OFFICIAL LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 2024-2025 SEASON THREAD

[shoeking2102]

There's no reason to lose by 42 points. Preseason, regular season, it's never a good look and it's pretty alarming that it happened. 

This team has looked awful in the preseason thus far and while it is preseason, we looked terrible in the preseason last year and took about 12 games in the regular season before we kicked into form. Started the season out 7-5 last two seasons and ended up in 3rd in the west both seasons.

If we're serious about contending for a title this year we've got to get out of that third seed and a big part of that is jumping out of the block strong which is why this is FAR from the ideal way you want to look with the season around the corner. The W's and L's at this point don't matter but they legit look terrible. 

What's most troublesome is how bad the 2nd unit is. It's pretty frightening how our "depth" has translated thus far. Wesley Johnson has looked the best out of our wings for that starting 3 spot and I would like to see him w/the starters. 

 

[lawdog1]

^^^ Not going to lie, I'm concerned. Its not that we have 3 preseason Ls, but how they've looked in those losses. And, yes, the 2nd unit has been a huge disappointment. Doc either has to try a different line-up or change his philosophy with doing a complete line-change during games. Really feel like he should consider always having either Blake, CP or DJ in the game.

 

[shoeking2102]

^^^ Not going to lie, I'm concerned. Its not that we have 3 preseason Ls, but how they've looked in those losses. And, yes, the 2nd unit has been a huge disappointment. Doc either has to try a different line-up or change his philosophy with doing a complete line-change during games. Really feel like he should consider always having either Blake, CP or DJ in the game.

This is looking more and more apparent. 

 

[shoeking2102]

Let's not overreact either. The game was essentially even until the start of the 2nd half when it got away.

It's still the preseason. To say that this isn't working so far in the preseason would be accurate. To say it won't work this season is premature.

My point was just that it is preseason, so you can't overreact. However, you for sure can't be dismissive over that china trip and there are things that should be looked at critically as the season approaches.

 

[Chester McFloppy]

 

[lawdog1]

Let's not overreact either. The game was essentially even until the start of the 2nd half when it got away.

It's still the preseason. To say that this isn't working so far in the preseason would be accurate. To say it won't work this season is premature.

My point was just that it is preseason, so you can't overreact. However, you for sure can't be dismissive over that china trip and there are things that should be looked at critically as the season approaches.

I hear you. I'm trying not to overreact and there's still a few more preseason games left to go, so we'll see what happens. I still like our roster overall, I'm just a bit dubious of whether the Lance/Austin/Jamal/PP/Josh line up can work consistently. I don't think its balanced enough with guys who have complimentary, rather than overlapping, skill sets.

 

[shoeking2102]

Really g? Take this patronizing ******** to the season thread 

 

[Chester McFloppy]

I have a feeling we'll see good things this season!

 

[shoeking2102]

I hear you. I'm trying not to overreact and there's still a few more preseason games left to go, so we'll see what happens. I still like our roster overall, I'm just a bit dubious of whether the Lance/Austin/Jamal/PP/Josh line up can work consistently. I don't think its balanced enough with guys who have complimentary, rather than overlapping, skill sets.

Well that lineup is why I don't have us winning it all this year.

Championship teams have championship type players and ultimately, it appeared (even before preseason started) that we had too many non championship type guys within our rotation. Guys that just wouldn't be found on championship rosters. We were strapped though, so these were gambles we had to make.

And essentially all championship teams make these gambles. Making good on your buy low guys is what wins championships, and we'll see if the 2nd unit turns the corner, but as it stands it doesn't appear that that'll be the case come regular season.

 

[HIM]

I higly doubt the roster will look like this come playoff time. One of Jamal/Lance/Rivers has to go and I'm think it will be Jamal.

Can't wait for the regular season to start. It's sl difficult watching preseason games for me. A lot of guys are obviously either going through the motions or trying to work on a specific part of their game. Not really fun to watch for me.

 

[shoeking2102]

These became our official alternate unis today

 

[lawdog1]

These became our official alternate unis today

View media item 1749869

Right now, the uniforms are by far my favorite thing about that picture. Hope the player inside the uniform gives me reason to like him too. So far, not so much.

 

[shoeking2102]

Right now, the uniforms are by far my favorite thing about that picture. Hope the player inside the uniform gives me reason to like him too. So far, not so much.

Well played 

 

[shoeking2102]

Vinny D sounding off on us 

 damn

 

[lawdog1]

Vinny D sounding off on us   damn

Can't really blame VDN for going off on us a bit. A lot of people, including me, were saying he was one of the things holding us back and we haven't really gone any further under Doc than we did under Vinny (unless you count going 6 and 7 games in the conference semis instead of getting swept).

 

[wavycrocket]

Those black jerseys are fire as expected

 

[HIM]

I could be wrong but I thought we never won a second round game under. Sure, you can say we haven't advanced beyond the 2nd round but there's a difference between losing in the 1st/getting swept in the 2nd vs actully competing in the 2nd round. We were embarrassed in the Spurs series


He is right tho. Doc needs to stop talking **** until we do something.

 

[lawdog1]

I could be wrong but I thought we never won a second round game under. Sure, you can say we haven't advanced beyond the 2nd round but there's a difference between losing in the 1st/getting swept in the 2nd vs actully competing in the 2nd round. We were embarrassed in the Spurs series


He is right tho. Doc needs to stop talking **** until we do something.

That is correct. Under VDN, in 2012, we beat Memphis in round 1 and got swept by the Spurs in round 2. In 2013, we got bounced by Memphis in round 1. We've been to the second round both years Doc has been here and lost in 6 and 7, respectively, with blown chances to either take commanding leads in the series or close. So, yeah, we're better under Doc, but not as much as I would have hoped.

 

[shoeking2102]

That is correct. Under VDN, in 2012, we beat Memphis in round 1 and got swept by the Spurs in round 2. In 2013, we got bounced by Memphis in round 1. We've been to the second round both years Doc has been here and lost in 6 and 7, respectively, with blown chances to either take commanding leads in the series or close. So, yeah, we're better under Doc, but not as much as I would have hoped.

Man Vinny D got robbed IMO his last year man.

We're up 2-0 on memphis and if Blake doesn't badly sprain his ankle there's no telling how far that team could have gotten IMO. Deepest team in the CP / Blake era.

Then again, I was an irrational Vinny D supporter 

Regardless, from a results standpoint we aren't much better than when Vinny was at the helm, but as a team we're much better. DJ is much better. CP is actually a bit better under doc. As a team we're Much more sophisticated offensively under doc. One of those things where the results don't tell the whole story. 

 

[HIM]

Lawdog I wasn't coming ar you just to be clear lol. I was talking about how smig VDN was with his "they haven't done any better, they cant blame me" comment.


VDN was the dude who would bench DJ for the entire fourth quarter during playoff games. Also, someone posted a statistic + video evidence of just how bad VDN was at drawing out of bounds plays and how much we've improved under Doc.


I don't even think Doc is that great of a coach but I think he is better than VDN. If nothing else, he helped DJ develop instead of hindering him.

 

[lawdog1]

Lawdog I wasn't coming ar you just to be clear lol. I was talking about how smig VDN was with his "they haven't done any better, they cant blame me" comment.


VDN was the dude who would bench DJ for the entire fourth quarter during playoff games. Also, someone posted a statistic + video evidence of just how bad VDN was at drawing out of bounds plays and how much we've improved under Doc.


I don't even think Doc is that great of a coach but I think he is better than VDN. If nothing else, he helped DJ develop instead of hindering him.

Thanks for the clarification, but I didn't think you were coming at me. And so I'm clear, I definitely would rather have Doc than VDN. I was just saying I can see where VDN is coming from when he's critical of the Clippers. I don't agree with him, but I understand why he's saying what he's saying.

Doc is a good, not great, coach. I think he's capable of leading this team to a title though. He does need to stop talking so much, however. Like, he shouldn't be commenting at all on GSW right now. Just worry about your own team, Doc.

 

[shoeking2102]

 
Ben BolchVerified account‏@latbbolch

Doc Rivers on tiff with GS: "I’m surprised how sensitive they are about it. They are the champions, so they should just be the champions."

Put a muzzle on Doc, pls

 

[lawdog1]

Put a muzzle on Doc, pls

Co-sign 1000%. Guy really talks way, way too much.

 

[wavycrocket]

Embrace the hate

Doc is speaking as a championship coach. He's been there before. The rest of the team hasn't, so it looks bad. He does need to shut up a lil though. Season can't get here soon enough.

 

[shoeking2102]

I hate how doc is talking but at the same time, I kind of like it though 

 

Only from the standpoint that it adds to the rivalry. Legit rivalries where teams legit hate each other make things heated which in part makes the games when they do meet hella turnt