1 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:13,759 Welcome in, folks. If you're joining us, we're doing kind of a 2 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:19,679 surprise live here. We're coming at you the day after the Clippers below a 3 00:00:19,719 --> 00:00:24,960 twenty two point lead in what ended up being a forty point turnaround in favor 4 00:00:25,199 --> 00:00:29,519 of the Minnesota timber Wolves. We've had a little bit of time to sort 5 00:00:29,559 --> 00:00:34,320 of process. I guess as much as we can what really happened, what 6 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:38,479 really went wrong with this Clipper team. But we're also just curious where everybody's 7 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:43,240 at. You know, it's the it's the next day. We want to 8 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:46,520 know how you're feeling about this Clippers team. So go ahead and comment. 9 00:00:47,399 --> 00:00:51,880 But Adam, let's let's just start off. I mean, where do you 10 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:59,840 think things went wrong? Well, when you're up by twenty two and I 11 00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:02,600 was kind of getting the temperature of the room last night on Clippers Talk. 12 00:01:02,679 --> 00:01:06,680 You came on with me and did a fantastic job after a difficult game like 13 00:01:06,719 --> 00:01:11,319 that. But there's blame to go around, right. This isn't one person, 14 00:01:11,439 --> 00:01:15,959 This isn't one guy, This isn't one issue. It's not just the 15 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:22,159 coaching staff, it's not just the players. But the one thing I would 16 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:30,599 start with is PG and James Harden needing to be better than taking just six 17 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:34,439 shots in the second half. I believe, and this is a fact. 18 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:38,840 I don't even have to believe it. Paul George had more turnovers than shot 19 00:01:38,879 --> 00:01:44,159 attempts in the second half of that ballgame where they knew they did not have 20 00:01:45,439 --> 00:01:49,319 Kawhi Leonard being able to return. And people are coming in now and flooding 21 00:01:49,359 --> 00:01:55,079 in as we're doing the live and impromptu surprise surprise. I'm happy about that. 22 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:59,599 Even Chuck is wondering what's going on. Oh, by the way, 23 00:01:59,719 --> 00:02:04,599 in the live because we're gonna try to spin things in a positive manner at 24 00:02:04,599 --> 00:02:08,879 some point here, I hope, and this is positive. Best comment in 25 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:16,120 the comment section here, you win this new logo Clippers sticker, we'll send 26 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:20,680 it to you. I don't know how we normally get their address. I 27 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:23,680 don't know if it's through YouTube or what or on Twitter. But best comment, 28 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:29,840 I'll send you the sticker of the Clippers new logo here, just to 29 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:34,080 try to entice people to come in. But and going back to Paul George 30 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:38,280 and James Harden, I just don't understand what the stake's being that high in 31 00:02:38,319 --> 00:02:43,919 that ball game, being up by twenty two and then completely falling apart towards 32 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:49,240 the end of the first half. And look, I'm understanding to being deflating 33 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:53,039 the fact that Kawhi Leonard and there was so much uncertainty surrounding what was going 34 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:55,240 on with him for about a half. I don't buy that. I don't 35 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:59,520 buy that. Like, I'm sorry, I don't. I don't buy that 36 00:02:59,439 --> 00:03:04,120 that effect encore performance. It affects him not being there, affects the team. 37 00:03:04,439 --> 00:03:06,960 But I don't buy for a second that It's like, oh, everybody 38 00:03:07,039 --> 00:03:09,000 was so worried, we just, you know, how can we maintain how 39 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:14,439 can we possibly maintain a twenty two point lead with so much worry about Kawhi 40 00:03:14,479 --> 00:03:17,240 and his backspasms. That's that's ridiculous, that's bunk. I just don't buy 41 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:22,199 it. Uh. I'm not saying it's a good enough excuse. It may 42 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:25,680 have played a small role, but when you're up by twenty two, there's 43 00:03:25,719 --> 00:03:30,400 really no excuse. Then, yes, it can be distracting. You're seeing 44 00:03:30,439 --> 00:03:34,000 Russell Westbrook go back to the locker room, multiple people go back there, 45 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:38,960 and there's just this dark cloud over the ballgame. That's the biggest of the 46 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:43,800 season to try to get back into the hunt for a top three seed, 47 00:03:44,719 --> 00:03:47,759 and people are wondering what's going on with Kawhi who has had his injury issues 48 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:52,719 obviously over the years with the Clippers, and everybody's kind of on edge, 49 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:57,319 and I do think some of that could affect the game and affect the players, 50 00:03:57,639 --> 00:04:02,800 But you also have to have your leaders step up, rally the troops 51 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:09,560 and rescue a team from falling apart for the third time in the span of 52 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:13,120 a week and a half. How many lessons do you need to know this 53 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:15,160 can't happen again. You gotta put your foot down and say no, not 54 00:04:15,279 --> 00:04:20,920 tonight. We're not gonna let Minnesota gain confidence and gain momentum and get right 55 00:04:20,959 --> 00:04:26,160 back into the ball game where it's an eight point game at the half and 56 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:30,160 you've just relinquished what looked like And I know in today's league it's easier to 57 00:04:30,199 --> 00:04:33,480 come back because of the three point shooting, of course, but twenty two 58 00:04:33,519 --> 00:04:40,319 points at home in a game of that level of significance, that just is 59 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:44,759 inexcusable. It can't happen. It's your fourth game against them, you just 60 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:48,079 beat them in their house. You're very familiar with this team, and you 61 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:51,560 knew it was on the line, and you know, or at least have 62 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:58,279 an idea. As much as that uncertainty with Kawhi could affect guys, you 63 00:04:58,399 --> 00:05:01,160 probably have an idea you're not coming back tonight at some point. So therefore, 64 00:05:01,959 --> 00:05:06,120 I mean, I'm sure they knew us that he left, Like I'm 65 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:11,759 sure they knew before us that he had left the building after or at least 66 00:05:11,759 --> 00:05:14,079 if he's gone for that long, at some point, you go, yeah, 67 00:05:14,079 --> 00:05:16,240 he's probably not coming back. He's probably not gonna be available for this 68 00:05:16,319 --> 00:05:19,839 game, right, totally. Well, I I just don't want to understand, 69 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:23,639 Yeah, And I just want to clarify one thing too, Like, 70 00:05:23,959 --> 00:05:28,360 it's not it's not giving up a twenty two point lead like in a vacuum. 