[2K23] Lob City Clippers, Est. 2002 - McGrady scores 60 points on the Clippers

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Yes, another one from me. My other saves aren't dead!

A few reasons:
I'm still practicing the mode for my main save (Grizzlies)
My Knicks save is fun but a bit easy playing with 4 Hall of Famers.
So with this one I'm trying to see what I can do with a worse team and on a higher dificulty.

A couple of trades to start things off:



I inquired for Shane Battier as I was doing my due diligence inquiring for good young players,
and they came up with this. I accepted it, as I wanted a point guard who is a threat from outside anyway.
I think both Battier and Williams are really good and fun additions to the team. And it allows me to practice their jumpshots too.



I needed a center, especially after trading Olowokandi to Memphis.
Chris Andersen is not only a good shotblocker, but a lob threat too so he could fit in very nicely.


CLIPPERS ROTATION:



UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

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CLIPPERS' DEFEAT CAVALIERS IN HOME OPENER



The Los Angeles Clippers rallied late to come back
from behind to beat the the Cleveland Cavaliers in their home opener,106-101.

The Clippers started the game well in the first quarter, and took an early lead, led by efficient scoring up front by Elton Brand.
But the Cavs came back in the game in the second and third quarter to take the lead.

"I thought we were in control of the game. Pretty much when we set the tone in the first quarter. But they crept up on us,
and we had to fight hard in the end," said Head Coach Alvin Gentry.



Lamar Odom sent the Clippers up 6 with a threepointer late in the fourth quarter, 100-94.
But the Cavaliers came back with a 5-0 run of their own to bring it within 1 point in the last minute.

That's when newcomer Shane Battier came up clutch with two timely baskets in the paint.

"I had to redeem myself," said Battier, "after starting so bad in the first half."

Battier was only 7 for 18 in the game, but 5 for 5 in the fourth quarter.


Shane Battier in the fourth quarter

"He is a big reason we won," said Jason Williams, who scored 22 points in the game.
Williams had 8 assists but was down on himself for having turned the ball over 6 times.
"If I don't do that, the game isn't close," he said.

"I thank my teammates for coming up clutch today. Shane with his baskets, Maggette for getting
to the free throw line, and big guy Brand for all those great offensive rebounds."

Zydrunas Ilgauskas led all scorers with 28. Maggette had 26 for the Clippers.

STATISTICS:




OOP COUNT: 2




NEXT GAME:
THE 3 TIME DEFENDING CHAMPIONS LOS ANGELES LAKERS!

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CLIPPERS OVERCOME LAKERS IN OVERTIME IN STAPLES CENTER



The Los Angeles Clippers beat the Los Angeles Lakers today in overtime, 114-106.
Just like the last game against the Cavs, they had to come back from behind to claim the victory.
At one point in the third quarter they fell behind by 19 to the Lakers, but they closed the gap
by keeping the Lakers to only 38 points in the second half.

quarter by quarter


Kobe Bryant played through injury. He hurt his rib in the first quarter.
Despite his pain he put up 33 points in the game, including a threepointer at 89-92
to send the game into overtime.

Shaquille O'Neal had a game high 43 points and 35 rebounds.
He also blocked 6 shots and had 5 steals.

But the Clippers overcame the Lakers' star power with a collective effort.
The defense was cracked up in the second half.

"I'm most proud of our defense," Head Coach Alvin Gentry said.
"Offensively we are going to be better. We already hit a few more shots than in game 1.
We are trying out some new plays and the players still have to get used to them.
Keeping the Lakers to 106 points in 53 minutes is excellent though."

On offense it was mostly Elton Brand who the Clippers had to depend on.
The All Star power forward only missed 2 of his 15 shot attempts.
He had 26 points and 4 blocks. Jason Williams had 25 points and 11 assists,
and Corey Maggette scored 20.


Corey Maggette with one of the highlights of the game

STATISTICS:




OOP COUNT: 3



NEXT GAME:
DETROIT PISTONS

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PISTONS COME INTO STAPLES TO BLOW OUT THE CLIPPERS, 119-82

The Detroit Pistons came into town to embarrass the Los Angeles Clippers
on their home floor, 119-82. They took a big lead early and never looked back.

Quarter By Quarter


"We're back with both our feet back on the ground," Coach Alvin gentry said.
"We were high on our two wins going into the game. But this is a game of ups and downs,
we know that. Today the Pistons were much stronger. But no reason to get too much down
on ourselves, I think the game gave us plenty of positives to work with."

The Clippers' players weren't so optimistic.

"Our spacing was all messed up. I like the flow offense that we are trying, but our spacing suffers.
I don't know if we should keep playing like this," said Lamar Odom.
"I'm not even a starter any more though, so yeah, who is going to listen to me out here?"

Chauncey Billups led all scorers with 27 points, but center Ben Wallace was the big star of the game,
going 11 for 11 from the field for 26 points and 24 rebounds.

