[1-1] Da Clip Show | @ Rockets (Good God That Sucked!)

[Valor]

nice december recap to cap off the year, Blake Griffin gonna be coming back soon next month? can't wait to see how he does for you (and his impact in real life too...)

[Mark.]

3-4 is a decent record, pretty similar to how the Clippers are playing in real life I guess. I like the Kaman - Prince trade as im a huge fan of Tay, also it will help clear that log jam in the frontcourt and allow to you try to find how to fit Al Thornton into the team while Tay covers the majority of the SF mins. Do it

[Lamrock]

CLIPPERS LOSE
The #18 Clippers blog on the Web! (The Clippers of Clippers Blogs)
December 2009 Review: Part 1


(Via NBA.com)

1. Chris Bosh | Toronto Raptors (7-3) | 27.8 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 30.3 PER, TS: .607%

In a contract year, Chris Bosh has elevated his play to a whole new level. Following four consecutive seasons in which the forward averaged the same (though excellent) stats, people considered him to be a second-tier star. Bosh has enjoyed a career year, posting career stats nearly across the board, and leading the surprising Raptors to a 7-3 record, good for second in the East. Whether he remains with Toronto after this season is uncertain, but Bosh has definitely played like a max-contract recipient should.

2. Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers (9-1) | 30.7 PPG, 6.4 APG, 5.0 RPG, 24.8 PER, TS: .570%

Kobe Bryant has best player on the best team status going for him, but he is also putting up 30+ points per game for the first time in the Gasol era. Additionally, he is also averaging a career high 6.4 assists. Bryant's play has paid dividends, as the Lakers remain title favorites. Expect him and Bosh to be neck and neck all year for the award.

3. Brandon Roy | Portland Trailblazers (8-2) | 24.4 PPG, 6.9 APG, 5.5 RPG, 26.3 PER, TS: .627%

Brandon Roy, a guy who was selected after the likes of Adam Morrison and Shelden Williams due to his supposedly low ceiling continues to elevate his game to new heights. In his fourth NBA season, Roy is putting up career highs in scoring and assists, and is shooting the lights out. With the Blazers holding the second best record in the NBA, Roy has a legit shot at the MVP award. Can he keep it up?

4. Chris Paul | New Orleans Hornets (5-6) | 25.5 PPG, 7.8 APG, 5.4 RPG, 2.5 SPG, 30.9 PER, TS: .631%

New Orleans is fielding an awful roster, but the league's premier point guard is keeping them afloat. Though Chris Paul is tying a career-low 7.8 assists, he has enjoyed his best shooting year of his career, and a career high 25.5 PPG. With an extreme shortage of talent surrounding him, Paul has had to become a prolific scorer as well as a facilitator. CP3 has certainly risen to the occasion, and is only held back by his team's lackluster record.

5. LeBron James | Cleveland Cavaliers (5-5) | 30.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 6.0 APG, 26.6 PER, TS: .563%

LeBron James has the raw stats, but is not shooting as well as in last year's MVP campaign, and more importantly, the Cavs have a pedestrian 5-5 record. Nevertheless, James is a consistent triple-double threat, and is second in the league in scoring. If the Cavaliers recover from this false start, which they most likely will, expect him to move up these rankings.

6. Dwight Howard | Orlando Magic (9-4) | 19.6 PPG, 13.5 RPG, 3.5 BPG, 24.5 PER, TS: .576%

While the status of best big man in the NBA has perhaps been usurped by Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard has been enjoying yet another stellar year. With the Magic having a difficult schedule to open the season, and a shuffled roster, the Magic have managed to remain in the East's upper echelon thanks to the play of Howard. Dwight continues to be a dominant force on both ends of the floor and a fierce rebounder.

7. Dirk Nowitzki | Dallas Mavericks (7-3) | 23.8 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 23.8 PER, TS: .554%

Dirk Nowitzki is enjoying another excellent year, leading the surprising Mavs to third place in the tough Western Conference, and averaging just under 10 rebounds. While he continues to be an offensive juggernaut, Dirk has really turned heads with his defense this year. With perhaps the only other weakness in his game eliminated, Dirk continues to be one of the most well-rounded players in the league.