71 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:31,319 That's pretty understandable, right with how quick scoring can go. Obviously, 72 00:05:31,399 --> 00:05:35,319 the way that it happens some of those runs, some of the long stretches 73 00:05:35,319 --> 00:05:41,199 without any Clippers scoring is is a little troubling. But it's not just that, 74 00:05:41,439 --> 00:05:44,079 right, Like the Minnesota Timberwolves are a good team. If they had 75 00:05:44,079 --> 00:05:46,519 gotten back into that ball game and it was a back and forth sort of 76 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:51,040 battle that I can understand, but like for it to be a for it 77 00:05:51,079 --> 00:05:55,279 to be the turnaround that it was, and for you to see like it 78 00:05:55,439 --> 00:05:59,079 just feels like getting hit by a slow moving train, like you just see 79 00:05:59,079 --> 00:06:03,319 it coming the whole time. It's the Austin Power steamroller scene exactly. It's 80 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:06,120 exactly that. And I'm glad that you brought up the tension because you know, 81 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:11,079 I don't know how Qui's injury affected things, contrary to what I did 82 00:06:11,079 --> 00:06:13,560 say earlier. I mean, I guess when you see a guy sort of 83 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,279 go down, maybe you do think about your immortality. But there is a 84 00:06:16,399 --> 00:06:21,600 problem with this Clippers team and tension or pressure, they are not really able 85 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:27,040 to rise up to the moment. They really clench up, and we see 86 00:06:27,319 --> 00:06:30,319 sort of the same bad habits, the same poor execution that we've seen time 87 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:34,240 and time again. And I mean, you just really got to wonder, 88 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:41,240 like, at what point are they gonna get past this? Okay, I 89 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:45,079 think that's a great point and there's more to dig in there. And you 90 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:47,160 just brought up the comment I wanted to see on the big screen here from 91 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:53,639 Jeremy Mormon. He said, we used to be the comeback clips. See 92 00:06:53,639 --> 00:06:58,120 if you can follow this train of thought that maybe going off the tracks a 93 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:01,959 little bit. But I was thinking late last night about something you said early 94 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:05,160 on in the season. I texted you this too, But during I think 95 00:07:05,199 --> 00:07:10,800 the six game losing streak, you said something to the effect of something is 96 00:07:10,879 --> 00:07:15,680 rotten at the core with this team. Something is wrong. There's some deep 97 00:07:15,839 --> 00:07:19,920 seated flaw that is keeping them from getting to that ultimate level they should be 98 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:26,040 at given the talent, given the level of talent that they have. And 99 00:07:26,079 --> 00:07:30,120 granted, they responded and they went on a twenty six and five run in 100 00:07:30,199 --> 00:07:33,079 thirty one games. It looked like the best team in the league. And 101 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:39,680 we're going through a moment for this Clippers franchise, which was the best performances 102 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:44,120 that we had seen the regular season ever. Really, they looked that dominant 103 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:51,600 in that consistent, you could say, for a long stretch of time offensively, 104 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:56,399 especially the defense. It was still a little bit up and down at 105 00:07:56,399 --> 00:08:01,319 times, but it was good enough when you're that potent offensively. But here's 106 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:05,480 what I'll say, and here's kind of my theory on what you talked about 107 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:11,439 in that quote from earlier in the season and what you just brought up here 108 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:16,720 of why the Clippers seem to especially right now when they get punched in the 109 00:08:16,759 --> 00:08:22,079 face, just fold and collapse and melt down. That's what we've seen over 110 00:08:22,079 --> 00:08:26,720 the last week and a half because they were the comeback clips for so long. 111 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:31,519 So here's what makes it difficult to get a beat on this team, 112 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:37,320 and understanding of their identity, you can certainly say part of their identity in 113 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:41,039 the two to three era is being resilient because of all the comebacks more than 114 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:46,000 any other team in the league thirteen comebacks since twenty nineteen, of being down 115 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:52,279 twenty points or more and them rising to the occasion when a player is down, 116 00:08:52,799 --> 00:08:56,759 a player of significance like Kawhi Leonard being down and them still overcoming that 117 00:08:56,799 --> 00:09:03,960 and getting to the Western Conference Finals. But I'm wondering now, I hope 118 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:09,039 it's not true, but I'm just trying to figure out why this continues to 119 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:13,480 happen right now with these letdowns and taking their foot off the gas. Is 120 00:09:13,519 --> 00:09:18,440 that resiliency a double edged sword? Has it become that for this team where 121 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:24,519 they've had so many comebacks that it's almost built up this false confidence that they 122 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:28,399 can step on the gas when they need to, that they can flip a 123 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:33,080 switch out there at times because they have done it time and time again before. 124 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:37,440 But it's brought in these bad habits of choosing when to play hard, 125 00:09:37,919 --> 00:09:45,559 choosing when to have a level of professionalism that it needs to be at effort 126 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:48,720 wise, because Paul George called them out for that last night. We have 127 00:09:48,799 --> 00:09:52,919 to give better effort consistently from not just game to game where it seems to 128 00:09:54,000 --> 00:10:00,679 lack, but quarter to quarter, possession to possession has Maybe they're great strength, 129 00:10:00,799 --> 00:10:07,559 that resiliency been has led to this weakness that has developed over time of 130 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:11,919 them being so inconsistent because of the false confidence of oh, we can come 131 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:18,720 back, we'll figure it out eventually, we'll get them next quarter, and 132 00:10:18,799 --> 00:10:24,000 it's become a real issue with them having these letdowns like we're seeing right now. 133 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:28,120 Like Denver gets the benefit of the doubt when they're hanging around the five 134 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:37,159 seed because they've won the chip, they've been there and done that. They 135 00:10:37,279 --> 00:10:41,000 have that ability. Star break is the opposite. It's the polar opposite of 136 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:43,600 how the Clippers have looked coming out of the All Star breaks. But none 137 00:10:43,639 --> 00:10:48,279 of us are surprised by that because they were kind of lying in wait. 138 00:10:48,759 --> 00:10:52,519 They had Jamal Murray out for a month. At one point they were treading 139 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:56,320 water, look like of the elite teams in the Western Conference, and now 140 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:58,080 they see an opening for the one seed and say, okay, it's time 141 00:10:58,519 --> 00:11:03,600 and they just choose to attack this part of the season because they can get 142 00:11:03,639 --> 00:11:09,240 the one seed. The Clippers, they haven't won the championship yet, they 143 00:11:09,279 --> 00:11:13,159 haven't earned that. They haven't had that built up equity to be able to 144 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:16,039 say that, Okay, we're gonna take over. Now we're gonna do our 145 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:22,039 thing. But they play like that at times. There's almost like an entitlement 146 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:24,679 because of all the talent they have, the embarrassment of riches like, no, 147 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,039 you haven't won the championship yet, you don't get the benefit of the 148 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:33,159 doubt like a team like the Denver Nuggets to just flip a switch when you 149 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:37,159 feel like it. That's yeah, I worry. I mean. And here's 150 00:11:37,159 --> 00:11:41,159 the thing is, like these games are like kind of a microcosm of what's 151 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:43,960 been happening in the season. Right Like we went on that Grammy road trip, 152 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:48,039 we had a nine game winning streak, like it felt like we were, 153 00:11:48,279 --> 