August 06, 2006
JOE STEVENS: How do you rate these moves?
It's been a bit since I've posted, but, hey, basketball season is still a long way away... Anyway, I'm trying to figure out how to rate the Clippers' offseason moves. They re-signed Sam Cassell, got TIm Thomas to replace Vladimir Radmanovic -- and, well, those are the key moves...
Can they get better next year without making a major move? What do you think??? I tend to think the big key to improvement might rest with how Corey Maggette recovers from his injury-plagued season, but who knows???
In other news, this time from the NBA goes by quickly. You got the draft, summer league, free-agent signings, then training camp at the beginning of October. And 82 games, that is not nearly enough. Why not increase the schedule by 20?
Posted by Joe Stevens at 09:08 PM | Comments (0)
May 13, 2006
JOE STEVENS: Skeletor is the MVP
Before the Clippers met the Suns in Game 3, I was driving to Staples Center, listening to sports talk radio. First of all, that’s a mistake right there.
Sports talk radio usually lulls listeners into simplicity worse than Barney, the purple dinosaur. I actually would bet I’d have a better conversation with Barney than 98 percent of those on the sports radio circuit, and I don’t think Barney speaks.
Anyway, I heard on the talk radio, the idea that the Clippers could feasibly make it to the NBA Finals. Now, with the Clippers losing a tight Game 3, I wonder if people are talking about the Clippers being bounced in five games.
The point here is how knee jerk so many people are about sports. Who knows what will happen? The facts are this: The Clippers and Suns look pretty even to me, and this should continue to be a tight series – unless the Clippers drop game four, then forget about it….
In other news… I notice that Steve Nash looks a lot like Skeletor from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Well, maybe, he doesn’t look spooky and menacing like Skeletor. But he does have a bony face. If I didn’t know what he does, I’d guess he were a smoker.
Staples had an odd feel to it on Friday, a lot like a Laker game, not nearly as much energy as the first round against Denver.
I can’t put my finger on why it felt that way, but my theory is that a lot of ``fans’’ who actually could afford tickets weren’t true Clipper die-hards. Bruce Willis (who starred in several Die-Hard movies), David Duchovny and Gary Shandling – those guys got star power, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen them at a Clipper game until Friday.
Posted by Joe Stevens at 01:00 AM | Comments (2)
May 09, 2006
JOE STEVENS: Working on their ``strategery''
President Bush calls it ``strategery.'' Or maybe that's Will Ferrell doing Bush.
Anyway, the Clippers certainly need better ``strategery'' against the Suns in Game 2, if they have any shot at beating the fast-paced Phoenix team.
With my apologies to Allen Ginsberg, I saw the best offensive performance by Elton Brand wasted in a loss. And I saw 59.3 percent shooting wasted in a loss, too. I believe Ginsberg's quote is ``I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness.'' Somehow that popped in my head, seeing that the Clippers scored 123 points the other night yet still lost.
Am I too pessimistic to predict the Suns to win in six games? Tell me why I'm right or wrong. Let it rip....
In other news, I am certain that the Phoenix Suns' Gorilla is the best mascot in sports. I like the Gorilla for an array of reasons: 1) He has nothing to do with the team name, Suns, 2) he rides a motorcyle, and 3) he wears shades indoors.
I used to believe that only jerks or blind people wore sunglasses inside. My belief has been expanded to jerks, the blind and simians.
Posted by Joe Stevens at 03:53 PM | Comments (2)
May 01, 2006
JOE STEVENS: Hallway yelling and Donkey Kong
As I walked down the hallway of Staples Center after the Clippers won their playoff series on Monday, I heard one Staples employee vehemently arguing, ``What about all the championships? I'll tell who the REAL team is.''
It's on. It's on like Donkey Kong. (I'm not sure what the phrase means, by the way, but I like it. I guess if you said, `It's on. It's on like Frogger,' that wouldn't sound as good.)
Of course, the Lakers still have to win 1 of 3 games against the Suns to hold up their end of the bargain to present L.A. basketball fans with as intriguing as a series as can be. But with Kobe Bryant, they should be able to do that, and then, if anything, it will be a fun, fun, fun series for all. Right?
In other news, I was wondering why the Clippers don't have more nicknames. Cuttino Mobley is ``Cat.'' Elton Brand is ``EB.'' Chris Kaman is ``K-Pax,'' ``Tom Petty,'' actually he has a lot of nicknames. But the other Clippers don't. Any suggestions for nicknames for these guys??? Let me know.
Posted by Joe Stevens at 11:21 PM | Comments (6)
April 28, 2006
JOE STEVENS: Whistle mania, Mimi and the X-Man
One thing I believe about sports journalism is that a writer should hardly ever focus on officiating. Winners and losers alike always have a beef with calls, and in theory, the calls even themselves out in the long run.
In Game 3, though, there were just too many to not focus upon. Sixty-eight fouls in a 48-minute game. That game was brutal to watch. If I were a casual fan, I'd flip from TNT and try to find Celebrity Poker. You never know what that Mimi Rogers is thinking.
Without them flat-out saying it, the Clippers believe they are better than the Nuggets. I think they're right, so the big question is if they have enough poise to actually beat them. Game 4 will be key and a chance for the Clips to re-assert their authority.
Another thing I believe about sports journalism is that making predictions is fruitless. Yeah, maybe the Clips will take control in Game 4, or who knows? Maybe they're still too inexperienced to do that....
In other news, my dream of playing Dunleavy in one-on-one, hunting down a Web cam and creating the Web site, www.joebattlesdunleavy.com, will not come true. The coach says his left knee prevents him from playing, and there will be no battle.
However, the coach said he would play me in H-O-R-S-E. Shooting happens to be my speciality, but Dunleavy once led the NBA in 3-point shooting. I have no chance. I know this guy back East simply known as ``The X-Man'' who could give him a run for his money. The X-Man is psychologically one of the best shooters in the history of the game. With every shot, he yells, ``Short!'' And all of the shots undoubtedly fall.
Posted by Joe Stevens at 10:49 AM | Comments (18)
April 25, 2006
JOE STEVENS: Corey clarifications and, yowsers, an insurmountable lead
Before I delve into the "We are the Champions'' type of feelings that Clipper fans must have with their heroes up an insurmountable 2-0 lead over Denver, I must clarify a couple stories I've written about Corey Maggette.
To say that Corey's playing time is not an issue with the team is inaccurate. The guy was the leading scorer last year, and he's played 14 and 17 minutes in the first two playoff games for a total of 31 minutes. He averaged 36 minutes per game in the previous two seasons.
I wrote a couple stories pointing out his diminished time, and those were not prompted by comments by him. They were prompted by merely noticing the diminished time. A few readers felt the stories questioned his character, and that was not their point. He is sincere about wanting to do everything he can to help team chemistry, and the first story on the subject caused a lot of stress to him. But one cliche says that winning heals all wounds, so, well, the Corey issues aren't quite the biggest issues in Clipperland nowadays.
The biggest issue is, voila, the team is up 2-0 and is on its way to winning the first playoff series in Clipper history. I jest, of course, when I say this lead is insurmountable. But if they can shut down Carmelo Anthony again, like they did in the first half in Game 2, maybe it could be.
OK, in my last entry, I tried to ask readers who they thought was most instrumental to the Clippers' turnaround. One response, from someone named Slav, gave that honor to Elton Brand. One response? The low turn-out saddened me. The drops on this blog are my tears.
Let me use this entry as more of a Clipper enthusiast's public service. If there were any questions you'd want to ask any of the Clippers, what would they be? If they are interesting enough, I just may use them and come back with responses for y'all.
Posted by Joe Stevens at 12:48 AM | Comments (7)
April 23, 2006
JOE STEVENS: Are Clipper fans in heaven?
Clipper fans might have to pinch themselves, wondering if this truly has happened. Yes, it is reality. The Clippers have won a playoff game for the first time in 13 years. Yowsers, that's a long time to go. What were you doing in 1993?
Well, here's my question, blog reader. Who deserves the most credit for the Clippers turnaround?
I invite responses. Actually, I YEARN RESPONSES. Even if you just type in one name, please do. Make a stand. Don't say it's a combination of things. Who deserves the most credit - Elton Brand, Sam Cassell, Mike Dunleavy, Elgin Baylor, The Donald himself or somebody entirely different? Tell me what you think, Clipper Nation.
Posted by Joe Stevens at 12:36 AM | Comments (2)
April 21, 2006
Joe Stevens: The playoffs are new for everybody in Clipperland
This is my fifth year covering the Clippers, and so Saturday will be the first Clipper playoff game I've covered. I have written about the Lakers' run with Shaq and Kobe, but never about the Clippers in the postseason. These playoffs are new for everybody in Clipperland.
What I am most interested to see with the Clippers in the playoffs are two things 1) Do expectations matter? and 2) How much does experience count?
If we discover that those two things are the most important factors, the Clippers could be doomed. They haven't been to the playoffs in nine years and have never advanced in Clipper history. There can't be expectations for them to advance. And as far as postseason experience, Denver has much more.
My prediction on the series is "Clippers in six,'' but I actually believe one of two things will happen, and that pick was a compromise of that belief. I believe the Clippers could roll over Denver like they did in the regular season and win in five, or I believe this will be a dog-eat-dog, rock 'n' roll, rough-and-tumble series that goes seven games. If that happens, it will be a coinflip to see who wins.
The playoffs are new for Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, Chris Kaman, Shaun Livingston, Q Ross and more. How will they respond?
Clipper playoffs are new to me. How will I respond? Check out the Daily News and Press-Telegram for that answer. Got a story on Mike Dunleavy in Saturday's papers. I yearn to accept his challenge, play him in one-on-one and take the spotted 18 points in a game to 20. Not sure he would accept that because, well, he is 52, and I am younger.
If that one-on-one challenge ever goes down, look out Internet, I'm hooking up a Web cam, and you could watch us battle at www.joebattlesdunleavy.com.
Posted by Joe Stevens at 08:09 PM | Comments (0)