Last Week: It was a good week, but not quite a great week. The one game that the Clips really needed, they struggled offensively against Minnesota, taking a double-digit loss on the chin against their primary competition for the last playoff berth in the West. However, the Clips did manage to get to .500 with two routs against undermanned Milwaukee and a crummy Seattle squad. The highlight of the week was a thrilling one-point win over the Nets on Thursday, thanks to a Cuttino Mobley three-pointer with less than a second left (after the Clips had blown an 18-point second half lead). The Clippers also appear to be cooling off the Corey Maggette trade talks, with Donald Sterlingnot likely to approve a deal unless it is extremely favorable.
Quick Take: The Clippers play their next nine games against the woeful (L)Eastern Conference, leaving for their longest road trip of the season on Thursday morning, a seven-game swing which could be the defining moment of the year. The Clips have obviously been terrible this year on the road, but gained some confidence by splitting their last six-game trip at the beginning of the month. With the team at full-strength, and with the roster seemingly in place with Maggette apparently staying in LA, the Clips can focus on trying to play some consistent ball with a set rotation for the first time all year.
This Week:
Wednesday: vs. Chicago (PRIME, 7:30 pm) – the Bulls are a lot like the Clippers in that they sport the second-best home record in the East, but the third-worst road record. Ben Gordon fills the instant offense role of Maggette, averaging 21.6 points per game despite coming off the bench. The Bulls are one of the top defensive teams, second in field goal percentage defense, buoyed by Ben Wallace’s intimidating presence around the basket, but are somewhat offensively challenged, held down by Wallace’s third-grade level shooting ability. The Clips will have to grind it out for four quarters to take this one down, which hasn’t exactly been their forte this season.
Friday: at Boston (PRIME, 4:30 pm) – the Celtics are jockeying with the Grizzlies for position in the Greg Oden sweepstakes, currently in the middle of a ten-game losing streak. The Celtics are letting all of their young players gain experience while all-star Paul Pierce sits out with a foot injury – their oldest starter in yesterday’s loss to Washington was Ryan Gomes at the ripe old age of 24. It’s kind of like watching that team in Little League, the one whose right fielder is sitting in the weeds picking his nose while the ball rolls by his feet. Kinda cute, but kinda sad.
Sunday: at Toronto (PRIME, 9:00 am) – the Raptors are the surprise leaders of the Atlantic Division. Granted, they have a worse record than the Clippers, but they’ve already won nearly as many games this year (22) as they did all last season (27) when they “earned” the top pick in the draft. Clearly this plan has been so successful, the Celtics are trying to copy it. The Raptors actually came into Staples and stole a game from the Clips back in December with a T.J. Ford buzzer beater, despite the absence of star forward Chris Bosh. He’s back, and will be matched up with Elton Brand, with the winner likely carrying his respective team to the win.
The Clippers reached the halfway point of the season last night, and despite notching their third win in a row, they remain a game under .500 at 20-21, and one of the NBA’s major disappointments according to numerous experts.
After an inspirational 2005-06 campaign, LA seemed to be caught up in Clippermania, raising hopes for a new era of sustained success and a true local rivalry. Instead, the Clips have stumbled back to mediocrity and everyone has hopped off the bandwagon just as quickly as they climbed on (while hitching a ride with the surprising Lakers).
Was last season a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence? The Clippers still have 41 more games to prove otherwise.
In honor of the team’s fall from grace, LAist takes a look at some of the major storylines of the first half of the season, inspired by some of your favorite one-hit wonders (and because LAist loves its music, you’ll find some videos along with the recap).
“Earth below us / Drifting falling / Floating weightless / Calling calling home” – Peter Schilling, “Major Tom (Coming Home)” (1984)
Inspired by: the struggles of the Clippers on the road
It’s no secret that road wins have been hard to come by for the Clippers. Having some adversity away from home is understandable; 5-14 is beyond comprehension for a team that considers itself a playoff contender. To put it in perspective, last year’s squad won five road games in November; this year’s team didn’t get their first road win until December 9.
What has been most disappointing is the personality transformation that seems to take over the team on the road. The offense gets noticeably more passive, settling for jumpers rather than working the ball inside for better opportunities: the team averages 3.9 fewer assists and 5.5 fewer free throw attempts on the road. Their defensive intensity also declines, to the tune of a startling 101 points allowed per game. Not surprisingly, ten of the fourteen road losses are by double digits.
The Clips did just finish up a 3-3 road trip which may give them some confidence heading into the second half. They’re going to need it: a big seven-game trip through the East awaits at the beginning of February which may make or break them.
“I always feel like somebody’s watching me / And I can’t get no privacy / I always feel like somebody’s watching me / Is it just a dream?” – Rockwell, “I Always Feel Like Somebody’s Watching Me” (1984)
Inspired by: the continued uncertainty at point guard
This was supposed to be the year that Shaun Livingston made the leap towards stardom, after two seasons of learning the game and a year under veteran Sam Cassell’s tutelage. Although Cassell was still to have a prominent role, it was intended for him to hand the reigns of leadership to the youngster and reduce the workload on his 37-year old body. But when Livingston proved to be not ready to handle starting point guard duties, Cassell had to step in and fill the gap.
While Cassell has played at a high level throughout the season, he’s been severely nicked up with a foot injury that forced him out of eight games. Livingston continues to exhibit moments of incredible brilliance in his court vision and mid-range game, as well as moments of incredible ineptitude in his decision making and running the offense. Since Cassell went down, Livingston has started and his performances have been wildly inconsistent, marked by lengthy periods of tentative and passive play. In short, he has not improved to the extent that many thought he would, and with each ill-advised pass into traffic and defensive breakdown against a smaller, quicker point guard, Clipper Nation wonders whether the light bulb will ever go on.
Right now, Dunleavy is starting both players in the backcourt, sacrificing Quinton Ross’ defense for increased playmaking ability. Because Clipper brass steadfastly refuses to include Livingston and his “potential” in any trade offers for actual star players such as Allen Iverson, a lot of pressure is on the kid to start living up to the hype. Cassell doesn’t have many more miles left in him, so the training wheels that the Clips are using to baby Livingston along to allow him to grow into the role have to come off soon. Yeah, Livingston is only 21 so he’s got time to figure it out, but he’s also a valuable commodity whose value decreases with each month that he looks lost on the court. Remember Darius Miles?
“Don’t let go / You’ve got the music in you / One dance left / This world is gonna pull through / Don’t give up / You’ve got a reason to live / Can’t forget / We only get what we give” – New Radicals, “You Get What You Give” (1999)
Inspired by: the Clippers’ lack of effort
LA Times Clipper beat writer Jason Reid laid out the facts very plainly about the contrast between this year’s team and last year’s team: the defense has slipped. The team has dropped from 2nd to 14th in field goal percentage defense (43.5% to 45.4%), 1st to 4th in blocks (6.39 to 5.90), and 2nd to 17th in rebounding (43.1 to 41.0).
For Clipper Nation, it is especially frustrating to support a team that isn’t putting out 100% every night. One of the refreshing aspects of last year’s squad was the pride they brought to the floor every night and the togetherness with which they played, especially compared to all of the past Clipper teams that dogged it (hello Mo Taylor, Benoit Benjamin, Michael Olowokandi, etc.). For whatever reason, this year that camaraderie on the court is missing. New contracts, injuries, fatigue, complacency, they’re all lame excuses.
“You want it all but you can’t have it / It’s in your face but you can’t grab it” – Faith No More, “Epic” (1990)
Inspired by: the do-everything Elton Brand finally finding his limit
To say that Elton Brand had an eventful 2006 would be the understatement of the year. He posted career numbers while carrying the Clips on his back through the playoffs, spent his summer winning a bronze medal for Team USA at the World Championships in Japan, got married to his college sweetheart, produced the critically acclaimed movie Rescue Dawn, and managed to summon the energy to train with team in Russia. He also cured cancer, fixed the hole in the ozone layer, and brought peace to the Middle East.
However, it was obvious that Brand wasn’t ready to play when the season started. He was a step slow and his timing was slightly off, and it reflected in his diminished offensive output and the extended stretches of games where he totally disappeared. His game has slowly rounded back into shape with each passing week, his face-up jumper and jump hook from the left block becoming more unstoppable, and he’s gotten more assertive in key moments. But without EB delivering a star performance on a nightly basis during the first two months, no one else compensated, and the Clips took it on the chin. The Clippers’ success may be dependent on contributions from everyone in their core rotation, but it starts with big number 42. If the team is to enjoy a second-half resurgence, Brand will have to be the catalyst.
