Holiday Season in Clipper Nation

(Originally posted on December 26 on LAist)

Happy holidays to Clipper Nation.

Apparently the Clippers took the idea of a holiday break literally, as they have been on virtual vacation for the last two weeks, spreading holiday cheer to their opponents by losing six straight until beating Houston on Saturday (who happened to be playing without their two all-stars, Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady).

Clipper posts have been sparse over the last few days, but here's what you may have been lucky to have avoided missed out on since the last CW (returning next week):

- Clips feeling nostalgic for the Chris Ford years, suffer multiple embarrassing losses to conference foes San Antonio, Utah, Portland, and Dallas (LA Times)

- For once, you can't blame the Clippers' problems on Donald Sterling's cheapness: Mike Dunleavy signed a four-year $22 million contract extension, despite the team firmly nestled in last place

- Clipper Nation sounding like lobbyists for NAFTA, hope for a trade to shake up the ranks. Man-crush Allen Iverson escapes instead to Denver to join the sissy-punching Carmelo Anthony. Insistent on adding some thug passion to their roster, Clips turn their attention to Ron Artest while Corey Maggette keeps his bags packed.

- More infirmary issues: Sam Cassell may need to rest his heel, which is slowing him down. Surprisingly, no one else on the Clips is suffering from any movement-affecting injuries; it just looks like it when the other team keeps blowing by them for easy buckets.

- With $55 million guaranteed in the bank, Chris Kaman decides that he can finally afford a trip to see Jose Eber about improving that "crazy ax murderer in the woods" image (post-haircut photo above, pre-haircut photo here). Fortunately, his new image includes playing Santa Claus to a bunch of underprivileged kids.

AP photos by David J. Phillip and Mark Slocum

Searching for Answers

(Originally posted on December 16 on LAist)

So LAist has tried to refrain from piling on the already crowded media bandwagon (such as here, here, and here) for the Clippers to make a certain move for a certain tattooed superstar.

But after watching yet another dismal, uninspiring double-digit loss to Portland last night on the heels of two absolute beatdowns by San Antonio and Utah, it's time to let this voice be heard.

Make. A. Move.

Everyone has been saying that the Clippers have been underachieving, that they have an immensely talented team that is just out of sync. They've had injuries to key players, such as Chris Kaman, Sam Cassell, and Corey Maggette. They were worn down from an overly ambitious travel schedule during the offseason and preseason.

Excuse after excuse after excuse.

Twenty-two games is a large enough sample size that we can make some rational assessments about the team. The verdict? They are entirely mediocre. The words made famous by Bill Parcells, Dallas Cowboys coach, ring true: "You are what your record says you are."

The Clips are 10-12, in last place in the Pacific, and losers of 10 of their last 14. Not terrible. But not good.

Make. A. Move.

Let's face it, if you turn on the TV and watch them play the game, they don't look like a team that belongs in the upper echelon. It's not like the Clippers are beating themselves with a lot of turnovers or defensive lapses. They simply look ineffective and outmanned - offensive sets without purpose, shaky perimeter defense, poor outside shooting. The Clipper fan in you says, "wait a minute, I saw these guys play last year, they should be way better than this." The basketball fan in you says, "you know what, they just don't have it; something's missing."

Make. A. Move.

So what is missing? This space noted the team's lack of a true alpha dog, someone capable of willing a team to victory when the situation dictates it. The team is seemingly playing without emotion and fire, burdened by something, whether it be raised expectations or locker room whispers from trade rumors. And fair or not, the fans are jumping off the Clippers' ship just as fast as they boarded last year.

But there is an answer out there. The Answer. Allen Iverson.

He's listed at 6-feet, 183 pounds, though it's probably closer to 5'10", 165. He comes with an entourage rivaling that of Vincent Chase. He has a long history of run-ins with the law, from brawls to weapons to marijuana. He's created controversy with his fire on the mic. And he hates practice.

He's also a career 28.1 per game scorer, third all-time, and four-time scoring champ. He's averaged 41.7 minutes a game over ten-plus seasons. He's an MVP, an Olympian, a seven-time All-Star, three times a first-team all-NBA player (and another three times on the second-team). He's in SLAM Magazine's Top 75 Players of all-time.

Most importantly, he is a warrior, a guy that leaves it all out on the floor. A guy that will take the big shots, that can change a game by his presence. He brings a fire and intensity that few in the league can match. In short, he brings everything that the Clippers are lacking.

Yes, he's 31 years old with a ton of mileage. Yes, he's a career 41.7% shooter and notorious for not jelling with teammates. Yes, it may cost the Clippers Shaun Livingston (the "next" Magic) and Corey Maggette (who's already on his way out anyway) and a number one draft pick (of which they have an extra one because of the Cassell-Jaric heist). Yes, it could be a disastrous move, given AI's monstrous contract ($39.8 million) over the next two years and his potential to blowup team chemistry.

But he could also be the guy that pushes the Clippers into elite status, the missing piece of the puzzle. He's a bona-fide superstar that will instantly sell tickets, jerseys, and TV broadcasts. And as seen through the passion of Sixers fans for him, he'll give the team a guy that Clipper Nation can rally behind.

The Clipper front office wants to exercise patience, reluctant to give up Livingston, who has the potential to be a star player in his own right, and to sacrifice their cap position. Clipper Nation has been waiting for 23 years for the team to be a legitimate force in this league, to be worth talking about and investing our energy in, to not have to be overshadowed by the Lakers. We're tired of being patient.

Make. A. Move.

AP photo by Manu Fernandez

Merry Christmas, Coach

(Originally posted on December 14 on LAist)

The coffers have been opened up again. Mike Dunleavy will be sticking around as coach of the Clippers for another four years.

Though rumors of an extension have been circulating for weeks, the Clips and their general finally inked a contract which is said to exceed $22 million over four years, making him one of the highest paid coaches in the NBA.

Owner Donald Sterling has once again exhibited a willingness to spend to generate a winning product. Sterling has historically cycled through coaches like Paris Hilton cycles through boyfriends, paying cheaply for washouts from other teams or inexperienced hires. Prior to Dunleavy’s hire before the 2003-04 season, the Clippers had had 12 coaches (including interim) in 19 seasons. Barring some unforeseen circumstance, Dunleavy will begin next season as the longest-tenured coach in franchise history; the immortal Bill Fitch is the only previous Clipper coach even to last four seasons.

Critics have railed on some of Dunleavy’s in-game strategies and substitution patterns, highlighted during last year’s Phoenix series when he put untested rookie Daniel Ewing in to guard Raja Bell, who subsequently drained a game tying three-pointer at the end of the first overtime in a critical game 5 (which of course the Clips ended up losing). They’ve also noted his inability to get talented teams over the hump, such as the end-of-Showtime Lakers in ’91 (losing in the finals to the Bulls) or the combustible Blazers during the late ‘90s (who can forget the epic Game 7 loss to the Lakers in the ’00 Western Finals).

While those criticisms have validity, they also ignore what Dunleavy has brought to the team: stability, credibility, and proven leadership. He’s provided an anchor to develop young players, a respected voice to connect with veterans, and a presence to attract free agents that historically never came to the team. Sam Cassell would not be wearing the red, white, and blue if Dunleavy weren’t on the bench.

Is he the right guy for the job and is he worthy of the hefty raise he’s receiving? Only time will tell. He certainly has to bear some of the responsibility for this season’s struggles so far. But he also deserves some of the credit for raising the level of expectations in Clipper Nation to the point where a 10-11 start is considered a significant disappointment.

Now coach, if you need any advisers to help kick-start the team, I wouldn’t ask for but a fraction of those $22 million George Washingtons…

AP photo by Kevork Djansezian

The CW (Clipper Weekly), 6th Edition

(Originally posted on December 11 on LAist)

Current Record: 10-9, 3rd Pacific

Last Week: The Clippers finally won a road game after seven losses to open the year, closing off a week in which they won the two games they should have (Miami, Memphis) and got embarrassed in the big road test against a real contender (San Antonio). While the wins were not terribly sharp performances (17 and 18 turnovers, respectively), the Clips at least managed to hold the fourth quarter leads by making enough stops down the stretch, something they hadn’t been doing the past couple of weeks. Chris Kaman still looked out of sync coming off his sprained ankle, but his activity level was higher (though he still can’t hit the broadside of a barn with his shot).

