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Thornton is one of the components that will give the Clippers a chance to be much better than some people expect them to be.
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posted by Ralph Lawler | October 17 @ 8:35 am Benjamin Sandoval from Lynwood, CA writes... Ralph, There has been no mention here about Al Thornton and how vital he is to this team’s success this upcoming season. With no one expecting us to do anything this season, do you think Al must be among the top contenders for Rookie of the Year in order for us to contend for a playoff spot? I BELIEVE! Love You Ralph! Ralph, Great story in the Tuesday L.A. Times about Al Thornton. He is a Real X-factor for this team. Expectations may be low, but this club believes it can win with or without Elton Brand and Shaun Livingston. Thornton is one of the components that will give the Clippers a chance to be much better than some people expect them to be. - Ralph
Herbert John Miller from CA writes... Are The Clippers interested in Andrei Kirelenko or Juwan Howard? Herbert, The team is always interested in talented players when they become available. The problem is that the club is well over the salary cap and within $2 million of the luxury tax. To make a trade for those players, the Clippers would have to give up a like amount of salary. Unless you want to trade Elton Brand or Corey Maggette, such trades would be very hard to make. If there’s a trade out there that will make this a better team you can be confident that the Clippers would make the deal. - Ralph
Justin Bellsmith from Rancho Cucamonga, CA writes... I heard Q. Ross was a great offensive player in college. Do you think he'll ever blossom into an offensive threat for the Clips, rather than a "defensive stopper"?
Q was a 20-point a game scorer during his senior season at SMU. He’ll never be a 20-point per game guy in the NBA but he has continually improved his offensive game. His shot just keeps getting better and he’s been adding range each season. I think he’s going to have a very good year. He does not have to score much to be valuable to this team. - Ralph
Jerry Pineda from Fontana, CA writes... Ralph, Great job commentating. My question is, do you think that the Clippers will be more of a fast-paced offense now that Elton is out? Especially with the type of player we have in Al Thorton. Jerry, The early returns indicate a faster pace. The Clippers averaged 90 shots a game in the first three pre-season games. That’s 13 more than they averaged a season ago. The scoring average has risen from 96 points a game to 103. They want to push the ball. I think they’ll really be fun to watch this season. - Ralph
Gil Rivera from Mableton, GA writes...
Gil, Sure he can be traded, but the team would hope to have Corey in a Clippers uniform for many years to come. Assuming he “opts out” next summer, the Clips will still hold the upper hand on the competition by being able to offer more money over a longer period of time than any other team. - Ralph
J.J. Garcia writes... When will EB return?
J.J., Nobody knows the answer to that one. The conventional thinking and hoping is maybe by the All-Star break. That would be six months from the surgery and generally you expect a 6-10 month recovery from this Achilles tendon injury. Keep your fingers crossed. - Ralph
Justin Lira from Long Beach, CA writes... Is Al Thornton good enough to see a decent amount of playing time this season or will he just be getting minutes because of the giant hole left by Brand’s absence?
Justin, This young man can flat out score the basketball. I love him and believe he’ll help this team before and after EB’s return. The fans are really going to have fun watching Al Thornton play. He has a chance to be a special player. - Ralph
Don Newton from Chino Hills, CA writes... Hi Ralph, Are there any plans for Bill Walton to work with you again, even for a few games? I really enjoyed listening to you both. Don, We sure enjoyed working together and remain the best of friends. Bill is very busy with his ESPN/ABC commitments and that makes it very difficult for him to fit our games into his schedule. However, we are always trying to find a way to sneak him in to work with Mikesmith and me for a game here and there. Stay tuned. We’ll have 45 games on FSN Prime Tickets and 30 on KTLA the CW this season. - Ralph
Allan Flores from Los Angeles, CA writes... Ralph, I can count three unbelievably explosive, athletic players in the Clipper's roster right now with Maggette, Thornton, and Diaz. We may never see the three play together during the regular season with the roster being as full as it is - how have they looked on the floor together during training camp/ scrimmage? I bet they would give any NBA defense some massive headaches if they all play aggressive uptempo... Allan, Whether it’s that trio or some other combination, you’ll see a lot of racing up and down the court this season. I’ve enjoyed what I’ve seen of the up-tempo style and I really believe the fans will, too. Those aren’t the only three runners and jumpers on this roster. Get your seatbelts ready! - Ralph
Matt Sanchez from Tallahassee, FL writes... Al Thornton was the first round pick this year for the Clippers, since then I’ve checked the web site regularly... WHEN CAN I BUY AN AL THORNTON JERSEY???!!! Matt, Not out there yet, but they will be. #12 is going to be a very popular jersey for years to come. - Ralph
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