Time for a postgame. Look, it's your LA Clippers. This is Clippers
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Breaking down today's action with the pre and post game voice. If you're
LA Clippers, they're locking in every game, every night. Adam Osland,
the Clippers fall in New Orleans one twelve to one oh four to Zion Williamson
and the Pelicans. Welcome into your postgame show. I'm at a Monslin.
This is Clippers Locker Room, coming up on a five seventy LA Sports.
We'll have Clippers stock for you. Eight sixty six nine eight seven two five
seventy eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy Let's get back to Smoothie
King Center. Though with Carlo Jimenez. Carlo, the Clippers scored four points
in about the last five minutes of this ballgame, and they couldn't get enough
stops on the other end. It's not like the New Orleans Pelicans were putting
up big points. They only had seven points during that stretch, but they
had key buckets late and it was that inside outside game just killing the Clippers
when they tried to slow down Zion. It was timely shooting from the outside
from the Pelicans. Yeah, I mean the Pelicans got big time shots late.
They did not shoot the three ball well all night at all, but
in that fourth quarter at them, they seemed to turn a corner and figure
out a way to knock down Big three. After big three. The Pelicans
came into the third quarter just eight for twenty five, and in that third
quarter atom they knocked down five of their ten attempts and those were five too
many for this Clippers team. And it was interesting, Adam watching that game
end, and you mentioned the four points in the final five to thirty five,
and I immediately thought back to the middle of the fourth quarter yesterday in
Chicago. The Clippers are up twenty. They have a chance to put the
Bulls away early in that fourth quarter. Instead, Leonard and George have to
play down the stretch, still hung onto the lead, but the Bulls pushing
it to They forced Kawhi and PG to play big time minutes down the stretch.
And you wonder if those tired legs for the Clippers just caught up to
them. Here in New Orleans, a tough, tough bank to back.
They got into the hotel at three eight m last night local time, and
without much rest, just couldn't get it done down the stretch. Yeah,
it's a tough spot to be in. Of course, no James Harden as
well for this Clippers team. But Zion Williamson with an amazing performance. Did
he go eight straight field goals made at one point for the Pelicans Carlo unbelievable.
Just the Clippers threw everything at him. They had the kitchen sink approach.
They tried everyone, They played PJ. Tucker a ton, but they
couldn't get enough of those key stops. But really, I think it's on
the offensive end when you only score one hundred and four points and go twelve
of thirty three from the outside. The Clippers just you know, some of
those jumpers when you have tired legs, they don't fall for you late.
Yeah, yeah, they did. They didn't for the Clippers. And you
know, Adam, my thought was really interesting. It really felt like outside
of two to one three, the Clippers did not have a lot of efficiency.
On the other end, they struggled outside. I mean, Norman Powell
was consistent as always, but the Clippers didn't get those double figure performances from
somebody like Uneviats, Zubats, a terance, man of Bones Highland, and
a mere coffee. I thought PJ. Tucker played great off the bench.
He had three blocks in this game. But offensively, you're right, the
Clippers had good looks and they just couldn't knock down threes. They did a
good job of adjusting. I mean, fourteen made free throws in the second
half after four in the first half, it still felt like late in that
game, they ran out of the juice on the offensive end, and if
it wasn't Kawhi Leonard, it wasn't happening for the Clippers down the stretch.
As we mentioned, this was a big game in terms of seating in terms
of Western Conference standings and where that is at now. Well, the Clippers
dropped to forty two and twenty four. They're two games ahead of the forty
and twenty six New Orleans Pelicans. We now have the head to head tiebreaker.
The four teams surrounding the Clippers and the standings all have the tiebreaker against
them. Not a great spot to be in, but the Clippers are coming
back home to take on the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. Tip time for that
one from the crypt will be at six thirty. We'll have your pregame show
starting at five thirty. They got to get some rest, hopefully in their
own beds tonight. Same for you, Carlo, and get right back after
it, my friend. Great call is always. We'll see it at Crypto
dot Com Arena Sunday night, Adam. I can't wait to see your face.
And the Clippers an opportunity to get back in the win column before they
face Portland twice. Big one, Big One, need that one. Let's
go back at it. Clippers faull tonight, New Orleans one twelve to one
oh four. You're listening to the Los Angeles Clippers Audio Network every Clipper game
all season long. They didn't stop playing hard. You're listening to the LA
Clippers Audio Network streaming on the iHeartRadio a app. Clippers lose in New Orleans,
the big easy never easy for them. Once one oh four is your
final welcome back into your postgame show. I'm at a Mosland coming up.
We'll have Clippers stock for you on AM five to seventy LA Sports eight sixty
six. Nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone number eight sixty six
nine eight seven two five seventy. Clippers ended up shooting forty eight percent from
the field, twelve of thirty three from distance. Really the difference in this
game, it was the Pelicans going thirteen of thirty five from three, but
the Clippers having six more turnovers in the Pelicans, the Pelicans having four more
offensive rebounds on the Clippers. They had fifty eight points in the paint,
the Clippers just thirty six fast break points. Were tied at twelve after the
Clippers were down big there at the half second chance points. The Pelicans led
nine to five, and they had the best player on the floor tonight.
That would be Zion Williamson. He had thirty four points on fourteen of twenty
one shooting. At one point he made eight straight buckets. Oh. He
is a tough one to stop. Just to load. Uh, just one
of the toughest, most unique players in the NBA. To try to game
plan four right now. And while nobody else for the Pelicans had more than
fourteen points, they would still have what five players in double figures. Brandon
Ingram didn't have a good ballgame just thirteen points typically lights up the Clippers.
