|
"With all of the recent announcements, where does that leave Jared "J-Jo" Jordan? Fernando Medina (NBAE/Getty Images)
|
|
|
Leading Off...
posted by Dena | August 20 @ 11:09 am
Long time no Bloggity... my sincerest apologies. Let's get to it.
Holy announcements, Batman! Did we ever have a busy week at the Clip Joint!
Last Monday, we signed free agent point guard Brevin Knight. He’s a ten-year vet with an 8.3 ppg, 6.8 apg average that can shoot the ball AND defend.
On Tuesday, we inked (no pun intended) the heavily tattooed free agent forward Josh Powell. He’s young, but he’s big (6-9, 235 lbs to be exact) AND he has playoff experience. And there’s something about NBA players and tattoos. The more some players get, the better they play. Strange…
We also announced the pre-season schedule. This is cool. Before the season starts, our fans will get to see the Clips face Phoenix and Golden State twice, the new Sacramento Kings, Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets and Greg Oden and the Trail Blazers.
On Thursday, guard Guillermo Diaz joined the roster. If Jared “J-Jo” Jordan is next, we’re going to be four guards deep in the rotation (at least through Training Camp). Now all we need is for the NBA to change the substitution rule so we can switch our backcourt every two minutes like they switch lines in hockey, and we’ll be SET!
For those of you wondering what's going on with our No. 45 pick... J-Jo has not yet signed with the team. My guess is he'll most definitely be on the Training Camp roster (which we'll announce some time in late September), and then it's up to him to razzle-dazzle the coaches and earn himself a spot on the roster.
On Friday, the Clippers' Training Center took a major step forward with the installation of the first steel columns for the project. Good to see the building going UP, not down. Whew!
Today, we waived Will Conroy. No real surprise here. We don't really need a fifth guard on the bench, do we?
Also, Kristin updated us on her journeys through Japan with former Spirit dancer Julianne. The two of them are teaching clinics all over the place. Kristin and Julianne ROCK.
OK Moving on… let’s get right to your e-mails.
|
Clipper Nation is Curious…
Todd Arnold from San Clemente, CA writes…
Without Elton Brand, we don't have a chance....there were so many games last year where he SINGLE HANDEDLY either kept us in the game OR flat-out won it for us... I'm sorry. I am a DIE-HARD Clippers fan but wait until you see how we struggle without him... I am just sick...
Todd,
Nobody is saying we aren’t going to struggle. When a good part of your game plan is centered around your (arguably) best all around player on the court, then you take that player out of the equation, you’re going to struggle.
Injuries are part of team sports. Any team out there is just freak accident and/or a season-ending injury away from having a key player out for a significant amount of time. Fortunately for us, this happened long before the season started. This gives Elton enough time to rehab, work on his flexibility and be ready to play in (hopefully) six months, right around the All-Star break. It also gives us time to plan and prepare for his absence.
Let’s not minimize the loss; it's huge. But we can’t throw in the towel either. Let’s say his first game back is February 20th vs. Memphis (the first game after the All-Star break). And as long as we’re hoping, let say Shaun makes it back around then too. That gives us 32 games on the floor to work with, and don’t forget about the trade deadline which is right around then... If we can keep from falling into too deep of a hole during the first half of the season, the Playoffs are not completely out of reach.
The bottom line is that we have time to find the right players and for the coaches to find a solution so that we can still compete this season. Nobody here is even remotely thinking about calling this season a wash and saying, “Hey, at least we’ve got a legitimate shot at the No. 1 pick in 2008!”
P.S. Elton's received hundreds of e-mails from all of you... if you haven't sent him a message yet, you can either send an E-mail to getwellelton@clippers.com or send them directly to:
Elton Brand
c/o Los Angeles Clippers
STAPLES Center
1111 S. Figueroa St. Suite 1100
Los Angeles, Ca. 90015
 Singleton |
Since EB is out for the next months, what about getting J. Singleton back to fill his roster spot? We need a rebounding machine to take EB's spot and James can do that if given the minutes.
R.M.,
You’re right. James CAN do that if given the minutes. And he WILL be doing that when he’s given the minutes in Spain, where he’s signed a one-year deal with Tau Ceramica. Sorry.
|
I'd like to wish a very happy (upcoming) birthday to the following wonderful people in the Clippers family...
1. When will Elton be back?
2. Most commentators are counting the Clippers out of the playoff situation this year. What do you think?
Eddie,
1. If all goes well with his recovery and rehab, best case scenario is Elton should be back some time around or after the All-Star break.
2. The Playoffs are eight months away. That’s a lot of time for a lot of different things to happen. And no, I’m not trying to weasel my way out of answering your question. Let me explain…
First, we will have Training Camp. There the coaching staff will get to see how players like Guillermo and Jared fit into this team and decide whether or not they’ll be brought onto the roster. They’ll also get to see how Brevin and Josh are working out and how they’ll fit in. And they can do this and build their game plan knowing in advance that Elton (and Shaun) won’t be there for an extended period.
Next, the trainers and doctors will have to look at Elton’s and Shaun’s respective recoveries. Both are expected to be healthy enough to play at some point this season; it’s just a matter of if and when it happens and how much their potential returns will impact the team we have on the court at the time. I would think we’ll have a better picture for both players sometime around late December, early January.
Then, we’ll evaluate any potential trades that need to be made. After that, if necessary, we may look at bringing on some players for 10-day contracts. (As long as we don’t bring back Mr. Christie…)
Then there’s this… Rumor has it Chris Kaman has been working really ridiculously hard this offseason (It’s not all rumor. I’ve even witnessed it). So hard I think his own hair is scared of him now. Kaman is a key component to the Clippers’ success or failure on the inside game. If Chris can perform like he did two years ago, we’ll be in good shape. If he can perform better than he did two years ago, we’ll be in really good shape.
Eddie & Co., need I remind you to not always pay attention to the media? After all, they had us picking Nick Young at No. 14, Dirk Nowitzki as last season's MVP, and had Detroit making it to the NBA Finals the last two years (oops!).
J.M. in Clawson, MI writes…
You’ve gotta put the car chase scene from Ronin in your top five car chase scene list somewhere. If you haven't seen the movie, rent it right now and watch. Robert DeNiro and Jean Reno kick some ass.
J.M.,
My bad. I’ll rent it this weekend and report back with any changes to my top five next week.
Speaking of top fives…
|
Buy Me Some Peanuts & Cracker Jack...
One of my many out of control hobbies is collecting baseball parks (i.e. going to games at all of the parks out there). Last Thursday I collected stadium No. 21 (demolished ballparks included) when my dad and I drove down the coast to see the San Diego Padres host the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. The Padres won 11-9 (boo!). I even tricked Rockies reliever Manny Corpas to give me a batting practice ball, then got it autographed by Ian Stewart (whose signature looks like this: I ^ #). Good times.
I have had serious rivalry hatred towards the Padres since 1996. That year, all the Dodgers needed was one win out of the last three games of the season against the Pads… at home… to win the NL West. Alas, they dropped three straight, settled for the Wild Card, and lost to St. Louis in the first round. The Dodgers haven’t been the same since (they haven’t even been quasi decent the last three weeks for that matter, but they’re starting to show signs of life again), and I have always blamed the Padres.
All that said… they have a seriously gorgeous ballpark! The question is, was it gorgeous enough to make my top five ballparks list? It’s a tough call… my criteria for a great park includes: quality of peanuts, overall atmosphere at a game, ballpark design, location within the city, history and the fans.
Of all of the parks I’ve visited (if you disagree, I just may not have made it out to your favorites yet…) are:
5. Comerica Park: Let’s face it, Tigers Stadium was a total dump. I went there once in college and I was forced to watch the game around a massive wooden beam. Oh joy. Comerica Park, however, is beautiful.