00:11:50,720 you know, up up twenty two in a quarter on the season, 154 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,240 and now we're watching it kind of slowly slip away. This has been a 155 00:11:54,279 --> 00:12:00,840 five hundred ball club essentially since the Grammy trip, and I just I don't 156 00:12:00,879 --> 00:12:03,039 understand, Like each new slap in the face, I'm kind of like, 157 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:05,440 this has got to be the thing that does it right, Like this is 158 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:09,759 the wake up call, and they're still asleep, and it's just the exact 159 00:12:09,799 --> 00:12:13,879 same things that we're seeing again and again, and the quotes are even kind 160 00:12:13,919 --> 00:12:16,440 of the same. Uh, you know, we gotta be giving more effort 161 00:12:16,519 --> 00:12:18,559 consistently, you know, it's it starts on the defensive end. We gotta 162 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:24,240 lock in all this stuff. And yet on court, I mean, I 163 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:28,039 thought in that Timberwolves game in that third quarter, they were kind of sleep 164 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:31,000 walking through it, just assuming that if they hung around they would be able 165 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:35,039 to close it out in the fourth and it just wasn't the case. And 166 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:39,960 I don't know, I don't I you know, I saw through it is 167 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:45,639 almost kind They had nine turnovers in that third quarter. They made four shots 168 00:12:45,679 --> 00:12:50,360 and had nine turnovers. That's yes, how yeah, it's I mean, 169 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:54,519 it's absurd. Uh, And I just don't know, because it's across the 170 00:12:54,639 --> 00:12:58,879 board, right, Like it'd be one thing if it was just Paul George 171 00:12:58,919 --> 00:13:01,840 who did not have a great perform Rmans. If it was just James Harden 172 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:05,799 who has played a lot. We've talked about that. I don't know what 173 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:07,960 it is. And to your point about the resiliency too, you know, 174 00:13:09,039 --> 00:13:11,679 I talk about this sometimes with players, how they're sort of like cumulative knocks, 175 00:13:11,759 --> 00:13:15,960 right, Like you take a bunch of little bumps and things all season 176 00:13:16,159 --> 00:13:20,240 that in the moment aren't really that big, but it adds up. It 177 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:22,440 adds up by the time you get to the playoffs. You know, you've 178 00:13:22,519 --> 00:13:26,679 just already been through so much that you don't have the legs that you once 179 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:35,039 did. And has been like being in these difficult so often also just led 180 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:37,159 to sort of like a I mean, because there's the positive right where you 181 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:41,080 think that you can come back from it, but also just being in these 182 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:46,000 situations all the time, like the way that they tense up in it, 183 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:48,840 you would think it would be the opposite, right, Like when we think 184 00:13:48,879 --> 00:13:52,799 of when we think of good clutch teams, obviously it's not great if you've 185 00:13:52,799 --> 00:13:56,639 played a lot of games in the clutch, but teams that are good at 186 00:13:56,639 --> 00:13:58,519 it ten like they tend to relax, they relish in the moment a little 187 00:13:58,519 --> 00:14:03,679 bit more and just not seeing that from this Clippers team when they start to 188 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:07,919 let go of the rains a little bit. And look, they're clutch. 189 00:14:07,039 --> 00:14:11,679 Numbers overall this season are very good. But I was just running the numbers 190 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:18,600 against teams of five hundred above five hundred, I should say, And they're 191 00:14:18,639 --> 00:14:22,480 twenty and sixteen since that six game losing streak, the first five games with 192 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:28,440 James Harden, when they found their footing, they're twenty and sixteen against teams 193 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:35,600 above five hundred on the season. But over their last ten games now against 194 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:43,440 teams above five hundred, they're two and eight. So how many games are 195 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:46,759 they winning against the best in the league. They're three and seven against the 196 00:14:46,759 --> 00:14:50,639 top three teams, the teams right in front of them. They are what 197 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:54,039 two or one and two against the Pelicans right now with one more game to 198 00:14:54,080 --> 00:15:01,559 go. You mentioned having those wake up calls. I thought, if there 199 00:15:01,559 --> 00:15:05,320 were gonna be games that were gonna get up for and rise and meet the 200 00:15:05,399 --> 00:15:09,639 challenge against this squad because of playoff implications, because you just don't want to 201 00:15:09,679 --> 00:15:16,360 be pushed around anymore as they have been in the past. That first game 202 00:15:16,559 --> 00:15:20,440 coming out of the Grammy trip against the Minnesota Timberwolves at home where they lost 203 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:24,399 by twenty one would be one of them. And then the first game coming 204 00:15:24,399 --> 00:15:28,440 out of the All Star Break against okay See on the road Grant would be 205 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:33,919 one of them too, And they were doa They were missing for large stretches 206 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:37,679 of both of those ball games. So if they're not, if that's not 207 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:41,279 enough to wake you up, you brought up a couple of You brought up 208 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:45,080 a couple of key losses. And that's been the thing too, Right, 209 00:15:45,279 --> 00:15:48,639 Is it's one thing to have a regular season loss. A lot of these 210 00:15:48,679 --> 00:15:52,960 have been you know, it is still the regular season, but there's implications 211 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:56,519 that kind of go beyond just one of eighty two. You know, whether 212 00:15:56,559 --> 00:16:00,960 it's a tiebreaker, whether it's a chance to move up into the standings. 213 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:07,559 But what in your mind so far has been the worst loss of this Clippers 214 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:11,240 season. Is it this Timberwolves loss? Is it the Lakers loss? Is 215 00:16:11,279 --> 00:16:15,039 it something else? How are you feeling like what was the most egregious to 216 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:18,559 you that should have been the wake up call? I mean, there's different 217 00:16:18,559 --> 00:16:22,720 ways to look at it, because now we've had a pattern of them blowing 218 00:16:22,799 --> 00:16:26,639 leads since the Lakers loss. So if that's become a trend because of that 219 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:32,240 one game where they blew a twenty one point lead, if that's the origin 220 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:36,720 of these new bad habits or them starting to feel the pressure of oh no, 221 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:40,000 here we go again, then that might be the worst loss of the 222 00:16:40,039 --> 00:16:44,639 season. I thought it was at the time. I thought it was worse 223 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:48,639 than losing to Reggie Jackson and DeAndre Jordan and the Denver Nuggets team that was 224 00:16:48,799 --> 00:16:55,519 completely depleted and somehow beat the Clippers at home. But they righted the ship 225 00:16:55,559 --> 00:16:59,840 after that. That did get their attention. That was the next game was 226 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:03,079 the first game where Kawhi went into god teer mode where he was playing basketball 227 00:17:03,119 --> 00:17:07,440 at such a high level that yes, he should have been in the MVP 228 00:17:07,599 --> 00:17:14,880 conversation h and at a much I guess a little bit more of that chatter 229 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:19,039 should have been surrounding Kawhi Leonard. But the loss last night, considering how 230 00:17:19,079 --> 00:17:23,640 big of a game that was now and even without Kawhi and you can say, 231 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:26,119 well, that's you're out, It's not the worst loss because they only 232 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:32,160 had him for one quarter, But just seeing the temperament of the team and 233 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:36,640 then give in again, for the third time in a week and a half 234 00:17:37,039 --> 00:17:40,240 and give up a big lead like that. It's very disappointing. It's very 235 00:17:40,279 --> 00:17:45,240 frustrating. And I've seen this joke now multiple times. I swear Adams harrigets 236 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:49,000 for games on when the PG does lately, will it be the winner of 237 00:17:49,079 --> 00:17:53,880 the new Clippers' logo sticker? I don't know, but I think last night 238 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:59,160 it's I don't think it's just recency biased, because I think last night's loss 239 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:03,960 confirms some of those fears that we've had that oh no, they're not pulling 240 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:07,079 out of this tail spin where they're seven and eight post Grammy road trip. 241 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:14,000 It's continuing right now. And then when you add in the injury concerns with 242 00:18:14,079 --> 00:18:18,559 Kawhi and James Harden as well. He's questionable for tomorrow's game against Chicago with 243 00:18:18,559 --> 00:18:21,759 the left shoulder injury, It's like, yeah, this is this is a 244 00:18:21,799 --> 00:18:26,680 gut check time. This is a crossroads for this Clippers team with eighteen games 245 00:18:26,799 --> 00:18:32,480 left before the playoffs. So every loss is important, Every game is important, 246 00:18:32,839 --> 00:18:36,000 Everyone is important, but they are more magnified at the end of the 247 00:18:36,039 --> 00:18:41,119 season because you would assume what we're seeing from the Clippers now is more of 248 00:18:41,119 --> 00:18:45,759 what we'll see in a playoff series because we're closer to the playoffs than what 249 00:18:45,759 --> 00:18:49,880 we saw two months ago from the Clippers. You know, yeah, well, 250 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:55,359 I mean it's it's I do think that there's something to the momentum thing, 251 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:57,759 right, I mean, it's one thing if your team has sort of 252 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:02,599 earned the right to coast a little bit at the end of the season, 253 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:04,759 like as I think of like the Denver Nuggets last year where they had the 254 00:19:04,759 --> 00:19:07,920 one seed locked up. You know that, you know, Yokic didn't end 255 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:11,039 up winning the MVP because they kind of took it a little bit easier in 256 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:15,960 the in the in the latter third of that of that season, they earn 257 00:19:17,039 --> 00:19:19,160 the right, you know, we have you know, we have nothing of 258 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:22,400 the sort. And to see the team crumbling at this time of the year 259 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:30,000 certainly feels a lot more concerning than the encouragement that I felt, like earlier 260 00:19:30,039 --> 00:19:32,640 in the season, that I felt at the that I felt during the Grammys 261 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:37,119 road trip or the or the nine game win streak. Like it's it's really 262 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:42,480 really discouraging at this time of the year, especially after like after the rest 263 00:19:42,519 --> 00:19:48,480 and stuff, which I can expect a couple of rusty games, but you 264 00:19:48,519 --> 00:19:52,200 know, the schedule is not a cake walk and they have multiple games coming 265 00:19:52,279 --> 00:19:56,319 up in a very short time to figure things out. Now, sometimes this 266 00:19:56,440 --> 00:20:00,000 can, you know it, sometimes this can put put the team together. 267 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:03,200 You know, when they do have these sort of focused stretches, it forces 268 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:08,079 them to be a better version of themselves. But I mean, if they're 269 00:20:08,079 --> 00:20:11,359 in a nose dive and if they're unable to turn this thing around, I 270 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:18,480 mean, falling to five is really like, I just I can't understate how 271 00:20:18,559 --> 00:20:22,799 big the difference is between four and five, given like what the Western Conference 272 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:26,319 looks like right now, and I mean I talked about it last night with 273 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:30,599 you, but the inevitability what it feels like Denver is one of the easiest 274 00:20:30,599 --> 00:20:34,759 schedules remaining that they lock up the one seed. I just don't know what 275 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:40,240 you expect, like if you get out, if you get out of a 276 00:20:40,279 --> 00:20:45,079 first round series from the five seed and then you have to play in Denver, 277 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:48,160 Like, I just don't do you think you can flip the switch then, 278 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:52,200 because I haven't seen it. I just haven't seen it for a long 279 00:20:52,279 --> 00:20:56,640 enough time to believe that that is in any way possible No, they haven't 280 00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:03,160 earned that level of confidence that they can flip that switch and beat the defending 281 00:21:03,279 --> 00:21:07,160 champs on the road in a seven game series. Right now, everyone should 282 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:12,680 be rooting for the OKC Thunder to continue to win and Denver to lose. 283 00:21:14,799 --> 00:21:18,880 And they're taking on the Miami Heat right now in Miami like it is time 284 00:21:18,039 --> 00:21:22,960 to do some standings. Watch because as you mentioned, you end up in 285 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:26,279 the five seed in less one of those bottom dwelling teams, and it could 286 00:21:26,279 --> 00:21:30,160 happen upsets one of the top teams, one of the top four seeds. 287 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:33,400 You're gonna be on the road the entire time. You're not gonna have home 288 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:38,319 court the entire the entirety of the way through the playoffs. Who would have 289 00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:42,559 imagined that just a month ago when we were talking about, oh, this 290 00:21:42,559 --> 00:21:48,480 could be the first Clippers team to grab the number one overall seed. You 291 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:52,000 know, I see Veronica say there's no accountability players and coach, no heart 292 00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:57,799 or pride. I'll say this when you mean when it's rotten, That's what 293 00:21:57,839 --> 00:22:00,559 I mean when I say there's something rotten at the like at the core of 294 00:22:00,599 --> 00:22:03,839 this team. Oh look, we got a we got a very special night. 295 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:08,839 Hey, what's up, Fellas, Just popping in before I head to 296 00:22:10,079 --> 00:22:12,720 a little birthday dinner. Just just wanted to say, you know, after 297 00:22:12,759 --> 00:22:17,640 the loss last night, I woke up, showered, went to work, 298 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:19,920 had an okay day at work, took a couple walks around the block type 299 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:27,279 thing to clear my head, and it changed absolutely nothing. It changed absolutely 300 00:22:27,319 --> 00:22:33,440 I didn't hatch this ship. It's rotten to the core. That's just how 301 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:37,440 it feels, like, Adam, I loved what you were saying, like 302 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:41,359 that Lakers loss might be the worst loss because that's what get us, gets 303 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:45,319 us into this scenario now right where we're like seeing leads go away. But 304 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:49,880 I don't know, man, they gotta figure the shit out soon, like 305 00:22:51,279 --> 00:22:55,880 in six hours or something like that. Because Kawhi's with the team, which 306 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:57,960 is great. I don't think he's gonna play both back to back, both 307 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:00,279 games with the back to back, I don't want him to at this point. 