Quick Take: This is a big-time prove it week for the Clippers to demonstrate whether they are truly capable of being in the upper echelon or are just another also-ran: they play the top three teams in the league (Spurs, Jazz, Rockets), all at home. While Mike Dunleavy has continued to mess with the rotation, it appears that Shaun Livingston is now the starting point guard for the foreseeable future. Livingston gives the Clips the ability to push the pace more to score easy buckets in transition, which is important given the team’s inconsistency in the halfcourt offense. He would be well-advised to feed Elton Brand in the post, who is finally showing signs of the ‘old’ Elton, having scored more than 25 points three out of the last four games, after only doing it twice in the first 15 games. It would probably also help if someone could make an outside jumper – besides Cuttino Mobley (48.7%), the Clippers are a heinous 26.5% from long distance, which isn’t giving Brand and Kaman much operating room inside.

This Week:

Monday: San Antonio (PRIME, 7:30 pm) – the Spurs will be smarting after the Lakers ambushed them last night, so the Clips will need to play their best ball to improve upon last week’s 29-point woodshed job that wasn’t even as close as the score indicated. Tony Parker continually got into the paint against Livingston to set up easy shots for everyone else (15 assists). Expect the Clippers to play with greater energy than Friday, particularly Brand who played extremely tentatively against Tim Duncan, with only 10 points and 3 boards to show for it.

Wednesday: Utah (PRIME, 7:30 pm) – coach Jerry Sloan just registered his 1,000th career victory, a testament to his teams’ consistent (read: boring) play over the years. Last month, the Jazz executed flawlessly on offense to end the Clips’ five-game winning streak, despite not having Andrei Kirilenko in the lineup. Kaman will have to play considerably better, both in defending Memo Okur (27 points in first meeting) and rebounding – Utah is by far the leader in rebounding margin.

Friday: at Portland (PRIME, 7:00 pm) – the Blazers are firmly nestled in last place in the Northwest, but have played with more intensity than last season’s mail-in job. Jarrett Jack has been a nice surprise, playing quality minutes at point. Zach Randolph hasn’t been a surprise, putting up huge numbers at the 4, while also upholding the Jailblazer tradition by flipping the bird to the Indiana crowd in front of more than 50 friends and family members. Frame that one for this year’s Christmas card.

Sunday: Houston (KTLA-CW, 12:30 pm) – the Rockets are leading the league in points allowed and FG% defense; on the flipside, they’re also near the bottom in points scored (23rd) and shooting % (22nd) – in other words, they’re like the NBA version of the Baltimore Ravens. Tracy McGrady is battling back issues again, which means Yao Ming is a one-man wrecking crew. If T-Mac is still out, the Clips will likely surround the Houston center with big bodies to force other people to shoot (and most likely miss). Of course, at 7’6”, Yao may just decide to shoot it himself anyway.

AP photo by Eric Gay

Off the Schneid

(Originally posted on December 10 on LAist)

Seven months. It was seven months ago today that the Clippers had won their last road game, prior to last night’s 89-82 breakthrough against Memphis. In that time, Kid Rock and Pam Anderson got married three times and divorced, Carrie Underwood was still the reigning American Idol, and Mel Gibson and Michael Richards were still best known for their body of work instead of their big mouths.

It’s been a long time.

Now, a win over the worst team in the league really shouldn’t be cause for celebration, especially considering the Clippers are the last team in the L to get a road win. But the Clippers have been so mediocre and inconsistent, no wins can be taken for granted. After getting housed on Friday against San Antonio, it was good to see the Clips bounce back with a stronger performance. Elton Brand, who has been a bigger focal point of the offense lately, led the way with 26 points and played shut down defense on the Grizzlies’ Hakim Warrick. Sam Cassell gave his strongest off-the-bench performance of the season with 18 points.

Hopefully it won’t be another ten games until the Clips learn how to win away from Staples again. The good news is they get four of the next five at home where they’ve been the bully for most of the year, instead of the bullied.

AP photo by Jim Weber

The CW (Clipper Weekly), 5th Edition

(Originally posted December 5 on LAist)

Current Record: 8-8, T-4th Pacific

Last Week: Running in place. On the plus side, the Clippers finished off the week by demolishing the Eastern Conference leading Magic, shooting an insane 60.3% from the field. The Clips also had an easy win against the last place Grizzlies to end their five game losing streak which also provided a show of offensive efficiency. However, in the critical division matchups against the Kings and Lakers, the Clips fell flat. LA shot an abysmal 30.6% against Sacramento, tanking it in the fourth quarter by missing 19 of their last 20 shots over the final eight minutes. In the big rivalry rematch, the Lakers once again showed that they are the currently the best team in the city, executing a crisp game plan to pick apart the Clipper D. Kurt has the wrap on that game.

Quick Take: With the Clippers offense being so hot and cold, it is no surprise to see them hovering around .500. Chris Kaman’s ankle injury, which forced him to miss four games, gave Mike Dunleavy an excuse to play around with his lineup in an effort to generate more consistent performance. In the win against Orlando, he inserted the struggling Tim Thomas (30% shooting over past seven games) and Shaun Livingston (only 6.5 points per game over past ten games) into the starting lineup in search of a spark, leading to a 20-point outing for Thomas and a season-high 10 assists for Livingston. Whether or not this can be a permanent solution remains to be seen, but Dunleavy must do whatever it takes to shake up this team and get them playing up to their potential.

This Week:

Tuesday: Miami (PRIME, 7:30 pm) – the defending champs still seem to be suffering from a post-championship hangover, sitting at two games below .500 and only 3-6 at home (they were 31-10 last year). Shaq is sidelined with torn cartilage in his left knee. Once upon a time superstars Antoine Walker and Gary Payton are playing like they want to join the Diesel on the bench, shooting 39.6% and 36.1% from the field, respectively. But the Heat still have Finals MVP Dwyane Wade, seventh in the league in scoring, who is capable of taking over games in spite of an aging supporting cast.

Friday: at San Antonio (PRIME, 5:00 pm) – well, Tony Parker had a good week, locking up a certain desperate housewife (see picture above). And the Spurs? Ho hum, going about their business, first place in the Northwest division, with Tim Duncan, Parker, and Manu Ginobili leading the way just like always. It’s always hard to hate on the Spurs because they’re always good and play sound (if uninteresting) ball. The Clippers can definitely make a statement by taking out this tough team in their gym.

Saturday: at Memphis (KTLA-CW, 5:00 pm) – as proven this past Wednesday, the Grizz just aren’t very good. But they try really hard. On the back end of a back-to-back roadie, this could be a letdown game if the Clippers aren’t careful; these are the games the Clips can’t afford to lose as they try to climb back up the standings. Long-limbed forward Hakim Warrick was a matchup problem with his impressive athleticism and surprising ball skills in the first meeting; it will be interesting to see how Dunleavy adjusts his lineup to account for him.

AP photo by Chris Pizzello

Wake Me Up When September Comes

(Originally posted December 4 on LAist)
(Featured on Bruins Nation on December 4)



As Monday morning dawns in Los Angeles, the reality of Saturday’s big game at the Rose Bowl is finally beginning to settle in. Bruin supporters across the city will be arriving at the office decked out in blue, actively seeking out their Trojan colleagues to vent their seven years of frustration and embarrassment into an enormous cathartic release of joyous celebration (and smack talking).

It is a new day in LA. The Victory Bell resides in Westwood once again.

We’ve already had multiple postings about the various after-effects of the game. From the football perspective, it is a season-making win for the Bruins and a devastating loss for the Trojans. As Adam pointed out, there are potential implications for the coaching staff as a result of this astounding turn of events. But there could be other wider implications as well.

