CLIPPERS PREGAME SHOW:
Hello folks, this is Raplh Lawler, voice of YOUR LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS! Coming to you through XM Radio's NBA Broadcast. The Clippers are openning up the season on the road against the Washington Wizards. This team is a little different compared to last year's successful team, they've lost Larry Hughes to the Cavaliers but were able to trade for Caron Butler and sign Antonio Daniels. Wizards get to open up the season at home, so look for them to come out shooting. Now, THE GAME!
First Quarter:
Just like we predicted, Gilbert Arenas comes out firing! Arenas is hitting jumpers and taking it to the rack at will. Jarvis Hayes, recently back from surgey is looking good, getting into the act and taking it to the Clippers weak interior defense. Clippers look nervous and their perimeter players are missing open jumpers, so Livingston goes to his best weapon out there and calls POWER PF and SCORER PF. Even with Antwan Jamison out of the game due to an elbow injury, Clippers still managed to end the first half down by 8 points.
Arenas dailing long distance
Brand working the middle
Jameison injured
Second Quarter:
The Clippers bench starts the second quarter without much success. Rookie James Singleton managed to get out on a few fastbreaks for easy buckets. Coach Dunleavy, puts back his starters since the backup squad really wasn't producing. Maggette takes matters into his own hands and starts demanding the ball. He manages to get into the paint and score thanks to some excellent playcalling and crafty passes from Shaun Livingston. Arenas is still on FIRE and starts to share the wealth with Anthony Peeler. Some how Peeler was able to find the fountain of youth somewhere in the Wizards locker room, because he is abusing Cuttino Mobley. Clippers still somehow keep them game close, ending the first half down by only 3.
Maggette taking matters into his own hands
Brand getting nasty
Arenas glides in
Brand with power
CLIPPERS HALFTIME SHOW:
Wow, that Gilbert Arenas is something else! I don't know if it was entirely his offensive skills or the Livingston's weak defense, but he really went off in the first half. Jarvis Hayes is looking good, he was very aggressive and got to the hole without any hesitation. Where would the Clippers be without Elton Brand? He scored 18 points just to keep up with Arenas. He did a good job too, the Clippers are only 3 back. Clippers need to contain Arenas and get some stops if they want to win this game.
Players of the Half
Third Quarter:
Livingston starts calling plays for Mobley and Maggette in hopes to start the perimeter game. He calls SHOOTER B, where Mobley starts on the right side of the court, runs into traffic and then back out again on the left side, where an open shot should be waiting for him. Coach Dunleavy told him to hold off on the 3 point attempts a bit, he's a little too trigger happy tonite, so Mobley has to settle for mid-range jumpers. Game plan is working, and Mobley starts to pile on the points. Kaman starts playing some defense and the Clippers dig a little bit into the lead.
What is Peeler thinking? part 2
Brand working the middle
What is Peeler thinking?
Mobley long 2
Fourth Quarter:
Clippers look pretty good entering the fourth quarter, they just need to continue playing good defense and work the paint with Brand and Kaman. But there's a problem, Gilbert Areans has OTHER PLANS. His plan involves BOMBS, 3 point bombs to be exact. He doesn't know how to miss apparently. Wizards backcourt start making minced meat of the Clippers once again. Clippers didn't help matters for themselves very much as they commit needless fouls. Livingston tried his best and it wasn't good enough, fouling out in the fourth. Clippers find themselves down by as much as 12, this is when Mobley starts making things interesting. He gets aggressive, he can't be denied, scoring most of his points in the the fourth quarter. Clippers get within 1 point! But costly fouls and failure to box out, gave the Wizards all they needed. 2 easy put back attempts, sealed the victory for them.
Griffin Not to be denied
Kaman getting into the act
McCarty stroking it
Mobley throwing it down
Player of the Game GILBERT ARENAS
CLICK TO ENLARGE-
CLIPPERS POSTGAME SHOW:
It's clear that the Clippers have the offense to win games, but their defense is totally lacking. This is something I'm sure Coach Dunleavy and his coaching staff will work on. Maybe they need to play Sam Cassell more, if Livingston continues to struggle on the defensive side. I think the Clippers problem this game aside from defense was the lack of a transistion game. They need to run more and get out on fastbreaks. Keep an eye on James Singleton folks, I think he's a very soild player. He might be the surprise of the season. Till next time, this is Ralph Lawler signing off.
Last edited by
Devin112 on Mon Oct 10, 2005 1:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.