J. J. McCollums just eleven, theonnas Valence Chunis just four. Herb
Jones just one of three from the outside. But Trey Murphy fourteen off the
bench. I had him in my prize picks play and he did have more
than thirteen and a half points fourteen. Larry Nance Junior also key buckets in
the second half and down the stretch four of six with twelve points. Some
of the others really killed the Clippers when they tried to load up and stop
Zion Williamson. They got beat and the Pelicans played and executed their offense better
than the Clippers down the stretch, as they scored just more points the last
four minutes and forty five seconds. Paul George led them with twenty six overall,
a nice ball game. A couple of clutch three pointers in that fourth
quarter. Kawhi Leonard only attempted two shots. When he came back in in
the fourth he had twenty three. Norn Palid fifteen off the bench, got
banged up. Insult to injury. He and Terrence Mann were banged up at
times in this ball game. We'll keep you the abreast of the situation.
When it comes to injuries. We'll hear from coach Lou as well, coming
up on our post game show. Clippers lose one twelve to one oh four
in New Orleans to the Pelicans. More Clippers locker room coming up next right
here on the Los Angeles Clippers Audio Network. LA Clippers Basketball is odd.
The two one three era continues. You're listening to the LA Clippers on the
LA Clippers Audio Network. Clippers lose in New Orleans to the Pelicans again,
one twelve to one oh four. This time Zion has thirty four close one
playoff type of Atmanere and possibly a playoff preview. The Clippers would be locked
up with them in the first round. Currently, when you look at the
West standings, Clippers in the four spot, now three games back on Minnesota
in the three spot. They also had the tiebreaker against the Clippers, so
it's really four games back. There are two games up on the Pelicans,
who also own the tiebreaker over the Clippers, so sixteen games left. Huge
ballgames Sunday night back home against Atlanta for the Clippers. If you want to
move up the standings, if you at least want to have home court in
a series against the New Orleans Pelicans. They got to continue to win ball
games. Tip time against Atlanta from Crypto on Sunday is at six thirty.
We'll have your pregame show starting at five thirty outside of Los Angeles. We
are leaving you until then. Coming up next year on a five to seventy
LA Sports, we have Clippers Talk for you. This has been LA Clippers
basketball really good on a multitude of levels. Don't miss a moment all season
long. Their official home. Join us next time on the LA Clippers Audio
Network. Hello Clippers fans, if you're gonna go for it, if that's
what you want to do, you do. Welcome the Clippers Talk. Your
first chance to react to all the action of Clippers basketball. Do it to
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me right now, your host on your home for the Clippers. They were
in attack mode Adam Osley. The Clippers fall again in a pivotal contest with
seating implications, this time to the Pelicans in New Orleans. They lose one
to twelve to one zero four. Welcome in the clipperstock I'm Adam oslind and
get to met follow Adam a on X or if you want to call in
tonight eight six six nine seven two five seventy eight six six nine seven two
five seventy coming up here on your postgame show. Clippers talk. He from
the head coach. We'll also hear from Chuck Mockler if he's not too mad
at me. It felt like a replay hype. The game up biggest of
the year, just like the one against Minnesota. Clippers gotta have it.
The game against Minnesota was if you want to have a top three seed,
you have to win that game. Basically, this game was about holding on
to the four seat. If you didn't know, if you drop below four,
you don't have home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
If you don't have home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs,
you're probably cooked. And now there are only two games up on the New
Orleans Pelicans. Clippers are forty two and twenty four. The Pelicans are forty
and twenty six, and they also have the head to head tiebreaker over your
Los Angeles Clippers. After this victory where Clippers couldn't stop Zion. They tried
everything. He was a bowling shop. He was Thaneus. He had thirty
four points, fourteen to twenty one from the field, seven boards, four
assists at one point, made eight straight shots. I know the Clippers were
on the second night of a back to back and they didn't have James Harden,
and that hurts. But ultimately Zion was too good and the Clippers weren't
good enough. With the basketball, fifteen turnovers just nine for the Pelicans.
Clippers got out rebounded forty to thirty seven, but more importantly nine to five
when it came to offensive rebounds. That all leads to the Pelicans getting up
ten more shots than the Clippers in a game this close. It's about the
possession battle. They talked about a pregame, said the Clippers have to win,
that they didn't weren't good enough when it mattered most. Maybe tired legs,
jump shooting team, older team, second night of a back to back
can make the excuse is all I know is they only scored four points in
the last four minutes and forty five seconds, settled too often for threes,
long twos. Pelicans only had seven points in that span of four minutes and
forty five seconds, but they already had the lead. The Clippers were the
ones who need to get more stops, need to get more shots to fall.
I blame this mostly on the offense not being able to execute late in
the game. You only score one hundred and four points, that's on your
offense. Talks about a pre game. But the Pelicans have been the number
one defense since the All Star Break. They have the fourth best net rating
on the season. It's a little bit surprising they're only in the five spot
right now when you consider that they're really balanced. They're good on both ends
of the floor. They're also good with the variation and how varied their offense
is because when the Clippers threw multiple bodies at Zion, shaded helped hedged did
what they could, gave him different looks, and I mean they tried everything.
PJ Tucker, I thought, played really well in twenty four minutes.
Had three blocks, six points, two of three shooting, made two three
pointers. This was the game. This was the opponent that you use him
against. I've been saying it all season long. It happened. I thought
he helped, he gave them a chance. He had a couple of strips
on Zion in the first half, had a nice block on CJ. McCollum
in the second half, a critical three pointer, and the Clippers had a
two on zero. Paul George was underneath the hoop. PJ took the corner
three anyways made it. Took three of them made two. You'll take that.
But I mean they had zoobots out there against Zion. They had made
some plumbley for six minutes. Everybody got their shot, Paul George at times,
Kawhi Leonard, a mere coffee, Terrence Man. They threw bodies after
bodies at Zion Williamson, who just willed them to victory. But the point
was he punished them and made them switch up their defense and load up so
much and give so much attention towards Zion that it eventually led to some hot
three point shooters and timely three pointers in that fourth quarter from the New Orleans
Pelicans. That's ultimately what killed the Clippers. They go into the fourth down
two after Zion gets that in transition bucket in four seconds to end the third
quarter. Just ridiculous. I don't know how he got that to go looking
like Tyus Edney going the full length of the floor. The Clippers threw guys
at him. It was contested, but you're trying not to foul there.
