October 20, 2025 • 43 mins
The LA Clippers are BACK TO PLAYING REGULAR SEASON BASKETBALL. Adam and Chuck talk about the Clippers coming into the season fully healthy, Beal's preseason performance, and how John Collins, CP3, and Brook Lopez could affect things off the bench vs a feisty Utah Jazz team
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:10):
What is going on? Clippers fans? Welcome to season four,
episode eight of Clips and Dip. I am Chuck Mockler,
joined by Adam Oslin. William up Dyke still in England hopefully,
or he's somewhere else that we don't know about. But
we are here today to talk regular season Clippers basketball.
It is back this week. They play on Wednesday. I'm
(00:31):
so excited. If you're listening to us, we're excited you're
hearing us. If you'd like to watch us, find us
at YouTube dot com slash at Clippers Podcast. We're gonna
go live after the game on Wednesday, live after the
game on Friday. It should be a fun time before
we get into the game against the Jazz. Adam Osland,
how the heck are you as we inch towards meaningful,
(00:53):
more meaningful Clippers basketball.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
I'm good. I am busy and excited for Clippers basketball
to start. I feel like we've been for some time
here itching and itching.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
For those of you not watching, Adam is petting his
cap uh in a very doctor Evil style, which.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Am allion dollars.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
We're ready for the season to start. Yeah, there was
more news about off the court things involving the Clippers,
but we're not going to talk about that because we
don't feel like talking about it. We are going to
talk about how Bradley Beal played in the final preseason game,
so the Clippers are returning to action healthy. Uh. He
didn't make a three, the mid range was nice, he
(01:40):
was good close to the basket, and the Warriors like
played their guys for the most part against a B
plus Clippers squad.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
I would not say B plus Clippers squad. Let's see
no Kawhi, no Javes, Harden, Nobam Nobod, no CP three.
I feel like there's somebody else I'm missing here. They
had two stars in DJ who played like eight minutes. Yeah,
(02:13):
played thirty minutes in that gameball Outside Jimmy Butler, they
pretty much played.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
How'd you like Beal stuff? Did it and still confidence.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
I felt good about it. Quick with his decisions. He
could have had a couple of assists, but they couldn't
convert for him. But he had some nice passes, some
nice reads. I think, you know, he looked like Bradley
Beal to me. I I think people are going to
be impressed and shocked at how good he is. Because
of the conversation regarding him over the last two years
in Phoenix. Yeah, and it's really overblown. There's a whole
(02:49):
lot that went wrong there that was outside of Bradley Beal,
and his numbers are pretty good and if he's that
efficient with the Clippers, they're going to be in really
good shape.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
I like this tweet that Clippers film had where he
was talking about Bradley Beal. He said, it's literally Norm Powell.
If Norm was better in the mid range, a better
passer ball handler, and a decision maker and a more
versatile finisher at through himgoing. But he's getting the exact
same sets as Norm Powell, seamless fit. I don't know
if I would go that far all the way around
(03:20):
on Bradley Beal, but I do like the gist of
this because I think it's right. His sets can fit
in well into Norms and we can add some more
kind of dribble handoff stuff.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I mean, and it's no disrespect to Norm, but no
one should feel disrespected that they're being overlooked by a
guy who averaged thirty as the number one option on
a team before. I don't know if Norm could do
that even on bad teams, and those Wizards teams weren't great,
of course, but I think a couple of them made
the playoffs in the East. Like he's he's an efficient
(03:56):
number one. He is deadly in all three levels, and
he doesn't move the same exact way to twenty five.
There isn't huge slippage there athletically either, I'd say so.
I do think it's honestly an upgrade in all those areas.
The only the only spot on the floor you could
say Norm, maybe he. I don't know what the catch
(04:18):
and shoot numbers say, because Norm had some ridiculous numbers
in his years with the Clippers, you know, playing off
of the Powell Rangers lineup and stuff like that. Will
he be as good of a fit as Norm was
at times being that third or fourth option, which is
where Bradley bal will have to be at times.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
And to your point too, you know, in terms of
like Beal not being as good as a shooter as Norm,
that's fine because Norm, like you said, had some absurd years.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Had some absurd fourth quarters too, where he was the
best shooter on the team, like shooting like fifty from
three and fourth quarters, and Norm was really good. But
Bradley Beal is capable of more.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
He's also healthy, so it seems like he's going to play.
Not too much significant stuff from practice today other than
Joey Lynn got a quote saying from Tyler saying, it's
not realistic for the Clippers to play eleven guys every night.
So it sounds like it's gonna be an odd man
out of the rotation that different player could change game
to game. But don't expect the Clippers to play eleven guys.
(05:29):
I think this shouldn't be that big of a surprise.
They want consistency and we have to have but ideally
you want your top guys to play.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Yeah. I think we talked about it recently, the Golden
State Warriors trying that at the beginning of last season,
it was not sustainable to keep guys in rhythm, to
keep guys happy, to play eleven or twelve guys each
and every night. It's just it's theory versus practice, and
it did not play out the way they wanted it to.
(05:59):
So I think the Clippers they have less, you know,
young guys that are all jocking for position, maybe as
Golden State did to start last season, and naturally some
guys will be banged up and older guys on this
Clippers team will be looking for rest. So I think
it'll make a lot of sense that you know, you
don't know maybe who you might see on a given
(06:22):
night on the back end of the roster. But they
will keep rotating those guys in and out, so hopefully
alls they are healthy, those guys will be fresh and
in rhythm just enough.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Yeah, just in time when we need it. The expected
starting five from here at clips and DIP. I don't
want to totally speak for Adam, but I think he's
with me on this one. James Harden, Bradley Beal, Derek Jones,
Junior Kawhi Leonard and a Vitzuzu bots will match up
against the Utah Jazz. What are we looking to see
(06:58):
kind of from that starting five? I guess because you
have a whole mess of bench guys to talk about
who could make a huge impact. Donn also was sick
today in mispractice, so TVD on his status as of Monday,
but they didn't seem too worried about it.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Yeah, another former member of the Utah Jazz, not just
John Collins going back there.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
I think this starting five is boond memories I'm sure.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Yeah, definitely. John Collins is my player to watch. I
want to see what he does to his former team.
