1 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:07,320 Last time, James. I mean, do you believe me now about James 2 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:11,560 Harden to being the guy that should be starting and Russell Westbrook coming up the 3 00:00:11,599 --> 00:00:17,120 bench. Is it working well enough for you? Clipper Nations, the doubters 4 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:23,519 on James hard They make it six straight. They've won eleven of fourteen since 5 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:28,839 Terrence Man was put in the starting backcourt next to James, and they're playing 6 00:00:28,879 --> 00:00:32,640 some of the best basketball of the two to one three era. James Harden 7 00:00:32,679 --> 00:00:37,920 steps up with twenty eight points and forty one minutes, fifteen assists, seven 8 00:00:38,039 --> 00:00:43,000 boards. Historic night from him, but when they needed it most for him 9 00:00:43,039 --> 00:00:47,280 to show that yeah, he can still shoot the rock well too. No, 10 00:00:47,439 --> 00:00:51,600 Paul George, no problem. James will drop twenty eight on twelve shots. 11 00:00:52,359 --> 00:00:56,799 James would go to the free throw line twice for three free throws after 12 00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:00,600 being fouled on three pointers. Clippers win one twenty one to one thirteen over 13 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:04,239 the Golden State Warriors. Welcome back in the Clippers Talk. I'm Adam Oslin. 14 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:07,760 Well, we have a moment. Let's pause ten seconds for station identification 15 00:01:07,879 --> 00:01:11,840 here in Los Angeles Clippers Audio Network at a five seventy LAS Sports. This 16 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:18,280 is La Clippers Basketball AM five to seventy KLAC Los Angeles, ninety eight seven 17 00:01:18,359 --> 00:01:23,400 KYSR HD two Los Angeles and iHeartRadio Station. And now joining the show is 18 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:30,200 Chuck Mockler from Clips and Dip. After the Clippers make it six straight victories, 19 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:34,760 Charles, did I tell any lies on our recent episode on YouTube? 20 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:38,439 When I had to call out some people for the way that they tria James 21 00:01:38,439 --> 00:01:42,840 Harden when they started zero to five with him, and now they've won six 22 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:47,920 straight. Seems like things are working out, Hey, Chuck, Yes, 23 00:01:48,159 --> 00:01:53,799 things things are working out right now. It's been fantastic to see James Harden 24 00:01:53,239 --> 00:01:57,079 step maybe flower than some people thought he was going to step into, you 25 00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:00,920 know, a prominent offensive role for this team. He should be taking when 26 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:06,000 you know two and three is healthy, James should be at the second or 27 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:08,960 third most field goal attempts, and you look at it tonight and he was 28 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:12,800 so efficient he didn't need the extra one, so that's good. But you 29 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:17,280 can just see him building more confidence as this starting lineup continues to get more 30 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:21,719 time to jail. Terrence didn't have the best game, which is a bit 31 00:02:21,759 --> 00:02:23,840 of a shame, but James was able to kind of still have a good 32 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:27,199 game, still be the engine of the team and stuff like that. So 33 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:31,000 he's been phenomenal, hitting twenty five thousand points as the Clippers pretty cool too, 34 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:35,759 So let's help this keeps up. But this game was the perfect example 35 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:39,439 of why the Clippers traded for James Harden and how he can lift you in 36 00:02:39,479 --> 00:02:42,960 the regular season. We'll get to the playoffs when we get to them. 37 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:46,280 Right now, this is exactly what he's supposed to be doing. Look, 38 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:50,159 if he can lift you in the regular season, then he can lift you 39 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:54,159 in the playoffs by you having a higher seed entering the tournament. He can 40 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:58,919 raise your floor and your ceiling with the way he plays. And I'm just 41 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:02,400 not worried about him in the playoffs as a third option next to Kawhi and 42 00:03:02,439 --> 00:03:07,719 Paul George. But speaking of Kawhi, Leonard mentioned it yesterday. I think 43 00:03:07,759 --> 00:03:10,919 this is the best he has looked since tearing the ACL. I know, 44 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:15,560 the shooting splits. It hasn't been three months yet, We'll see how that 45 00:03:15,719 --> 00:03:19,159 ends up. It's gonna be hard to match shooting forty seven from three for 46 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:23,919 three straight months. But just the movement, the ability out there, the 47 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:28,319 bounce, how light he's been on his feet, and I'm