Clippers!

[Tetge]

I watched the first Clipper pre-season game and some of a couple of the Laker games, and, the Clippers looked pretty good if I compare them to the Lakers. Of course, it is pre-season, and who knows what will happen. But, the Clippers are a pretty good looking team and they have a genuine coach, so, it is pretty obvious that they will finally win it all this year. As for the Lakers? They are now, just that other team in LA.

[jhwalker]

It could be interesting. It is difficult to think of the Clippers as anything other than the team that will find a way to screw it up. Plus the pressure of people actually expecting them to do something could be difficult.

And the Laker coach had a real break-thru -- he said something like "I don't really like 2 bigs playing together but Pau and Kamen (?) look pretty good together".

So he might still be able to learn...

How many more games do you think that the Clips will win than the Lakers this year? I say the Lakers win more without Kobe than with him. Unless he comes back SO injured that he has to play a team game.

[Tetge]

It could be interesting. It is difficult to think of the Clippers as anything other than the team that will find a way to screw it up. Plus the pressure of people actually expecting them to do something could be difficult.

And the Laker coach had a real break-thru -- he said something like "I don't really like 2 bigs playing together but Pau and Kamen (?) look pretty good together".

So he might still be able to learn...

How many more games do you think that the Clips will win than the Lakers this year? I say the Lakers win more without Kobe than with him. Unless he comes back SO injured that he has to play a team game.

Kobe, at this point, may be a major distraction and even disruptive to ultimate team chemistry but, if he his rehab has worked, he still could be a big time scorer, especially since he, in spite of all that I dislike about him, is very driven to succeed and, he will have a major challenge and something to prove to motivate him. But, the other experienced players are team players, not gunners, and Kobe demands to be THE star.

As for the Clippers? Who knows, but, at the moment, they have a lot of talent and a decent coach. So, there is a chance that they will get things right, and, it is a long season and other teams could have injuries, etc. It is always difficult to pick a winner in all pro sports due to the uncontrolled variables such as season ending injuries to one, or more, key players, and all the other things that can remove players from the game. But, the Clippers looked better than the Lakers, in their first pre-season games. And, I am not impressed with the Laker's coach.

[Norman Perez]

Wow! Never saw you as being a fan of basketball! I played it for about 15 of my life until I really got into motorcycle racing.

[jhwalker]

Wow! Never saw you as being a fan of basketball! I played it for about 15 of my life until I really got into motorcycle racing.

I was still playing in 2 open city leagues at age 45. Icing my knees 4 nights a week, playing 2 nights. I finally tore up a knee so badly that it was just not fun anymore.

Tetge, did you ever play?

[Tetge]

Wow! Never saw you as being a fan of basketball! I played it for about 15 of my life until I really got into motorcycle racing.

I was still playing in 2 open city leagues at age 45. Icing my knees 4 nights a week, playing 2 nights. I finally tore up a knee so badly that it was just not fun anymore.

Tetge, did you ever play?

We had a hoop in the yard when I was young and I also had a hoop in my yard when I lived in the Valley and was still married. I played in half and full court pick up games for many years, until the strains of playing started to cause nagging injuries and until other considerations about the time involved entered into the picture. I had a lot of faults with my game, since I had a bad habit of passing the ball, which generally meant that I never saw it again. And I was not particularly quick or tall. But, I didn't mind running, when playing basketball only as I otherwise hate running, and I liked the fast pace of the game. I was also really old school and I had these funny ideas about traveling and palming the ball and all. But, basketball is still my favorite sport by far, and I sometimes like to watch a good contest on TV, even if the game is not even close to the old school game that I prefer. I have also been a Clipper fan for a long, long, time. Perhaps it was because they were such underdogs?

[jhwalker]

I would make a few changes to the current game. Make the dunk a 1 point shot, or raise the basket to 12 feet which would make them rare.
Call carrying the ball. This would have to be phased in over at least 3-4 years, and called at all levels, starting with the 5-6 year old kids who are tought that it is ok.

It would be terribly hard for some of the players, some might have to leave the game, but these guys are smart and after giving up the ball 4 (40,400) times in a row, I'd bet they would learn.

Call the travel again, which would be part of the carrying cure -- most of the 3-4-5 step carries are possible because the ball is being carried (sometimes like a football tucked away).

Move the 3 pt line out 2 more feet where only the real shooters can cash. It is certainly better than the college chip shot, but too many chumps are hitting the 3.

Punish thuggery more severely, don't let the thugs eliminate the skilled players. Not sure exactly how, but thuggery is like hard-core porn, you know it when you see it.

Off to a day of fun in Mexico.

[jhwalker]

Hated to see it today. It seemed that the Clips forgot that they are better. Plus I pull for the Clips when my Lakers are not playing them. Yes, I am still a Laker fan, as a couple of bad years (with a couple more coming) does not alter all of my years of loyalty.

[Tetge]

I was very disappointed in the way the Clippers played since they made a lot of stupid errors and fouls. I also thought that the refs may have not been as good as they should have been. But, as a Clipper fan, I have to believe that the entire team just had a very bad day, and that they will bounce back and take the series from SF, since the Clippers have the deeper and more talented team. And, perhaps this loss will be part of a learning process for the Clippers, as they definitely need to be tougher and more disciplined if they want to have any chance at a championship.

[jhwalker]

I was very disappointed in the way the Clippers played since they made a lot of stupid errors and fouls. I also thought that the refs may have not been as good as they should have been. But, as a Clipper fan, I have to believe that the entire team just had a very bad day, and that they will bounce back and take the series from SF, since the Clippers have the deeper and more talented team. And, perhaps this loss will be part of a learning process for the Clippers, as they definitely need to be tougher and more disciplined if they want to have any chance at a championship.

Just listened to the coach, and he is still positive. Oops, that was the coach for the Raptors...

The Clips should wrap it up and move on. Not diddle around.