LA Clippers

When Both Teams Want to Tank

2006-07-29T16:49:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Clippers have been trying to get away from their losing tradition. Now they are practically begging to catch a beat down.

Tonight, the Clippers travel to Memphis for a game that may very well separate a deep run from a first round exit in the Western Conference playoffs. If the Grizzlies win, they will clinch the five seed and be forced to open up their in Dallas while Los Angeles would get a favorable match up despite a lower seed. Oh yea, and they’d have home court-advantage because they have a better record than Northwest division champion Denver.

No matter what the teams say, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that neither Los Angeles or Memphis are looking to give the fans their money’s worth in this one.

And why would they? If you play Dallas, there’s a significantly better chance of getting swept than winning the series. On the other hand, the Nuggets would be fighting just to make the playoffs if they didn’t play in a piss poor division.

This is very similar to what Sweden’s hockey team went through during the Olympics two months ago. The Swedish coach was criticized for comments he made about it be beneficial for the team to lose its final pool play game in order to get a better draw in the medal round.

Whether they did tank their last game or not, it worked. Sweden lost 3-0 to Slovakia and proceeded to win the Gold medal a week later.

This is going to be a sticky situation for both the players and coaches, but more importantly, the degenerates who would actually put money on a Clippers/Grizzlies game.

I hope to god no one needs this game to complete a parlay.

Clippers-Grizzlies game helps sort out murky playoff picture – Yahoo
I never thought it would come to this, Jerkasses - Evilblog, From the Grizzlies’ perspective.

NBA Playoffs 2nd Round

2006-07-27T10:56:00.000-07:00

Eastern Conference

(1) Detroit Pistons defeat (4) Cleveland Cavaliers 4-3
Game 1: DETROIT 113, Cleveland 86
Game 2: DETROIT 97, Cleveland 91
Game 3: CLEVELAND 86, Detroit 77
Game 4: CLEVELAND 74, Detroit 72
Game 5: Cleveland 86, DETROIT 84
Game 6: Detroit 84, CLEVELAND 82
Game 7: DETROIT 79, Cleveland 61

(2) Miami Heat defeat (3) New Jersey Nets 4-1
Game 1: New Jersey 100, MIAMI 88
Game 2: MIAMI 111, New Jersey 89
Game 3: Miami 103, NEW JERSEY 92
Game 4: Miami 102, NEW JERSEY 92
Game 5: MIAMI 106, New Jersey 105

Western Conference

(4) Dallas Mavericks defeat (1) San Antonio Spurs 4-3
Game 1: SAN ANTONIO 87, Dallas 85
Game 2: Dallas 113, SAN ANTONIO 91
Game 3: DALLAS 104, San Antonio 103
Game 4: DALLAS 123, San Antonio 118 (OT)
Game 5: SAN ANTONIO 98, Dallas 97
Game 6: San Antonio 91, DALLAS 86
Game 7: Dallas 119, SAN ANTONIO 111 (OT)

(2) Phoenix Suns defeat (6) Los Angeles Clippers 4-3
Game 1: PHOENIX 130, LA Clippers 123
Game 2: LA Clippers 122, PHOENIX 97
Game 3: Phoenix 94, LA CLIPPERS 91
Game 4: LA CLIPPERS 114, Phoenix 107
Game 5: PHOENIX 125, LA Clippers 118 (2OT)
Game 6: LA CLIPPERS 118, Phoenix 106
Game 7: PHOENIX 127, LA Clippers 107

Sportin'

2006-07-24T12:56:00.000-07:00

Here's to the L.A. Clippers. Never thought I would see them into the second round of the playoffs and its good to see. Definitely hoping they'll win the NBA finals because its goanna be a loooonnnngggg time before we see them this far into the post-season again.

I've had a hard time following hockey for a long time now; I just don't care anymore. But if any series is bound to revitalize my love of the game its the current match-up between Ottawa and Buffalo. I'm cheering for Buffalo and hope they win the Stanley Cup this season and hope that every game within their series with Ottawa will be as exciting as Game 1 (which contained three goals in the last three minutes of play during the third period).

And to the Phoenix Suns, way to knock out Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. Great to see Stevie Nash into the second round after overcoming a 3-1 deficit in the series. Too bad next in line are the ferocious L.A. Clippers!

Don't Know if I Can Bear It... Summer has arrived here and, for ...

2006-07-17T13:55:00.000-07:00

Don't Know if I Can Bear It...

Summer has arrived here and, for the next few months my land of ice and snow becomes a tropical paradise. Or perhaps just a demi-paradise as a full fledged paradise would have the mountains three hours closer and an ocean. Totally contrary to the weather, I’m actually getting a bit excited about our hometown Oilers play-off run in the National Hockey League, setting aside my anger at insane wages and last years lock-out. I’ve also completely thrown myself back into watching Baseball, ending a many year shunning of that sport, once again welcoming the Boston Red Sox into my heart. Heck, I’ve even been watching a bit of NBA Basketball, wooed slightly by the underdog L.A. Clippers doing so well, not to mention Steve Nash; the short white Canadian who has won the league MVP for a second straight year! All in all, I think I’m just longing to play and submerse myself in things of my youth. Must be the lazy days of summer. Of course, I’m staying active – went out and bought a new pair of Rollerblades today as a matter of fact… now if only I could learn to stop on the damn things! Who would’ve thought stopping on ice is far easier than on pavement!

