1 00:00:10,759 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 1: What is going on? Clippers fans? Welcome to season three, 2 00:00:14,199 --> 00:00:17,640 episode twenty four of Clips and Dip. I am Chuck Walker, 3 00:00:17,839 --> 00:00:22,280 joined by Adam Ausland. William Updyke is unavoidably detained. He 4 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:24,320 has family in town. I'm a way to see family. 5 00:00:24,359 --> 00:00:26,280 It's a very busy week here at Clips and Dip, 6 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:30,519 but we're making things happen. If you're new to the show, 7 00:00:30,519 --> 00:00:32,600 thank you for watching us. We're on YouTube dot com 8 00:00:32,679 --> 00:00:35,799 last at Clippers Podcast. You can find us anywhere you 9 00:00:35,799 --> 00:00:38,880 listen to podcast. Today, Adam and I are going to 10 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:43,039 discuss the back to back that occurred this week that 11 00:00:43,079 --> 00:00:45,560 the Clippers participated for the most part in, and then 12 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:48,039 we're going to talk about what might happen against the 13 00:00:48,079 --> 00:00:52,799 Thunder on Saturday. Before we get into that, Adam, how 14 00:00:52,799 --> 00:00:53,240 are you doing? 15 00:00:54,439 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 2: Perfectly? Calm, dude, calmer than you are? 16 00:00:58,759 --> 00:01:00,280 Speaker 1: You might be calmer than I am. I don't know 17 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:03,439 if you caught me on the the Henny Ween live 18 00:01:03,479 --> 00:01:04,920 stream yesterday. 19 00:01:04,599 --> 00:01:04,760 Speaker 2: But. 20 00:01:06,599 --> 00:01:12,519 Speaker 1: A little bit postgame postgame was a little rough last night. 21 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:17,200 That was uh for those that missed it. The Clippers 22 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:20,040 lost to the Blazers and then they lost to the 23 00:01:20,079 --> 00:01:26,200 Suns in two very different but equally frustrating fashions with 24 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:32,760 some similarities too. I mean, that's a great point to 25 00:01:32,799 --> 00:01:35,879 start with, because, like, what are the things that this 26 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:37,799 team talked about in the off season that they wanted 27 00:01:37,799 --> 00:01:40,560 to work out. It's like taking care of the ball, 28 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:46,599 limiting offense, you know, limiting extra possessions for the other team, 29 00:01:47,719 --> 00:01:49,519 and they seem to do that. In the first half 30 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:52,599 of things. Things seemed to start well. 31 00:01:52,799 --> 00:01:54,959 Speaker 2: I mean, that's the best half of basketball they played 32 00:01:54,959 --> 00:01:57,920 so far this season, the one against Phoenix. Yeah, that 33 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,799 first half was great. I mean Kevin Porter Junior was 34 00:02:01,799 --> 00:02:04,000 great in that first half. He was four or four 35 00:02:04,079 --> 00:02:10,280 and had good five minutes, like they were cooking. And 36 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:12,759 and I know we'll get into it, but you know 37 00:02:13,439 --> 00:02:15,879 a lot has been said of hey, and I heard 38 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:17,759 you bring it up too, and it's a valid point. 39 00:02:18,479 --> 00:02:20,719 Visa Zubas only gets ten shots last night and he's 40 00:02:20,759 --> 00:02:23,879 nine to ten, How does he not get more? Well, 41 00:02:24,319 --> 00:02:26,199 I mean they were up by eighteen and he only 42 00:02:26,199 --> 00:02:29,639 had five shots in the first half. It was working. 43 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:34,520 Everything they were doing was working. And then just an 44 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:39,360 extraordinary fluky shooting variants took place in the third quarter 45 00:02:39,439 --> 00:02:43,199 against them. Of course, with Phoenix going fifteen for fifteen, 46 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:47,879 but turnovers down the stretch again a bad inbounce pass. 47 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:51,439 Although I rewatched it again, Well, why you don't have 48 00:02:51,479 --> 00:02:53,960 to do that. Well, I got to know what happened. 49 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:58,919 And Grayson Allen played remarkably good defense on that, Like 50 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:03,159 he was able to Niko Batoum the entire time while 51 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:07,000 staying with Norman Powell, which is not easy. That was 52 00:03:07,199 --> 00:03:09,520 incredible free safety work by him. 53 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, if you missed that Phoenix game, you know, And 54 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:16,680 what's funny is you talk like you know they made 55 00:03:16,719 --> 00:03:19,879 the fifteen shots in a row in the third quarter, 56 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:23,000 which incredibly fluky. I think it's totally fair for Clippers 57 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:26,680 fans to acknowledge the absurdity of that. You look at 58 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:29,680 the shooting percentages at the end of the game. Phoenix 59 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:31,719 shot fifty one percent as a team. The Clippers shot 60 00:03:31,759 --> 00:03:36,719 forty eight percent. Clippers had eleven more field goal attempts, 61 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,400 they made six few or threes. They advice as many 62 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:45,319 offensive rebounds. This was, like I said this on the 63 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,439 live stream, but the Clippers can just kind of get 64 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:50,960 leaned on, and that's what we saw the Suns do. 65 00:03:51,919 --> 00:03:56,199 So a seventy point first half is something that like 66 00:03:56,879 --> 00:03:59,000 not insurmountable. I don't mean that at all, but the 67 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:01,199 Clippers can just cut. Like we saw the fatigue down 68 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:04,520 the stretch from James Harden with some of those turnovers 69 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:06,960 and stuff like that, it just again it was kind 70 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:10,159 of yeah again, which we can get into that too. 71 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 2: I don't know. Everybody in the comment section was like, 72 00:04:13,479 --> 00:04:15,680 don't you guys understand he's got to get his seasoned 73 00:04:15,719 --> 00:04:18,319 legs underneath him. What are you talking about your casuals? 74 00:04:19,079 --> 00:04:24,480 Speaker 1: So my thing with the turnovers, and I brought this 75 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:26,720 up and I will continue to bring this up. Law Murray. 76 00:04:27,079 --> 00:04:29,519 This stat is very important to me as each game 77 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,439 goes by about James Harden. Last year, the most turnovers 78 00:04:32,439 --> 00:04:35,759 he had in the game was five. We're already at 79 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:38,720 every single game being higher than that. So last year 80 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:41,759 I think was more of an anomaly than what we're 81 00:04:41,879 --> 00:04:42,639 seeing this year. 82 00:04:43,319 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 2: Well, I think it's also a role. Though you have Kawhi, 83 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:49,800 you have Paul George out there. Last year, Russell Westbrook's 84 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:53,079 coming off the bench, the usage rating is completely different. 