308 00:23:00,319 --> 00:23:04,640 But it's tough, man. This might be the lowest I've been all 309 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:07,279 year, which I think makes sense. I think most people are right now. 310 00:23:07,319 --> 00:23:11,759 Doesn't mean it can't go back up, but well, it's difficult too, 311 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:15,720 right because in some ways this feels even worse than the six game losing 312 00:23:15,759 --> 00:23:19,160 streak, just because that was like, it's so bad, it's so bad 313 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:22,519 right now, we know, like this can't maintain. It can't be this 314 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:26,680 bad forever. This team continuing to play like a five hundred team. I 315 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:30,960 mean that feels a little bit more within the realm of possibility right in a 316 00:23:30,079 --> 00:23:36,880 very scary, very sad way. Yeah, and the schedule coming up, 317 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:40,400 it's not easy. We got those two games against Portland and then one against 318 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:41,720 Charlotte. Other than that, I'm like, I don't know, it feels 319 00:23:41,759 --> 00:23:45,640 like a coin flip for the most part. Friday, I'm terrified for I 320 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:52,640 am a little bit encouraged from what coach lu said postgame last night. He 321 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:59,440 was he almost swore about five different times, but specifically regarding the thing that 322 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:04,759 bothered the most was the lack of mental toughness out there and them getting punk 323 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:07,599 like that when you have a twenty two point lead against a team that has 324 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:11,480 called you old and then made you look old. With the Anthony Davis in 325 00:24:11,519 --> 00:24:17,799 that possession defensively against Paul George who early on the ballgame, when Kawhi was 326 00:24:17,839 --> 00:24:19,759 out there in the first quarter, I mean, they were picking on nas 327 00:24:19,799 --> 00:24:23,359 Reed when he came in, he had that baseline dunk on nas Reid. 328 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:26,839 He looked good. He looked like he had pop, he had juice. 329 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:30,880 They were ready, everybody. I mean, it was a well oiled machine 330 00:24:30,599 --> 00:24:36,480 the first fifteen minutes, first sixteen to eighteen minutes the ballgame to build up 331 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:40,839 that lead. Again, Kawhi was out the entire second quarter. They only 332 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:45,039 led by thirteen heading out of the first. So they created that twenty two 333 00:24:45,039 --> 00:24:49,440 point lead without Kawhi a lot of it in that second quarter, and then 334 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:55,640 they just gave it away. And the third time happening like this in over 335 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:57,400 a week and a half. How can you not have some alarm bells like 336 00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:04,599 you're building bad habits at the worst time of the season right now. And 337 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:10,559 I think it just goes back further to me again, I wonder if it's 338 00:25:10,559 --> 00:25:15,160 a double edged sword with all those resilient comeback victories that have created this false 339 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:19,720 narrative, and that strength actually has some downside to it. It can be 340 00:25:19,799 --> 00:25:26,359 a weakness if you just expect it to happen like that continually when it's not 341 00:25:26,519 --> 00:25:30,680 going to because you have to play with effort for forty eight minutes against the 342 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:34,759 best teams in the league, or else you will get run. The talent 343 00:25:34,799 --> 00:25:41,559 disparity isn't wide enough for the Clippers to not be locked in for forty eight 344 00:25:41,559 --> 00:25:45,240 minutes against Minnesota, even without Karl Anthony Towns. It's just not especially if 345 00:25:45,279 --> 00:25:51,440 you look at the last after the starters. ESPN today was talking about how 346 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:56,000 the Clippers have such a deep team that they'll be Okay, we don't really 347 00:25:56,640 --> 00:26:00,319 like, we don't have you know, we don't have nine guys vying for 348 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:04,720 eight playoff spots or something like that. We have seven guys who can play 349 00:26:04,759 --> 00:26:08,799 in the playoffs, and then after that, we don't know when Russ is 350 00:26:08,799 --> 00:26:12,759 going to be back. We have no idea what Mason Tyson's minutes looked like 351 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:18,480 in the offs, right, Like, this isn't a deep team. It 352 00:26:18,559 --> 00:26:22,880 is if you think about really good players, and that's where you stop again, 353 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:26,400 starting five good to go. Well, here's the thing. They looked 354 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:30,359 deep to me Sunday against Milwaukee when they didn't have Paul George and Kawhi Leonard 355 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:36,599 because everybody stayed focused because they knew they had to the only shot they had. 356 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:41,839 Being in a talent disadvantage like that, was playing above their heads to 357 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:45,559 some degree. Some of those guys I mean terrorists man and a mere Coffee 358 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:49,599 both had sixteen points on very good efficiency. They rose to the occasion, 359 00:26:51,799 --> 00:26:56,400 the cardiac clips, the stay ready clippers. They looked the part against Milwaukee 360 00:26:56,440 --> 00:27:02,440 and almost pulled that game out somehow when they had much less talent out there. 361 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:07,720 Why can't we get that when they're fully you know, when they're fully 362 00:27:07,759 --> 00:27:11,319 loaded, and we saw it in the first quarter. That first quarter was 363 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:17,160 so encouraging against Minnesota because oh they're not losing the first quarter by five points 364 00:27:17,160 --> 00:27:22,480 and sleepwalking and just being lacks of daisical and the way they enter this ball 365 00:27:22,519 --> 00:27:26,920 game and their approach. They hit the ground running, they played like it 366 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:33,519 was a damn near playoff game. And then Cowhi's out and then the five 367 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:36,720 thirteen mark or whatever. They're up by twenty two in the second quarter, 368 00:27:36,839 --> 00:27:38,720 and by the time they reached the end of the half, they're only up 369 00:27:38,720 --> 00:27:45,480 by eight. It it's just baffling that they can let go of leads like 370 00:27:45,519 --> 00:27:48,119 this the way they do. Do we need to trick them into thinking none 371 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:52,319 of the stars will play and then we say, surprise, a tip off 372 00:27:52,359 --> 00:27:55,599 the starting five is the actual starting five and then that way everyone's locked in 373 00:27:55,960 --> 00:28:02,480 has that sense of urgency right from the jump, right fake injury. Urgency 374 00:28:02,640 --> 00:28:07,799 is the word, Like, I don't understand, it's urgency. It's a 375 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:15,200 level of what does Brian Seman always say competitive integrity. I like that. 376 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:22,440 It's just holding up for forty eight minutes with the same mindset the entire time, 377 00:28:23,039 --> 00:28:26,880 and that is what drives you and carries you. I mean, guys, 378 00:28:27,039 --> 00:28:32,799 we talked about it when Kawhi Leonard was going after this team after a 379 00:28:32,920 --> 00:28:37,240 win against Detroit. What did he say? We're getting by on talent too 380 00:28:37,319 --> 00:28:41,400 much right now and not execution. And now the chickens are coming home to 381 00:28:41,519 --> 00:28:45,720 roost because they're gonna be missing some of that talent, and some of that 382 00:28:45,799 --> 00:28:49,680 talent is tired in, worn out, and they don't have execution or great 383 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:55,599 built in habits to fall back on to get by against better competition, while 384 