WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.040 --> 00:00:07.200 Get your fall. It's time to react LA Clippers Basketball. This is Clippers 2 00:00:07.240 --> 00:00:11.679 Talk all the chat, reaction and analysis hosted by Adam Aslay. You know 3 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:16.679 he's feeling good. Take the show with you anywhere you are and get the 4 00:00:16.719 --> 00:00:21.480 podcast on the iHeart Radio and now your host. He makes everything happen, 5 00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:28.440 Adam Moslan. Without the King on the court, the Clippers would rain threes 6 00:00:28.519 --> 00:00:33.399 in the first half, and they would clamp down with defense in the second 7 00:00:33.479 --> 00:00:37.759 half and hold on to win by twenty four over the Lakers. Here at 8 00:00:37.799 --> 00:00:41.719 Staples Cents, They're welcome into Clippers Talk. I'm at a Maslin eight six 9 00:00:41.799 --> 00:00:45.640 six nine eight seven two five seventy eight six six nine eight seven two five 10 00:00:45.799 --> 00:00:49.960 seventy or gets me at follow Adam a. After the Clippers win one eighteen 11 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:54.399 to ninety four over the Los Angeles Lakers. Coming up here on the show, 12 00:00:54.640 --> 00:00:59.759 we will have postgame audio from TLU. You'll also hear from the players 13 00:00:59.799 --> 00:01:03.920 in far about Essen Shari, who's sitting about thirty feet to my left as 14 00:01:03.960 --> 00:01:07.400 we are live from Staples Center. After the Clippers and we talked about this 15 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:11.760 postgame with Noah Egle. We were hoping, we were wanting to see this. 16 00:01:11.239 --> 00:01:15.799 But that defense they played in the last three minutes last game Tuesday night 17 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:18.640 here against the Toronto Raptors, where they only gave up one point in the 18 00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:22.920 last three minutes. It carried over into the first quarter tonight against the Los 19 00:01:22.920 --> 00:01:26.799 Angeles Lakers, who granted are down. I mentioned no Lebron James, Anthony 20 00:01:26.879 --> 00:01:32.239 Davis only played nine minutes, no Dennis Shrewder, no thht. We all 21 00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:36.400 understand that. But is this not the type of victory you would expect given 22 00:01:36.439 --> 00:01:41.799 those circumstances. Complete domination by the Clippers where they were up by twenty three 23 00:01:41.879 --> 00:01:45.319 at a half, led by as many as twenty five, and win by 24 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:49.599 twenty four. But it was the first quarter that I thought was special. 25 00:01:49.719 --> 00:01:53.120 They won it by nine. At one point they were up by thirteen. 26 00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:56.879 In that first quarter, they only gave up twenty points to the Lakers, 27 00:01:57.159 --> 00:02:00.159 And even while Anthony Davis was in the game, he wasn't that effective. 28 00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:06.439 After coming off his best game since returning from the achilles injury against the Denver 29 00:02:06.519 --> 00:02:09.159 Nuggets, he played nine minutes, went two of nine from the field, 30 00:02:10.039 --> 00:02:15.080 had four points. He struggled and the Clippers were throwing bodies at him. 31 00:02:15.080 --> 00:02:21.800 But the primary defender was Marcus Morris. He did a great job of just 32 00:02:21.919 --> 00:02:25.800 being physical, of just getting into Anthony Davis's space. Paul George was on 33 00:02:25.879 --> 00:02:29.759 him at one point, and then when he tried to get to the basket, 34 00:02:29.879 --> 00:02:34.360 multiple guys swarmed in on him and made life difficult. And therefore the 35 00:02:34.439 --> 00:02:37.919 Lakers life was difficult getting off to a good start in this one, even 36 00:02:37.960 --> 00:02:40.520 though they got twenty five from Kyle Kuzma, who ended up going nine of 37 00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:44.280 nineteen three of ten from the field. I thought he played really well, 38 00:02:44.360 --> 00:02:47.960 had fifteen of those twenty five points in the first half. They didn't have 39 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:52.479 the firepower to keep with the Clippers team that hit eleven three pointers in the 40 00:02:52.520 --> 00:02:55.560 first half alone. What I like even more, though, believe it or 41 00:02:55.599 --> 00:02:59.840 not, is that they only hit two in the second half. They didn't 42 00:02:59.840 --> 00:03:04.400 have to rely on it. They're finding different ways to beat you now we've 43 00:03:04.439 --> 00:03:07.960 seen it post All Star Break tonight. They get to the free throw line 44 00:03:07.960 --> 00:03:09.879 twenty six times, hit twenty three of them. Meanwhile, that is an 45 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:14.680 area of the Lakers struggle. Twenty nine attempts at the line and they made 46 00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:19.560 just eighteen. Montrese Harold just six of ten, Mark kith Moore's zero of 47 00:03:19.719 --> 00:03:23.240 two. They left some points out there. There was one blemish for the 48 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:28.520 Clippers in this game, and it's amazing the success they were able to have 49 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:34.680 even while turning the ball over twenty two times, leading to thirty points for 50 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:38.479 the Los Angeles Lakers. And while we have a moment, let's pause ten 51 00:03:38.520 --> 00:03:42.680 seconds for station identification. Here on AM five seventy LA Sports, this is 52 00:03:42.840 --> 00:03:51.400 LA Clippers Basketball fie KLAC Los Angeles kr HD to Los Angeles and iHeart radio 53 00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:53.039 station. You thought I was going to forget. He thought I was slipping. 54 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:58.680 No, we got it in there, my man. But the Clippers 55 00:03:58.680 --> 00:04:02.400 had an all around team victory tonight. Your leading score was Paul George. 56 00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:06.840 He had twenty four points. They all came from the second quarter on he 57 00:04:06.960 --> 00:04:12.199 was dishing. He was thrown out assists at first to a Visa Zoobots down 58 00:04:12.199 --> 00:04:15.319 low in the first quarter. His first shot came off a pass from a 59 00:04:15.399 --> 00:04:20.480 Gen Rondo in transition for an open three that you just knew was going to 60 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:24.959 fall immediately. But he ended up with twelve points in that second quarter. 61 00:04:25.720 --> 00:04:30.639 Decauz had nine of his eleven points in the second quarter. DeMarcus Cousins was 62 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:36.439 huge. He's been making an impact since day one, since he came in 63 00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:43.360 as a Clipper. He had a really nice bucket over Montrese Harold where they 64 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:47.199 were intent on getting it to him in that mismatch inside and he was pounding 65 00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:50.240 it in the paint, got it up over him, had a hook shot 66 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:55.600 early in the second quarter over Montrese Harold from about five feet out. Had 67 00:04:55.639 --> 00:05:00.519 another reverse lay up over two defenders because just because well he was on a 68 00:05:00.519 --> 00:05:04.160 ten day contract at one point, teams were still doubling DeMarcus Cousins. He 69 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:09.040 laughed about it post game before saying, I gotta be the only guy in 70 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:13.879 NBA history on a ten day contract where I'm getting doubled. But he's been 71 00:05:13.879 --> 00:05:16.639 that effective. He's a big body, he's a load in the paint, 72 00:05:16.920 --> 00:05:20.399 and he's so skilled. Even with him lacking some of that, some of 73 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:26.399 the athleticism he had early on in his career in Sacramento and in New Orleans 74 00:05:26.439 --> 00:05:30.360 before all the injuries mounted for him, he can still go out there and 75 00:05:30.439 --> 00:05:33.040 hit a three pointer like he did in this game, and he got things 76 00:05:33.079 --> 00:05:41.079 going also in that stretch where he basically took over the game and sam Za, 77 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:43.279 I don't know if you're