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,
your LA Clippers got a decisive victory up north against the Blazers one sixteen to
one OHO three was your final Welcome into your postgame show. I'm then,
I'm Oslin coming up. We will have Clippers Talk on the M five to
seven E LA Sports if you want to get on early eight sixty six nine
eight seven two five seventy. But first back out to Moda Center with your
radio voice of the Clippers in Carlo Jimenez. Well, it wasn't a fast
start. The Clippers trailed after the first quarter, but it just felt like
things really started to change in that second with James Harden starting to get it
going, finding his offense Carlow and also finding Aviatza Zoo bos down low.
Yeah, big big bounce back game for that pick roll at him the bread
and butter the main motors of this offense. Zubot's finished with nine rebounds,
fourteen points hardened, fourteen as cists, and nineteen points in this one.
They really got it going in the second quarter. And you see why this
team is so dangerous at him, because when you have three Hall of famers,
one guy gets hot in the second quarter, then it's Kawhi Leonard getting
hot in the third, then it's Paul George getting hot in the fourth.
It was a relay race of superstars for this Clippers team, and they ran
away with it after that first quarter. Yeah, exactly. I like the
way they were able to move the baton around. There was Kawhi Leonard opening
things up also in that third quarter, Paul George putting the Portland trail Blazers
away laid I thought you talked with them postgame. Brandon Boston fit in very
nicely, got more meaningful significant minutes out there, ended up with twenty three
minutes, had nine points, and just kind of blended in with the offense.
Wasn't doing too much, but also you know, was playing to his
strengths out there. You could say, I think that last part is exactly
where the key is for Brandon Boston because we saw him get Snimican minutes earlier
this season at him. But you're right, at times it would feel like
he was forcing the issue a little bit. I love to hear that he
talks about his defense because I feel like Brandon Boston size at six seven,
Adam, if you can bring another guy like that off the bench just for
Spurts to play defensively, He's not gonna be a liability on that end because
of that length. Two steals, two blocks today. He said it to
us postgame. If he wants to get on the floor, he has to
be good at that end. He was great at that end for the Clippers
and a big piece of this one to sixteen to one oh three win Clippers
defense as a whole. I mean, I don't know what was said,
but sixteen steals, seven blocks, they turn over the Blazers eighteen times and
turn it into twenty six points. It was a nightmare on offense for Portland
because the Clippers, should we say, wing stop is back a little bit,
and that's what it felt like in this one. No one was getting
a bucket for Portland. Yeah, especially in that third quarter they tried to
go at Kawhi and Aviatza Zubots or the Clippers defense would funnel him that way,
and they just destroyed the Portland Trailblazers. Was steal after steal, Kawhi
getting bucket after bucket in transition the and one he got with a little right
handed flip shot as he was going underneath the stanchion. That was an incredible
play. That was something else. I mean, Adam, they showed the
replay here at the end of the ball game, and I don't think quiet
time to look at the rim. I mean, he simply just flipped it
up. But his feel for the game is again what makes him so so
dynamic, and his ability to look over his right shoulder just flipping up and
in using the square on the window. Kawhi Leonard Sometimes, Adam, he
hits the most ridiculous shots in the world, and that corner three fading to
his left early late in that first half was a ridiculous shot sometimes though,
He's just got an amazing feel for the ball game, and that lamp right
there, it was something that I don't think a lot of players in the
NBA could do with that ease. But he continues to show why he is
one of the greatest players this game. Has seen twenty four points, four
rebounds, two assists, four steals in this game on an efficient nine for
sixteen. Leonard was legal tonight for the clips. Now we're just hoping that
left wrist is okay, as he got a little bit twisted up. You
made note of it, but it was Coach Lou talking with his buddy and
Chauncey Billups post game describing the play Kawhi Leonard was seen with some ice on
the sidelines. Hopefully he's okay. We'll keep the audience abreast of that situation
here in your postgame show. But your player to watch Carlo a mere coffee
speaking to guys who can just kind of blend in when his number is called.
When he's been in the starting lineup this season out of necessity, he
has performed each and every ball game one hundred percent at him and he's averaging
over ten points in his previous ten starts. He comes in and once again
has eleven consistent as always, A mere coffee, a great job to just
be out there once again not really disrupt the flow of this offense. Understand
that they've got four Hall of famers, but still be a piece when they
need him. I thought, Adam he was great at starting fast breaks.
Me how many times did we call a mere coffee's name? And he was
out leading the pack in transition, felt like he really took advantage of those
Clippers steals and got in rhythm. And for the Clippers, this is a
great win, and I think for it's a blueprint going forward. Can you
stack it? Can you continue to do it like that? Tyler was asked
about you know, what does this team need to do and he said,
look, or he was asked pre game, how do you rEFInd your identity
and he told the media, we don't need to rEFInd our identity. We
know who we are when we're at our best. When we went twenty six
and five, we were a defensive minded team and that what sticks out to
me in this one, Adhaim, they were defensive minded in this one and
that I felt like, just help the rest of everything go smoother. Clippers,
we get the victory. Won sixteen to one three in Portland where they
will run it back on Friday night, same tip, time at seven,
same pregame, showed time at six. Carlo him and as great call as
always. We'll talk to you on Friday, my friend, doctor you Friday.
Adam, enjoy Thursday because we're gonna do it all again. Let's go
try. Clippers looking to turn things around. Fourteen games left in the regular
season, some nice process and a nice w tonight from the squad. They
win by thirteen over the Blazers. Coming up next. Second half highlights right
here on the Los Angeles Clippers Audio Network loading Clippers fully loaded with Clippers fans.