STATISTICS:




No Oops

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CLIPPERS GO 3-1 AS THEY BEAT THE SIXERS BEHIND MAGGETTE'S 41 POINTS



Corey Maggette scored 41 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Los Angeles Clippers
came back from behind yet again to beat the Philadelphia 76ers, 113-95.


Corey Maggette posterizes Allen Iverson

"I was due a big game," Maggette said. "I been done stinking it up."


Corey Maggette with a putback dunk

Elton Brand, Lamar Odom and Jason Williams all had a double double too.
Odom played 37 minutes in the game, and center Chris Andersen just 20.

"If Odom keeps playing as well as he does, it'll be hard to keep him out of the starting line up,"
said Coach Alvin Gentry. "But against some of the other teams we do need a real center out there."

Gentry criticized point guard Jason Williams after the game.

"He needs to turn the ball over fewer times. Not always go for the spectacular play."

Fans have been calling the Clippers Lob City ever since his arrival.

STATISTICS:





NO OOPS AGAIN

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CLIPPERS BEAT NETS AS JASON KIDD GETS INJURED



The Los Angeles Clippers have beat the New Jersey Nets, 113-103.
The Nets had to play most of the game without All Star point guard Jason Kidd.
He got injured after just two minutes in the game and had to leave the court.

Clippers' point guard Jason Williams had an excellent start to the game. He delivered 11 assists in the first quarter.
He only added 2 assists to that tally in the rest of the game, but he scored instead of assisted and ended
with a game high and season high 37 points going 5 for 7 from threepoint range.
He was 1 point shy of his career high in points.



Corey Maggette had a near 30 point triple double, but came up short 1 rebound and 2 assists.
Brand and Odom both had a double double.

Richard Jefferson had 34 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists for the Nets.
Jason Collins had 25 points and 13 rebounds, and Kerry Kittles 20 points and 6 assists.

The game was close until the end of the second quarter, when the Clippers made a 17-6 run to finish the half.
They led by 9 going into halftime, and never gave the lead up again.



The Clippers improve to 4-1 in the standings, tieing the Golden State Warriors who were leading the Conference
on their own. The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers are close behind.



STATISTICS:




NO OOPS AGAIN

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CLIPPERS LOSE POINT GUARD JASON WILLIAMS TO INJURY

The Los Angeles Clippers have won another game, this time against the Orlando Magic, 116-108.
Point guard Jason Williams had to leave the game early with a collapsed lung.
He had 8 point and 4 assists.

Corey Maggette scored 40 and Lamar Odom excelled with 27 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists,
going 13 for 14 from the field. Elton Band had 24 points and 19 rebounds.

"We played excellent defense," said Coach Alvin Gentry. "However, we need to cut down on the turnovers."
The Orlando Magic had 17 steals in the game. The Clippers were more efficient from the field and
won the rebound battle.

It was just a one point game going into the fourth quarter.
But Tracy McGrady, who was hot particularly in the first half, did not come up clutch for the Magic
down the stretch. McGrady had 39 points on 40 shot attempts.

Point guard Jason Williams is expected to be back in 1 to 2 weeks.

STATISTICS:

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CLIPPERS BEAT HEAT IN COLLECTIVE EFFORT

The Los Angeles Clippers have extended their winning streak to 3 games by beating the Heat on their home floor.
The Clippers had 5 players with 20 points or more in the game. Quentin Richardson filled in at point guard
for the injured Jason Williams and did well. He had 23 points, 6 rebounds and 12 assists.

Shane Battier also had the best game in his Clippers' career, scoring a game high 29 points.
Corey Maggette had 26 points and 8 assists, Lamar Odom 23 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists,
and Elton Brand 20 points and 14 rebounds.

Again the Clippers had to come back from behind to get the win.
They were behind by 8 points after the first quarter.



Clippers' Coach Alvin Gentry was full of praise for his team after the game.
"We had 5 players with 20 points or more, and everybody shot 50% or better from the field."
I couldn't have asked for anything more than that."

STATISTICS:

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The Clippers overcome 60 points by Tracy McGrady



The Los Angeles Clippers have improved to 7-1 after beating the Orlando Magic for the second time this season.
Tracy McGrady scored 60 points in the game and had 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals.
For L.A. Jason Williams and Corey Maggette both had 34 points, and Odom 24.
Jason Williams also had a season high 16 assists.

The game was a very tight battle during the first three quarters. Just like the previous game against the Magic,
the Clippers led by just one point going into the fourth quarter. Tracy McGrady put pressure on the defense all game long.
He got to the free throw line 9 times, fouling out both Elton Brand and Shane Battier in the process.



"We've come up clutch when it mattered most," power forward Elton Brand said.
"Time and time again we play well in the fourth quarter of games.
I have a lot of faith in this team. But we will have to keep it up."



STATISTICS: