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Even when injured, EB's still the first guy at practice each morning. Noah Graham (NBAE/Getty Images)
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The Sand... It's Everywhere...
posted by Dena | October 3 @ 6:05 pm
Tim Thomas spent a good part of his summer vacation sunning and running on the beaches of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. He ran two miles a day in the sand, swam in the pools (he doesn't go in the ocean; he's afraid of sharks) and spent time with his wife and kids.
Taking a cue from Timmy, I decided to hit the sandy beaches of Santa Barbara at 7:00 am. I made it about a quarter of a mile.
Running in the sand is incredibly hard work. You have to maintain balance, be wary of rolling your ankles (yeah, did that a little) and use muscles in your legs you didn't even know you had. Then you spend hour upon hour removing half the beach from your shoes, socks and workout clothes (seriously, there's sand everywhere.). No wonder Tim says he's in the best shape of his life.
As I was crawling back to the hotel about 7:27 am, I noticed a very tall man with a boot on his leg was getting into a nearby car. You've heard stories about Elton Brand's work ethic, sure... but heading to the gym 90 minutes early for a 9:00 am practice? When he can't even actually practice? Now that's dedication.
In other news... you've probably heard by now, today the Clips' added guard Dan Dickau to the roster. Yesterday they also signed Donell Williams. There are now 18 players on the Training Camp roster (excluding Shaun and EB), and with only 15 total spots available, that begs to ask a very important question...
Josh Peters from Big Bear / Palm Desert, CA writes...
Just out of curiosity, I know the Clippers dont talk about contract information but I think I counted the Clippers having 18 active players on their roster. Anyway, the point I'm attempting to make in a not so eloquent way is... do Korolev, Douthit and Ffriend really have a shot at making the team? To make roster space for any other players, wouldn't they have to buy someone out? Thanks! And BTW, I love the blog! It really is a public service.
Josh,
First, that was very eloquently put. Second, you are certainly not the first person to ask this question.
Take this into account: Per the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, each team is required to carry 12 players on its active list and one player on its inactive list (which will replace the injured list). Teams may have a maximum of three players on their inactive list (subject to hardship rules, which will apply in the event that a team with three injured players on its inactive list has a fourth player that suffers an injury). Additionally, players sent to the NBA Development League will continue to count on a team’s inactive list.
OK. Including Shaun and EB, there are 20 players on the Clippers' roster. By the start of the season, it needs to be narrowed down to 15 max. Put Shaun and EB on the inactive list, you're down to 18, 12 of which will make the active roster. With the one inactive spot left, you've got 13 available spots for the 18 people officially playing during Training Camp. Five players will get cut before the Clippers' season begins on November 2nd.
As far as Korolev, Douthit and Ffriend go... All are good players; whether they'll make the cut is a different story. They all know theyve been given a golden opportunity to play on basketball's biggest stage, and that if they don't make the team, it's not personal, it's business.
The good news for them is that they will all see quality minutes during the Clippers' eight preseason games. Should they not make the squad, there are plenty of other coaches and scouts who will be watching that might offer them a spot on their roster down the road. Not all players will receive more than a ten-day contract or a spot on the Summer League roster, but exceptions are made.
All that (not so eloquently) said, do any of these guys have a legitimate shot at making the team? Of course. One of them will stand out more than the others. Whoever that happens to be, we'll find out before November 2nd. But if you watch the games during preseason, you'll probably get a pretty good idea of who it's going to be.
Hope that answers your question. Thanks for the kind words and keep writing in!
And now... more E-Mails!
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So... Many... E-mails...
J.J. LoDuca from Fullerton, CA writes...
Hey Dena,
I'd just like to know what my boy Kaman's been up to this summer. Lookin' forward to a monster season from him!
J.J.,
When I caught up with Chris back at the first Summer League practice on July 5th, he had just returned from a two-month long fishing trip with his dad and brother in Mexico. He had the sandal sunburn to prove it.
After that trip, he headed off to Vegas for Summer League games. He actually returned to Los Angeles a day earlier than the rest of the guys and immediately began a rigorous training and conditioning program. It's paid off too - lower back pain aside (still listed as day-to-day, by the way), he's in great shape. Look forward to a monster season from him, you just might get it!
Kent Estep from Los Angeles Retorts...
Doh! I forgot that some "school" in Lansing wears green as well! I can't claim to have anything in common with Paul Davis. But think green, a person somewhat shorter than Paul, red hair, funny hat, carries a four leaf clover and people are always after his lucky charms, oh and in the movie Airplane they sing our fight song. Our game with Michigan is over for this year, and it wasn't a happy outcome...
 Scalabrine |
Kent,
You just described Brian Scalabrine.
For the record, the outcome of your game with Michigan was good... for Michigan. Sorry for the mix up, Irish. Hail to the Victors...
Tamara from Los Angeles, CA writes...
Can we get the Matrix?
Tamara,
Why would you want to pursue somebody who's openly expressed a desire to play for that other Los Angeles team?
Mohamed Hariri from Burbank, CA writes...
Do you think the Clippers need another point guard or should they go after a big man?
Mohamed,
With 13 spots available and 18 guys vying for them... the roster's pretty set for right now.
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Day Two: Purple Flavor & Dancing
Yesterday I learned that the Gatorade flavor of choice for the majority of the team was Grape. Today I decided to find out what all of the fuss was about. Honestly? There's no other way to describe it except that it tastes like purple. Not that purple flavor is a bad thing.
That said, I did even more poking around and found out some more oddball tidbits of information about our guys. So today, I leave you with my list of the Top Five Things I Learned at Day Two of Training Camp:
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1. Tim Thomas hasn't jumped on the purple tasting Grape Gatorade bandwagon. The forward prefers the "old school" original (neon) Orange flavor.
2. The player with the smallest feet on the team is no longer Brevin Knight. His size 12 shoes, which were the smallest on the team yesterday, is bigger than both of Dan Dickau's shoes. Both, you ask? Check out fact number three.
3. Dickau has TWO shoe sizes. His left foot wears a size 10 1/2 and his right foot a 9 1/2! So when Nike sends him shoes, they send one pair of each size so that he'll have one pair that fits. CRAZY!
4. Tim Thomas claims to only have one dance move, therefore he can never perform on Dancing With the Stars. You've seen it often. He does that same move every time he sinks a three.
5. Cuttino Mobley does his part to save the environment by riding his bike the 1.5 miles from the hotel to the gym for each practice. The rest of the players carpool.
Hasta la vista. Baby.
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