wondering if part 48 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:34,639 of it is because he's encouraged and revitalized because he knows one he doesn't have 49 00:03:34,719 --> 00:03:38,159 to do everything. It gives him more energy to expend on the defensive end, 50 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:44,039 but also because he can see that this team has the talent and the 51 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:49,039 right pieces to make a run and the two one three era is far from 52 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:52,919 over. Well, I think it's it's the talent. The right pieces have 53 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:55,159 been there, you know, kind of on paper for a lot of this 54 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:59,080 two to one three era. Every year it felt like we'd be like, 55 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:01,680 oh, this is the best clip roster we've maybe ever seen. But now 56 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:08,479 guys are more so locking into Kauwhi's example of getting things done almost just curased 57 00:04:08,479 --> 00:04:10,840 because I forgot run the radio. But I think you know what I was 58 00:04:10,879 --> 00:04:14,199 gonna say, like, he's here to get things done this year, and 59 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:16,079 everyone else is feeling that. There were clips of him, you know, 60 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:20,360 being frustrated during the losing streaks, like kicked a chair or something like that, 61 00:04:20,399 --> 00:04:25,279 which is good to see because you want to see that from the heart 62 00:04:25,319 --> 00:04:29,279 and soul of this team. So now we're seeing the good side of that, 63 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:34,040 and everyone is locking in and on the same wavelength as Kawhi Leonard in 64 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:39,680 terms of the grittiness and understanding how urgent things are. Some of these these 65 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:43,439 boards that the Clippers got late in this game. A Mere Coffee had one 66 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:46,240 that ended up in a James Harden assist to Kawhi for a dunk. But 67 00:04:46,319 --> 00:04:50,120 if you go back and watch that rebound, that rebound, it pops because 68 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:55,759 I feel like you don't see stuff like that a lot from this this era 69 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:58,360 of the Clippers, but we saw a mirror get one, Kawhi had a 70 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:01,600 great one, and many got fouled. Like we're seeing that snapshot of those 71 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:05,480 gritty rebounds late in this game is what this Clipper seem is about, and 72 00:05:05,519 --> 00:05:10,879 we're seeing that identity come from Kwi. I had to pull some receipts on 73 00:05:10,959 --> 00:05:16,920 myself from a show that we did probably six weeks shot. Now it was 74 00:05:16,959 --> 00:05:21,519 a positive receipt, but me saying we'd just forgotten about a Mere Coffee. 75 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:26,800 There's still a wing on this team that can help them, and he got 76 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:31,360 some run when they were in San Antonio for that Texas Stationary two step, 77 00:05:31,959 --> 00:05:38,639 but since then hasn't played meaningful minutes and I couldn't be more impressed with his 78 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:43,560 level of professionalism with coming into a game, getting the start and making the 79 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:47,759 most of it to this degree tonight, he looked incredible and it's such a 80 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:54,040 difficult position to be and yet he thrived. Yeah, he came through. 81 00:05:54,079 --> 00:05:59,439 He was not afraid to shoot at all. Eleven three and you know he 82 00:05:59,519 --> 00:06:02,480 canned an above average amount of them. So you do really love to see 83 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:06,279 the confidence not gone at all from a mirror. He had a tough offseason 84 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:12,240 obviously, but he he he stepped up really when the Clippers needed it. 85 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:15,720 On a night when Terrence didn't quite have it all the way there, a 86 00:06:15,759 --> 00:06:19,879 mirror really picked up slack. But yeah, he's ready to go. You 87 00:06:19,959 --> 00:06:26,600 mentioned his attitude. I couldn't agree more. Him and Bones have just been 88 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:31,160 as professional as you could possibly be during a time when the Clippers are playing, 89 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:33,560 like you said, some of their best basketball with two of three ERA. 90 00:06:33,759 --> 00:06:36,160 So big shout out to him, mirror, big shout out to Bones 91 00:06:38,079 --> 00:06:42,519 just for the attitude during all of this and so sign of a good locker 92 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:46,439 room and good leadership from Kawhi, Paul George James Now but also of course 93 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:53,439 coach Lou with making sure guys still feel like they are involved in the process 94 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:57,240 of what's happening with this Clippers team right now, and knowing that they need 95 00:06:57,279 --> 00:07:00,160 to stay ready because it could be their opportunity, It could be their night 96 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:04,920 now. Norman Powell has had a lot of these nights to start off this 97 00:07:04,959 --> 00:07:09,439 season, but this was one of his best. In the fourth quarter in 98 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:13,480 a close game. He scored eight straight for them, had ten of his 99 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:18,079 twenty one points in the fourth and the Powell Rangers it was morph in time 100 00:07:18,319 --> 00:07:23,040 and he morphed into the closer. I guess you could say he was awesome. 101 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:26,639 Well, Norm. The great thing about one, I mean, one 102 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:30,439 of the great things about Norm's game to night is he only took four threes. 103 00:07:30,759 --> 00:07:33,560 If Norm can find a way to get a bucket, he's gonna do 104 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:36,240 it over and over and over until you stop him. And he was getting 105 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:41,000 to the rim at will against this Warriors seven did not matter who was on 106 00:07:41,079 --> 00:07:43,000 him. And that's great. We said, hey, go for it, 107 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:46,800 man, you're gonna shoot seventy percent. Yeah, get as close to the 108 00:07:46,279 --> 00:07:48,839 hoop as possible if they're gonna let you. He had a steal. He 109 00:07:48,879 --> 00:07:55,920 had five boards, which I think is very helpful against a rebounding you know, 110 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:59,480 as good of a rebounding team as the Warriors are. But Norm start 111 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:03,839 this is Orm's best stretch as a Clipper. I don't think that's too you 112 00:08:03,879 --> 00:08:07,160 know, something too crazy to say right now, but the Clippers has needed 113 00:08:07,199 --> 00:08:11,439 it. But talk about someone who stays ready. He's been a revelation to 114 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:16,920 open this one, a Vitza Zubos didn't have an eye popping box score ten 115 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,680 and eight, did his job, but a couple of blocks and had a 116 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:26,439 possession where he got CP three to travel because of his defense, and then 117 00:08:26,439 --> 00:08:31,320 a nice finger roll to start off things in the third quarter. But overall, 118 00:08:31,559 --> 00:08:35,120 just speak to a viza Zoobots and maybe the moment he's having over the 119 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:39,639 past couple of weeks with this new starting lineup where you're seeing the growth in 120 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:43,480 different areas from him and make maybe making that leap at the age of twenty 121 00:08:43,519 --> 00:08:48,399 six to just becoming a more consistent, a more dominant player who plays with 122 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:54,799 more confidence on offense. I think one of the things that speaking to his 123 00:08:54,919 --> 00:08:58,960 confidence is it was in the fourth quarter. I think Norm had kind of 124 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:03,480 a breakaway and he he hit zoo with you know, not a hectic pass, 125 00:09:03,519 --> 00:09:05,919 but a quick pass. It was like five to nine feet away and 126 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:09,799 he hit just a one handed floater, you know what I mean. It 127 00:09:09,879 --> 00:09:13,159 wasn't anything. It wasn't an authoritative dunk or anything like that, but it 128 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:16,960 was late in a close game. He had no hesitation going up with it, 129 00:09:16,039 --> 00:09:20,279 kind of away from the rim, and it was It was perfect. 130 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:26,159 So I think that little piece of his game tonight is kind of emblematic of 131 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:30,720 how good he's been all year. He's made the right decision for the most 132 00:09:30,759 --> 00:09:33,879 part all year. You know, we say, oh, ten and eight 133 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:37,080 an okay game from Zoo a year ago. We would be hyped if he 134 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:41,759 averaged that, but he's out pacing that. He's been fantastic and closing lineups, 135 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:46,279 which is a little surprising to see from Tylo. But when it's working, 136 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:50,919 it's working really well. What was that stat going around He's saved the 137 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:56,720 most points at the rim per seventy five minutes or something like that in the 138 00:09:56,840 --> 00:10:01,639 league. Like he's he's having his best year as a Clipper. It's really 139 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:05,159 I feel like we've said that about a handful of guys so far. But 140 00:10:05,799 --> 00:10:09,879 I mean, Zoom playing good defense, is great to see. Yeah, 141 00:10:09,919 --> 00:10:13,759 and we thought he might be a little tired, you know, he we 142 00:10:13,159 --> 00:10:16,360 liked his zero basket in the off season last year and stuff like that. 143 00:10:16,519 --> 00:10:20,360 But I hope that the fitness is still there. I think it will because 144 