Halftime Hype

Hello, readers. You may have heard me on Corey Costelloe's radio show, Home Turf, on 1230 AM ESPN Bakersfield earlier today. If you did, leave a comment and let me know what you thought. If you didn't or just really enjoyed my commentary, I'll try to post an .mp3 soon. Until then, best wishes for a Happy New Year!

Having five NBA games on Christmas Day was definietly an interesting experiment for the league. At first, it makes some sense. The NBA was trying to reach a wider demographic, so by scheduling more games, 10 teams - not the typical 4 - were involved. Therefore, it's logical to assume more fans would watch the games or come to the arenas to support their team. However, critics had voiced their opinions. Commentator Jeff Van Gundy believed the games weren't as special, sacrificing quality for quantity.

I, for one, wasn't sure what to make of it. Often times, for some reason or another, nationally-televised games are close. That certainly wasn't the case yesterday. The average margin of defeat, seperating the winners from the losers, was 14.4 points. The majority of games were lost by double digits, excluding the Magic's 9-point loss to the Celtics. If they had been closer, there would be reason to believe that the 5-game lineup could be considered a success.



Ironically, the closest game was probably one of the lesser viewed nationally, between Miami and New York. Unless you were a dedicated fan on the West Coast, you probably didn't tune in to watch the Heat play against the Knicks at 9 AM. Understandably, though, this game didn't really concern anybody on the West Coast, and as long as people on the East Coast were watching at noon, all was well. Gallinari continues to prove he's more than a three-point threat, successful on all his seven free-throw attempts and collecting 8 rebounds. As commentator Marv Albert used to say, the "high man" for the Knicks had to be David Lee with 19 points (9-14 shooting) and 16 boards. The Knicks, much like the Magic, however, had a difficult time from the perimeter, successful on only 5 of 28 threes (17.9%). It also didn't help that Al Harrington, who played 32 minutes, went 5-for-20. For the Heat, the storyline was, as usual, dominated by D-Wade (30 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists) with a touch of Beasley (19 points on 7-for-16 shooting) and Jermaine O'Neal (11 points, 8rebounds).

The Celtics-Magic game was arguably the matchup of the day, considering that the Cavs blew out the Lakers in a sleeper. It was genuinely exciting to watch the two best teams in the Eastern Conference battle it out, as the Celtics pulled off a road win. Credit to Boston, for prevailing in the wake of Paul Pierce's surgery. Rajon Rondo had an amazing performance, finishing with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists - the only lowlight was his 8 turnovers (giving him a 1:1 assist/turnover ratio for the game). Despite Vince Carter's 27 points on 10-20 shooting and 4 steals, I had expected the Magic to win handily and exploit Pierce's absence. On the plus side for the Magic, they did convert on 20 out of 24 free-throw attempts (83.3.%), which means they did capitalize in that sense. On the contrary, I'm surprised the phrase "Hack-a-Rondo" hasn't been coined yet, as he really needs to work on his foul shots. What really seemed to kill the Magic was a tendency to settle behind the arc, hitting only 5 of their 26 three-point attempts (19.2%).



The much-hyped matchup with the Cavaliers facing the Lakers in Los Angeles ended badly - especially for the Lakers. With 4:04 remaining, and the Lakers trailing by about 20 points, Odom was ejected after receiving his second technical, Phil Jackson picked up a T after he neglected to insert a sub, and fans hurled foam fingers followed by a water bottle or two. It was just that kind of day for L.A. Kobe had a rare off-night, shooting 11-for-32 (34.4%), despite hitting all 12 of his free throws with a broken finger. Well, he wasn't totally off with 9 rebounds and 8 assists, which compensated for the play of...Derek Fisher, who finished with 0 assists, acted out of line with a technical foul and foul out of frustration against Mo Williams, followed by some jawing with Lebron James. Bynum and Gasol scored a combined total of 15 points, and according to Kobe, were simply "outworked." Artest fouled out with several minutes to go.

On the other hand, if you were a Cavs fan, you probably relished every moment of it, with contribution from Shaq (11 points, 7 rebounds), Lebron (26 points, 9 rebounds, 4assists), and most surprising, Mo Williams (28 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds). You have to be happy with your reserves, who outscored L.A.'s reserves 31-17. Overall, just a frustrating Christmas for the Lakers and their fans, with the complete opposite holding true for the Cavaliers and their fans.