“What I am is what I am / Are you what you are – or what?” – Edie Brickell and New Bohemians, “What I Am” (1988)
Inspired by: the realization that the Clippers are just a mediocre team
The good news: the Clippers have handled their business against inferior teams, with a 14-6 record against teams below .500. The bad news: the Clippers play like dogs against the supposed elite, going 6-15 against teams above .500.
Coming into the season, we looked at the roster and said that this team had top-four in the West-level talent. But on the court, the Clippers have consistently fallen short in their showdowns against Western rivals, with a 4-11 record against the top eight in the West (and 0-2 against the Lakers). Whereas the Lakers have beaten a number of the top contenders but continually lapse against the bottom feeders, the Clippers haven’t done anything to justify their inclusion in a discussion of good teams. Clipper Nation wants to look for an answer as to how so many experts could have misjudged this team at the start of the year, as if there’s a light bulb that just needs to get turned on and the team will snap out of it. Maybe the opposite is true – the Clippers played over their head last year and have fallen back to earth.
“I want money, lots and lots of money / I want the pie in the sky / I want money, lots and lots of money / So don’t be asking me why / I wanna be rich” – Calloway, “I Wanna Be Rich” (1990)
Inspired by: the three men who fleeced Donald Sterling out of $98.5 million worth of contracts
It has been well documented how Donald Sterling has historically maintained a highly thrifty approach to running the Clippers, generating significant profits without any concern about putting together a winning franchise. But after signing key players to lucrative, long-term deals over the last four seasons, Sterling has exhibited a change in philosophy, contributing to last season’s breakthrough. Thus, the contracts extended to Chris Kaman (5 years/$52.5 million), Tim Thomas (4 years/$24 million), and coach Mike Dunleavy (4 years/$22 million) were thought to solidify the foundation for a bright future for the Clips. So far, the Donald hasn’t gotten much return on his investment.
Kaman’s improvement into a bonafide second low-post threat and rebounder during last season was one of the key ingredients to the Clippers’ success. Thus, it was a high priority to make sure he didn’t escape via free agency once his contract expired at the end of this season. However, Kaman struggled out of the gate with a hamstring injury during preseason and also suffered a sprained ankle, causing him to miss four games in November. Watching him repeatedly miss shots from close range or turn the ball over was even more painful than sitting through The Santa Clause 3, and his rebounding and defense have been equally poor. While Kaman’s play has improved somewhat since the start of the new year and the switch back to the old leather ball, Clipper Nation wonders whether he is actually capable of contributing anything more than 11 points and 8 rebounds a game to take some of the pressure off of Elton Brand. He’s getting paid a lot of money to be a stiff.
Whereas a long-term deal for Kaman seemed justifiable because of his youth and demonstrated improvement each year, Thomas suckered the Clippers into a fat contract solely on the basis of one solid month of basketball, in which his clutch outside shooting, low-post scoring, and surprising interior defense were major factors in knocking out both LA teams of the playoffs. Never mind the fact that the Bulls paid him $14 million to not play for them last year because he was useless. Or that he’d been through six teams over nine seasons, and was notorious for being a paycheck player – someone who only tried when the Benjamins were on the line. Long considered ultra-talented but lazy and indifferent, Thomas has pretty much lived down to his reputation. He’s shooting a career low 40.9% from the field, averaging less than 10 points per game for the first time since his second year, and exhibiting his usual lackluster effort on the glass. Thomas was supposed to give the Clippers a second outside presence (replacing Vlad Radmanovic) that could open up the court for Brand and allow for drive and dish opportunities; instead, teams are inviting him to shoot, and he’s thrown up so many bricks that he probably belongs with Ty Pennington on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Absolutely terrible signing.
As far as Dunleavy is concerned, his tactical shortcomings were magnified in the playoffs last season. Under the circumstances, there probably aren’t any better coaches available. But he’s failed to get the team to play hard every night and doesn’t seem to have a good pulse on how to put his players in the best position to win.