That's the other part of it. To play defense on him without fouling is
so difficult. But to start the fourth, it was a Trey Murphy three,
then another make by Zion I think that was when he had eight straight
makes at one point the third into the fourth, Clippers got big buckets from
Norman Pale after down by seven. He had a driving layup he got downhill,
but then Marshall hits a three pointer. Trey Murphy then catches an alley
oop, so he kills it from beyond the arc and he gets to the
basket, he hits another three. Jose Alverado grand theft. Alverado hits a
three in between two three pointers made by Paul George, who was trying to
match him. Some ridiculous shots from PG thirteen there, if you want to
take some positives away. He's looking better and better, especially the last two
games. But then a well contested jumper from Brandon Ingram by PJ. Tucker
goes. Clippers are still down by six. One hundred and ninety four big
Zoo followed his own miss, which they got him involved more. It was
a four point game. Zion another bucket out of a timeout, brandon ingram
three pointer. One of the backbreakers was Larry Nance Junior, who had a
dunk out of a timeout at a three twenty three mark. So the Clippers,
you're preparing for everything in that timeout and you give up an easy one.
They also had a turnover out of a timeout late. That can't happen.
They still were then striking distance after Kawhi Leonard, he had a little
floater to go. It was a five point game, one O seven to
one oh two. At the two minute mark, Yon Nance Junior again put
him up by seven. They had that turnover. The Clippers, as I
mentioned, Zion gets fouled and hits one to two. It's you're down eight
with under a minute left. That's game. One of the concerning signs and
something that playing this New Orleans Pelicans team kind of unveils. One of those
weaknesses is that the Clippers they settle for too many jumpers. Sometimes I don't
even know if I should say settle. They're made to be a jump shooting
team. They have been in the two to one three era, they've been
top three and three point percentage under coach lou every year. That's what they
do. But those shots and a steady diet of those shots all the time,
living and dying by those shots, and they're great at it. But
when you have tired legs and you just can't get enough easy ones to match
a team that gets some of the easiest shots you will see because of Zion
Williamson, I know it's not easy to match that. Nobody really can when
he has it going just a bowling ball. Butcher knives downhill, but they
can't get to the basket enough. That's something that has been revealing over this
stretch where over their last eleven games against teams above five hundred, the Clippers
are just three and eight. They're eight to nine post Grammy road trip,
and I thought they played really well for the most part tonight, but to
get over the hump, I think they just needed easier shots, and they
don't have a guy that's great at that. Even Norman Powell, who can
turn the corner on you, he's a small, still harder for him to
get above the trees. If they're not going to feature Viza Zubats more.
I don't know who that guy is. Kawhi and Paul George. They're mid
range masters, but they don't have the burst and explosiveness like some superstars,
especially at this point, to either create more mismatches or blow by guys to
get easy once it's tough. They're one in seven in their last eight matchups
against teams above five hundred. Clippers look like they're being outclassed right now.
Now, this was game five and a five and seven. Nobody has more
of those than the Clippers. Of course, schedule always plays a role,
but there's still underlining problems. I would say that aren't going away, that
aren't going to be easily fixed anytime soon. It's just a personnel thing.
I wish if each Zubos would get more looks. I think that's part of
the answer to getting some easy ones. After taking just three shots yesterday,
he gets seven at least. Played down the stretch in the fourth quarter,
a mere Coffee has some slasher aspects to him. Terrence Man does two,
but they don't look for their shot enough. They're more connectors out there.
They just don't have that type of guy. So when they only shoot twelve
of thirty three from distance. It's not horrible league average thirty six percent from
three, but they need a few more of those to fall. Recently,
they haven't post Grammy road trip, they've been shooting about thirty six percent from
three. That could speak to tired legs or just being in a funk.
They hit fifty percent from three yesterday against Chicago, and there was some good
defense played against those but I think the Clippers were just due. Maybe law
of averages brings that down in this game. Maybe it was the defense from
in the New Orleans Pelicans thought they were pretty sound overall again, number one
defense post All Star Break, and they're looking at the standings too and licking
their chops knowing that they could have home court in the first round series.
They're just two games behind the Clippers for the four spot. That's where they
are at. So tough loss, Clipper Nation, and that's another one where
felt like as close as you can get to a must win at this point
the season, against top notch competition, against someone close to you in the
standings. They don't have the tiebreaker against the four teams surrounding them in the
standings. Not okay, See, they lost that series two games to one
Denver. They still have one more to go, but Denver right now is
two and one against the Clippers. Minnesota won the season series three games to
one, as did the New or On Pelicans. So they're not beating the
best teams. Maybe they're right where they should be in the four spot,
or maybe they're just not playing their best basketball right now. It was sixteen
games to go. Has to change. Let's go to Sterling in La Sterling.
You're on Clipper stock without a Maaza. What's up Sterling? Hey,
Adam, how you doing a you know, tough loss with the Clippers.
I think they'll be Adam, Adam, Adam, Adam. Let me tell
you something. I've been following the Clippers for years being my wife. Here's
your problem, and it's the elephant in the room. The problem is they
were tired ninety two. They were down ninety two to ninety going to the
fourth quarter. You had Plumbert on the floor. You were playing with peace.
You come back with Zubach and they saw a seven straight point Zubach is
fine, but you're not going to the championship with Zubach. You're just not
going to happen. Sterling. If you think Mason Plumbley is a bet better
defender than Viatza Zubats, I got news for you're dead wrong. Nothing supports
that, absolutely nothing, Adam. You can't play with pace on defense.
You can't certainly can't play with pace with offense. Lou talks about pace,
You cannot play pace with Lubo. When Paul Joy tries to run to pick
and roll with Ubo, he can't hit a five foot jump shot. He
makes a little hook shot once in a while, not once in a while,
not once in a while. He makes it all the time. He
doesn't get to take many. He makes that in the float like it's nothing.