8. Danny Granger | Indiana Pacers (7-3) | 28.8 PPG, 6.3 APG, 23.3 PER, TS: .541%

The Indiana Pacers (7-3) have been a major surprise story. While the emergence of Most Improved Player candidate T.J. Ford has been a major factor, it has been Danny Granger, who has truly stepped it up. Somehow continuing the trend of large annual increases in his scoring average, Granger has established himself as a prolific scorer and legitimate superstar.

9. Josh Smith | Atlanta Hawks (7-4) | 18.4 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 4.3 BPG, 2.6 SPG, 25.1 PER, TS: .567%

Josh Smith is leading the defensive player of the year race by a mile right now, but has also been the best player on the Hawks. Scoring far more since eradicating the 3-point shot from his arsenal, J-Smoove has put up career highs across the board, and was the recipient of the November Player Of The Month award. The only knocks against him are that he is the team's second scoring option, and that the Hawks are currently fifth in the conference.

10. Kevin Durant | Oklahoma City Thunder (3-6) | 31.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 26.8 PER, TS: .591%

The Thunder continue to suck, but you can't snub the league's leading scorer from these rankings altogether. On a subpar squad, Kevin Durant is in the running for the Most Improved Player award for the second straight season, as he has blossomed into the league's top scorer. Expect Durant to become a permanent fixture in this race, especially as the Thunder improve.

Outside Looking In:
11. Dwyane Wade (MIA)
12. Carmelo Anthony (DEN)
13. Kevin Garnett (BOS)
14. Tim Duncan (SAS)
15. Chauncey Billups (DEN)
16. Steve Nash (PHX)
17. Baron Davis (LAC)
18. Pau Gasol (LAL)
19. T.J. Ford (IND)
20. Paul Pierce (BOS)
--------------------
Jerryd Bayless Sent To Suns For Dudley, Gragic
(Via NBA.com)

<--|-->

December 28, 2009 - After averaging just 7.4 minutes per game this season, second year Blazers guard Jerryd Bayless had had enough. After a period of being on the trading block, Bayless has been dealt to the Suns for forward Jared Dudley and guard Goran Dragic. Essentially, the deal was Jared for Jerryd.

Though the Blazers (8-2) and Suns (6-4) had started the season well, both Dudley and Bayless had voiced complaints about playing time. Dudley averaged 18 points per game as a starter in 4 games Grant Hill had missed due to injury, but has averaged just 7 in limited minutes since being relegated back to the bench. Meanwhile, Bayless had made several statements to the press on how he wanted out. Neither team wanted the negative press and mutiny in the locker rooms, and in turn, both got potentially excellent additions to their teams.

Bayless was not needed on a Blazer team already containing Andre Miller, Steve Blake, Brandon Roy and Patrick Mills, but small forward remained their weakest position. The inexperienced Nicolas Batum and inconsistent Martell Webster stuck out like sore thumbs on an otherwise stacked roster, and Dudley should be an upgrade. A workhorse role player who can defend, score efficiently and hit the three, Dudley the perfect SF for them. Dragic was thrown in to balance salaries, and because Dudley is arguably the best player in the trade. Despite the long-term contract of Dragic, Portland still appears to be the winner of this deal.

Phoenix will likely look to rebuild after this season. With the Thunder owning their 2010 pick, the Suns will likely attempt one last playoff run before retooling. In Bayless, they get a point guard who might be a replacement for the aging Steve Nash. Bayless can learn under Nash's tutelage, and will likely improve vastly in Phoenix's run-and-gun system. They also get rid of Dragic's small, but long-term deal. The caveat for them is that they lose Jared Dudley, their best bench player and a fantastic role player. They may have dealt the wrong small forward.

Jared Dudley has averaged 11.5 points per game and 3.4 rebounds in 17 minutes per game this year, with a PER of 16.2. Jerryd Bayless has averaged 2.5 points per game and an assist in 6.9 minutes per game, with a PER of 18.7. This is the second major trade of the season, the first being Stephen Jackson to Charlotte.

