of
the second when the Clippers opened things up. They went on a twenty three
to seven run, fueled by their defense, and then they started to knock
down threes. After starting just three of fifteen from the outside, they would
hit twelve of their next twenty one. Aviza Zubas got involved on a couple
of assists midway through the second quarter from James Harden, who had let me
check this, thirteen assists to just one turnover diamond everywhere like my guy dime
dropper with the pot on locked on. Aviza Zubas gets a couple of easy
buckets and all of a sudden, the Clippers are by four. That was
their biggest lead up till that point, but Brandon Ingram came back hit a
shot two point game. Then Norman Palace started to get downhill. Tough floater
James Harden hits a three. Uh oh, Pelicans are on their heels.
James Harden now blows by Larry Nance Junior for a lamp going to his left
PG thirteen jumper, Paul George three, another three, Terrence Man three,
and just like that, a twenty three to seven run to end the second
and the Clippers are up fifty six to forty one at the half. Did
they let up no an enemy territory? They knew they had to continue to
play through whatever adversity that crowd was gonna throw at him. Zion started things
off after a Clippers turnover with an easy one in the third, but then
Paul George silencer three porter of eats a Zoobots big throwdown, assisted by who
else James Harden. Terrence Man gets to the line. Kawhi Leonard, who
I think had just seven points in the first half, then got to work
a three porter off a nice assist from Terrence Man in the far side corner
and then gets in the line, goes one of two, another three from
Kawhi, a fade away from Kawhi and he's cooking all of a sudden,
a ten footer from Kawhi. Leonard dropped eleven of his eventual nineteen in that
third quarter, but he gets taken out and then Paul George's back in.
He knocks down a big three, Russ hits a three pg, another three,
Norman Pale a three pointer at the buzzer to end the third Clippers are
up ninety two to sixty eight entering the fourth quarter after a sixteen to five
run to end the third quarter. That's what championship teams do. Finish quarters
strong and put teams away when you're up big in the third. Norman Powell
entered the fourth and started things off with another three poorter. He has been
as good as advertised since he has come over from the Portland Trail Blazers.
I love to move. Then I love it even more with the mindset he
has now if you listen, pregame had Andrew Gryfon from the La Times penned
a great article about Norman Powell and his mentality where he's no longer worried about
being an All star. He just wants to star in his role whatever minutes
he gets. Control that part of it, and boys, he making the
most of it. He's turned into a killer fourth quarter. Powell and the
Powell Rangers, their new death lineup or he next to Kawhi, PG Harden
and Big Zoo have been destroying teams where there are plus forty nine. I
want to say, in sixty minutes out there, why only sixty? Because
coach lou is keeping it close to the vest. He knows what he has
with that lineup. He's not gonna show it when he doesn't need to.
But Norman is over sixty percent from the field and fourth cores over fifty percent
from three and fourth quarters, and started one off with a three pointer.
And at that point I'm like, well, they're up twenty seven, get
Kawhi out of here. He would play a few more minutes, hit a
tough fade away that would get him to nineteen points. Clippers are up ninety
nine to seventy comes out of the game. They end up winning one to
eleven to ninety five, where Big Plumb made his re debut, first time
out there since the knee injury. Looked all right two two of two,
had eight points and seven minutes cut to the line. Look comfortable. Didn't
need him during the meaningful minutes. Daniel Tice was good again. Remember Big
Plump came to coach lew and said, I don't want to disrupt what's going
on right now and ruin a good thing. I'll take it back. See
I see what Daniel Tice has done. Rest assured they will need Mason Plumbley
as the season moves along. But love that mentality. Everybody sacrificing, everybody's
getting touches, feeling like they're involved. This is, I'm gonna say it,
the best regular season run in the Clippers franchise history. I know they
won seventeen straight before in twenty twelve and twenty thirteen. They also loaded up
against some really bad teams during that stretch. Sacramento a few times, the
Suns a few times, the Mavericks a few times, the Jazz a few
times, the Clippers. During this run, they have been beating up on
great competition. It started with taking down Sacramento up in NorCal when Kawhi announced,
yeah, I'm fully recovered, I'm two years off the acl Things are
about to look different, and they have. Last fourteen games for the Claw
sixty percent from the floor, fifty percent from the outside. Didn't even need
them much in the first half and they still were up by fifteen. Got
to work in the third to hold back any run that the Pelicans were making.
They beat Sacramento again. They've beaten Golden State multiple times during this run,
including a twenty two point comeback. They beat the Knicks. They beat
Indiana on their home floor, the blowout with James Harden going for twenty one
in that fourth quarter. They won in Dallas over Luca, over Kyrie.
They just beat Memphis and gave them their first loss with jaw back, best
victory in there though. Probably the win over Dever today was good too.
The win in Phoenix without Kevin Durant still pretty good. But the win over
Denver to me, when you hadn't beaten that team eight straight times, I
want to say Denver Nuggets had beaten them, dominated them. New Orleans had
just won nine of ten against the Clippers and ten in the last twelve,
and the Clippers hadn't won in New Orleans since twenty twenty. This Clippers team
is different, So what changed? How did they get to this point?
What's the biggest difference maker? Well, in the over the last twenty four
games were they're nineteen and five. That span of twenty four games is since
they started bringing Russell Westbrook off the bench, which empowered James Harden to have
the ball in his hands and do what he does. Run, pick and
roll, dissect defenses, throw dimes to everyone. Or did I tell you
what was gonna happen Day one? He's gonna unlock the best version of two
to one. Three said it day one. Once he gets comfortable, it's
gonna look like it did in Brooklyn when he was playing next to Kyrie and
KD. And it has, and he's taken things even further. He's starting
to get that burst back. He had a hamstring injury with the Nets.
In the last couple of years. He's looked okay movement wise, but he's
blown by guys lately. Blue Bye Larry NAIs Junior for that layup going to
his left as he loves to do. The guy didn't need to score much
in the game at all, and he was in complete control of it.