85 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:56,240 I think he still has after last night the third 86 00:04:56,319 --> 00:05:00,959 highest usage only behind Sga Luca. I don't think they're 87 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:03,560 thirty five years of age. I think they're twenty six 88 00:05:03,639 --> 00:05:07,680 and twenty five. Too much is being asked of James Harden, 89 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:10,319 which is something we were afraid of coming into this season. 90 00:05:10,399 --> 00:05:12,560 And who's going to be the other shot creator, slash 91 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,759 playmaker guy out there for them and can make the 92 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:18,120 trains run on time? As Doctor Schapp likes to say, 93 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:20,560 with this offense, who else can do it? It's not 94 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:24,079 happening right now. It's all on James and so therefore 95 00:05:24,399 --> 00:05:27,360 he's falling flat late ball games as his legs are 96 00:05:27,439 --> 00:05:29,360 no longer underneath him anymore. 97 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:33,600 Speaker 1: I'm looking at his usage rates currently through five games, 98 00:05:33,639 --> 00:05:36,439 he's at thirty three point six percent usage, which is 99 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:40,199 his one two three four fifth highest ever. His usage 100 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:44,800 rate with the Clippers last year twenty percent, his third 101 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:48,560 lowest ever. Yeah, so we're really seeing some men maxing. 102 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:51,759 We're in the max section of Harden's usage, and like 103 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:55,720 you said, and everyone who's watched it, even two of 104 00:05:55,759 --> 00:05:59,600 the five games, we're seeing it be an issue down 105 00:05:59,639 --> 00:06:05,519 the stretch and what can be done to help this? 106 00:06:05,639 --> 00:06:08,480 And I mean that Worm's gotten off to a hot start, 107 00:06:09,199 --> 00:06:11,680 but that's not The scoring is great, and we need 108 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:14,519 the scoring and again Norm took an, yet again a 109 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:17,000 brutal knock, which seems to be his moo for this 110 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,040 Clippers team. He shed more blood on a basketball court 111 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:22,000 in the last two seasons than anyone in the NBA, 112 00:06:22,319 --> 00:06:23,920 and I think that is a fact. 113 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:28,160 Speaker 2: Poor guy was out there like carry on Halloween, dude. 114 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:31,279 Speaker 1: It was crazy, but he could score. But we we 115 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:35,920 don't have anyone. We're throwing inbounds out of bounds. We 116 00:06:35,959 --> 00:06:42,839 don't have anyone to initiate the offense. And I'm laughing 117 00:06:42,879 --> 00:06:46,360 because it's partly gulls humor, because like, who is going 118 00:06:46,439 --> 00:06:47,600 to help this easier? 119 00:06:48,399 --> 00:06:52,399 Speaker 2: And this is why when there isn't an answer like 120 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:56,399 this and people are just like raw, just frustrate, but 121 00:06:56,439 --> 00:07:01,040 there's no clear answer. I get it on one, but 122 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:04,600 you got to understand there is some rationale going on 123 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:07,800 with trying to chase Kevin Porter Junior and hope that 124 00:07:07,879 --> 00:07:11,120 it comes around because they just don't have any options. Now, 125 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:14,240 would I try Bones, Would I try Jordan Miller at 126 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:16,000 this point? Yeah, because I think you got to win 127 00:07:16,079 --> 00:07:18,600 games early in the season and have a sense of urgency. 128 00:07:18,639 --> 00:07:22,240 And I'm not saying they don't, I just I see 129 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:25,240 it's not an easy decision because if you do go 130 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:27,680 to Bones and then he's up and down, which he 131 00:07:27,759 --> 00:07:32,120 totally could be, what's next. Now he goes to Jordan 132 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:35,879 Miller and he's never played real NBA minutes before, and 133 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:39,560 what if he is up and down or just a 134 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:41,399 lot of down, and then you have to go back 135 00:07:41,439 --> 00:07:44,560 to the guys that you were benching for them. That's 136 00:07:44,639 --> 00:07:47,839 really awkward and that creates a very difficult situation in 137 00:07:47,879 --> 00:07:50,600 the locker room where you can lose it. So to 138 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:54,560 coach lose credit. This is why he let things fail, 139 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:57,399 to make it obvious to everyone, including the guys that 140 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:00,199 he has to tell, Hey, I'm pulling you. This is 141 00:08:00,199 --> 00:08:03,199 why we have this amount of evidence, and so it 142 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:06,079 lessens the blow a little bit. So I totally get 143 00:08:06,079 --> 00:08:09,600 what they're doing right now. I also think if they 144 00:08:09,639 --> 00:08:13,399 get blitzed dely against okay See tomorrow, I think there's 145 00:08:13,399 --> 00:08:16,000 a good chance we will see Bones or Jordan Miller. 146 00:08:15,959 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 1: Gonna push face up. Yeah, we're gonna talk about the 147 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:24,000 looming okay S game, but okay See we can intertwine it. 148 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:27,800 Okay See has an incredibly good defense to start this season, 149 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:32,039 and the loss of the Blazers, which pains me to say, 150 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:34,600 last two minutes of that game of a game the 151 00:08:34,639 --> 00:08:38,320 Clippers lost by one point, right, they didn't make a bucket. 152 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:40,759 Speaker 2: No, they had two made baskets. I think the last 153 00:08:40,799 --> 00:08:46,240 five and a half minutes. Any turnovers, No, four turnovers 154 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:47,960 in the fourth quarter of that one six in the 155 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:51,000 fourth quarter last night, and the miss free throws. 156 00:08:52,919 --> 00:08:55,559 Speaker 1: It's all clearly, it's not clearly. I don't mean to 157 00:08:55,559 --> 00:08:57,559 say it like that, like it's a simple problem. These 158 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:01,519 are fatigue problems, right, Like all of these things together 159 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:04,879 are a clear fatigue. 160 00:09:04,919 --> 00:09:08,039 Speaker 2: Issue, symptom of the disease of fatigue going on with 161 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:12,679 this team. By having someone who is thirty five have 162 00:09:12,799 --> 00:09:15,440 a usage rating of thirty three percent out there, it's 163 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:19,120 just it's too much. You're asking too much. But then again, 164 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:22,600 where else do you go? Because I'm pretty sure when 165 00:09:22,639 --> 00:09:25,960 people were screaming last night tried James Hard and saying 166 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:28,639 all these crazy things, It's like, guys, I don't know 167 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:30,320 if they'd score eighty points in a game if they 168 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:32,120 didn't have James Hard, honestly. 