This is LA Clippers Basketball. You're listening to the LA Clippers on the
LA Clippers Audio Network. Clippers get back to their winning ways. They take
down Portland as they win one sixteen to one oh three up north over the
Portland Trail Blazers. Welcome back in This is your Clippers postgame locker room show.
I'm Adam Monslin. Still to come on a m. Five to seventy
LA Sports. We'll have Clippers talk for you. Eight six six nine eight
seven two five seventy eight sixty six nine eight seven two five seventy right now
though. Second half highlights. Clippers led sixty to fifty at the half,
and then Kawhi Leonard, who had just seven points to the first twenty four
minutes. Really started cooking that third quarter. Leonard left elbow attacks the masline,
fades, gets found and hits right wing. Leonard sets his feet,
squares his shoulders right so the ram lays it up. The foul to finish
and a chance for one more. Here comes Leonard in company. Kawhi cuts
the defense lefty left trickles through asking for a foul. Time out. Billups
Simons to the back court. Leonard another steal, throws it off the window,
finishes in the foul back to Murray, shovels Simons blinds by. Zubot
swings it up like to buy Leonard another steal. Here comes the claw with
two blazers tail gating. He'll pack it with the right hand. Kawhi Leonard
had seventeen points in the third quarter alone. The Clippers would extend their lead
as they won the quarter by fourteen to ninety four to seventy heading into the
fourth quarter. Only issue and we'll keep you abreast of the situation. But
Kawhi Leonard got twisted up. It looked like his left wrist got a little
bit torqued the wrong way. Kawhi Leonard was trying to work through it.
He was palming the basketball with it. Eventually headed to the bench. Paul
George came in for him. Kawhi was seen gripping some ice. So looking
for an update on that post game, but again the Clippers up by twenty
four heading into the fourth quarter, and then PG thirteen, who used to
wear number twenty four, would put the Blazers away. Tucker spins finds George
left wing three cutex Paul George from Downtown. George on the base side,
tight ropes, gets by Walker and jams with two hands, Paul George turning
it on late back to George left the logo with side to shoot, steps
back a three down the hatch, Paul George with eleven in the fourth.
PG thirteen would end up with twelve points in the fourth quarter and the Clippers
would go on to win one sixteen to one h three over the Portland Trail
Blazers in a game where they led by as many as twenty seven. They'll
see him again in Portland on Friday. More on that, and I'll update
you on Kawhi Leonard and that left wrist coming up next. You're in your
Clippers locker room show on the Los Angeles Clippers Audio Network. LA Clippers basketball
is on the two one three era continues. You're listening to the LA Clippers
on the LA Clippers Audio Network. Clippers win in Portland won sixteen, so
one oh three over the Portland Trail Blazers. Welcome back in. I'm Adam
Oslin. This is your Clippers locker room show. Paul George would finish with
twenty seven, twelve of those coming in the fourth quarter on ten of eighteen,
shooting four seven from the outside. Can run the numbers, but last
eight games, Peg thirteen has been on one. Great to see. Kawhi
Leonard had twenty four points in just twenty eight minutes, nine of sixteen,
shooting one of three from the outside, plus four steals. Speaking of four
steals, Big Zoo had four steals by the end of the third quarter.
It's a career high for him. He had fourteen and nine on seven of
nine shooting. A lot of those buckets coming off of passes from James Harden,
who was a plus twenty two. Had nineteen and fourteen assists at just
three turnovers five to three pointers. Four of them came in that second quarter.
Off the bench. Danielle Tice with ten Ben Boston Junior with nine points.
Clippers would only get twenty one points off the bench, but it would
be enough. They led by as many as twenty seven. They would go
on to win one sixteen to one oh three over the Portland Trail Blazers,
who were led by Scoot Henderson six of fifteen shooting but eighteen points for Scoot.
Portland's on well, a little bit of a rebuild with their franchise right
now. They're now nineteen and fifteen on the season. Clippers improved of forty
three and twenty five. They remain in Portland. They run it back Friday
night tiptime at seven pregame shows starting at six outside of Los Angeles. We
were leaving you until then, but coming up next here on M five to
seventy LA Sports, we got Clippers Talk. This has been LA Clippers basketball
really good on a multitude of levels. Don't miss a moment. I'll 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 to Clippers Talk.
Your first chance to react to all the action of Clippers basketball. Do it
to hear every episode. Subscribe to Clippers Talk on iHeartRadio or wherever you podcast
dition on Henry right now your host on your home for the Clippers, they
were in attack mode. Adam Osley Clippers handling business in Portland with a one
sixteen to one to zero three victory over the Blazers. Welcome into Clippers Talk.
I'm in a Mosland eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy eight
sixty six nine eight seven two five seventy or get to me a f follow
Adam a on X coming up here on the show. We got postgame audio
from James Harden and coach Lou and I bring a good news right off the
top. Coach who already said in this postgame presser that Kawhi Leonard is good,
Christ is subverted. Sounds like the left wrist injury whatever that was already
on the mend. Hopefully it's good to go by Friday. They're running it
right back against the Portland Trail Blazers, who I know. You could say,
well, they're Adam, their bottom five team in the league this season.