But these, uh, this starting lineup with the Clippers makes
all the sense of the world. I was raised my
hand pretty early in the offseason be like, hey, guys,
what about that point of attack defense? And we don't
want to lose all of that. I get wanting to
(07:46):
put Kawhi the three, but I think this is a
higher priority to have point of attack defense and just
to have that, you know, floor going into every game
where you know you have one of the best guys
at that particular defensive those defensive traits in the game
(08:10):
at all times with DJ and Dunn, and that's a
premium in this league. That's really nice to have. And
the Clippers have two of those guys start one of
them in DJ, and hopefully as three point shooting continues
to go up like it has last three years.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Yeah, and kind of on the three point shooting, to
the defense of that starting five with Derek Jones Junior,
I think, to your point is better than the offense
would be with John Collins, you know what I mean?
Like that, that's a top five unit possibly in the
NBA defensively for the starters, which is huge.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Yeah, I mean, I think there's a chance that in
certain situations, certain teams, certain matchups, it does make sense
to start John Collins. If it's a playoff series, maybe
the right matchup. Look how big Houston's gonna start off
this season. I don't know if anybody saw their five
(09:12):
man starting lineup, It is ridiculous. They have KD at
the two, Jabari Smith junior, Shngoon, Steven Adams, and Aman
Thompson running point. So certain teams, yes, it could make sense.
But for the majority of teams, I think this is
the best starting lineup construction for most teams.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Yes, and then the depth should be on display. We'll
get into that more after a quick break in a
few But like you said, we got Collins, who was
going inst the former team. We got CP three, Lopez
done the aforementioned illness, but Toom and Bogie, so one
of those guys is probably gonna be out of the rotation.
But a guy who's not gonna be is John Collins, who,
(09:59):
like you said, Adam could have a fun night on
this second unit because I don't think the Jazz depth
can really match up with the Clippers, specifically.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Something about going up against your former employer that brings
out the best in guys, as Brian Seeman likes to say.
And I think it's going to bring out the best
in him, not that there's necessarily, you know, any real
bad blood. To my knowledge, they traded for him, they
wanted him. But the only thing I could think is
it sure looked like they were intentionally not playing him
(10:30):
last season the second half of the year because he
was helping them too much. So you could take that
as a compliment or that could rub you the wrong
way and just hey, I want to play. I'm twenty
seven years of age. Now he's twenty eight, and he's
not getting core time out there, and maybe that will
be the get back from him in this ballgame.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
Yeah, I think. And it would be very hard to
be a young good player. Yeah, I just saw that happen.
It seems that Adam and I both have the other
game on. Sorry, no no worries, man, it's a really
tough time for the season when it's going to be
the Dodgers in the World Series as the first open
(11:13):
the season. That's a problem for me to solve.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
I feel like they're familiar with George Springer in a
game seven.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
We don't talk about him in this house. We don't
talk about him, and I don't talk about him. What
we're even talking about in a moment, Oh, John Collins,
I was saying, it would be so difficult to be
a very young, a very good player and basically getting,
you know, the short end of the stick, because the
franchise wants to not play very good. But it shows
(11:40):
so much to kind of what kind of teammate and
guy he is that he didn't make a stink about it,
because that is a thing that if you made a stink,
most people would be like, I can see it, like,
it's not like he's in the wrong, But like you said,
like at media Day, he showed off his personality of it.
He's not big on social media, which had some people
kind of freaked out, which I thought was funny. But
(12:02):
I'm excited for him to catch that first lob from
CP three. I think we're gonna need him in transition.
But yeah, I think he's gonna have a good day
at the office.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
I think that second is gonna be bottom who's at.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
The Yeah, uh, we're gonna talk about the rosters, and
it's like, who do you thinks all the outs maybe
for the Clippers in this game rotation wise, who do
you think maybe isn't there's a chance they all get
playing time based on how things could go, but meaning
early before things or maybe out of hand minutes, maybe both.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Just because Bogie Boom, Bogie Btoom, Um, you know Jordan Miller.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Well, yeah, okay, let's let's let's way let's maybe put
uh twenty five twenty six Clippers season decree from clips
and dips. When we talk about their rotation, I'm going
to assume that Jordan Miller's not in it at all.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Uh. I think it's the Toom and Bogey are the
most likely guys. Maybe Chris Don if he's still not
feeling well. And because if they're not going with full
line shifts out there, then instead of seeing those five
guys that we saw together in the Second Union, we
could see Kawhi with four of them instead. I assume
(13:33):
that could be something we'd see so I could see yeah,
Don Bogie Batoum.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Yeah, And that's fine. That's what that's why the depth
is there. Coming up, we're gonna talk a little bit
more about Clippers Jazz kind of what the Jazz can
throw with the Clippers. It's been weird before. If you're
listening to us, it's gonna be an audio break. If
you'd like to watch us, you can find us at
YouTube dot com slash at Clippers podcast. You can see
the last days of my horrible beard that I have going.
(14:03):
I usually don't have this if you're a new watcher.
Usually it's just a mustache. But oo do I hate
the thing and want it off my face. Small audio
break and then more Clippers vers Jazz talk coming up
in three to two.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Welcome back in his clips and dip. I'm Adam Moslin.
