The Official Los Angeles Clippers 2005-2006 Thread

[juanmgonzalez]

3-0

If the playoffs started today, The Clippers would be in first place!

[ruk]

wow, now this is a first.

[fujishig]

Since I can't afford Lakers tickets, I actually bought a ticket package for Clipper games that included two games against the Lakers...

Although Sterling's penny pinching ways have crippled this team since, well, forever, they've actually been going in a positive direction the past few years. They didn't overpay for some of their draft mistakes (Maurice Taylor, Olowakandi, Brent Barry, Darius Miles etc., some of whom are decent players but not worth overpaying to keep). They paid Brand and Maggette. Getting rid of Q. Richardson and Odom were maybe questionable moves, but didn't hurt the team all that much. Cassell's a good stopgap to see if their sophomore PG will be ready to play anytime soon. The only downside is, with the increase in their popularity a few years ago, Sterling saw only an opportunity to get more ticket sales and not a chance to contend for anything, and they'll never win anything with that kind of attitude.

I'm actually looking forward to going to those games, and not just to see a team I'm interested in beat up on them.

[darkside]

Well, this still makes more sense than a Pistons thread.

[Deftones]

now here's a thread with a great need to have been started...

[devilshalo]

I'm just worried about Livingston's back injury at such a young age. At some point, they'll have to cut Cassell's minutes so that he can stay healthy for the whole season. That means deferring to Anthony Goldwire. :down: I'm hoping Kaman has a good year. :up:

[devilshalo]

Glad to have Maggette back in the line up... 4 - 1 and in first place in the division.

[Aphex Twin]

Glad to have Maggette back in the line up... 4 - 1 and in first place in the division.

This is bad news for James Singleton. He even got a DNP last night.

[devilshalo]

This is bad news for James Singleton. He even got a DNP last night.
I was hoping more that Mobley would see less minutes... :(

[DarkElf]

now here's a thread with a great need to have been started...
No :crap: . If no one is interested, this thread will die a natural death.

[devilshalo]

Congratulations to the new leader atop the Western Conference! :D

[Deftones]

No :crap: . If no one is interested, this thread will die a natural death.

I'll admit it was a semi thread crap, but you do have to admit that these threads do more clutter in the forum than good. Why not just post in the weekly NBA threads?

[juanmgonzalez]

I'll admit it was a semi thread crap, but you do have to admit that these threads do more clutter in the forum than good. Why not just post in the weekly NBA threads?

True, but the Lakers have their own and I don't see that one being locked up because of the weekly NBA threads.

[gameover2k2]

pity bump... :)

Go Clipper!

[jdodd]

Clips tied for #2 record in the league, #1 in the west.

I guess we'll see if Cassell's legs hold up for the whole season.

[fujishig]

Still haven't been able to watch any of the games yet...

I see in todays paper that Magette is referred to as a "reserve" forward... does he not start because he's still hurt, or because he's a spark off the bench?

How is Livingston progressing? Does he get to play at all, or do they have to rely on Cassell for most of the games?

[devilshalo]

Still haven't been able to watch any of the games yet...

I see in todays paper that Magette is referred to as a "reserve" forward... does he not start because he's still hurt, or because he's a spark off the bench?

How is Livingston progressing? Does he get to play at all, or do they have to rely on Cassell for most of the games?
They're using Maggette off the bench for now. They don't want to aggravate his injury and he's doing nicely playing about 25 mins a game.

Livingston is another story, he's got back and knee problems that will keep him out for a while.

[devilshalo]

Well, it's been over a month and.... Livingston is back. Maggette is out. And the Clippers are a half game behind the Suns. I've always known the Clippers had the talent in them to not be the laughing stock of the league.

I'm kind of stuck on having Sam as the 2 with Livingston running point. I'd rather have them split duties. Because that puts Mobley at the 3 which should go to Singleton since he did a good job in Maggette's first absence. Mobley is better suited to being the 2.

And the loss to the King's without Peja, Abdur-Rahim and Bonzi is just not acceptable. And Brand is being the player he should be.. 18 double-doubles so far and no single digit games. Much more consistant than in the past.

[devilshalo]

No Maggette. No Brand. And the Clippers get a good win off a poor Orlando Magic team. Well balanced scoring by the Clippers and Franchise's poor shooting helped secure a win. I can't believe how bad Franchise is playing now that they've switched him over to the 2 spot with Nelson playing point.

Livingston needs to think less like a PG. He sometimes forced passes into the interior in heavy traffic and when he had open looks, decided not to take them. Glad to see Singleton playing. Why he's not starting in Maggette's absence escapes me. :hscratch: He's better at the 3 than Mobley. Mobley is better suited to the 2 spot.

[juanmgonzalez]

From the LA Times:

The Clippers are hopeful that free-agent guard Latrell Sprewell will join them for the remainder of the season, a team source said.

Clipper officials have had conversations with Sprewell, who apparently needs time to get into playing condition and consider his next move.

[devilshalo]

I had great seats to the game yesterday.. and Elton was phenomenal. I was amazed that by the half, 4 Clippers were in double figures yet the Jazz were only down by 8. The Jazz had a very poor shooting night and I never understood why then never exploited the mismatch with Mobley on Kirilenko? He should have easily posted on him, but he got the ball up high and passed. :confused:

Good to see the crowd ovation for Maggette when they had him on the jumbotron. I'd hate to have gotten Artest for him. Sprewell seems like a better fit, but who knows what kind of shape he's in.

