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I think Chris Kaman has arrived.
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posted by Ralph Lawler | November 14 @ 10:03 am Don from Chino Hills, CA writes... Hi Ralph, I was a Lakers fan first and foremost but all the turmoil coupled with the Clippers exciting play has won me over. My question is: can Chris Kaman maintain his high level of play for a season? He has been terrific so far. Don, There’s no reason for this not to continue. It started in the preseason and has carried on through the first two weeks of the regular season without a single bad game. I think Chris Kaman has arrived. - Ralph
Robert from Fountain Valley, CA writes... Hey Ralph, I've noticed that when he is out for pregame warm-ups, Sam Cassell always wears something other than the standard uniform. It is usually a different colored sweatshirt. Is this just a part of his personality or is it a superstition? Any ideas? Robert, It is his unique personality. I mean this in the best possible way – he’s different kind of a guy and he just does things differently. He also plays basketball better than any 38-year old on earth. - Ralph
Richard from Howard, SD writes... I liked James Singleton, what happened to him? Richard, He had a tryout this summer with a couple of NBA teams but nothing materialized for him. He signed a contract to play in Europe but suffered a broken leg shortly after he got over there. He’s back home recovering now and looking to get back in the league next season. - Ralph
Brett from Florida writes... Why isn't Al Thornton getting more playing time? He led the Clippers in preseason scoring and is getting far less playing time than rookies who had nowhere near the preseason production. I'm a big Florida State fan and watched Al for four years. I know what he can do and what he can do is produce. As a Clippers fan I know we have a lot of talent out there but how is there anyway to justify Al Thornton not getting more playing time? Brett, Let’s get our facts straight. He was second in scoring in the preseason and he’s #7 among rookies in minutes played during the regular season. Only two rookies are getting as many as 30-minutes a game – Kevin Durant in Seattle and Al Horford in Atlanta. Al Thornton has not looked nearly as comfortable on the court since the regular season began. When he gets comfortable, he’ll start earning more minutes. - Ralph
Darrell Moore from Norwalk, CA writes... Ralph be honest with me.....What is the Clippers problem? On paper they're a talented group of players, so what's going on? One game they'll play like a championship contending team and the next game they forget how to dribble the ball. I'm a true die-hard Clippers fan... been one since the San Diego days and I feel that its time for them to take it to the next level. Now one good thing! They are better then the Lakers. Darrell, On paper, just about All the “experts” picked the Clips to finish 14th or 15th in the Western Conference this season. Honestly, they’ve been a pleasant early season surprise to everybody. Their up and down play has something to do with the varying levels of competition they face and something to do with being a team in transition. Minus Elton Brand, they are playing a new style and it will take a while for the players to be fully competent and comfortable with it. - Ralph
Lloyd Noel from Diamondbar, CA writes... Ralph, I have always wanted to become an NBA "voice" of a team and wanted to ask the best in the NBA: what steps did you take to become "The Voice of the Clippers" and what steps should someone take to become an on-air personality like yourself? Lloyd, It’s a good dream. I had it for years before I connected with the Clippers in San Diego in 1978. The first thing you need is some experience. I’d been broadcasting sports for almost 20 years before I got the Clippers gig. Our new radio guy, Brian Sieman, worked his way up calling games in the minor leagues and then in the WNBA before he caught on with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Good luck. - Ralph
Ryan Hildebrand from Davenport, IA writes... Hey Ralph, I was wondering how is Elton Brand doing? How much longer will he be out? I know it's a bad injury, and it takes time to come back, but I really want to see him play. Thank you.
Oh, we all do. He’s been working hard and offering full support to his teammates on and off the court. It’s too early for a meaningful timetable for E.B.’s return. The earliest reasonable date would be sometime in February. - Ralph
Bob MacLeod from Rancho Palos Verdes, CA writes... Ralph: How come the Clippers don't seem to be using the Development League? Wouldn't that have been a good place to have put Diaz?