169 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:35,360 Speaker 1: Right, yeah, so yeah, let's imagine this team and we're 170 00:09:35,399 --> 00:09:37,679 not saying, you know that this would be a Yeah, 171 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:41,039 let's imagine training James for like some picks and some filler. 172 00:09:41,519 --> 00:09:47,759 What what does this Clippers team look like after that that? Yeah, 173 00:09:47,799 --> 00:09:50,720 I guess like before we kind of get into the Okay, 174 00:09:50,759 --> 00:09:56,480 see stuff did back to back? You know, level setting wise, 175 00:09:57,039 --> 00:10:01,279 did it really change your perception of like kind of 176 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:03,159 long term what you think this Clippers team could do 177 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:04,200 this regular season? 178 00:10:04,879 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 2: No, because on the last show we did, they were 179 00:10:09,279 --> 00:10:12,200 coming off winning too straight in a back to back 180 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:15,240 scenario on the road against good teams, and like, the 181 00:10:15,279 --> 00:10:17,399 first thing I brought up on the show was I 182 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:20,679 am worried about James Harden and him running out of gas. 183 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:24,600 So I mean I expected this to happen. It is 184 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:27,480 something we've talked about all off season. How do you 185 00:10:27,519 --> 00:10:29,799 have enough shot creation with this team? How do you 186 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:31,919 figure it out and not make it all the James 187 00:10:31,919 --> 00:10:35,639 Shardon Show, because that has a recipe for disaster late 188 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:40,639 in games, And I just don't know. Look, they had 189 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:44,559 a great first half. Things were clicking. There's some progress 190 00:10:44,639 --> 00:10:48,159 there with getting other guys involved and not just having 191 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:49,960 it be high pick and roll with James Harden and 192 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:52,720 to each Zubots because Zoo only got up five shots 193 00:10:52,759 --> 00:10:55,080 in the first half, and they still led by eighteen. 194 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:58,279 They made a concerted effort then early in the third 195 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:01,000 quarter to feature Zubats. I want to say. He took 196 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:02,960 like three out of the first four shots and had 197 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:05,279 the end one on the dunk to start the third quarter, 198 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:08,080 and that was great. Yeah, that was great game plan 199 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:10,679 right there. It was like, Okay, we haven't got him. Yeah, 200 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:13,159 we haven't gotten him involved enough. We're going back to 201 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:15,200 big zoo. Now. He only got one shot in the 202 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:19,559 fourth quarter, which I hated seeing, But I think part 203 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:23,039 of that was because if you slow down Harden and 204 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:25,039 he's fatigued, you slow down the Clippers. 205 00:11:25,759 --> 00:11:29,200 Speaker 1: And that's the big defender thing we saw Portland do. 206 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:31,159 They put a bigger guy on Harden, so he just 207 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:33,200 has to work harder. And if you do that from the. 208 00:11:33,279 --> 00:11:38,159 Speaker 2: Jump, yeah, it's you can cut off the head of 209 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:41,159 the snake. Is very apparent to every team that the 210 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:44,240 Clippers are going up against. Everybody comes in knowing how 211 00:11:44,279 --> 00:11:47,600 they can stop them. Now, the Clippers got going early 212 00:11:47,639 --> 00:11:51,200 on anyways against Phoenix, even when they had Ryan Dunn, 213 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:54,159 who looks incredible to start off this season, who had 214 00:11:54,399 --> 00:11:57,559 four three pointers and hit seven his last season in 215 00:11:57,639 --> 00:12:00,200 college and hit four against the Clippers in one game 216 00:12:00,519 --> 00:12:03,399 and missed two wide open ones late still that could 217 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:05,600 have been knocked down. But his defense on James Harden 218 00:12:05,639 --> 00:12:10,200 I thought was really good early on. That really could 219 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:12,679 be the difference for the Phoenix Suns this season. That 220 00:12:12,799 --> 00:12:15,120 and Tias Jones and a new coaching staff. But like 221 00:12:15,759 --> 00:12:17,759 their a ceiling looks a lot higher than I think 222 00:12:17,759 --> 00:12:22,120 most people thought heading into this year. Anyways, back to 223 00:12:22,159 --> 00:12:26,519 the Clippers in that third quarter, you can't control. I 224 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:30,559 went back and watched every clip, every shot during the 225 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:33,279 fifteen made, and I would say seven or eight of 226 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:38,080 them were somewhere between decently contested to really well contested 227 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:39,480 by the Clippers, and it didn't matter. 228 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:41,799 Speaker 1: It wasn't a lot. It wasn't like a lot of 229 00:12:41,799 --> 00:12:43,720 because I know there were also there were some people 230 00:12:43,919 --> 00:12:47,919 upset in the in the live stream afterwards about how 231 00:12:47,919 --> 00:12:50,639 many guys were left open late with the doubling that 232 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:53,279 the Clippers were doing. But in the third quarter, you're right, 233 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:56,080 they played like it wasn't wide open shots, so cultial 234 00:12:56,159 --> 00:12:58,200 getting credit to the Sunster making the shots, not saying 235 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:00,840 anything like that, but like these were not this was 236 00:13:00,879 --> 00:13:05,120 not a sloppy defensive quarter that the Clippers, yeah got 237 00:13:05,159 --> 00:13:06,960 this done to them. 238 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:11,080 Speaker 2: And credit coach Lou for calling a time out when 239 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:14,799 they were still up seventeen. They dropped one point. They're 240 00:13:14,879 --> 00:13:17,279 up eighty at the half, and coach Lou saw a 241 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:19,720 minute and a half in, uh oh, Phoenix is starting 242 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:21,639 to go. I gotta cut off their momentum right now. 243 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:24,080 We got to regroup and they had only cut into 244 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:27,559 it by one. Yeah, I love seeing that sense of urgency. 245 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:30,159 He called another one after Phoenix kept it going like 246 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:34,360 they tried everything. I'm not saying their defense was perfect, 247 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,919 but seven or eight of those shots were pretty damn 248 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:39,840 well defended. Use off Nurkics came into this one one 249 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:42,360 of nine from three. He gets a wide open one 250 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:44,120 because you got to make a decision there. You live 251 00:13:44,159 --> 00:13:47,399 with that, and he knocks it down, like man, it 252 00:13:47,519 --> 00:13:51,000 was just terrible, miserable fluck in the third quarter. 253 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:53,440 Speaker 1: And you look at another thing in the third that 254 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:55,840 that I think really frustrated Tie because he mentioned it 255 00:13:55,919 --> 00:13:59,639 was the boards. Clippers got beat by eight on the 256 00:13:59,639 --> 00:14:03,600 board in the third quarter, which is that would anger 257 00:14:03,639 --> 00:14:04,200 any coach. 258 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:08,279 Speaker 2: Yeah, the hustle plays definitely started to go the other 259 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:12,759 way in the second half and Phoenix. I think I 260 00:14:12,799 --> 00:14:16,639 said this last night, what is happening partially with the 261 00:14:16,639 --> 00:14:20,360 Clippers losing these games late where everyone's saying that, Hey, 262 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:23,000 from the Clippers fans perspective, they could be five and 263 00:14:23,039 --> 00:14:25,320 oher right now. They also could very easily be zero 264 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:26,200 and five right. 265 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:29,240 Speaker 1: It goes close. Games go the other way too, y'all. 266 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:35,759 Speaker 2: Code Coach Lou brought that up. But my point is 267 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:39,080 what happens late in games is you see more of 268 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:42,759 the separation and talent because while the Clippers can outwork 269 00:14:42,759 --> 00:14:45,759 teams and play with better effort through the first couple 270 00:14:45,759 --> 00:14:49,000 of quarters three quarters, when a team gets desperate that 271 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:51,480 is more talented than you and has that sense of urgency, 272 00:14:51,519 --> 00:14:53,679 like the Phoenix suns, all of a sudden, they're giving 273 00:14:53,679 --> 00:14:56,080 a maximum effort now, so none of your shots are 274 00:14:56,120 --> 00:15:01,720 as easy. And they were absolutely operating with pristine precision 275 00:15:02,159 --> 00:15:04,360 around the perimeter. With some of the passes they were 276 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:07,080 making in the fourth quarter, everybody's talking about as you mentioned, 277 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:10,080 those wide open looks, it's like that was created through 278 00:15:10,159 --> 00:15:13,639 perfect passes. If it was the other way around, If 279 00:15:13,679 --> 00:15:15,879 it was the other way around, and the Clippers were 280 00:15:15,879 --> 00:15:19,159 the ones always finding the open man when the opposition 281 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:22,159 is scrambling. Everyone would say, look at this ball moving 282 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:25,120 from the Clippers. Look at this hot potato. This is great. Well, 283 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:26,000 the Suns are. 284 00:15:25,879 --> 00:15:26,919 Speaker 1: Just executing it. 285 00:15:27,399 --> 00:15:31,679 Speaker 2: Yeah, the Sons were executing perfectly. I get there's frustration, 286 00:15:31,879 --> 00:15:34,360 but some of that is tip your cap. That was 287 00:15:34,399 --> 00:15:36,320 some unbelievable basketball Phoenix. 288 00:15:36,679 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 1: I like that point too. It's not like the Clippers 289 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:42,159 were sloppy for the most part, you know, Like it's 290 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:46,000 not like I mean, they were in some aspects, but 291 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:47,840 the whole game itself. Like you know, it's a six 292 00:15:47,879 --> 00:15:50,120 point loss to the Suns, which probably looks a lot 293 00:15:50,159 --> 00:15:54,399 better than some other teams, better roster constructed, you know 294 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:56,240 what I mean, teams who are gonna lose with the 295 00:15:56,240 --> 00:16:00,320 Suns this year. Just sucks to see it happen back 296 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:02,320 to bad because they should have won the Portland game. 297 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:06,200 That the Phoenix game. You know, I'm pissed we lost. Whatever. 298 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:10,759 The Portland game is one that we punted directly to them. 299 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:14,080 The Phoenix game. That's a coin toss anyway, which I 300 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:15,919 feel good about. It's nice that it's a coin toss 301 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:19,080 with the Slippers team that Portland game. That is the 302 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:22,320 one to be for me that I'm more upset about 303 00:16:22,519 --> 00:16:25,320 because of that last few minutes, no scoring, turnovers, a 304 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:29,000 team that they no disrespect to any Portland fans watching, 305 00:16:29,039 --> 00:16:31,559 that the Clippers should be even with this roster. 306 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:34,799 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's kind of what compounds things. You win the 307 00:16:34,799 --> 00:16:37,320 game against Portland and if you had lost last night, 308 00:16:37,799 --> 00:16:42,639 you're still feeling ours about yourself. Yeah, you know. And 309 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:45,840 the way they lost the game against Portland with missing 310 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:48,840 eight free throws I think it was in five of 311 00:16:48,879 --> 00:16:53,639 them in the fourth quarter and James Harden missing multiple times. 312 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:56,039 Down he goes one for two and then big Zoo 313 00:16:56,039 --> 00:16:59,759 goes over to it just can't happen. He tried to 314 00:16:59,799 --> 00:17:01,840 make up for it with a great defensive play. He 315 00:17:01,879 --> 00:17:04,279 had the block on Simon's and the recovery the Bill 316 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:06,680 Russell play. You get the block and the rebound, but 317 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:09,880 too little, too late, and then a bad I don't 318 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:12,400 even know I've watched that inbounds past a ton and 319 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:14,400 there's a frame where it's like, how is this nucket 320 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:16,759 in a zoo? Like is to get to this? 321 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:19,480 Speaker 1: Are you going frame by frame on these oh Zruiter 322 00:17:20,599 --> 00:17:23,640 bro Adam Zapruter here. All right, we so from the 323 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:27,240 frustrating back to back losses that the Clippers go through 324 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:30,079 on a back to back, they now get to play 325 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:36,160 the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. We're going to talk 326 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:38,839 about that. If you're listening, we're gonna do a quick 327 00:17:38,839 --> 00:17:41,559 ad break. If you're watching, or you would like to watch, 328 00:17:41,839 --> 00:17:44,920 there is no weird audio ad break. You can watch 329 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:47,319 us at YouTube dot complish at Clippers Podcast. We just 330 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:51,519 crossed two thousand subscribers, so we appreciate that. We're gonna 331 00:17:51,559 --> 00:17:55,759 do a quick ad break and then talk Clippers verset 332 00:17:55,759 --> 00:17:58,079 Thunder coming up in three two one. 333 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:01,039 Speaker 2: Welcome back in It's Clips and Dip. I'm out of 334 00:18:01,119 --> 00:18:02,480 Moslem with Chuck Mockler. 