The Clippers @ Phoenix game wasn't much better, especially for Angelenos, who had to endure yet another embarassing defeat on Christmas Day. Premier center, Marcus Camby, had to leave the game early with an injury and Eric Gordon could not hit a shot, going just 4-for-15. The Clippers' reserves, similar to those of the Lakers, didn't fare much better, only making 12-of-37 (32.4%). The highlights for L.A. were Kaman's 19 points and 10 boards, along with Rasual Butler's 22 points and 7 rebounds, both players increasingly becoming more relevant for the C's. For the Suns, seven players scored at least 12 or more points, showing that their bench deserves its due credit. Statistically for Phoenix, the notable players were Amare (26 points, 9 rebounds), J Rich (18 points, 8 rebounds), and of course, even at 35 years of age, Steve Nash (14 points, 8 assists). Off the bench, Admunson also managed to grab 10 boards. The story of the night, though, belonged to Grant Hill, who banked a three with three quarters of the court seperating him from the basket at the buzzer before halftime. The Clippers, who were almost at .500, now have an uphill battle ahead of them, with a record of (12-17).



Lastly, the Portland Trailblazers rode Brandon Roy's 41 points all the way to a 107-96 victory over the Nuggets. Despite 32 points and 9 rebounds by Carmelo and an impressive 12 points and 14 rebounds by K-Mart, Andre Miller's 14 rebounds and 8 assists, along with other contributions, allowed him to prevail over his former team. It was fair game until the fourth quarter, where Steve Blake drained five 3's in the last four minutes. Though the Nuggets could have used more contributions from their bench, reserve J.R. Smith mustered 20 points, although he it took 23 field-goal attempts to get there. Not to be forgotten are Birdman's 5 blocks, proving yet again that swatting the ball may, indeed, be the only thing he's good for.

At the end of the day, I, as I'm sure many of you all, was tired. Five games was simply too much, even though I didn't watch them all. Three games is acceptable, but anything more is pushing things a little too far. I couldn't watch SportsCenter, as ESPN once again decided it had nothing else to do than glorify Lebron James and nothing else and I didn't find much consolation in the rather odd Saturday Night Live Christmas Bash that I had been looking forward to. Anyway, lesson learned - hopefully.

As a Jew growing up in America, the holiday season is very different from everybody else. Besides the stark contrasts in the holidays of Hanukkah and Christmas, Americans glorify a mascot commonly referred to as Santa Claus, while the closest resemblance in Judaism consists of Judah Maccabi (excuse me if I mispelled his name). Being Jewish has enabled myself, along with many others, to profit from such things as Christmas sales, Christmas music (many songs of which were composed by Jews), and quite possibly the grandest treat of all, Christmas day NBA matchups.

They seem to have an unprecedented aura to them. For the last several years, every Christmas, I've closely watched my beloved Lakers and their respective opponent battle it out, at a time when the players and coaches would much rather relax with their families. I truly noticed the intensity of these games when the Lakers played against the Miami Heat in '04. The sheer animosity between Shaq and Kobe was just so entertaining. During the previous week, Shaq had compared himself to a brick wall and Kobe declared that he would be a Lamborghini - speeding past the proverbial brick wall. It was just great - until Shaq and Kobe became friends again on an MLK Day match-up.

Anyway, just last December the Lakers took on the Boston Celtics in another epic clash. Still relishing their championship victory, the C's were riding on a strong winning streak as they rolled with their heads hung high into Staples Center. Having given up a 24-point lead in the NBA Finals mere months prior, as well as the series, the Lakers were ready for revenge. It was the ultimate storyline. As well all remember, the Lakers won. But, at the end of the day, the atmosphere in the arena made it seem like a trophy was at stake.

Typically, in the past there have been a couple of Christmas day games. Tomorrow, however, there are a seemingly unparalleled total of five games, each with their own unique plotline. At noon ET, the games kick off with the Miami Heats at Madison Square Garden against the gradually improving New York Knicks. These teams don't have any agressive history other than a nasty Knicks loss during the season opener. The highlights of this game should mainly consist of D-Wade's presence and the Knicks wearing green jerseys.



Next, Boston faces off against the Magic in Orlando, featuring two Eastern contenders. If the Lakers vs. Cavs game headlines the Christmas festivities, this game comes in a close second. I'm looking forward to seeing the battle of the bigs with KG vs. Superman. Interestingly enough, Boston has a 12-1 road record, while the Magic are 12-2 at home. The main catalyst will be Paul Pierce's absence, which should allow Vince Carter to have a game-changing presence. A side-show to observe in this game would be Rondo vs. Jameer Nelson, one rising player against an All-Star guard.