Season four, episode eight. We got Chuck Moppler. No will Updyke,
but he will be returning soon. Don't worry about that.
Clippers first preview in Utah for Game one of eighty
two to start off the twenty twenty five twenty twenty
six season and the Utah Jazz. It's funny because this
(14:41):
Jazz team, they are incentivized to hold on to I
think a top eight pick they have that would go
to I want to say Philly. If it lands outside
the top eight, they want to lose this season I
think at some point marketing might get traded. I think
it like anybody could be on the table. They've already
(15:05):
gotten rid of some guys. Obviously it's not just John Collins,
but Colin Sexton now gone, Jordan Clarkson now gone, well
known Clippers killer. So the deal is this Utah before
last year, the two years prior to last year got
off to really hot starts and then realized they need
(15:26):
to lose, and Daddy Age is all for tanking. But
the two years prior to this past season, the twenty
four to twenty five season, they got off to strong starts.
And this is You're gonna get their best shot opening night.
The excitement level that's going to be there at Delta Center,
(15:46):
and all the guys are gonna be pumped for this,
and they still have professionals that can burn you, and
some good young players, and I think this is gonna
be it. Can can game one be a trap game?
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Yes, a gay one? Can one hundred percent be a
trap game? Like you said, I was looking. We don't
talk about gambling on this show, but sometimes you look
at win totals just to see what the team is at.
Multiple sports books have given this Jazz team and over
under of eighteen and a half wins. So even I,
(16:22):
someone who's never gambled in his life, knows that that
is a low total. But it doesn't matter because you
can show what you can do as a young team
that's supposed to lose early in the season, and you
kind of try and get your your wins in when
you can. Like Adam was saying, do we know if
Ace Bailey is gonna play? He has tendonitis in both needs.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Ooh, which that's interesting because he look good at times
in the preseason. Yeah, I haven't seen the update is
your report on him? But Walker Kestler is gonna play,
and a Walker Kessler is one of the best young
big men in the league. I'd say young Zoo. He
looks that good. That's the guy who if the Lakers
(17:07):
were going to give up two first round picks for,
that's the guy they do it for to make up
for losing a Visa Zoo bots Walker Kessler.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
So that's what's kind of funny about this Jazz team
is their bigs have shown to have some success against
the Clippers before. Right, Like Walker Kessler's good marketing, I
consider a big he can shoot the lights out, uh,
like they have. There's concepts of a plan for this
Jazz team to have kind of a modern, you know,
(17:38):
big shooting offense, but that kind of does because I
don't know how they are in transition, which I think
is the Clippers biggest weakness. But sorry, go ahead, No.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
I was gonna say, Lauri market is coming off remember
last season, will they won't they trade him? And then
there was a deadline. He ended up getting paid the
contract the big He had a really bad year for
his standards. He only played forty seven games. There was
this back injury that he had throughout it. I could
see him really wanting to show that, you know, I'm
(18:13):
the guy that you paid for and I'm gonna give
you a good return on your investment. And I actually
really like their head coach and Will Hardy. He runs
good stuff. But they have done stuff that looks like
they're intentionally taking at times. But I think it was
the game against the Lakers last season, did they now
get it across the court? Did they get an eight
(18:33):
second violation or something ridiculous at the end of the game,
And it looked like a little fishy something, you know,
something a little Fishy happened with do you tell you know?
Speaker 1 (18:44):
To your point about Will Hardy, you know that guys
are buying in if you're able to convince them to
do an eight second. So he has the belief of
the players.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Yeah, I believe in you, coach. I believe in picks
to replace me in future years. That's what we want here.
I don't know why many players would care much about taking, but.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Yeah, it's going to be. People commented to he plays
shooters against the Clippers a lot like kind of five
shooters sometimes, and the lob of the jam of the
pod brought this up last time we played them near
the All Star break, Philipowski had twenty and ten, Zoo
only played twenty five minutes, and that was when we
saw kind of like Ben Simmons having a good game. Yes,
(19:33):
the Jazz lost the game, but that's not really the point.
The point is that we maybe might see some small
ball five tomorrow if they play the all shooting lineup
or something. But that's kind of how this is a
trap game, right. We don't know what the Jazz are
going to do because they're like a losing a team
that wants to lose. But it's the first game, and
they have good pieces that can make shit happen.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
Yeah, it feels like a trap game because you don't
know what they're gonna what they're gonna throw at the wall.
They've remade their team in some ways. You know, Yes,
they want to keep their first round pick, and they
need to finish as one of the bottom eight teams
to do that. But it's game one. They want to
give their fans a little bit momentum heading into the season.
(20:16):
I don't know what they're gonna throw out there. And
the Clippers also have all these different variables and very
lineup variations that they can use too at the same time,
so a fueling out type of process early on. If
the Clippers do get down early, have some patience. Let's
just let's see how these matchups are gonna go. But
(20:37):
I also wouldn't be surprised, obviously if this Clippers team
just dominated, because.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
I was waiting for the other shoot to drop.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
I'm very hopeful that they're gonna start off eight and two,
seven and three at worst.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Sure, Well, this, like you said, they're just sitting losing games.
They were thirtieth in defensive rating last sear and they
didn't exactly refortify, like they didn't bring in anyone to
help out for the starters. I had three things kind
of on the breakdown where it was the harden Zoo
(21:11):
pick and roll, what does Kawhi shot diet look like?
And then from Russo's article, when the Clippers got Bradley
Beal handoffs for Bradley Beal going downhill, making a decision
against a team that's going to be bad defensively, Which
of those three? I guess are you most interested to
(21:32):
see kind of unfold?
Speaker 2 (21:37):
I definitely want to see, you said, getting downhill.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
Sorry, yeah, Beille, getting downhill. You're fine.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
There's like way more lag than usual. I don't know
why here getting downhill games to the basket something we
haven't seen the long time from this Clippers team consistently,
which is why I always felt like a beachs a
zoobots was grossly under utilized because they have a guy
that can actually get you some easy buckets. But now,
if Bradley Beal is really slicing and dice in the
defense along with Derek Jones Junior, who was doing some
(22:09):
of that in the preseason, get it and go use
your athleticism to get downhill. I think that would be
a really really good sign on just intentionality and maybe
one of the mandates coming into this season because some
of the stuff you see are what are the principles
that carry over from training camp immediately? And sometimes you
(22:29):
get a real glimpse into what this team's identity is
going to be. We know they're still trying to be
great on the defensive end and have that point of
attack defense, but what are the new wrinkles to this
team building on what they did last season with not
just their defense, but having you know, the offensive potential
(22:49):
that they do now considering who's healthy to start off
this season, how are they going to play on that
end right away? Because that's obviously something we didn't see
till really February when why I started to get it going.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Yeah, that was another thing on here was the show
up factor, which we used to kind of talk about defensively,
but now offensively, it's like we got the ideal starting five.
Kawi's been healthy in the off season, Like Beal's talked
about it. I like that Beal talked about after practice
how comfortable he feels with Sue because Zo sets such
good screens, so there's a lot of Like he said,
(23:24):
he kind of feels a familiarity there when with that
asset kind of being a part of it. It's a
big help too. But yeah, I want to see the
fast start. I want to see them, you know, looking
efficient and looking smooth and intentional on everything they're doing.
And I think the Jazz might try and make the
Clippers run is the other part. So maybe not get
(23:47):
sucked into the pace that the Jazz try and pick
it up to, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Yeah, I think that's a good point going into every game.
The Clippers have to know that's going to be the
game plan from the opposition. But if they make them
pay with some of those hit, it heads to DJ
early on to show the day we can fight fire
with fire. Here we can do a little bit of
the same plus and we're in the half court. We
(24:14):
execute as one of the best teams in the league
in this area. So yeah, I think they need to
put out some good tape to show that they're able
to run a little bit or maybe a little bit
more than they could in the past. Use the athletes
that you have, Use Jean Collins, use DJ. Let's see
what type of pop, Bradley Beal has getting downhill. You know,
(24:38):
I think this team maybe surprises us in that area
a little bit. And again, they were better in that
area last season. I think they were like around thirteenth
and transitioned fast break points or something like that. It
was it was a distinct improvement and an emphasis coming
into last season that they were able to pull off
overall in the numbers.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
And I pass tested it, or that it passed the
eye test, because sometimes it was like, well the Clippers,
they're only ranked fifteenth, and you'd watch it and you're like,
this is not a good fifteenth though.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
Yeah, and you got a Kawhi Leonard coming in, hitting
the ground running quite you know, there's no restrictions. This
is a Kawhi Leonard that we haven't seen for five
years with the healthy offseason.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
I mean five years is crazy. And now kind of
moving to the bench, which we touched a little bit
in the first segment, if the starters aren't able to
make something happen, I feel confident that the Clippers bench
should probably win their minutes when matched up against mostly
(25:45):
Jazz bench guys. Am I being too confident in that? Yeah?
Or nay?
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Uh no? I think that's realistic. I think most nights
the Clippers are going to have a more lopsided bench
advantage then maybe they do starters advantage. They will have
a starter's advantage a lot of the time, but bench
advantage wise, it may even be a larger margin of
error between and a larger disparity I should say, between
(26:13):
their bench and everybody else's. But again, there's going to
be staggering. It's not going to be just a true
five man benchlinep out there that often.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
I would it would be very funny if Tyler did
the hockey change in game one. Things would have to
be going pretty bad.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
I wouldn't blame him. After the preseason they had.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
That is true. Oh, there was a report shocking news
from I think it was Windhorse this week that James
Harden might not be he and it's good some people
have seen him in the preseason. WHOA stop the presses
if you've heard that. If you haven't heard that James
Harden might play his way into shape, that's kind of
(26:57):
a nice thing for him. With Beal being here or
is that heel?
Speaker 2 (27:01):
You?
Speaker 1 (27:01):
Yeah, work on getting downhill and stuff to I'm going
to distribute and play into shape a little bit.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
I don't remember if this was media day or a
practice session he did with the media, but I thought
he said and he looked pretty good being a media day.
I thought he said, he's gotten an even better shape
than he was in coming into last season when everybody
freaked out at the type of shape that he was in.
We'll see I.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
This whole like, I don't think it matters.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Yeah, but outside of one season to start with the Rockets,
when he was about to get traded, the reports of
James Harden being out of shape, and then he comes
in and drops twenty five easily, Like how many times
are we going to do this? I know he's thirty
six now, I know he's older, but I just it
(27:57):
seemed like low hanging fruit or just hey, this is
a big name and we're talking about Yeah, it is
total just engagement. And I was not happy seeing that.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
And I think people are tired of it. To your point,
even the aggregators that were like I didn't even see.
I'm like, it's this is it's dying. Let it go.
He's also old now, so it's like it's not as
crazy as when he was young, like to being not
as good as shape.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
Well, like we all saw him at media Day and
all these pictures and stuff, and there wasn't some gross,
unflattering picture that made James Harden look bad or in
some bad light where everybody was picking at that. So
it's like we're a pretty good judge like of seeing
what type of shape he's in and even spoke about it.