I wrote a few weeks ago about the identity crisis that UCLA football has suffered from since 1998, not so coincidentally the last time that the Bruins had beaten USC. The indictment from the college football community was that UCLA was a soft team, one that occasionally made some noise on a national scale, but generally lacked the physical and mental toughness to be taken seriously. And with the amazing run of success that the Trojans have had under Pete Carroll, the Bruins were becoming an afterthought even their own city. This win was the first signal that UCLA may be redefining itself into a solid, disciplined, efficient team that plays with heart and guts.

Without question, USC had superior talent on both sides of the ball, with more heralded coaches. Didn’t matter. UCLA simply outplayed the number two team in the country. There were no fluke plays, no major mistakes that USC made to give the game away. UCLA outstrategized and outworked USC. The Trojans had three times the number of penalties (9-3). On most of the critical plays of the game for USC’s offense, the Bruin defense was so dialed in that it appeared they knew what play was coming. John David Booty, the Pac-10’s leading passer, was the one who seemed flustered by the relentless pass rush of the UCLA front four, while Pat Cowan, the lightly regarded backup, made plays by keeping his composure even when the pocket broke down. If you had never watched a game of football before in your life and knew nothing about either of the teams, you would have thought that UCLA was the better team.

This is a major paradigm shift in the UCLA camp. Certainly, one win does not change the fact that the team lost five games and has a long way to go to close the gap with the USC program. And it does not all of a sudden mean that Karl Dorrell will necessarily lead the Bruins to a new level of success. But the win is HUGE in terms of getting players and recruits bought into the idea that the UCLA program is legitimate, that it isn’t just second fiddle to USC. It showed that the leadership, which has been often questioned by Bruin fans, can put the players in the best position possible to win. As we saw, a team’s confidence and belief in itself can lead to great things. UCLA stood toe-to-toe with USC and the Trojans were the ones who flinched.

On the Trojan side of the ball, one loss obviously does not wipe out this incredible five season run; USC is still the conference champ and headed to yet another BCS bowl game in a “rebuilding year”. They have an ungodly amount of talent, and a young returning nucleus like the Bruins (16 returning starters for USC, 20 for UCLA), and should be primed for another national title push next season.

However, for the first time since perhaps Carroll’s first season in 2001 when the team was 2-5, some questions are actually being raised about the direction of the USC program. As alluded to by Tony, offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin is under heavy fire for perceived poor playcalling and halftime adjustments. Other Trojan fans are unsure if Booty is the answer for next season at quarterback, despite his gaudy numbers, because of his inability to deal with pocket pressure and his low release point.

While these are, in part, reactive comments after a difficult loss, it indicates at least a shred of doubt that has been absent during this run. In some sense, the aura of invincibility has been pierced even further than after the heartbreaking loss to Texas in last year’s Rose Bowl because of the way in which this game was lost. It is always the Trojans that make the clutch plays, that are most prepared, and that impose their will. It has been unfathomable for a USC team to simply get beat. Not anymore.

Fortunately for both teams, one more game is left in the season: UCLA will travel to the Emerald Bowl to take on reeling Florida St. while USC will return to Pasadena face a highly motivated Michigan squad snubbed by the BCS. For the Bruins, a win is necessary to continue all of the positive momentum from the upset. For the Trojans, a win will wash away some of the bitterness and restore some of the pride to a wounded team.

But most significantly, UCLA fans have 363 more days to savor the sweet taste of victory. And you can guarantee that there will be no shortage of savoring at the expense of the hated Trojans.

AP photo by Danny Moloshok

Who's the Man?

(Originally posted December 1 on LAist)



After watching the Kobe take over the first Laker-Clipper game last week in the fourth quarter, then watching the ensuing Clipper hangover that resulted in a five-game losing streak with multiple fourth quarter collapses, it became evident to much of Clipper Nation that something might be missing from this team. ESPN.com writer and Clipper season ticket holder Bill Simmons (the Sports Guy) hosted a chat about the team yesterday on Clippers.com, and articulated this very point: “They need someone who can score in the last 3 minutes of a game.”

Anyone who saw Kobe hang 52 on Utah in last night's dismantling of the Jazz knows what it looks like to have a player who can score whenever he wants to and whenever he needs to. For the Clips, it is unclear who this player is. Sam Cassell is fearless and loves to take the big shots. This season, he’s been the guy that has shown the stones most frequently, surprisingly leading the team in scoring (can you imagine where the team would be if they hadn’t resigned him?). But it is unreasonable to expect that at 37, he can consistently deliver the goods all season. Elton Brand seemed to breakthrough last season into superstar status, but his frequent disappearing acts offensively and inability to regularly generate his own shot suggest that he isn’t necessarily the solution either. Maggette. Mobley. Thomas. Nice players, not alpha dogs.

The Clippers are a good team. No one disputes this (despite the sluggish 7-7 start). This team should win 50 games; anything less would be a disappointment. Historically, in Clipper Nation, 50 wins would call for a ticker tape parade. But the bar has been raised. Fans now want a deep playoff run, not just a quick dip in the pool; they want a great team. In order for the Clippers to evolve into that championship caliber team, they need someone that can be the man, night in and night out.

So far this season, seven different players have led the team in scoring in their fourteen games. Corey Maggette, who comes off the bench, has been the high scorer most frequently at four games. This speaks volumes to the depth and balance that the Clips have. It also speaks volumes about the identity of the team, or lackthereof. The Lakers, for better or worse, clearly are Kobe’s team. Who do the Clippers “belong to”?

Thinking about the recent champions, virtually all of them had an alpha dog, a bonafide crunch-time player: D-Wade, Tim Duncan, Shaq/Kobe (maybe one alpha dog too many), Jordan, Hakeem. The only team that didn’t totally fit the mold was the ’04 Pistons, but even they had Chauncey Billups (Mr. Big Shot) and a suffocating defense. Ensemble casts may be great for TV shows like Lost or Grey’s Anatomy, but not so much for winning rings.

It will be interesting to see whether the Clips can buck conventional wisdom and win with a solid team of good to great players, or whether they’ll need to go out and find that last piece to put them over the top.

AP photo by Kevork Djansezian

The CW (Clipper Weekly), 4th Edition

(Originally posted November 28 on LAist)

Current Record: 6-6, 5th Pacific

Last Week: Was it only a week ago when we were singing the Clippers’ praises and talking about their position atop the Pacific Division and #2 in the entire league? Four losses later, they’ve fallen to last place, ahead of only three teams in the conference. Amazing how quickly things can change in a week, especially in the ridiculously tough West. Apparently the Clippers felt like taking a holiday like many of the rest of us since they failed to show up for each of their games, particularly after taking a tough loss to the Lakers on Tuesday. They were outgunned by Seattle on Wednesday, trailing the whole game while getting lit up Rashard Lewis all over the court. Saturday featured an embarrassing fourth quarter meltdown against lowly Minnesota, in which the Clips were outscored 19-2 over the final five minutes to turn a nine-point lead into an eight-point loss. And yesterday, Denver drubbed the Clips by 15, shooting nearly 52 percent from the field compared to the LA’s 36.4%. To add insult to injury (or is it injury to insult), Chris Kaman sprained his ankle in practice on Friday and missed the last two games while Sam Cassell also sprained his ankle against the Nuggets.

Quick Take: Late word out of Clipper camp is that Mike Dunleavy has signed a four-year contract extension (more on that in a future post), so all potential distractions have now been diffused; it’s time to show some return on Donald Sterling’s investment. Last week, the CW noted that in order for the Clips to make the leap, they needed to win in hostile conditions. So far, they have failed miserably: 0-5 on the road, 0-2 on the back end of back-to-backs. Cassell is blaming it on effort. Indeed, the Clips have appeared to be going through the motions, even during their winning streak. Mistakes are up from last season (1.2 more turnovers per game) and focus is clearly lacking (free throw percentage has dropped by 4.4%). The Clippers seem to be burdened with the pressure of expectations and have thus far been unable to play with the same level of enthusiasm and energy as they did last season. It’s much harder to be the hunted, and the inconsistent play is reflecting this.