busy right now, but I just love that 78 00:05:43.399 --> 00:05:47.519 highlight package you put together of DeMarcus Cousins from the second quarter when the Clippers 79 00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:53.519 really started to open things up, and it was Decus hitting a three pointer 80 00:05:54.199 --> 00:05:58.959 and then getting a steal and turning that into a dunk. He's someone who 81 00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:01.839 has a great hand for being a seven footer. And here was the call 82 00:06:02.040 --> 00:06:05.120 from Noah Eagle. Cousin sets a screen, he's open for a left wing 83 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:10.839 three. He'll trigger it and knocks it down to Marcus Cousins off the bench, 84 00:06:10.839 --> 00:06:14.800 has nine points in six minutes and the Clippers have a fifteen point lead 85 00:06:14.839 --> 00:06:17.279 once again at forty seven thirty two, six fifty five to go. In 86 00:06:17.319 --> 00:06:20.160 this first half, Caruso top of the key, guarded by George with a 87 00:06:20.160 --> 00:06:24.959 bounce past right elbow. It is gasol against Cousins outside of the left wing. 88 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:28.480 Now Maclamore pounce pass taken away by Cousins. He's got a hard one 89 00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:31.079 in front to Marcus Cousin to the rim and he slams it with a right 90 00:06:32.120 --> 00:06:38.040 We're in a bugey wonderland and Staples Center as Cousins has taken over with eleven 91 00:06:38.079 --> 00:06:41.680 points off the bench. Caruso driving right, bounce past the only taken away 92 00:06:41.680 --> 00:06:44.720 and it is but Toom knocked it away. Cousins scoops it off here he 93 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:46.680 comes right to left. Cousins into the front corner with a fresh drivele looks 94 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:49.639 to the outside, finds George straight away driving on Caruso, who his left. 95 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:53.279 He put him on the deck step back three on the way. Oh 96 00:06:53.439 --> 00:06:58.240 yes, Paul George buries it and a time out called by the Lakers. 97 00:06:58.759 --> 00:07:03.879 An acle breaker by George and PG thirteen with a rated R move. Paul 98 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:08.000 George was too good in this game not to get into that highlight package. 99 00:07:08.040 --> 00:07:12.879 But Boogie Cousins there going on his own run created by himself through his defense. 100 00:07:13.399 --> 00:07:16.120 Noah Eagle on the call, Sam Zeo with the highlights, and then 101 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:20.279 Paul George there, who was just filthy. The Lakers had to call time 102 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:27.879 out after that. He absolutely hot sauced Alex Carusoe sent him back pedaling six 103 00:07:27.920 --> 00:07:30.600 feet to get an open three pointer. And that's just a mismatch. And 104 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:33.439 I know the Lakers are down a lot of ball handlers right now. They 105 00:07:33.480 --> 00:07:38.439 don't have a true point guard. Without Shrewder, without Lebron James, they 106 00:07:38.480 --> 00:07:43.800 don't have that type of playmaker. But the Clippers were hunting matchups and taking 107 00:07:43.879 --> 00:07:47.399 advantage of the Lakers' weaknesses in this one. And I just like the fact 108 00:07:47.399 --> 00:07:51.759 that their defense stayed from what happened last game. They have to be more 109 00:07:51.800 --> 00:07:57.600 consistent there because they've gotten off to slow starts defensively over their last ten or 110 00:07:57.639 --> 00:08:01.360 so games. Not tonight, though, they The Lakers are just twenty points 111 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:03.839 in the first quarter, just twenty three in the fourth quarter, and there 112 00:08:03.959 --> 00:08:09.079 was another great play by the backups. Daniel Oturu was in there, first 113 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:13.759 time we've seen him in a bit, and he and Patrick Beverly were contesting, 114 00:08:13.879 --> 00:08:18.319 Yes, the six foot one guard Patrick Beverly were contesting everything at the 115 00:08:18.439 --> 00:08:24.040 rim in a twenty point game with a minute and a half left. They 116 00:08:24.079 --> 00:08:30.680 had multiple blocks on Alphonso mckenny's layups attempts. And then there was also a 117 00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:35.240 Visa zu Bots getting into it a little bit with Andre Drummond, who was 118 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:39.480 a little bit frustrated tonight. I felt like it carried over for it from 119 00:08:39.480 --> 00:08:41.919 what happened to him against the Denver Nuggets earlier this week. Where he had 120 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:46.919 a game where he had more fouls personal fouls than points five to four. 121 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:54.000 He struggled just three to five with nine points, six rebounds, and a 122 00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:58.279 Viza zu bots. He's a tough guy to move down Low finished with fourteen 123 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:03.000 and eight in twenty eight minute goes five of five from the field. So 124 00:09:03.240 --> 00:09:07.759 the Clippers did what they needed to. I often call these a taking care 125 00:09:07.879 --> 00:09:11.679 of business like game, but it's not easy. These guys are still professionals 126 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:16.480 even without their superstars. You still got our performance like that from Kyle Kuzma, 127 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:20.080 and you just never know who could step up. But the Clippers were 128 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:24.840 good enough to turn off the water faucet when they needed two at times, 129 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:28.799 because the Lakers had it down to seventeen with about six minutes left and then 130 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:33.960 something key happened instead of the Clippers settling for three pointers, and that's something 131 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:39.720 they do at a higher clip than anybody in NBA history, really when you're 132 00:09:39.720 --> 00:09:43.480 talking about this three point line and not the shortened one for three years in 133 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:46.759 the nineties. But they weren't hitting them in the second half. They only 134 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:50.159 hit two of their thirteen in the second half, and instead of going to 135 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:54.080 that or jump shots. When they were up by seventeen with six minutes left, 136 00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:58.480 they called a time out. The Lakers were on a run and the 137 00:09:58.519 --> 00:10:03.480 next three buckets from the Clippers were all at the rim, and you could 138 00:10:03.480 --> 00:10:07.200 see there was a little bit of frustration let out by Kawhi Leonard, who 139 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:09.879 is struggling for his standards. He only took nine shots and thirty minutes had 140 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:13.679 fifteen points, but he had one of those layups and they were back up 141 00:10:13.799 --> 00:10:18.360 twenty plus. They go on to win by twenty four here at Staples Center 142 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:22.039 over the Lakers. We'll take a quick time out, we'll come back. 143 00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:24.960 We'll get to your phone calls eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy 144 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:30.399 eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy. We'll update you on the 145 00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:35.600 Western Conference standings where things stand and sit tonight. And I do have good 146 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:41.080 news on that front. Clippers improved to forty five and twenty two and we 147 00:10:41.159 --> 00:10:46.759 got postgame sound from TLOO and that's next here on Clipper Stock one five seventy 148 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:56.799 LA Sports Nagger from Paul George. This is the official home of your LA 149 00:10:56.000 --> 00:11:16.960 Clippers. Don't miss a moment of Clippers basketball. All season logs the Clippers 150 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:20.679 win one eighteen to ninety four here at Staples Center over the Los Angeles Lakers. 