Sterling, you're just talking, man, but you're not. You're not
speaking facts at all. A Look, they war those games against good teams
in late December and January. You started, you had tight and you had
no Zubos was still playing majority of those games, hey, Sterling, news
for you, buddy. They went twenty five during a thirty one game stretch,
and a Viza Zubats was starting most of those games exactly exactly. You
can disagree, but that's actually what happened. Demetrious in Manhattan Beach demetrious.
What's up here on Clippers stock. I can't take this stuff. When Viza
Zubots is top three in rim protection on the season, Mason Plumbley gives up
eight percent better to opponents at the rim than a Viza Zubats does. And
people call in because Mason Plumbley may have a reverse dunk or something and say
he's better. So he's a better athlete. It's not just about that.
That's absurd. That's absurd. Thank you, Adam. Yeah, I think
the last caller, he is a little bit out of touch on that one.
I think I think I agree with you earlier. You know, I've
been very consistent having spoken to you in a long time. I mentioned that
they would have been they would be the number one seed, and they did
for only one game. But ears the overall situation with the Clippers in me
and you're on the same play, We've been very consistent together, Adam,
I totally agree with you. When Zubacco the Clippers go, when they get
him going in the first quarter, he gets comfortable in that system. And
when he get comfortable, the Clippers didn't run their action, and when he's
not touching the ball and he's just out there floating as setting picks. He
don't know if like you said, they're jump shooting teams, and so you
know, it throws everything off. When you get him the ball earlier,
it gets him his juice running. He's get excited on the defensive ends.
Then you see Clippers ball, and that's where they were when they went twenty
six and five. But I will say this, Adam, and I want
to say this to you that it's been five years now Adams put up a
shut up right now for the Clippers. Okay, now listen, it's been
five injury riddled, bad luckiars you're right. But here's the thing, Adam,
and and I want to be encouraging here on the phone. Like I
said, I've been very consistent with you and I've been following them. So
I want to give the Clippers encouraging information to night. Give it to me
now. Of course, the scheduler has been extreme. If you look at
the two daytime games they played, you look at the five and seven.
Okay, yes, we have been playing you know, mediocre ball against the
top teams. But here's the thing, Adam, come playoffs. Will everybody?
You listen, It's a day off and then your play. I'm looking
for the smoke. We're not dodging the Pelicans. We're not dodging Denver.
Were not dodging the Kings if they get to three and I predict that the
Clippers will go twelve and four on their next sixteen games to snag the three
spots, and I think we'll see the Kings in the first round. You
want to know something, though, Demetrius, I don't think twelve and four
would get them in three spot. There are four games behind Minnesota. When
you add in the fact that Minnesota has the tiebreaker, that's four games to
make up in sixteen games. I get that, but Minnesota also got Denver
three more times. If you look at minnesota schedule, there's not a walk
in the park. And I will say this at them, I will say
this to you, And like I said, I bring facts and I'm very
encouraging and I see what I see and I'm telling you right now, Minnesota
is gonna drop out of the sixteen games. Remember I told you Minnesota is
gonna go maybe eight and nine. I mean eight and eight or maybe nine
and seven. I'm telling you what I'm seeing here. They are not as
I like. Well, Demetrius. She also told me the Clippers were gonna
have the one seed, so well, I did well. When a time
I told you they was gonna have a one seed, they were. They
had it for twenty four hours. My friend, Hey, hey, hey,
but guess what, Adam, they was there. But I predicted they
will be the number one seed again things. Oh yeah, but listen,
I at least said they will be the number one seed, and yes they
were. But hey, I don't think the goal was to be the number
one seed for twenty four hours. But I gets where I get where you're
coming from. It is possible Minnesota could slide here. Yeah, yeah,
well we gonna remember, Adam. I'm telling you right now, we're we're
looking for the smoke. We're not doing anyone, Adam. I understand what
you're saying about the Pelicans. We're not running for the Pelicans. Rather,
we four or five whatever, where are we at? We have to do
it this year. And the main thing, the Clippers don't have any flaws.
I'm telling you right now. They got the bigs to handle, they
got the wings to handle. And listen, the only way the Clippers lose
if we just missing shots. Either we are not healthy or we just missing
shots. And when we healthy and making shot, cannot nobody beat us.
Of course we need to make a few little changes on our rotations, but
again that had to do with tired legs, you know, the extreme,
extreme scheduling. But when playoffs gets here, when playoffs get here, at
them, they're going to be So you're talking about a team that's motivated,
and I think that the people are not seeing the motivation from them because they
so eager to get in the playoffs. Well, well, let me tell
you something. They should also be eager to have a top four seed because
if you don't have a top four seed, you are in deep trouble.
You don't even have home court advantage in the first round. And here's the
reason why I disagree to Metris. There's been one team in the last fifty
years that has won a championship that wasn't a top three seed. One one.
You can't tell me home court doesn't matter. It does matter. Were
on the same page. We have to have the number three seeds. I
would like to have the number three seeds, and I think it's and I
think it's right there for us Adam, I think it's listen, you need
a lot of help. You need a lot of help. What listen if
you look at Minnesota's schedule, have you seen the schedule at them? Yeah,
I've looked at the schedule. The Clippers have a tougher schedule remaining Still
well, they got like I said, they got three well set the fact
that it matter is and remember I will call you again, Adam. And
like I said again, look, Minnesota could slide. It's not impossible.
I'm not saying it's impossible, Demetrius, but we can't keep going in circles
like this. My god, they're technically there are really four games behind Minnesota
because they hold the head to head tiebreaker over the Clipper. So it may
say three right now. Guess what they have to be a full game ahead
of them. That is difficult to make up in sixteen games. Before we
take a quick time out, let's pause ten seconds for station identification. Here
on a five to seventy LA Sports, this is LA Clippers Basketball AM five
to seventy KLAC Los Angeles ninety eight seven KYSR HD two Los Angeles and iHeartRadio
station. Look, the one thing I'm not gonna do is lie to you
right now about how the Clippers are playing eight and nine their last seventeen games,
three to eight in their last eleven games against teams above five hundred.