(28:45):
So I don't know, this just seems like a yearly
thing now and it's just overblown.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
With all the attention the Clippers have gotten this offseason,
you don't think someone could have got one unflattering picture
of James Harden. Come on, I'm looking forward, uh back
to Encourt. I'm so excited to see Lopez and obviously
the CP three bench led unit is going to be
great when he's out there, But man, I just want
(29:12):
to watch those two play against this specific backup because
I'm just I'm excited to see those old guys rec
shit for lack of a better term.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
Yeah, the older I get, the more I want to
see old guys rec shit.
Speaker 1 (29:27):
Like I.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
Watched the UFC fight. I'm always rooting for the older guy,
Like I see Kershaw out there, let's go.
Speaker 1 (29:37):
Yeah, that's just how it is.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
So I I honestly think a lot of people are
going to be stunted at how good they look. You know,
some of the casuals or the national media that just
look at the number the age. It's like, well, I
don't know. Brook Lopez missed two games last season and
CB three missed zero and James Harden three, Like, I
(30:02):
don't know, guys, I think there's a decent chance that
these guys. You know, I've said this all summer long,
but getting younger is good. Uh, getting getting better is better,
and they definitely got way better, maybe at the expense
of getting a little bit older, but I think it's
worth it when you bring in guys with this pedigree,
(30:24):
with these these resumes that you can lean on, and
with the depth that they have, not having to rely
on them to play huge minutes anymore. It would be
one thing if you were asking CB three to play
thirty minutes a night or Brook Lopez you just did
last season. They don't need that on the Clippers. So
(30:47):
we're talking about older guys appropriately playing lesser minutes. I
think it can work.
Speaker 1 (30:56):
We think it can work. Now we come to the
most important part of the show for those of you
knew to the show. We pick a player of the
game every single game. We are not allowed to pick Kawhi,
Leonard Aviza, Zubats or James Harten. Is that fair to
start the season. It might evolve into adding Bradley Beal, but.
Speaker 2 (31:19):
It feels like we got plenty of good options still.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Oh yeah, I think we do. Are you sticking at him?
Are you sticking with mister Collins?
Speaker 2 (31:30):
I gotta take John Collins back in Utah and just
I want to see that that type of player, that
archetype they just haven't had in a while, not since
Montrez or Blake Griffin. Just I think he can. You
talk about reckon shit like him playing next to Brook Lopez,
roll into the basket a lot, all that space he
(31:51):
has to work with. I expect two or three dunks
against his former team. Give me give me six sixteen.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
I gotta go CP three. Oh sorry, sixteen what we
do have a crazy delay? Sorry about that.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
I don't know why this delay. Give me give me
sixteen eight and uh a block and a.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
Steel sixteen to eight and a block and a steal.
Hell yeah, sign me up for that all day. I
gotta go, like I said, I gotta go CP three.
I want to see him be like a plus twenty
three and just one of those things where it's like wow,
(32:41):
CP three had eight points, uh eleven assists, no turnovers.
The bench was like plus twenty with him leading it.
I think it's gonna be CP three. I think the
experience just on the bench is and is going to
destroy this chaste.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
How about this? I just thought about this. His last
game as a Clipper was against Utah in Game seven
in twenty seventeen that they lost unfortunately at Staples Center.
His first game with the Clippers is back against Utah.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
Stars are aligning for him to be player of the game.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
Well, wait, who did we pick for Will? Oh?
Speaker 1 (33:24):
Yeah, who would Will pick?
Speaker 2 (33:29):
KPJ?
Speaker 1 (33:31):
KPJ? Would you go Derek Jones Jr.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
That's a Will type of pick.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
That's a Will. That's a classic Will pick. Will's gone,
Derek Jones Jr. If he's right. Adam and I are
taking credit. Coming up, we're doing a very quick audio break.
You can just watch us at YouTube dot com Sacklippers Podcast.
We're gonna talk just a scoch about the game against
the Suns, and then we're gonna do an outro coming
up in three two.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
One Welcome back in Clips and Dip episode eight of
season four. And we got two Clippers games this week,
Real games, guys, We're real boys. Now we can do this.
The Phoenix Suns are coming to Into a Dome on
Friday for the home opener, just as they did last
(34:19):
season for the Into a Dome opener. And we had
four miserable games against Phoenix last year, at least if
you stayed till the final score, because some of those
games the Clippers were absolutely kicking their ass and let
their foot off the gas and somehow lost and it
was very frustrating, including the first game at Into a
(34:40):
Dome where they were up by nine with I think
three thirty two left and they should not have lost
that game, and there were some misfree throws and I
think it went into overtime in the Sun. I just
I still can't believe the Suns started a third quarter
fifteen of fifteen from the field. Are you kidding me?
I think the that was the Halloween game and I
(35:01):
feel like they're playing them on Halloween again.
Speaker 1 (35:03):
This year, are they? Well, no, they are, it's a
week back, right, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
Who are they playing on Halloween? It's not Phoenix. I
know they're playing Friday. I'm saying, are they playing them
on Halloween too?
Speaker 1 (35:20):
No, they're playing that. They're playing an even worse team
to play on Halloween.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
That's right, it's the Pels. That's as scary as any
Friday thirteenth movie. Okay, we'll focus on Friday. They need
to destroy the Phoenix suns, shoot them into the sun,
send them off where they came.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
Oh wow, this needs to be I'm not kidding.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
I need a twenty five point win.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
Hell yeah, all right, I like this. So there's also
a chance that they're going to be down a guy
because Jalen Green is missing their opener with a hammy,
and so their possible starting five is gonna be Devin Booker,
Grayson Allen, Dylan Brooks, Ryan Dunn, and Mark Williams. I
think this is just a brief preview. We're gonna probably
talk about it more in our respective streams after Wednesday's
(36:14):
Game one. But there's gonna be an awesome CP three
tribute video. As my guess, the home crowd is going
to be insane. You will be there. I should be
there as well, not as members of the crowd, but
just there to witness it. I think there's a strong
chance of what you want to happen happening.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Back from whence you came back to the Suns. Fire
them back into the sun. Yeah, because said about last
year still and I think they if they didn't have
shirts about Denver, they might have shirts to say some
others swear we're talking about why they lost to the
(36:57):
Phoenix Suns four times.