00:28:55,640 --> 00:29:03,480 guys could be missing or just are gassed. Yeah, I mean, and 385 00:29:03,559 --> 00:29:08,240 the talent thing is also do The talent thing is also a double edged sword, 386 00:29:08,319 --> 00:29:11,400 right, because I mean, if that's what you're relying on to pull 387 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:17,880 you through, you know you're gonna you're gonna have at least one PG or 388 00:29:18,039 --> 00:29:22,680 I mean James Harden or even Kawhi game where they come up short. Uh 389 00:29:22,799 --> 00:29:25,160 and it you know, like, what is the plan around that? You 390 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:29,200 know, we certainly don't have the skill level at death like the death of 391 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:32,880 skill that we've seen at this Clippers team before. So what you know, 392 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:36,039 like, what what's the plan? Then? I mean and I will say 393 00:29:36,079 --> 00:29:41,200 too, I will say too because we should we should time stamp this uh 394 00:29:41,319 --> 00:29:51,119 as as as March because on the flip heads on the flip end, not 395 00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:55,200 saying that they should do this, but like I mean, we are we 396 00:29:55,319 --> 00:30:00,680 are a playoff mode Kawhi away from being dragged deeper than this team has any 397 00:30:00,759 --> 00:30:04,880 right to be with how they look right now. Sure, as of this 398 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:10,440 moment, I would one hundred percent agree with that. That's fair because they 399 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:12,720 didn't look good heading into the playoffs last year. They didn't have a ton 400 00:30:12,759 --> 00:30:17,480 of momentum, they didn't have Paul George. And then in that first game, 401 00:30:18,279 --> 00:30:22,039 everybody that Phoenix Sun's team had their attention. You could see it out 402 00:30:22,079 --> 00:30:26,200 there. They looked different than they had throughout the regular season, where we 403 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:29,839 said, what's their identity they're consistently inconsistent, they're up and down. You 404 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:33,519 never know what you're going to get. And then it was as simple as 405 00:30:33,720 --> 00:30:38,680 oh, they're giving effort now every possession. But I just feel like, 406 00:30:38,759 --> 00:30:44,079 okay, you can do that, but if you're the five seed, that 407 00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:48,160 still may not be enough to get out of not just the first round, 408 00:30:48,480 --> 00:30:52,640 but the second round, because you just put yourself in a terrible position where 409 00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:56,319 even if you're playing the right way, then it's too little, too late 410 00:30:56,400 --> 00:31:00,319 because that path of least resistance is not there. They're actually having to go 411 00:31:00,359 --> 00:31:04,400 through a gauntlet now, Like you can win or lose a championship, I 412 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:11,200 believe based on seating and having easier road and having having the right matchups. 413 00:31:11,759 --> 00:31:14,920 Like it's not just you were the best team. There was a little bit 414 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:17,720 of luck good fortune along the way, and maybe you made some of it 415 00:31:17,799 --> 00:31:21,000 by making sure you had home court advantage at least in the first round. 416 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:26,680 Yeah, I mean laughed so hard. This is a strong This is a 417 00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:30,240 strong contender, I think for the for the comment of the of the stream 418 00:31:30,319 --> 00:31:37,119 so far, I hope Adam is keeping a running on it. What was 419 00:31:37,160 --> 00:31:41,400 I gonna say? Uh, yeah, I forgot Sorry, I got thrown 420 00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:47,079 off by this comment, this great comment by case. I Actually I do 421 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:48,359 have to head out. I hope. I hope you guys have a great 422 00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:51,920 rest of this live. I hope it gets a little more relaxing. I 423 00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:53,920 don't think it should, because the Clippers need to work on a lot of 424 00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:57,200 ship. But hey, well, I hope we can do a double dip. 425 00:31:57,240 --> 00:32:00,319 Actually, I hope. I don't get it do a double dip because 426 00:32:00,359 --> 00:32:08,799 that means they lost tomorrow. That's no. I want to be on for 427 00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:12,119 the big I want to be on for the big win over the Pels. 428 00:32:13,880 --> 00:32:15,200 Me too, buddy, I want you to be on for that win too, 429 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:22,160 all right, I fellas good stuff. Check Rock was saying, I 430 00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:24,759 think we can beat Phoenix. That's great. I think they can too. 431 00:32:25,559 --> 00:32:31,440 If it takes seven games and then you're taking on Denver afterwards. Who dismantled 432 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:36,079 a team in the first round in five games? Does that put you in 433 00:32:36,119 --> 00:32:40,839 a great spot? Well? Fail? So I will say, if you 434 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:47,359 get if you get Phoenix in the if you get Phoenix in the three six 435 00:32:47,480 --> 00:32:52,599 matchup, in the unlikely scenario that the Clippers are able to vault over the 436 00:32:52,599 --> 00:32:57,759 timber Wolves, and assuming the Nuggets get to one, that's a pretty sweet 437 00:32:57,799 --> 00:33:02,759 path. But know that a lot of things, Like here's my issue with 438 00:33:02,759 --> 00:33:06,519 with with that stuff in the standings is, uh, you know, we've 439 00:33:06,519 --> 00:33:09,559 seen the Clippers try to get cute before. I still firmly believe that in 440 00:33:09,559 --> 00:33:14,039 in their seeding to kind of cherry pick their matchup. I think that that 441 00:33:14,279 --> 00:33:19,640 is something that can backfire on you, and it just assumes a lot of 442 00:33:19,720 --> 00:33:22,319 things that are out of your control, right, Like I don't like to, 443 00:33:23,599 --> 00:33:27,279 you know, as much as it's fun too, like as when we're 444 00:33:27,319 --> 00:33:31,079 talking in broadcasting, like imagine different matchups or how things could plan out, 445 00:33:31,279 --> 00:33:36,400 if that's your team strategy, I think it's really poor to depend on a 446 00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:37,680 lot of things that are outside of your control. So I don't think that 447 00:33:37,680 --> 00:33:43,599 that's really the thought. But if they got Phoenix. That being said, 448 00:33:43,640 --> 00:33:46,559 if they got Phoenix in the three six and Denver is one, I feel 449 00:33:46,559 --> 00:33:50,200 like that's a pretty good that's a that's a pretty good route for them. 450 00:33:50,680 --> 00:33:57,640 Show me how they're getting the three seed right now because they're technically Minnesota, 451 00:33:57,680 --> 00:34:01,519 but it's not three, it's four. Because if they tie, the tiebreaker 452 00:34:01,599 --> 00:34:06,240 goes to Minnesota. They have to jump ahead of them by a game. 453 00:34:07,160 --> 00:34:10,480 Very true. That's why last night was so meaningful in all the wrong ways 454 00:34:10,559 --> 00:34:15,440 for the Clippers. You needed that game. Not only do you close the 455 00:34:15,480 --> 00:34:19,800 gap, you get the tiebreaker, or at least likely would have had it. 456 00:34:20,239 --> 00:34:23,079 And now it's the same thing with the Pelicans, right, I think 457 00:34:23,119 --> 00:34:30,760 we're looking at the same scenario coming on Friday, because correct me if I'm 458 00:34:30,760 --> 00:34:35,239 wrong. They have played three times so far. The Pelicans won the first 459 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:42,440 meeting one sixteen to one oh six in La. Then the Clippers demolished them 460 00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:46,159 on the road. That was one of the best wins. That was the 461 00:34:46,199 --> 00:34:51,159 most current best win of the season at that time. They won one eleven 462 00:34:51,199 --> 00:34:53,960 to ninety five and it wasn't even that close, and they look dominant. 