CoolBreeze's Two Things I Didn't Like Tonight Plus 1

[Coolbreeze44]

I really don't like the Clippers, so I was rooting hard at the end of this one and wound up pretty disappointed. Several reasons for that, and I will try to cover some of those here:

1) Andrew missed a bunch of shots tonight that he normally makes. One thing I think he needs to improve on his aggressiveness around the basket. What I mean by that is he needs a little Zach in his game. Zach goes up hard and dunks everything he possible can. Andrew is a little too much finesse at the tin. There was the long alley oop in the first half that he tried to guide in. And then toward the end of the game he made a beautiful move around Paul and spun one off the rim. Take the split second to gather yourself and go up and thunder the ball through. It was nice to see us going to him at crunch time even though we didn't get the results tonight.

2) As I said in the game thread, so tired of Doc Rivers act. He generally is treated with kid gloves by the media, and has a pretty sterling reputation. But when you watch him a lot, his actions just don't measure up to that. He's the classic case of act like a complete jerk during a game, and then turn it off immediately after and do a 180 in attitude. he's so phony, and as someone said in the game thread very overrated. He's won when he's had the great teams, and he's lost when he hasn't. Pretty run of the mill coach if you ask me.

Plus 1 bullet style:

- Loved Zach's game again tonight. Nice to see some burn with Rubio. He's unguardable when he drives to the tin. Just needs to learn how to draw and kick a little better and he is going to be very good. I see him coming game by game.
- Thought G had a real nice effort tonight. Good to see
- Same with Payner. For a guy who hasn't really played much, is he ever aggressive out there. I find myself about 3 times a game really appreciating his effort.
- Do you notice that we really don't miss Pek and Martin very much when they're not there? Never once did I wish we had either of those guys tonight.
- Ricky really took the challenge of CP3 tonight head on tonight. He played tremendously hard and acquitted himself very well.
- Still think Flip could be getting GR3 a little time during these games.

And that's CoolBreeze's 2 things I didn't like tonight +1

[TheGrey08]

Are you sure you didn't miss Pek when Bud was playing the 4? haha

[Phenom]

Neal made it easy to forget about KMart tonight. What I really like about Neal is his competitiveness and seriousness in his game. This team has lacked that for the most part.

I feel for Gorgui tonight. Although he got lost on the PnR D many times, he was also abused by the refs. Jordan was allowed to manipulate a bunch of calls.

[Yosimar]

I guess i watched a completely different game, but damn Gorgui is charming soft. I know he got his (double double) but he got man handled by DJ non stop. It's unfortunate KG is on a minutes limit but Payne and KG were out there the team felt like it had better chance to win imo.

Dieng missed bunnies, got schooled on the glass when it mattered and of course the obligatory going up for a block when he shouldn't have.

I know Pek has a lot of deficiencies, but Dieng shouldn't be the starting Center for this team anytime soon if they plan on going anywhere.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Good 2+1, cool. Since I agree with most that you wrote (and I'm naturally argumentative), I'm only going to comment on the points I disagree with.

I did miss Pek and Martin, but especially Martin. With Pek out and KG limited to 20 minutes, Flip puts himself in an impossible rotation situation. There were times when Gorgui and Payne were on the court way too long (they both looked tired), and Flip even had to play Bud at PF for 11 minutes when Gorgui got his 4th foul. Starting KG if he's onlhy going to play 20 just doesn't work if Pek is out...way too much time between his first hive minutes and the last five minutes of the half or game. Flip should have started Payne, and given KG his minutes at the end of each quarter...gives Payne and Gorgui more of a blow.

I love the way Neal has played for us, but he's not Kevin Martin. Martin has had a terrific offensive year combined with a surprisingly effective defensive year, and has been fun to watch this year. He has an amazing ability to create his own shot, and provides a 3-point threat that we badly need. I really missed our best shooter when we started bricking everything in the 4th quarter. I'm convinced we win this game if Martin is available in the 4th quarter


As for GR3, I also want to see what he can do, but not in a game like this. We had a chance to beat a tough Western rival, and Robinson doesn't help us win. Better to play him in blowouts, Denver has given up, so we should beat them by at least 20 on Wednesday...GR3 should play 15 minutes then.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I guess i watched a completely different game, but damn Gorgui is charming soft. I know he got his (double double) but he got man handled by DJ non stop. It's unfortunate KG is on a minutes limit but Payne and KG were out there the team felt like it had better chance to win imo.