Pros: the water fountains in center field, peanuts (if you can buy them outside the stadium), the retired numbers in center field, the fans, Detroit’s downtown skyline (highly underrated in terms of skylines).
Cons: up until last season, the team, and the weather in April, May, September, October (if necessary)…
4. Dodger Stadium: my home away from home. I’ve been going to Dodgers games since I was an infant. While the stadium itself may be outdated compared to the newer ballparks; I have far too many memories here (including the ’88 World Series) for this NOT to be on the list.
Pros: the mountains in the outfield, the “Think Blue” sign behind left field, peanuts, history, I caught my only foul ball there.
Cons: Dodger dogs aren’t what they used to be, parking is abysmal.
3. It's a draw - Petco Park and Camden Yards: So many things about Petco Park reminded me of Camden Yards. From the brick buildings to the crazy mascots to having a former player be the face of their BBQ food, there were tons of similarities. Camden Yards is even walking distance from the birth place of Babe Ruth. Go figure.
Pros: Good BBQ, beautiful architecture, neat little monuments to retired players (Brooks Robinson in Baltimore, Tony Gwynn in San Diego).
Cons: both teams had or currently have really awful uniforms that they STILL SELL in their team shops.
2. Fenway Park: I went there pre-World Championship. The whole city shuts down for Red Sox games. Every store surrounding the park sells Sox paraphernalia, the parking signs around the park all say, “No Parking three hours before and after Red Sox games,” and the fans… well, you know all about the fans. My dad and I took the train in, got a beer and a burger at a local pub, then bought peanuts from a guy on Yawkey Way.
Pros: the oldest ballpark in history is still standing, the fans, the Green Monster (mascot AND the outfield), the history, the location, the peanuts are still the best I’ve ever eaten. Period.
Cons: this park is built for really teeny tiny people. I didn’t have any problems, but everybody else was packed in like sardines. This does NOT bode well for somebody trying to catch a foul ball.
1. Wrigley Field: From the El Train zooming off every ten minutes in right field to the Bleacher Bums to the old-timers band that walks around the stadium to the hot dogs to the Ivy to the old school scoreboard to the team pennants waving in order of division standing above center field… this is my most favorite ballpark. I can’t say enough about it. You have to experience this, even if it’s just to grab a beer at the Cubbie Bear across the street. The whole experience is phenomenal, the fans are hilarious, Ferris Beuller spent part of his day off here… it’s just wonderful.
Pros: everything.
Cons: riding the El with the other 41,000 people trying to get to the game at the same time.
(My dad, a White Sox fan retorts: "The dump has 41,000 seats and 40,000 of them have obstructed views. Not entirely inaccurate. But it is still the coolest and damn close to being sacred ground.")
I know I’ll get ridiculed by my Yankee loving friends for not including their park on this list, but… Yankees Stadium does not make the cut and mostly because, according to the peanut vendor guy, they “don’t sell salted peanuts until the Playoffs.” That and I hate the Yanks is almost as much as I loathe Ohio State football. Period.
Play ball, Clipper Nation. Until next time!
P.S. This week’s winner of the "Too Much Time On Their Hands" award is… Reggie Miller! Please don’t come back to the NBA, Reggie. Nothing but love and respect for you as a player, but… It was really hard work hating you as an opponent for 15 years; please don’t make me have to hate you again. Let people remember you for your years in Indiana… not a Michael Jordan-esque comeback.
Hey Clipper Nation. Give me something to blog about! Simply fill out the form below to give your suggestions, comments or questions. If you make me ponder or laugh out loud, your thoughts could be posted on Clippers.com! Read more of my blogs here.
We reserve the right to edit your suggestions, comments or questions for the sake of brevity or clarity.
By clicking on the "Send Message" button above, you agree that all materials you submit become available for unrestricted use by NBA.com and waive all rights to them. Submissions will not be returned. Please review the NBA.com's Terms of Use if you have any questions regarding making submissions.