“’Cause when it comes to playing basketball / I’m always last to be picked / And in some cases never picked at all … I wish I was a little bit taller / I wish I was a baller / I wish I had a girl who looked good I would call her” – Skee-Lo, “I Wish” (1995)
Inspired by: the Clippers’ wish for someone, anyone that can shoot
The Clippers are last in the league (by far) with only 2.9 made three-point shots per game, 9.2 attempts, and 31.4%. This isn’t shocking, considering they were also last in makes and attempts last year, though their percentage was a bit higher at 34.4%, which ranked 21st. Whereas the Phoenix Suns average 39.9% as a team from long distance, the Clippers don’t have a single shooter above that mark – Cuttino Mobley is the most “accurate” shooter at 39.8%. Tim Thomas is shooting like 10% (OK, it’s actually 35.3%, whatever, he’s horrible).
The problem is when you have five guys on a court, none of whom are a threat to score from outside of 17 feet, the defense can just collapse inside and dare you to shoot. This prevents Elton Brand from getting clean looks on the low block, enables opposing guards to drop down and swipe the ball from a clumsy Chris Kaman, and goads penetrators like Shaun Livingston and Corey Maggette into taking numerous charges from the help defender. Without the ability to properly space the floor, the Clippers’ execution must be precise in order to score consistently. Furthermore, the lack of a 3-ball makes comebacks considerably more difficult. And as we’ve seen, the Clips have been behind quite often this year.
“Once I ran to you / Now I’ll run from you / This tainted love you’ve given / I give you all a boy could give you / Take my tears and that’s not nearly all / Oh, tainted love” – Soft Cell, “Tainted Love” (1982)
Inspired by: the love-hate relationship that is the ongoing Corey Maggette saga
Maggette is the longest current tenured Clipper, and one of Sterling’s favorites, but he’s been on the trading block all year because of his longstanding personal feud with Dunleavy. Maggette has requested to go someplace where he will be more appreciated and utilized more to his liking. Though he’s not thrilled about his role as the sixth man, it hasn’t been reflected in his play – Maggette has been one of the few consistent members of the team this year. While his outside shot is nonexistent, his ability to generate his own offense and get to the line has provided a much needed spark, particularly with Brand not being as reliable as in past seasons.
Still, his unresolved situation is not helping the team find its identity and play as a unit. Corey’s athleticism and manageable contract are particularly appealing to many teams, but the Clippers need to get a solid player in return to fill the many holes that he will leave behind. Thus, his status in limbo may continue to be a distraction to the team all the way up to the February 22 trade deadline, and it’s even possible that he may not get traded at all, which would drag out an already awkward situation. A clean break would be best for all parties, but breakups don’t always work out that way.
“I’m too sexy for my shirt / Too sexy for my shirt / So sexy it hurts” – Right Said Fred, “I’m Too Sexy” (1992)
Inspired by: Chris Kaman’s haircut
From the Hulkamania mullet to a normal cut (click here for the before and after), though it was apparently not a fashion statement but rather a mistake by the stylist.
“There’s been so many things that’s held us down / But now it looks like things are finally comin’ around / I know we’ve got a long, long way to go / And where we’ll end up, I don’t know / But we won’t let nothing hold us back / We gonna get ourselves together / We gonna polish up our act … Ain’t no stopping us now / We’re on the move / Ain’t no stopping us now / We’ve got the groove” – McFadden and Whitehead, “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now” (1979)
Inspired by: the Clippers' prospects at making a second-half playoff run
Because the core of the team is fundamentally unchanged from last season, we know that the Clippers have it in them to put a nice run of good basketball together, assuming they can stay healthy. Last season, the Clips won two-thirds of their home games and half of their road games. If they can play at that pace the rest of the way, that would extrapolate out to 44 wins, which was good enough for #8 in the West last year. Thus, in order to avoid being roadkill for the Mavs or Suns in the first round, they’ll have to play lights out the rest of the way and hope that the teams far ahead of them in the standings like the Lakers, Rockets, and Nuggets hit some major rough patches. Realistically, the Clips will likely be battling the T-wolves and possibly the Warriors for the last spot in the ridiculously deep West.
Some may argue that with a strong draft class this year, it may be better for the Clippers to miss the playoffs and get a lottery pick than get schooled by a far superior team in the first round. But it would be a huge statement for the franchise if they show some heart and secure a back-to-back playoff berth, something that they’ve only done once in 30 years. It would signify that while title contention may still be a ways away, the Clips aren’t just a flash in the pan, a one-hit wonder destined for permanent obscurity.