This Week:

Tuesday: at Sacramento (PRIME, 7:00 pm) – if the Clippers are going to reverse the momentum, Arco Arena will be a great place to start: the Clips haven’t won there since before Monica Lewinsky became a household name (16 straight losses). Swingman Kevin Martin may be the best player you’ve never heard of, averaging nearly 25 points a game (10.8 last year). Of course, you’ve all heard of Ron Artest, one of the preeminent street brawlers defensive stoppers in the league. Unfortunately, his rap game is not as strong as his right hand: K-Fed sold 17 times as many albums during their first week in stores.

Wednesday: vs. Memphis (PRIME, 7:30 pm) – you know you’re bad when: 1) you have a worse record than the Knicks; 2) ex-Laker Chucky Atkins (a role player during the Rudy T disaster) is your leading scorer; 3) your coach’s hairpiece is a bigger conversation piece than your team. The Grizzlies’ offense has been crippled with star forward Pau Gasol’s broken foot, ranking 27th in scoring and last in shooting percentage. I would bet every hair on Mike Fratello’s head that the Clippers win this one.

Saturday: vs. Lakers (KTLA-CW for Clipper broadcast/KCAL for Laker broadcast, 7:30 pm) – the first matchup was a terrific game with the stars shining brightly. Hopefully this rematch, on the Clipper home court, will be equally entertaining. With the Lakers now sitting on top of the Pacific, the Clips hope to exact a measure of revenge to get back on track. More on this game later in the week.

Sunday: vs. Orlando (KTLA-CW, 6:30 pm) – Darko Milicic has been a running punchline since he entered the league, being drafted ahead of superstars such as Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh. While he’s still light years away from being even an all-star, his size and skill provide a nice complementary frontcourt piece alongside the man-child Dwight Howard (leading the league in rebounds). Orlando is the surprise leader of the Eastern Conference, mixing in the contributions of a healthy Grant Hill and mighty-mite Jameer Nelson. Given Hill’s star-crossed history, it seems dubious to expect this early success to last, but if Darko can contribute, anything is possible.

AP photo by Jeff Lewis

Lakers 1 Clippers 0

(Originally posted November 22 on LAist)

The Lakers fired the first salvo in this season’s Battle for LA, winning a competitive and highly entertaining contest over the Clippers 105-101.

Though play was sloppy at times, both sides exhibited the talent and skill that gives Laker and Clipper fans hope for a deep playoff run next Spring.

With the win in front of its home crowd, the Lakers took over first place in the Pacific Division.

The Lakers controlled most of the early action, leading by as much as 13 in the third quarter, but the Clippers fought their way back into the game, assisted by a brutal seven minute scoreless stretch by the Lakers at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

However, it was the Lakers that executed best in the final three minutes, with a certain number 24 in gold making the clutch plays needed to capture the victory.

In case you missed the game, here’s a quick recap:

What to like: the Lakers’ and Clippers’ offensive rebounding
The strength of both teams is in the quality of its frontcourt, and it showed in the relentlessness of their glass work. The Lakers pulled in 22 offensive rebounds while the Clippers had 15, both well above their season averages of 10.9 and 11.8, respectively.

What not to like: the Lakers’ and Clippers’ defensive rebounding
Part of the reason that the teams accumulated 37 offensive rebounds was poor boxing out and lazy defense, in particular by the Clippers – at times, they looked like they were allergic to the ball.

What to like: strong contributions from complementary Lakers
The Lakers are at their best when Kobe doesn’t have to do it himself. 18 from Lamar, 15 from Smush, and 12 from Luke gave them nice balance. Kwame Brown had by far his strongest outing of the season with 10 points and 14 boards in 31 minutes.

What not to like: nothing’s free in Lakerland
The Lakers missed 15 of their 46 free throws (67.4%). Taking out Kobe’s freebies, the rest of the team shot only 16 for 28 (57.1%) which won’t get it done on most nights.

What to like: Clippers pounding it inside
The Clippers shot 48.2% from the field, primarily due to all of the shots they were able to secure from close range; they scored 54 points in the paint. Normally, they are tough to beat when they are getting such high percentage looks.

What not to like: Clippers treating the ball like disposable wipes
20 turnovers, many unforced on careless passes and silly offensive fouls, negated the advantage that the Clippers had inside.

What to like: a Chris Kaman sighting
Kaman has been under scrutiny for his slow start, especially with his new $52.5 million contract freshly inked. He showed more energy tonight than he has most of the season, finishing with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks in 32 minutes (though he fouled out with five minutes left).

What not to like: sending out an APB for the player formerly known as Sasha Vujacic
What happened to this guy? He looked solid in preseason, but has seen his shooting stroke disappear along with his minutes to rookie Jordan Farmar. He played 14 minutes, most since the season opener, but bricked four shots (including three wide-open 3s) and did pretty much nothing except fill up space.

What to like: oh yeah, that Kobe guy
He’s the best player in the world for a reason, healthy knee or not. 40 points (20 in the first), numerous acrobatic shots, and total control of the game when the Lakers needed him. He looked more confident and comfortable than he has all year. When the game is close and someone needs to step up and make a play, it’s nice to have Kobe on your side.

AP photo by Jeff Lewis

Aijuswanaseing

(Originally posted November 21 on LAist)

With the robust music scene here in the City of Angels, LAist always tries to keep you abreast of all the talent to grace our local venues, in particular the diamonds in the rough that don’t necessarily have the name recognition of a Top 40 act but still maintain the purity of their musical genius.

There’s another group of performers that doesn’t get often mentioned but is also a vital part of the musical landscape here. They don’t have the originality of many of the cherished acts performing at the El Rey or Spaceland, but they make up for it in sheer joy of performing and love of music. I’m talking, of course, about LA’s finest karaokers.

Since the explosion of American Idol, it seems that everybody is looking for their big break to get their vocal talents skewered by one Simon Cowell. Not so for our karaoke singers. There’s no Clay Aiken or Kelly Clarkson wannabes here – though there are many people that can definitely sing better than Justin Guarini. It’s not about hitting perfect pitch or showing off range; rather, it’s about the performance, the connection with the audience, feeling the music pulsate your soul as you belt out penetrating lyrics like “A mulatto/An albino/A mosquito/My libido/Yeah”.

The LA karaoke scene covers the spectrum, from Eastern-style private rooms with Cantonese pop songs to Western-style bars with stages and even live backup bands, depending on your tastes and sense of exhibitionism. I happened to be spending this past Saturday night at Caffe Brass Monkey in Koreatown with about 250 of my closest friends. Well, at least by the end of the night they became my closest friends. Throw in some inflatable guitars and screens throughout the bar carrying the song lyrics and we might as well have been at Lollapalooza. Whether it was Starship’s “We Built This City”, Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back”, or The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside”, it was drunken showmanship music at its apex.

Let’s face it, a lot of you out there sing in the shower or bang those air drums in the car while sitting in traffic on the 10 on your way to work. Don’t be embarrassed. Embrace those deep seated passions to express yourself. Everyone’s got a voice that needs to be heard. So share it with us! Where do you go to sing? And what’s your go to song?

Caffe Brass Monkey
3440 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90010
10 am-2 am daily (karaoke starts at 9 pm)

The CW (Clipper Weekly), 3rd Edition

(Originally posted November 20 on LAist)

Current Record: 6-2, T-1st Pacific

Last Week: It was a slow week for the Clippers, and they appeared out of sync. In a battle of division leaders on Tuesday, Utah manhandled the Clips, dominating the inside with a 54-34 advantage on points in the paint and 11 offensive rebounds. And early in Saturday’s game against short-handed Philadelphia, it looked like more of the same with the Clippers falling quickly into a 16-point deficit. But Elton Brand and Corey Maggette salvaged an otherwise forgettable performance by the team, with Brand finally breaking out a slump by hitting for a season-high 33 points, with 12 boards while Maggette put in 21 and 8. The Clips were fortunate to escape with an ugly OT win.

Quick Take: Coach Dunleavy set a goal of winning at least 30 home games this season, and so far, the Clippers are 6-0 at Staples, taking care of the games they should win (even if it’s an ugly performance like Saturday). However, for the Clippers to prove they belong with the big boys, they need to show some strength in the face of adversity, namely on the road and in back-to-back games. They were a respectable 20-21 away from Staples last season, but have failed their two tests so far this year against Phoenix and Utah. The Clippers were also only 8-9 on the back end of back-to-back games last season, so this week will be a good litmus test with two road games (plus the “away” game against the Lakers) and two sets of back-to-backs.

This Week:

Tuesday: at Lakers (KTLA-CW for Clipper broadcast/FSW for Laker broadcast, 7:30 pm) – the CW usually likes to make snide comments about the Clippers’ opponents, but when it comes to the other LA team, we’re going to give them some props to show some LA solidarity. For the first time, possibly ever, first place will be on the line. The Lakers have overcome their rash of injuries thanks to the surprising emergence of their young talent. The game may be decided underneath, where Lamar/Bynum/Kwame will be going toe-to-toe with Brand/Kaman/Thomas. Hopefully, the first of many classic battles this season.

Wednesday: vs. Seattle (PRIME, 7:30 pm) – the Sonics are kind of like the team that you run into at the YMCA: they run a lot, they gun a lot of threes (5th in 3 pt attempts, 27th in FT attempts), and they don’t play much defense (dead last in FG% defense). The sweet-shooting tandem of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis average close to 50 points a game between them. If they’re on, it could be a long night for the Clips. However, Seattle’s 4-7 record indicates that it’s more likely that they won’t hit enough outside jumpers to compensate for all of the easy layups they’ll give up to the Clippers post players.

Saturday: at Minnesota (KTLA-CW, 5:00 pm) – quick recap: 2004-2005, T-Wolves finish 44-38, Clippers 37-45; T-Wolves trade “malcontent” Sam Cassell to Clips for underachieving Marko Jaric during the offseason; 2005-2006, Clippers finish 47-35, T-Wolves 33-49. Oops. KG is becoming the new Elton Brand, putting up nice numbers for a crappy team. Those seven consecutive first-round playoff losses must sound heavenly these days with Minnesota looking doomed to its third consecutive trip to the lottery. It will take a true fan to tune into this game with USC-Notre Dame on at the same time. Then again, if you are an insomniac, watching this game is highly recommended as the T-Wolves second-worst scoring offense will put you to sleep rather quickly.

Sunday: at Denver (KTLA-CW, 5:00 pm) – since their season-opening three game losing streak (including a one-point loss to the Clippers), the Nuggets have won four of five by beating up on the weak sisters of Eastern Conference. Carmelo Anthony, who got ejected in the first Clipper game, is leading the league in scoring at 31.2 ppg. He’ll need to average 40 to carry this team to another division title with Kenyon Martin recently out for the season with knee surgery, and the seemingly always hobbled Nene also sidelined with a bruised knee. The Nuggets are so thin up front that 5’5” Earl Boykins may need to line up at center.

AP photo by Branimir Kvartuc

The Glass is Two-Eighths Empty

(Originally posted November 15 on LAist)

To this point, most of the writing on this space about the Clippers has been highly positive, and with good reason – the team is in first place and has found creative ways to win games in spite of not playing their best ball.

However, there are some areas of concern so far, all of which were exposed in yesterday’s ugly 112-90 loss to Utah. The loss wasn’t surprising, despite the fact that star forward Andrei Kirilenko sat out with a sprained ankle; the Jazz have the league’s best record and are an astounding 33-1, including playoffs, against the Clippers at the Delta Center since it opened in 1991 (talk about a house of horrors – that’s Susan Lucci level of futility). But losing of course magnifies the problems, and since it’s been two weeks since the Clips lost, it’s as good a time as any to take a closer look at the few things not going right.

With Mike Dunleavy seemingly settled in on an eight-man rotation – through seven games, the rest of the bench has played a combined 30 minutes; I could suit up and no one would be the wiser – it is more noticeable when players are not pulling their weight. Though virtually everyone played poorly last night, the two most glaring weak spots were the same people that have struggled so far all year: Chris Kaman and Shaun Livingston.

In fairness to the wild-haired one, Kaman barely played at all in the preseason because of a nagging hamstring injury. His rust has showed, as he seems a step slow and unable to score with any kind of consistency on the low block. But after signing his monster $52.5 million contract extension, more is expected of him. His lack of post offense directly impacts Elton Brand’s offense by creating double teams because the defense does not have to respect his presence underneath the basket. Kaman’s size should be an asset on the boards, but his rebounding stats are at career lows in terms of per 48-minute averages. And with the ongoing trend of small ball around the league, Kaman does not bring much to the table if he’s not posting up and rebounding since he becomes a defensive liability against smaller, quicker centers. Memo Okur, who will never be confused as being small or quick, continually abused Kaman all over the court yesterday (Okur 27 and 6, Kaman 3 and 3 with 6 fouls in 19 minutes).

For Livingston, after a strong preseason, it appeared that he was ready to take over for Sam Cassell as the starting point guard (or at least 1A). Not so much. After a poor opening night, Livingston has been relegated to the bench because of his spotty play. The Prodigy had spent the offseason focusing on improving his outside jumper, since that was believed to be the missing piece that could make him unstoppable, given his terrific playmaking skills. It looks like he may need a bit more gym time, shooting a miserable 34% so far. As is the case with Kaman, Livingston's struggles have spillover effects. Because the defense doesn’t respect his outside shot, they are lagging way off of him to crowd the paint – Deron Williams and Derek Fisher were standing practically ten feet away from him daring him to shoot. His lack of confidence has made him tentative (he took only four shots with zero points in 22 minutes yesterday). The extra cushion defenders are giving him also makes it difficult for Livingston to utilize his strengths: finding open passing lanes to feed teammates and creating opportunities off the dribble. His inability to step up is forcing Cassell to play more minutes than Dunleavy would like, which could have detrimental effects as the season wears on. Since there were high expectations of dramatic improvement for Livingston, it has been disappointing so far that his numbers are virtually the same as his first two years.

But there’s no reason to fret too much about these slow starts of Kaman and Livingston. They are both still extremely young – Kaman is 24 and Livingston is still a 21-year old baby – so they will undoubtedly bounce back. And because of the strength of the rest of the team, the Clippers have the luxury of building these guys up slowly without sacrificing any wins. If they are able to regain some confidence and play to their capabilities, watch out. It will make it a lot harder to find something negative to write about this team.

AP photo by Ric Francis

The CW (Clipper Weekly), 2nd Edition

(Originally posted November 13 on LAist)

Current Record: 5-1, 1st Pacific

Last Week: Three home games, three double digit victories. Legendary broadcaster Ralph Lawler perhaps said it best during yesterday’s telecast against the Hornets, calling the Clippers’ performance “workman-like”, playing just well enough to escape with a win when there was really nothing else good to say about it. The Clippers have always been the team that would find ways to lose games they should have won, where any win was cause for celebration. It is a testament to how far they’ve come that we critique a 16-point win over a solid team as not being pretty enough, or think that they can play much better (even though they can). They were barely tested in any of last week’s games, including a drubbing of the defending Western Conference champion Mavericks.

Quick Take: The versatility of the Clippers is startling – they can win in myriad ways. The win over Portland exhibited a balanced attack, with crisp ball movement and five players in double figures in points and shots (none of whom were Elton Brand). Against Dallas, Coach Dunleavy went to a small lineup with the 6’4” Cuttino Mobley playing power forward, who harassed All-Star 7’0” Dirk Nowitzki into a terrible shooting night while scoring 28 points himself. Finally yesterday, EB looked back in regular form yesterday, scoring and causing double teams which opened up the floor for everyone else. Although it remains to be seen whether this eight-man rotation can stand up to the rigors of a full season – the rest of the team played only eight combined minutes the entire week – it is clear that the Clips are not overly reliant on any one cog to generate their success.

This Week:

Tuesday: at Utah (PRIME, 6:00 pm) – the surprising Jazz are the only team with a better record than the Clippers. Kirilenko, Boozer, and Okur may sound more like an international law firm, but is actually one of the most formidable frontlines in the NBA. This three-headed monster is the primary reason that Utah is second in the league in both rebounding and rebounding margin, which will present some interesting matchup issues for the Clips. Paul Davis may see more action than he’s seen all season. It’s early, but this could be the best Jazz team we’ve seen since the Stockton-to-Malone days. Thankfully, we won’t have to see Stockton’s short-shorts.