Yeah, you could say that. So like Atlanta. Was that dramatically
better than them? Okay, they are, but they were without Trey Young
in that game on Sunday. They had no business beating the Clippers, especially
being up by twenty nine at Krypto. This is the type of response I
was looking for. It wasn't perfect. They were down by one heading into
the second quarter. It was twenty eight to twenty seven. They started zero
five from three. They would eventually catch fire and go what thirteen? So
they're NeXT's that twenty six from the outside. But the Blazer shot it well
too. They answered a lot of those three pointers by the Clippers. They
went fifteen of thirty four. They actually shot a higher percentage from the outside
and made a couple more than the Clippers. But game was out of reach.
Clippers were up by twenty seven. They poured it on in the second
half, but it was really the second quarter where things turned. And wouldn't
you know, you know, I'm not trying to pat myself on the back.
What the hell do I know? I know, James Nasmith, but
I have been saying, get back to running the high pick and roll with
James Harden. Vitza Zubas for a couple of weeks now, I have been
pleading. I've been begging the Clippers to run their offense through James Harden in
the way that they were, in the manner they were when they went twenty
six and five over a thirty one game stretch. To me, that's a
big part of their identity. When you have James Harden, that's where it
has to be. That's when he is the system, a system, whatever
you want to say, and that's when it eats the Zoo bots is getting
more involved. And when the Clippers were going on that spectacular run where they
were the best team in the league for two months in December and January,
that is how they initiated their offense. Coach Lou said it early on.
We run pick and roll sixty times, we probably get fifty five good shots
because James Harden is that prolific. He's a pick and roll master, and
Big Zoo looks to be the best version of himself when he's getting involved.
Good to see that finally happen. After last game he took one shot.
The last three games total, he attempted eleven shots. I was losing my
mind over this. It made no sense because for a team that struggles offensively
sometimes and as a jump shooting team, will you have this other element to
your offense if you choose to use him, he can get you easy buckets.
Big Zoo can James Harden can find him for easy once. And it
was happening over and over again in the second quarter. And James also hit
four to three pointers in that second quarter. He had seventeen of his nineteen
points in the second quarter. He finished with fourteen assists to just three turnovers.
You can say it was Portland fine, but that is what they can
do, and that is how they can execute their offense, regardless of the
opponent. That's how you bend the offense. You get the numbers back in
your favor where you're playing four on three out there, get two on the
basketball, find Big Zoo in the short roll. He can kick it out
for wide open three pointers. Two and oh yeah. He had four steals
and two blocks. The Clippers had sixteen steals as a team and seven blocks.
In that third quarter. There was a traffic jam whenever Portland tried to
go towards the Vista Zubots and Kawhi Leonards. The Clippers had seven steals in
the third quarter alone. It was those two guys just bogging down Portland's offense,
just shutting them down, creating easy buckets in transition. Kawhi going the
other way, big dunk on a runout and and one layup, just a
little right handed flip shot, a no look shot off the backboard as he
was running under the stanchion as he was fouled. Circus shot from Kawhi converted
the and one a mere coffee. Played very well and had eleven points and
also got multiple transition buckets defense leading to offense. But when those two guys
are working together, that's what I noticed against the Denver Nuggets in that fourth
quarter in the last time out when they played, when the Clippers won,
they wrecked the pick and roll from Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic. When Kawhi,
Leonard and Avisa zubats are that connected defensively, that's the Clippers can be
scary on that end. They've been scary in a different way recently last eighteen
games coming into this one twenty sixth. Defensively tonight they hold Portland one hundred
and three points and really Portland out scored him by eleven in that fourth quarter
during inconsequential time with the Clippers backups in. But I thought some of their
backups were prett damn good. Brandon Boston, he had a layup early,
had a big dunk, had a jumper in the third. He just looks
to be a little bit smoother out there. He's not forcing things as much.
He's not just looking for his own shot. Isoing. It did happen
once and he gout blocked. Happened another time. He got a jumper late
in the fourth quarter, and the Clippers were just basically running out the clock.
But Brandon Boston finished with nine points. Top with Carlo Jimenez postgames said,
you know what he can do defensively is what can keep him on the
floor, what can get him minutes. He's got length, he put on
some size, some muscle. Spoke about that. He had two blocks and
a steel himself. But look good in twenty three minutes. I thought Daniels
heyes had ten, two three pointers, good to see, five boards as
well, a couple of assists. Those two guys were good off the bench.
And PJ. Tucker did have seven boards, zero points, didn't take
a shot, but had a couple of steals was a plus one held his
own. They got to get back to be a grittier team, a tougher
team defensively, a team that takes pride in their defense. That's how they're
gonna get out of this funk they've been in. They had lost four or
five hanging into this game, and they gotta get back to worrying high pick
and roll. There's your identity, tough mind, defensive team, high pick
and roll with James Harden. The offense flows out of that. That's what
it is. That's how you get easier shots. That's why everybody eats.
But you can't go a game where Visa Zoobots gets one shot. That's a
recipe for disaster. Because I'm telling you, I think it's just human nature.
But big men, when they don't get involved offensively, they can sleepwalk
a little bit defensively. Big Zoo's pretty good staying focused regardless. But it's
just the way it works. If they don't feel like they're involved with the
offense, they're not gonna protect the house the same way. On the other
end, that's the old Shack line. You want the dog to protect the
house, you gotta feed them and I just think Viza Zoobots, with the
plethora of moves he's been showing off of this season, deserves touches, deserves
to see the basketball if he's doing his part, he's finishing around the rim.
Spam it. Keep going to it because they don't get enough easy shots.