151 00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:26.639 They sweep the regular season series. They go three and oz over the 152 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:31.720 Lake Show. Welcome back into Clippers Talk. I'm Adam Moslin eight six six 153 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:35.919 nine eight seven two five seventy eight six six nine eight seven two five seventies 154 00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:39.399 the phone number, or gets me on Twitter at follow Adam a before we 155 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:43.759 get to your phone calls. I tweeted out during the second quarter that Rondo 156 00:11:45.039 --> 00:11:48.759 is running this a little bit slang, a little bit of I'm too old 157 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:54.320 to tweet stuff like that, probably, but Rashon Ronto was so good in 158 00:11:54.440 --> 00:11:58.000 that second quarter where he had the majority of his assists, but when the 159 00:11:58.039 --> 00:12:03.960 Clippers started to open things up, he was completely in control of the offense. 160 00:12:05.080 --> 00:12:09.799 Never mind the fact at one point he put Kuzma on skates. He 161 00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:13.360 had a steal early on in the second quarter. He was directing everything out 162 00:12:13.399 --> 00:12:18.960 there. He was looking for Boogie Cousins on that mismatch down low against the 163 00:12:18.039 --> 00:12:22.759 undersized Montrase Harold. He found Nicholas Batum for an easy one. Then he 164 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:28.120 finds Luke Kennard for an open three pointer, and then Paul George for a 165 00:12:28.120 --> 00:12:31.679 three pointer. His first bucket of the game came a few minutes into that 166 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:37.919 second quarter, and it was Rondo getting in transition, pushing the pace. 167 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:43.679 He had an underhand lay up on Marcus al It was We've been talking about 168 00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:50.799 his burst ad nauseum, but the quickness, the athleticism. I didn't see 169 00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:56.000 this earlier in the season with the Atlanta Hawks, but you knew you get 170 00:12:56.080 --> 00:13:00.879 ra Gene Rondo in a situation like this back with a couple of Kentucky guys 171 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:05.200 on a team that's contending for a championship, and you bring the best out 172 00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:09.159 of him, and he brings the best out of this team. It works 173 00:13:09.240 --> 00:13:13.679 hand in hand. He's been that good of an orchestrator for them. He's 174 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:16.039 been a difference maker, and he adds an element they just didn't have before. 175 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:22.720 He can get superstars and everybody else easier looks, easier shots, and 176 00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:26.320 he's a coach out there on the floor. I know it's cliche, but 177 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:30.360 Rajon Rondo literally is likely going to be a coach in the next ten years 178 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:35.080 in this league. Whenever he wants to step off the court and back onto 179 00:13:35.159 --> 00:13:39.320 the sidelines, he's going to be there, just like Steve Nash is done. 180 00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:43.879 Just like well, Chauncey Billups had an opportunity, apparently to go to 181 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:48.000 the Indiana Pacers. They were interested in him. The Clippers were able to 182 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:52.000 keep him in the family here though. They brought him from an analyst into 183 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:56.360 the coaching staff. But Jen Rondo has meant so much to this team, 184 00:13:56.360 --> 00:14:01.320 and I want to highlight just some of what he did in this game, 185 00:14:01.399 --> 00:14:05.440 as he ends up finishing off the bench in seventeen minutes with eleven points and 186 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:09.600 five assists and just one turnover on a night where the Clippers had twenty two 187 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:13.720 as a team, he had just one of them. Four of eight shooting 188 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:18.600 hit a three pointer. He's been doing that at a high clip for years 189 00:14:18.679 --> 00:14:22.840 now, and he gets even better in the playoffs. This is a preview 190 00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:26.639 of playoff Rondo. We've gotten that since he put on that Clippers uniform. 191 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:33.720 All right, I believe we have Jeff in Tarzana online. I mean, 192 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:37.759 I could just you know how good it is to beat the Lakers and push 193 00:14:37.799 --> 00:14:43.000 them as far better, better than that's possible. That's like dating Shania Twain. 194 00:14:46.759 --> 00:14:50.960 I wouldn't say it doesn't impress me much, because yes, there is 195 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:56.639 something impressive about dominating the Lakers tonight the way they did is the most beautiful 196 00:14:56.679 --> 00:15:00.919 woman in the world. Yeah, I can get with that. Okay, 197 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:03.440 So you know, the Lakers are the champs, and I only think they 198 00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:07.720 won because of the bubble last year. But the Clippers blew it. You 199 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:11.480 have to give the Lakers credit for that. But I don't think Lebron's gonna 200 00:15:11.480 --> 00:15:15.720 be able to be healthy, and I don't think the Lakers are going to 201 00:15:15.799 --> 00:15:18.600 get past the second round at the most. The Clippers, like I said 202 00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:24.279 the other day, are the most viable team in the Western Conference, and 203 00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:28.039 you know, the way Brooklyn plays defense, I really don't see anybody but 204 00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:33.320 Philadelphia winning that Eastern Division crown. But what I really like what Ti is 205 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:39.720 doing is he's giving everybody the opportunity to play. And these guys like uh 206 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:46.159 Like Man and Luke Nard, they don't play all the time, and there's 207 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:50.320 still there's still into the game. And the only thing I'm worried about with 208 00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:58.080 the Clippers are injuries and the possibility of turnovers. They still had a lot 209 00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:00.639 of turnovers tonight, Adam. They still have to prove their game I mentioned 210 00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:04.840 it, but on the season, they're top five when it comes to minimizing 211 00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:08.360 turnovers. I believe the only average thirteen per game tonight was an outlier. 212 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:15.200 Okay, So Adam, let me let me ask you something. If you're 213 00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:18.960 looking at what's gonna happen like I asked you the other night, and I 214 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:22.399 don't think Penis is going to fall out of two, or you know, 215 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:26.440 and I don't think Denver is gonna fall out of there. You think the 216 00:16:26.440 --> 00:16:33.559 Clippers at four have a better chance, like I said, against Dallas, 217 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:41.159 Portland or the Lakers are another team if if the Clippers finished fourth, If 218 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:44.559 they finish fourth, and thank you for the phone call, Jeff, Jeff 219 00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:48.399 and Tarzana the ultimate regular here on Clippers Talk. I've been calling in for 220 00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:53.080 twenty five years. I hear if they finish fourth, they're most likely going 221 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:59.440 to be taking on the Dallas Mavericks because of how the Lakers schedule lines of 222 00:16:59.559 --> 00:17:00.840 them, because of all the injuries going on right now. They got to 223 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:07.039 go to Portland tomorrow, and that Portland team is fighting to get out of 224 00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:10.480 the seven spots so they don't have to be in the play in tournament like 225 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:15.720 they were last year. I do think you'd rather play Dallas or Portland. 