These are not good traits that you want to see leading into the playoffs period.
So they have sixteen games left, they have a chance to turn it
around. They could. They're not mathematically eliminated from the three seed, but
it's going to be very difficult, especially with the way they have been playing
and looking right now and with guys being banged up. No, James Harden
tonight miss his first two games as a Clipper on this road trip. We'll
try to update you on the status of Norn Powell, and it was Terrence
Man who went down also in this game. Both of them came back and
played through it. We'll hear from coach Lou next. We'll get back to
your phone calls eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy eight six six
ninety seven two five seventy. Yeah, we'll bring more positive. You're listening
to clipperstock. You're on a five seventy 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. Clippers lose in New Orleans the Pelicans one twelve
to one oh four. They lose the season series three games to one.
They aren't beating top notch teams. It's been more than a trend lately.
It's not a good one. Welcome back into Clippers talk. I'm at a
Moslin. Before you hear from coach lou let's go to Don in Woodland Hills.
Don, what's up? You're on clipperstock? Don? Oh that's my
bad, My man, that is your bet. Don, you're up?
Hey? Can you hear me? I got you now? Hey, I
don't know how's going with were taking my call? Yeah? I was basically
just wanted to talk about the the Clips on the road. Man. I
don't think we should be too focused on jockey for position, this home court
advantage, really, really, really really because hey, Don don don don
don Don listen for a second. Listen for a second, and then you
can reply, how about that? Uh, there's one team that has won
the championship that's wasn't a top three seed the last fifty years, and you
don't think they should focus on home court advantage. Oh My thing is,
I think we're a great road team. If you look at are they last
few road trips? You look at the last few road trips we went.
We went one on one on this trip, right, Yeah, they beat
a bad team. They lost to the good team. Okay, but it
still is still over John, John, they're twenty two at home and twenty
and fourteen on the road. They're better at home. Everybody is better at
home. I just agree. But what I'm is, we're not ducking any
smoke. I think we're We're right what we need to be, and I'm
I'm okay with the fourth seed. We'll just stay right there and just kind
of cruise all the way to the playoffs. All I know is there's no
back to backs in the playoffs. Okay, that's a fair point. That's
a fair point. The game slows down, we're more of a half court
set team. The defensive tensity will increase. You gotta keep him oud.
We have no rust, you know, and you know he's a big part
of that defense. So our identity is defense, which I've been preaching from
the beginning, really because right now they're about middle of the pack defensively.
On the season, and there have been the twenty fifth best defense the last
sixteen games coming into this one, So that identity he doesn't seem to be
there. Don it'd be nice, it'd be nice. They've talked about it,
but they haven't done it. Like I, I'm not interested in spreading
misinformation. I love y'all, but I gotta give you the facts. They
haven't been playing good defense for a long time, a long time. If
that's their identity, they're in deeper trouble than I thought it should be.
But how often do they play a great game of forty eight minutes of defense.
I'm not trying to be harsh. I'm trying to tell you what's actually
happening, and not just well I test. I don't know. I saw
him get a stop a couple of times. Is there a good defense?
No, I watch every possession. They haven't been connected enough, they haven't
been good enough. They couldn't stop Zion at all. And that was a
spectacular performance. Tip your cap, but then the three started raining and yadiya
YadA. They lose another game to a team above five hundred in New Orleans,
one twelve to one oh four. Let's hear from coach lou postgame help
me stretch of all three games he won this year, three out of four,
he's dominated just the last six months of the third, like we talked
about before the game and the and the whole fourth and so got to pay
attention to detail, like understand what we want to do. And I understand
guys want to, you know, play, they want to you know,
compete, and they take pride in that. But you know, going down
the stretch when we want a double team and we got a double team,
and like we said, and you know, come out of time out,
you know, we just got to make sure we put a different give him
a different look. He gets it. Got too comfortable, you know,
running five row. They've run it every single time, and they've destroyed us
three out of four games with him doing the same same play over and over.
And so you know, give them credit. Like when when the game's
on the line, it's a close game, he always takes over the game
down the stretch. He did once again, Zion. It's almost an impossible
guard. But he's right attention to detail. They have to be better than
that. The Clippers, though, look guys defensively since February first, they
are twenty fifth. That's twenty games, I mean twenty five percent of the
season that they've been twenty fifth. Defensively, they can talk about it,
they do, but it's not happening. We'll see if that changes. Jose
and Downey, you're on Clippers top with that. Amazon, Hey, Adam,
gotta say, yeah, it was a disappointing loss. I'm not one
for moral victories, but I will say I expected to get blown out because
that's what they've done to us in these type of games. So I was
surprised that they gave that much intensity for the whole game coming off of back
to back. That's one thing I can say. I was pretty low bar
Jose, Hey, they played intensity and what was basically a must win game
if you want to truly hold on to the four spot and have a shot
at the three spot. Come on, man, I agree with higher standards
than that. I know. This is exactly what you just said, was
what I would tell. I was telling my family, who are Clipper fans.
I'm just trying to take at least some positive, but I haven't seen
them play intensive. I'll give you a positive. Paul, George looks great.
The last two games and played forty one minutes. Yes, he does
him at this level. Yeah, and uh, I do agree with you
that that defense is not there. They need to be more connected. I
would like to see if you're gonna play Tucker for that long, I mean,
you got to play them a couple more times so they could be a
little bit more connected. I thought he took a lot of body from Zion,
not that he stopped him, uh, but I mean I did like
at least he was taking some of the files away from that potentially could have
been Kawhi, Paul George that are taking uh those files. The other thing
is I want the only other positive thing I can bring out of this.
If they were missing Harden, yeah, it was an a point game.