Speaker 1 (36:59):
Yeah, something like m never mind, I was gonna spell
it a not fun acronym, but I will. I hope
they play that clip of mister Burns creating the machine
that blocks out the sun at some point when the
Clippers are winning. I think the depth is gonna help
us in this one. It's a bit stronger of a
starting five, I think than the Jazz. Maybe we don't
(37:19):
really know yet though, Point Devin Booker is back this year.
That's a thing that they've been talking about. And I'll
tell you what. I think we have a remedy for
that on the bench, which is Chris dun guarding Point
Devin Booker. Good luck with that, buddy. I hate the Suns.
I've been on record as saying that.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
I have dj are done on him for forty eight
minutes or how many forty minutes however many who plays.
Speaker 1 (37:46):
Or Derek Jones Jr.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
That's what I'm saying. Yeah, they got oh yes, sorry,
wait they got two DJs.
Speaker 1 (37:54):
Yep, Deandres back Man. Yeah, I feel I don't know
what the spread is, but I I hope the Clippers
can beat it. And also then they play the Jazz
again on Sunday, and that's looking too far ahead, but
it's a They're in a nice space to start to
(38:16):
season two in them.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
They should start three and O.
Speaker 1 (38:21):
I think it's Portant.
Speaker 2 (38:25):
Is it? Or is it Utah?
Speaker 1 (38:27):
Yeah? Oh it's Portland.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
Man.
Speaker 1 (38:30):
I think I'm probably gonna go to that game too.
So you're I mean, we're picking the clip I'm excited
to watch, and they're they're just not I mean, defensively,
the starting five is annoying for the Suns for sure,
but I don't know how much Dylan Brooks really left
has left now that I now that I've uttered that
sentence out of.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
My mouth, annoying is the right word. I respect Dylan Brooks.
I like the way he plays. I like a guy
like that on my team. There's some Patrick Beverly with
the way he plays. I'm fine with that. But Kawhy
is going to go to World. Yeah he doesn't have
some Pat Bev through his game.
Speaker 1 (39:12):
He does. I don't like him as much as Pat Bev,
nearly as much as Patrick.
Speaker 2 (39:16):
Beverly, because Patrick Beverley was a Clipper. If doyn't even.
Speaker 1 (39:22):
Independent of that, I think I think Dylan Brooks is
far more annoying. Well, Patrick Beverley didn't dress like stone
cold Steve Austin and look insane doing it.
Speaker 2 (39:36):
He did jump up on a table on a play
and win against the Clippers and waved his jersey above it,
just won the championship, shoved CP three in the back.
Who's back with?
Speaker 1 (39:47):
Okay, we don't just credit Clippers credit.
Speaker 2 (39:51):
You're saying. I like those type of players that that
go out there with an edge and set a tone
a little bit.
Speaker 1 (39:58):
Yeah, he's gonna play our what you're saying, Kawhi is
going to do his thing.
Speaker 2 (40:03):
I think there's still gonna be a bad defense this year.
They're not going to be twenty seventh the Phoenix Suns,
but I still think they're gonna be a bottom ten
defense and the Clippers can feast that they're over under
is like thirty wins. I'm not kidding Phoenix Suns they
should be bad like I think at some point, I
don't know if I don't want to say, we're having
a Booker is going to regret taking this deal. But
(40:30):
look if he wants to be the greatest Phoenix Sun
of a Phoenix Suns player of all time and be
a lifer but not have a chance to win, I
don't know. I don't know how this is going to
go for them. I just think they really miss their window.
Speaker 1 (40:46):
Give a leord to ability wise, I don't think this
is the same, but career wise, it's very similar to
Mike Trout, where it's like you're the number one.
Speaker 2 (40:56):
Here man, except Devin Booker at fully tasted. Deren Booker
was up two to oh in an NBA finals and
looked like he was about to taste the champagne. Sorry
Mariners fans, Dodgers going to Toronto.
Speaker 1 (41:16):
Looks like we gotta destroy the Blue Jays. Okay, any
other thoughts on Sun's clippies before we get out of here.
Speaker 2 (41:28):
I need utter destruction of the Phoenix Suns.
Speaker 1 (41:32):
Destroy all. I could not agree more. We're gonna be
doing a post Both of us are gonna be doing
a postgame live independently of each other, and maybe we'll
do a crossover and the Balloons are going wow post
game live after Game one on Wednesday, probably talk a
little more about the Sun's game there too, gonna be
(41:53):
live after the Sun's game as well. Reviews can help us.
You can do that at Spotify now with the star ratings.
You can type out a review that we will read
on air, pending language. Of course, what I'm saying is
don't use two bigger words or I will not be
able to make my way through. We thank you for
watching us. You can subscribe to this at YouTube dot
complish at Clippers Podcast click notify, so when we go
(42:16):
live after games, you can watch us if you're listening.
We also appreciate you. Adam. It's the week of Clippers
regular season basketball. Please give us the first installment of
Adam's One Positive.
Speaker 2 (42:28):
Thing First in installment, my ass. I've been doing these also.
Speaker 1 (42:33):
Regular seasons of the regular season. You're fired up about
the Suns. I love it.
