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Camp Wrap-Up With Ralph Lawler

Rowan Kavner

IRVINE, Calif. – With 36 years already under his belt as the “Voice of the Clippers,” Ralph Lawler has seen plenty of groups go through training camp.

However, he may never have seen one as talented as the Clippers assembled this year.

We caught up with Lawler, who gave his take after watching four days of camp at UC Irvine. Here are some of his thoughts.

Is this the most optimistic you’ve been about a team since you’ve watched the Clippers?

RL: “This is extraordinary. The last three years, it’s been pretty optimistic when we came to camp each year. But it’s just different this year. There’s a level of maturity, a level of focus, professionalism, determination that they’re here to win a championship. It’s been a really exciting week.”

Everyone keeps talking about how competitive it is. What’s that been like to see?

RL: “The second unit just give fits to the first unit every time they get out there in a scrimmage situation. You had a comment from Lance Stephenson who said it best, it feels like an All-Star Game every time they play. Compare it to last year where we thought maybe the second unit might be OK, it wound up not being OK at all…This group, they are really good.”

Apart from the improved second unit, what’s stood out to you most?

RL: “I think Lance Stephenson’s going to be an absolute monster. What he’s going to do to other team’s second units is almost unfair. He dominates. He makes so many great decision, he’s so athletic, he’s been shooting the ball well as well. If that happens, Katie, bar the door. He is special, and they’ve got the three ball-handlers playing together. Some people thought that might be a problem, but it really winds up being a strength, because how do you defend that group? Lance may initiate the offense, Austin Rivers might do it, it may be Jamal Crawford, and all three of them can make plays for themselves and other people. I think we’re on the brink of something really special.”

We’ve talked about the new additions at length. How has this helped the nucleus of stars?

RL: “Each one of them is going to wind up being better than they were last year or the year before that…I just can’t wait for it to start.”