Last Week: The Clippers mostly took advantage of a soft spot in the schedule and some fortunate timing to move up a spot in the West rankings. The Warriors, who the Clips passed in the standings, had only eight healthy players on Monday, yet it was enough to handily beat a mostly healthy Clippers squad (Tim Thomas sat out with an ear infection). Coach Mike Dunleavy Sr. got to listen to the Oakland crowd vociferously boo his son Mike Dunleavy Jr., despite the fact that junior Dunleavy played perhaps his best game of the season with 18 and 13. By Wednesday, the Warriors had consummated an eight-player trade with the Pacers, leaving Golden St. with only six healthy players. Apparently, this was more to the Clippers liking, as they won a closer than expected bout with the Warriors’ depleted roster at Staples. Memphis provided no such challenge, and the Clips swept the season series against the lowly Grizzlies with a 21-point blowout win on Saturday.
Quick Take: Even after a 2-1 week, the Clippers don’t inspire a great deal of confidence. Winning teams take advantage of weak, undermanned opponents; they go for the kill when they have a chance. In reality, the Clips should have gone 3-0 given the injury problems of the Warriors. During Wednesday night’s win, the Clippers opened up a 23-point third quarter lead, then relaxed and nearly coughed up the whole thing despite their overwhelming personnel advantage. This lack of mental toughness is at the heart of the team’s inconsistent performance and a significant departure from last season. Sam Cassell has been playing great since returning from injury (19.7 points, 12 dimes last week) but as the emotional leader, he’s got to find a way to inspire some of his teammates to step up as well.
This Week:
Tuesday: vs. Milwaukee (PRIME, 7:30 pm) – the Clippers catch another break with the Bucks (call them Warriors east), who are without starters Michael Redd (knee), Mo Williams (shoulder), Bobby Simmons (ankle), and potentially Charlie Villanueva (shoulder). Redd was sixth in league in scoring when he went down two weeks ago, and the Bucks have failed to score 100 points in the six games since his injury (losing five of six). The Clips must capitalize on Milwaukee’s lack of firepower and clamp down on D.
Thursday: vs. New Jersey (TNT, 7:30 pm) – the Nets, expected to be the runaway winners of the Atlantic Division, have just recently found their groove, winning nine of eleven to get back to .500 and first place (yes, you read that correctly). Fans will be flocking to Staples to catch a glimpse of Vince Carter’s acrobatic dunks and Jason Kidd’s dynamic passing, but the Clippers will be focused on turning the game into a halfcourt contest, pounding the ball down low to take advantage of the inexperienced Nets’ frontcourt which is without starters Nenad Krstic (knee) and Richard Jefferson (ankle).
Saturday: vs. Minnesota (KTLA-CW, 7:30 pm) – this one is huge. The Clippers turned in perhaps their best performance of the season in a stirring one-point road win on the 10th. At 20-19, Minnesota sits only a game and a half ahead of the Clips for the last playoff spot, and realistically represents the only team that the Clips can actually catch, barring a major improvement by LA or a major collapse by one of the contenders. The T-Wolves will be at the tail end of a brutal five game, seven day West Coast road trip, so the Clippers should look to push the tempo and score a lot of points in transition.
Last Week: It started out with a bang, ended with a whimper. Sam Cassell made a triumphant return to the lineup, pouring in 31 points off the bench in helping the Clippers overcome a 13 point deficit to the depleted Hornets. Yeah, I’d say they were happy to have him back. The Clips then followed it up with a solid road win (yes, you read that correctly) over Minnesota, one of the other teams battling for the last two playoff spots. Corey Maggette, in spite of his trade distractions, buried the go-ahead jumper with 4.9 seconds left. With the positive momentum from finishing the road trip at 3-3, the Clips promptly laid an egg against Cleveland on Saturday night, leaving the home crowd grumbling and heading for the exits midway through the fourth quarter.
Quick Take: Last week was a microcosm of the Clippers’ season. The inability for the Clippers to play solid basketball for consistent stretches is maddening, considering the veterans that are on this team. It’s one thing to lose with your best effort, but it is very evident that the Clips simply lose focus with regularity. This season, 13 of their 20 losses are by double digits, suggesting that they’re not even competitive most of the time when they lose. There truly is no excuse for that with the level of talent that is on the roster (even if the talent may have been overrated at the start of the year). Mike Dunleavy is going with another new lineup, starting both Cassell and Shaun Livingston in the backcourt together and moving Cuttino Mobley to small forward, thus drastically reducing Quinton Ross’ minutes. He’s running out of combinations; there may just need to be some new blood to fire this team up.
