Thornton is a shooter/scorer which is a great combination. Andrew D. Bernstein (NBAE/Getty Images) Ralph's Mailbag

Ralph,

The more I see A. Thornton play the more I think he is more of a shooter than scorer. Do you believe Dunleavy might play him also at the two-spot?

Leonard,

He is a shooter/scorer which is a great combination. Down the road he might be able to play some as an off-guard, but that will require some growth in his game as a ball-handler and as a passer.

- Ralph

Maggette

Mobley

Greetings Ralph,

As a Clippers announcer do you ever get tired of hearing the fans wanting to trade Corey, who has been a model of consistency, when the real problem is the inconsistency of Cat Mobley? I am so tired of watching him shoot 30 to 40% from the floor.

Brian,

First the Facts: Until he was injured, when the Clippers were off to that 4-0 start, Cuttino was shooting over 60%! He’s healthier now and shooting well again. On the season, Cat is at 42%, Corey at 43%.

It never bothers me to hear fans talk about trades. I think that is half the fun of being a fan. The players don’t pay much attention to it.

- Ralph

Hey Ralph...

This is a very frustrating year for me and I am sure all of the other Clippers fans feel the same. I always listen to you and Mike Smith after the game, and while you both say you don't feel discouraged, I do...

Simon,

There is a difference between being disappointed and being discouraged. We are all disappointed, but the growth of Kaman and the promise shown by the rookie Al Thornton give us reason to be optimistic about the future. Add to those two, the encouraging progress being made by Brand and Livingston in their rehab from injury… a promising draft and a little flexibility with regards to the free-agent market plus the possibility of a trade here or there and there remains plenty of room for hope.

- Ralph

Ralph,

I think the team and management decided to give up on the season when they released Ruben Patterson.

Patterson

Arush,

That just isn’t so. Ruben’s forte was defense. The team was and is playing well at the defensive end of the court. The problem is at the offensive end and Patterson was really struggling there. The club also needed the roster flexibility to add a point guard down the road. That was only reasonably available by waiving Ruben Patterson who, by the way, is yet to be picked up by another NBA team.

- Ralph

Hey Ralph,

I am the biggest Clippers fan on the East coast. Why do the Lakers have this, "movie theater-like" setting with the lower level seats in the "dark", and STAPLES Center doesn't do it for the Clippers. I like the movie theater setting, don't you?

Anthony,

Yes and no. I like it when I’m in the arena at a game but not when I’m watching on television. It is very hard to show or see crowd reaction to a big play because the seating area is so dark. It’s a jump ball and it is up to the teams to decide on the lighting they like for their games. The Lakers like it one way and the Clippers like it another.

- Ralph

I don’t want to blow this year off, but I know the force Elton Brand will be when he’s back to full strength next year, and with Al Thornton really coming around and showing his ability, I can see the Clippers being a team that could have a big year next year. What are your thoughts?

Kaman

Thornton

Blair,

That mirrors the feeling of everyone in the organization. We all know what the bad news is, but the good news is the play of Chris Kaman and Al Thornton. Bring a healthy group back around those two and this will be a very competitive team.

- Ralph

Which Clippers players will be free agents at the end of this season?

Eric,

Cassell, Livingston, Ross, Dickau, Davis, Williams and Diaz are all in the final year of their respective deals with the Clippers.

The team can retain the right to match any offer Livingston receives if they give him a "Qualifying Offer" any time between the final game of the season and June 30. They can also offer him an alternative contract covering six years.

Brand and Maggette each have the right to terminate their contracts this summer. If they do so, they’d be free to sign a new contract with the Clippers or any other team. However, by the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Clippers would be able to offer more money for a longer term than could any other team.

- Ralph

Ralph,

I've seen many great players play and one of them I'd like to see in a Clippers uniform is Peja Stojakovic. I think his fantastic three-point shooting would be a great add to the team.

Do you think the Clips should trade for him or any other Hornet players such as Chris Paul or David West?

MJ,

I don’t believe that any of those Hornets players are available via trade at this time. The Hornets are right in the thick of the race for first place in the very tough Southwest Division.

- Ralph

Hey Ralph,

It seems that the Clips can keep up with the good teams in the first half, but in the second half they slow down. Is it because of the injuries and the minutes they play? I will still remain a Clippers fan forever.

Rudy,

Thanks for hanging in there. The answer to your question is simply that the better team is normally able to sustain its excellence for longer periods of time in a game. Injuries have left the Clippers short on talent this season and they’ve paid the price.

- Ralph

Ralph,

Can you explain the rule about the restricted area under the basket? It confuses me. Thanks!

Dan,

Let’s go to the rulebook:

“An offensive foul should never be called if the contact is with a secondary defensive player who has established a defensive position within a designated "restricted area" near the basket for the purpose of drawing an offensive foul.

The "restricted area" for this purpose is the area bounded by an arc with a 4-foot radius measured from the middle of the basket.

EXCEPTION: Any player may be legally positioned within the "restricted area" if the offensive player receives the ball within the Lower Defensive Box.”

- Ralph

Ralph,

With all the talk of performance enhancing drugs in baseball and football, I've heard almost none in basketball. Why is this?

John,

I think bulk and strength is more a factor in those sports whereas basketball players rely more on athleticism and flexibility. I also think the NBA has been at the forefront with its drug enforcement program.

- Ralph

Ralph,

What rule changes would you like to see made in the NBA?

Mike,

My only major objection is with a rule that penalizes a team for playing great defense. If team A shoots the ball before the expiration of the 24 second clock… the time expires while the ball is in the air… the ball does not hit the rim … team B gets the ball and sets out on a fast break, but play is stopped because the ball didn’t hit the rim. It drives me nuts!

- Ralph

Ralph,

I don't want to demean Corey Maggette, but his 20 points per game are the most meaningless in basketball. He slows the offense down with his processing of the game. He just isn't a good fit here. I commend him for his effort but it would be best for him and the Clips is he held the ball on his hip for another team and let Al Thornton gain his minutes.

Dave,

Corey has been a treasure for the Clippers since joining the club in 2000. He was once known as a "ball-stopper," and he’s worked hard to shed that image.

Like all of his teammates, he was thrust into a difficult role by the injuries to Livingston and Brand this season. They’ve all struggled with their respective games in the absence of those two and the others who’ve been periodically sidelined this season.

- Ralph

Dear Ralph,

I think that EB and Shaun should just sit out this year so that they can further heal their injuries.

Brand

Livingston

Joseph,

I can say with some certainty that neither player will return until his injury is fully healed. Hopefully, that will be this season. Both would like to play as playing basketball is what they do.

- Ralph

Ralph,

I saw a recent show on FSN where Chris Kaman visited his hometown in Michigan. It is quite a different world than Los Angeles. I seem to remember last year sometime I read where Corey Maggette accompanied the Kaman family on a summer trip to Alaska to fish and hunt. Was that true?

Kaman

Steve,

No, Corey was busy getting married in the summer of 2006 and that was the year that Chris and his family and his pals took his fully "tricked out" motor home to Alaska. From all I’ve heard, it was reminiscent of one of those old Chevy Chase Vacation movies.

- Ralph

Ralph,

This year one player that doesn't seem to be getting as many minutes as before is Quinton Ross. It seems to me that Al Thornton is getting his minutes. Do you seem Quinton getting more minutes as the season progresses?

Ross

Roy,

Q. earns his time with his defensive play. He’ll earn more time as he expands his offensive game. This year’s team plays good enough defense to win. Sadly, I can’t say the same about the offense most nights.

- Ralph

Last week you mentioned that you thought Sam Cassell wanted to play next year. Do you think he might come back to our team?

Cassell

Terrie,

I think Sam and the team are leaving all doors open with regard to next season.

- Ralph

Hi Ralph,

I think the NBA can learn from major league baseball by having an extended minor league system. The D-League does have some similarities to minor league baseball, but I think it would be good if it were expanded so that teams would have one team where players could be sent down for injury rehabilitation and to garner more playing experience. Do you think the D-League could ever be used like this?

Robert,

Good question, Robert. I think we are headed that way. The goal is 30 D-League Teams (there are 14 now) with each NBA team having an exclusive affiliation with a single D-league team. It may take the next round of contract talks between the players and the owners before all this can fall into place, but I do believe the league is heading in that direction.

- Ralph

Ralph,

First of all I would like to say that I always look forward to you calling the games. What do you think of all the rookies this year especially Al Thornton?

Jasper,

2007 was a good draft but it will be some years before we know just how good.

Obviously, the current draft class misses #1 pick Greg Oden who will sit out his first year in Portland because of injury. Still, Kevin Durant has been great in Seattle as has Al Horford in Atlanta. Two of this year’s top rookies weren’t drafted in ’07. Jamario Moon has made an impact in Toronto, and he was never drafted, and Juan Carlos Navarro of Memphis was a 2002 pick who debuted in the league this year. Both have really played well.

Al Thornton is coming on strong. I think he has a chance to be an All-Rookie first team selection. Not bad for the 14th pick in the draft.

- Ralph

Ralph,

What is Diaz up to and will the Clippers sign him to the team before the end of the season?

Diaz

Gerald,

Yes. Guillermo played in the D-League earlier this season with the Clippers affiliate in Anaheim. He was considering signing a deal to play in Europe when concern about Brevin Knight’s health led the Clippers to bring Diaz in on a 10-day contract.

- Ralph

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