He goes two of seven hits a three that blow by. I mentioned eight
points, but thirteen assists to one turnover. Are you kidding me? The
Clippers with twenty eight turnovers or he's twenty eight use me assists on their forty
Maine shots. Beautiful basketball. I heard so often that oh, it's just
gonna be more ISO ball bringing in a guy like James Harden. Really there's
actually been less. Kawhi is getting to his spots and having to do less
to get there. Harden's finding him in his sweet spots. Where he likes
to be on the court. Same with Paul George Catch and Shoot Pg.
Thirteen by Guy Justin Wilson brought it up the other day. He's like a
Michael Porter junior on steroids. That's the beauty of Paul George. He can
just fit in catch and shoot. He can ISO. He's so unselfish out
there. He'll find ways to get his points within the flow of the offense.
Kawhi's more of an ISO heavy guy, not as much catch and shoot,
but he can do it all too. And James Harden, some people
thought he was done. Some people thought he disrupted what they had going.
Please, he's a enhanced at all. Imagine not wanting James Harden on this
team. Imagine thinking that you'd be better off without him, that he was
just a dribbler. How are you feeling about it now? Clippers have won
fourteen of their last sixteen twelve straight with Kawhi Leonard, and they're turning into
a buzzsaw and they're just getting better. You can see the growth or just
progressing and tightening things up as the games go along. I said it early
on the first quarter, Clippers were down by six, but they were just
chipping away. They were zoning in and focusing more on how they're gonna beat
this Pelican's team, and eventually they just tightened the clamps on them and clamp
City was there elite defense. They came into this one. The Pelicans were
the second best defense over the last twelve games, Clippers' second best offense over
the last twelve games. Said something had to give. It was the Pels.
The Clippers looked like the better defense and obviously better offense. Beautiful basketball
to watch, Just a well organized group right now. Give coach lou a
ton of credit. But I'm telling you this team is going to get better
and they need to get better. They're not getting complacent, they're not satisfied.
It's still early January. But there's something about going through that adversity early
on, losing those six games in a row and five straight when they first
got James Harden. Some teams are dealing with adversity now like the Lakers.
Clippers got theirs early and they overcame it. They turned a corner and when
they inevitably have to go through some more later in the season, they'll look
back and have that confidence to say, we've done this, We've beaten it
before. They'll go through a stretchfel they've got three straight losses, probably,
and they'll remember who they are and how they've been able to work and climb
their way out of it. They dug themselves a hole. They were three
and seven, Now they're twenty two and twelve, first in the Pacific.
They got a shot at a top three seed. What have I been saying
for years outside of the ninety five Houston Rockets, if you aren't a top
three seed, you aren't winning the championship. That's what history says. It
matters what happens in the regular season does translate to the postseason. To act
like, oh, we'll just watch games once once the postseason comes around,
it's all a crapshoot anyways. No, it's always the top three seed that
wins it. Clippers positioning themselves right. Just love the way this team is
playing basketball, and I think it's the best regular season run in the history
of the franchise. That's war seeing right now. To start things off,
Don in Lembert Park, Don what's up here on Clippers? All right?
Right? Alright? What's up done? All right? Long time listener man
listen to Clippers talk after every game. I've been watching this team man,
real hard since Thanksgiving, and I'm loving what I see. I've seen the
I have I have an eye test thing where I'm not really big on percentages.
It's great with Kawai is doing in this teen game twelve game stretch with
sixty forty ninety is crazy, but I'm loving new idea. Yeah, sixty
to fifty ninety, oh exactly, that's ridiculous. But yeah, man,
I think we found our new identity. I think our identity is defense.
Defense. Defense. We know what Kawai can do, he says the tone.
I believe he's a two time defensive Player of the Year. Yep.
And when Russ comes off the bench, he doubles down man on the defensive
intensity. And when we keep, when we keep that high level of defense
where I'm loving to see the active hands guys in the passing lanes and you
know, getting deflections and leading to steals, that that leads to our transition
points, who ultimately you know, gives us you know, four or five
six point leads, which you know ends up the fifteen point leads. You
know what I mean. And once once our guys, you know, established
about a ten to fifteen point lead, it's like now they can Now they
can play free. They can play free. You know, there's kind of
no pressure and they start knocking down shots. And that's what I'm loving.
That's what I'm loving about this team. Man, it's ridiculous, but yeah,
the defense is going to be our identity moving forward. They say defense
wins championships. I really think that's gonna be our modo for twenty twenty four
You know, I'm with you, don It starts on that end. And
guess who else is with you? Kawhi Leonard, he's been preaching this.
He always stresses defense. He was brought up with the San Antonio Spurs organization.
He's got that championship pedigree, won the Finals MVP in twenty fourteen with
them. He knows what it takes, he knows what a championship squad looks
like. And I said this early on, but there was something different in
the PEP and the step from Kawhi Leonard and just how in tune he was
in focused possession to possession and holding guys accountable. And I thought to myself,
he knows the ingredients are there. That this team can win it all,
and that's why he's been so demanding. That's why he doesn't want any
slippage on either end of the floor. He can see it. They can
build the right way, step by step, building championship habits to try to
get to the top of the mountain. The roster is there, the pieces
are there. They got everything they need. Kawhi and PG had been asking
for a point guard like this with James Harden for some time. They got
it. Now it's coming together. Work to be done is still early,
no doubt, but you gotta like what you're seeing. Suk and Fullerton.
Suk, He're on clipperstock without a mazl Adam. Hope you're feeling better.
What a game, sweet victory on the New Orleans floor. You know,
I just wanted to chime in on whether this is the greatest run we've ever
had. I definitely think, though not even so much because of the teams
that we've beaten how we've beaten them, but because of where we're at right
now. I mean, you just see the sacrifice that the players are making.
You see the energy everybody is bringing in, and like you said,
everyone still wants to get better. I mean, I think I heard today
that the squad is actually doing more shoot arounds, like you know, they're
still ramping up. So it's where this is the greatest run, not even
because of what's happened, but because of I think where we're at and what
we expect to happen next. This is the most confident I've seen this team.
The organization feels confident, players feel confident, and I think even the
fan base is feeling great. Obviously, want to give a shout out to
coach Lou. I think every time I call in, I mention him a
Coach of the Month for December and the Western Conference, and he's just got
such an amazing arsenal to pick from. You know, you want you want
lethal offense, bringing Powell, you need more defense, see man, you
need energy, bring in Westbrook. I won't even talk about Kawhi and PG
because one or both of them are going to be playing at an m VP
level. Obviously, Zoo just uh. And then I think Lou is really
helped by probably one of the best floor generals out in the league right now.
You know, there's a lot of people that were you know, there's
this debate going on of did people want Harden or did they not want Harden.
I don't think anyone expected it to be this good. I did,
did I not say he'd unlock the best version of Kawhi and PG. I
thought the fit was perfect. I talked about it back in July and I
said, then, if you get hard and you've got to bring Russ off
the bench, that's how you get more defined roles. And it's worked perfectly
since then. I'm amazed. I'm amazed at how how well he's orchestrating the
game. I mean, the end of the third quarter today, you know,
just the sense of the shock clock, you know. I think he
made the three and then he dishes dished the Powell for the last three at
the buzzer. I don't know. Pieces are all just hitting. But I
just love where we're at right now. Greatest run because of where we're at
right now and what I see coming next. All right, Suke, I
appreciate the phone call. We'll get back to your calls coming up quick time
out. Clippers went in New Orleans for the first time in four years.
They are able to take down the Pels slay the Dragon in impressive, dominating
fashion. One eleven to ninety five. They're coming back to take on the
Lakers on Sunday Night. More Clippers stock next year on the M five to
seventy LA Sports. They want to bring a banner with them to the into
It doll More LA Clippers Basketball on the LA Clippers Audio Network. Down well
living, lack of Rockstar and no money on my brand new gets are up
and up. It's up to something here. My mouser, a sports car,
got a cold, so it makes it even better. Okay, Clippers
win big over the Pelicans, one eleven to ninety five. And while we
have a moment, let's pause ten seconds. Verstation identification here on the Los
Angeles Clippers Audio networking seventy sports. This is LA Clippers Basketball AM five seventy
KLAC Los Angeles ninety eight seven KYSR HD two Los Angeles and iHeartRadio station.
Clippers dominate the Pelicans. Finally they beat this team, and they just continue
to do things that we've been waiting for them to do in the regular season.
It all goes back to media day Coach Lou and really, you know
what exit interview with Frank l Frank last season. You gotta respect the regular
season is what he said. We got to get back to respecting the regular
season. They have. They're twenty two and twelve. They're being more serious
with their play, with their lineups, their rotations, availability has been there,
knock on Wood and things are going their way since the James Harden trade.
Everything you're wanting to see those hurdles they have to get over checking those
boxes of Okay, can they beat this team though? Can they win big?
Can they close out? Can they just stand a run, make one
of their own and put a team away. It's all happening. Let anythingle
Wood, You're on Clipper stock without a mousling and Billy Ray? What's up?
Lenny? Who next? Where? Okayc at listen? I don't even
say something. I don't even care about the Lakers on Sunday. We should
we should time News to just mess with their heads and load managed Paul and
Kawhi and beat him with promptly tys Powell and Harden. I'm telling you,
man, we're good. We're good. We there were there because like you
said, Kawhi knew early on we have to build good habits and that's what
we're doing, man. And we basically anybody who's to saw that game.
No, we know we beat them by thirty. We switched out the entire
sub, out the whole starting lineup, and brought in our bench bench bench
Jews. And obviously he takes the minute to get they get warnd up,
but we basically punched them in the mouth and took their lunch money, all
that stuff they were talking and every tidy I said last year, I was
a little afraid of Zion. Zion has immense talent, but he's not the
competitor that Kawhi and PG is right now because they got chips on the shoulder.
Kawhi knows he's been overlooked for too long. He knows he that dude
and PG and it hasn't tasted the cup. It hasn't drank from the cup,
and neither has Neither has Hardened or Westbrook and they coming and Powle too.
That's a great article that that dude put up about Powell And one example
for young cats. It's the same thing like they're saying acting. There's no
such thing as a small role, only a small actor. So you got
to bring whatever you got to the to the to the to the to the
game. And make it work for you and your team. So proud of
power, so proud to see these guys developed, so proud of promptly.
And it's good to see him get some run. He was, he was
contributing and he's definitely gonna be ready when when we get to March in April.
So just a really good win man. Man, Like I'm saying,
we just got to stack him. We got to stack him. We know
the ultimate goal is, but first we gotta we got to pay off you
know who basically took took out lots of money in the past. We paid
off the Nuggets, hitting paid now we changed back. We did our work
on the Pelicans, and like I said, okay, see is next.
Okay see in Boston is next. Thing. We don't get them both.
I don't even care about that Lakers game. Man, let them. I'd
rather, I'd rather, I'd rather rest our boys and take take suns on
Monday again. So keep it up at them, get better and let's do
this. Thank you, Lenny, appreciate the phone call to me. The
most positive sign in this ball game was how the Clippers ended quarters. I
mentioned the second and third quarter runs they entered the first quarter on a ten
to two run, second quarter twenty three to seven run got them up fifteen,
third quarter sixteen to five run got them up twenty four. That stuff
that when you're looking at building the right habits, that's what it is.
It's about closing quarters. It's about getting up on teams and not letting them
back into ballgames. And the Clippers haven't always been great with that. They've
been great and their identity for the most part in the two to three era
is coming back. They got the second biggest comeback in regular season history,
the biggest comeback in postseason history for the twenty nineteen squad. So before Kawhi
and Paul George, but they've been gritty, little engine that could team that
has to overcome a lot. But now you want to embrace being that big
dog, that dominant team with all the expectations. And I'm not saying they
have it at times, because I think they were gonna win in twenty twenty
one. If Kawhi doesn't go down, they're clearly beating Phoenix with him.
They took them a six without them, and I think from what I saw
against him and Giannis in twenty nineteen with the raptors. They're winning in the
finals too with Kawhi. But there's something with the fan base where I keep
seeing people say, no, no, no, we want to fly under
the radar. We don't want people to know we're good guys. It comes
with the territory. You got to embrace it, those expectations, that responsibility
of being a great team. You can't win it all flying under the radar.
At some point you are going to be talked about. And the Clippers
are on a lot of people's radars now in the national media. They flipped,
they didn't stay on their side. They're coming back. I knew they
would wouldn't take long. Morris in Long Beach, you're on Clippers stop without
a Mauslim. Hey you know what, Adam, I want to thank your
previous caller. Everybody know that Tyron Lue was the coach of the Coach of
the Month for December because I don't know who. I don't know who else
it would have been. And now I don't know if people know this.
This December the first the Clippers have been. I don't know who the statistics
they are, but they're first in like three different categories. Shooting from the
floor from the I mean, they're just awesome. Not in the top ten,
they're number one. And you know, the low point, the low
point just this my opinion, the low point for the Clippers when they lost
to Denver, when they lost to Denver and nobody was on the team that
night for Denver and they lost. The high point for the Clippers was when
they beat the Joker. And in my opinion, the Denver Nuggets are still
the world champions until somebody stayed different. And you saw what they did yesterday
to Golden State. They had a big league Golden State did and Joker hit
that shot at the last what point something at the end of the winning game.
They're tough, Denver Stubb. But I'm gonna tell you about the Clippers.
The Clippers got three All Stars. Come to All Star Break, they're
gonna be the first place team and the West gonna be lost Angels, Slippers,
and they're gonna have three guys and all start. You're talking about making
runs, you're right at and we always feel him a thumbder And the NBA
is about how do you close a quarter? How do you close the quarter?
You could be doing real good that quarter and throw it at the end,
they are closing quarters big time. We got us a team here at
him. And by the way, I'm gonna let you go with this.
There's an apology church. There's apologetic term going on a tour. There's a
how apologetic tour going on. Everybody's apologizes for what they said about James Harden
When when when the Clippers bird lost four or five games, you know,
bad trades. I mean they were just jumping all kinds of stuff on the
guy. You already hear this tour. People are just praising him left and
right now. Your voice, steven A. Smith, I know you like
him. I'm being sarcastic now. He ain't came around yet. But if
you listen to stephen A. Smith, he knows the English language. He
always uses the conditional chance to give him a way out. But I'm still
mad at him because, like he said, he needs to go on the
campaign and that everybody knows the choir is back, that boy is back.
Okay, you behave yourself. I'm glad to do him better at him,
you sounds better too, all right. I wish steven A would stay on
his side like last season when he said Kawhi Leonards should retire. He's already
flipped. He doesn't think we have those receipts. I've made sure to post
that audio often. It was a lot of disrespect, and I get what
his gig is. It's hot take radio. He's built a career doing it.
I just would like a little bit more accountability when you're that insanely wrong.
Make the apology as loud as the disrespect was. But it's still early,
guys. As exciting as this is, as encouraging as this is,
as much as you should celebrate wins even during the regular season, it's okay
too. It's okay to talk about how this is the best stretch of Clippers
basketball in the regular season in franchise history. The focus still has to be
win in that first championship. That's it. The good news is I'm not
worried about this team losing sight of that. Coach lou has them focused.
Raoul in Baldwin Park the first stop for that. I'm awesome. What's up,
roll yo? What up? Man? Yeah? It was it was
a good good w I don't know what to say about this team, but
looking good. Hopefully it can stay healthy. I know they competed it's good
last year year before that. The healthy part of that worries me. You
know, you can't you can't predict that part of it, Raoul, You
just can't. What can you do about it? Or I have a history
with this team, didn't dating back old three when had Elton brands so good,
you know, so oh yeah, hopefully hopefully that's how I cross your
fingers, cross your fingers, cross my fingers. Yeah, and then uh
oh, then yeah, we're cool without James Hornier. I went to okiy
opening night and when Westbrook was starting point guard, the office is looking smoothly
even in him as a starting point guard because he just drives it in defense
and sold with so much energy. And it's just a just a flashback memory.
Remember when Westbrook was a Laker, I remember, yeah, it was
it wasn't that long ago. I'm pretty aware of what he was a Waker.
I remember. I remember he said that I never want to be a
he never. I will never want to be a Clipper never. But yeah,
I was reported. Then he became a Clipper. The Clipper farent welcomed
him with the open arms and the family, the fans, they they didn't
disrespect his son didn't say called Westbrook for the the Sun. And then next
thing you know, he's he's probably a Clipper. He's waving his flag,
you know, waving his Clipper shirt, going and give me high virus to
the front row fans and he's like so he attitude change and energy change and
everything. He's happy, just put. He's happy to being a Clipper.
He was missed kills, he kills they all you know, you know,
they just takeed all this mess and you know he wasn't doing that with you
guys being all happy and so no Saul turned Paul whatever you want to say.
He's been embraced by Clipper Nation. They love him. He gets the
loudest cheers at the arena. I thought it was a bit of a roller
coaster game from him. He had a steal and a score early on.
He had a couple of steals right off the bat, stolen from Zion,
a layup to start the second quarter, forced a couple of passes that turned
into turnovers. In the second missed a couple of threes, but then ended
up knocking one down. You take the good with the bad with Russ When
he is that focused on showing off his defense and playing hard on that end
because he's such a great athlete. That's what they need from him. That's
what they need out of him, to be a defensive stalwart and to bring
energy off the bench. Five assists of four turnovers. I just don't like
that number. Four turnovers. That's far too many and twenty two minutes.
Clippers win though anyways, one eleven to ninety five. They led by as
many as thirty one. Coming up, we'll get back to your phone calls
and will Updyke of clips and Dip. We'll be back with us here.
Plus we got postgame audio from coach Louin the players. They make it five,
five straight straight victory. Clippers win in New Orleans for the first time
in four years. Amdam Anson, this is Clippers Dock here on AM five
to seventy his sports. The LA Clippers continue their hunt for a LARRYO.
B. They still want to get that LARRYO. Bea don't miss a moment
all season long. This is the LA Clippers audio. Clippers win in New
Orleans one eleven to ninety five over the Pelicans. Welcome back into Clippers Talk.
I'm in a Moslin's here on M five to seventy LA Sports. We'll
get back to your phone calls at eight sixty six nine eight seven two five
seventy eight sixty six, ninety seven two five seventy. But first joining the
show for the first time in a good week week and a half is big
Will Updyke from Clips and Dip. We got the Clips and Double Dip going
on right now on Clippers Talk. The man who coined the nickname for the
Powell Rangers death lineup is with us. Luckily they really didn't even have to
use it down the stretch and this one Will they led by as many as
thirty one. Yeah, it was. It was absolutely unreal. At one
point in that second quarter, I was wondering why parents man hadn't come back
in yet. But the with Norm out there plus the starters, the Powell
Rangers were just going off. And the thing I think that is so impressive
about win is this went to me a little bit, kind of showed the
depth. You didn't have like huge scoring explosions, but the Clipers put this
one away. I mean it was easily over in three quarters. And that
was with not high scoring or high efficiency games from Kawhi Leonard or James Harden.
I mean, if this game didn't get your feeling like what the ceiling
of this Clippers team could look like. I don't know what to tell you.
I don't know what to tell You're not seeing the vision yet. You
should get that check. Some went to Lens Crafters a while ago and have
been seeing clearly with this team with James Harden. Both of us were pretty
high on them bringing in James Harden, knowing that you know Russell Westbrook,
as good as he is, he has his limitations with erratic play as your
number one play maker, and James Harden just takes care of the basketball thirteen
assists, one turnover. Since they took Russ out of the starting lineup,
the Clippers have all been turning it over twelve and a half times per game.
But you know, I asked this question a little bit earlier. Put
it on Twitter, put it out here on Clippers. Talk to me.
This is the best regular season run in the history of the franchise. I
know Ralph Lawler is somebody who would be more adept at answering something like this.
He is the Clippers historian in some ways as well as a great broadcaster.
But The only other team I can compare it to is the twenty twelve
twenty thirteen team that won seventeen straight, and a lot of those wins they
were against some cream puff teams in there. To me, these wins have
been more impressive. What's say you about this stretcher in the regular season?
Will I? This is unreal, Like this is just a different gear that
we haven't seen two one three in. I thought even last year there were
some glimpses, but it would it would rarely even extend the full games.
You know, you might get a really good or a quarter that you know,
a quarter could bail two on three out of an entire game. But
now they're kind of playing that they're on all cylinders. And I do think
the hardened thing is so significant, both of his efficiency with the ball,
but also just sort of fitting into the tempo, the rhythm, the metron,
almost of wherever it is this team likes to operate. That think has
been perfect and it's one of those things that I think Russell Westbrook does really
well at his own tempo. But I don't know that it's always the best
fit, but I do. I got to mention him because I thought that
he had a superb game tonight eight five and five with two steals and two
blocks. He was really, you know, doing everything else to help things
happen. And that's what I was saying when I think that this is the
best depth win of the season, Like, we just got really solid performances
out of the entire bench, and it's one of those things that you know,
with the loss of some of the wings, I had questions about this
depth, and from where I'm sitting right now, like it it's just looking
really good and everything is so strong that if you know, you even have
questions about Okay, so like when did Mason Plumbley fit back in? Where
does he come back in now? Because we know where he was at pre
injury, and that's a perfect fit for where this team is and where they're
heading. Because I still do not think that we've seen the ceiling yet,
which is crazy to say. This has been an insane stretch of games.
Charles and I were just talking, you know that he loves to talk about
March. Clippers have a brutal schedule in which they play seventeen games, and
after to night, I was thinking, it's not unfathomable to me it's not
unstatholable, fathomable debate. If we were looking at fourteen and three, thirteen
and four, is that insane? I don't think Pet's heads are falling off.
I don't think it's insane. I don't think it's that crazy. I
think it's still true that gauntlet of the season. I mean, this could
be a top two team. This a top three team for sure, but
possitively top two. No, they're They're right there now. Now. The
teams in front of them aren't exactly losing much either. Oklahoma City, while
they just lost two in a row, they still have won seven of their
last ten. The Denver Nuggets they're eight and two in their last ten,
Minnesota six and four in their last ten. Those are the teams they're chasing.
But the Clippers are one game back of the OKC Thunder, who they've
only seen one so far this season. Didn't have Kawhi and they would fall.
And I think that was the second game on the back to back after
the game in Dallas, so a tough one for them. But I agree
with you, I don't think they have peaked. I don't think they have
reached their ceiling. What's been impressive to me is early on with James Harden,
it was hard to keep everyone in rhythm. And now even when Kawhi
Leonard has a slow first half, he gets cooking in the third quarter.
Like guys are just taking turns and still staying in the flow of the offense
and finding their quarter or their stretch of time where they take over the ball
game. Within all those moments where they're just sharing the basketball and everyone's doing
damage at once, you still see individuals pop within the game and do what
they do best and control the game. When you talk about tempo with James
Harden, he's just controlling the game and knowing how to keep everyone involved.