[devilshalo]

Clippers destroying the Nuggets tonight... nice 5 game win streak. Beating Golden State back to back then New Jersey and now Denver in a back to back.

[devilshalo]

Corey Maggette: Could Return by March 1

RotoWire.com Staff - RotoWire.com
Wednesday, February 1, 2006

Update: The cast was removed from Maggette's injured left foot Tuesday, and the Clippers said an X-ray revealed significant healing in the ligament he injured almost two months ago, the Associated Press reports.

Recommendation: "We will proceed with our intended therapy and rehabilitation program," team physician Dr. Tony Daly said after examining Maggette. "We are optimistic about Corey's status. He will be re-evaluated in two to three weeks, at which time we intend to determine a further course of action." Maggette will undergo aquatic therapy and a rehabilitation program until his next evaluation. His playing shoe has been altered with a full length carbon fiber shank to allow more rigidity, the team said, adding Maggette is not expected to participate in any on-court activities until he is being re-evaluated. Coach Mike Dunleavy said last week he was hopeful Maggette would return by March 1.

[fujishig]

Terrible, terrible game on Valentine's day. First of all, the arena was empty until around 10 minutes after the game started, which I guess is understandable given the day. I had no idea they traded Wilcox, so I was wondering where he was all game... they sure could have used him. Livingston started at small forward (?), which meant he had to guard McGrady. The rockets swingmen drove to the basket at will (Mcgrady had 29, but David Wesley had 16, Rafer Alston had 17 and Keith Bogans 18). Cassell gets ejected with two quick technicals late in the 3rd. With around 6 minutes left to go, down by around 20, they just give up. The lineup at that point was Daniel Ewing, Walter McCarty, Korolev, Singleton, and somebody named Boniface N'dong, and that's who they ended the game with. Ugh.

We'll see how Radmanovic does.

[mrpayroll]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-clippers-baker&prov=ap&type=lgns

Clippers sign four-time All-Star Vin Baker

February 20, 2006

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Los Angeles Clippers have signed power forward Vin Baker, the team announced Monday.

Baker has been a free agent since playing for the Houston Rockets in the 2004-2005 season, said Clippers spokesman Nick Brown. Terms of the deal were not released.

Baker, 34, has averaged 15.1 points and 7.5 rebounds in 783 career games. The four-time All-Star also was a member of the 2000 Olympic team that won a gold medal in Sydney, Australia.

Baker was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the eighth overall pick in the 1993 draft. Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy was Baker's first NBA coach. Following Dunleavy's departure from Milwaukee, Baker was dealt to Seattle and played five seasons for the Sonics from 1997-2002.

Baker, who also has played for Boston, New York and Houston, has struggled with alcoholism in the past. He was shooting more than 50 percent for the Celtics before he was suspended -- and subsequently had his contract terminated -- for violating terms of an alcohol treatment program.

Updated on Monday, Feb 20, 2006 10:14 pm EST



Never thought I would post in a Clipper thread, but here you go! ;)

Hopefully he got his act together and can help the Clippers. He was once a very good player.

Chris

[devilshalo]

WTF? Baker? Ugh.... that guy disappears more than Houdini. I didn't understand the Wilcox trade... unless they expect Rebraca (sp?) to come back soon. Not like they don't get enough 3's from Cassell and Mobley (and with Magette returning) But now I see they went ahead and got Vin? That is a big downgrade. :down:

I still hate the 3 guard line up.. just start Singleton at SF.

[fujishig]

Well, the Wilcox/Radmonovic trade seems to be working out ok... and IMHO, they did need a three point shooter, as in the games I've seen only Mobley is a real threat. Though Brand did hit one the other day.

Went to the T'wolves game yesterday... they were trailing for most of the game until they made an inspired comeback. Who would've thought I'd use those words to describe a Clippers team. Kaman went off with something like 24 points, 23 rebounds, four steals and three blocks. Of course, the main problem with trading Wilcox is that Kaman (and Brand) had to be out there for pretty much the entire game... I think Boniface N'dong backed him up for 5 minutes or something.

When Kaman's not in foul trouble, I've been impressed with him.

[devilshalo]

Well, the Wilcox/Radmonovic trade seems to be working out ok... and IMHO, they did need a three point shooter, as in the games I've seen only Mobley is a real threat.

I figured that Cassell was just as big a threat as well as Maggette when he gets more minutes. I just thought it was weird to get rid of a guy that helps our the big men off the bench. Rebraca isn't the type of back-up I'd want. And N'Dong is more a defensive rebounder.

[juanmgonzalez]

Congratulations to the new leader atop the Western Conference! :D

Congrats to the Clippers for overcoming Denver to advanced into the next round against the Lakers

[fujishig]

And to think, Denver felt disrespected that people thought they didn't deserve that third seed... Way to prove them wrong!

Ironic how the Clips losing that last regular season game set them up for a great playoff run. Not that they couldn't beat the Mavs, but no way they could beat the Mavs AND the Spurs... in this bracket, they could conceivably get to the Western Conference Finals.

[Kerborus]

I'm looking for the Clips to emerge from either the Lakers or the Suns and make it to the WCF.

[tofu]

I think I'm officially jumping on the Clippers bandwagon. If the Hallway series happens, should be a fun series to watch.