Dieng missed bunnies, got schooled on the glass when it mattered and of course the obligatory going up for a block when he shouldn't have.

I know Pek has a lot of deficiencies, but Dieng shouldn't be the starting Center for this team anytime soon if they plan on going anywhere.

Yup, Gorgui is one of these guys that is a pretty good fantasy b-ball player, but not someone you want anchoring an actual team. He missed a bunny near the hoop late, was completely punk'd by DeAndre Jordan multiple times, and was late in a number of rotations in the paint.

I've done a complete 180 on Dieng since the start of the season. He seems like a great guy and he has some intriguing skills for a big man, but he's got weak hands and a weak base - not a good combination for someone that makes his living in the paint.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Good 2+1, cool. Since I agree with most that you wrote (and I'm naturally argumentative), I'm only going to comment on the points I disagree with.

I did miss Pek and Martin, but especially Martin. With Pek out and KG limited to 20 minutes, Flip puts himself in an impossible rotation situation. There were times when Gorgui and Payne were on the court way too long (they both looked tired), and Flip even had to play Bud at PF for 11 minutes when Gorgui got his 4th foul. Starting KG if he's onlhy going to play 20 just doesn't work if Pek is out...way too much time between his first hive minutes and the last five minutes of the half or game. Flip should have started Payne, and given KG his minutes at the end of each quarter...gives Payne and Gorgui more of a blow.

I love the way Neal has played for us, but he's not Kevin Martin. Martin has had a terrific offensive year combined with a surprisingly effective defensive year, and has been fun to watch this year. He has an amazing ability to create his own shot, and provides a 3-point threat that we badly need. I really missed our best shooter when we started bricking everything in the 4th quarter. I'm convinced we win this game if Martin is available in the 4th quarter


As for GR3, I also want to see what he can do, but not in a game like this. We had a chance to beat a tough Western rival, and Robinson doesn't help us win. Better to play him in blowouts, Denver has given up, so we should beat them by at least 20 on Wednesday...GR3 should play 15 minutes then.

Yeah, I think the Gary Neal love is more a function of how rare that type of player is on our roster over the years versus how good he actually is. Other than Kevin Martin, we haven't had a halfway decent SG around these parts for.....ever!?

It's almost like spotting a near extinct creature in the wildlife. "Look, it's a shooting guard! Oooh, he can handle the ball. Ahhhh, he can hit a pull-up 3 off the dribble!"

If LaVine keeps doing what he's been doing these last few games and Flip can find a way to get him minutes off the ball, I'm hoping that we can roll with a Martin/LaVine combo next season and not have to worry about overpaying a 30-year old vet.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

"If LaVine keeps doing what he's been doing these last few games and Flip can find a way to get him minutes off the ball, I'm hoping that we can roll with a Martin/LaVine combo next season and not have to worry about overpaying a 30-year old vet."

I don't want to overpay Neal, but I would be interested in re-signing him. I like what he's shown in this little stretch. I also like that LaVine's growing game by game and his aggressiveness around the rim is improving (going up strong to dunk more than ever). If his progression continues down the stretch, I would be open-minded to a LaVine/Neal backcourt off the bench next year.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

To be fair, DJ is the biggest cheater on the boards ever. He wraps you up and then makes his move to get the ball when you were stuck and have no chance to get to the ball before him. Then the refs were stupid enough last night to call the foul on us multiple times when DJ is the one holding our guy. He also stuck his elbows out on a few picks that should have been called. It's pretty hard to outrebound someone that big and athletic when they can get away with holding you until the ball is in a spot he can get it.

[Phenom]

For me, Neal's position is irrelevant. It's his attitude that draws me in. This should really strike a chord for those who complain about Martin's easy going nature.