335 00:18:02,519 --> 00:18:02,759 Speaker 1: Here. 336 00:18:02,799 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 2: It's episode twenty four of season three of the show. 337 00:18:06,559 --> 00:18:09,480 And the Clippers are entering game six of this twenty 338 00:18:09,519 --> 00:18:12,880 twenty four to twenty twenty five regular season and they're 339 00:18:13,599 --> 00:18:15,960 what would this be fourth game at into a Dome 340 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:18,920 where so far they are zero and three. This is 341 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:22,839 game three of a five game homestand and dunt, dunt, dum. 342 00:18:23,079 --> 00:18:25,359 They're taking on the best team in the Western Conference 343 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:28,480 that I picked to have seventy wins this season and 344 00:18:28,799 --> 00:18:30,960 so far, what, I don't think they've lost a game 345 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:31,839 the Okac Thunder. 346 00:18:32,319 --> 00:18:35,480 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be honest, so that that prediction is holding 347 00:18:35,559 --> 00:18:39,039 up right now? Yeah? Four and oh. 348 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:43,759 Speaker 2: It is obviously as painful as it gets because you 349 00:18:43,759 --> 00:18:46,480 have to watch your old girlfriend who's looking better than 350 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:52,119 ever an sgau just dunk on your ass. Well. 351 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:54,480 Speaker 1: Look, if there's a couple old girlfriends of mine who 352 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:56,200 if they dunked on me, they'd be like, well done, Okay, 353 00:18:56,279 --> 00:19:05,039 deserve I deserve that. That's fair. It's I'm looking at 354 00:19:05,079 --> 00:19:07,200 their stats, right I haven't watched a lot of Thunder 355 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:09,599 games this year. I know they're very good. You look 356 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:13,119 at their stats. I'm going to pick something that jumps 357 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:15,119 out to me. You pick something that jumps out to 358 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:17,720 you in relation to how it could maybe harm the Clippers. 359 00:19:18,799 --> 00:19:26,000 Number one rated defense has me worried tomorrow night for 360 00:19:26,039 --> 00:19:28,960 this game. How are you feeling about that? 361 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:39,079 Speaker 2: I think okay? See uh, I mean start off trying 362 00:19:39,119 --> 00:19:41,400 to punish them with the vitza zubats. I think you 363 00:19:41,519 --> 00:19:44,440 have to. I always say three are the first four 364 00:19:44,559 --> 00:19:48,880 five possessions, get him touches, get him going. Because one 365 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:51,279 of the things I hate about the Blazers game. I 366 00:19:51,279 --> 00:19:53,680 thought they were even worse with not getting a Vitza 367 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:57,039 Zubos involved because things weren't working that well. I think 368 00:19:57,039 --> 00:19:59,200 they were up by two after the first quarter and 369 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:01,480 then you're down by four and a half and you're 370 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:03,960 not getting him involved. And I know he was on 371 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:06,319 a minute restriction or whatever because they were on a 372 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:08,880 back to back, so he only ended up playing thirty 373 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:10,720 one minutes, so he's being taken out of the ball game. 374 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:12,240 Earlier rotations are off. 375 00:20:12,599 --> 00:20:16,799 Speaker 1: There's that cardio, the cardio. No, I'm not that wasn't 376 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:17,480 That wasn't. 377 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:21,799 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, your side. I mean it's a back to 378 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:24,000 back and you got Phoenix the next night, and they're 379 00:20:24,039 --> 00:20:26,279 trying to save the legs. I'm guessing they were trying 380 00:20:26,319 --> 00:20:28,559 to keep him and James Harden under thirty minutes, but 381 00:20:28,599 --> 00:20:31,000 that didn't happen because they weren't in control of the 382 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:35,799 ball game whatsoever against Portland. But I couldn't understand in 383 00:20:35,839 --> 00:20:37,440 the first six and a half minutes of that game 384 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:40,559 against Portland, Zubas didn't get a shot up. He did 385 00:20:40,559 --> 00:20:44,400 not take a shot in his first stint, Like, what 386 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:47,240 what are we doing if our foundation is not high 387 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:49,839 pick and roll with those two and looking for Big Zoo, 388 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:52,880 it is not an option to get him involved anymore. 389 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:56,599 It is necessary or else you're probably going to lose. 390 00:20:57,039 --> 00:20:59,000 Like I'm not saying you're going to win if you 391 00:20:59,039 --> 00:21:01,440 feed a beat Zooba, but you're probably gonna lose if 392 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:04,039 you don't get him involved at all. He's too important 393 00:21:04,039 --> 00:21:06,079 to the team now. And I think it affected his 394 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:08,920 defense some in that game too, where you see it 395 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:12,599 with big men, the screens are even. Yeah, if you 396 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:14,279 want the dog to protect the house, you got to 397 00:21:14,279 --> 00:21:17,079 feed him the old Shack line. So I say, feed 398 00:21:17,119 --> 00:21:19,359 Big Zoo early and off and against okay, see, and 399 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:22,000 try to establish your identity on offense. At least. 400 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:24,799 Speaker 1: I like that it takes some of the scoring burden 401 00:21:24,799 --> 00:21:27,799 if Zoo's got it going, because I mean, you look 402 00:21:27,839 --> 00:21:32,119 at this starting five for the Thunder. Zoo has the size, 403 00:21:32,799 --> 00:21:36,799 he has the mass at least to move their big 404 00:21:36,839 --> 00:21:38,680 guys down low. 405 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:41,200 Speaker 2: Hartenstein is still not back, right. 406 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:44,359 Speaker 1: No, he's not. He's out for I think a not 407 00:21:44,519 --> 00:21:45,880 insignificant amount of time. 408 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:47,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a broken hand. 409 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:51,000 Speaker 1: Right, suffered a small, non displaced fracture. He's gonna be around. 410 00:21:51,079 --> 00:21:53,599 He was gonna be reevaluated in like four weeks. 411 00:21:53,839 --> 00:21:56,559 Speaker 2: Holy shit, they aren't even just the number one defense. 412 00:21:56,599 --> 00:21:57,519 I just checked the rating. 413 00:21:57,559 --> 00:22:00,960 Speaker 1: I you're like destroying it. 414 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:03,759 Speaker 2: By their seven points better per one hundred possessions than 415 00:22:03,799 --> 00:22:04,720 the team in second. 416 00:22:05,039 --> 00:22:07,920 Speaker 1: And here's who they've played, so they're going to play. 417 00:22:09,039 --> 00:22:10,319 They played Portland tonight. 