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:24,480 he's just playing so well right now. And a great point by you. 145 00:10:24,519 --> 00:10:26,399 That bucket he made. It was a four point game, one oh six 146 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:31,120 to one oh two, was seven minutes left and he finessed that layup in 147 00:10:31,639 --> 00:10:35,360 off a nice feed from Norman Powell. And he's just showing much better touch, 148 00:10:35,919 --> 00:10:41,360 more consistently, at least around the basket. And I'm glad they're trusting 149 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:45,279 him late in games because I've always felt like when he gets the opportunity, 150 00:10:45,399 --> 00:10:48,519 he's proven to me that he can close, that he can do it on 151 00:10:48,639 --> 00:10:54,279 both ends and not be a liability somewhere just because he doesn't have the jumper 152 00:10:54,399 --> 00:10:58,159 or can't play five out when Big Zoo is out there in a closing lineup. 153 00:11:00,279 --> 00:11:05,120 Let's see one more for you here, Chuck. Just defensively, what 154 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:09,960 we're seeing from this team. They've been so dominant on that end. But 155 00:11:11,039 --> 00:11:16,480 it's not just because of personnel or the roster or finding the right rotations. 156 00:11:16,919 --> 00:11:24,759 There's a level of urgency and effort that we've noticed that has been just throughout 157 00:11:24,759 --> 00:11:30,360 the forty eight minutes at a much higher level than we have seen, especially 158 00:11:30,519 --> 00:11:33,480 last season, you know, when they couldn't really they were about ten defense 159 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:37,360 for the majority of the year after that great start by Beats Zubats holding it 160 00:11:37,399 --> 00:11:41,240 down, but they never really figured it out, and coach Luke kept saying 161 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:46,440 defensive intensity, defensive intensity, but the message never came through. It's happening. 162 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:50,720 Now you're seeing it out there eyeball test and the advanced numbers tell you 163 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:56,559 this team can be great defensively, and they're buying in right now. Yeah, 164 00:11:56,679 --> 00:12:01,039 it's really impressive to see. I I think back to all the talk 165 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:03,000 they had about how much more they were able to practice in the offseason. 166 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:07,279 They practice after that back to back or I think it was either a back 167 00:12:07,279 --> 00:12:09,840 to back or like a three and four or something, and they practiced on 168 00:12:09,919 --> 00:12:13,519 a day that it was kind of surprising if you were a Clipper fan, 169 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,440 you were reading about them practicing. After all, we heard, you know, 170 00:12:16,519 --> 00:12:20,879 kind of historically about the lack of time they got together. So I 171 00:12:20,879 --> 00:12:26,039 think maybe setting that tone and really following through with it from ty lu on 172 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:28,399 We're going to practice, We're gonna run like this is That's what helps you 173 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:33,720 on defense, is not stopping and things like that. You mentioned the consistency 174 00:12:33,759 --> 00:12:39,720 of the defense, and I think the new emphasis specifically on practice and the 175 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:43,360 intensity and the frequency of it is really helping the Clippers. And to go 176 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,679 back to the point we were just talking about, it helps hun Kahi Leonard 177 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:50,320 is playing as well too, because when someone on your team is playing as 178 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:52,519 good a defense, you know, as Cowhi Leanders, it makes you want 179 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:56,559 to play good defense too, So I think that's a big boost as well. 180 00:12:56,320 --> 00:13:00,720 Great point, Clippers win one, twenty one to one over the Golden 181 00:13:00,759 --> 00:13:05,200 State Warriors. He is Chuck Mockler of Clips and Dip. We'll have a 182 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:09,480 new YouTube episode coming for you later this week. Chuck, thanks for doing 183 00:13:09,519 --> 00:13:11,600 this tonight a little Clips and double Dip here on Clippers Talk. My friend, 184 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:16,320 Hey, thanks for having me. Let's go clip. We'll close things 185 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:20,799 out next with a few phone calls, maybe brother Jake Warner of course in 186 00:13:20,879 --> 00:13:24,080 the building. What are you looking for on X there? Jake? What 187 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:30,200 are you looking for? Clippers win tonight's twenty one to one thirteen. Congrats 188 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:35,360 to James Harden gets to twenty five thousand career points. He was holding the 189 00:13:35,399 --> 00:13:39,759 ball in the locker room. His left hand is heavily wrapped in ice, 190 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:45,279 but you say he just jammed a finger. Indiana Pacers aren't taking this ball. 191 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:48,919 More Clippers stock next year on M five seventy LA Sports