Nicolas Batum wasn’t around for the Clippers‘ meltdown in last season’s playoffs, but he can tell there’s something different about this year’s version of the team, writes Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times. L.A. has been able to battle through adversity after building big leads in a pair of early-season wins.
Friday night in Denver, the Clippers saw a 21-point lead cut to 11 midway through the fourth quarter when Kawhi Leonard left the game after taking an elbow to the face. Batum drew a charge on the next play and L.A. kept its composure to secure the win.
“This is where in those moments, you breathe in (as) a team, you guys can get to know who you are as a team,” Batum said. “… We make stops, we didn’t panic, we didn’t do crazy stuff, we didn’t rush. We did a little bit sometimes. That’s what guys corrected because we made bad turnovers and took quick shots, but overall, that was better.”
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- The Warriors may not have the roster to succeed with coach Steve Kerr‘s regular offense, observes Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Stephen Curry leads Golden State in assists through two games with 16, but reserve guard Brad Wanamaker is the only other Warrior with at least five. Slater notes that the team doesn’t have the collection of instinctive passers and cutters that it did in recent years. “I’ve got to stay on them and continue to work, find ways to get better organized and look like a five-man unit,” Kerr said after Friday’s blowout loss in Milwaukee. “We’re just scattered right now. It just looks like we’re a series of moving parts.”
- One bright spot for the Warriors in the early season has been the play of James Wiseman, Slater tweets. The 19-year-old center is averaging 18.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game and looks worthy of being selected with the second overall pick. “He’s clearly the focal point of the future of how we’re building this team with Steph, Klay (Thompson), Draymond (Green),” Kerr said. “I can now throw James in there.”
- Lakers star LeBron James has been chosen as Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the fourth time, writes Tim Reynolds of the AP. James was selected for helping his team win the NBA title and being a leader in the social justice movement.
I am surprised at Wiseman shooting from the three or beyond 20 feet
This is modern nba basketball
Wiseman speaks NBA language
Wiseman at 19 looks a lot like KD and Lebron did at 19.
Cut the hyperbole. He is less coordinated by far.
Marty is a GSW bore.
How’s Kevin Love going?
I love the Warriors, yes. Sorry if it bores you. They aren’t very good right now, but will get better!
Wiseman will be the best player from this draft after the careers are over.
I’m ready to call it now.
All the Wiseman hype blows my mind. He’s got a total of 5 games at a high level of competition and only 2 in the NBA. I might add that his 2 NBA games are losses…. The amount of people chomping at the bit to tell anyone who’ll listen that Wiseman is a generational talent is baffling.
Well I mean, it just isn’t Christmas without talk of a Wiseman.
Wiseman has practiced 5 times in a Warriors uniform. He is a literal unicorn sent from heaven to help Curry get to 8 rings.
I’m thinking these first two games were a ruse to make Draymond out to be the straw that stirs GSW. Total Klutch Sports move. GSW already knew they weren’t beating the best two teams in the game who have had like 50x more practices together than the Warriors have had. I’d lay off judging them until Feb. They are probably going to start 5-10 before ending up 20-20 and then going off. Steph, Oubre and Wiggins just had some of their worst single games ever. It’s on Kerr to figure out how to use these puzzle pieces the best way, or maybe Draymond really does change everything.
If they use that Injury exemption on Tucker, Rose or McGee, they can go at any of the best teams. This year might be rocky, but I can still see them easily making the WCF at worst.
What games were you watching where Curry had some of his worst nights ever? He was 20/4/10 against the Nets? and 19/4/6 against the Bucks?
Yup, those are some of his worst lines ever. But you might wanna check those %’s – but numbers arent everything, especially in losing efforts (someone tell NBA media this).
Steph was -23 vs NJ and -24 vs Bucks. Thats a couple of his worst ever, for sure.