Then, the game we've all been waiting for, the Cleveland Cavaliers playing against the Los Angeles Lakers - in L.A. Shaq eyeing Phil Jackson. Shaq vs. Kobe. Pau Gasol/Andrew Bynum vs. Shaq, and most noteworthy of all, Lebron James vs. Kobe Bryant. Some fans may recall the confrontation Shaq and Andrew Bynum had. Well, now I'd like to see how the big men clash, whether it be Gasol or Bynum against the Big Diesel. This game is even more exciting than the Miami-Lakers games of the past, as before it was limited to Shaq vs. Kobe, now it's Shaq against Kobe and Kobe vs. LBJ. Granted, this game won't be an indicator of who's better between LBJ and KB, but it will intensify the debate.

Following the game of the decade, the Clippers are hoping Angelenos still have enough left in them to root for the Clippers as they journey to Phoenix to take on the Suns. Coincidentally, the Brazillian Blur, Leandro Barbosa, is expected to play his first minutes since November. This may be the most under-publicized match-up of the day. Baron Davis vs. Steve Nash and Chris Kaman/Marcus Camby vs. Amare Stoudemire. Baron is no longer the spectacle he was in Golden State and Steve Nash may not be as exciting as he used to be, but these are still two of the league's best point guards going at it. For those who haven't followed him, Chris Kaman is proving himself to be a legit post threat and Marcus Camby is still the dauting rebounder and shotblocker of years' past. Nevertheless, Amare Stoudemire has only improved his game since the run-and-gun days, and with well-seasoned post moves, it would be reasonable to assume that whoever has the most points in the paint will ultimately win this game.

The day concludes with the Denver Nuggets looking for a win in Portland against the Trailblazers. This game really doesn't make much sense to me, in terms of fan appeal, except for Andre Miller playing against his old team(mates). Other than that, I would analyze Brandon Roy vs. Billups and Aldridge vs. Nene. Chauncey has done an amazing job in his tenure for Denver so far, but so has Roy. Both can score and get assists. Tomorrow, they will probably be forced into some one-on-one situations and that their decisions will surely affect the outcome of the game. Also, the young Aldridge will have to manage against a big, well-experienced, and probably stronger Nene in a fight for rebounds. I take back what I said; this may turn out to be a good matchup after all.

Generally, the NBA always delivers some form of Christmas entertainment or another. And as you're unwrapping presents or feasting or watching the Saturday Night Live Christmas Bash, like myself, don't forget to watch the NBA's gifts to you.

As I've been looking through recent issues of periodicals, the "decade in review" seems to be as unavoidable as when news broke out of Michael Jackson's death - which made top ten lists for something or another. Although, I feel that what's just as important as reflecting upon the last ten years, is pondering the next decade. Obviously, there's no accurate method of predicting what is to come for the NBA. However, using the 2000s as a "decade in review" definitely helps.

Who will become the face of the league in the next ten years? Often times, it is the best player, the most-talented individual who fans would mention if they had to associate the league with a sole star. Presently, that would be Kobe Bryant. At the Beijing Olympics his greeting was practically as loud as the roar the native Yao Ming received. Nonetheless, for some time now, zealous Lebron fans have claimed James is the league's best. At the least, we can admit that LBJ is on track to surpass Kobe in the very near future - possibly by next year. In the next few years, Lebron James, and maybe even Dwyane Wade, will become the two most popular ambassadors of the NBA.

Then, there's the thought of how the league's other promising players will end up. As of late, Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings, and even Omri Casspi have been making some noise. Last season, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and O.J. Mayo blossomed into stars, while some, like Jason Thompson, are shining and still full of potential. Channing Frye is showing he can score in Phoenix. Not to be forgotten is Monta Ellis, who has no trouble surpassing the thirty-point barrier. Ultimately, it's these players who will inherit the next puppet battles from LBJ and KB.

This also gives a small sense of what direction the league is headed in, in terms of players. The relevance of the big man is all but gone, as basketball is being monopolized by the guards. As a result, big men are sure to be more highly-coveted. Players like Mareese Speights and Bynum, oh, and Greg Odom - legitimate post threats - are an endangered species. Post play is no longer what it used to be. I'm not suggesting that all thirty NBA teams will resort to :07 seconds or less offense or arrange their line-ups for "Nellie ball", because, ultimately, if we don't produce enough homegrown big men, there's another stream.