Portland Trade Grade: A- | Phoenix Trade Grade: B-

[Fresh8]

Nice update. I like the trade too. Hopefully Dudley can help your mates Portland!

Go Durant!

[kibaxx7]

Looking great, Lamrock. Baron in the MVP race!

Drop by my story later, I made the team.

[Lamrock]

Sit, Durant's dominating. Easily a top 5 player in the league here. Would be higher, but I wanted to make it like real R2MVP by promoting players on good teams. (hence why Kobe is so high) It feels weird only doing a two part, and not three part monthly recap. :S Oh well.

Thierry., Thanks man. Not sure if Baron is a top 20 player (though his stats are certainly nothing to scoff at), but I just had to include him.

[dare]

After 1 week Kobe will be no.1 in the race

[The X]

Nice trade. I like Dudley in Portland & good to see Bayless return to Arizona

[3PK]

Thats a really nice trade, for both teams. It gives Earl Clark more opportunities to step up, but ultimately I think Portland did really well with that trade. They add to useful bench players to their team. Nice write up also, Interesting to see T.J. ford in contention - I still have his rookie NBA card (in shiny)

[Martti.]

Hopefully Bayless gets some decent playing time in Phoenix.

[Valor]

Nice R2MVP, but i think Kobe should be #1 cause the Lakers are 9-1
Josh Smith's defensive stats are inflated! DPOY will be between him and Howard only it seems

[hova-]

Realistic trade, although in real life Dudley is blooming under the Suns' system. (but who's not blooming next to Steve Nash)

For the race, it's always tough to make a good ranking, I noticed by myself. So for me Kobe looks like the clear number one so far. The fact that Bosh is surprising should not really give him the number one spot. Your stats are really good, Bosh 11 rpg etc. very realistic. Keep it up!

[Lamrock]

CLIPPERS LOSE
The #18 Clippers blog on the Web! (The Clippers of Clippers Blogs)

Phoenix Suns @ Los Angeles Clippers
The Other Davis On The Other LA Team Shines In High Scoring Win
Clippers 116, Suns 104

January 8, 2010 - After a tight, fast-paced shootout in the first half, the Clippers slowed it down, and eclipsed the soft, defenseless Suns. While Baron Davis was outplayed by fellow marquee point guard Steve Nash, our big men (especially Chris Kaman) dominated, as did little-used reserve swingman Ricky Davis.

The first quarter was all us at first, with Baron and Eric Gordon combining for 8 of our first 12 points (to their 2). Little did we know that the two would only combine for 6 more over the course of the rest of the game. The duo went cold, and the Suns nailed a frenzy of threes. Amar'e Stoudemire scored at will, thanks in part to several Nash alley-oops. Al Thornton delivered early on, but the Suns nonetheless, led by 7 after the first period.

The second quarter looked like more of the same, then Dunleavy substituted Ricky Davis in for the struggling Rasual Butler and fatigued Thornton. The former star would score 10 consecutive points on his own, and get us back in the game. We were actually up 63-61 with 2.4 seconds remaining in the half, before Channing Frye finally made himself useful, sinking the buzzer-beater trey. Amar'e was cited as the top player at the half, having 17 points and 5 rebounds on 6-9 shooting at the time.

The second half began with a drought, ended two minutes in by Kaman. From here, Chris Kaman would proceed to slaughter the Suns defense, giving us a double-digit lead, and scoring 13 of his 24 in the third quarter. Frye, Louis Amundson and Amar'e were a losing combo defensively in terms of containing the big man. Furthermore, Ricky Davis was quickly subbed in for the struggling Eric Gordon (season-low 6 points and 5 assists on 2-9 shooting). It took an 8-2 run to close the quarter for the Suns to even be within striking distance, but we nonetheless entered the penultimate quarter leading 94-83.

Garbage time commenced when we opened the fourth with eight straight points, with Ricky hitting the dagger trey. A lineup of Sebastian Telfair, Mardy Collins, Steve Novak, Craig Smith and DeAndre Jordan held down the fort as we coasted to an easy 116-104 victory. In Collins' 7 minutes, he dished three assists, but shot 0-2, causing his player efficiency rating to plummet 40 points.

