Official Game Thread: Hawks at Clippers

[lethalweapon3]

“Soon to be known as, ‘The House That Lamar Odom Built!’”

 

The Kandi Man couldn’t.

The prized rookie, a first-overall pick, was already out of commission, after getting injured the night before in Inglewood, California versus Shaq and Kobe. Also DNP’d due to injury was the franchise face – a second-year player.

So it wasn’t a huge surprise when the Atlanta Hawks sailed into The Pond in Anaheim and drowned the LA Clippers in a vat of stifling defense. Atlanta only hit two of seven three-point tries that February evening, took just three more free throws than the hosts, and allowed five more O-Rebs. The Hawks also managed to score just 103 points. Yet they still vice-gripped the Clipper offense into a paltry, even for the time, 74 points.

The 29-point-loss was LA’s worst, to that point, of the season. The good news, thanks to the NBA Lockout, was that the delayed 1998-99 season was still young, just 12 games in. Then again, maybe that wasn’t such good news, as this 12^th consecutive loss dropped the Clips to 0-12 before a crowd of under 12,000 spectators. Perhaps the lack of attendees paying to watch was a good thing. Then again…

“We can’t point to injuries. We have to suck it up and step up,” blurted Clippers head coach Chris Ford to the LA Times. “You have to have a passion for the game and hate to lose.” Previously, the 1988-89 inaugural Miami heat had set the NBA record for consecutive in-season futility, at 17 games, one above the sad-sack Clipper franchise mark of 16 that kicked off 1994-95.

The ’99 Clips would go on to tie Miami’s all-time ignominy, with yet another loss at the Lakers’ Forum in Inglewood. It took all they could muster, back home in front of under 8,000 “fans” at Los Angeles’ staid Memorial Sports Coliseum, to keep Vlade Divac’s sad-sack Sacramento from helping them have the losing-streak record all to themselves.

In between the 16-game and the 17-game skids, owner Donald Sterling was doing all he could to pressure Los Angelenos into investing in a new basketball palace, for the franchise he brought north from San Diego.

The Lakers, and UCLA, moved out of the Memorial Sports Arena way back in the mid-1960s. The Lakers were doing more than just fine in their next residence, at The Forum over by LAX in Inglewood. Comparatively, winning Danny Manning and Danny Ferry in the 1980s Lotteries didn’t improve the Clippers’ fortunes, or turnstile activity, in the 1990s. Neither would dishing off Manning to Atlanta in 1994 for a rental of All-Star legend Dominique Wilkins. Maybe the arena, Sterling thought, was The Problem.

The NHL’s new Mighty Ducks of Anaheim had a lovely new indoor venue, The Pond, and Sterling threatened to make a splash by moving his club to The OC in the outer ‘burbs, as co-tenants with the Ducks, before abruptly changing his mind. The LA Kings’ new hockey owners demanded a new arena to pry themselves of the Lakers’ shadow in Inglewood. After contentious affairs, the city obliged, with a new stadium to be built a couple miles north on Figueroa Street from the Clippers’ old Memorial arena.

Sterling needed a state-of-the-art arena, too, to make his club look state-of-the-art. But after moving out of San Diego, was he willing to risk his team having to become the Musty Clippers of Anaheim? Eventually, he worked a deal to join the Kings in the forthcoming STAPLES Center. LA! Check. Downtown! Check. Only problem? The Lakers would be heading there, too.

The good news was the Clippers’ attendance, 29^th out of 29 teams, immediately doubled in the first season at STAPLES. The bad news was the old attendance value was so low, the Clips only moved up one spot, to 28^th in the league. At least they had Clipper Darrell still toughing it out, through thick and thin.

One quarter century, and a couple weeks, after Deke and Mookie and Smitty made quick work of Lorenzen Wright and friends, Hawks-Clippers games at STAPLES (Crypto.com, if you’re nasty… 9:30 PM Eastern, no, really on Bally Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL this time, KTLA, NBATV everywhere else) come to an end tonight. A LOT has changed for the Clippers in that time. Then again…

Up in the rafters, there’s the Kings, with two Stanley Cup-winning banners. Look behind the curtain during Clipper games, and there are the six NBA Championship banners, to tack onto what was the Lakers’ first 11, pre-STAPLES. There are three more title banners, for the WNBA’s Sparks. The Clippers? Well, they’re working on it. Give ‘em a minute, jeez!

Nique, for his cup of tea, was inducted into the Clippers’ Hall of Fame in 2006, joining Moses Malone (???), Bob McAdoo and Bill Walton. But no Clipper jersey numbers, aside from Bill Russell’s #6, hang from those rafters in an honorary manner. There will be some future candidates on the floor today, although James Harden (questionable, strained shoulder) may be unable to join Kawhi Leonard and Paul George on the court.

Key members of the Clippers 2010s era, that brought the franchise hype and relevance as Kobe moved into retirement, will have their unis hoisted one day in Steve Ballmer’s new palace. But the current Clippers caretaker has designs on bringing another rafters ornament with him to open up Inglewood’s new Intuit Dome next fall.

Walking out of STAPLES this summer with a trophy the Hawks’ opponents tomorrow have coveted since winning one in the Bubble in 2020 would have Ballmer’s cardiologist on-call for months on end. To do that, of course, will require the upright and productive contributions of Messrs. George, Harden and Leonard at playoff time. Getting Russell Westbrook (Out, fractured hand) back in time is mission-critical as well, though Bones Hyland (career-high 11 assists plus 4 steals @ CHI on March 14) is doing the best he can after finally getting minutes from coach Ty Lue.

The chances will heighten even more if the Clips (42-24) can sneak up on either of OKC or Minnesota to secure a Top-3 seed in the Western Conference. As they did, with Harden and Westbrook in tow, in piling up the points on February 5 in Atlanta during their thrilling 149-144 win, the Clippers have feasted mostly on sub-mediocre teams of late, defeating the Bulls twice over the past eight days. Pairs of games versus Portland and short-staffed Philadelphia, ought to help pad the win tally into the 50s, something that has alluded LA since 2017.

But splitting the past ten games, including Friday’s 112-104 loss at New Orleans and an 18-point loss at STAPLES versus Minnesota, won’t help achieve the Prime Objective, of walking out of this building as NBA champs.

Atlanta (29-37, three straight Ls) could be a pesky stumbling block for the Clips tonight. But that is only if coach Quin Snyder, taking a flyer from Ford, implores his injury-laden troopers to suck it up and step up.

Back when they had Trae Young, Onyeka Okongwu and Saddiq Bey all starting, the Hawks forced Harden into going Super Saiyan in the clutch to eke out the victory. Atlanta could have hung on for the win with a stronger performance from Jalen Johnson (3-for-14 FGs, team-high 7 rebounds, 5 assists vs. LAC on Feb. 5), whose defensive rebounding and persistent rim pressure in his second game back from an ankle sprain (4-for-15 2FGs, but 26 points in Friday’s 124-122 loss @ UTA) will be key to the Hawks keeping pace for four quarters tonight.

Perhaps the Clippers will finally break through at this season’s end, giving Clipper Darrell a reason to lead with his chin when he takes his seat along The Wall of superfans-only at the new arena next fall. Then again…

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

The Bearded One missing Thursday's game at Chicago due to his strained shoulder, as The Athletic's Law Murray noted, snapped a string of 59 consecutive appearances, Harden's longest run since 2017. Kawhi has recovered after leaving last Tuesday's loss at Minnesota due to back spasms, while center Ivica Zubac is back after missing a pair of games last week due to illness. Norman Powell (contused leg), along with Harden, is Questionable for today.

Bogi (missed UTA game due to illness) is off the Boo-Boo Report and is Available.

Speaking of San Diego, the Clippers plan to keep it classy by moving their G-League side to suburban Oceanside and renaming themselves the San Diego Clippers. No more "Agua Caliente," and I never knew where Ontario, CA was anyway.

 

~lw3

[Spud2nique]

48 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Bogi (missed UTA game due to illness) is off the Boo-Boo Report and is Available.

love me some brate!  

 

48 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Speaking of San Diego, the Clippers plan to keep it classy by moving their G-League side to suburban Oceanside and renaming themselves the San Diego Clippers.

Nice! Somewhere Michael Cage is rejoicing!

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Comparatively, winning Danny Manning and Danny Ferry

I honestly can’t think of a team making 2 worse decisions with 2 high picks and that includes us with Marv and Shelden! Just horrid held them back for years. Mark Jackson, Harper and company turned it a bit early 90’s but not much. Remember they took the Rockets to a 5 game series in the first round of the 93 playoffs but Akeem and company went on to capture their first of two rings.

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Manning to Atlanta in 1994 for a rental of All-Star legend Dominique Wilkins.

Yes I may be the only owner of a Hawks Clipps jersey when ordering one in November of 93! Delayed 2 months comes back a Clipps Nique jersey  

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Let’s Go Hawks!

Thanks lw3! 
 

Clipps fav by 9.5  o/u 221.5

 

GO HAWKS!!!!

[lethalweapon3]

~lw3

[Spud2nique]

24 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

~lw3

UCLA’s finest being out helps a bit. Anything helps at this point. Let’s get a W! 

[NBASupes]

Did Matthews just block that Kawhi 3  

[NBASupes]

Bruno almost brought the house down 

[hawkman]

1 minute ago, NBASupes said:

Bruno almost brought the house down 

He's playing really physical down low on both ends.

[hawkman]

The Hawks are taking the fight to the Clippers on their own court. Clippers look a little rattled.

[Marvin24Williams]

Clippers playing like a retirement team 

[TheNorthCydeRises]

4 minutes ago, hawkman said:

He's playing really physical down low on both ends.

He knows his role.

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Here's where I hate Quin's set rotations in the first half. He could've let that group go for another 2 - 3 minutes.  Ride the hot lineup.

[hawkman]

Heck yeah Wes!

[TheNorthCydeRises]

2 minutes ago, TheNorthCydeRises said:

Here's where I hate Quin's set rotations in the first half. He could've let that group go for another 2 - 3 minutes.  Ride the hot lineup.

Good job by the Mat(t)hews Bros

[TheNorthCydeRises]

DJ with 7 dimes already. It helps when people can make jump shots

[NBASupes]

They play much more in tune without Trae. Just the offense is hit or miss. Tonight, they making their shots. Other nights, brick house.  With Trae, the offense is FAR more consistent. 

The biggest difference is its not easy to Pick on no one off the ball and since LA is also a drop coverage team like us, we know how to exploit it. 

Everyone is playing well tonight and the effort is so good tonight 

[NBASupes]

Capela on a short roll dime to Bogi. Capela coming alive tonight 

JJ diming 

[NBASupes]

This team is clicking on both ends

Bogi was too open for that 3

[NBASupes]

Clint dominating Zubac