Saturday: vs. Philadelphia (KTLA-CW, 7:30 pm) – the Sixers have been a team with a serious identity crisis. After heavy speculation that Allen Iverson would get traded in the offseason to help begin the rebuilding process, the Answer ended up staying. Along with the woefully immobile Chris Webber, Philly has two aging, highly paid, past-their prime players that dominate the ball (the duo has taken over 46% of the team’s shots so far), alongside a young group of role players that are forced to fit into this scheme. As you would expect, this has produced mediocre results. Iverson is still incredibly entertaining to watch, continuing to make plays worthy of the And 1 Mixtape tour. (Ohhh baby!) Meanwhile, C-Webb looks like he’s trying out for the Washington Generals.

He's Human After All

(Originally posted November 12 on LAist)

You know that Five For Fighting song, the overplayed one about Superman claiming to be “only a man in a funny red sheet”? Somewhere around LA this morning, Elton Brand must be singing those words to himself as he climbs out of bed.

With apologies to Shaq Diesel, Brand has been his team’s Superman for several years now. He’s been historically underappreciated because he’s always been on lousy teams, but he’s been one of the most consistent performers in the NBA since entering the league despite frequently being the only legitimate player on his team. He’s averaged over 38 minutes a game, and noted for his unending motor. He’s never seemed to be weighed down by the burden of responsibility of being the go-to-guy, of the expectations of being the #1 overall draft pick and cornerstone of a franchise. And when the stakes were highest, like last year’s playoffs, Brand was at his best.

So we’ve all come to expect that Elton is going to be Elton, the one player that can always be counted on to deliver a star performance befitting of his stature. Yet this season, alarm bells are ringing because after five games, Mr. Dependable is off to a slow start. Entering this afternoon’s game with the Hornets, Brand is averaging only 14.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 48.4% from the field, and 54.5% from the line, as compared to 24.7/10.0/52.7%/77.5% last year. He has been less active, more tentative, and more passive. Everyone seems to be asking the question, what is wrong with Elton Brand?

Reports are that Brand is suffering from fatigue, after a summer consumed by national team duties, exhibition games in Russia, and his film production company (which he has since taken a step back from). Quite frankly, it’s no surprise given the amount of miles he logged during the offseason, following the longest season of his career in which he played 91 games, including the playoffs. What is perhaps more surprising is that Elton hasn’t broken down sooner: I’m sure it gets tiring to carry the team on your back year after year.

Fortunately, it appears that he doesn’t have to fully carry the load right now, as the Clippers are 4-1 and in first place in spite of Brand’s abnormally low output. Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley have performed admirably in picking up the slack in scoring (up 8 points from last year’s averages), while frontcourt players like Corey Maggette and Tim Thomas have filled the void on the glass (up 5 rebounds from last year’s averages). The Clippers are also in the middle of a stretch where they only play three games in 12 days. While a couple of light weeks is not going to compensate for all of the wear and tear, Elton finally has the luxury of being surrounded by stellar players that can allow him to gradually regain his second wind.

For the Clippers to ultimately find success this year, Brand will eventually have to don his Superman cape. But the fact that he’s got a Justice League-type of team to support him means that he can allow himself to be a little more vulnerable for once. So Elton, get some rest, you’ll know when you’re truly needed to be you.

AP photo by Kevork Djansezian

It's Not You, It's Me

(Originally posted November 10 on LAist)

First off, big ups to all of the men and women serving our country that help preserve the freedom which we enjoy.

Given that today is Veteran’s Day, a day to honor the sacrifices of our soldiers, I found it incredibly ironic that J.D. Drew opted out of his contract with the Dodgers, with 3 years and $33 million left on the table, leaving the team hanging in order to pursue a better deal for himself.

Drew certainly has every right to follow after that which he believes in his best interest, and in this day and age, many (if not most) athletes put business ahead of loyalty – the club owners that pay these players often exhibit the same characteristics. The problem with Drew has been that his me-first attitude has always spilled over to the field of play, not in the same destructive manner as T.O., but detrimental nonetheless.

Drew has incredible physical talent, a former national college player of the year for Florida St., a guy with all of the tools; this is what former GM Paul DePodesta saw when he signed him to the contract in the first place in 2004. Drew has also exhibited highly questionable commitment and resolve to realizing that talent. His 162-game averages are strong: 27 home runs, 86 RBI, 102 runs, .286 batting average, and a stellar .905 OPS (22nd among all active players). At the same time, he’s averaging only 118 games per season. In other words, he sits out nearly 28 percent of the time.

When the Dodgers acquired Drew, he was expected to be the cornerstone of the franchise, a guy to help the team sustain the success of its 2004 division title. But his two years as a member of the Blue Crew were marked by repeated injury – some major and some minor – and constant ego massaging by the coaching staff and front office to make sure that he felt comfortable and appreciated. He was an invisible presence in the clubhouse. When he felt like playing, he was out there. Too often, there were times where he didn’t feel like playing.

As an $11 million a year player, you have the responsibility to place the burden of the team’s success on your shoulders; that means being out there when your team needs you, not when you’re in the mood for it. It’s hard to be respected as a team leader if you aren’t doing everything it takes to help the team win. If you remember the classic baseball movie Major League, Corbin Bernsen played Roger Dorn, an overpaid, selfish third-baseman that frequently dogged it because he didn’t want to get hurt and jeopardize his health or his future. It took team leader Jake Taylor (Tom Berenger) to call him out on it and get him in line. But with Drew as one of the foundations of the team, there wasn’t anyone in the clubhouse that could hold him accountable.

Not that this should have been any news to the Dodgers. Drew’s entire career has followed the same story. He was the top draft pick of the Phillies (#2 overall), but with the help of über-agent Scott Boras, refused to sign for less than $8 million, an extraordinarily high sum of money at the time. Drew was vilified in Philadelphia to the point of fans throwing batteries at him, eventually getting re-drafted and signed the next season with St. Louis after sitting out an entire year just to get paid. Cardinals fans, initially enamored with his sweet swing and highlight reel plays, grew tired of his inability (or unwillingness) to stay on the field and his indifferent attitude and were happy to see him leave – this mentality came to be known as the “J.D. Drew Effect.”

I’m sure J.D. is very comfortable with who he is and the decisions that he’s made. And the Dodgers’ success this past season could not have been accomplished without his contributions. However, the Dodgers are a proud, storied franchise and deserve to have players that are willing to make sacrifices to help continue this legacy. The Dodgers may not be able to find the talent to replace Drew (though $33 million goes a long way), but hopefully they’ll find the type of ballplayers that are committed and hungry to contribute instead of just cashing in. The rest of the team will be much better off for it.

AP photo by Richard Drew

State of the Bruin

(Originally posted on November 9 on LAist)



LA is the city of stars. While there are a lot of nobodies in this city aspiring to be somebody, the fact is that once you’ve become somebody, you are idolized and lionized, or you become a paparazzi target like Lindsay Lohan. We talk about them at the water cooler, we read about them on wonderful blogs like LAist, and we listen to their opinions as if they carry the weight of the President (except for maybe Tom Cruise). Regardless of whether the attention is positive or negative, the point is that you matter if you are somebody in this city. I’m sure even “Firecrotch” would agree that being tabloid fodder is better than being irrelevant.

For the sports teams in LA, the paradigm is no different. We love our stars, especially when they win, and even more so when they show us something spectacular. But we have relatively short attention spans: if you show continued mediocrity (or worse) without any sign of life, you’ll get kicked to the curb faster than K-Fed. LA gets excited about the Lakers, Magic and the Showtime era, Kobe, and all of those championship rings. Meanwhile, one of the Lakers’ co-tenants, the Kings, have registered barely a blip on the public consciousness since Gretzky left town. If you’re not going to build a championship team, you have to at least give the fans a compelling reason to stay interested.

Whether fair or not, the UCLA football program is treading on a potentially dangerous path towards insignificance, struggling through a 4-5 season and a four-game losing streak with a bowl bid seriously in question. Coach Karl Dorrell is bearing the brunt of the criticism, due to a perceived inability to lead the program, in part because of poor game strategy and management, but also because of a perceived lack of Q-rating. Although many of the criticisms have some truth to them, the reality is that the problems were around long before Dorrell arrived. The dilemma is that it is not clear that Dorrell can do enough to overcome them.

Without question, Dorrell has injected discipline and accountability into the program. Recruiting has improved and the enthusiasm internally seems to be there. Hell, the team won ten games last season and had a number of exhilarating come-from-behind wins on the right arm of Drew Olson. These are good things. What is bad are the disheartening losses: the inability to close out Notre Dame after conservative playcalling enabled Brady Quinn to get one more shot on offense; humiliating losses against USC that weren’t even as close as the 25- and 47-point margins of defeat would indicate; a 38-point loss to a 2-6 Arizona team to fall from the ranks of the undefeated; consecutive bowl losses to inferior conference opponents. What is bad is that the base of support for the program appears to be eroding. UCLA may be winning some games, but none that get the fans excited about the direction of the program or remove the sting of disappointment from the losses. These days, it seems like the toll of these losses is really starting to add up.

Of course, it doesn’t help that the Bruins are living in the long shadow of USC, with the charismatic Pete Carroll having restored the Trojans to its traditional place as a national power. It is impossible to not notice all of the cardinal and gold being proudly displayed around town, a sold out Coliseum for every home game. The team’s stars are considered royalty here: last year, Matt Leinart gave up millions of dollars to stay in school, but lived the life of an A-lister while taking ballroom dance classes. USC garners the national spotlight and has stars like Snoop Dogg regularly on the sidelines. No matter what UCLA is able to do, it is relegated to being a second-class citizen. Its best players fly under the radar and its understated coach stays poised but doesn’t hold a captive audience.

Furthermore, the rich tradition of the basketball program from the John Wooden era often leads football to become a secondary sport, just as basketball is at USC. Though the basketball program fell on some difficult times under Steve Lavin, Ben Howland has re-energized the team, culminating with the Final Four appearance last year. The attitude of “it’s basketball season now” is pervasive among the fan base. What is often forgotten is that UCLA’s football history is also rich; from 1965 to 1988, UCLA finished in the top ten nationally eleven times and in the top two of the conference 18 times. Football should matter.

However, since 1988 (Troy Aikman’s senior year), the program has slowly slipped from elite status. Four, five, and six loss seasons became more commonplace. Bruin fans were able to console themselves with the fact that USC was even in worse shape, as evidenced by the Bruins’ eight-game winning streak over the Trojans throughout the ‘90s. UCLA experienced a resurgence in 1997 and 1998, with Cade McNown leading Bob Toledo’s high-flying offense to a 20-game winning streak. That all came crashing to a halt with the crushing upset loss to Miami with a national title game shot on the line, thanks to a mind-boggling defensive collapse. Since that fateful day, the national reputation of UCLA has been a soft team that doesn’t step up in big games. Recent years have done nothing to dispel that perception, with continued late season collapses and mediocre results.

The ironic thing is that a play or two could have changed everything. One defensive stop against Miami could have elevated the team to become a true national power; one first down against Notre Dame could have established some much-needed credibility. Al Pacino’s character in Oliver Stone’s flick Any Given Sunday gives a memorable locker room speech about the difference between success and failure, between life and death, being but a matter of inches, and implores them to fight together for that inch. The current state of the UCLA program shows a team unable to capture that inch.

I like Karl Dorrell, and I think he’s done enough to earn the trust of the Bruin faithful for now, but the clock is beginning to tick. The players and coaches are giving their all and are deserving of support. But the fans are beginning to expect that UCLA isn’t going to be able to win that inch, not now and not in the near future. Once the fans have lost the desire to fight together with the team, that inch will not be won back. The only thing worse than having angry fans is having indifferent fans. It certainly won’t be easy for UCLA to be a somebody on the national football scene again, but it’s on Dorrell’s shoulders to give people reason to hope; otherwise, it will be time for a new somebody to give it a shot.

AP photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez

The CW (Clipper Weekly), 1st Edition

(Originally posted on November 6 on LAist)

Current Record: 2-1, T-2nd Pacific

Last Week: The Clippers rebounded from a disappointing opening-night loss to Phoenix by knocking off Denver and taking out the Suns in the rematch. Sam Cassell showed that he still has plenty of gas left in his tank at 37, leading the team in scoring and taking all of the big shots down the stretch. Newly acquired Tim Thomas displayed the same form he had in last year’s playoffs against the Lakers and Clippers, making clutch 3s and staying active on the glass.

Quick Take: So far, so good. Sam I Am is the man, but hopefully they’ll get more from Shawn Livingston so he doesn’t have to play quite as many minutes. The prodigy has looked a bit overmatched so far, struggling with his shot and facilitating the offense. Elton Brand needs to get more touches, as he has gone long stretches without any shots, despite hitting on better than 56% from the field. With so much quality talent deserving of minutes, Coach Dunleavy will have to continue to ride the hot hand and hope that winning cures any dissatisfaction over lack of playing time.

This Week:

Monday: vs. Portland (PRIME, 7:30 pm) – after last year’s pathetic 21-win season, the Blazers are off to a surprisingly fast start at 2-1. Zach Randolph is leading the team in points, rebounds, and off-court arrests. Rookie swingman Brandon Roy looks like a legitimate star in the making, but the Blazers as a whole are low on talent while high on inexperience (and in Darius Miles’ case, high on other substances). Plan to bring your Aaron Williams jersey to the game since the Clippers bench should get some extra minutes with the game in hand by the early fourth quarter.

Wednesday: vs. Dallas (PRIME, 7:30 pm) – the Mavs seem to be suffering a hangover after their epic collapse in the NBA Finals last season against the Heat, laying an egg in their first two games. Picked by many experts, including yours truly, to win the Western Conference, the Mavs are getting the usual contributions from superstar Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard, but very little from the rest of the supporting cast, particularly on the defensive end. The Clips have a chance to make an early statement against one of the teams that finished ahead of them in the standings last year.

Sunday: vs. New Orleans/Oklahoma City (KTLA, 12:30 pm) – the Hornets were one of the feel-good stories of last season, staying in playoff contention for most of the year despite being displaced after Hurricane Katrina. They’ve continued their momentum as one of the three remaining undefeated teams. The Clippers will need to find a way to slow down stud point guard Chris Paul, who is the Hornets’ catalyst. Perhaps putting the Oakland Raider game on the Jumbotron will get the Hornets thinking about how to run a crappy offense.

AP photo by Jae C. Hong

It's a Phenomenon Known as Déjà Vu

(Originally posted November 3 on LAist)

The trailer for Denzel’s new movie, opening on Thanksgiving weekend, explains that “you arrive at a place you’ve never been, but it feels … familiar.”

Tell me about it.

Our last memories of the Clippers were walking off the court in Phoenix, dejected after the MVP Steve Nash-led Suns offense ran circles around them in Game 7. There were also more pleasant memories of the Clippers emerging victoriously on their home court after a playoff series win over the Nuggets, with Carmelo Anthony a total non-factor.

Our latest memories look pretty similar.

The Clips split their first two games of the season, dropping a tough game to the Suns in Phoenix on Wednesday night, 112-104, but rebounding to edge the Nuggets in their home opener at Staples last night, 96-95.

