Clippers Chart 11.15.09

One mid-season, Phil Jackson (Hall of Fame coach of the Bulls and Lakers) was asked to gauge the performance of his Bulls team that went 72-10. Jackson said he doesn’t react after a big win or loss but rather look at what the team did over the last 10 games. Like a moving average of the stock market you can see the direction the team is going in. After their first 10 games the Clippers (3-7) chart would look something like this:

The Clippers opened up with 2 sets of back to back games against playoff contenders. Rookie sensation Blake Griffin was injured on the final pre-season game with a cracked knee bone and would be out the first 20 games. Although these were 4 tough games in 5 nights the Clippers had a chance to win all of them. There was always a quarter where they gave up too many offensive rebounds or sloppy turnovers. They lost to the Lakers, Suns, Jazz and Mavericks and were in need of re-grouping and re-energizing.

A three game set against the Timberwolves, Warriors and Grizzlies was just what doctor ordered. After finally winning their first game the Clippers had a well needed 3-day rest and blew out the Warriors in Oakland. Although there was turmoil for the Grizzlies as Alan Iverson went MIA, they put up a good fight to the end but the Clippers prevailed for their 3rd win in a row and one win away from getting back to .500 for the first time in 3 years. The injury bug hit the team though as Eric Gordon was diagnosed with a strained groin and would be out at least 6 games.

Feeling good about themselves the Clippers had a great chance to even their record facing a Hornets team in disarray. Chris Kaman was named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week and talks of making the All-Star Team was brewing. The Hornets had just been blown out by the Lakers and Chris Paul sprained his ankle just before half-time. Then the unthinkable happened… the Hornets proceeded to get any shot they wanted and pretty much made most of them. They outscored the Clips by 17 in the 3rd quarter and that was that.

Next came the young Thunder team from Oklahoma City led by rising star Kevin Durant. The game was close throughout then the power outage came in the 4th quarter where the Clippers only scored 10 points. A few mistakes at the end and Durant popping at the baseline for the game winning shot sealed there second loss in a row. And just when you think it can’t get any worse comes the game against the Toronto Raptors. Up by 22 in the first period and pretty much rolling to an easy victory, the Raptors started clawing back and after finally got the game tied in the 3rd. Then another terrible 4th quarter happened where the Raptors outscored them 30-15. Early in the season but a low-point already that they have to shake off.

An evaluation of the first 10 games would be that the Clippers are a decent team with a deeper bench than they have had in years. Injuries to Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon have affected them in that it is obvious they need to be at full strength to compete throughout the game. Chris Kaman is deserving of All-Star talk and will likely average 20/10 for the season. What the Clippers need to fix is their inability to keep the opposing team off the offensive glass and play with the free flow energy that Baron Davis is trying to play with. That is what Blake Griffin will bring when he gets back. Griffin has shown that his non-stop energy is infectious and will definitely help this up-and -coming team. It’s early in the season but they need to right the ship and learn how to win as a team. After their 3-game winning streak they were in the top 5 of the Western Conference. Now they are twelfth and 2.5 games out of the last playoff spot.

Grade after 10 games: D

Tags: Baron Davis, Blake Griffin, Chatterbox, Chris Kaman, Eric Gordon, Kevin Durant