It's it's such a beautiful brand of basketball, oh one hundred percent. And
I like that you bring up the great individual performances because I think one big
issue that I've had, certainly I think a lot of Clippers fans have had
throughout the two and three Eras you know, sometimes it does feel a little
bit like okay, your turn, my turn thing. But with this edition
of Harden, we're still getting you know, guys can shine in their role
and in their spots, and you do see these great individual games but it
just feels so much more cohesive. The flow of the game is just it's
it's suiting sort of everybody. And I think that like the flour has been
raised so much. I mean, since the addition of harden Lake, you
know, Vitza Zubos looks like a different player. We're starting to see Terrence
Van come back into his own, which if that trend continues, I mean,
this is just a terrifying starting lineup. But yeah, it's just it's
just the most cohesive that's ever looked. And I that is not that those
were not my thoughts coming into the season, and I think this has exceeded
my expectations of, you know, of a hardened trade. To be perfectly
honest, I Beatza. Zubas had fifteen to eight and two blocks on six
of seven shooting. I don't know if I've talked about him enough tonight.
He had the left handed dunk over Jones Valanchutas in that first quarter. He
had a hook shot in the second quarter over him, a dunk off,
a hardened oop, a throwdown again in the second quarter, a bucket when
they went through a drought in the third quarter. With that lineup where it
was the Big Four again where they tried Russell Westbrook next to James Harden,
Kawhi PG and Zubots twice in this game they tried it and the Pelicans would
go on runs, but Zoo again in the third put them up by seventeen
off a nice pass from James Harden. Just he's unlocked the best version of
Avitza Zubots, and the full potential maybe of Avitza Zubots is still to come
because he has a playmaker like James Harden. He has his CP three.
Now we love Avitza Zubots of course, will just talk about the play we've
seen from him next to Udo. I mean, it's been unreal. You
know, we heard them talking about the chemistry. Obviously it wasn't the smoothest
to start, but Zoo has always been, you know, a good roller,
a great screen setter. He has picking roll chemistry to a certain degree
with everybody who handles the ball, you know, with Kawhi and Paul George
certainly, but never with a never with a guard like Harden. So you
know, we knew it was gonna be working progress. It's still not at
a ceiling, but where it's at right now is incredible given the amount of
time. But the thing that's so impressive to me is that, you know,
we've always thought like Zoo was capable of being a double double guy.
But I think this stretch, to me, what's been so impressive is like
beyond the box scores, he just looks like a different guy out there.
I mean, I mean, he just looks you know, we would always
get into things of how like Zoo needs to be that needs to play like
the biggest guy on the floor, and I just think he's doing that one
hundred percent now. He just he looks different. He has a different sort
of confidence, he's playing the game with a different sort of aggression. It's
it's incredible, it's incredible, and it's uh. I think that that is
just another one of those things that like, with this sort of cohesiveness or
whatever that they found, everybody is really shining. And this just, I
don't know, it just feels like a championship team. This team feels ready.
It's like Zuo's a made man out there. Finally he's a part of
being one of the stars on this team where it's not just oh and then
we have this big man starting with us a Vita Zobots. He's so important
to what they do. It is critical and a lot of us have known
this for a while, but I don't know. There's a different or about
him, a different level of confidence. He's coming into his own. James
Harden has emboldened him. It's just so fun to watch because I've always felt
like he's just this unsung hero on the team, willing to do whatever it
takes, and now he's really being rewarded offensively for how good he is and
being the backbone of their defense. Let's talk about your guy, Norman Powell
and the Powell Rangers. How did you come up with that beautiful nickname which
is going to live on for a long time here, Will, I'm a
keeper of receipts positive and negative. You are the man for coming up with
that. It's unbelievable because that is their death lineup with Norman Powell, who,
by the way, is also playing the best, most efficient basketball of
his career. Oh, unreal, unreal. Yeah, I think I think
there were a couple of nicknames floating around, but uh, yeah, Powell,
you gotta have power Rangers in there. Uh, they're a whole squad
and it's you know, they are the doors. The sum is more than
the parts. But no, I can't say enough about about Norman Powell.
Correct me if I'm wrong. This has got to be the longest un This
is definitely the longest uninterrupted stretch of play. He's he's gotten to play as
a Clipper, so of course he's you know, he's playing some of his
best basketball. Of course he's like it speaks again to this cohesiveness where he's
finally had a chance, you know, even though he's been with this team
for for a couple of years, to have a full stretch. Uh and
and not only him, but have the actual starters available for you know,
nearly every game. It's just there has been an embarrassment of Richards thus far
this season for the Clippers. He is will Updyke of clips and dip Fame,
the one with the nick names. Not like it's a friend's episode,
but the guy who's come up with a lot of these nick names. It's
it's it's awesome. Well, thanks for doing this tonight. My throat is
killing me and you help pick me up and take a lot of the workload
off my plate. But I know we got a clips and dip YouTube.
I think coming up tomorrow will preview the Lakers game and we'll have the Big
three back together to join up with this new Clippers Big three here. Thanks
for doing this tonight, will absolutely thanks for having me. Let's go quit
quick time out. Clippers led by as many as thirty one over the Pelicans.
They win one eleven to ninety five, five straight victories nineteen and five
over the last twenty four games since the new starting lineup. Y'all want Terrence
Man on the starting lineup? Are you sure about that? Huh doesn't make
sense to me. Terrorce Man is starting to find a shooting stroke six for
his last nine from the outside. Looks confident as well out there. Love
what te Man is bringing, helping set that to early on. If it
ain't broke, don't fix it. Clippers far from broken right now. Unbelievable.
More Clippers stock next year on the buy seventy LA Sports. They want
to bring a banner with them to the into a doll More LA Clippers basketball
on the LA Clippers Audio Network. I can't get jiggy with this. See
I think of next Friday whenever I hear this. Now, not that Chris
Rock got knocked the f out by Will Smith, but no Michael Blaxon and
his character in it. Clippers win on a Friday one eleven to ninety five
in New Orleans over the Pelicans. Let's go to Demetrious in Manhattan Beach.
Demitrious, you're on a Clippers stock with that them all. How you doing
man, I'm gonna have to bring you down to the wellness center. Man.
How you feeling. It's been a while since we but seemed like you
hanging in there. How you feeling tonight? The Clippers got me on the
mend. I'm doing better with every victory. I'm feeling a little bit better.
It's just a little cold, no big deal whatever, Clippers would play
through it right. Well. You know what I like about you, Adam,
is me and you both on the same page here. I've been very
consistent with you when I called in, and I've always said our main problem
is availability. I think that you touched on the last segment when you brought
up Terrence Man. I was waiting to bring him up. But I'm glad
you did bring Terrence Man up, going six or nine or six for eight
from three point range, his strokes looking much better. His pressure and defense
has always been there. I think that. And like I told you again,
Denver lost a close one tonight to Orlando. Orlando came back and won
that game tonight. Okay. Uh, And so you know I've always pitched
and I'm going to be very consistent. I'm telling you that the Clippers will
be the number one seed and it's it's and it's gonna come pretty fast.
I see the Clippers not really losing Sunday. I see them playing with a
chip on their shoulder Monday night against Phoenix, a team they really don't like.
And so you know, Adam, you got to feel real good about
where we're at with the Clippers. Yes, we don't want to be under
the radar. We want to be the hunting, okay, because the fact
of the matter is we are the hunting. We're doing the hunting this year,
and so everybody is on our radar. It's not just Dinverering. What
people don't understand since James Harden percent me and you both is right on the
money. With Harden, it took little time from me get in shape.
He's starting to get better in shape now he does have that burst. I
mean, you can look at him now and it's like, Wow, that's
period. And we talked about it, Adam. The main thing for us
is is that, look, we're going to get better every day. I
like what Frank said has take the season much serious. I think they're coming
out with a chip on their shoulder. And listen, it's the Clippers against
the whole NBA, including the commissioners and everybody else that the Clippers wanted this
year. I listen, my only issue is availability. If they are available,
Adam, you'll be I'll be right there with you at the door arena.
Trust me to raise that Larry O'Brien trophy. I see no reason why
this team that is going to get more better and more scarier. Okay,
more better, more scarier. And let me make this last point to you.
Since James Harden has came over and since then the last twelve or thirteen
games, him and Kawhi Leonard is the top duor in the pick and roll,
and I make I think that I'm right on the money there, but
I'm for sure they're right at the top at him in the pick and roll.
And so what what can you say about this team that's that's that is
a top premier offensive team. Now you're getting a chance to seedium on defensively.
And I'll tell you this, that Pelican team is a very difficult team
to stop. That row so mad Adam oh, we know that they had
beaten the Clippers nine in the last ten games, right, And what people
don't understand is the link that they have. But I love the fact that
we picked up Tys. We got Plumbly back, Thank god he was.
He's ready to go, and he's and listen, give Plumbley, give it.
Give Plumbly all the credit in the world. He went to Todd lew
and say, look, you know, let me sit on the bench.
Let this this train keep rolling. You know, uh, when you need
me, call on me. And so I love players like that. I
love players like him and Westbrook to understand that listen, we're here. We
want a chip. And like you said about Kawhi Leonard, Kawhi Leonard is
back in his Toronto mode. And listen, if they follow him and they
follow exactly what Kawhi Leonard is doing each and every day and taking this very
serious on the defensive end, the team is gonna be unstoppable. And I'm
not concerned about Denver. I'm not gonna disrespect Denver. They are the reigning
champion. But the fact of the matter is this Clipper team this year.
I don't see anybody stopping this team. I'm very serious about it. I've
been very consistent. Yes, it is early, Adam, like you said,
but listen, we're gonna take every game, every possession, you know,
and then we're gonna see what happens. But if we're there in April
the first round and we're feeling good, I don't care who we mean,
the first round, second, d third route, Okay. I expect this
team to come out and I expect us to win a Larry O'Brien Trophy.
About in that will available boom, Demetrius has spoken I like it, and
he has been consistent. He's been saying this early on the season since they
brought in James Harden right there with him, It's always been about availability with
this team. I don't think Kawhi Leonard, though, is on his Toronto
raptor stuff. I think he's back to where he was pre ACL in the
twenty one playoffs tearing it with the Clippers, he was as dominant as he
was, playing better during that playoff run than he played during the Toronto Raptors
playoff run. He just unfortunately went down with an injury. But he's back.
Tajus and Waldutt also back on Tajus here on Clippers South with that of
Austin. What was up that great game? That's an understanding a few observations
that first quest. You know, we were down eight, and to me,
the offense was really clunky and it was just they didn't have a lot
of room. And then what happened was Westbrook came in and to his credit
his intensity, he got back even and it seemed like when Harden was on
the bench and went down by six right away when Russell Westbrook came in.
But I'll give it to you, I think in the second quarter he was
still playing and they got it or I don't know, something like that.
But what happened was in the second quarter was when Harden came back in,
the spacing got so much better. And I don't know if they just you
know, Tyler said something, but well, a couple of times they tried
it in the first half. They tried it in the second half to bring
in Russ next to James Hard next to two point three and it beats the
Zubos and that lineup ended up getting killed twice. And then he would bring
in Normurn Powell for Kawhi and they would get something going. Uh But even
Joan Adam in that first five six minutes, it seemed like even before Westbrook
was in there, the offense wasn't clicking like they weren't. They weren't operating
well. I think it was tied at sixteen when he came in, and
then they got down. So I'm just trying to be accurate. Now.
I'm not not going after a russ or anything, just making sure we uh
eke sure it's an accurate display of what happened out there. Yeah, that
Russell Westbrook, James hard and Paul George Kawhi Leonard lineup ended up being let's
see in this game, well I'll find it here. Keep going here day,
just the roll with it. I know you got a keena, no,
no worry. And then what happened was he when when they Harden came
back, they were they were running a little bit better, picking rolls,
PG was catching and shooting again, which I really love because when when they're
all on the floor to get it you don't. PG doesn't need to really
get into his bag. Catch and shoot is so much more efficient, And
like I kept referencing last call, it started, it seemed like in that
Miami game in the third quarter, and he was doing a lot of catching
and shooting, which is great, uh, and kind of one of the
reasons why I was really wanted Hardened, you know, to make the Clippers
to make a train for Harden and you we're just all seeing the benefits of
Harden across the board. And in that third quarter, it was like a
twenty to twenty two point lead, it went down to thirteen, and I
was like, okay, I think Kawi went on the bench, but Harden
ran the offense through Zoo pick and roll, pick and roll, and Zoo
got like two or three easy baskets and somehow McCullum ended up on Zoo box.