The other source for 7-footers may end up having been originated overseas. The other day, I was watching a Euroleague game with FC Barcelona on NBA TV, and there is such a large talent pool to choose from. With that said, the Euroleague, as well as other emerging basketball leagues around the globe, house a wide variety of players - not just big men, as we saw with Ricky Rubio and not as directly, Brandon Jennings. For a long time, the NBA was the only place to observe basketball how it was meant to be played. That's no longer true. The Euroleague has offered new prospects, and for those who have watched Euroleague play, has become a decent alternative to the NBA.

What's yet to be seen is whether or not the NBA will continue its reign as the top league in the world or will co-rule with the Euroleague. Personally, I'd like to see more European action be made available to viewers here in the U.S. On the other hand, that would cause it to compete with the NBA. And the moment when fans opt for the Maccabi Tel Aviv match instead of the Toronto Raptors game (also somewhat foreign since based in Canada), that's when David Stern has an issue. What would be even better than being able to watch foreign squads through a television set, though, would be to watch them battle it out live in an arena. If NBA teams can play in foreign arenas during the preseason, why shouldn't foreign teams be able to do the same? After all, the offseason is more or less the same for pro basketball leagues around the world.



Another thing to watch is the relevance of NCAA basketball and the D-League. Right now, for some, going to college to qualify for NBA play has become a joke. As Phil Jackson admitted earlier this week, many college players make an effort during the first semester to be academically eligible for basketball, only to tank second semester and treat class as a joke before they leave for the NBA. College should be a place where players can actually improve their game and develop a multi-faceted skill set so draftees 1-60 can make an immediate impact upon their arrival in the NBA. The NCAA shouldn't be taken lightly as a series of games to pad stats and count down the days 'til it's over.

As for the NBA's developmental league, I don't know how many people are aware it even exists. The average fan probably has never heard of it. Things were going in the right direction when Rod Benson, a D-League player, began blogging for Yahoo Sports's Ball Don't Lie. However, after a workout with the Pacers, he was forced to abruptly end his blog, and the NBADL hasn't gotten much publicity since. The D-League doesn't have a simple marketing issue; it has unrecognized talent that at the least, deserves to be seen. As the Developmental League is an NBA enterprise, it could market itself by putting D-League games on NBA TV or make it a free ad-on to League Pass. I don't have league pass, but I'm sure there's slots of D-League and Euroleague play on NBA TV because the only major programs are All-Access with Ahmad Rashad and the one game on each day. Maybe the D-League could use an All-Star weekened, if they don't already have something similiar that I'm not aware of.

Lastly, the next decade will surely have differnt contenders. With this summer's upcoming, blockbuster free agent market, the balance of power will change. Not to come off as a homer, but it's hard to imagine the Lakers as a non-threat with Bynum's contract being extended, Pau Gasol extension all but done, and a new contract for KB already in the works. Other than that, the rest is fair game. I'm not ready to declare that whichever team has Lebron will be a contender as that hasn't been the case in Cleveland, but if there's a team with Lebron and D-Wade, which has been rumored, though very unlikely, that could be a successful team.

If I were to begin predicting actual teams right now, I'd have to start with the teams of the future stars. As Brandon Jennings continues to become a better player, Milwaukee can only become a better team. The other players in Wisconsin ain't bad, themselves. The Turkish native, Ersan Ilyasova, can be a decisive X-factor and Bogut is capable of producing double figures. Philadelphia, though not performing very well this season, is a team looks to be on the rise. With a young nucleus of Iguadola, Williams, and Speights, along with promising talent in Green and Holiday, Philly is at liberty to succeed as it pleases. I would suggest Golden State, but there must be better coaching in place in order to succeed. EDIT: Also, the young guys with Oklahoma City seem to have a bright future.

Overall, the next decade will be very different, to say the least. New players will emerge as those born prior to '80s begin to filter out of the league. The day Steve Nash and Kobe retire will be a sad one, but when the leaders of the new era prove that they can prosper in the same endevours, there will certainly be few regrets. In short, we should welcome the new decade as we have with each one before it: with open arms and high hopes.