Wednesday’s loss saw the Clippers unable to slow down the frenetic pace of the Suns, with Nash repeatedly getting into the lane for open jumpers or setting up Shawn Marion and Boris Diaw for easy layups. Elton Brand continued where he left off, dominating the smaller Suns inside for 28 and 13, but the Clips did not fully exploit their size advantage as the Lakers had the night before. Shawn Livingston struggled as he got the start ahead of Sam Cassell, and the Clipper shooters were cold from outside. Corey Maggette was virtually invisible after getting a mild case of food poisoning from a surf and turf dinner the night before. (Note to Corey: Phoenix is not exactly known for its lobster)

While the Clippers seemed just as offensively challenged last night against Denver, the defense made the necessary stops to win the game. Anthony was tossed from the game, picking up two Ts in the third quarter under the league’s new no tolerance complaint policy, thus depriving the Nuggets of their best player for the critical moments down the stretch. The Clips came back from ten points down in the fourth, thanks primarily to the clutch shooting their two major offseason signings. Sam Cassell lit up Denver’s guards for 35 points, including the go-ahead free throws with 12 seconds left. Tim Thomas scored 21 off the bench, hitting three 3s in the last two-and-a-half minutes to ignite the comeback. Their scoring offset a pitiful 34 percent shooting effort from the rest of the team.

If there’s anything to take away from the first two games – and there’s usually not – it’s that the Clippers act like a team that knows it’s supposed to be good. In years past, the Clippers would fold the tents if falling behind by double-digits in the fourth. But this team showed some guts in coming back. Even in losing to Phoenix, there was a sense of disappointment in their effort that they should have won the game, as opposed to acceptance that they lost a game they weren’t expected to win. Times are changing in Clipper Nation.

Here’s hoping that the Clippers continue to write a new chapter in their not-so-storied history this season, instead of falling into déjà vu over all their past failures.

AP photo by Kevork Djansezian

Clippers Ready to Scare Up the Rest of the West

(Originally posted on October 31 on LAist)

Happy Halloween LA!

While most of you will undoubtedly be checking out the outrageous sights on the streets of WeHo tonight, a different kind of talent will also be on display with the kickoff of the ’06-’07 NBA season. For the Clippers, the fun begins on Wednesday night with a trip out to the Valley of the Sun to exorcise the demons of last year’s playoff loss against Phoenix.

Without question, this year is the most pivotal year in franchise history. Many of the haters are calling the Clippers a one-season wonder, that the ghosts of the team’s star-crossed history are bound to return. Thus, as Clipper Nation prepares itself for the annual NBA trick-or-treat, the question remains: are we going to get a king-size candy bar or are we going to be the proverbial Charlie Brown and get another stupid rock?

Early signs seem to be good. Starting center Chris Kaman just signed a 5 year, $52 million extension, ensuring that the team will maintain its strong frontcourt tandem with Elton Brand. It also signals the continuation of Sterling’s recent willingness to spend money to retain core players – coach Mike Dunleavy may be next in line to cash in.

Furthermore, the pundits appear to think highly of the Clippers, moreso than the Lakers.

Here’s one man’s take on the Western Conference:
1. Dallas
2. Phoenix
3. San Antonio
4. Clippers
5. Utah
6. Houston
7. Denver
8. Lakers
9. Memphis
10. Sacramento
11. Golden St.
12. Minnesota
13. New Orleans/Oklahoma City
14. Seattle
15. Portland

I think the Clips go for a franchise record 52 wins and take Dallas the distance before bowing out in the second round again.

But I want to hear from Clipper Nation! What do you think the Clips are gonna do this year? I know that there are approximately 27.6 Laker fans for every 1 Clipper fan in LA, but y’all better recognize, there’s another “brand” of basketball being played in this town these days.

AP photo by Mark J. Terrill

2006-2007 Clippers Preview

(Originally posted October 28 on LAist)

This just in. The Clippers are frickin’ good.

No seriously. Good at basketball and stuff.

The Clippers have been in LA for 22 years. Before last season, they’d had one winning season. Zero playoff series wins. Too many lottery pick busts to count. Players fled the franchise like it was the Titanic. (Actually, it was worse than that) A cheapskate owner that made Scrooge seem like a charity worker.

That was then. This is now.

47 wins and a conference semifinals appearance later, the Clippers are actually creating a buzz. Other teams are actually scared of their potential. Players are actually interested in playing here.

Some people think that the Clippers have shown glimpses in the past, that they’ll return to being the same old Clippers. Quite frankly, they’ve never had success like this before. They’ve never had a team with this much talent. They’ve never had a fan base this excited. They’ve never had an owner committed to spending.

It’s a new era in Clipperland. And every step they take this year will be breaking new ground. There’s no reason to think that they won’t be able to keep it up.

Elton Brand is the guy. He doesn’t possess the Hollywood flash, the signature high-wire act, or the perpetual quote machine. But he always produces. Night in and night out, he brings his 20 and 10 (or 25 and 10 now) without a lot of fanfare. And as he showed against Phoenix, he doesn’t shrink from the moment (30.9 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 3.1 bpg). A tenacious rebounder, a solid midrange game, and perhaps most importantly, a solid citizen in the locker room and off the court. He’s become the cornerstone of the franchise. Thanks Chicago, for the gift. Hope you liked Tyson Chandler.

Sam Cassell is the soul. While his game may be past its prime, his mouth is still in tip-top shape. It was his confidence and swagger that had been long missing in the Clipper franchise, and it was his offseason re-signing that symbolized that change in mentality. Even though, at 37, he will probably not produce numbers that justify his $13 million contract, he will continue to model the winning mindset for the team that is still learning. He’ll get plenty of minutes and opportunities to take his trademark clutch jumpers, but he’ll also be mentoring the prodigy Shawn Livingston, who is poised to take lead the Clippers for the next decade.

Chris Kaman is the passion. Look at the dude’s hair, for crying out loud. He’s a crazy man that brings intensity on the court. But he’s got the game to match. A skilled low-post player and solid on the glass, he helps take the pressure off of EB by giving the Clips another inside threat on both sides of the ball. His upcoming free agency could be an issue since Donald Sterling seems a little reluctant to pay him market value, but at least the sides are talking – expect him to have a breakout year since he’s got $50 million-plus waiting for him. We’ll call him the anti-Olowokandi.

Corey Maggette and Cuttino Mobley are the juice. Those boys can flat out fill it. Mobley’s still probably going to be starting, and he’s got the long-range game that opens up the court. Maggette will most likely have to settle for sixth man status, but he gets to the line at an alarming rate. No team in the league has a 20 ppg scorer coming off the bench. No team has so many options to get buckets at the end of games. The only question is whether there’s enough shots for everyone.

Shawn Livingston is the hope. Only two years out of high school, the kid has shown unbelievable skills as a passer and playmaker, but was also maddeningly inconsistent, as is to be expected from a 20-year old. He’s got the potential to be a superstar if he can stay healthy and focused. If he proves to be a worthy successor to Cassell, he gives Coach Dunleavy the ability to throw out some incredibly versatile lineups to give other teams matchup fits. And he gives the Clipper faithful reason to believe the team can be a contender for years to come.

Quinton Ross is the glue. The one guy that can straight up clamp down on D. He frustrated ‘Melo into a terrible series in the first round. He does the dirty work that allows the rest of the studs to score their points, which propelled the Clippers to top 5 in FG % defense. James Singleton, Lamond Murray, Aaron Williams, Daniel Ewing, and Zeljko Rebraca are also going to be glue guys, since they will be the ones to give the stars a spell in their limited minutes.

Tim Thomas is the wildcard. Always known as an underperformer, a guy with a ton of tools but little to show for it in the past, he earned a nice 4-year deal after killing the Clippers last year in the playoffs with this clutch 3-point shooting, solid defense, and scoring from the post. If he shows that he wasn’t just a contract player, he adds another big body and weapon to complement EB and Kaman.

Mike Dunleavy is the guy, for now. No contract extension for the senior Dunleavy, so he’s going to have to prove his worth by molding this team into a championship contender. He’s had success other places he’s been, but he’s never taken a team over the top. Some questioned his strategies in the playoffs last year – if he can’t do it with this nucleus, Sterling will need to find someone who can.

The Clippers have all the ingredients now: an incredibly talented and versatile roster with stars and role players; a winning attitude; playoff experience; a solid coach in Dunleavy; and an open-walleted owner in Sterling. Will this recipe come together in the end? If the team can avoid major injuries and respond to the pressure of having real expectations for the first time, there’s a good chance we could see a sea of red in Staples come June. The Red Sox and White Sox have done it in baseball, why not the Clippers?

AP photo by Roy Dabner

The Disneyland Dispatch Volume XI

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