463 00:34:54,159 --> 00:35:00,639 That's one of the best wins of the season. But then, h you're 464 00:35:00,679 --> 00:35:02,840 coming out and I'm trying to see, Wait, was that the last time 465 00:35:02,840 --> 00:35:08,199 they played? No, the last time they just played? Yeah, they 466 00:35:08,360 --> 00:35:15,880 just played and that was yeah, one seventeen to one to six on February 467 00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:24,320 seventh. M hm. So it is the same thing. If you win 468 00:35:24,440 --> 00:35:34,159 this game, the head to head tiebreaker then gets booted down to which team 469 00:35:34,480 --> 00:35:37,719 is actually winning their division, just like it would have been if they won 470 00:35:37,760 --> 00:35:45,239 that game last night against Minnesota and the Pelicans. Here's a problem. They're 471 00:35:45,280 --> 00:35:49,719 currently two and a half games up in the Southwest on the Dallas Mavericks, 472 00:35:51,480 --> 00:35:55,000 So the Clippers don't have the big advantage like they had against Minnesota, who's 473 00:35:55,039 --> 00:36:00,239 third in their division. The Pelicans are at the top of theirs in the 474 00:36:00,280 --> 00:36:06,639 Southwest. Well, I mean trash can that's a trash division. It don't 475 00:36:06,679 --> 00:36:13,400 matter if they win it in terms of divisions though, that their conference record 476 00:36:13,480 --> 00:36:15,840 versus the Clippers, which is what it would go to. Then they're at 477 00:36:15,880 --> 00:36:20,559 twenty four and eighteen. The Clippers are at twenty five and seventeen. So 478 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:23,000 they're right there. They're right next to each other. The neck and neck. 479 00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:25,920 Oh my god, money made me numb. Sorry to interrupt, but 480 00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:30,440 just just kind of brought up something haunting. They said. Kaw I saw 481 00:36:30,519 --> 00:36:32,159 the vision early. Remember like two weeks ago. He said, we're just 482 00:36:32,199 --> 00:36:37,280 trying to be a top six team. That's not exactly what he said. 483 00:36:37,880 --> 00:36:43,480 It's not exactly what he said. No, he said, for sure be 484 00:36:43,679 --> 00:36:47,519 a top six seed, six seed just meaning we're not a playing team. 485 00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:52,360 It wasn't like six is just as good as three, which is how a 486 00:36:52,400 --> 00:36:55,079 lot of people have interpreted it. That's not what he said at all, 487 00:36:55,440 --> 00:37:00,440 and that's not what he was asked. I think there's a lot there's difference 488 00:37:00,440 --> 00:37:05,440 there, there's a nuance to it. Kawhi does eliminate top players. Kawhi 489 00:37:05,480 --> 00:37:09,559 at his best in a playoff series, that's one ray of home. That's 490 00:37:10,239 --> 00:37:15,119 right right now. Yeah, Like if he's like a top ten player in 491 00:37:15,199 --> 00:37:19,000 a playoff series of all time, now what I'm talking about, top seventy 492 00:37:19,000 --> 00:37:21,280 five player of all time, when he comes to the playoff series, the 493 00:37:21,320 --> 00:37:25,000 seven game series, there may be nine guys I would take over Kawhi Leonard 494 00:37:25,039 --> 00:37:30,639 in the history of the league in the seven game series. Maybe, Well, 495 00:37:30,679 --> 00:37:32,320 it depends on era too, I guess, because like I mean, 496 00:37:32,440 --> 00:37:37,039 Kawhi is so like versatile, so I think it. But yeah, top 497 00:37:37,079 --> 00:37:39,320 ten, we've dealt with the nineties. You're right, we've dealt with the 498 00:37:39,400 --> 00:37:49,440 nineties. We told someone was asking any word on Kawhi, which just just 499 00:37:49,440 --> 00:37:52,000 to update everybody. He did leave. He did leave the game against the 500 00:37:52,039 --> 00:37:54,599 timber Wolves back spasms. He's expected to travel with the team still know, 501 00:37:57,159 --> 00:38:00,440 Yeah, he's he's with the team, still listened as questionable. Well for 502 00:38:00,480 --> 00:38:02,280 the game against the Bulls. We'll see how that goes with it being a 503 00:38:02,360 --> 00:38:08,480 back to back. My memory served me well finally, because when he left 504 00:38:08,519 --> 00:38:13,199 the ballgame, the first thing I thought of was I was watching him once 505 00:38:13,280 --> 00:38:16,239 pregame And this was in twenty twenty one, in March, so three years 506 00:38:16,280 --> 00:38:22,159 ago, and he grabbed it his lower back at the free throw line and 507 00:38:22,239 --> 00:38:23,719 walked to the locker room, and it came out that, oh, he 508 00:38:23,800 --> 00:38:28,960 was a late scratch. It was backspasms. He played the next game. 509 00:38:29,280 --> 00:38:32,320 Doesn't mean it's going to happen this time, doesn't mean it's a perfectly a 510 00:38:32,320 --> 00:38:37,840 perfect analog to what's happening, but he is at least traveling with the team. 511 00:38:37,559 --> 00:38:42,119 Adam, I feel like I was talking about this with Chuck yesterday, 512 00:38:42,119 --> 00:38:44,719 But I mean, I can't imagine what it's like for an athlete, but 513 00:38:44,840 --> 00:38:47,199 just as a person, as you get up into your thirties and forties, 514 00:38:47,239 --> 00:38:52,400 back pain becomes of just a very real part of your life. Well, 515 00:38:52,679 --> 00:38:55,679 I mean, Aviza Zubats had backspasms earlier in the season, remember, and 516 00:38:55,760 --> 00:39:01,760 he's twenty six. But the point is he overcame it very quickly, looked 517 00:39:01,800 --> 00:39:07,119 fine, and have one of the most crazy playoff runs we have seen percentages 518 00:39:07,199 --> 00:39:13,480 wise in that twenty twenty one run before tearing the ACL. So I'm hoping 519 00:39:15,039 --> 00:39:20,920 he's at least available for the Pelicans game on Friday. If this Clippers team 520 00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:24,159 it was playing the right way and building the right habits and being more consistent 521 00:39:24,159 --> 00:39:28,320 out there, you'd say, oh, without Kawhi Leonard, even against Chicago, 522 00:39:28,760 --> 00:39:30,199 they'll be fine. They don't need him for that one, save him 523 00:39:30,239 --> 00:39:34,880 for Friday. But you can't take any team lightly with the way the Clippers 524 00:39:34,920 --> 00:39:39,039 have looked recently. That game again, so I agree, I agree with 525 00:39:39,079 --> 00:39:42,960 you. I agree with you one hundred percent. I still think that we're 526 00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:45,440 at this point in the season where like, yes, stacking wins is important, 527 00:39:45,719 --> 00:39:51,880 Yes, optimizing seeding to the best of our ability is I also think 528 00:39:51,920 --> 00:39:54,679 that there's something to be said about building championship habits, and I think that 529 00:39:54,679 --> 00:39:59,480 that happens against better competition. So if Kawhi only goes in one of these 530 00:39:59,519 --> 00:40:02,119 games, I would still prefer it to be in the against the Pelicans. 531 00:40:02,280 --> 00:40:06,400 And that's not to take Chicago lightly, because they could still beat us. 532 00:40:06,760 --> 00:40:10,320 Uh. It's it's just even if you lose that game against the Pelicans second 533 00:40:10,360 --> 00:40:14,480 night of a back to back, totally understandable. I'd like to lose it 534 00:40:15,320 --> 00:40:19,920 building upon the foundation that you know that we should be at, like getting 535 00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:22,920 to the end point where we need to be by the time this season ends 536 00:40:22,960 --> 00:40:27,440 and in playoffs roll around, which is in a month. So like, 537 00:40:27,840 --> 00:40:31,400 regardless, if he only plays one game, I would really prefer it to 538 00:40:31,440 --> 00:40:35,719 be the game that isn't a guaranteed win. If if anything, it's it's 539 00:40:35,719 --> 00:40:37,400 maybe closer to a guaranteed loss with it being on the second night of a 540 00:40:37,400 --> 00:40:42,920 back to back. But for the sake of getting this team to a destination, 541 00:40:43,719 --> 00:40:45,840 I think that that's the one that he needs to plan. You know, 542 00:40:45,880 --> 00:40:47,960 we talked about this last night, Like this, if you want a 543 00:40:49,159 --> 00:40:52,039 chance to bounce back, if you want a chance to snap out of this 544 00:40:52,199 --> 00:40:55,880 funk and show everybody, show the league something, show yourself something, show 545 00:40:57,000 --> 00:41:00,079 me something. Show it in this New Orleans Pelicans game. Show it to 546 00:41:00,119 --> 00:41:06,840 me. On Friday. The Pelicans are two games behind the Clippers right now. 547 00:41:07,320 --> 00:41:12,519 It's very close to a must win to hold on to the four seed. 548 00:41:12,840 --> 00:41:15,719 Winning that game against the Pelicans. I'm with you. Honestly, the 549 00:41:15,719 --> 00:41:22,559 punishment for the way Paul George and James Harden played after Kawhi left should be 550 00:41:22,199 --> 00:41:28,400 you guys got to figure this Chicago game out without Kawhi. Yeah, make 551 00:41:28,480 --> 00:41:34,880 it happen, because maybe Paul George can catch a rhythm maybe coming into a 552 00:41:34,920 --> 00:41:37,079 game and if he knows off the bat that, okay, we're not gonna 553 00:41:37,119 --> 00:41:40,119 have Kawhi. This is how I need to play. I have to be 554 00:41:40,199 --> 00:41:45,000 in attack mode the entire way through. Those two combining for