If the Lakers were a gene, Kobe would undoubtedly be a dominant allele and the rest of the squad recessive. Without getting into a discussion of genetics, that means that #24 is masking the identity of his teammates. Translation: Kobe, like many other stars in the league, has come to be the face of his team. However, much to their discredit, the four other starters and the other influential players on the team, seem relatively nonexistent. Ok, I'll admit, on a night when your team's leader drains a winning, fade-away jumper at the buzzer, there's going to be a lot of attention given to him. Heck, he even had me, with an annoying sore throat, yelling. Although, maybe I'm just saying this because he's on my fantasy team, you can't forget Pau Gasol's 22 rebounds and 26 points on 9-15 shooting. Now that's a big deal.

It's not like the press isn't eager to speak with players other than Kobe. Just tonight, the Lakers sideline reporter interviewed Pau, not Kobe, after the buzzer. Regardless, as I logged on to FaceBook and received a more accurate consensus of people's thoughts on the game, all I saw was "Kobe" and several hundred exclamation marks. For those that watched the game, we all know that the Lakers probably would not have been able to win without Kobe's awesome late-game heroics. It could be that as a Lakers fan, I've gotten so used to #24's clutch performances, that I'm suggesting spectators pay attention to the "other" guys. Honestly, though, give the rest of the guys some credit.

Tonight may not be the best time to bring up my point. Besides Kobe and Pau, only Artest reached the 10 point mark. Then again, tonight's game wasn't the only time the other players haven't gotten their due credit. Derek Fisher also came up in crunch time against Miami, only to be shadowed by an incredibly amazing, three-pointer by Kobe - off the glass...while fading to the left. But at the end of the day, Kobe's outside jumper wouldn't haven't mattered if somebody like Fish didn't close the gap.



Another major player that stands out in my mind is Andrew Bynum. Hours of training with arguably the best center to ever play the game, Kareem, and one of the most notable defensive players of all-time, Kurt Rambis, have finally paid off. Bynum is now a legitimate post threat, averaging about 17 points and 9 rebounds. His numbers are that much more remarkable after sustaining season-ending injuries two years in a row. Meanwhile, his game can only become more dangerous, as post-moves and a good feel for shooting from several feet out. Watch out, Dwight Howard.

Also, many forget that without Lamar Odom, the Lakers second unit has a difficult time working together. Actually, I take that back. They barely manage to mesh when Lamar is around. When he's not helping out the second five, the Lakers could very well give up a handful of potential victories.

Like I said, it may have come to a point where some Lakers fans - like myself - have become accustomed to Kobe Bryant's unprecedented greatness. In fact, it now comes as a shock if he even misses a free throw under the enormous pressure he endures night in and night out. Nevertheless, what I'm trying to say is that not just Lakers fans, but observers of the game should pay attention to the role players who make the game close enough for the stars to do their thing.

Then, after it seems like all has been said and done, Artest tries to justify it by bringing in children. I would be somewhat outraged if I suspected he was joking. But once again, he has defied the limits of logic and, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times, that: "The whole purpose of the testimony was to share the problematic times in my life with the youth. There's a lot of kids out there right now going through the same things I was going through and they're able to relate." Really? People have gone through the same thing as Ron Artest? I know he implies having alcohol issues, but did he honestly think that his testimony, with no particular message, would help lead to sobriety? Even if he did, can anyone really "relate" to Ron Artest?

The last piece that comes in to focus is the impact that this could have on the Lakers. Despite the fact that he represents the Lakers and he didn't represent the organization well with his confession, Artest's comment shouldn't have any long-term reprecussions for his current squad. GM Mitch Kuptchak and Phil Jackson clearly knew what they were getting when they signed him. Besides the fact that he's a beefy defender who can score points, they knew the extra oddities that came with the package. The "distraction" part was bound to appear at some point, and luckily it hasn't taken away from productivity on the court. Well, actually Phil wants Ron to be more agressive. The sole way Artest can do any damage from his comments at this point is if the league decides to suspend him for a seperate set of comments made about Joey Crawford's officiating of last year's playoff matchup with Houston vs. L.A.

The bright side about the confession is that Artest has declared his drinking days (during halftime) are over. It's horrible to think about how all that alcohol must have affected his liver and performance during the second-half of ball games. It's also unfortunate for the organizations, mostly the Bulls, who were the culprit of such disreputable nonsense.