They are. They are missing Westbrook, who brings a lot of energy.
I would like to think we would have a little bit more transition points if
he was in. He also does tend to bother people. He might have
been if he was under in the game today, we might have seen him
try to guard Zion out in the three point line, maybe slow him down
because he is fast. He likes physical play. But I'm with you,
I if they are losing to the teams that we need to see them win.
Yeah, that's all I'm saying. I appreciate the phone call, Hose.
You brought up some good points turned it around. Clippers lose one twelve
to one oh four New Orleans to the Pelicans, and coming up next year
on Clippers Stock, we'll have Chuck Mockler on from Clips and Dip looking for
more player audio and some more information regarding some of the guys that went down
in this game. Played through it, but it's tough right now. They
aren't beating good teams and the Pelicans are trying to climb over them for the
four seat. This was a monumental game again and the Clippers did not have
enough to get across the finish line. You're listening to Clipperstock here on m
five to seven E LA Sports. They want to bring a banner with them
to the into It doll more LA Clippers Basketball on the LA Clippers Audio Network.
Clippers lose in New Orleans to the Pelicans one twelve to one oh four
as Zion Williamson had thirty four points made eight straight buckets at one point.
Clippers tried just about everything their offensially ran out of steam. Late as well.
Welcome back into Clippers stock. I'm in a Moslim We'll get back to
your phone calls. Eight sixty six, ninety eight, seven, five seventy
more as Tage. Just hold on. First, we got Chuck Makler on
from Clips and Dip. Chuck, what's the biggest warning sign to you regarding
this Clippers team right now? Aside from just, you know, the losing,
give me something at a more granular level. Well, I don't know
how much granular this what I'm about to say is other than the losing,
but you and I had talked about it for ninety just barely ninety seconds before
I came on here. It's the defense, right Like this team had a
bit of a defensive identity for a little bit, but right now that you
know, Tyler talked about it at the end of this game, about how
Zion took over. We've seen guys like Ant, you know, take over
against the Clippers. There's a defensive issue right now. If guys are able
to quote unquote takeover this often against this team. And yes, we were
shorthanded, Terrence was hobbled, you know, you know all that stuff,
But the Clippers got and I'll say it. I will say it. The
Clippers got good stuff from three J. Tucker tonight and still were not able
to get a win. He played the defense they needed and things like that,
But for me, it's gotta be the defense. I think it's fair
at this point twenty games, I mean since February first, they are twenty
fifth defensively over a twenty game stretch, and I thought there were moments they
played really good defense. The first half. It was a low scoring affair.
Both teams had to earn everything. But you start to load up on
Zion and was dangerous or what makes this New Orleans Pelicans dangerous? A dangerous
team to me is because they're so balanced, like they could score on the
interior, but they're also a really good three point shooting team. So when
they did try to give more attention to Zion, understandably, they also got
picked apart along the perimeter and big shots were made by the Pelicans. It's
just you see guys like Marshall and Murphy. He's become a Clippers killer.
Even though CJ. McCollum has eleven points and Brandon Ingram has thirteen, they
still lose this game. And also to me, we talk about the defense,
but offensive execution late they had four points in almost the last five minutes.
The Clippers of this one shot. Yeah, yeah, it's just something
you know, and it is fatigue, right like I don't because of how
the schedule makers did the Clippers, those of us who talk about the team
do have to mention it because it is not easy to play five games and
seven ninths or whatever. This was back to backs, obviously never easy.
The Clippers are I think, what eleven and one against teams on the second
hande of a back to back, But this there was tired legs. You
shot with the shot selection. You mentioned the low scoring output towards the end
of this game, and some of the shot selection was just guys looking tired,
right, And I'm not here to blame guys for looking tired. This
is a brutal schedule. But we're not in a position where there's any real
moral victories from the Clippers right now, right like the Clippers need win.
It does seem like we're on a path to play the Pelicans in the first
round, be that with home core advantage or not. Is you know,
yet to be seen, but we all got to hope that it winds up.
So the Clippers do have home court advantage in this first round. They
also have another five and seven starting April fourth against the Denver Nuggets, so
one to close out the season. Basically, the one thing that has really
set alarm bells off with me, one thing that has kind of crystallized with
me and just my thinking about how this team has been constructed in one of
their flaws, and I hope it's not a fatal one, but they don't
generate enough easy shots. They just they have a steady diet of jump shots.
They have two of the best ever in that area, but late in
games, who's that guy that can get to the basket and get a bucket?
They don't use Aviatza zoo bots. He still only had seven shots,
coach lou said before yesterday's game, but they were going to try to get
him more opportunities. I think he took three shots yesterday and seven today.
He had at least one easy one that he got to go on and put
back on his own miss in the fourth quarter. But Norman Palell has juice
getting downhill, but the problem is he's small and it's tough for him to
finish around the trees. Kawhi and Paul George don't attack the basket as much,
certainly not as much as they used to. To me, that's a
real void missing on this team right now that just gets exploited more when you
see a team like Zion on the Pelicans, just you know, being a
battering ram downhill. Yeah, the Clippers kind of go to play when they
need a bucket, right is, you know, give the ball to Kawhi
and clear out, let him do its thing, which we trust when it's
Kawai because you know it is Kawhi. But there isn't a set, you
know, it's not like, oh, the Clippers are running the Spain pick
and roll so well and this is our thing or something like that. It
still does to like a little bit of a wild card. We love the
pick and roll with due in James Harden, which has been from all of
the Clippers and that we're going to see that spanned a lot in the playoffs.
But you're right, when that's not working and when the court shrinks from
the playoffs, sometimes you need a quote unquote easy bucket or something like that.
But we're gonna have to rely on kind of you know, well executed
set plays, which is something we haven't seen a lot from the Clippers.
When we have, it's been phenomenal. But I totally agree with you Harden
getting some reps and hopefully he doesn't miss too many, if not any more
games to really get this ironed out. Because we've seen this team be elite
and offense right like we've seen them do these things, they've just removed themselves
from that good process so much and only have half a month. From why
I said I wanted the Clippers to win ten games in March and have good
process the last two weeks. I'm pretty sure they're five and four right now
with two weeks left. So if that was, if your measuring stick was
similar to mine, we're gonna have to see some really encouraging things in these
next two weeks. One thing I will say that has been encouraging the last
two games, Paul George. He laid forty one minutes. He knocked down
some really tough, just high degree of difficulty three pointers back to back shots
in that fourth quarter. There was a Jose Alvarado three right in between those.
But making tough shots again, playing within himself but being more aggressive.
He attempted twenty one ten to twenty one, three of nine from the outside
the last two games from Paul George. There is something there. Looks like
he is turning a corner now one hundred percent. I was on here yesterday
and you checked me a little bit because I was like, hey, I
love the efficiency, I just wish it with more shots, and you were
like, he put up twenty eight on twelve shots. It's pretty good,
and that was phenomenal. I would say I'm more encouraged by his twenty one
field goal attempts tonight because that is what we're going to see in the playoffs.
Kawhi, Paul George, and James Harden's field atteps are all going to
go up. It's great to see Paul George wanting that opportunity in the regular
season right now, and he's also filling the statuet in other places. He
had five boards and six fift tonight, right He was doing a little bit
of everything. Defensively, you know, second game, move back to back
against a really a giant team that always gets to the problems. He wasn't
as sharp as he totally could have been, But offensively, I think it
was Jamal Christopher who said on Twitter Clippers the Power user that the Clippers ceiling
is kind of dictated by Paul George, Right, Like which Paul George we
going to get if we hit twenty one field, go up to Paul George.
I feel a lot better about the Clippers. Yeah, and like you
mentioned, six assists just two turnovers, they're running more pick and roll with
him of course right now, especially because no James Harden, he took care
of the basketball overall. I just his activity level the last couple of games
has looked a little bit different out there. He looked more comfortable, looked
to be in rhythm. But unfortunately, the Clippers fall in New Orleans to
the Pelicans. They get back after it back home against the Atlanta Hawks coming
up on Sunday night. In between now and then, I believe we will
have a YouTube coming up. Do we have a YouTube live on up tomorrow?
Chuck? Okay, exciting stuff. Maybe I'll give away another sticker.
People seem to be after that. It's a big deal. Katie, our
producer here is give me a dirty look like a sticker. What are you
going to give him a gold star? No, it's a sticker of the
new Clippers logo. Okay, just some respect, we need it, Katie,
let us, let's let us have something right now. Katie will be
able to respond a little bit. Here Clippers lose to Night Once twelve to
one, O four. He is Charles Mockler. Charles, we'll see on
the YouTube tomorrow, my friend. Absolutely, we'll go clip coming up next.
Final phone calls eight sixty six nine eight seven two five seventy and I
do have an update on Norman Palell and Terrence Man postgame as they both took
some hits, got some raspberries, got some bruises. I'll give you that
next. Here on Clippers stock on a five to seven 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. Clippers in a precarious position holding
on to the four spot, but the Pelicans are right behind them, and
they have the tiebreaker. There are two games behind the Clippers now trying to
chase them down to have home court advantage in what looks like quite possibly a
first round matchup. After the Clippers lose one twelve to one, oh four
and lose the season series of the Pelicans as well. Welcome into Clippers talk
a Madame Moslin. Let's go to Morris and Long Beach. What's up,
Morris? How we doing? Hey, we'll get you know that. I'm
gonna tell you what I didn't see today. And we were talking about zoo
Box earlier. He needs this brother. We didn't see that pick and roll
when hard And wasn't in there to night. We don't see that pick and
roll. Zubak low like an All star when they got when they're running that
pick and roll. Well, you know it seems like everybody's running the pick
and roll. No they can't. James hardin a damn mere quarterback. Yeah,
they lost to the Pelicans. The Pelicans didn't to have our number.
But like an earlier calls said, now you get a day in between them,
two games in between those games. So and that's what I learned.
I earned his money. So I'm not excited about playing the Pelagasse. I'm
gonna taste that, madam. And we don't be for real about this.
Ain't no series this year is gonna be easy with nobody, that's true.
Everybody's gonna have all good gutabody. So anyway, get me in the building
at me, and I'm not worried about because they still gonna do very,
very very well. Okay, you behaved yourself, all right, Rus Yeah,
I've said it many times. I think the Western Conference first round could
be a bloodbath. There's no easy out. I think Denver playing the Lakers
would even be tough. I know they've beat them like seven or eight straight
times. If that happened, okay, see versus the Lakers, I think
the Lakers could win that series. If it's Minnesota versus Dallas in the first
round or Phoenix. Can't tell me the Mavericks of the Suns couldn't upset Minnesota.
Just not gonna be an easy one in the Western Conference it rarely is.
But I don't think the disparity from one through four and what could be
five through eight in the West talent wise, is that wide. Would be
my point. Tajus in Walnut tagus here on Clipper stop with that, Amusen,
Hey, what's up? Adham? You know you mentioned that the Clippers,
you know, don't generate enough easy shots, and I've been, you
know, thinking the same thing for a while. And there's one of your
thoughts on this, I'm sure that they Clippers have a reason for this.
But when I've noticed for a long time when Kuiet they're double team, and
he's been getting hard double team this year, Like as soon as he touches
it, there's always two people on the strong side and three people on the
weak side. So if Harden throws the ball to Kawhi, he gets doubled.
And if Harden isn't open, he's having to do work to just make
a pass kind of cross court. And in the triangle offense, when Phil
Jackson had it and with MJ and Shack, they would have that corner per
and also available, so there would be three on this strong side. And
I think, you know, if Kawi is double teamed, he could throw
it to Norman like with one pass and he could shoot it. Maybe they're
worried about that defender dropping to Kaui, And I think it's easier when like
you have a stronger postperson like Shack back in the day to these cultures in
the basket. But like we always want Zubac to get more touches. I
think he could be part of that triangle. PG could be part of that
triangle and Kauai. But right now, I've seen it for a long time
and I'm just wondering why. Hey, I remember a game where Luke detonated.