Speaker 2 (42:41):
There's a real good chance the Clippers could start three
and oh and they should start three in h and
I'm expecting them to. This could be the first time
in a long time that they get off to a
quick start, because if you go back and look over
the seasons, I think the last time they got off
to a really good start where they were five and
they won five of six for their first five was
(43:02):
the twenty twenty twenty twenty one season, So it has
been a while. This is it. I think it's going
to happen seven and three at worst their first ten games.
That's what it's gotta be.
Speaker 1 (43:14):
There we go, That's what it's gotta be. That's what
it's going to be. We will see you very soon.
Let us know if you're going to the game. Follow
us at Clippers Pod. Thank you all so much. We
made it. Let's focus about what's happening on the court
because that's all we can not control, but control more
than the other stuff. Thank you for listening. Let's go
Clips
What is going on? Clippers fans? Welcome to season four,
episode eight of Clips and Dip. I am Chuck Mockler,
joined by Adam Oslin. William up Dyke still in England hopefully,
or he's somewhere else that we don't know about. But
we are here today to talk regular season Clippers basketball.
It is back this week. They play on Wednesday. I'm
(00:31):
so excited. If you're listening to us, we're excited you're
hearing us. If you'd like to watch us, find us
at YouTube dot com slash at Clippers Podcast. We're gonna
go live after the game on Wednesday, live after the
game on Friday. It should be a fun time before
we get into the game against the Jazz. Adam Osland,
how the heck are you as we inch towards meaningful,
(00:53):
more meaningful Clippers basketball.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
I'm good. I am busy and excited for Clippers basketball
to start. I feel like we've been for some time
here itching and itching.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
For those of you not watching, Adam is petting his
cap uh in a very doctor Evil style, which.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Am allion dollars.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
We're ready for the season to start. Yeah, there was
more news about off the court things involving the Clippers,
but we're not going to talk about that because we
don't feel like talking about it. We are going to
talk about how Bradley Beal played in the final preseason game,
so the Clippers are returning to action healthy. Uh. He
didn't make a three, the mid range was nice, he
(01:40):
was good close to the basket, and the Warriors like
played their guys for the most part against a B
plus Clippers squad.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
I would not say B plus Clippers squad. Let's see
no Kawhi, no Javes, Harden, Nobam Nobod, no CP three.
I feel like there's somebody else I'm missing here. They
had two stars in DJ who played like eight minutes. Yeah,
(02:13):
played thirty minutes in that gameball Outside Jimmy Butler, they
pretty much played.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
How'd you like Beal stuff? Did it and still confidence.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
I felt good about it. Quick with his decisions. He
could have had a couple of assists, but they couldn't
convert for him. But he had some nice passes, some
nice reads. I think, you know, he looked like Bradley
Beal to me. I I think people are going to
be impressed and shocked at how good he is. Because
of the conversation regarding him over the last two years
in Phoenix. Yeah, and it's really overblown. There's a whole
(02:49):
lot that went wrong there that was outside of Bradley Beal,
and his numbers are pretty good and if he's that
efficient with the Clippers, they're going to be in really
good shape.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
I like this tweet that Clippers film had where he
was talking about Bradley Beal. He said, it's literally Norm Powell.
If Norm was better in the mid range, a better
passer ball handler, and a decision maker and a more
versatile finisher at through himgoing. But he's getting the exact
same sets as Norm Powell, seamless fit. I don't know
if I would go that far all the way around
(03:20):
on Bradley Beal, but I do like the gist of
this because I think it's right. His sets can fit
in well into Norms and we can add some more
kind of dribble handoff stuff.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I mean, and it's no disrespect to Norm, but no
one should feel disrespected that they're being overlooked by a
guy who averaged thirty as the number one option on
a team before. I don't know if Norm could do
that even on bad teams, and those Wizards teams weren't great,
of course, but I think a couple of them made
the playoffs in the East. Like he's he's an efficient
(03:56):
number one. He is deadly in all three levels, and
he doesn't move the same exact way to twenty five.
There isn't huge slippage there athletically either, I'd say so.
I do think it's honestly an upgrade in all those areas.
The only the only spot on the floor you could
say Norm, maybe he. I don't know what the catch
(04:18):
and shoot numbers say, because Norm had some ridiculous numbers
in his years with the Clippers, you know, playing off
of the Powell Rangers lineup and stuff like that. Will
he be as good of a fit as Norm was
at times being that third or fourth option, which is
where Bradley bal will have to be at times.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
And to your point too, you know, in terms of
like Beal not being as good as a shooter as Norm,
that's fine because Norm, like you said, had some absurd years.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Had some absurd fourth quarters too, where he was the
best shooter on the team, like shooting like fifty from
three and fourth quarters, and Norm was really good. But
Bradley Beal is capable of more.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
He's also healthy, so it seems like he's going to play.
Not too much significant stuff from practice today other than
Joey Lynn got a quote saying from Tyler saying, it's
not realistic for the Clippers to play eleven guys every night.
So it sounds like it's gonna be an odd man
out of the rotation that different player could change game
to game. But don't expect the Clippers to play eleven guys.
(05:29):
I think this shouldn't be that big of a surprise.
They want consistency and we have to have but ideally
you want your top guys to play.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Yeah. I think we talked about it recently, the Golden
State Warriors trying that at the beginning of last season,
it was not sustainable to keep guys in rhythm, to
keep guys happy, to play eleven or twelve guys each
and every night. It's just it's theory versus practice, and
it did not play out the way they wanted it to.