Warriors suck. Not sure you are watching the gameplay, blown out in both. Draymond won’t make the team better, the Defense is terrible. Kerr is getting exposed for the bum coach he actually is, good coaches can work with almost any roster
well draymond could improve their ball movement and defense. da only guys at da 4 r paschall and toscano. toscano is good at defense but a little trash at offense. paschall is a good scorer and rebounder but his defense sucks.
Imagine saying “Draymond won’t make the team better, the Defense is terrible” and meaning it.
@Tatsumaki is a troll.
What will their excuses be when they get blown out by the Bulls?
idk
Man I hope that doesn’t happen. Last I looked today warriors were favored by 2 points over the Bulls. They need a win here.. it would be pretty devastating to not only lose but what if the Bulls beat them by fifteen? Yikes !!!
Who cares, besides you?
Look another prediction by harden lover.
bruhhh da only players they could use da disabled player exception money on are da ones avaliable on da market such as waiters, korver, illyasova, jr smith, and e.t.c. green is a huge part in their offense so without him, their offense is gunna struggle real bad. how r they still bad at shooting when they just got bazemore and mulder? i think they should trade a few of their players at da deadline for someone like alec burks or bryn forbes.
Several articles on this site said they would hold exception to mid-season and either trade for or wait until teams are out of playoffs start cutting veterans. By mid-season that can use a $9.3M exception on an $18.6M veteran. One article said they were looking at Aldridge once Spurs fall out. But, I think they clearly need a 3 point threat.
The Nets and the Bucks are the best two teams in the game? Hardly, homer.
bruh u always say something negative on a non-rockets related post lol. hardly?? they literally demolished da warriors. and have u seen da nets demolish da celtics.
Then he cries that people are being mean to his rockets lmao
ikr
What is hater(m referring to? Bot doesn’t even keep track, just throws the same stuff out.
The bigger story from Slater’s piece is that Myers built a team after Klay’s injury that doesn’t match Kerr and his staff’s offense and defense. Yes, they got destroyed by the 2 best teams in the east so far, and they’ll continue to get thrashed by the top tier teams this season. But Myers totally flopped at building a team to fit Kerr’s post-Klay adjustments.
Slater is the worst, he has no idea. He could be right about the fit but Myers went out and got the best player available. Best young player available.
And, How does Slater expect Myers to build a roster that’s over the cap way into luxury territory and needs to find guys who are Big Time Players at tiny salaries? You’re going to wind up with decent guys like Wanamaker.., and Bazemore took the minimum- he could have got a lot more elsewhere.
Myers is the reason the cap situation is so bad. Who gives draymond green a max lol?
25 million dollars is the max now? They gave Klay the max not Draymond.
wdym. hes literlaly da building block alongside da splash bros i feel like wiggins fits in better with da splash bros and draymond rather with oubre
when u expect wiggins to be good, he ends up being mediocre on both ends of da floor. and oubre plays da 2 even tho hes terrible at shooting. literlaly da whole team isn’t a fit.
their offense and defense are terrible tbh seriously. bet u they could get blown out by da kemba-less celtics if they continue to play dis bad
Batum may be the value pick up player of the year. Obviously was not trying hard for the Hornets. 6″9 Wing that is a good defender, floor spacer and great passer. May lead the Clippers in assists this year. Can play the 2, 3, 4 and even play a little 1 if needed. And can switch in D on all 5 positions if required. Beverly George Kawhi Batum and Ibaka can play switchable Defence. Batum, Great pick up for only $2.5 mill.
Any nba player that doesn’t “try hard” deserves scrutiny. Making the league is 95% about luck and if u cant appreciate that I dont expect you to come thru in the clutch.
So if bottom really doesnt care, bad days for the clips. But if ur just running ur mouth…oh they be just fine. Do you dig my signature sub?
yup. get him on a champ contending team and he will be his old self.