They don't get enough points in the paint. That is how it can
change again. When they were at their best, when their offense was ranked
number one in the league, Afiza Zubox was getting something like thirteen and ten
at night for a month and a half. That's it. You don't have
to make things so difficult on yourself, which just Iso plays jumpers. You've
got to have more balance to your offense. Clippers ended up with fifty points
in the paint, twelve second chance points, eighteen fast break points. It's
a great number and just twelve turnovers. Also important. They won the possession
battle by five. They got up five more shots than the Portland Trailblazers.
Kawhi finished with twenty four, Paul George with twenty seven. Every starter was
in double figures. No Terrence Man, no Norm Powell. Amer Coffee.
Every time he gets an opportunity to start, he made the most of it.
He's averaging just over ten points per game as a starter this season.
Hard hat guy just stays ready, gets his opportunity performs. Let's hear from
Mark and Huntington Beach to start things off tonight here on Clipper Stock after they
win one sixteen to one to oh three up in Portland against the Blazers.
Mark, what's up? Hey, Yeah, finally we look like the team
that we all know they can be. And uh, well, they can't
just do it against Portland, Mark, we know that. Oh yeah,
yeah, But if we play that same talent, I'm with you, use
Zubac more often. I mean, it's dumb that you know Harden has that
skill to do it with him and Entice and everyone else, But you know
why they weren't using him to get him? Like you said, I'm with
you there on the he gets his juices flow, and he gets more excited
when he makes a basket, and then that makes him more excited to block
a basket. So I'm all with you on that. The other thing I
want to know, Norman Powell, have you heard anything? Does it look
like an I thought it was a sore ankle? Is it maybe gonna play
Friday or are they just gonna see if they can win without him again on
Friday. Don't have an update, but obviously they shouldn't need him. They
have the talent advantage over this Portland team. Even if they just had one
of their big three available, they still would have the talent advantage. Portland
young squad trying to figure it out, didn't even know if Anthony Simons was
going to play tonight, and he had one hot streak late, I think
in the second quarter, but outside of that they kept him in check.
Scoot Henderson had eighteen but on fifteen shots, so you know, regardless,
there's just no excuse they have to be Portland on Friday if you don't want
to end up in the five spot, which means you don't have home court
advantage in the first round. These are games you have to win. Another
question that on the home spot thing. If you take fourth, you get
home field advantage, But then whoever you play in the second round, if
they had if they finished higher than you, you lose the home field thing.
Or if they or is it if they are below you that you play
them, then you still have home court, right, Yeah, if they're
a higher seed, they're gonna have home court advantage over you. If you
ended up playing Denver in the second round, they would have home court over
the Clippers. If the Lakers or the Warriors or somebody upset that team,
then home court would go back to you. Okay, all right, well
you have a good night. I'm glad to see us back on the winning
streak, even if it is Portland, let's take it. You know,
I can't remember who we play on Sunday, but isn't it Sunday? We
have a next game Sunday they have Philadelphia. Their next game, though,
is Friday is still in Portland, Mark, I appreciate the phone call.
A little two game mini series in Portland, same tip time at seven on
Friday, same pregame show starting at six. We'll take a quick time out,
we'll come back. We'll hear from James Harden, We'll hear from coach
Lou. We'll get back to your phone calls. Eight sixty six, ninety
seven, seventy. I'm gonna follow out of May on X Clippers win one
sixteen to one oh three over the Portland trail Blazers. And you're listening to
Clippers talk here on the M five to seventy Light Sports. May I promised
him my mom and then I blessed with some grandkids. LA Clippers basketball is
on the two one three era continues. You're listening to the LA Clippers on
the LA Clippers Audio Network. Clippers would outscore the Blazers by fourteen in the
third quarter and they will put this one away early. Led by as many
as twenty seven over the Blazers. They go on to win one sixteen to
one oh three. They remain in Portland. The run it back on Friday.
Welcome back in New Clippers talk. I'm out a Moslin coming up.
We got coach Lou Audio for you. But before that, I want you
to hear from James Harden, who had nineteen and fourteen, went five of
nine from three to five of his six makes were from distance. He was
my player to watch. Uh. He looked good. He was in control
of the offense. He was the playmaker. Fourteen assists and I'll tell you
that the Clippers had twenty nine assists on forty five mate shots, much better
on both ENSINNI Here was James Harden post game on Ballet Sports speaking with Christina
Pink James a commanding, much needed win for this group. But what did
you like about the focus and the way you guys played, like detail things
that we've been stressing this last few weeks. We kind of put him in
a play to night. We still got some things to work on, but
just want a swag game for us, like get our rhythm back, our
swag game, our our identity back, big time rhythm for you in that
second quarter? How are you able to take over being aggressive? Get into
the basket sooner shown is available against to the paint. I'm great to play
for somebody else. I think that's gonna be key for the last for fifteen
games and they've wanted to the post season, so it was nineteen but also
fourteen assists for you tonight this group is nineteen and three in games where you
have double DIGITUSS, How would you describe what you're facilitating does for this group?
Thanks? Everybody, joblot easier and I got to consistently do it be
more aggressive and aggressive not to obviously score, but let's get guys involved.
So that's a balance before both of those. All right, great, when
did I James harden there? The Clippers are a better ball club when he's
more aggressive against seventeen points in that second quarter, let me double check on
that. You know I a stickler for accuracy. I'm gonna make sure I
got that right. James Harden in the first quarter five points. By the
time he gets to half, he has seventeen, So twelve points in the
second quarter, seventeen points at the half, had just two more. Clippers
would put this one away early, as they should against a Portland Trailblazers team.