Also, I think there needs to be some perspective to the situation. Like Phil said, Artest probably didn't do it every single game during an eighty-two game season. Plus, I'd much rather have my player/teammate (depending on whether I am a coach or teammate) have a periodical sip of cognac than shoot up drugs at halftime. Artest was ultimately able to break his tendency without directly taking any time off because of it. On the other hand, you have players like Chris Anderson, Jeff Foster, Michael Beasley, Delonte West and others who had to miss practices, games, and albeit other team function as a result of their severe issues. When looking at Ron's actions in the context of other possibilities, what he did was definitely more acceptable than such things as steroids injections or adultery. After all, at the end of the day, Ron Ron was just chilling out.

Needless to say, what's done is done. To this moment I don't know whether to be more shocked about Ron Artest drinking or justifying his confession with the involvement of children. Anyway, Ron Artest is now sober and nothing stands in his way from contributing to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers are still one of the most dominant teams in the NBA and as long as the organization keeps a watchful eye on him and Ron takes care of himself, the sun will still shine in Los Angeles.

It was a typical afternoon for all but the final quarter of Sunday's Clippers game. Trailing by double digits, to the Memphis Grizzlies no less, there wasn't much hope at Staples Center. When the home crowd starts chanting for an away player on the bench who's only averaged three and a half minutes of play and has only hit the hardwood in 7 of 17 games (Hamed Haddadi), you know the game probably isn't pleasing the fans. But then, during the fourth quarter, out of nowhere, the notoriously mediocre Los Angeles Clippers went on a 21-0 surge. Memphis could barely get a shot up without the ball being stolen. And in the very few oppurtunities that the Grizzlies could attempt a field goal, it was often swatted away or rebounded by Clips. Although this was against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Los Angeles Clippers put on quite a show. I'm not saying that celebrities are going to start attending their games, but the Clips may no longer be L.A.'s "other" team.

Honestly, I'm starting to grow a little tired from writing about the "potentially dangerous team" (see: The Sun Rises Again and Outlook Appears Bullish). However, when there's a team that seems to be materializing and looks to be slightly promising, it needs to be recognized. Finally, after years of subpar performance, things are looking a little brighter for the Los Angeles Clippers. If I heard Sunday night's broadcast properly, the C's enjoyed their first winning month since 2006.

There are several factors going forward that will be catalysts in how many victories the Clippers can pile up. One of the more obvious difference-makers will ultimately be the competition in the Pacific Division. In constant battle with the Phoenix Suns, who is currently a remarkable 14-3, and home-town rival & defending champions, the Lakers, the Clippers will endure a handful of losses. It would be too optimistic to forsee the Lakers or to a lesser degree, the Suns, losing one to the Clippers just because of how fluid their game is. To compensate, Sacramento and Golden State are still fair game. The Kings have been doing well in the absence of starter Kevin Martin, though, the Clippers have the ability to match-up with them. As for the Warriors, outside of Monta Ellis, who's been scoring in droves as of late, they are not a legitimately difficult team to face, or better yet, defeat.

Another factor will be injuries and conditioning. The Clippers have constantly battled injuries and, in fact, are still waiting for Blake Griffin to return. In the past, Kaman and Camby, one of the most talented frontcourt duos in the NBA, have had to tend to wounds. Forward Craig Smith also missed action while spending time with the trainer. For goodness sake, Eric Gordon just received a sore hamstring. Despite a threatening presence, Baron Davis is no longer the player he was in Oakland, but undoubtedly needs to work on his quickness.

Then there's the issue of holding on to leads. The Clips have been too nonchalant once they go up by double digits. It seems like the thought of holding a lead, much less winning a game, comes as too much of a revelation, possibly the cause of their complacency. There have already been multiple game where the Clippers have not been able to convert down the stretch and forfeited several potential wins.

Lastly, the red, white, and blue - a.k.a. the Clippers - need consistency. After starting off the season poorly, Al Thornton is once again showing his scoring prowess. He needs to keep it up. Rasual Butler must continue practicing his long-range shot, as that's exactly what he was acquired for: to his threes. Similarly, Baron can't slack off. One bad scoring night is acceptable, but as a leader, he needs to act like one and step his game up.

Going forward, especially once Griffin comes pack, the Clippers could actually qualify for the playoffs - or still an improvement, come in 9th or 10th. Who knows, it's very likely that this team could prove me wrong by losing their next match in a blowout - or by doing that constantly. Regardless, there is some silver lining to their situation. Obviously certain things, like a semi-talented division and injuries, aren't entirely in the Clippers' control. But finishing late in ball games, conditioning, and consistency are all pieces to possible successs. It's up to the C's to assemble them.