Well, he is in the Development league, playing for the Clippers affiliate in Anaheim. However, he’s no longer under contract to the Clippers. The problem was that he had 15 contracted players ahead of him. That is the league limit and the Clips could not assign him to the D-league and retain his rights. Paul Davis and Al Thornton are the only players on the current roster who are eligible for D-League assignment and both of them are needed by the big club. - Ralph
Rudy Zavala from Norwalk, CA writes... Hey Ralph, I do like the new style the Clippers are playing. I don't recall were I read that it looks like Don Nelson or the Phoenix style, but they don't focus on defense like the Clips do. My question is when Shaun and Elton come back how quickly will they be able to adjust to this style? Take care and keep up your great work along with Mike. GO CLIPPERS! Rudy, The style is certainly not as frenetic as either Phoenix or Golden State, but it is refreshing and fun to watch. Shaun and Elton are both able runners. Few power forwards in the league get up and down the court as well as Brand, and Shaun is perfectly suited to lead the break in the open court. They’ll fit great! - Ralph
Daniel Won from Lake Forest, CA writes... Ralph, Elton Brand has been with the Clippers for a number of years. Do you think he will sign with the Clippers again or with a different team? What difference do you see on the court this year as to last year? Daniel, My best guess is that Elton will not opt-out at season’s end. The question then will be about 2009. That’s too far in advance to venture a guess, but my hope certainly is that Elton Brand finishes his career with the Clippers and becomes the first to have his number retired so that #42 can hang in the STAPLES Center rafters for decades to come. - Ralph
John Melka from Bonsall, CA writes... Hi Ralph, Love the job you and Mike do each and every game. I've been a Clips fan since 1989 - I think this year is going to be special. Any word on what Kenny Norman, Charles Smith, Danny Manning & Loy Vaught are up to these days? John, Thanks for the kind words and the trip down memory lane. You’ve mentioned some of my all-time favorite Clippers players. Last I heard, Ken Norman was living in Chicago raising dogs and lifting weights… Charles Smith was involved working with retired NBA players, helping them in their transition to “civilian” life… Danny Manning is an assistant coach at his alma mater, The University of Kansas, and Loy Vaught remains in Los Angeles where he’s done well, I’m told, in real estate. He comes to a Clippers game every now and then. I wish he’d come around more often. - Ralph
Diego from Lima, Peru writes... How do you think the Clippers are going to address the point guard problem we are having? We really need one, Cassell is kind of old and Livingston is injured... I am a huge Cassell fan but don't you think it would be a good idea to try and trade him for a younger point guard?
No, I think this team needs Sam if it is going to return to the NBA playoffs this season. He’s knocked down some big shots already this season. About to be 38… he can still play the game. There is still hope that Livingston can come back and be the team’s Point guard of the future. He’s only 22 years old. Meanwhile, Brevin Knight and Dan Dickau provide the club with very good depth at the position. - Ralph
Kendrick Washington AKA K-Dawg from Las Vegas, NV writes... I have always loved the Clippers. So I ask: with the team playing like it is, do you think when Brand and Livingston return will the team play the same? I hope the role players keep up the good playing and not get too relaxed when the other two return. Hey K-Dawg, I only see positives with the hoped for return of Livingston and Brand. The team will clearly not play the same, it will play better. Also, I believe their teammates will be energized by their return. - Ralph
Bill Allen from Hilton Head, SC writes... Every single one of the publications that I read before the start of the season picked the Clippers to finish last or second to last in the Pacific, and not come close to the playoffs. What do you think is the single most important thing that is happening now that is helping the Clippers win these games they are winning? Bill, It has been a team effort. Elgin Baylor brought in some worthy reinforcements this summer and the coaching staff revised their game plan. The players have bought into it and the result is this ball club has a chance to compete for the playoffs with or without their injured players. I think it is going to be an interesting and very entertaining year. - Ralph
Mike Everett from Woodland Hills, CA writes... Do you think the Clippers are a lot better now that Bland is out. Yeah I meant to say BLand. His lack of heart and his inability to pass out of a double team have plagued this team for years. The Clips should trade him now or as soon as he is healthy. Go get a stellar point guard. Bibby maybe. Thornton looks like the real deal and if Kaman continues his play on the inside we do not need a power forward who is supposed to be a leader but never will be. Mike, Those are fighting words. Anyone who has been close to this team and in the lockerroom sees the respect his teammates have for him. He is a great leader by example. Nobody works harder than E.B. That’s before and after his surgery. The other players would walk through fire for him. You are so very wrong about Elton. His heart is as big as STAPLES Center. His passing has improved every year and he had a career high 235 assists last year (just a tad fewer than Tim Duncan). He’s a Sportsmanship Award Winner, a family man and a quiet giver of his time and money to worthy causes in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. All of his headlines are good headlines. If that’s “Bland”, I’ll take it up and down the roster. - Ralph
Eric Edelstein from Los Angeles, CA writes... Hey Ralph- Big fan of your play-by-play and Clippers answers. I notice that whenever Dan Dickau gets in the team seems to go on a run and play well. His defense has also impressed me as well. The only year he ever played extensive minutes (New Orleans) he led them to a bunch of big victories with clutch shooting and passing. Do you think he has finally found a home in Los Angeles?
Eric, I hope so. He’s also a good lockerroom guy who stays ready to help whenever needed. No question that Dan will help this team win some games this year. - Ralph
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