Baron's 8 points was a season low, but in the post-game interview, he said he was just happy his team won. Baron's 9 assists was a team high however. New addition Jerryd Bayless struggled in his Phoenix debut, scoring 4 points on 1-6 shooting in 15 minutes off the bench. Al Thornton had a very solid game, scoring 23 points (not sucking). With the win, we improve back to .500, and a tie for 8th place. Meanwhile, the Suns fall to 6-5, and 7th place. Next week, we take on leading scorer Kevin Durant and the 6-5 Oklahoma City Thunder.


STAT scored 12 in the first quarter (thanks to Nash) | Chris Kaman wishes he played Phoenix every night

J-Rich was no match for... Ricky Davis? | Regret signing those extensions yet guys?
(6-5) 33 31 19 21 104
(4-4) 26 37 31 22 116

JORDAN Player Of The Game: Chris Kaman (Clippers): 24 points, 10 rebounds (35 minutes)
Chris Kaman had by far his best game of the season so far, scoring a season-high 24 points to go with 10 boards. Kaman dominated match-up Channing Frye (who scored 6 points, on 2-7 3pt shooting, like a real center) and likely put trade rumors to rest for the time being. In the post-game interview, Kaman said "Nenad (Krstic), you're next". One can expect another big showing for the Caveman against another soft Center.
MCDWYANE Shitass Of The Game: Louis Amundson (Suns): 1 point, 1 rebound, 5 fouls, 2 turnovers, 0-3 FG, 1-4 FT (19 minutes)
The guy the Clippers didn't scout failed to make him regret it. The great white dope somehow committed 5 fouls in under 20 minutes, didn't rebound, had a +/- rating of -17, and put on a clinic on not scoring the ball well. He is looking like the McDwyane Shitass of the year.

Other Noteworthy Performances

Ricky Davis: 23 points, 10-10 FG (17 minutes)
Al Thornton: 23 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals (35 minutes)
Marcus Camby 8 points, 13 rebounds, 2 blocks (32 minutes)
Baron Davis: 8 points, 9 assists, 4-12 FG (28 minutes)

Amar'e Stoudemire: 23 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists (38 minutes)
Steve Nash: 14 points, 13 assists (37 minutes)
Jason Richardson: 20 points, 5 rebounds (34 minutes)
Grant Hill: 18 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds (33 minutes)

[Azzdogs]

Good win over the Suns and excellent 3rd quarter.

[hova-]

Sweet win and I love the pic with Nash and Hill regretting their contracts ^^
Kaman was really useful, but I guess that also comes from being lined up against the likes of Frye and Amundson (the Shitass of the YEAR ^^)

Still a good win.

[The X]

Disappointing that Amundson didn't do better

[dare]

Ricky Davis 10-10 FG does the Suns know how to play defense

[kibaxx7]

Ricky Davis 10-10 FG

[Martti.]

Davis is a beast!

[Patr1ck]

He'll redeem himself with a 1-12 performance soon enough.

[Mark.]

Haha Pdub is right, but great win dude Always great getting one over a division rival.

[Fresh8]

Wow... Ricky Davis was a beast... for one game.

[Lamrock]

Thanks for the replies guys. Replies for this will likely continue to be sporadic (if not moreso), as it is the last two weeks of the semester, but thanks to in-game saves, I'll hopefully have the Thunder game up by tomorrow.

To be honest, this dynasty is going far better than I expected. I thought it would just be a stepping stone for me to learn how to play 2K10 (not just sim 80-90% of my games like Nellieball) before I made another attempt at a "magnum opus" dynasty with 82 game seasons, an awful team and a bunch of fancy shit. However, I am having so much fun with these Clippers that I'm sticking with them. (Also toughing out the last dozen games in Nellieball's season)

Question: What do you think of the large lineup pics? Are they necessary? Should they be smaller, divided into 2 or nixed altogether? Your input would be much appreciated.

[Eirsej]

the lay out is pretty cool. the pictures give more feel to the game. plus, the captions are very entertaining lol. i say you should stick with it

[Mark.]

Yeah I think the current layout is fine, it works in well with the rest of the recap