226 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:21.519 Now, be careful what you wish for. Those teams both have superstars and 227 00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:25.400 some of the most clutch players. We've seen it over and over again in 228 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:29.200 two first round series in the last five years against your Los Angeles Clippers, 229 00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:32.640 but Luca don Chi's most recently last season, he was great. That went 230 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:36.400 six, Clippers still won, and obviously they had a bunch of injuries back 231 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:41.119 in twenty sixteen against the Portland Trail Blazers where they would lose in six without 232 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:47.039 CP three or Blade Griffin. I still think the Lakers are the most dangerous 233 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:49.559 team that you would have to play in the first round, and it could 234 00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:53.920 take a lot out of you to beat them because even with their injuries with 235 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:59.119 Ad and Lebron over the last month and a d going back further than that, 236 00:17:59.240 --> 00:18:03.400 but they have maintained the number one spot defensively all season long. That's 237 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:08.920 their identity, that's what they do. They're physical and they do play with 238 00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:14.599 a lot of energy out there, and I thought they played hard tonight. 239 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:18.240 They just got out executed. They didn't they got out talented, they didn't 240 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:22.839 necessarily get out worked. The Clippers had twenty two turnovers. They gave them 241 00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:27.720 a lot of opportunities too. But the Lakers, with a D and Lebron 242 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:32.359 in whatever condition they would be in for the first round, I still think 243 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:34.599 would be the toughest opponent, and everybody would admit that. I'm sure, 244 00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:38.640 because they are the defending champs. I've said this before, but it would 245 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:42.880 remind me of that twenty fifteen first round series between the Clippers and the San 246 00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:48.039 Antonio Spurs. The Spurs were the defending champs. They won in twenty fourteen, 247 00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:49.559 they dropped to the sixth seed. I think the last day of the 248 00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:52.759 regular season. The Clippers get them in the first round. It's a three 249 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:57.279 six matchup, felt more like a Western Conference finals. Clippers pulled out in 250 00:18:57.359 --> 00:19:03.160 seven thanks to some magic from CP three, but it took a lot out 251 00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:07.839 of them. And that's what you worry about. Path of least resistance is 252 00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:15.519 what you want to find in the playoffs because it is such a grind and 253 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:18.319 when you're just taking on a team in a seven game series and the game 254 00:19:18.359 --> 00:19:23.839 planning and the matchups and all your flaws being exploited and being taken advantage of, 255 00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:27.720 you know, a series gets lengthened out in the first round like that, 256 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:32.240 and it can have a long term effect throughout the playoffs even if you 257 00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:34.640 get out of it. And I think the Clippers are the better team, 258 00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:38.960 but you cannot underestimate Lebron James. You cannot underestimate the Los Angeles Lakers. 259 00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:44.119 As for the Phoenix Suns, are they for real? A lot of people 260 00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:48.359 have been asking that we'll find out. But I have an inkling that Devin 261 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:52.440 Booker is going to perform very well in the playoffs. Maybe it's because of 262 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:56.319 some big shots he has hit. Won against the Clippers in the seeding games 263 00:19:56.359 --> 00:20:00.519 last season, but they win eight. No when they're back was against the 264 00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:03.680 wall, and that was without CP three. I think they'd be really tough 265 00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:07.799 because they have multiple ways to beat you. Utah, they're banged up. 266 00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:14.720 Donovan Mitchell right now is out, but Quinn Snyder could win Coach of the 267 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:19.400 Years. Still they end up being the number one seed. They also play 268 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:23.559 tough defense, and they have some really good three point shooters. They get 269 00:20:23.640 --> 00:20:26.960 hot against you, they can take you out. But right now the Clippers 270 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:30.880 are in the three seed. They're a half game up on the Denver Nuggets. 271 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:36.400 Nuggets do have the tiebreaker, though they won the season series against the 272 00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:41.920 Clippers. The Nuggets also have a tougher schedule remaining than your Los Angeles Clippers. 273 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:45.680 But I am going to keep an eye on that game tomorrow night up 274 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:49.079 in Portland when they're taking on the Lakers, because if the Trailblazers win that 275 00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:52.680 game, they would send the Lakers to the seventh spot. I told you 276 00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:56.079 about a week or so ago, a week and a half ago, that 277 00:20:56.440 --> 00:21:02.799 the Clippers and the Portland Trailblazers can partner up and send the Lakers to that 278 00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:07.200 seventh spot if they take them out this week and then Phoenix plays the Lakers 279 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:11.599 on Sunday, So there is a possibility the Lakers have to go into the 280 00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:15.759 play and tournament because of all their injuries going on. But even then, 281 00:21:17.160 --> 00:21:19.440 if you got Lebron in a d at eighty five percent, that's still better 282 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:23.880 than most guys. Lakers loose tonight, though, to your Los Angeles Clippers, 283 00:21:23.880 --> 00:21:30.000 with the final score of one eighteen to ninety four. Tagus in Walnut 284 00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:34.079 tagis you're on Clippers South without a moston how are you hey, Adam? 285 00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:37.880 Before I ask you my question, I agree with you. I mean, 286 00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:42.119 we would want the Lakers at seven at the seventh spot, but if that 287 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:48.960 didn't happen, I think if Portland ended up in that seventh seed and and 288 