418 00:22:12,079 --> 00:22:15,519 Speaker 2: They played that's the Clippers' best advantage. They're on a 419 00:22:15,559 --> 00:22:16,119 back to back. 420 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:18,960 Speaker 1: Literally, they played the Spurs, who they held in ninety 421 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:21,960 three points. But it's the Spurs. Fine. They held Atlanta 422 00:22:22,599 --> 00:22:25,200 to one hundred and four points. Not exactly an offense. 423 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:28,720 It's not a depth of scoring. They held Chicago to 424 00:22:28,839 --> 00:22:33,279 ninety five, you know, okay, and they held the Nuggets 425 00:22:33,279 --> 00:22:34,920 in the first game of the season to eighty seven. 426 00:22:37,519 --> 00:22:39,839 They're really good, and balances been a you know what 427 00:22:39,839 --> 00:22:42,759 I mean, Like it's been a mix of good and 428 00:22:42,839 --> 00:22:47,039 bad offenses that they've held to no points. Yeah, so 429 00:22:47,079 --> 00:22:49,599 the theme seems to be that they the defense seems 430 00:22:49,839 --> 00:22:51,000 good to start the season. 431 00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:53,359 Speaker 2: And I want to say last season they were like 432 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:57,720 fourth defensively, I'll check on this. Yeah, they were, they 433 00:22:57,759 --> 00:23:02,000 were fourth. This though their team's better. They have Alex Caruso, 434 00:23:02,079 --> 00:23:04,400 even without Isaiah Hartenstein, and they have a bunch of 435 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:08,000 young guys getting better, and even though offensively they haven't 436 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:09,920 clicked in so far, it kind of makes me feel like, 437 00:23:10,839 --> 00:23:12,960 is this on purpose? Are they trying to set a 438 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:15,279 foundation on the defensive end and take a step back 439 00:23:15,319 --> 00:23:18,319 offensively until they're elite elite there and way better than 440 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:21,079 everyone on defense, and then the offense takes off and 441 00:23:21,119 --> 00:23:22,559 then nobody's catching this team. 442 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:25,799 Speaker 1: Well, here's what here's what I'm this is the biggest 443 00:23:25,799 --> 00:23:29,559 test of the Clippers new defensive identity so far. They 444 00:23:29,559 --> 00:23:32,000 didn't have to play against Bradley Bual last night, which 445 00:23:32,039 --> 00:23:35,559 is another thing that pisses me off. Bradley Buial was 446 00:23:35,599 --> 00:23:39,400 not playing. This is a this is and with how 447 00:23:39,519 --> 00:23:43,359 Denver has looked, you know what I mean, this is 448 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:45,039 the biggest test for this. 449 00:23:46,079 --> 00:23:48,279 Speaker 2: The Denver win doesn't look as great right now. 450 00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:51,160 Speaker 1: We'll take it, but you're right, it doesn't look as 451 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:55,440 great two miles down the road. But this is You 452 00:23:55,519 --> 00:23:58,079 mentioned they haven't clicked yet. Their top ten in pace, 453 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:01,480 which freaks me out. They're twenty fourth on offensive rating, 454 00:24:01,759 --> 00:24:05,640 they're twenty seventh and three point percentage, they're seventeenth in 455 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:08,400 field goal percentage. This is a team that is so 456 00:24:08,599 --> 00:24:15,240 far on the whole, been bad offensively, and I don't 457 00:24:15,240 --> 00:24:18,240 mean that disrespectfully. You look at these numbers, they're not 458 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:19,839 good numbers. 459 00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:23,000 Speaker 2: Would you say SGA is at right now shooting wise. 460 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:25,920 Speaker 1: Forty two percent from the field forty three if you 461 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:29,119 round up? Excuse me, he's shooting twenty seven percent from three. 462 00:24:31,039 --> 00:24:35,160 Speaker 2: So they're not shooting well from three. But opponents are 463 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:39,039 only shooting twenty seven point eight percent against them from three, 464 00:24:39,079 --> 00:24:42,599 which is crazy. And meanwhile, the Clippers have been lit 465 00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:45,359 up from three so far, which is one of the 466 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:48,000 issues going on. As good as they have been defensively, 467 00:24:48,559 --> 00:24:53,240 teams are shooting almost exactly forty percent from three against them. 468 00:24:53,799 --> 00:24:56,680 They're at thirty nine point nine percent, So that's a 469 00:24:56,680 --> 00:24:57,440 little bit scary. 470 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:00,640 Speaker 1: Yes, I'm worried about the buzz saw that the Clippers 471 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:03,640 might run into on Saturday, especially if the Thunder lose 472 00:25:03,839 --> 00:25:07,880 the night that we're recording this November first. So I 473 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:14,160 agree on the Zoo point on the offense. Defensively, Chris 474 00:25:14,160 --> 00:25:16,400 Down's gonna I think Chris Downin's gonna play thirty plus 475 00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:19,279 minutes in this game. I think Terrence is gonna play 476 00:25:19,279 --> 00:25:22,240 around the same too. I think they're gonna share the floor, 477 00:25:23,359 --> 00:25:27,119 and I think we're gonna see We're gonna need to 478 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:30,599 see that point of attack defense, hopefully involving those two 479 00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:33,000 guys at a different level than it's been the season. 480 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:35,519 It's been good this season. I'm not trying to say that, 481 00:25:35,799 --> 00:25:39,880 but there's gonna need to be a wacky combination in 482 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:44,039 the back court that makes kind of things click for 483 00:25:44,039 --> 00:25:45,160 the Clippers. 484 00:25:45,839 --> 00:25:48,400 Speaker 2: Yeah. I think that's a good point because a Mere 485 00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:51,880 Coffee only played ten minutes last night, and for the 486 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:54,519 man haters out there, Terrence Man probably had his best 487 00:25:54,559 --> 00:25:57,440 game of the season last night, right the need. 488 00:25:57,759 --> 00:26:00,720 Speaker 1: I wish Will was here to photoshop a man hater's 489 00:26:00,799 --> 00:26:03,359 thumb nail for this for this episode. 490 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:07,519 Speaker 2: Would you agree that was Terrence Man's best game so 491 00:26:07,599 --> 00:26:11,359 far last night? Yeah? Last night, I thought because Coach 492 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:13,880 lou gave him the extended run. He played over thirty 493 00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:16,279 minutes and A Mere Coffee didn't get the run in 494 00:26:16,319 --> 00:26:18,680 the fourth quarter they went back to the starters. His 495 00:26:18,799 --> 00:26:22,920 defense on Booker is really good. Yeah, when he got loose, 496 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:24,799 A lot of that wasn't on Terrence Man. 497 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:26,880 Speaker 1: He's a bit of a Yeah, I think I think 498 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:27,359 you're right. 499 00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:30,640 Speaker 2: I think he still can't hit a three, like it's 500 00:26:30,759 --> 00:26:31,119 it's he. 501 00:26:31,079 --> 00:26:34,119 Speaker 1: Can't shoot at all. He can somehow hit turn around, 502 00:26:34,119 --> 00:26:37,440 one legged fadeaways on Kevin Durant, but will not take 503 00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:40,519 a three, which which frustrates me. I love Terrence Man, 504 00:26:40,839 --> 00:26:45,599 but this is getting to Luke Canard levels of passing 505 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:48,279 up shots. I mean level we didn't know was possible. 