This Week:
Monday: at Golden St. (PRIME, 1:00 pm) – early tip in honor of the late Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, just for those of you who work for progressive employers (unfortunately the CW does not work for one of those). Granted, there are still 45 games left in the season, but this home-and-home with the Warriors does have significant implications on the positioning for the last couple of playoff spots; Golden St. is a half-game ahead in the standings. Yes, the Warriors haven’t actually made the playoffs nor finished over .500 since 1994, but Robin Williams hasn’t been funny since then either and he still keeps cranking out movies.
Wednesday: Golden St. (PRIME, 7:30 pm) – if you happen to be at Staples on Wednesday, you may have some flashbacks to the Lavin-era Bruins at Pauley. With Jason Richardson out with a broken hand, the Warriors are being led by UCLA alums Baron Davis and Matt Barnes, as well as dynamic guard Monta Ellis. Golden St. is back to playing Nellie ball, third in the league in scoring but last in scoring defense. Apparently, the Davis-Barnes-Ellis triumvirate is not quite as effective as the Run-TMC (Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Chris Mullin for you youngsters) Warrior squads from Don Nelson’s previous run as head coach.
Saturday: Memphis (KTLA-CW, 12:30 pm) – the Grizzlies are on a hot streak, having won three out of eight since interim coach Tony Barone took over for Mike Fratello, including a surprising win over the Lakers. Three out of eight may not seem hot to you, but after winning only six out of their first thirty, a .375 winning percentage is very exciting. Barone has instituted a more uptempo offense, which led to an impressive 66 point showing in their last game, a 45 point loss to the Bulls. The Clips have already beaten the Grizzlies twice this season, but both of those were without leading scorer Pau Gasol, who has since returned from his broken foot injury.
With apologies to all of the other Southland programs, tomorrow’s showdown between UCLA and USC is to determine who is the top dog in our local college basketball scene. More importantly, the winner will maintain their hold on first place in the Pac-10, which is shaping up to be the toughest conference in the country.
As all of the football fans know, you can throw out records and tradition when it comes to rivalry games because they don’t matter – you can always count on a hell of a fight because of the emotion and pride that the players carry into the game. Last year, the Trojans upset the Bruins late in the season, which provided the motivation and focus for UCLA to win its next 12 en route to the NCAA championship game. But this time around, there is something tangible at stake, with the surprising Trojans far exceeding expectations and matching the Bruins on top of the conference standings. Accordingly, the Galen Center is sold out for the first time ever in anticipation of this matchup, though it is unclear whether it will be USC that actually has the homecourt advantage.
UCLA has continued where it left off last year, having been the top dog for all of college basketball for a good portion of this season at number one in the polls. The Bruins reeled off 14 straight wins to start off the year before stumbling at Mac Court in Oregon last Saturday. Still, they enter tomorrow’s game ranked third in the country featuring a deep and talented roster. Now in his fifth season, coach Ben Howland has done the same work with the Bruins as he has at his last stops at Northern Arizona and Pitt, turning around a floundering program and building into a winner. The next step is the final one, making a return to the title game but this time raising the 12th championship banner in Pauley.
This year’s Bruins are a fascinating combination of toughness and athleticism. The team is not extraordinarily big upfront, but play tremendous man-to-man defense and aggressively attack the glass, as is the trademark with Howland teams. However, with the speedy Darren Collison having replaced star point guard Jordan Farmar (Lakers) in the starting lineup, the team plays more up-tempo than last season. In comparison to other top teams around the country, UCLA does not possess a dominant superstar, though leading scorer Arron Afflalo was a preseason All-American this year. Instead, the Bruins rely on a strong team concept with their dynamic backcourt of Collison and Afflalo, second-leading scorer Josh Shipp, do-everything forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, and the tough-as-nails Lorenzo Mata holding down the paint.
USC has been a pleasant surprise after a tragic offseason in which starting point guard Ryan Francis was shot and killed, with upsets over ranked opponents Wichita St., Washington, and Oregon and a sparkling 13-4 record. When coach Tim Floyd took the job two years ago, many expected him to turnaround the team as he had at prior schools like New Orleans and Iowa St. Few expected the turnaround to be so sudden, particularly after this offseason, which also included first-team Pac-10 guard Gabe Pruitt being ruled academically ineligible for the first 11 games.
The Trojans are extremely fast and athletic in the backcourt, playing a fluid open-court style that has enabled their skilled guards to create opportunities for themselves. First-team Pac-10 guard Gabe Young is the team’s leading scorer and is a tough cover with his combination of shooting range and ability to penetrate. Lodrick Stewart is also an excellent 3-point shooter. Freshman forward Taj Gibson has been a huge unexpected force, third in the conference in rebounding and an emerging low post threat. This has helped fill what seemed to be a glaring deficiency at the beginning of the season. The Trojans are still beset by sloppy execution on the offensive end at times, leading to a conference-worst turnover margin, but the defense has been outstanding, as USC is the third in the country in field goal percentage allowed.
A big loss for the Bruins will be Shipp, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury. The key to the game will be whether or not USC can withstand UCLA’s defensive pressure and protect the basketball: the Bruins thrive off of fast-break opportunities from turnovers to break open close games. UCLA loves to double team the low post, so Gibson will need to identify his many skilled shooters. The Trojans’ team speed gave the Bruins problems in their win last year, so it will be interesting to see if the Bruins can tighten up their on-ball defense and restrict drive and dish opportunities, especially with the UCLA bench needing to play more minutes in Shipp’s absence. All in all, expect an intense, entertaining contest between two strong teams that should be battling at the top of the Pac-10 all season. UCLA at USC Saturday, 11:30 am Galen Center TV: PRIME
LiLo, Brit, and Paris, move over. There's a new game in town.
In a stunning announcement, soccer star David Beckham has agreed to a 5 year, reportedly $250 million deal to sign with the LA Galaxy, effective once his contract with Real Madrid expires at the end of the Primera Liga season in June.
The move is not entirely unexpected, given Beckham's loss of standing with both the English national team and with Real. Coming to Tinseltown gives him a platform to retain (and possibly enhance) his worldwide iconic status, made noteworthy in the Keira Knightley flick "Bend It Like Beckham", as well as that of his wife Victoria (aka Posh Spice). Becks and Posh are Britain's preeminent celebrity couple and favorite fodder of the vicious UK tabloids, and are well linked to other Hollywood celebs such as Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.
Considering the MLS' miniscule presence in the national sports market, Beckham's arrival represents an attempt to bring soccer into mainstream American culture for the first time since the end of the disco era. And it comes at a steep price - in 2006, Juan Francisco Palencia was MLS' highest paid player at a paltry $1.36 million.
Given the worldwide popularity of the sport, it will be interesting to see whether Becks has enough star power to finally sell the American public to elevate professional soccer to a stature at least as high as the WWE, and bridge the gap with the hugely successful AYSO youth programs. Regardless of whether LA will take greater notice of his ever-changing faux-hawk or his ability to affect the Galaxy-Chivas rivalry by his skill on free kicks, it will be something worth checking out down at the Home Depot Center later this season.
Clipper Weekly has returned from its nearly month-long hiatus after taking its own road trip – fortunately, the road was much more hospitable to the CW than it has been to the Clippers.
Current Record: 15-19, 5th Pacific, 11th West
Last Month:
It’s been an ugly few weeks for Clipper Nation. The Clippers’ six-game December losing streak was highlighted here. The road woes can no longer be considered an aberration, with the teams’ 3-13 mark second worst in the league, including an embarrassing loss to Atlanta on Saturday which Elton Brand is calling for some introspection. The Clips seemed to have righted the ship with three convincing home wins (albeit against crummy teams like the Celtics and Knicks) to close 2006, but the same bad habits have crept up in 2007, leading to three out of four Ls on this current road trip. Turnovers, poor outside shooting, and lack of defensive stops in critical junctures of the game all look far too familiar at this point in the season.
About the only good news for the Clips is that there is a serious dropoff after the current six elite teams in the West (Dallas, Phoenix, Utah, San Antonio, Lakers, Houston), making the last couple of playoff spots highly attainable. To be sure, this isn’t exactly what the team had in mind at the beginning of the season, but the way they have been playing, .500 even seems a stretch at this point. Sam Cassell’s foot injury (he’s sat out the past eight games) and the continuing distraction of Corey Maggette’s trade status appear to be undermining team cohesion.