00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:52.759 if they played a Phoenix in the first round, I think that that series 289 00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:56.759 would be fire. Like with Damon CJ versp CP and Booker, I think 290 00:21:56.799 --> 00:22:00.599 that would be an awesome first round. Don't you think. I don't see 291 00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:03.920 a matchup that wouldn't be fire in the first round in the Western Conference, 292 00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:11.759 to be honest, stages, that's true. What's the question? The question 293 00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:17.279 is is you know when we traded for Lou, I thought that, you 294 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:18.839 know, Reggie would be kind of like the six man coming out of the 295 00:22:18.880 --> 00:22:23.559 bench with the scoring. And then now he's playing so well with the starters 296 00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:27.480 and he's still continuing to start. Do you envision that he's going to keep 297 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:33.559 starting? And the only concern I had was with the bench right now, 298 00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:37.440 especially when you play the better teams, do you see that there's enough scoring 299 00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:44.440 with that second unit on the floor. I think there's a little bit of 300 00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:48.079 lack of scoring with that second unit, But I also think Tylu will either 301 00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:53.400 keep PG or Kawhi on the floor with that second unit day. Just appreciate 302 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:56.759 you. Man is always thank you for the phone call. That would be 303 00:22:56.799 --> 00:23:00.960 the plan from TLU, because that's what he has done the majority of this 304 00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:07.079 season. When guys aren't on a minute restriction. Typically he takes out Paul 305 00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:11.319 George earlier in the first quarter, Kawhi Leonard plays the entire first quarter, 306 00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:17.440 and then PG thirteen starts the second with the second unit. And he's talked 307 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:21.359 about this recently. That's the way he likes to do it. That is 308 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:26.640 optimally how you would want to do it with this Clipper's roster. So I 309 00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:30.079 think that alone creates plenty of scoring just by having one of your superstars out 310 00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:33.759 there at all times. And we've seen it the majority of this season, 311 00:23:33.880 --> 00:23:38.279 he has staggered them. I'm not concerned one bit with t lose rotations. 312 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:44.559 I don't think he needs any advice for me or anybody else. I think 313 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:48.440 he has been brilliant all season long in his first year as the head coach 314 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:55.400 with these Clippers when it comes to pushing the right buttons and finding energy and 315 00:23:55.559 --> 00:24:00.480 finding a spark and then leaving guys in there and letting them run. Clippers 316 00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:06.079 win tonight one eighteen to ninety four over the Los Angeles Lakers. We'll take 317 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:08.640 a quick break, we'll come back. We have postgame audio from Paul George 318 00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:15.599 and if Far bought us and Shari will come on. As I yelled at 319 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:21.079 him inside Staples Center because he's about thirty feet to my left. Far bought 320 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:26.759 Ess and Shari from SI now and from the Bleacher Report, he'll be here. 321 00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:30.240 Clippers win one eighteen to ninety four over the Lakers eight sixty six to 322 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:34.160 nine, eight seven two five seventy eight six six nine eight seven two five 323 00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:38.119 seventy. Marvin, we'll get to you two. This is Clippers stock here 324 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:45.519 on AM five seventy l A Sports. Don't miss a moment of Clippers basketball 325 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:51.680 all season log. Clippers win one eighteen to ninety four over the Los Angeles 326 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:56.640 Lakers here live at Staples Center. I'm atam Oslin get to me at follow 327 00:24:56.839 --> 00:25:00.799 Adam A coming up. We'll get your phone calls. Eight six six nine 328 00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:07.160 eight seven two five seventy eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy is 329 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:11.519 the phone number. But right now joining the show in person for the first 330 00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:14.759 time, and I don't know a year and a half, something like that, 331 00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:17.960 and maybe I'll even give you a twenty dollars handshake for coming on with 332 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:23.240 me tonight. Far not for anything else. Farbot Essen Shari from SI now 333 00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:29.960 is with me here at Staples Center after your Clippers win by twenty four over 334 00:25:30.079 --> 00:25:33.400 the Lakers. Far about. I often refer to these type of victories, 335 00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:37.319 given who was out for the Los Angeles Lakers, as taking care of business 336 00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:41.359 type of wins, but they don't always turn out that way. Kyle Kuzmo 337 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:45.079 is very good in this game. But I felt like outside of the turnovers, 338 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:49.240 the Clippers defense showed up the way it did in the final three minutes 339 00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:52.799 of the fourth quarter Tuesday night. In the first quarter tonight, even with 340 00:25:52.839 --> 00:25:56.880 Anthony Davis when he was in the game, the Clippers played really well against 341 00:25:56.920 --> 00:26:00.240 him. He was just two of nine. Yeah, I mean, it 342 00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:03.119 didn't look like the Lakers are gonna win. Even when Anthony Davis was playing. 343 00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:07.480 The defense really showed up. Tyler was mad about the turnovers, but 344 00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:11.039 I mean it's twenty turnovers. It's not a little amount. Twenty two. 345 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:15.799 Yeah, but they won by twenty four, so I mean it's it's not 346 00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:18.799 too big of a deal, but it's somebody had to go off for the 347 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:22.039 Lakers, like some they weren't just gonna roll over and lose by forty, 348 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:26.359 you know, with the with the defense they have him being the defending champions, 349 00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:29.839 so I mean you kind of expected Kuzma to go off. It was 350 00:26:29.880 --> 00:26:33.799 either him or Ben McLamore hidden like five or six threes. And so the 351 00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:37.119 Clippers went off in that second quarter or they won it thirty six to twenty 352 00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:42.079 two, and it was a lot of DeMarcus Cousins, Paul George and I 353 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:48.279 thought ra Gen Rondo was just running the show beautifully out there tonight especially, 354 00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:51.240 and he's been especially good so far as a Clipper, But in that second 355 00:26:51.319 --> 00:26:55.480 quarter he was completely in control. I mean, Rondo was really running the 356 00:26:55.519 --> 00:27:00.279 show. And he was very vocal today every time when when Boogie had the 357 00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:03.880 ball on Trezz, he was he was young, he's a baby mouse in 358 00:27:03.880 --> 00:27:07.759 the house. Well he's a baby, so he was. I mean, 359 00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:11.079 he was really letting it be known. But I mean those two have a 360 00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:15.119 really good connection. I like seeing Rondo and Boogie on the floor at the 361 00:27:15.119 --> 00:27:18.000 same time. I think it works together really well. They still need to 362 00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:22.119 figure out how they integrate. Pat Bev. Tyler mentioned that Boogie and Rondo 363 00:27:22.119 --> 00:27:26.359 are both gonna stay coming off the bench moving forward. Okay, so the 364 00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:30.359 starting point guard will either be Reggie Jackson or Patrick Beverley. It's not going 365 00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:33.960 to be Rondo. Since we had a question about that earlier that I don't 366 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:37.079 think I ever got to. I'm just going to pass it over to you 367 00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:41.279 to take the hard question. Is it gonna be Reggie Jackson as their starting 368 00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:44.759 point guard the majority of the time moving forward as he has been the de 369 00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:48.440 facto starter all season just because Pat Bev has been out so much. Yeah, 370 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:51.240 he hasn't. He hasn't clarified that yet. I mean, I think 371 00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:55.400 Pat's conditioning still isn't one hundred percent there yet. But it wouldn't shock me 372 00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:59.279 if they switch it around based on matchups, Like you've seen that with Tyler 373 00:27:59.400 --> 00:28:03.319 quite a bit now. He plays the matchups a good amount. So I 374 00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:04.279 mean, I think, as of right now, it'll be Reggie. But 375 00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:08.079 if I don't think he has a problem you know, taking the two mount 376 00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:12.039 from Marcus Morris or taking Surge out or whatever he needs to do. So 377 00:28:12.119 --> 00:28:15.680 if at some point and he feels, you know, he needs to start 378 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:18.559 Pat over Reggie. I don't think he'll have any problems doing it. On 379 00:28:18.599 --> 00:28:23.599 the negative side, because we cover everything here. You can learn from wins 380 00:28:23.640 --> 00:28:27.720 just like you can learn from failure as well. But Kawhi Leonard has taken 381 00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:33.839 just twenty seven shots his last three games. Since he has returned, he's 382 00:28:33.880 --> 00:28:37.279 looked a little bit more passive. Some of it was because he only took 383 00:28:37.359 --> 00:28:41.720 six shots Tuesday night as he was being blitzed by the Toronto Raptors that were 384 00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:45.480 just content with getting the ball out of his hands. But what are you 385 00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:48.519 seeing from Kawhi Leonard? Is there anything concerning on that front? I mean, 386 00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:51.440 he just does seem a little passive. He's only averaged nine shots a 387 00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:55.519 game the last three games. I mean I've tried asking him twice now if 388 00:28:55.559 --> 00:28:57.680 something is bothering him or how that He was the one that mentioned to me 389 00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:02.559 about getting bliss, So I asked him again today, like you know, 390 00:29:02.599 --> 00:29:11.240 Tyler said, he him with questions with monotone responses. Tyler had mentioned the 391 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:15.759 Kawai can't play full quarters right now, so he won't play a full twelve 392 00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:18.640 minutes like he usually does. So I asked him, you know, maybe 393 00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:22.480 you know how are you feeling that you know you're not playing a full twelve 394 00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:26.960 minutes And the only response he ever gives me is he's feeling great. There's 395 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:30.240 nothing you could get out of Kawai and he had a couple of good throwdowns 396 00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:33.119 last game. Actually that's how That's how they've all been starting. I think 397 00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:37.079 every game has started with him like dunking or looking spry, and you're like, 398 00:29:37.160 --> 00:29:40.880 okay, he's back, and then spry seems to be the optimum word 399 00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:42.799 that we see on Twitter all the time for Kawhi Leonard, which is a 400 00:29:42.839 --> 00:29:48.880 word nobody uses it. He is far broad Essen Shari. He's my guest 401 00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:52.759 here on Clippers Talk after they win by twenty four over the Lakers. Follow 402 00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:57.039 him at Farbot underscore E on Twitter. So I was talking about the Western 403 00:29:57.079 --> 00:30:02.400 Conference standings a little bit earlier because I was I was blitzed with a question 404 00:30:02.440 --> 00:30:06.599 about them and what would be the best matchup for the Clippers in the first 405 00:30:06.680 --> 00:30:11.839 round. My thinking is, even Lebron in a D and whatever condition they 406 00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:15.240 are, they're still the most dangerous team to play in the first round. 407 00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:18.759 That would be the Los Angeles Lakers. Do you feel the same way that 408 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:22.640 you'd rather see Portland or the Dallas Mavericks. I would two hundred percent rather 409 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:26.720 see Portland or the Dallas Mavericks. At the end of the day, nobody 410 00:30:26.759 --> 00:30:30.440 wants to face the Lebron James team in the playoffs. I've seen his teams 411 00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:33.880 do bad in the regular season like at least seven times, and then the 412 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:37.880 playoffs start and you're like, oh, Okay, they just beat everybody. 413 00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:40.839 So it's a little different this time with the seatings and the standings and you 414 00:30:40.839 --> 00:30:44.440 can tell they're hurt and they're not sandbagging. But like, I would not 415 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:48.559 want to go against that. Between Dallas. Between Dallas and Portland is interesting. 416 00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:52.839 I think the Clippers have the matchup factor against Portland. The only thing 417 00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:57.960 that I could and this is you know, the Murphy's law thinking of being 418 00:30:59.480 --> 00:31:03.319 around the Slippers. Yeah, the only thing I could see potentially going wrong 419 00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:07.519 against Portland is Dame is just like extra motivated against Pat and he just really 420 00:31:07.559 --> 00:31:11.400 wants that win against Pat. I thought they squashed it. I thought it 421 00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:18.720 was now with Pat and then with Dallas, and with Dallas, Luca's just 422 00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:22.759 a monster against the Clippers. I've never seen a game where it felt like 423 00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:26.480 they handled Luca in the last I don't know, like year and a half. 424 00:31:26.599 --> 00:31:30.160 What are he having? Games six last year in the first round in 425 00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:33.000 the playoffs, I felt like, but they were like down like fifty or 426 00:31:33.079 --> 00:31:37.799 something. That was Game five, I think, no game games. I 427 00:31:37.799 --> 00:31:40.640 don't remember. Game four