GSW just doesn’t have enough shooters. With Klay sidelined, they don’t have enough firepower from 3. This season is probably another lost season. Real question is whether or not they can trade Wiggins, Oubre, and Looney for shooters – under contract thru next season… Hawks, Rockets, Pacers could be trade partners.
phillyballers, you’re on to what they could do, Yes, they’ll tell us fans and the gullible media that they are aiming for the postseason, but Myers’ inability to get Kerr the pieces he’d need to run their offense and defense is a “tell”.
They’ll play to a lousy record in the first half, trade the pieces you mention, secure another Top-5 draft slot next offseason, and then wait for a healthy Klay, an experienced Wiseman, more cap space for a FA, and a Top-5 wing or 4 out of next year’s draft to add to Curry and Draymond. It would be the start of a successful transition if they’d only be honest with the fans as to what they’re doing.
I’ll say last time I caught a game in Golden State they were playing the Clippers and firepower was NOT an issue…in the sense that some disgusting fan was basically making egg salad with his but cheeks and treating us all to the smell. Their arena is just absolutely jam packed with farts and it’s super gross.
Honestly I think the man just soiled himself and wouldnt own up to it. The scent was not technically foul it was fragrantly foul ha but seriously troubling for a number of reasons. I’ll never go to a game their again…
I mean really it was like someone just took a dump right there in the bleachers and arena personnel did absolutely nothing. It boggles my mind that it’s your JOB and you just play off the smell like it’s not there. You telling me you dont smell it? Really messed up…
Tired of that gross story
Why bother
are you ok
I’m ok now ya but it was harrowing
Wiggins Oubre and Looney and a couple second rounders for Harden actually would make GSW contenders.
oubre and wiggins are trash shooters tbh why r da warriors continuing to play someone who now averages like below 5 ppg at da 2 lmao
i admit my wrong … thought batum was washed up … dam
Started from the Batum now he here
It’s true Warriors offense is built for shooters. Not scorers like Wiggins n Obrue. They should move one of them. D is keying on Curry and he’s forcing it too. Kerr has to adjust offense if he wants to win. I would sit Obrue make him sixth man. And start running some plays for Wiggins. The NBA you gotta adjust. They can even use Wiseman mor on blocks. He can pass out from there. The guy knows how to play. He’s an IQ big.
“Batum said… ‘We make stops, we didn’t panic, we didn’t do crazy stuff, we didn’t rush.”
Agree, the Clippers look different. Why? Lou Williams has to be supressed by HC schemes, because nobody can keep up with him, not even KawhiL/PaulG, and they mess up when they try. The team appears to be combining this slow-down with basing their offense around their good-passing new wings, Batum and Kennard.
Combining these two plans, the team stays together and composed, and KL & PG can rise to the top. This is why Lou W has never been a starter but is always dangerous and must find a role in the offense, not lead one.
In this LA Times article, “fortitude” is raised, which meets MSM standards for being vague & off-base, and avoids indicting players that would have to be approached for interviews again. Batum can talk about it; he wasn’t there last year so does not indict anyone, and writers can report that Batum said such-n-such and get the quote right.
Writer Greif does have some credit for HC Lue, IMO odd:
“Lue has preached the discipline to find another offensive option even if a preferred third option to either Leonard or George isn’t available… The Clippers have passed 317 times on average through their first two games, creating 72.0 points per game off assists… last season… 271 passes and 61.7.”
Note Greif or Lue ignores an obvious #3 player, Williams, and highlights passing.
I hate to put down the superfast Williams, who was doing fine before KL & PG came along and threw the timing off. He should have been moved, ideally with Beverly & Harrell.
You heard the truth here from x%sure. It won’t be in the media. I don’t like it either. Journalists may know things, but will do the writing equivalent of hiding or deflecting when the subject is: What’s up with the Clippers this year.
Also relating is what I said yesterday about a retiring Jerry West.
A BB demigod and Ballmer-attached, West will not see allegations. Another post.
da warriors could have gotten batum for more of a offensive weapon who could lead an efficient passing game and provide decent defense