506 00:26:48,799 --> 00:26:51,680 Speaker 2: He did pass up one last night to Nico Batoum. 507 00:26:51,759 --> 00:26:54,359 I think in the fourth quarter where he bounced it 508 00:26:54,440 --> 00:26:57,640 right back to him. Nico was more wide open, but 509 00:26:57,680 --> 00:26:59,960 it's not like Terrence wasn't wide open and Nico was 510 00:27:00,039 --> 00:27:02,720 in the corner and terres can hit a shot. So maybe, 511 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:04,920 I mean it is the smart basketball playday. 512 00:27:05,799 --> 00:27:09,400 Speaker 1: He's thinking like he's thinking about he is also thinking 513 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:13,519 about everything that you just said. I think as it's happening, 514 00:27:13,599 --> 00:27:17,079 which is where we're seeing the gears turn, which you 515 00:27:17,079 --> 00:27:18,400 don't want to see the gears turn. 516 00:27:19,039 --> 00:27:21,880 Speaker 2: No, I mean, I'll give him credit. He at least 517 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:25,119 took two in each of the last two games from three. Yes, 518 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:28,799 he can get him up and did recover that one 519 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:31,400 that turned into that jumper that he knocked out, as 520 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:35,200 you mentioned the one legged jumper, so like it was 521 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:37,319 his best game, he still has to be better. He 522 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:39,640 has to be better offensively. He has to figure it 523 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:41,640 out from three. The only way is to have a 524 00:27:41,680 --> 00:27:45,960 breakthrough game. It feels like with him it takes one game, yeah, 525 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:48,559 and then he's fine. It is so much about his 526 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:51,240 confidence and not over processing everything. 527 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:55,640 Speaker 1: And before we get into our Kawhi Leonard Vize Zibotch 528 00:27:55,680 --> 00:27:57,880 James Harden Player of the Game picks which I have, 529 00:27:58,079 --> 00:27:59,839 I will texted me his earlier. I'll say it on 530 00:27:59,839 --> 00:28:05,960 the I'm worried about the bench universe, okse Kai Jones 531 00:28:05,960 --> 00:28:09,319 played nine minutes yesterday. If your backup center is only 532 00:28:09,359 --> 00:28:12,279 really good for nine minutes and situational things, things are 533 00:28:12,279 --> 00:28:16,440 gonna get a little dicey. I'm worried about the bet. 534 00:28:16,440 --> 00:28:18,559 Speaker 2: I didn't think he was terrible. I thought, actually the 535 00:28:18,559 --> 00:28:20,200 game against Portland he was pretty good. 536 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:24,039 Speaker 1: Kai No, like, I agree, it's just flashes. There's nothing 537 00:28:24,079 --> 00:28:26,599 that can be relied on right now, which is what 538 00:28:26,640 --> 00:28:28,799 worries me a little bit. Not that a backup center 539 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:33,240 is someone you rely on, but at least yeah, I 540 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:34,960 don't know it's just a little too up and down 541 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:37,920 for me right now to make me not worried about it. 542 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:40,599 If Zoo gets two fouls early, which might happen against 543 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:42,240 Chet on some switch. 544 00:28:43,039 --> 00:28:46,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, I guess the good news is if he has 545 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:50,000 to match up against Chet, he shouldn't be bullied as much, 546 00:28:50,279 --> 00:28:53,839 you know, because totally and Kai's pretty slight of frame too. 547 00:28:54,079 --> 00:28:58,039 Speaker 1: But it also like, yeah, I'm worried about not great. 548 00:28:58,640 --> 00:28:59,599 Speaker 2: It's not great. 549 00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:07,759 Speaker 1: So this is gonna be a big test for the 550 00:29:07,759 --> 00:29:11,359 Clippers on both sides of the ball. Lord do I hope? 551 00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:14,599 So give us before again, last thing before the players 552 00:29:14,599 --> 00:29:16,680 of the game. One thing the Clippers are going to 553 00:29:16,759 --> 00:29:19,400 do to get the win at them? What's the one 554 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:20,599 thing you're thinking. 555 00:29:22,359 --> 00:29:25,680 Speaker 2: Take care of the basketball? It's the turnovers, the turnovers 556 00:29:25,720 --> 00:29:28,440 and the type of turnovers they have had. Lot Murray 557 00:29:29,079 --> 00:29:32,359 put up a great post on Twitter with some of 558 00:29:32,359 --> 00:29:34,759 the miscues the Clippers have had and just the lacks 559 00:29:34,799 --> 00:29:39,440 of lack of daisical turnovers that are easily correctable and fixable, 560 00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:42,680 and some of it may be mental fatigue from James Harden, 561 00:29:42,799 --> 00:29:46,839 but some of these definitely need to be cleaned up. Regardless, 562 00:29:46,960 --> 00:29:50,240 they can be and need to be against a team 563 00:29:50,319 --> 00:29:53,480 like Okay see, because didn't the Clippers win the possession 564 00:29:53,519 --> 00:29:55,839 battle again last night? They got up more shots against Phoenix, 565 00:29:55,960 --> 00:30:00,640 eleven more shots with those six more three corners made 566 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:03,440 by the Suns. Again, the three point shooting has been 567 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:05,720 going against the Clippers. I wonder some of that can 568 00:30:05,759 --> 00:30:08,079 be wonky Varius too. Sometimes where you're just on the 569 00:30:08,119 --> 00:30:09,839 wrong side of it for a stretch of games and 570 00:30:09,839 --> 00:30:12,480 it's not really indicative of how bad your defense has been. 571 00:30:13,119 --> 00:30:15,759 So maybe the numbers will go back in their favor there. 572 00:30:15,799 --> 00:30:17,319 But I think they just have to take care of 573 00:30:17,359 --> 00:30:20,319 the basketball, especially visit a tight game late. It's gonna 574 00:30:20,319 --> 00:30:23,519 come down to that, like those possessions are too crucial 575 00:30:23,559 --> 00:30:24,880 for them to be given anything away. 576 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:28,559 Speaker 1: Could not agree more on the turnovers. I think for me, 577 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:33,200 I'm looking at the offensive boards and use the second 578 00:30:33,279 --> 00:30:36,119 chance points. I know we won second chance points against 579 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:38,799 the Suns and we crush points in the paint, but 580 00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:41,880 it just blows my mind that you can double up 581 00:30:41,880 --> 00:30:43,720 a team in offensive boards and still, you know what 582 00:30:43,799 --> 00:30:47,240 I mean, like that that should be I hope that happens. 583 00:30:47,319 --> 00:30:51,720 Adam your pick for the Kawhi Leonard James Harden to 584 00:30:51,759 --> 00:30:55,119 vitz Zubats inaugural player of the game for Clippers first 585 00:30:55,519 --> 00:30:57,440 thunder and add into it. 586 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:02,119 Speaker 2: Can I take two guys? I know this. 587 00:31:02,359 --> 00:31:04,680 Speaker 1: We need Hey, we need all of them, so. 588 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:11,079 Speaker 2: Go for I'm only saying this because neither of these 589 00:31:11,079 --> 00:31:14,839 guys have played yet, and I think this could be 590 00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:17,720 the game they get run. Oh no, at least one 591 00:31:17,759 --> 00:31:21,359 of them. I pick both. Can I hit with one? 592 00:31:22,039 --> 00:31:22,440 Speaker 1: You're good? 593 00:31:22,519 --> 00:31:24,440 Speaker 2: Yeah? No, for this to happen, it could mean the 594 00:31:24,440 --> 00:31:28,559 Clippers are down significantly early on. I just could see 595 00:31:28,599 --> 00:31:31,400 Coach Leuce saying, all right, it's time to switch up 596 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:34,720 the energy. We're down fifteen in the first half. We're 597 00:31:34,759 --> 00:31:37,720 bleeding points, we're turning the basketball over. We're making things 598 00:31:37,759 --> 00:31:40,240 too hard on ourselves and too easy for Okay, see 599 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:43,119 and he looks to his bench and he sees the 600 00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:48,279 skeleton key, and he sees all the work he's been 601 00:31:48,319 --> 00:31:52,279 putting in pre practice, post practice. 