was the Luca game where he went for forty and 428 00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:42.359 hit the game When the playoffs didn't happen last year, it never existed, 429 00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:45.880 So I don't you know, that's a good point. I don't remember any 430 00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:48.799 of that, remember any of that. But to your point, I do 431 00:31:48.880 --> 00:31:52.759 not want the Lakers in the first round. It just feels like that's a 432 00:31:52.799 --> 00:31:57.079 twenty fifteen San Antonio type of thing. It's gonna wear you out. Even 433 00:31:57.200 --> 00:32:01.799 if you win, it's going to be a brutal type of series. Now, 434 00:32:01.960 --> 00:32:06.400 I mentioned ri gen Rondo earlier, and you talked about Patrick Beverley and 435 00:32:06.400 --> 00:32:08.880 whether or not he's coming off the bench. But what does he give this 436 00:32:08.920 --> 00:32:12.559 Clippers team? Because he was asked this the other day and I thought his 437 00:32:12.599 --> 00:32:19.319 answer was pretty interesting and honest. What does he add to this Clippers team 438 00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:23.279 that could help them get that get to that extra level right now, because 439 00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:29.400 for the first time this season, they got over not having Patrick Beverley on 440 00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:31.519 the court, where for so long, if he wasn't out there, they 441 00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:36.160 weren't locked in. They figured that out finally. But now Pat beb is 442 00:32:36.200 --> 00:32:38.240 back, so can he give them an even extra jolt? I mean, 443 00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:42.440 I think he could give him an next It never hurts to have two Pat 444 00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:44.720 Bev's, you know, with him and Rondo, two guys that could give 445 00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:50.720 that extra jolt. I think he just hustles for so many rebounds that nobody 446 00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:55.200 else does besides Rondo, that you're they're only winning plays for the most part, 447 00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:59.680 and it never hurts to have a guy that only does winning plays. 448 00:32:59.680 --> 00:33:04.000 The only difference between him and Reggie is offensively. You know, Reggie seems 449 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:07.480 to be much more versatile than Pat, But then Pat has all those other 450 00:33:07.599 --> 00:33:10.400 intangibles, so it's like it's a good problem to have. But like you 451 00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:15.440 look at Pat and you could you really can't tell me a single time where 452 00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:17.960 it's like, oh, that was a losing play, he shouldn't have done 453 00:33:17.960 --> 00:33:22.160 that. Almost everything he does contributes to winning in some way shape or for 454 00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:25.960 him. Yeah, Patcher Beverly five points, just five points on one of 455 00:33:27.039 --> 00:33:30.880 five shooting, But he's still rounding back into shape. Just played seventeen minutes 456 00:33:30.880 --> 00:33:36.440 in a second game back coming off the injury. Have you heard anything about 457 00:33:36.440 --> 00:33:44.519 Sarge Ibaka speaking nothing. I asked a lot of a lot of people months 458 00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:47.160 ago, and it was we don't know when he's coming back, but you 459 00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:52.359 know, he was doing core workouts and progressing. And then now he's playing 460 00:33:52.440 --> 00:33:58.279 five on five and four on four and he's progressing. H It's it's gonna 461 00:33:58.319 --> 00:34:00.200 be a weird situation even when he comes back because he don't have missed so 462 00:34:00.279 --> 00:34:04.799 much time. It almost kind of reminds me of what happened with Tres last 463 00:34:04.839 --> 00:34:07.400 season, where he missed the entire bubble and when he came back he wasn't 464 00:34:07.400 --> 00:34:10.320 in the shape or condition he needed to be in. But it was different 465 00:34:10.320 --> 00:34:14.320 with Tres. He didn't practice at all or anything. He didn't even get 466 00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:19.159 to do anything well in his absence. To Marcus Cousins and that pickup have 467 00:34:19.360 --> 00:34:24.880 proven to be striking gold because he has looked as good as he has basically 468 00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:29.719 since he went down this spiral, with all these injuries, starting with the 469 00:34:29.760 --> 00:34:31.920 achilles, I haven't seen him play this well and looked this comfortable, really 470 00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:36.000 since that. Yeah, the only the only thing with that is there's certain 471 00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:38.800 matchups you could tell the Clippers really need Surge, Like against the Denver Nuggets, 472 00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:43.199 you can really tell they needed surge. Probably use them against the Lakers 473 00:34:43.239 --> 00:34:45.639 against Anthony Davis during an entire seven game series. Yeah, so, I 474 00:34:45.639 --> 00:34:51.800 mean, it's it's weird with Surge. It's like nobody seems to have an 475 00:34:51.840 --> 00:34:55.199 answer, and it's been that way for two months now. Well, that's 476 00:34:55.199 --> 00:35:00.400 where the real reporters right to the cream of this. That's that's where you 477 00:35:00.559 --> 00:35:04.719 make a name for yourself all over again. He is far bought essence, 478 00:35:04.760 --> 00:35:08.239 Shari. He already broke the news before regarding James Harden. Go into the 479 00:35:08.239 --> 00:35:12.719 Brooklyn Nets. We'll break some more news in like two weeks. Just watch. 480 00:35:12.840 --> 00:35:16.760 Okay, we got the teaser out there at Farboard Underscore E on Twitter 481 00:35:16.920 --> 00:35:20.679 is where you find him. He does it for the Bleacher Report. He 482 00:35:20.800 --> 00:35:23.800 also covers the Clippers for SI. Now, he's a friend, he's a 483 00:35:23.840 --> 00:35:27.039 good man, and it was good to see you in person tonight, far 484 00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:29.840 Board. I'll disappear until the playoffs. And now all right, just into 485 00:35:29.880 --> 00:35:32.840 the smoke Ninja vanished. Well, I mean, go to Hawaii. Later 486 00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:38.280 peace, We're gonna disappear for this segment. Coming back, though, we'll 487 00:35:38.320 --> 00:35:43.320 get to your phone calls eight sixty six ninety eight seven two five seventy eight 488 00:35:43.480 --> 00:35:47.480 six six nine eight seven two five seventy. Clippers win by twenty four over 489 00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:51.920 the Lakers. Coming up next, back to your phone calls, and I 490 00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:55.159 believe we have audio from Paul George. You're listening to Clippers stock here already 491 00:35:55.159 --> 00:36:05.719 have five to seventy LA sports nagger from Paul George. This is the official 492 00:36:05.760 --> 00:36:12.280 home of your LA Clippers. Don't miss a moment of Clippers basketball all season 493 00:36:12.400 --> 00:36:22.079 log Clippers win one eighteens to ninety four over the Los Angeles Lakers. Oh 494 00:36:22.119 --> 00:36:24.519 the things I just heard from far about Ess and Shari. Wouldn't you like 495 00:36:24.639 --> 00:36:28.440 to be a fly on the wall here Staples Center and you can be. 496 00:36:29.440 --> 00:36:32.679 Fans are being let back in. There was a nice crowd filling up the 497 00:36:32.679 --> 00:36:36.360 place tonight. It was good to see a lot of Clipper nation in here. 498 00:36:36.400 --> 00:36:40.840 You heard some MVP chants for Paul George, for Kawhi Leonard. Clippers 499 00:36:40.840 --> 00:36:46.880 win by twenty four over the Lakers. Let's get to Marvin in downtown Los 500 00:36:46.920 --> 00:36:51.199 Angeles, Marvin, you are on Clipper stock with Adam Mosslin. How are 501 00:36:51.239 --> 00:36:54.000 you hi? Adam Njolin? Fine and a big shot out to you. 502 00:36:54.599 --> 00:36:59.519 And it was a great to see a win for the Clippers versus the Lakers. 