2015 China Games

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Clippers in China

Clippers Take Part in NBA Cares in Shanghai, China

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Karen Song

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Photos: Jordan Brand in China

LOS ANGELES - For Doc Rivers, the trip to China wasn’t entirely about the present or preseason success.

It was less tangible than that, and more about the future and chemistry.
If the trip ends up yielding the results Rivers expects, the Clippers’ growth off the court from their week abroad will subsequently lead to a more cohesive and trusting group on it once games start to actually count down the line.

“This trip here has been good for us,” Rivers said. “I think for our team, you know, we have nine new players. Starting out in Shenzhen and coming to Shanghai, I think this has been a good unity trip for us. We’re going to different things together, we’re on the bus more together, we’re going to dinner together.

“I said this in Shenzhen, I think if things go the way we want them to go and we’re the champions, hopefully, we’re going to look back on this trip to China and say this is one of the main reasons that allowed us to come together. So this has really been a good trip for us.”

Rivers made those comments before the second preseason loss, but his tune didn’t change afterward. While he wasn’t pleased with the way the Clippers played on the court, he considered the trip a success from a team-building standpoint.

From Rivers’ trip to Tencent in Shenzhen, to the team’s trip to a Buddhist temple in Shanghai, the Clippers experienced things they wouldn’t have otherwise had they stayed back.

The trip to China began in Shenzhen, with the Clippers leaving on a Wednesday morning and not reaching their destination until Thursday night. After a few days to see the city and practice, the Clippers participated in the first ever NBA game in the city, which J.J. Redick called an honor.

“We had an incredible few days here,” he said. “It’s a great city, and the passion of Chinese NBA fans is great and it’s an honor to be part of this.”

Rivers called Shenzhen a fabulous city and described the experience as wonderful, and he had a similar take after going to Shanghai. That trip marked a return for many of the NBA veterans on the team.

Chris Paul, who regularly makes a summer trip to China, said he was excited to learn the Clippers would be heading to Shanghai.

“I make it a point to come every summer, because like I said, the fans have always been so grateful here to me in China,” Paul said. “It’s always a lot of fun. I’m very familiar. My wife came with me last summer, she’s here with me again this time, so I know my way around a little bit now.”

For those who aren’t as familiar with the city, they hope to become so in the future. Redick said he plans on vacationing in Shanghai after spending time in the city during this trip.

Jamal Crawford said he doesn’t take for granted when fans outside of the country know his name, which was the case in China.

“The love for basketball here is pure,” Crawford said. “It’s inspiring; it really is. I think it’s motivating.”

At a Fan Appreciation Night toward the end of the trip, Paul Pierce said it gave him chills to be among the crowd. The night didn’t even feature a game, and yet the entire arena was completely packed full of fans cheering at any opportunity, from dunk lines to 3-point contests.

While the on-court results weren’t what they wanted, the Clippers will look back at their experiences together in China as a positive.

“I think it allows you to team build sooner than it would if you were just at home,” Rivers said.

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Rivers: China Trip Brought Team Together

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Doc Rivers Postgame - 10/14/15

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Chris Paul Postgame - 10/14/15

Joseph Ibarra

SHANGHAI, China – From a team-building and cultural standpoint, head coach Doc Rivers thought the Clippers succeeded in what they wanted to do in China.

From a basketball results standpoint, that wasn’t the case, which was disappointing to Rivers as the Clippers fell Wednesday to the Hornets, 113-71.

The Clippers (1-3) dropped both preseason matchups to the Hornets (4-0) in China, the latter defeat a result of a 38-8 Charlotte run to begin the second half. Chris Paul (fractured finger) and Austin Rivers (mouth trauma) both returned to the court, but not much else went right for a Clippers group still working to find its rhythm with a plethora of new pieces.

While it didn’t reflect in the score until the second half, Doc Rivers thought the frustration set in much sooner.

“I thought it started as early as the first quarter,” he said. “I thought we came out the first four minutes, executed, played pretty well, but then we missed layups and wide open shots, and the frustration settled in.”

The game was tied at 16 when the Hornets went on a run toward the end of the first quarter to take an eight-point lead into the second quarter. That lead increased to 12 before Paul started taking over in his first game back from injury, beginning the night 5-for-5 from the floor despite the injury to his off hand.

“It’s seen better days, out there trying to play through it,” Paul said. “It is what it is. Luckily we get a few days of rest now.”

Paul ended the first half 5-for-6 with 14 points and four assists and finished the game with 17 points in his return to action. By halftime, Blake Griffin also had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, and he finished with 14 and 14, helping the Clippers cut an early double-digit deficit down to five points entering the second half.

Everything seemed to be shifting the Clippers way, but it didn’t take long for the positive vibes to vanish.

The Hornets outscored the Clippers, 29-8, in the third quarter, and the Clippers could only muster 20 points the entire second half. Missed jumpers and turnovers, many the result of trying to unsuccessfully draw contact on shots, led to a sloppy third quarter.

In the Clippers’ previous two preseason losses, they’d shot a combined 35 free throw attempts while letting their opponents shoot 64. It seemed they tried to change that, but the attempts were fruitless early in the second half, leading to uncharacteristic turnovers for the starting group.

The Hornets went to the line 39 times, while the Clippers only shot 22 free throws and hit 50 percent of those attempts. The Clippers finished with 22 turnovers, 15 of which came in the second half.

Doc Rivers said the Hornets, who are undefeated in the preseason, had a great summer with all the shooting help they added. That was evident Wednesday, as Charlotte went 14-of-25 from 3-point range.

After two games in China, the Clippers now return home to Los Angeles for the remainder of the preseason. While little went right on the floor, Doc Rivers hopes the trip to China will ultimately result in a success because of what it did from an off-the-court chemistry standpoint.

“Team building, it’s been great for us,” Rivers said. “We went to the Buddhist temple a couple days ago, I went to Tencent in Shenzhen. Our guys have been going out to different restaurants together and just enjoying each other. The one thing about going abroad for all teams, Charlotte as well, I think it allows you to team build sooner than it would at home, so mission accomplished there.”

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Paul, Rivers Return, But Clippers Lose In Shanghai

SHANGHAI - They made appearances nearly every day, many times more than once a day. They signed apparel. They took part in meet and greets, Flight Camp training sessions and an invitational, teaching kids the game of basketball.

They posed for photo opportunities. They took pictures with fans. They took pictures with Roger Federer. They took pictures with Michael Jordan.

It all just comes with the territory when two of the biggest names in basketball are part of the Jordan Brand and its monumental presence in China.

“Everyone can tell you that at some point in time they were in their backyard shooting a layup or dunking with their tongue out, acting like Michael Jordan,” said Chris Paul. “I think that’s what makes MJ unlike anyone else. My son, who’s 6 years old, never ever seen Michael Jordan play, could tell you that Michael Jordan is one of his favorite players.”

Paul and Blake Griffin are both Jordan Brand athletes, leaving their schedules fuller than any Clippers players in China. It’s something they were fully prepared for, and it’s a responsibility they respect knowing how few players get the opportunity.

“Over the years dealing with Jordan and kind of getting to know him, it’s somebody you look up to,” Griffin said. “He’s one of those guys that has that shine, I guess, that hasn’t gone away. Some guys, you really look up to them and now they’re commentating and you kind of lose that thing where you look up to them, but he’s one of those guys that obviously I’ll always respect.”

Together with the Hornets’ Kemba Walker and Cody Zeller, the four Jordan athletes went from appearance to appearance in Shenzhen and Shanghai discussing basketball, the brand and Jordan, who was also in China for the first time in a decade.

Swarms of fans came to greet Paul and Griffin anywhere they went. Yet Paul still said it doesn’t compare to how fans react to seeing Jordan in China.

“He’s the greatest of all time,” Paul said. “My dad was a big fan of Michael Jordan. Obviously me being from North Carolina, I was too. I remember staying up late every night trying to watch him and emulate him in the backyard.”

Paul also remembers the first time he had the chance to meet Jordan. He was in high school about to play in the All-America game, and at that point, Jordan was more a legend to him than a real person.

“Then when he actually walks in, I’ll never forget, we were about to take a picture and he knew what my name was,” Paul said. “That sort of blew me away. To have an opportunity to be with the brand, I have my ninth shoe now, MJ has given me so much advice. He’s been the best mentor you could possibly have.”

Paul and Griffin were rocking their new Jordan shoes everywhere they went. Paul’s now on to the CP3.IV, while Griffin has the Superfly 4s. They talked during Q&amp;As to fans about their history with Jordan, their desire to win and, of course, their shoes.

“The 9, CP3.IV, it’s my best shoe yet, if you ask me,” Paul said. “The performance aspect, the look of it, the comfort level, I’m excited about it. I was up on Nike ID the other night making about 15 pairs of my own shoe, just because it’s fun to see different colors come together. I’m really into it.”

Paul and Griffin have both been to China multiple times for Jordan appearances and obligations. With the Clippers part of the Global Games, this trip has been no exception.

They’re now veterans of the brand and all that comes with that responsibility, paving the way for newcomers such as Walker, who’s just now starting his life as a Jordan Brand athlete.

“I’ve been wanting to be a part of this brand for quite some time,” Walker said. “I grew up wearing Jordans all my life. I’m happy to finally get this opportunity to be a part of such a prestigious family.”