Yet while Lue is typically patient with making lineup changes, preferring to let lineup combinations play out over sample sizes of about 10 games, the coach acknowledged he doesn’t have that kind of time anymore. The combination turned a promising opening quarter into more of the same inconsistency that had defined the first iteration of this roster, before the trade deadline.Īny deadline that results in as much rotation upheaval as the Clippers’ requires a grace period. The culprits were multiple: allowing 42 second-quarter points, and Golden State seven more rebounds and 12 more free throws. And that was with the Clippers playing fast, getting the ball inbounds and upcourt quickly - something Lue praised - after limited time together.Įven though the Clippers were coming off three days off and Golden State had played only 24 hours earlier, and even though the Warriors were without the injured Stephen Curry, and even though the backcourt duo of Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole had made a combined one of nine three-pointers, the Clippers still trailed at halftime 65-61. The Clippers finished with 33 assists to only eight turnovers, their fifth game with single-digit turnovers in their last seven. “…That second unit had some juice to it.” “They looked great, looked like they had chemistry,” said Paul George, who had 20 points and eight assists against two turnovers. Gordon, who said he felt comfortable acting as a point guard, showed it with his drive and assist for a Powell basket that held the Clippers’ lead at 118-106 with seven minutes left. “Getting out more, sometimes we might not have to call a play,” Hyland said.īut with a 6-9¼ wingspan, the 6-2 guard also affected the game with three offensive rebounds, his last with three minutes to go in the third quarter leading to his layup to push the Clippers’ lead to 96-89. Hyland didn’t need to know more than a fraction of the playbook against the Warriors to know if he used his quickness to exploit defensive gaps, it could create an offense by itself. Hyland’s speed, which caused Batum to take notice during their first practice Monday, was the obvious selling point of his trade. When Batum sneaked up behind a Golden State rebounder, popping the ball loose, it found its way to Hyland, who sank a three-pointer then smacked his right hip as if holstering a pistol. Shortly after Plumlee checked in late in the first quarter, the big man sporting a black eye stopped a drive by Jonathan Kuminga at the rim.Ī drive by Hyland finished with an assist under the basket to Plumlee. Veteran guard Eric Gordon is back where his NBA career started with the Clippers, learning a new system but ready to play a familiar supporting role. Clippers Eric Gordon is back with Clippers and familiar with his role among stars
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |