Clippers: Gregg Popovich
LOS ANGELES -- It seems like so long ago now that the Clippers put together their most memorable performance of the 2012 playoffs, a massive first-round comeback in which they pulled out an improbable 99-98 Game 1 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Three weeks ago today, the Clips did the unthinkable in Memphis, coming back from 27 points down and 21 at the end of three quarters to upset the Grizzlies. That victory buoyed L.A. into a series win and propelled them into a second-round matchup with the San Antonio Spurs, which has been decidedly less competitive.
Now, down 3-0 to the Spurs after Saturday's demoralizing come-from-ahead loss, the Clippers will essentially have to repeat their Memphis miracle for four straight games to stave off elimination.
That process begins Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at the Staples Center, where Game 4 is set to tip off between the two teams -- assuming the earlier Los Angeles Kings' hockey game doesn't go into overtime and cause a conflict.
The sense of urgency the Clippers displayed in the fourth quarter of Game 1 and throughout Game 7 is exactly the same sort of energy they need for Game 4. Basically, the entire roster has to be desperate to win, or the Clippers are going to get swept.
Three weeks ago today, the Clips did the unthinkable in Memphis, coming back from 27 points down and 21 at the end of three quarters to upset the Grizzlies. That victory buoyed L.A. into a series win and propelled them into a second-round matchup with the San Antonio Spurs, which has been decidedly less competitive.
Now, down 3-0 to the Spurs after Saturday's demoralizing come-from-ahead loss, the Clippers will essentially have to repeat their Memphis miracle for four straight games to stave off elimination.
That process begins Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at the Staples Center, where Game 4 is set to tip off between the two teams -- assuming the earlier Los Angeles Kings' hockey game doesn't go into overtime and cause a conflict.
The sense of urgency the Clippers displayed in the fourth quarter of Game 1 and throughout Game 7 is exactly the same sort of energy they need for Game 4. Basically, the entire roster has to be desperate to win, or the Clippers are going to get swept.
LOS ANGELES -- San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has seen Chris Paul play enough times over his seven-year NBA career to feel comfortable declaring that Paul hasn't been himself this series.
Speaking following the Spurs' 96-86 win over Paul and the Clippers on Saturday at the Staples Center, Paul's third straight poor performance of the series, Popovich indicated his team has been lucky to go against Paul at less than his best.
“I don’t know what Chris will say, but I don’t think he’s 100 percent Chris Paul,” Popovich said. “I’m looking at him, and I know that kid. I know how he can play, and he’s not 100 percent.”
Popovich isn't the only one who thinks that. Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro has admitted that both Paul and forward Blake Griffin are battling injuries accumulated in the first-round series against Memphis, although he has steadfastly refused to speculate on the severity of either player's ailments.
For his part, Paul is trying to keep his strained right hip flexor at a low profile. Told of Popovich's comments in the locker room afterward, Paul interrupted an inquiring reporter and denied anything of the sort.
"I'm playing," he said. "I'm good. I'm good. I'm just not playing well, I gotta play better."
The first part of that is obviously true, and most would say the third part is as well. But the second is debatable. If he's indeed feeling "good," then how can you explain his three-game averages of just nine points and five-plus turnovers this series?
You can't, really. Outside of maybe San Antonio's overall dominance, Paul's struggles have been the single biggest reason why the Clippers have lost three straight to the Spurs in convincing fashion.
It's hard to win a playoff series against a top-seeded team when your top player is playing like a below-average one.
Speaking following the Spurs' 96-86 win over Paul and the Clippers on Saturday at the Staples Center, Paul's third straight poor performance of the series, Popovich indicated his team has been lucky to go against Paul at less than his best.
“I don’t know what Chris will say, but I don’t think he’s 100 percent Chris Paul,” Popovich said. “I’m looking at him, and I know that kid. I know how he can play, and he’s not 100 percent.”
Popovich isn't the only one who thinks that. Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro has admitted that both Paul and forward Blake Griffin are battling injuries accumulated in the first-round series against Memphis, although he has steadfastly refused to speculate on the severity of either player's ailments.
For his part, Paul is trying to keep his strained right hip flexor at a low profile. Told of Popovich's comments in the locker room afterward, Paul interrupted an inquiring reporter and denied anything of the sort.
"I'm playing," he said. "I'm good. I'm good. I'm just not playing well, I gotta play better."