That's why I call it a taking care of business type of victory.
But Kawhi Leonard did have seventeen points in the third quarter. He exploded,
and then Paul George put the cherry on top. He had twelve points in
the fourth PG thirteen I bring you good news here finish with twenty seven.
That led all scores ten of eighteen from the field, four to seven from
three. Again closed out the Blazers. But now over his last ten games,
Paul George has been averaging twenty four points, about fifty two percent shooting
and uh forty four percent shooting from three. It looks like he's out of
this shooting funk that he was in. Maybe he's feeling better feeling healthier,
the left knee, the left growing whatever it was. Maybe he was just
had a rhythm, but this is what they need. Paul George getting at
least twenty four per ball game huge for this team as there's just fourteen regular
season games left till the playoffs. Morris and long beats, what's up you're
on? Clippers? Stop with out of Maslin Hi Morse, Hey, it's
going on. Check this out. Looking at the game on Friday is not
gonna be as easy as the game we played tonight. I expect him to
win. Expect them to win all the game, and then the game on
Sunday, I expect him to take that game, you know, and beat
us out right now, now you you always feel everybody's stundard. We don't
have to send the police after you. You know, you're absolutely right.
When they run that pick and roll, that is their number one play because
that opens up everything. Everybody gets to move it right, and that boy
got a skill set. I'm talking about heart. He is like a quarterback
in the NFL. Put it right on a dime, and they really have
got to take advantage of that. Now. The best shot of the night
is a lot of good shots. The one shot that I liked, I
like when Tys hit that three, because that's that's something in the weaponsry.
You know, I've talked to you about this long time ago. When you
got a five that can shoot a three like they got down to Denver.
Hey, that's a play, that's the play. You can take advantage of
that. So you know, tonight was an important game for everybody to get
back on tsks. But none of these games, man, are easy in
the NBA. But we lost early to the Grizzlies. The people were tripping.
Okay, we lost the Atlantic, but these the lot of the chop
teams have the same kind of thing. We're not the only ones that go
through this stuff. And I'm telling you right now, I'm telling you right
now, if we can stay in the fourth, we got it. We
can't drop down in the fifth. We can't drop down the fifth, and
we'll never have the home court advantage. If we stand in the fourth.
That's gonna give us some spirit, that's gonna give us some hope. And
we're gonna ride Kawhi. We're gonna go as far as Kawhi Lennard, we'll
take us. And that's just the way it go. Okay, I'll see
behavior. So all right, Morris, I appreciate the phone call. I
agree with you. They need that four seed. They also need OKAC to
hold on to the number one seed in the West, because that would mean
Denver and Minnesota would have to play each other in the second round. Should
the Clippers get past the first round, faced off against SGA and the OKC
Thunder, It's not a great matchup, but I think it's preferred over having
to take on the defending champs in the ten per Nuggets. So root for
OKC right now. Obviously, root for the Clippers, root for the New
Orleans Pelicans to lose ball games, rut for the Kings to win. I
think that would be a better matchup for the Clippers in the first round.
Currently, they are a game up on the five seed held by the New
Orleans Pelicans. They are three games up on Sacramento. New Orleans is two
games up on the Kings, but the Pelicans do have a tougher schedule here.
Clippers, though, get a victory tonight right that they needed. And
you heard something from James Harden postgames saying we got to get our swag back,
and this kind of victory can do that get your identity back, Remember
who you are, Remember how skilled, how talented you are, because they
haven't always been taking care of business against lesser teams. So you can scoff
at this victory. You can say it's Portland Clippers just lost to Atlanta in
a game. They were down by twenty nine at home on Sunday. They
needed this one tonight in this manner. Mike in La you're on Clipper south
of that, am Awson. Hey, I just want to, I guess,
emphasize what you were just talking about. Now. These are must win
games. I mean we the Clippers have not you know, even guaranteed themselves
the top six feed yet and we have the tide breaker again nobody. You
know, you look at the schedule in April, you have you know,
Denver, Phoenix, you know a couple of times, I think Sacramento.
You know that's not you know, not easy. Uh. You know this
stretch of games now really for the rest of March, are games that they
really should win and they need to win, and we cannot have any more
of the you know, Atlantic does. We'll put it that way. Yeah,
I agree with you. They can't afford any more bad losses, and
a bad loss right now for a team contending for a championship that is trying
to stay afloat and keep and hold on to that four spot in the West,
is losing to any team under five hundred. It just can't happen.
It's inexcusable right now, Hopefully they got them out of their system. Hopefully
Sunday was the wake up call Mike, and this Clippers team is now pointed
back in the right direction where they're building better habits. Something happened in that
fourth quarter that I thought was interesting because post game on Sunday, coach Lou
was talking about this squad and basically took accountability and pointed the figer out himself
and said, maybe I need to do something different, Maybe it's me.
I need to change my approach, something to that effect. And the fourth
quarter, after they had a couple sloppy turnovers early, even though they were
up twenty five, he called time out right away. There have been other
times where he'll just let them figure it out. Then again, when no
one stopped the ball and Portland got an easy one, a guy going coast
to coast, nobody picked him up. Another time out. They were up
by twenty two. The game was over, but Coachlely wasn't having it.
I wonder if that's that thing that's different right now from him and his philosophy,
because you know he comes from and we were talking about this with Carlo
Jimenez pregame. He comes from the Phil Jackson coaching tree. What what did
Phil Jackson do? He would let guys play through a lot of that stuff.
