Posted:
#1
This Clippers team must be gassed, demoralized and running on fumes, on this road trip from hell. On the road for 8 straight games (4 in 5 nights when they face Dallas), down 3 players (Blake, Baby, Redick), losing each game by a bigger and bigger margin 102-100, 105-94, 123-107, 131-108, guys getting technicals and fines and accusations of sexism thrown at them (I bet they can't wait to get home) and now they face a Dallas team looking for revenge for an earlier loss 120-100 in LA.
Meanwhile, the Clippers face the prospect of losing 6 in a row (if they lost tomorrow and at home against Houston) before the all star break. I can't see the Clippers winning this one, though anything is possible in the NBA. In the past, Carlisle would push the pace against teams on back to backs, and this would be the perfect opportunity to run the Clippers ragged. Also, ever since the Rondo trade, the team has gotten more defensive minded but they are slowly starting to go back and play the way they were playing before Rondo arrived. Watching today's game, it seemed as though the more tired the Clippers got the more their defense broke down. But Doc's hands are tied, he doesn't have enough quality players to throw out there, so he is wearing out his starters:
"As much as the Clippers miss Griffin and Redick's offensive contributions, it's their defense that's letting them down as much as anything. After holding Toronto to 19 first-quarter points in building an early 15-point lead Friday, Los Angeles has allowed 235 points in its last seven quarters.
It's also been outrebounded 148-102 in the last three games.
"We've got to be consistent on defense, no matter who's out there," Matt Barnes told the team's official website. "All it takes is effort. You don't have to be the best defensive player, you've just got to play hard."
But playing hard is becoming harder and harder for the undermanned Clippers.
The line is at -8.5 and the total at 210...
0
Hot Forum Topics
