Gameday Haiku
Bargnani shooting,
Chris Bosh throwing down monstrous
dunks; oh me on my.
First Look
Raptors are starting its long west coast road trip tonight at Los Angeles.
From what I have seen, the Raptors are the best 2nd tier team behind the East's big 3. Their record does not reflect this, just 4-4, with some tough losses. Without Eric Gordon, the Clippers are really in disarray at the wing positions. Butler/Thornton combo is simply too weak against other NBA starting combos. The Clippers catch a break today with the Raptors starting Demar DeRozan who is not of NBA starter quality yet.
- Clipper bigs will be lost.
Bargnani is taking five 3s a game while making close to half of them. Bosh will also be shooting an array of midrange/outside jumpers. Kaman and Camby simply won't be able to defend them on the perimeter. Hopefully Kaman will be able to muscle up Bargnani inside.
- Jose Calderon
He is not having the kind of statistically driven season that we are used to seeing the past two years. He has uncharacteristically missed a few free throws and is shooting far below career norm from the field. His assists numbers are also down due to Hedo Turkoglu's influence. Having Hedo means taking the ball out of Calderon's hand. This has brought his average from nine assists per game to six. He is reduced to spot up duty on many possessions. Jarrett Jack signing the full mid-level exception with the Raptors also mean Calderon's playing time is reduced.
- Baron Davis
For the Clippers to have any chance of winning, we need a big game from Bdiddy that we really haven't seen since his addition to the team. Davis has played fine so far and looked to be enjoying his job. Let's hope he can step up to night and be the star he once was.
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Gameday Haiku
Hornets buzz by us
Here comes Durant with Thunder
I sense hopelessness
First Look
Oklahoma City is a top defensive so far this season. They even held the Kings to 101 at Sacramento last night. Without Eric Gordon, Clippers really don't have much firepower against the Thunder. Kaman should have a bounce back game against inferior defenders but Butler and Thornton won't get many opportunities against OKC's athletic perimeter players. The Clippers are unlikely to regain their hot shooting start and with Butler at SG, Coach Dunleavy will look to lower the attack pace.
So look for a low scoring game tonight in the 80s.
Kevin Durant
He hadn't shot well so far this season, but he went for 37 points, 18-18 at the strip last night. He averaged 28points against us last year in four games.
Russell Westbrook
He is still averaging a ton of turnovers after leading the league in this category last year. Currently at 55assist:32turnovers. His field goal percentage is up but he is still not much of a long range gunner, at 31%.
Oklahoma City is allowing an average of 82.3 points on 38.8 percent shooting in four solid defensive games, going 3-1 in those contests. However, the Thunder are yielding 102.3 points on 50.2 percent shooting in losing its other three.
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Gameday Haiku
Grizzlies in da house,
Give me Mayo on EJ.
Let us win three straight.
Post Game Notes
The Clippers came out flat and Gay lit them up. Rasual Butler got the start again while Kaman continue his early season tear. The Grizzlies handed the game over in the fourth quarter by repeated making silly fouls leading to freebie free throws. Butler, Baron and Kaman all missed some free throws in the end giving Gay a last second shot attempt to tie the game. Definitely need a better performance at home for any playoff chances.
- It seems like Baron is happy this year. Smiling and joking after assists and passes leading to shooting fouls. This bodes well for our playoff chances.
- Rudy Gay shot the lights out in the first half; he also shot the Grizzlies out of the game in the fourth quarter. How do you think Mayo feels about Gay taking 20 shots to his 12?
- Craig Smith is a beast. He is good for the Clippers's moral and just overall hustle and effort. He is certainly a player that can be part of a team to turn this miserable franchise around. 18 points including his first career three and 5 rebounds in 22 minutes.
- Rasual Butler needs to shoot better. He bricked quite a few open threes in the fourth. 6-17 is bad no matter how you slice it.
First Look
I have a hunch that Clippers will be Clippers tonight. That means somehow wasting all the momentum from the last 2 wins. Please prove me wrong!
Things to watch for:
Chris Kaman vs Marc Gasol
Neither will be able to stop the other from scoring. Kaman's length should bother Gasol just a little that he won't get over 20 points. I think Kaman will continue his midrange hot stroke to start the season so look for him to win this match-up.
Rebounding
Clippers is a fairly weak rebounding team, especially on the offensive side. While Memphis is the best team in this category and pulls down 15.2 offensive rebounds per game. If Kaman and/or Camby gets in foul trouble, yikes.
Zach Randolph
He will be a handful tonight. Camby simply doesn't have the weight and will be pushed. Z-bo will also step out for a jumper whereas rendering Camby ineffective.
Allen Iverson
He won't be playing tonight, or anytime soon.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4633226
Other Previews: Clipsnation | Straight Outta Vancouver
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**I am happy to announce that this write-up has made it on to a main stream sports website!
The NBA season finally got underway and some surprising players are already putting up monster stats. Scroll down for Week 2 pickups.
While LeBron, Kobe, Dirk are putting up top 15 stats, there are some other real surprises.
Stars with an awesome week
Carmelo Anthony, F, Denver
You probably saw Melo shoot the lights out in all three games so far. He shot 54 percent from the floor, 88 percent on free throws and 37 PPG will get it done. He's also getting good rebound and assist numbers against just six turnovers.
Rajon Rondo, PG, Boston
He has 47 assists plus 10 steals in four games. Add 56 percent field goals and 20 rebounds to that and Rondo is really rewarding those who drafted him early.
Andrea Bargnani, F/C, Toronto
Thus far, he's putting up 22 PPG, more than two threes, with awesome efficiency numbers. Look for this to continue all season. Capable of being a top-30 fantasy player.
Shooting Stars
Channing Frye, F, Phoenix
Ridiculous shooting numbers so far, going 6-for-10 in threes in one game. You definitely want him on your team, and he's only owned in 57 percent of Yahoo! leagues. He can single-handedly carry your team's three-point need all season and add in some decent rebounding numbers. Think last season's Troy Murphy with more threes, but half the rebounds.
Danilo Gallinari, G/F, New York
Even more threes than Frye, yet only 70 percent owned so far. He should be owned in all leagues simply because the volume of threes he'll be taking (and making). Definitely capable of shooting 42 percent from long range, but he's one-dimensional and won't contribute elsewhere. His shooting percentage is bad for a forward.
Andray Blatche, F, Washington
Draining mid-range jumpers at a 72 percent clip. That'll definitely slide, but he should be a good source of blocks and rebounds as long as either Caron Butler or Antawn Jamison aren't in the lineup.
Monster Numbers
Marc Gasol, C, Memphis
Only 80 percent owned? Pick him up NOW! RIGHT NOW! There were concerns about Gasol getting enough touches with all the newcomers on the Memphis squad, but he's put up 20 PPG plus 11 RPG in three games. He'll shoot an awesome percentage from the stripe, and the field goal percentage is likely to be 55 percent-plus. He'll provide double-digit scoring and rebounding in addition to the great percentages. Turnovers might be a concern, but it should be less than three per game.
Chris Kaman, C, L.A. Clippers
Perhaps getting overshadowed by other top performers this week. He has 22 PPG, 10 RPG, 1.8 BPG with career averages of 50 percent field goals and 74 percent free throws. He's certainly capable of 15 and 12 with two blocks as seen in 2007-08 season. It's just a matter of if he's interested in basketball. Right now, the answer is yes.
Marcus Camby, C, L.A. Clippers
Puts up some gaudy scoring numbers with his usual boards and blocks. Sell high soon, as come December he won't be getting the same playing time.
Youngsters taking flight
Louis Williams, G, Philadelphia
Not getting the same attention as Frye or Danilo, but he put up big scoring numbers with just two turnovers in three games. He won't continue to shoot 63 percent, but 17 PPG-plus and 1.5-plus steals can be had. Check if he's still available!
Aaron Brooks, PG, Houston
Shouldering the scoring load for Houston, he has 22 PPG and eight APG so far. We should expect 18 PPG, 6.5 APG this season. Look for his shooting average to be closer to 43 percent than the current 49, though. He'll be a great source of threes and steals all season, but you have to take his turnovers too, which will hover over three.
Worthy mentions of non-superstars
Al Horford, C, Atlanta
Brook Lopez, C, New Jersey
Grant Hill, F, Phoenix
Marreese Speights, C, Philadelphia
Gilbert Arenas, PG, Washington
Trevor Ariza, G/F, Houston
Andrew Bynum, C, L.A. Lakers
Ryan Anderson, F, Orlando
Mario Chalmers, PG, Miami
The Poopy List (Disappointing Stars)
Jose Calderon, PG, Toronto
Monta Ellis, G, Golden State
Stephen Jackson, G, Golden State
Anthony Randolph, F, Golden State
Derrick Rose, PG, Chicago
Charlie Villanueva, F, Detroit
Baron Davis, PG, L.A. Clippers
Fallen Stars (Injured)
Pau Gasol, F/C, L.A. Lakers
Antawn Jamison, F, Washington
Devin Harris, PG, New Jersey
Mehmet Okur, C, Utah
Nate Robinson, G, New York
Caron Butler, G, Washington
Josh Howard, F, Dallas
Richard Hamilton, G, Detroit
Vince Carter, G, Orlando
Solid Pickups
Ryan Gomes, F, Minnesota
Very solid for points, rebounds and threes. Won't hurt your team in the shooting categories. Definitely deserves a spot in any standard 12-team roto league.
Brendan Haywood, C, Washington
Should be owned already. Playing the Pacers and Suns back-to-bacl late in the week. Should definitely be a good play for those two.
Ben Wallace, C, Detroit
Getting lots of playing time. The steals, blocks and rebounds are there. The free throws ... well ... have never been there.
Cory Brewer, G/F, Minnesota
Managers looking for steals and blocks should take a look at Brewer. He'll even throw in a few threes to help.
Good Luck and beat your friends or win money(or both)!
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Rating: +2 (from 2 votes)
The first four games of the season have been very disappointing. I really was optimistic to start the season despite Griffin's injury. Now, not so much. 40 wins is out for reach and 30 seems tough too. I am normally not the pessimistic type but I really dislike the way the Clippers are playing as a team. They do have a soft schedule ahead so hopefully the team will pick up the intensity.
- Baron Davis sat out the fourth quarter.
Baron played horribly all throughout the four games and did not do much today. Although I am somewhat encouraged by the fact that Coach Dunleavy stuck with the bench for once, I really don't see the Clippers pulling off a tight game with their best players on the bench. Despite his poor play, Baron is the player who can come in and close the game and this is something Telfair cannot do.
- Al Thornton sucks
Terrible defense on Dirk. Looking lost and letting Marion lose. Black hole on offense. Nothing new here, move along.
- Chris Kaman 3.0
Kid from Michigan averaging 22/10 against Bynum, Phoenix centers, Okur, Dampier.
- Box Score Oddity: Rasual Butler
26 minutes, 1 point on 3 shots.
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From what I have seen, the Raptors are the best 2nd tier team behind the East's big 3. Their record does not reflect this, just 4-4, with some tough losses. Without Eric Gordon, the Clippers are really in disarray at the wing positions. Butler/Thornton combo is simply too weak against other NBA starting combos. The Clippers catch a break today with the Raptors starting Demar DeRozan who is not of NBA starter quality yet.
Chris Kaman vs Marc Gasol