He thought, you know, we worked on this in practice. They
need to figure it out out now on the floor in a game with live
bullets. That's one way he would coach. And Coach Lou does that sometimes
too, But tonight when they were making careless mistakes, he said enough,
even though the game was over, he looked like a guy who was chasing
perfection and wasn't gonna settle for them, just getting lacks of daysical sleep lock
sleep walking their way through the end of the ball game, and the Clippers
eventually would win one sixteen to one oh three over the Blazers. We'll take
a quick quick time out well here from coach Lou. Coming up. We'll
also hear from Will Updike of Clips and Dip we'll talk with him next.
We'll get back to your phone calls. Eight sixty six nine eight seven two
five seventy eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy. I'm at a
Maslin and this is Clippers Talk. He seventy LA Sports loading Clippers fully loaded
with Clippers fans. This is LA Clippers basketball. You're listening to the LA
Clippers on the LA Clippers audio network. I'm Vanilla. Clippers went up north
against the Portland's Railblazers one sixteen to oneh three. Welcome back, int Clippers
Talk. I'm out of Mosland. I'm not up. You're gonna hear from
coach Lou. But first let's pause ten seconds for station identification. Here on
MF seventy LS Sports, this is LA Clippers Basketball, AM five seventy KLAC
Los Angeles ninety eight seven KYSR HD two Los Angeles and iHeartRadio station. So
to preface this, there was an interesting play in the third quarter that people
are hitting me up about and it is a head scratcher. It was James
Harden driving down the left side the lane, giving the ball up in the
far side corn to Kawhi Leonard for three a wide open three except for one
thing. James Harden closed out on him and put two hands up. This
was strange. Uh, he's wearing a Clippers jersey. We've enjoyed him as
a Clipper. I don't know why he's coming over to contest Kawhi Leonard's shot
off a pass he just made. I think Coach Little is gonna touch on
that. Plus give us an injury update on Kawhi Leonard. Here was coach
of PUS game, Here was Jack Carlow. So you got guys contesting,
Uh, three points. I didn't even see it during the game. Guys,
Yeah, it is Kawhi good. He sold flex in his hands.
He's good. You mentioned the defense and everything. I mean you guys also
stayed out of transition defensive week, taking care of basketball goal. What went
into you know, the extra tension on both ends, both taking care of
it and when y'all had that stretch and knitting that in the buve and make
sure that we didn't become a problem. Yeah, just understanding what we're playing
for, what's at stake, and then you know, having a good practice
yesterday, a great film session, just you know, talking to the guys
and understand what we got to do if we want to be successful this year.
And so I'm just locking in. We have fifteen games left, continue
to build good habits and then go from there. And so tonight I thought
it was a step in the right direction and just continue to keep building prem
here. What helped you be so locked in? Was it just guy's garden
and keeping the ball out in the pain or just something something besides that,
to just compete with multiple efforts, Like what did you see? Yeah?
I mean, just like I said, our blitch was really good. I
thought. I attention to details far as rebounding the basketball. We did a
good job of turning hitting bodies, and sometimes it came up with them anyway,
but we did the right thing, you know, so you can live
with those results when you're actually doing what you're supposed to do. And so
I thought we had a I made a conscious ever, just making sure we
paid attention to detail. Didn't have any you know, too many game play
mistakes and I gotta go back and watch it, but overall, I thought
we did a decent job. There was coach Loupos's game after the Clippers would
win one sixteen to one oh three. If you heard him on Sunday.
He stressed the fact that you guys speaking to the media are worried about the
wins and the losses. I'm more worried about how we're playing and the process.
You can live with some of the losses when you play the right way.
I think he was getting at that a little bit tonight. Even when
Portland was getting some boards on them, the Clippers were doing the right things
and they did out rebound them forty two to thirty eight. So that's how
you build and get pointed back in the right direction. Like he said,
coming up next, we'll have if you want to pick up his phone.
I don't know, maybe it's me Lebron to tweet. We'll have a lot
of Murray on. I mean, we'll Lefdyke. That was Lotmurray asking the
question. He's in Portland. We might have him on pregame though Friday likely
we'll updak next from clips and day after the Clippers win one sixteen to one
oh three in Portland. S LA Sports LA Clippers Basketball is on the two
one three Era continues. You're listening to the LA Clippers on the LA Clippers
Audio Network. Your LA Clippers are victorious in game one of a two game
mini series up north against the Portland Trail Blazers. They win tonight, one
sixteen to one oh three. I, Madame Moslin, this is Clippers talk.
We got a little clips and double dip for you. Though. Here
you hear the music, it's will Updyk joining because the Clippers won. And
he eventually picked up his phone, Well, how are we doing. I'm
doing good, doing good. Uh. You know a lot of a lot
of people on the line when the Clippers are are pulling out these these crucial,
crucial victories against the stout Portland Trailblazer Hey, I don't like the sarcas.
You know they just lost to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. Was it
not a decisive victory by this Slippers team tonight? It was definitely a decisive
victory as well it should be. And I you know, I don't mean
to get down on the team if this is just it's one of those unfortunate
matchups where it's kind of darned if you do, darned if you don't.
A win is expected against a shorthanded Portland Blazers team, and a loss would
be merely unfathomable. But that being said, there was still some stuff to
like in this one continued twenty point plus games from the two to three connection.
I thought an inspired James Harden performance despite some of the turnovers. Still
with fourteen assists, you know there was a lot to like this. When
and Paul George continues his this five game streak of twenty plus points, He's
shooting over fifty percent from three over this stretch, he is looking to be
re entering his rhythm and hopefully hitting a late season peak. Last ten games,
he's getting twenty four points on fifth, twenty two percent from the field
and forty four percent from three. Seems good. I like the word you
said, though, they're inspired. Inspired play from James Harden when he started
cooking that second quarter four to three pointers were made, but also the way
he was audishing and diamond and looking for big Zoo. Thank God, sorry,
I needed to see him get up almost ten shots in this ball game
after he got just one attempt against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. They forgot
about Zoo nowadays ever been one to talk about. He got something to say,
but nothing comes out with They forgot about Zoo sometimes I don't understand it,
and I feel like that's when the game really turned that high pick and
roll finally with James Harden and Visa Zubots. Am I wrong, Will,
No, You're not wrong at all. And the thing is, it's like
it really unlocks the both of them. Like we know how beneficial James Harden
has been in a Viza Zoo for Viza Zoobots, especially offensively. But let's
not deny the inverse of that. I mean, it helps Harden's game as
a facilitator. It makes things easier for him. He gets more in the
flow of the offense, and I think that that helped his personal scoring because
he's got the juice he's going. So it's it's one of those mutually beneficial
things that just have to get back to good to see it in this game.
You know, like I said on the Cliffton Dip podcast last time we
all chatted, was this is an easier stretch of the schedule. This is
a time where it's you know, you can kind of get back to your
good habits. You know, you can kind of flick some of the wounds
that you know you've accumulated over this long season. When We're in kind of
this hard part where every time there's a there's a bit of a hard foul,
or every time someone's on the ground, you're worried that they might not
be getting up. This is a great opportunity for this team to round back
into form, and you know, if we see more of what we saw
tonight, then I'm going to be very very happy with with with where this
team is at. It was definitely a level of concern when Kawhi Leonard was
shaking that left wrist and just trying to work through it there, but post
game coach Lou said he's good, so hopefully he's good enough to go on
Friday. Although they're still taking on Portland. I don't care who's available.
You just have to win that game because the Clippers have the depth, and
they showed it off tonight. A mere Coffee was out there. No Terrence
Man, no Norman Powell, A mere Coffee in the starting lineup, and
when he looks for his offense. I just love the way he just kind
of facilitates his way, or Vanessa is his way into fitting in with this
team. When he's in the starting lineup, he just performs. He steps
up a mere Coffee. You know, he's starting to come out of the
funk that he's been in over the last couple of weeks a couple of weeks
too well. Oh, absolutely absolutely, And you know, when but Toom
was on the team, we know that he was a big fan of nurturing
Musa Diabat. But I would be very surprised if the mere Coffee wasn't taking
some notes too, because he's he's sort of formed himself in the mold of
a similar blue guy, albeit a couple of inches shorter. But he yeah,
he absolutely he is the embodiment of sort of the stay ready Clippers,
what this team has been. I mean really even preceding the two and three
era, he is right there. The three point shot wasn't completely going for
him tonight, but hey, he knocks down one more and that's a completely
different conversation. He looked great tonight. Somebody who didn't look too good that
I feel like we got to talk about who your man skeleton, key Bones
Highland. He is not looking too hot after a great performance in Chicago.
He got pulled early in that second quarter, I think for Brandon Boston when
the Clippers started to go on a run with PG and Harden out there with
Big Zoo. I don't know what it is. The last two games.
It's strange, uninspiring play from Bones Highland after how good he was against the
Chicago Bulls. I don't I don't know. He just doesn't seem to be
fully there the last two games. The energy, the spark, he was
over four, he had a turnover, you know, zero two ass But
yeah, Bones Island, I don't know what it is right now, but
he doesn't look right. The thing that was sort of disheartening to me,
And again not to pile on him. He's a young guy. He's in
face with a pretty difficult challenge there filling in while Harden was out, But
even in those minutes at the end of the game, I know they're colloquially
called garbage time. I just didn't like how disengaged he looked. Because I
understand, if the game is in the bag, you don't have to play
like it's the playoffs. But I would like to see a little effort out
there and him just looking completely disengaged, especially on the defensive end. It's
one of those things that he just has to tighten up. He just has
to tighten up because you look at the team right now, especially you know
with Norm being in the bench and then obviously Karen's out tonight, which is
a bit of an anomaly. But you just you look at the depth of
this team outside if you're starting five and things start to get a little carry
and if he's one of the guys that you can't rely on, I mean,
this rotation shortens to I mean, hopefully if Norm is there, you
got I mean, optimistically, if Russ is back, eight guys total.
Yeah, I look, I don't want to speculate too much or be a
body language expert, but it just seemed like since Harden was back the last
two games and Bones was back to coming off the bench, he hasn't looked
right, I don't know, the same focus hasn't been there. Disengaged also
an appropriate word. But now let's talk about your guy, PJ. Tucker.
What did you think of his performance to night? Here? Will he
was certainly there, no, I mean, look, racking up seven boards,
he bractice seven boards and that assist you know, didn't turn the ball
over, didn't take a shot, which is something that like, look,
I mean, you've talked Toboddie. I know that you are believe that that
PJ. Tucker can have value in a playoff rotation. I'm not gonna say
I'm completely off of it, but you know, offensively, it's it's not
great. I mean, you're looking at You're essentially looking at a four on
five and I he's gotta he's got to take the shots. And like luckily
tonight against the opponent, it wasn't something that was really gonna hurt of I
did like I did like his high effort feel to in the I believe it
was in the third to kind of secure this Clippers lead. But yeah,
I you gotta take shots. I just don't. I don't know what else
to say. This is the this is the NBA in twenty twenty four.