twenty one shots 555 00:41:45,039 --> 00:41:47,960 just is not going to get it done against Minnesota. It won't get it 556 00:41:49,000 --> 00:41:55,280 done against Chicago either. Paul George has to put up seventeen plus James Harden 557 00:41:55,360 --> 00:42:02,400 near fifteen. I want to see both those guys deliver because they're freaking Hall 558 00:42:02,440 --> 00:42:08,679 of famers, and Paul George has to be for them to reach the ultimate 559 00:42:08,719 --> 00:42:14,519 goal. The second best player, at least the second best scorer on this 560 00:42:14,559 --> 00:42:17,119 Clippers team, and that means you have to be a number one option at 561 00:42:17,159 --> 00:42:22,360 times like against Chicago. I agree. So let's let's close out on this 562 00:42:22,400 --> 00:42:24,159 because we got to wrap this up. But Rock brought up a great comment 563 00:42:24,480 --> 00:42:27,920 one verse one isn't the issue, and I think that's kind of where we 564 00:42:27,960 --> 00:42:30,400 both land on Kawhi Leonard. That's the one silver lining, right, Do 565 00:42:30,480 --> 00:42:35,440 we trust R two and R three to be better than the other team? 566 00:42:35,679 --> 00:42:38,280 And I think for me in a vacuum, the answer is yes. Uh, 567 00:42:38,440 --> 00:42:43,480 in terms of what we've seen lately, highly questionable. Where are you 568 00:42:43,559 --> 00:42:45,639 at with this, Adam, because I think that that is the issue with 569 00:42:45,760 --> 00:42:51,840 the depth, right. I think in past years we haven't seen as much 570 00:42:51,920 --> 00:42:53,880 still a lot, but we haven't seen as much of the high tier, 571 00:42:54,119 --> 00:42:59,880 high name, high recognition talent. But we've seen more you know, skin 572 00:43:00,079 --> 00:43:04,920 old players across positions. Sometimes it's overlapping, so there's sort of you know, 573 00:43:05,360 --> 00:43:08,679 it's not always optimized. But the drawback with that is, you know, 574 00:43:08,760 --> 00:43:14,039 this team is only deep when those three are playing like they need to 575 00:43:14,079 --> 00:43:17,360 play. Well. Let's just take the Pelicans for example. If they took 576 00:43:17,400 --> 00:43:22,440 them on in a playoff series, who's their number one? Brandon ingram or 577 00:43:22,559 --> 00:43:29,400 Zion Number three is CJ. McCollum. They match up pretty well against them, 578 00:43:29,559 --> 00:43:32,320 they do, even playing the way they are right now, I wouldn't 579 00:43:32,320 --> 00:43:37,400 feel terrible about that. Be careful what you wish for. They're gonna have 580 00:43:37,440 --> 00:43:40,840 to scheme against Zion, build a wall against him, like they weren't able 581 00:43:40,880 --> 00:43:45,960 to for the most part. Against Giannis. They had their moments, I 582 00:43:45,039 --> 00:43:50,079 trust you with some of that. But against Phoenix you look at oh, 583 00:43:50,199 --> 00:43:54,719 their number two is Devin Booker, who plays like a number one all the 584 00:43:54,800 --> 00:44:00,480 time. Paul George has to be like that if they're gonna match up well 585 00:44:00,519 --> 00:44:05,840 against them, because Kawhi can cancel out KD and I think get the best 586 00:44:05,840 --> 00:44:10,199 of him. Paul George, his biggest nemesis is Devin Booker. He has 587 00:44:10,239 --> 00:44:15,199 gotten up for those games in the past. He played well against Phoenix in 588 00:44:15,199 --> 00:44:21,679 that playoff series without Kawhi. He has to match Devin Booker. That's not 589 00:44:21,840 --> 00:44:25,519 easy. So no, I don't feel great about it right now. And 590 00:44:25,559 --> 00:44:29,800 then you're talking about James hard and Bradley Beal, who has more production there 591 00:44:30,079 --> 00:44:34,400 they don't have a true point guard. But yeah, these guys have to 592 00:44:34,519 --> 00:44:39,639 play to their capabilities otherwise they're just stars in name only and the talent. 593 00:44:40,199 --> 00:44:44,679 And look, Paul George, I know, I'm sure he's not one hundred 594 00:44:44,679 --> 00:44:47,679 percent right now. I think that's pretty obvious. The groin than the knee 595 00:44:47,719 --> 00:44:55,119 injury. But he's got to dig deep. He just has to, because 596 00:44:55,159 --> 00:45:00,920 what I worry about with him is mentally, if he's feeling like I can't 597 00:45:01,039 --> 00:45:06,199 do some of the things I used to do, I worry about what that 598 00:45:06,239 --> 00:45:08,639 could do to Paul George mentally. Now. He tried to dunk on Gobert 599 00:45:08,719 --> 00:45:12,760 last night. I almost had it, probably should have. It's not easy, 600 00:45:12,800 --> 00:45:15,119 but I thought that one was going in. He tried to dunk on 601 00:45:15,199 --> 00:45:20,800 Chet. Recently, he's had some explosive plays here and there where he looks 602 00:45:20,840 --> 00:45:25,480 like himself. It's just that third quarter and that possession against Aunt was hard 603 00:45:25,480 --> 00:45:31,159 to watch. That was in real time and making his case that the Clippers 604 00:45:31,199 --> 00:45:37,039 are old and slow. Are they old and slow or are they just a 605 00:45:37,079 --> 00:45:40,519 little bit gas right now? And Paul George can be at the same level 606 00:45:40,559 --> 00:45:45,920 he was through a two month stretch playing off of James hard and to Kawhi 607 00:45:46,000 --> 00:45:51,599 Leonard when the Clippers were rolling, he was perfect. He was exactly what 608 00:45:51,639 --> 00:45:54,480 they needed out of him. He was as justin Wilson would say, a 609 00:45:54,559 --> 00:46:02,039 rich man's Michael Porter Jr. The way he was playing and fitting in and 610 00:46:02,119 --> 00:46:08,119 catching and shooting and making quick decisions and just being an uber efficient scorer out 611 00:46:08,159 --> 00:46:12,239 there for the Clippers, that's what they need. Maybe not against Chicago. 612 00:46:12,280 --> 00:46:15,159 He's got to be the number one option, but that's what's being asked of 613 00:46:15,239 --> 00:46:19,800 him. That was always the deal when you brought him in, So be 614 00:46:19,920 --> 00:46:23,320 that guy. We'll see what happens against Chicago with this team, because they 615 00:46:23,360 --> 00:46:28,079 can't overlook them before getting to the Pelicans. But if Kawhi's not there, 616 00:46:28,639 --> 00:46:31,599 you know, there's still no excuses. If James Harden's not there, they 617 00:46:31,599 --> 00:46:37,440 can still win that game. With Paul George and guys stepping up around him, 618 00:46:37,639 --> 00:46:45,079 they can. They need to agreed. Agreed, Yeah, I think, 619 00:46:45,719 --> 00:46:49,000 Yeah, I think we're gonna have to get out of here. Who 620 00:46:49,000 --> 00:46:52,960 are you feeling comment wise? I don't know if I've been paying attention close 621 00:46:53,039 --> 00:46:57,159 enough. Who do you think is in the running here? Rock has been 622 00:46:57,159 --> 00:47:00,719 pretty good. Yeah, give it to Well, let's give it to Rock. 623 00:47:01,440 --> 00:47:06,519 He's been consistently good. What we're looking for is consistency from the Clippers 624 00:47:07,519 --> 00:47:15,000 in the comments section comment Okay, okay, Rock, you want it? 625 00:47:15,079 --> 00:47:20,880 You got to hit us up in the comments section on Twitter. Just confirms 626 00:47:20,920 --> 00:47:22,639 you. I'll send you to the sticker. I hope you dig it. 627 00:47:22,840 --> 00:47:28,039 This is the new world right there. Thank you everybody for tuning into the 628 00:47:28,079 --> 00:47:31,480 stream. Hopefully we're coming back at you at some point with some some more 629 00:47:31,559 --> 00:47:36,920 positive uh some more positive stuff to go off of. But uh yeah, 630 00:47:36,920 --> 00:47:39,400 this is just kind of where we're at right now. You can listen to 631 00:47:39,400 --> 00:47:43,679 this podcast where you get your podcasts, subscribe to us over on YouTube dot 632 00:47:43,719 --> 00:47:46,280 com. That's at Clippers Podcasts, And yeah, Adam, you want to 633 00:47:46,280 --> 00:47:51,000 send them off with one one little positive thing. They win the next three 634 00:47:51,039 --> 00:47:54,400 games, a lot of what's happened over the last two weeks will be forgotten. 635 00:47:54,840 --> 00:48:00,880 Forgetting that's a lot to ask. But Kawhi Leonard travel with the team 636 00:48:00,159 --> 00:48:02,679 and we all speculate, oh it's a bad back. Can you get on 637 00:48:02,719 --> 00:48:07,079 a plane right now? And he is with them, So that is great 638 00:48:07,119 --> 00:48:12,639 news right there. They got their shot because they have Kawhi Leonard with them, 639 00:48:13,000 --> 00:48:15,199 and I'm assuming he's going to play at some point on this road trip 640 00:48:15,280 --> 00:48:22,239 hopefully. But yes, this marks another edition of CND Live. We appreciate 641 00:48:22,280 --> 00:48:24,920 all of you, guys, We love you. Get to us at Clippers 642 00:48:25,079 --> 00:48:32,559 Podcast on the YouTube at Clippers Pod on Twitter, and as William and Chuck, 643 00:48:32,880 --> 00:48:37,199 you guys always say it out the right way. Do it, do 644 00:48:37,239 --> 00:48:39,360 it? Do it? As our co host Charles marcl always says, let's 645 00:48:39,400 --> 00:48:39,960 go. Clips