602 00:31:52,200 --> 00:31:55,079 Speaker 1: Not being toxic to the press, not at all. 603 00:31:55,640 --> 00:31:59,000 Speaker 2: And then there's another guy named Jordan Miller who also 604 00:31:59,119 --> 00:32:02,599 hasn't played yet. And I'm just thinking one of those 605 00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:05,319 guys could be the guy. If the Clippers are down 606 00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:07,720 early on in this game and things aren't going their way. 607 00:32:07,759 --> 00:32:10,599 I know it's only game six, but uh, they haven't 608 00:32:10,640 --> 00:32:13,279 won yet. It into its home and they had just 609 00:32:13,319 --> 00:32:17,200 had two very miserable losses there. I don't know, he 610 00:32:17,279 --> 00:32:18,519 might have to shake up the energy. 611 00:32:19,920 --> 00:32:22,400 Speaker 1: I respect it, I absolutely respect. 612 00:32:22,240 --> 00:32:24,759 Speaker 2: I can he still strike out with both of them. 613 00:32:24,799 --> 00:32:26,559 I'm gonna pick two, and not one of them is 614 00:32:26,599 --> 00:32:26,960 going in. 615 00:32:27,799 --> 00:32:32,240 Speaker 1: I'm going Derek Jones Jr. He hasn't had that game 616 00:32:32,279 --> 00:32:35,599 for the Clippers yet. He's had some good performances. He's 617 00:32:35,640 --> 00:32:37,720 been okay, well. 618 00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:41,079 Speaker 2: He hasn't what what type of game were looking for. 619 00:32:42,640 --> 00:32:43,839 Speaker 1: Twenty points? 620 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:49,200 Speaker 2: He can do it as suppose you can. If things 621 00:32:49,240 --> 00:32:49,880 are going well. 622 00:32:49,920 --> 00:32:53,400 Speaker 1: He runs out and I'm trying to find something James Hardener. 623 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:55,519 If eats a Zuba, it's a good pick. 624 00:32:56,000 --> 00:33:01,079 Speaker 2: He's gonna be guarding SGA. So yeah, a lot, I think. 625 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:05,839 Speaker 1: All right, So he's not gonna score twenty points D eighteen. 626 00:33:05,839 --> 00:33:08,640 He's taking two guys. I'm taking two guys. I'm taking 627 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:09,200 two guys. 628 00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:13,200 Speaker 2: Hey, Will ain't here? We get to now that's true. 629 00:33:13,240 --> 00:33:14,920 Speaker 1: Well, Will told me he thought p. J. Tucker was 630 00:33:14,920 --> 00:33:17,400 gonna come up. Willis Reed's style. 631 00:33:20,240 --> 00:33:21,000 Speaker 2: He's Derek. 632 00:33:22,519 --> 00:33:30,880 Speaker 1: Well physically, not physically. It's a new NBA dude. I'm 633 00:33:30,880 --> 00:33:40,119 going Derek Jones junior man. I don't know. I I 634 00:33:40,200 --> 00:33:43,400 guess Chris Dunn, Chris Donna, I don't just surprise him. 635 00:33:43,400 --> 00:33:44,880 Maybe Nico hits three threes. 636 00:33:46,039 --> 00:33:49,920 Speaker 2: Chris Dunn's offense has been kind of better than expected 637 00:33:49,960 --> 00:33:50,440 so far. 638 00:33:50,759 --> 00:33:54,839 Speaker 1: Absolutely, Oh, it's gonna be weird, Adam, You're gonna be 639 00:33:54,880 --> 00:33:56,519 in the building. You're gonna be in the building right. 640 00:33:57,119 --> 00:34:00,640 Speaker 2: I will be there. I am hoping for Upper's victory 641 00:34:00,759 --> 00:34:02,759 into it Dome there first, let's go. 642 00:34:03,640 --> 00:34:07,920 Speaker 1: I will not be there. I am in Montana. Gonna 643 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:11,559 possibly do a live stream after the game. We're gonna 644 00:34:11,599 --> 00:34:14,320 do a full episode with all of us on Tuesday. 645 00:34:14,360 --> 00:34:19,000 I'm thinking next week. Reviews. Help listen to us anywhere 646 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:21,079 you listen to pods. We always appreciate it. As Will 647 00:34:21,079 --> 00:34:23,199 would say, you can find us on YouTube a YouTube 648 00:34:23,199 --> 00:34:26,079 dot complish at Clippers Podcast. Welcome to all the new listeners, 649 00:34:26,199 --> 00:34:29,159 everyone who's been hanging out on the live streams. The 650 00:34:29,199 --> 00:34:31,920 Henny Ween stream is not indicative of how I usually 651 00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:35,960 am on live streams, but it was a fun time, Adam. 652 00:34:35,960 --> 00:34:37,960 Before we get out of here my favorite part of 653 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:41,199 the show. We need one positive thing for these Clippers 654 00:34:41,199 --> 00:34:45,400 fans heading into this weekend. 655 00:34:46,800 --> 00:34:51,840 Speaker 2: I mean, they had such a bad loss against Portland, 656 00:34:52,440 --> 00:34:55,719 and they did come out with the right focus to start, 657 00:34:56,079 --> 00:34:58,920 and I'm not gonna even say they just completely lost 658 00:34:58,960 --> 00:35:04,000 their focus. A team hit fifteen straight effing shots against them. 659 00:35:04,320 --> 00:35:06,960 I don't think any tank there's not gonna be a team, 660 00:35:07,320 --> 00:35:10,800 forget Phoenix not doing that again this season. There's not 661 00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:12,760 gonna be a team in the NBA that does that 662 00:35:12,960 --> 00:35:17,000 this season. That stuff is so incredibly, incredibly rare. Somebody 663 00:35:17,039 --> 00:35:19,239 told me that, you know, the Boston Celtics in eighty 664 00:35:19,280 --> 00:35:21,960 five made twenty five straight shots. Yeah, how many of 665 00:35:21,960 --> 00:35:26,599 them were layups by Robert and Kevin McHale. This was 666 00:35:26,639 --> 00:35:29,559 a lot of jump shots, Like, there's not a lot 667 00:35:29,639 --> 00:35:33,199 you can do against it. So I did like the 668 00:35:33,239 --> 00:35:36,320 spirit they played with for the most part. They got 669 00:35:36,360 --> 00:35:38,320 to put it together for forty eight minutes if you're 670 00:35:38,320 --> 00:35:41,880 gonna beat OKAC, and I think they're still capable. The 671 00:35:41,960 --> 00:35:44,760 fatigue issue is certainly when we have cided and been 672 00:35:44,800 --> 00:35:48,360 concerned about. But maybe the sea legs are coming from 673 00:35:48,440 --> 00:35:51,760 James Harden. He has mentioned it season, legs will kick in. 674 00:35:52,480 --> 00:35:54,519 I just don't know if it's going to make that 675 00:35:54,639 --> 00:35:56,800 much of a difference when you're thirty five and have 676 00:35:56,880 --> 00:36:03,840 a usage rating almost that high. But positive stuff here. Okay, 677 00:36:03,840 --> 00:36:05,719 see's on a back to back two So what I 678 00:36:05,719 --> 00:36:08,719 want to see is Portland to push them tonight, not 679 00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:12,559 win to piss off Okac. We'll just make it close, 680 00:36:12,679 --> 00:36:14,760 make them have to work, make them have to play 681 00:36:14,760 --> 00:36:16,920 their starters late in the fourth quarter, and then OKAC 682 00:36:17,079 --> 00:36:20,599 comes away with the victory. They get overly confident before 683 00:36:20,639 --> 00:36:22,119 they take on the Clippers the very next night. 684 00:36:22,760 --> 00:36:25,239 Speaker 1: I love that we need the positivity. Thank you to 685 00:36:25,280 --> 00:36:28,039 everyone for watching, Thank you to everyone for listening. Keep 686 00:36:28,079 --> 00:36:29,719 the faith with the Clippers. They're going to be in 687 00:36:29,760 --> 00:36:32,639 every game for the most part because of the athleticism 688 00:36:32,639 --> 00:36:35,079 on defense. We will be back for y'all, maybe a 689 00:36:35,119 --> 00:36:38,679 double dip after the game. Full episode on Tuesday, and 690 00:36:38,719 --> 00:36:40,000 as always, you know what we say.