So they played really smart basketball. Harden could read what they needed at
the right times. Uh. It just that part of the aspect of it
was like something that sometimes we didn't always see before. And sometimes when we
would start losing our lead, we would go into ISO mode and now it's
you know, pardon, we just have a little pep in our step and
we're not ever worried if we're down or something. It just feels like we
can pull through through anything right now and we have that confidence, which is
which is just like, you know, we feel like we're a championship team
right now with a championship organization and a championship owner. So I think everything's
clicking at the right time. And I was just gonna say, you know,
when stephen A said that Kawhi should retire, Uh, it was just
funny to me because when he came into the league as a Spur, he
was only a defensive player. That's what he was known for, maybe average
seven or eight points a game, and to get to the point where he's
at, he had to put a crazy amount of work. And I don't
think we've ever seen in the league someone who entered the league as a defensive
player to be one of the best scores in the NBA. So hey,
for Paula, George is the same way, right, No, yeah,
I think about it like that, but I think Hawhi would be like,
I don't know, I just was when stephen A said that, I was
just like, come on, it was disgusting. It was gross. It
was an attention grabbing, click bait like statement to make. But I guess
he gets away with it because outside of me, nobody's gonna check them on
it. And who the hell am I? But thank you, jac Adam,
your wallet's kinna kind of Oh I got the George Costanza, Yeah yeah,
I hurt my back. I can't sit down right, I'm leaning over.
Thank you for the phone call tags. Tonight, the Russell Westbrook,
James hard and Paul George Kawhi Leonard lineup was tried for the first time since
November thirtieth. It did not go well. They were minus fourteen and four
minutes and twenty five seconds. Yikes. Let's hear from rus though Clippers all's
well. It ends well. They would win one eleven to ninety five.
Here he was postgame on Ballet Sports with Patrick O'Neill. Also, when you
entered the game, you absolutely changed the entire complexity of this game. How
are you able to do that? Defensively? My energy, my effort and
some I pride myself on every night. I'm very grateful him, blessed for
the men above will allow me to be able to go out and have that
energy, have this effort and energy and go out and every night that's my
job for this team. So listen, it really seems like you're having a
lot of fun. You're showing so much leadership even when you're not on the
floor. It's almost like you're a coach out there. You're just supporting everybody.
Leadership is a trade that I'm really really enjoying. I love saying my
teammates do great and having fun is the best part of this game. And
if you're not having fun, you should be playing. And then I really
enjoy playing this game. We gotta farm people of guys, and tonight was
one of those nights. It's a tough building to play in. You guys
have won five in a row. But the defensive effort for everybody tonight,
in every possession that was pretty intense. It was important. Man, our
defense is gonna win this games and not just as gonna have an opportunity wake
championships. And every night I want to lean on my defense and I want
our guys to this same. Last one tied never won here in New Orleans.
He was over seven times, So make sure you let him know.
I'll let him know. I'm fresh. I was coaching the mine. So
we get him right, damn straight Coach of the Month tylu has Since December,
Clippers have just lost two games. They are fourteen and two over that
time. I hope I'm not shortening them. I maybe there's so many good
numbers right now going for this team. I did want to be clear on
the Russell Westbrook stint in that first quarter. They were up sixteen to fifteen
when he came into the ballgame. Then they got down twenty four to sixteen
as he came in for Terrence Man. So it was that lineup next to
James Harden, next to two pine to three next to Vias Zubas didn't work.
But then after being down twenty four to sixteen, they brought in Norman
Powell for Kawhi Leonard and that lineup played well and went on that run ten
to run to end the first quarter where the Clippers were tied up twenty six
all, they got up by thirty one and they win one eleven two ninety
five. Before get out of here, let's get to Katie Newton, our
producer. Tonight here in the bank, Katie's casual corner wasn't the biggest basketball
fan to the last couple of seasons. Now she's a huge Clippers fan.
She wants to go to a game. But she still asked me some of
the more rudimentary questions as she, you know, moves along in her basketball
fanship. Right, you know what I was going to ask you a fun
one, But you know what I will ask the other one that you made
fun of me for. What What are the position names? I know there's
forward, power, forward, center, point guard. You're missing one.
Defense it's uh tall the guy next to the point guard catches it and catch
her thrower. I got nothing. It's not there. Shooting guard, shooting
guard. Oh okay, so defense. But it is more of a positionless
league now. But you're figuring it out quickly. The Clippers make it fun,
make learning fun. The more you know. Oh I saw the star.
Thank you, Katie. Great job. Tonight Clippers win one eleven to
ninety five in New Orleans. They'll be taking on the Lakers Sunday. They'll
technically be the road team for that contest, tipping off at six thirty at
Crypto pregame at five thirty. Before we get out of here, I do
want to think Ralph Lawler Brian Seeman, Noah Ego, Carlo Hemenez on the
call for this one, Big Brother, Jake Warner or Hen engineer at Crypto,
Katie Newton our producer, the callers, the listeners will Updyke for coming
on until five thirty on Sunday night. I met Amasam. We'll talk to
you then. Ma Whi was doing his thing. All they want to do
is win in La. I win. I thought they gave everything they had.
I'm proud of. This has been Clippers Talk, the official postgame reaction
of the LA Clippers. God Bless Paul George. Will you not changed?
Don't miss an episode all season law. Go to wherever you podcast and subscribe
today. Well up the show. I got you on the iHeart Radio.
You guys are great. Thank you for joining us for another exciting broadcast of
LA Clippers basketball.