The first part of that is obviously true, and most would say the third part is as well. But the second is debatable. If he's indeed feeling "good," then how can you explain his three-game averages of just nine points and five-plus turnovers this series?
You can't, really. Outside of maybe San Antonio's overall dominance, Paul's struggles have been the single biggest reason why the Clippers have lost three straight to the Spurs in convincing fashion.
It's hard to win a playoff series against a top-seeded team when your top player is playing like a below-average one.
Video: Paul, Griffin talk Game 3 loss
May, 19, 2012
May 19
5:12
PM PT
By Pedro Moura | ESPNLosAngeles.com
LOS ANGELES -- Here's video from the Los Angeles Clippers' Chris Paul and Blake Griffin after their 96-86 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the teams' second-round series at Staples Center on Saturday afternoon.
Paul did not come to the podium and spoke briefly in the team's locker room before making a quick exit. He denied any nagging injuries were the reason why he's played so poorly against the Spurs and said the Clippers might as well try to win four straight games now, even though it has never been done before.
Speaking at the podium, Griffin was complimentary of the way the Spurs won Saturday's game, and especially complimentary of Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich's coaching style. If nothing else, he said, this series will be a good learning experience for the Clippers going forward.
Paul did not come to the podium and spoke briefly in the team's locker room before making a quick exit. He denied any nagging injuries were the reason why he's played so poorly against the Spurs and said the Clippers might as well try to win four straight games now, even though it has never been done before.
Speaking at the podium, Griffin was complimentary of the way the Spurs won Saturday's game, and especially complimentary of Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich's coaching style. If nothing else, he said, this series will be a good learning experience for the Clippers going forward.
LOS ANGELES -- It's been more than a month since the San Antonio Spurs have lost a game.
In that 32-day span, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan & Co. have gone 14-0, beating opponents by an average of more than 17 points per game. They've won as many games by more than 25 points -- three -- as they have by single digits.
Suffice it to say, San Antonio has been hot. And now the Los Angeles Clippers, having snuck by the Memphis Grizzlies in Sunday's Game 7 at the FedEx Forum, will play them in the Western Conference semifinals, beginning Tuesday in Texas.
It'll be a challenge, one that will go a long way toward shaping the public perception of Chris Paul's first season in Clipperland. If the Clippers somehow get by the Spurs, the year will be anointed a success, regardless of what happens in the next round(s).
But if they don't -- and, worse, if they get swept -- opinions will likely be somewhat split. Some will say coach Vinny Del Negro did enough to keep his job, considering the injuries and fast-paced schedule his team had to deal with over the past five months. Others will say he didn't, considering the two stars he had at his disposal and the bevy of other talent assembled for him during the 2011-12 season.
So, while we wait for that question to be answered, can the Clippers actually win this series?
What to watch: Clippers-Spurs
March, 9, 2012
Mar 9
11:53
AM PT
By
Arash Markazi | ESPNLosAngeles.com
Clippers (22-15) vs. San Antonio Spurs (26-12) at AT&T Center, 5:30 p.m. PT
Five storylines to track:
1. Tailspin: On its own, Chris Paul’s ill-fated pass to San Antonio Spurs guard Gary Neal for a game-tying three-pointer three weeks ago (which led to the Spurs' improbable comeback win) would have been bad enough, but what has transpired since then has been even harder for Paul and the Clippers to swallow. Since Feb. 18 the Clippers have lost six of nine games including their last two on the road. Not only are they losing games but much like they did against the Spurs, they are relinquishing late leads and losing close games. In fact, their last three losses have been by a combined five points with their last two losses being decided by just a single point.
2. The list: Longtime Clippers announcer Ralph Lawler goes up to Paul before every game in which the Clippers have an especially long losing streak against the opponent or in a building where they haven't left victorious in years. It was something Paul had asked Lawler to do earlier in the season when he was continually asked about the team's long losing streak against, well, everyone. Lawler won’t have to remind Paul of the streaks today, he has already heard them this season. The last time the Clippers won in San Antonio was 2002 and they’ve only won their once since 1997. The Clippers have also only beaten the Spurs two times overall (both in Los Angeles) since 2003. The Spurs beat the Clippers, 115-90, in the second game of the regular season back on Dec. 28.
3. Spurs connection: Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro is still a beloved figure in San Antonio, having played there for six seasons of his 12-year career. In fact, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich still uses Del Negro’s name to this day when he is coaching his team. “We actually have one thing on defense we call on the pin downs where we say we’re going to ‘Del Negro’ it and that’s in his honor and we’ve done that for 15 years,” Popovich said. “We have a ‘Del Negro’ defense out there because he couldn’t play a lick of D. At times we had to invent something just to hide him so we call it ‘Del Negro’ and you do certain things on the court and everybody has to make up for that guy who’s the ‘Del Negro’.”
4. Playoff seeding: Entering their game three weeks ago, the Clippers and Spurs were essentially tied for the No. 2 seed but since then the Spurs have held on to the second spot in the West while the Clippers have dropped to the No. 4 seed, mere percentage points ahead of the Lakers at No. 5. Despite winning 20 of the past 21 meetings with the Clippers, Popovich would rather have to face the Clippers in the postseason. “They’re a real physical team. They have a real edge. I love the edge that they have,” Popovich said. “They’ll knock the hell out of you and continue to play. It’s not just dunking the basketball but it’s knocking the hell out of you on cuts, grabbing at you and making the referees make calls, rebounding and going after it. That’s the first impression I get with these guys. Now they have the head to go with all the talent with Chris, obviously. I don’t know if there’s a better leader on the court or somebody who knows what the hell is going on at this particular time or this score or with this much time on the clock or this situation. He understands all those things intuitively and that’s a hell of a talent to add.”
5. Griffin effect: Clippers forward Blake Griffin had 28 points and 17 rebounds in the Clippers’ loss to the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday but rolled his left ankle late in the game. He will, however, start Friday against San Antonio. Popovich said the Spurs have to be aware of Griffin in transition and make contact with him early. “If you let him run free you have no shot because Chris or Mo [Williams] is going to find him and they’re going to throw it up in the air he’s going to go up in the air and you can’t get there,” Popovich said. “So you have to maintain contact with him in transition at all times. In the half court, you have help people. Do you want him going to the rim or do you want him to hit a jump shot. It’s something he works on all the time and he’s going to get better and better but given a choice you’d rather have him shooting a 20-footer than taking it the hole and you don’t have to be a genius to figure that out and he knows that and that’s why he works on his shot. Once he gets that down, he’ll be impossible. He’s ridiculous now but he’ll be impossible.”
Five storylines to track:
1. Tailspin: On its own, Chris Paul’s ill-fated pass to San Antonio Spurs guard Gary Neal for a game-tying three-pointer three weeks ago (which led to the Spurs' improbable comeback win) would have been bad enough, but what has transpired since then has been even harder for Paul and the Clippers to swallow. Since Feb. 18 the Clippers have lost six of nine games including their last two on the road. Not only are they losing games but much like they did against the Spurs, they are relinquishing late leads and losing close games. In fact, their last three losses have been by a combined five points with their last two losses being decided by just a single point.
2. The list: Longtime Clippers announcer Ralph Lawler goes up to Paul before every game in which the Clippers have an especially long losing streak against the opponent or in a building where they haven't left victorious in years. It was something Paul had asked Lawler to do earlier in the season when he was continually asked about the team's long losing streak against, well, everyone. Lawler won’t have to remind Paul of the streaks today, he has already heard them this season. The last time the Clippers won in San Antonio was 2002 and they’ve only won their once since 1997. The Clippers have also only beaten the Spurs two times overall (both in Los Angeles) since 2003. The Spurs beat the Clippers, 115-90, in the second game of the regular season back on Dec. 28.
3. Spurs connection: Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro is still a beloved figure in San Antonio, having played there for six seasons of his 12-year career. In fact, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich still uses Del Negro’s name to this day when he is coaching his team. “We actually have one thing on defense we call on the pin downs where we say we’re going to ‘Del Negro’ it and that’s in his honor and we’ve done that for 15 years,” Popovich said. “We have a ‘Del Negro’ defense out there because he couldn’t play a lick of D. At times we had to invent something just to hide him so we call it ‘Del Negro’ and you do certain things on the court and everybody has to make up for that guy who’s the ‘Del Negro’.”
4. Playoff seeding: Entering their game three weeks ago, the Clippers and Spurs were essentially tied for the No. 2 seed but since then the Spurs have held on to the second spot in the West while the Clippers have dropped to the No. 4 seed, mere percentage points ahead of the Lakers at No. 5. Despite winning 20 of the past 21 meetings with the Clippers, Popovich would rather have to face the Clippers in the postseason. “They’re a real physical team. They have a real edge. I love the edge that they have,” Popovich said. “They’ll knock the hell out of you and continue to play. It’s not just dunking the basketball but it’s knocking the hell out of you on cuts, grabbing at you and making the referees make calls, rebounding and going after it. That’s the first impression I get with these guys. Now they have the head to go with all the talent with Chris, obviously. I don’t know if there’s a better leader on the court or somebody who knows what the hell is going on at this particular time or this score or with this much time on the clock or this situation. He understands all those things intuitively and that’s a hell of a talent to add.”
5. Griffin effect: Clippers forward Blake Griffin had 28 points and 17 rebounds in the Clippers’ loss to the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday but rolled his left ankle late in the game. He will, however, start Friday against San Antonio. Popovich said the Spurs have to be aware of Griffin in transition and make contact with him early. “If you let him run free you have no shot because Chris or Mo [Williams] is going to find him and they’re going to throw it up in the air he’s going to go up in the air and you can’t get there,” Popovich said. “So you have to maintain contact with him in transition at all times. In the half court, you have help people. Do you want him going to the rim or do you want him to hit a jump shot. It’s something he works on all the time and he’s going to get better and better but given a choice you’d rather have him shooting a 20-footer than taking it the hole and you don’t have to be a genius to figure that out and he knows that and that’s why he works on his shot. Once he gets that down, he’ll be impossible. He’s ridiculous now but he’ll be impossible.”
What to watch: Clippers-Spurs
February, 18, 2012
Feb 18
9:44
AM PT
By
Arash Markazi | ESPNLosAngeles.com
Clippers (19-9) vs. San Antonio Spurs (21-9) at Staples Center, 12:30 p.m. PT
Five storylines to track:
1. Measuring stick: For The past 15 years the Spurs and Clippers have been on opposite ends of the spectrum in the NBA, and their head-to-head record certainly reflects that. The Clippers have only one win against the Spurs in their past 20 meetings and suffered through an 18-game losing streak to San Antonio from 2006-10. The Clippers have also only won once in San Antonio since 1997. The Clippers suffered one of their worst losses of the season against San Antonio at the beginning of the season when the Spurs beat them 115-90 on Dec. 28. The Spurs are currently on a 10-game winning streak, the longest current run in the NBA, and a win Saturday would move them a step closer to the best record in the West. A Clippers win, however, would move the Clippers past the Spurs for the second-best record in the conference.
2. Comeback kids: The Clippers came back from an 18-point deficit Thursday to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 74-71. It was the Clippers’ biggest comeback win of the season and their largest comeback victory in three years. One of the biggest differences between this year’s team and those that have faded in the past has been the Clippers’ ability to close out games on the road. The Clippers’ rally in Portland is the team’s fifth road win since Jan. 29 in which they have come back from a deficit of 10 or more points. This season, the Clippers have battled back from double-figure deficits six times. Before this season, the Clippers' past four road wins in which they overcame a double-digit deficit came in four different years.
3. Spurs influence: No other franchise in the NBA has had a greater influence over the Clippers recently than the San Antonio Spurs. They are the team the Clippers have tried to model themselves after culturally and philosophically after Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro was hired two years ago. Del Negro played with the Spurs from 1992-98, helping lead the Spurs to the playoffs on five occasions. Two of Del Negro’s assistants, Marc Iavaroni and Howard Eisley also played for the Spurs. Del Negro credits Spurs coach Gregg Popovich with helping mold his coaching philosophy and says he always wants them to win, except when they play the Clippers.
4. Board game: Last month around this time, the Clippers were dead last in the league in rebounding. Since then Reggie Evans has returned from an offseason injury, Kenyon Martin was signed as a free agent and the Clippers now find themselves 15th in the league in rebounding. The Clippers have dominated the glass in their past five contests, outrebounding their opponents 242 to 179. The Clippers are 4-1 in that span and have outrebounded their opponents in eight straight games and have had more offensive rebounds in six straight games. That advantage should continue against the Spurs, who are 19th in the league in rebounding.
5. Foye not feeling it: When Chauncey Billups was lost for the season, Randy Foye was inserted into the starting lineup so only one position would be altered by the loss. Del Negro did not want to move Mo Williams, who is in the running for Sixth Man of the Year honors, from the bench to the starting lineup, and has no one to provide a scoring punch off the bench. The problem, however, has been that Foye has not embraced the role of being a starter, at least statistically. In his past three games Foye is 5-of-26 from the field (19.2 percent) despite being a career 41.2 percent shooter. His streaky play has forced Del Negro to lean more heavily on Williams, who is averaging 13.7 points and 3.4 assists. Williams has accounted for 51.7 percent of the Clippers’ bench scoring this season and is shooting 45.6 percent from the field.
Five storylines to track:
1. Measuring stick: For The past 15 years the Spurs and Clippers have been on opposite ends of the spectrum in the NBA, and their head-to-head record certainly reflects that. The Clippers have only one win against the Spurs in their past 20 meetings and suffered through an 18-game losing streak to San Antonio from 2006-10. The Clippers have also only won once in San Antonio since 1997. The Clippers suffered one of their worst losses of the season against San Antonio at the beginning of the season when the Spurs beat them 115-90 on Dec. 28. The Spurs are currently on a 10-game winning streak, the longest current run in the NBA, and a win Saturday would move them a step closer to the best record in the West. A Clippers win, however, would move the Clippers past the Spurs for the second-best record in the conference.
2. Comeback kids: The Clippers came back from an 18-point deficit Thursday to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 74-71. It was the Clippers’ biggest comeback win of the season and their largest comeback victory in three years. One of the biggest differences between this year’s team and those that have faded in the past has been the Clippers’ ability to close out games on the road. The Clippers’ rally in Portland is the team’s fifth road win since Jan. 29 in which they have come back from a deficit of 10 or more points. This season, the Clippers have battled back from double-figure deficits six times. Before this season, the Clippers' past four road wins in which they overcame a double-digit deficit came in four different years.
3. Spurs influence: No other franchise in the NBA has had a greater influence over the Clippers recently than the San Antonio Spurs. They are the team the Clippers have tried to model themselves after culturally and philosophically after Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro was hired two years ago. Del Negro played with the Spurs from 1992-98, helping lead the Spurs to the playoffs on five occasions. Two of Del Negro’s assistants, Marc Iavaroni and Howard Eisley also played for the Spurs. Del Negro credits Spurs coach Gregg Popovich with helping mold his coaching philosophy and says he always wants them to win, except when they play the Clippers.
4. Board game: Last month around this time, the Clippers were dead last in the league in rebounding. Since then Reggie Evans has returned from an offseason injury, Kenyon Martin was signed as a free agent and the Clippers now find themselves 15th in the league in rebounding. The Clippers have dominated the glass in their past five contests, outrebounding their opponents 242 to 179. The Clippers are 4-1 in that span and have outrebounded their opponents in eight straight games and have had more offensive rebounds in six straight games. That advantage should continue against the Spurs, who are 19th in the league in rebounding.
5. Foye not feeling it: When Chauncey Billups was lost for the season, Randy Foye was inserted into the starting lineup so only one position would be altered by the loss. Del Negro did not want to move Mo Williams, who is in the running for Sixth Man of the Year honors, from the bench to the starting lineup, and has no one to provide a scoring punch off the bench. The problem, however, has been that Foye has not embraced the role of being a starter, at least statistically. In his past three games Foye is 5-of-26 from the field (19.2 percent) despite being a career 41.2 percent shooter. His streaky play has forced Del Negro to lean more heavily on Williams, who is averaging 13.7 points and 3.4 assists. Williams has accounted for 51.7 percent of the Clippers’ bench scoring this season and is shooting 45.6 percent from the field.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Arash Markazi
Arash Markazi joined ESPNLosAngeles.com as a columnist and writer after five years with Sports Illustrated. Markazi has also written for Slam, King, Vibe and Playboy and is on the board of directors for the Jim Murray Memorial Foundation. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/arashmarkazi.
Ramona Shelburne
Ramona Shelburne is a columnist and writer for ESPNLosAngeles.com. She spent seven years as a columnist and sportswriter at the Los Angeles Daily News. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/ramonashelburne.
Pedro Moura
Pedro Moura has contributed to ESPNLosAngeles.com since December 2009. He has covered the Trojans since 2008 and also reports on high school sports. Moura is a native Angeleno and a graduate of USC. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/pedromoura.