I think he went off against Orlando and like gave one of the ninety
six Eastern Conference Finals but continues ages. Yeah, So I'm just you know,
and I've seen this for this trend for a long time, and I'm
thinking, like, if Kauai is getting double teamed hard every possession, then
why aren't we getting a better shot? And every time I see the same
thing, he's having to do a hard ribble out because that first person is
available and there's three on the weak side, and I would like to see
get just three on the strong side kind of run that triangle. It'll force
them to go get into motion to keep moving and it might be just one
pass where Kui has to make and we can take a good shot. It
simplifies the game. We don't have to work as hard. PG doesn't have
to go into his bag to get a contested twenty footer. I think when
we're not running the pick and rolls with James Harden, if we can implement
that sort of triangle offense, and it's kind of because you know, Tylu
played with under Phil Jackson and he ran this system, so there must be
some reasoning. But I just don't forget why we're having two on that strong
side and not getting better shots from that. Yeah, there have been some
data out there on the Clippers by some of the high level NBA thankers that
they're not getting enough points per possession out of double teams when Kawhi specifically is
doubled, and that's somewhat concerned. He's not an elite playmaker. He's good,
he's very solid, and he's gotten better over the last five years.
But if you want to say there is a weakness in his game, I
guess that would be it. But remember he and PG, this is why
they wanted that prototypical point guard. They have it now in James Harden.
But you're right, there's still gonna be instances. They're gonna get doubled all
the time, and you have to get the defense in rotation and find that
open man and just nuke from distance because this Clippers team needs to be much
better from three than they have been post Grammy road trip. That's what's strange
to me, really, it's been too long now where they haven't been elite
from three You look at on the season, the Clippers are still second in
three point shooting at thirty eight point eight percent, which tells you how good
they were for a period of time, because if you just go back fifteen
games now, they've only been shooting thirty six percent from three last fifteen games
and they're still second overall on the year. So they were scorching hot for
a while when the offense was really moving, when everything was clicking and firing
on all cylinders. When they went twenty six and five during a thirty one
game stretch, when James Harden started to get comfortable and this Clippers team became
very scary and they had the highest rated offense in the league. Something has
changed. I don't know if it's just tired legs. You know what coach
Leuwoi stresses is they have to get into their offense quicker. Now they're an
older team, but you look at the data from the first twelve seconds of
taking a shot within that time in the shot clock versus the last twelve seconds
of the shot clock, it's night and day. They go from a top
three offense to basically the worst offense when they take too long and don't take
a shot until the last twelve seconds of the shot. It's something with this
team that has been stressed over and over again from coach Lou. I don't
know why the message hasn't been received. I don't know if it's a personnel
thing. I don't know if it's an age thing. I brought up something
concerning over the last month or so that you know, it's one thing to
have a small team, it's one thing to have a slow team. Can
you win with both, because that's kind of where the Clippers are at.
Yes, sometimes they play with more pace they did yesterday with bones. Sometimes
they don't. Second, I have a back to back maybe that accounts for
some of that, but not enough built up consistency where everything has been second
nature for this team so far offensively, that you can just react and do
things instinctually without having to think too much. That's what you want heading into
the playoffs. It can still happen. There's sixteen games left. I do
want to check out strength of schedule between them and the Minnesota Timberwolves and the
New Orleans Pelicans. So the team in front of them by three games,
but really it's four because Minnesota has the tiebreaker. They have the seventeenth toughest
schedule. The Clippers have the eighteenth. The Pelicans, who are two games
behind the Clippers, but they do have the tiebreaker, they have the fourteenth
toughest schedule, So I guess you could say the two teams around them have
a slightly tougher schedule than the Clippers. Remaining, the Clippers still have the
Denver Nuggets one last time. They still have Cleveland with likely Donovan Mitchell coming
back, still have another game against the Kings, two against the Phoenix Suns
towards the end of the season. They play the Magic Yes, that's a
good team now, same with the Indiana Pacers. A lot of time to
improve, just needs to start happening by the game when it comes to building
those habits. That means Sunday Night against Atlanta, they're down right now.
That was the last team the Clippers looked a lead against offense, I would
say, for forty eight minutes when they put up one hundred and fifty in
Atlanta in the last game of that Gammy road trip where they went six and
one. So maybe they can recapture something playing them again now at home tip
time Sunday night at Crypto six thirty. We'll have your pregame show starting at
five thirty before we get out of here. K you Newton, you got
a question free? You just want to talk some mess. No, I'm
not gonna talk some mess. Pick and roll is not where you actually roll
the ball down the court. Correct, Yeah, it's not like bowling.
Can you do that? Though they do it sometimes to say to save time
on the clock, So you're not totally wrong, Katie. Right, do
they have to do the thing like bowlers do, put their foot behind them
and yeah, it's like the big Lebowski. It's just perfect. It's crazy.
They he'll put on their sweaters. Marcus zero. All right, before
we get out of here, I do want to thank the Clippers organization,
Ralph Lawler, Brian Seeman, Noah Ego, Carlo Jimenez on the call,
Katie Newton, our producer back here in the bank, people, the Jake
Warner, the callers, the listener until Sunday night with the Clippers tipping off
at six thirty against the Hawks, We'll have pregame at five thirty. I'm
Adam Oslin. We'll talk to you then, so why he was doing his
thing. All they want to do is win in La. I win.
I thought they gave everything they had. I'm very proud of them. This
has been Clippers Talk, the official postgame reaction of the LA Clippers. God
bless Paul George. Are you not? It's a change. Don't miss an
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Thank you for joining us for another exciting broadcast of LA Clippers basketball.