There's not a guy that can be out there on the floor for twenty plus
minutes and not take a shot. I'm sorry, Like Dennis Rodman would have
to take shots in today's game. You can't be out there doing nothing.
You can't do what he and Ben Wallace used to do. You become a
liability. Guys hunt you out too much or they just don't guard you at
all. And it's fair to say they're playing four on five at times on
offense when Pj's just hiding in the corner and not taking a shot. He's
been better in that area recently, but twenty five minutes didn't get one up
in this game. I did like his effort on the boards. I did
like what I saw defensively. For the most part, I still believe he
can be a situational defensive specialist in a playoff series against the right opponent.
But we'll see what happens moving forward with the offense, because it is something
to be desired, and we're not asking a ton just he has to take
the shot that he's taken the last fifteen years that corner three. Not many
have been better than him. You know who was happy to take the shot
tonight, Daniel tight Man one from three tonight. If he is somehow finding
his three point strug late in this season, that is going to be an
interesting wrinkle to watch for especially given the, like I said, the shakiness
of what this depth could look like in an actual playoff rotation, putting Chuck
and those shooting splits he had for his career on Daniel Tyson a body bag
tonight going two of two from the outside. Just how are you going to
stop this guy? Last one for you here, though, Chuck, do
you just want to see the exact same type of ballgame from the Clippers on
Friday? What are you looking for as we move down the stretch here?
What fourteen games left? I think now in the regular season? What is
good process? In your mind? It's will? This is will get the
name right. I was just thinking about Chuck. I'm sorry, I just
bodied him and now I'm bodying myself Chuck on the brain. Yeah, I
want to see more of the same in this one, A comfortable lead.
I liked that, you know, say what you will about the opponent,
you still have to beat the teams in front of you. And I like
the energy. I like the way the team did get locked in. Still
a bit of a slow start initially, but they overcame it. I just
want to see more of that energy, more of that connectedness, and more
of getting back to Like I know this team says that they don't have an
identity, but it just it doesn't steel like that's true, given you know,
the nine game stretch that we saw, given the sample size that we
saw going into the All Star break. I just think they need to get
get back to basics, and I think a big part of that is keeping
hard and engaged, and I think along with that is keeping Zoo involved offensively.
It just opens things up for everybody. It gets everybody easier shots.
James Harden said that the biggest, the biggest thing that he can do is
stay aggressive in keeping his teammates engaged, not necessarily always looking to score for
himself, but getting into those double digit assist numbers. We know how good
the Clippers can be when he's there, and he's there to make everything easier
for everybody else. So let's do that. Let's let's generate good shots,
Let's get some easy looks, and let's let's stack up a couple of wins
while we have a little bit of breathing room right now in the schedule.
Once again, not to bag on any of our illustrious opponents over this next
couple game stretch, Well said, he is Chuck Updyke, I mean Bill
Mockler, I mean Will Updyke of clips and dip pod. Well, we
got a YouTube I think coming up maybe alive this weekend or something, who
knows, but thanks for coming on tonight and doing a little clips and double
dip here on Clippers Talk my friend. Absolutely always a pleasure and as our
co host Charles Mockler always says, let's go clips, let's go clippers.
Before we get out of here, we got our producer and Katie Newton and
her segment, which is just a rating spike each and every time. It
is Katie's casual NBA corner where she gets to ask me anything pretty uh pretty
high level questions about the NBA and other stuff too, just not oh yeah,
I love it, Katie. You know, if you're gonna be rude's
just giving you a hard time. What what's up? What do you want
to know? You don't have a question to do. You're stolen. I
know what this is. No, come on, be tap dancing. What
do you got? What's the question? First off, I want to say
thanks for grabbing the pizza from Uh No one cares it was delicious, don't.
I actually don't have a question. All my questions I wrote down I
asked something about pizza. Then it makes sense she's looking through her clippers notebook.
I mean, yeah, all my questions are like from old games.
You know, all right, I got a question, okay me, were
you impressed by this Clippers victory tonight or is it just ho home because they
were taken on Portland. I mean, you've watched games for three years.
Of the last couple of games, I'm impressed that they won. Now that
is the way to end the show. A little backhanded compliment from Katie Newton
saying that she's impressed that the Clippers won after they had lost four or five
coming into this one. So maybe it's fine, it's appropriate, Katie,
appreciate your help. Clippers win one sixteen to one oh three in Portland over
the Trailblazers where they will stay and run it back on Friday night, tip
off at seven, pregame at six. Before we get out of here.
I also want to thank the Clippers organization, Ralph Lawler, Brian Seeman,
Noah Ego, Carlo Jimenez on the call, Big Brother, Jake Warner,
the callers, the listeners will Updyke for eventually picking up his phone till Friday
at six with the pregame show Clippers still in Portland. I met a Maslin.
Wean't talk to you then, ma, Why was doing his thing?
All they want to do is win in La. I win. I thought
they gave everything they had. This has been Clippers Talk, the official postgame
reaction of the LA Clippers. God bless Paul George. Are you it changed?
Don't miss an episode all season law. Go to wherever you podcast and
subscribe today. Go 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.