As my playful tone in this entry sets the mood of my missive here, let me direct you all to another playful web site. This site runs a close second to the Belief-O-Matic featured in an earlier entry. This site asks you a few questions and then determines what you will return as in your next life. So, as quick as the links will let you, visit http://www.reincarnationstation.com/ and see what’s in store for your next kick at the cat.

My result: in my next life I will return as a Bear. It goes on to say: “Almost 32% of people will be reincarnated as a higher form of life than you. You're not perfect, but you've lead a better life than most. With a few changes now, your next life could be even better.”

I don’t know how I should take this exactly. Oh well, quoting the Pogues: “I’ve been in a palace, I’ve been in a jail/ Just don’t want to be reborn a snail/ Just want to spend/ Eternity/ Right where I am/ On the sunny side of the street”!

CLIPS MIGHT JUST HALF A CHANCE

2006-07-06T19:29:00.000-07:00

A great second half of defense made up for a historically awful first half and allowed the Clips to make the third-biggest comeback in their history and hold on to defeat the Denver Nuggets, 111-109, last night at Staples Center. With the win, the Clips move 3.5 games ahead of the Nuggets, take the season series, 3-1, and will likely hold home court if the teams meet in the first round.

In the first half, the Nuggets drove, drilled and dunked their way to the best-shooting first half in recorded NBA history, hitting 81.6% on 31 field goals off 26 assists. They scored 38 and 39 points in the first two quarters against absolutely no resistance whatsoever from the Clippers.

But after Coach Dunleavy chewed the team a new [butt]hole at halftime (a far less exciting activity since Marko Jaric left town), the Clips applied the clamps, holding the Nuggets to 16 points in each of the final two frames. Shaun Livingston and Quinton Ross led the way, Q finally frustrating Carmelo Anthony into throwing the ball into the stands with 1:11 to play and the game still up for grabs. The resulting free throws -- misses by Dunleavy's handpicked replacement, Reggie Evans, and a technical FT by Sam Cassell -- provided the razor-thin margin of victory.

Both teams had chances to win in the closing moments, but by hanging on through the frantic finish, the Clips earned the most important win of their remaining schedule. Given the disparity between their schedules, the Clips and Memphis should exchange seedings within the week (keep in mind that the Grizz haven't won in Denver in forever and want no part of the Nugz). I'm fairly confident that the Clips can stave off the Lakers and avoid dropping to the 7 spot.

If they play their cards right -- doing just enough to avoid the perception of tanking games while giving their key veterans ample rest down the stretch -- they should be well positioned to give a good account of themselves in round one. If nothing else, they're now in the Nuggets' heads. As Michael Eaves reported, he asked them whom they wished to face in the first round, and to a man, the Nuggets answered, "We don't want to play the Clippers." Nice!

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POSTSCRIPT: Tonight's game in Phoenix was a variation on the theme of second-half defense. Against the Suns, the Clips actually erased an 11-point lead before halftime, leading 59-55 at the break en route to an unlikely 119-105 victory in the absence of floor leader Cassell.

Livingston and Ross were the story again tonight. Shaun finished three rebounds shy of a triple-double at 12-7-13 in 36 great, growth-enhancing minutes. Q Ross held Livy's Canadian counterpart, Steve Nash, in check with just nine points and five assists. Elton Brand returned to first-half form with a monster 34-15 double-double. Corey Maggette had a 23-10 double-double and just two turnovers in 28 minutes, while Chris Kaman and Vladimir Radmanovic both fell a board shy at 11-9 and Ross and Cuttino Mobley contributed 12 points apiece. The Clips clicked on all cylinders, connecting on 54.8% FGs (55.6% 3FGs), outrebounding the Suns, 52-37, and only turning the ball over 12 times.

That's the good news. Now, the bad news: These two unexpected wins will make it a bit harder to drop inconspicuously to the 6 spot. They're now 1.5 up on Memphis with two weeks to play. They've got to start losing some ballgames. Fortunately, Friday night brings just what the doctor ordered: a visit to Staples from the Sacramento Kings, whose ownership of the Clippers extends three seasons without a loss. Knowing what they need, I might even stick around for the second half of that one.

Click on Clipper Talk and join the discussion. -- Jordan

Clippers Advance for First Time in 30 Years

2006-05-08T19:33:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES, May 1 (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Clippers are headed to uncharted territory.

Cuttino Mobley and Corey Maggette scored 23 points apiece as the Clippers advanced out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time in 30 years with a 101-83 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

LA Clippers

2006-02-21T19:19:00.000-08:00

In 1984 the Clippers moved to Los Angeles, California, playing in the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena while the Lakers, with a better reputation, continued to play at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, a few miles south. The Clippers were completely overshadowed by their cross-town counterparts, who were in the midst of a championship run with future Hall of Famers, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy. The Clippers, under head coach Jim Lynam (and later Don Chaney) and new acquisitions Marques Johnson, Junior Bridgeman, and Harvey Catchings (all acquired via trade from the Milwaukee Bucks), finished with a disappointing 31-51 record in the first season in the City of Angels.