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E-News Sign Up2005 Clippers Training Camp: Day Four Recap
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After three consecutive two-a-day practices, the Clippers had a spirited morning workout which will serve as the only workout of the day. Through four days, Mike Dunleavy is pleased with the effort he had received.
“We had a great practice today. Guys are really picking stuff up and understanding each other a little better which is good to see,” said Dunleavy. “The guys are really competing out there. The chemistry has been great and guys are really helping each other out.”
The team has been scrimmaging a lot over the last two practice sessions. Last night, the “white team” consisting of Sam Cassell, Cuttino Mobley, Yaroslav Korolev, Elton Brand and Chris Kaman dominated play and won each of the games with Cassell knocking down numerous jumpers including two consecutive shots when his team trailed.
The change of day produced new results today as the “blue team” consisting of Daniel Ewing, Quinton Ross, James Singleton, Chris Wilcox, Zeljko Rebraca and Jared Reiner won a few games before the “yellow team” of Yuta Tabuse, Fred Vinson, Rodney White, Walter McCarty, Bonniface Ndong, Amal McCaskill and Jan Jagla won five consecutive games. All of the games were very competitive and the coaching staff was pleased to see the team consisting of the free agents trying to make the roster do so well.
“I’ve kept certain groups working together for a couple of days so that they can get to know each other’s games,” Dunleavy said. “After tomorrow night, we’ll change it up a little. I’ve been pleased with all the groups, one group that hadn’t won had a great day today and won three of the five games. They accepted the challenge and stepped up and did a nice job.”
While a few of the free agents have had some good practices, Dunleavy cautioned that it was too early to predict if any of them had a legitimate shot at making the roster.
“We’ve had a couple of guys play well, the question is can they sustain it over the next few days or take it to another level. It’s been too short a time to totally single them out but we should have a better idea after tomorrow’s scrimmage,” said Dunleavy of the free agents in camp. “If they play well then the next question is how long they can do this for and of course we will need to see how they play in (preseason) games.”
THE SAM FACTOR
One of the big reasons that camp has gone so well is presence of Sam Cassell who has set a great example for the younger players by being a vocal leader. He has also displayed the jump shooting and playmaking ability that has among the elite point guards in the NBA. There has been no mention of the trouble in Minnesota last season and the 12-year veteran has taking the Clippers to the playoffs as his main focus.
“It’s all about sacrifice. Winning is about sacrifice. That’s the thing I’m trying to bring to the team,” said Cassell. “I know what it takes to win, and I will say this the whole year, is trust. We’re getting to the point where Elton trusts on the pick and roll that I will get him the ball when he slips to the basket. Cat understands that when he’s on the wing in transition that I will get him the ball early. I have another guy in Corey who will trust me to get him the ball. It’s great. I have two thoroughbreds on the wings. We’ll get Corey to trust that if he’s going to the basket and doesn’t have it, that he has Cat and I trailing the play for an open jumper. He might average 19 (points) and six (assists). And win? That would be a hell of a season.”
One aspect Dunleavy and Cassell are trying to impress on the young roster is playing together and doing whatever it takes to win games.
“Nothing replaces winning. I don’t care if I average five points and win. Go to the playoffs, there ain’t nothing like it. That’s what I’m trying to bring to this team: sacrifice and trust.”
One area where Cassell excels is late in games where he among the most clutch shooters in the NBA. The Clippers struggled in close games last year and are glad to have both Cassell and Cuttino Mobley for late game heroics.
“I pride myself in not losing those types of ballgames. I understand what it takes,” Casell said. “I’m not going to be in a rush. Let’s get a rebound and get out on the break. I have Corey and Cuttino. Corey may slash to the basket or I may find Cat for a three in the corner and the score can go from seven up to 10. That’s a heartbreak play. That’s a play where the other coach will stand up and call timeout and you’re running back to your huddle and you’re feeling good about yourself. Mike’s feeling good about his team.
So as a master of winning close games, what does it take?
“You have to believe you will win. You can’t play well for 43 minutes and then get tight,” Said Cassell. “In the last five minutes, you need to say, ‘here it comes now.’ We have to be a great executing team. Winning games in the last three minutes is all about rebounding the ball and not turning it over.”
Playing for the Timberwolves last season, Cassell beat the Clippers with several clutch jumpers that went unmatched in the final three minutes in heartbreaking loss at STAPLES Center.
“Last year when we came back to beat them, you could feel them getting tight. Miss a shot and they all hung their heads,” said Cassell. “Then we made a shot and they really hung their heads. Then it was ours, game over.”
Cassell also left know doubt as to who would be the first option with the game on the line:
“Oh, you’re (absolutely) right!” said Cassell of taking shots in the final minute. “You better believe it!”
While he wants the ball in his hands down the stretch, Cassell went into detail on how playing together is what makes playoff teams.
“If my man scores on me, he doesn’t just score on me, he scores on our whole team. That’s the mindset I’m trying to bring,” said Cassell. “We can’t rely on Elton Brand to get 14 rebounds every night. Corey has to go and get five rebounds. Get it and go, and then I’m running the wing with Cat. In Minnesota, I had to go get the ball, because I was the primary ball handler. Here we have two other guys who can handle it. If they get the rebound, I’m gone. We have three guys who we can run the pick and roll so it will create problems.”
Cassell has been excellent in assisting Dunleavy with instructions for other players to the point where it seems that he too will find himself coaching an NBA team someday.
“I look at everyone on the floor. You can’t just know one position, you have to know all the positions. One guy breaks down, the whole play breaks down, so I need to know everyone’s position,” said Cassell of playing point guard. “You need to have a demeanor on the floor and tell people not where they should be at, but where they have got to be at. I’m not a “rah-rah guy.” You have to treat teammates differently. Like Kevin Garnett, you can talk crazy to him and that really motivates him and gets under his skin and he’s ready to play basketball. I can do that with Cuttino because he and I real good friends and I can push that button with him. If I think he’s not playing hard, I can walk right up to him and say it.”
In his first Clippers training camp, Cassell is enjoying playing for Dunleavy and his first week as a Clipper.
“If Mike feels like we’re out of shape then he’ll let us know. He’s been fair. There is a difference from this year to last year. If we aren’t executing then we’ll run. If we aren’t having a good practice then he has the right to tell us to run and I’ll be the first one to get on the line,” said Cassell. “Right now, we’re having competitive practices. Some games the (first) team is controlling the scrimmages. Some games we’re getting (beat) and Mike really likes that about this ballclub.”
As a former guard himself, Cassell says Dunleavy understands the game from a similar mentality and it has been an easy adjustment so far.
“Mike has let us figure things out and that’s what a coach should do. Over the last two years, he hasn’t had guys here who can figure stuff out,” Cassell said. “If a team goes on a 7-0 run, I don’t want him to have to call a timeout. We can figure it out ourselves. That’s part of winning basketball. He can say, ‘I’m not wasting a timeout, figure it out.’ ”
Cassell has figured a lot out in his NBA career including how to overcome bad games.
“It’s an 82 game season, so we’ll all have bad games. If you’re having a bad game, what else can you do? If the ball isn’t going in the basket, what else can you do? You can still win basketball games if you’re not scoring 20 points a night,” said Cassell. “You need two guys on the team to score 20 points a night. Some nights it might be Corey and Elton. Some nights it might be Cat and myself.”
Still only days in and without Corey Maggette and Shaun Livingston in scrimmages, Cassell thinks the Clippers have the makeup of a playoff team. But he cautions that saying it and doing it are two different things.
“No one is going to give you anything. This league doesn’t care of this team doesn’t make the playoffs for the next 20 years,” said Cassell. “But if we make it, you know that will do? Now Elton can walk through LA with his head up. Corey can walk through LA with his head up.”
50 ON THE WAY
Forward Corey Maggette will join the team for tomorrow’s practices after a successful result in a family medical emergency. The team and coaching staff is excited to mix in Maggette with the first unit that has been playing so well together.
“He’s behind right now, but I’m going to welcome him here with open arms and I’m really looking forward to playing with him,” said Cassell of Maggette’s arrival. “He’s definitely a big part of out scheme. He will get and create shots for us.”
Dunleavy is also excited to get Maggette in camp and is challenging his small forward to raise different aspects of his game this season.
“The things we talked about after last season were his ball handling skills and passing,” said Dunleavy. “Defensively he has the ability to stop people and has a great body so it’s a part of his game he needs to focus in on. Both Corey and Cuttino should be able to defend real well. On defense, I don’t need you to hit the home run, I just need you to stop people.”
INJURY REPORT
- Corey Maggette will rejoin the team Saturday but missed today’s workout due to a family emergency.
- Shaun Livingston (sore back) once again participated in all non-contact drills but no timetable has been set for his return to full action.
- Zeljko Rebraca (patella tendonitis, left knee) participated in contact work.