Quick Take:
The Clippers clearly miss Cassell’s leadership and presence on the court, not to mention his offensive production: his replacement, Daniel Ewing, is far less productive scoring (only 11.3 points per 48 minutes versus 25.8 for Sam) and initiating the offense (extremely poor assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.1 versus Cassell’s 2.8). Although Shaun Livingston has been performing adequately as the starter, his inconsistency at both ends of the court is a far cry from the steadying influence that Cassell provided last year. The Clips just signed Luke Jackson off of the scrap heap D-League in a hope to get something productive out of the point guard position.
Maggette is mentally checked out, waiting patiently for Elgin Baylor to trade him before he pulls a Sprewell and attacks Mike Dunleavy. Though he remains the Clippers’ second-leading scorer and best option off the bench, the team does not seem to be play as a unit when he’s on the floor.
Elton Brand and Chris Kaman have improved their offensive output from earlier in the season but are still extremely turnover prone, with the opposition flashing double teams to the low post with increasing frequency, leading to poor decision making and sloppy ballhandling, creating easy points the other way. The lack of shooters (what the hell are they paying Tim Thomas for, I can shoot below 40% for $6 million a year?) is not exactly a deterrent for these double teams.
And on the effort side, the intensity on defense and rebounding is clearly not where it was last year. Breakdowns seem to occur with regularity, particularly in the fourth quarter, and the hustle plays that the team always made last year haven’t been there. The Clips were fourth in rebounding margin last year but are only 12th this year. It’s by and large the same players as last season, so there is clearly something going on mentally that is contributing to this mediocre performance.
The Clips play only two teams with winning records for the rest of the month, with 7 out of 11 at Staples, so if they do not pick up some games here, it will be time for Elgin Baylor to start getting his customary seat at the draft lottery warm.
This Week:
Monday: at New Orleans/Oklahoma City (PRIME, 5:00 pm) – injuries have finally caught up to the Hornets, having lost 11 of 13. The team is playing with a patchwork lineup of forgettable players, as their top three scorers Chris Paul (ankle), Peja Stojakovic (back), and David West (elbow) are out for several weeks, as well as top sub Bobby Jackson (ribs). Yes, the Clips are only 2.5 games ahead of them in the standings. It’s that bad.
Wednesday: at Minnesota (PRIME, 5:00 pm) – Garnett and the eleven dwarves are riding a hot streak, with four consecutive nailbiting wins. After the T-Wolves were unsuccessful in trading for Allen Iverson, KG has apparently taken his rage out on the rest of the league: he’s averaging 27.5 points and 14.5 boards per game during this run. That’s more than Tim Thomas has been getting in four games lately.
Saturday: Cleveland (KTLA-CW, 7:30 pm) – King James makes his annual trip to Clipper Nation. LeBron and all of his alter egos, which have been plastered on countless runs of those Nike commercials on ESPN, have apparently come up with a training regimen that works – the Cavs are leading the junior varsity Eastern Conference. That might even be enough to get him into Hyde. (Nah, probably not)
It's been a great ride, but the wheels have finally come off the bandwagon for The OC. TMZ is reporting that Fox has officially cancelled the show, with the final episode airing on February 22.
As Tony mentioned a month ago, ratings for the suburban drama have been plummeting from the days of '04 when it was the must-see program on Wednesday nights.
Certainly to many non-Southern Californians, "The OC" was the first exposure to life behind the orange curtain. For us native-Orange Countians, it meant needless inquiries from out-of-town friends asking whether my life was really as cushy as Ryan Atwood or Marissa Cooper. And with MTV's "Laguna Beach" reinforcing the suburban image laid out by "The OC", it seems my childhood was solely comprised of beautiful beaches, hot girls, ridiculous parties, and tricked out rides. Sweet!
Now if the CW would just greenlight that pilot about Little Saigon, then I could get some street cred back. Welcome to the OC bitch! This is how we do it in Orange County!
Current Record: 22-22, 3rd Pacific, T-8th West
The Clippers reached the halfway point of the season last night, and despite notching their 
Current Record: 19-21, 3rd Pacific, 9th West
Current Record: 17-20, 4th Pacific, 10th West
LiLo, Brit, and Paris, move over. There's a new game in town.
Clipper Weekly has returned from its nearly month-long hiatus after taking its own road trip – fortunately, the road was much more hospitable to the CW than it has been to the Clippers.