503 00:37:00.280 --> 00:37:04.000 I also like the addition of Cousins, and I like to see him 504 00:37:04.039 --> 00:37:07.280 to continue to get more minutes off the bench. Cousins, for me, 505 00:37:07.320 --> 00:37:12.119 it's like a pinch hitter. You always have that picture that has your number, 506 00:37:12.280 --> 00:37:15.000 but then you have Cousin as a pinch hitter that will put through in 507 00:37:15.039 --> 00:37:20.960 the clutch somehow. I just think that Joe Kick has the Joker has Zubak's 508 00:37:21.039 --> 00:37:24.639 number, no matter what zoo Bak does. It's more it's more like like 509 00:37:24.760 --> 00:37:29.679 Joe Kick has him psyched up or something. I think he has the league's 510 00:37:29.800 --> 00:37:31.480 number right now. Though, wouldn't you say, Marvin, he's going to 511 00:37:31.559 --> 00:37:37.559 be the MVP most likely understood. But if you signed the game and when 512 00:37:37.639 --> 00:37:42.719 Day started Cousins, it made a difference because Cousin draws double teams and he 513 00:37:42.760 --> 00:37:47.800 stretches the floor and he made joke. It's works defensively versus Zoo Box. 514 00:37:47.880 --> 00:37:52.719 That's not to water down Zoo back he's a great player, he's developing, 515 00:37:52.760 --> 00:37:55.519 he's young, and he's gonna get great. But adding Cousin, he just 516 00:37:55.679 --> 00:38:04.000 brings that that toughness, mentality and offensively and also with with with the with 517 00:38:04.079 --> 00:38:08.480 the team. So yeah, I'd like to see I'd like to see Cousins. 518 00:38:08.480 --> 00:38:13.119 And I know you brought up the two fifteen playoffs when they beat the 519 00:38:13.880 --> 00:38:17.679 Furs and last reminiscence they play the Lakers. But keep in mind when they 520 00:38:17.679 --> 00:38:22.639 met the Houston Rockets, they got gassed out because they had they only had 521 00:38:22.079 --> 00:38:28.599 they only had Jordan as a center. But now with Cousins and and Ibaka 522 00:38:28.639 --> 00:38:34.719 and Zoobach, now won't have that issue during the playoffs. So a big 523 00:38:34.719 --> 00:38:37.119 shout out to you, big shout out to Jimmu's pro and big shout out 524 00:38:37.159 --> 00:38:40.960 to everybody for getting through the pandemic and supporting the Clippers. And thanks to 525 00:38:40.960 --> 00:38:45.400 you, Adam Marvin. It's good to hear from you. Hopefully we'll do 526 00:38:45.440 --> 00:38:49.880 it again on Sunday. There was Marvin in downtown Los Angeles. It's a 527 00:38:49.920 --> 00:38:54.960 good point that Clippers team did not have close to the death back in twenty 528 00:38:55.039 --> 00:39:00.400 fifteen, that this twenty twenty one Clippers team does have and the Marcus essence. 529 00:39:00.519 --> 00:39:04.159 Do not get me wrong. He was very physical against Nicola Yok. 530 00:39:04.679 --> 00:39:07.960 He frustrated him. He did some of what Dwight Howard did for the Lakers 531 00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:14.559 against him last season and in the playoffs. I love what we've seen from 532 00:39:14.599 --> 00:39:17.719 Tamarcus Cousins. And it's not just because I'm from Sacramento. Let's go to 533 00:39:19.599 --> 00:39:22.079 Joe and North Hills to close things out to night on Clippers stock Hi Joe. 534 00:39:23.119 --> 00:39:27.800 Now, I believe that's what I was saying about Boogie back when he 535 00:39:27.920 --> 00:39:35.880 was when he had more more turnovers than points on on his first ten day 536 00:39:35.960 --> 00:39:42.159 contract. He's going to be important against Yoki if only to play on the 537 00:39:42.239 --> 00:39:47.159 low block and to get and to get two to three fouls on Yoki down 538 00:39:47.199 --> 00:39:52.639 there, because then it makes Yoki ineffective the rest of the game. So 539 00:39:52.840 --> 00:40:00.199 I'm tickled to see how Boogie has progressed over time. But I really want 540 00:40:00.239 --> 00:40:07.199 to talk about playoff seedings. I don't think Portland can get out of the 541 00:40:07.320 --> 00:40:13.199 seven no matter what happens tomorrow, because they've got their last three games against 542 00:40:14.199 --> 00:40:20.159 Denver, Brooklyn and somebody else who's a first or second seed. They have 543 00:40:20.280 --> 00:40:25.320 Phoenix still in Utah one more time, Okay, so it must be Utah. 544 00:40:25.480 --> 00:40:29.800 It must be Utah Phoenix in Denver. Here it is Joe. Here's 545 00:40:29.800 --> 00:40:34.960 their last six games here. Lakers game tomorrow night in Portland, then they 546 00:40:35.039 --> 00:40:37.400 got the Spurs at home, then the Rockets at home, then they're at 547 00:40:37.480 --> 00:40:44.039 Utah at Phoenix, and then they host the Denver Nuggets the final game of 548 00:40:44.079 --> 00:40:51.440 the season. So I think they end up in seven, Lakers six and 549 00:40:52.760 --> 00:40:58.960 Mavericks five. If we're in four, I like that matchup. If we're 550 00:40:59.000 --> 00:41:05.840 in three, I don't hate that matchup because I think I think the earlier 551 00:41:05.880 --> 00:41:10.440 you get to the Lakers this year, the better. They don't know themselves 552 00:41:10.559 --> 00:41:19.440 yet. I know they've got Lebron okay, and but they still they don't 553 00:41:19.480 --> 00:41:23.400 know each other as a team. They haven't worked in drumming yet. Lebron's 554 00:41:23.440 --> 00:41:29.079 a miracle worker. But that's why I think the sooner you see him in 555 00:41:29.119 --> 00:41:34.719 the playoffs, the better, because every playoff round they're gonna be tougher and 556 00:41:34.800 --> 00:41:43.800 tougher and tougher. And let's not forget how good Utah is without Donovan Mitchell. 557 00:41:43.920 --> 00:41:50.639 They haven't they haven't missed a beat because nobody plays hero ball on that 558 00:41:50.719 --> 00:41:54.519 team. The ball's always moving, moving, moving, and they shoot and 559 00:41:54.599 --> 00:41:59.440 rhythm. Joe, thank you for the phone call way to close things out 560 00:41:59.480 --> 00:42:02.599 tonight here on Clippers Talk. And yes, if it happens to be the 561 00:42:02.599 --> 00:42:07.880 Hallway Series in the first round, so be it. The Clippers do look 562 00:42:07.920 --> 00:42:10.800 to be in a better position right now chemistry wise. There have been so 563 00:42:10.840 --> 00:42:15.719 many moving parts going on with the Los Angeles Lakers. Now Anthony Davis, 564 00:42:15.960 --> 00:42:19.239 who was injured early on in this game. Apparently it was a lower back 565 00:42:19.280 --> 00:42:23.360 injury. Initially it looked like he turned his ankle, but he's talking as 566 00:42:23.360 --> 00:42:30.639 if he's going to play tomorrow based off the way he feels currently. That's 567 00:42:30.679 --> 00:42:34.559 what he said. Quote the back locked up pretty bad was also what he 568 00:42:34.639 --> 00:42:37.880 said. But it sounds like he's gonna give it a go against the Portland 569 00:42:37.920 --> 00:42:43.320 Trail Blazers and they are going to need him. Meanwhile, the Blazers tomorrow 570 00:42:43.440 --> 00:42:47.079 night. Since we're talking outside of Clippers basketball, Norman Powell missed their last 571 00:42:47.119 --> 00:42:51.960 game with knee soreness. It didn't matter in Cleveland they won by thirty five 572 00:42:52.000 --> 00:42:57.000 anyways, but it's gonna be an interesting game I'm doing some scoreboard watching out 573 00:42:57.039 --> 00:43:00.519 there, and as fans, that's what something we can do. We don't 574 00:43:00.559 --> 00:43:04.559 have to always be locked in. But I know this Clippers team is. 575 00:43:04.599 --> 00:43:08.519 They're focused on themselves at all times and trying to be the best version of 576 00:43:08.519 --> 00:43:14.400 the twenty twenty twenty twenty one Los Angeles Clippers look like it at times. 577 00:43:14.400 --> 00:43:17.559 Tonight when any by twenty four with the final score one eighteen to ninety four. 578 00:43:17.599 --> 00:43:21.840 But there is a lot of work to do before we get out of 579 00:43:21.880 --> 00:43:28.920 here. I do want to think the Clippers organization. Noah Eagle, Brian 580 00:43:29.000 --> 00:43:37.760 Semen, It's good to see bes Keys over here. Ralph Lawler back here 581 00:43:37.800 --> 00:43:42.519 in Staples Censor, our head engineer was a big Brother Jake Warner Big Brother 582 00:43:42.599 --> 00:43:49.920 Jake podcast on the podcast one network, back in Burbank, the Fantastic sam 583 00:43:50.360 --> 00:43:53.480 Zia Until Sunday when the Clippers are taking on the New York Knicks with your 584 00:43:53.480 --> 00:43:58.960 pregame show starting at eleven thirty eight am. I'm at a Moslin. We 585 00:43:59.039 --> 00:44:12.519 will talk to you then, Placers. This has been Clippers Tom on the 586 00:44:12.519 --> 00:44:16.719 Clippers recap of all the Clippers action on their official home dynasty say He'll miss 587 00:44:16.719 --> 00:44:22.320 a single show every day, religiously hear anything you missed. I mean, 588 00:44:22.400 --> 00:44:24.880 I heart radio what it is amazing man, I'm happy to be part of 589 00:44:24.920 --> 00:44:29.840 it. Joined us. Next game, I'm your home for LA Clippers basketball. 590 00:44:30.320 --> 00:44:32.000 Okay, great, See you later by