Clippers when the home opener indecisive fashion, led by as many as thirty would
go on to win one twenty three to one to eleven over the Portland trail
Blazers. Welcome back into Clippers talk. I'm Adam Osland. Let's get out
to him. You hear the music, A little clips and double dip for
you. Will Updyke, who was in the building tonight, is joining us.
Will. We're not a lot of time. Most impressive thing you saw
from the Clippers tonight. That gives you hope that this team is still a
contender. Look. I talked about this a little bit coming into the game.
The Clippers seem to be backing up everything they've been saying through preseason,
through training camp. Paul George was certainly on his bully as I thought.
That moment in the third when they were already had a commanding lead, but
he took a he got a steal and went end to end for the dunk
just kind of sealed it for me. Everybody looks locked in, everybody is
you know, they're committee, they're walking. They're walking the talk that they've
talked through this entire year, and that was super reassuring to see and norm
also was great. Yeah, he shook that rust off immediately. So I
think Norma is one of those great regular season inning eaters. But I love
what I saw on top to bottom from the Clippers is from the Clippers game.
I was talking about Bones Highland before the break. The most intriguing player
on this team is Bones Highland. To me, he had seventeen, but
we really don't know if he's fully realized or even come close to his potential
yet and what type of player he can be. The Clippers ceiling may be
somewhat tied to Bones Highland. I know that's a bold statement, but just
how do you unpack it? Will? So I don't know about the ceiling.
I don't know if I don't know if Bones is that player yet,
right like I don't know if Bones is the player. I don't know if
he's quite the player that can swing a game in a series. Yet he's
certainly someone who can help. I don't know that he is like the individual
performance that can do it. He is the absolute key to extending whatever window
is left for the Clippers. If you think that there is anything beyond this
year, it is one hundred percent tied to Bones, But I love what
I saw. I think that his growth. I think his growth is going
to be something to watch. I love that he's back at that thirty eight
percent number from three. He's bounced back from what we saw in the preseasons.
The biggest thing for me continues to be with Bones. I just need
to see a little bit more control around the rim, and then I'm telling
you, this guy is pretty darn close to the complete package. Seeing the
phrases for your guy, I eata Zoobots. I know he hasn't grown the
hair out like you would like, but he was dominant tonight, absolutely dominant
twenty and twelve with four blasts and the first game. I loved what I
saw. I loved the matchup. Anytime Zoo is going up against the Beast
and Zoo box. One of the first games I remember of Zoo uh certainly
it was the first game that I ever covered as media was the Suns at
Clippers uh and Zuo just going going at eight, and so I love that
matchup. No, he absolutely ate. They fed him a little bit early,
which I love. I think that that just adds another dimension to this
offense. I think that he and Westbrook have great chemistry, and you know,
we already know what his chemistry is like with Kawhi and Paul George.
I I'm feeling really good. I gotta be honest with you. I was
feeling excited. We talked a little bit about this game, uh and what
we were looking forward to coming into it. I think we all collectively,
you know, psyche ourselves up. And I would say that this game lived
up to the expectations. It's one of those games where at the end Clippers
only won by twelve points. This was easily a twenty I mean, this
was a twenty point plus victory for you know, the majority of the game.
And while the Blazers do look to be maybe the worst team in the
Western Conference, it's you know, you still got to put the game away.
You're still gotta put the game away at the end of the day quickly,
will because you're feeling good. And part of the reason. Maybe you
were at a bachelor party tonight for our friend Joseph ry Award who's getting married
on Saturday. Congrats to Joseph, but extoll the virtues of Russell Westbrook before
we get out. Russ I mean, look, man, he continues to
be the energy guy that the Clippers have needed. If Patuma is the glue,
he is the I don't know what, like the cap beine. I'm
not sure, but he also is looking to be an engine for this Clippers
team. I love the emphatic dunks, I love the eleven and th teen
assists. You know, he he brings a lot of lights to this team,
and he does bring a different look and you know his look. Man,
it's hard to not get into cliches that we've talked about with Russ before,
but his energy is inspectious and it was certainly felt tonight and I hope
that this was his stamp on the start of what is to be an impactful
season. Listen up, Joseph, Clippers win one twenty three to one eleven.
Will Updike from Clips and Dip Fame was our guest. Will talk to
you tomorrow on the podcast on YouTube. All right, he sounds good.
Thank you. Hey. If you want to hear more from this episode of
Clippers Talk, just search wait for it, Clippers Talk. That's the name
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