(05:59):
So I think the Clippers they have less, you know,
young guys that are all jocking for position, maybe as
Golden State did to start last season, and naturally some
guys will be banged up and older guys on this
Clippers team will be looking for rest. So I think
it'll make a lot of sense that you know, you
don't know maybe who you might see on a given
(06:22):
night on the back end of the roster. But they
will keep rotating those guys in and out, so hopefully
alls they are healthy, those guys will be fresh and
in rhythm just enough.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Yeah, just in time when we need it. The expected
starting five from here at clips and DIP. I don't
want to totally speak for Adam, but I think he's
with me on this one. James Harden, Bradley Beal, Derek Jones,
Junior Kawhi Leonard and a Vitzuzu bots will match up
against the Utah Jazz. What are we looking to see
(06:58):
kind of from that starting five? I guess because you
have a whole mess of bench guys to talk about
who could make a huge impact. Donn also was sick
today in mispractice, so TVD on his status as of Monday,
but they didn't seem too worried about it.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Yeah, another former member of the Utah Jazz, not just
John Collins going back there.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
I think this starting five is boond memories I'm sure.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Yeah, definitely. John Collins is my player to watch. I
want to see what he does to his former team.
But these, uh, this starting lineup with the Clippers makes
all the sense of the world. I was raised my
hand pretty early in the offseason be like, hey, guys,
what about that point of attack defense? And we don't
want to lose all of that. I get wanting to
(07:46):
put Kawhi the three, but I think this is a
higher priority to have point of attack defense and just
to have that, you know, floor going into every game
where you know you have one of the best guys
at that particular defensive those defensive traits in the game
(08:10):
at all times with DJ and Dunn, and that's a
premium in this league. That's really nice to have. And
the Clippers have two of those guys start one of
them in DJ, and hopefully as three point shooting continues
to go up like it has last three years.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Yeah, and kind of on the three point shooting, to
the defense of that starting five with Derek Jones Junior,
I think, to your point is better than the offense
would be with John Collins, you know what I mean?
Like that, that's a top five unit possibly in the
NBA defensively for the starters, which is huge.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Yeah, I mean, I think there's a chance that in
certain situations, certain teams, certain matchups, it does make sense
to start John Collins. If it's a playoff series, maybe
the right matchup. Look how big Houston's gonna start off
this season. I don't know if anybody saw their five
(09:12):
man starting lineup, It is ridiculous. They have KD at
the two, Jabari Smith junior, Shngoon, Steven Adams, and Aman
Thompson running point. So certain teams, yes, it could make sense.
But for the majority of teams, I think this is
the best starting lineup construction for most teams.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Yes, and then the depth should be on display. We'll
get into that more after a quick break in a
few But like you said, we got Collins, who was
going inst the former team. We got CP three, Lopez
done the aforementioned illness, but Toom and Bogie, so one
of those guys is probably gonna be out of the rotation.
But a guy who's not gonna be is John Collins, who,
(09:59):
like you said, Adam could have a fun night on
this second unit because I don't think the Jazz depth
can really match up with the Clippers, specifically.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Something about going up against your former employer that brings
out the best in guys, as Brian Seeman likes to say.
And I think it's going to bring out the best
in him, not that there's necessarily, you know, any real
bad blood. To my knowledge, they traded for him, they
wanted him. But the only thing I could think is
it sure looked like they were intentionally not playing him
(10:30):
last season the second half of the year because he
was helping them too much. So you could take that
as a compliment or that could rub you the wrong
way and just hey, I want to play. I'm twenty
seven years of age. Now he's twenty eight, and he's
not getting core time out there, and maybe that will
be the get back from him in this ballgame.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
Yeah, I think. And it would be very hard to
be a young good player. Yeah, I just saw that happen.
It seems that Adam and I both have the other
game on. Sorry, no no worries, man, it's a really
tough time for the season when it's going to be
the Dodgers in the World Series as the first open
(11:13):
the season. That's a problem for me to solve.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
I feel like they're familiar with George Springer in a
game seven.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
We don't talk about him in this house. We don't
talk about him, and I don't talk about him. What
we're even talking about in a moment, Oh, John Collins,
I was saying, it would be so difficult to be
a very young, a very good player and basically getting,
you know, the short end of the stick, because the
franchise wants to not play very good. But it shows
(11:40):
so much to kind of what kind of teammate and
guy he is that he didn't make a stink about it,
because that is a thing that if you made a stink,
most people would be like, I can see it, like,
it's not like he's in the wrong, But like you said,
like at media Day, he showed off his personality of it.
He's not big on social media, which had some people
kind of freaked out, which I thought was funny. But
(12:02):
I'm excited for him to catch that first lob from
CP three. I think we're gonna need him in transition.
But yeah, I think he's gonna have a good day
at the office.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
I think that second is gonna be bottom who's at.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
The Yeah, uh, we're gonna talk about the rosters, and
it's like, who do you thinks all the outs maybe
for the Clippers in this game rotation wise, who do
you think maybe isn't there's a chance they all get
playing time based on how things could go, but meaning
early before things or maybe out of hand minutes, maybe both.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Just because Bogie Boom, Bogie Btoom, Um, you know Jordan Miller.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Well, yeah, okay, let's let's let's way let's maybe put
uh twenty five twenty six Clippers season decree from clips
and dips. When we talk about their rotation, I'm going
to assume that Jordan Miller's not in it at all.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Uh. I think it's the Toom and Bogey are the
most likely guys. Maybe Chris Don if he's still not
feeling well. And because if they're not going with full
line shifts out there, then instead of seeing those five
guys that we saw together in the Second Union, we
could see Kawhi with four of them instead. I assume
(13:33):
that could be something we'd see so I could see yeah,
Don Bogie Batoum.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Yeah, And that's fine. That's what that's why the depth
is there. Coming up, we're gonna talk a little bit
more about Clippers Jazz kind of what the Jazz can
throw with the Clippers. It's been weird before. If you're
listening to us, it's gonna be an audio break. If
you'd like to watch us, you can find us at
YouTube dot com slash at Clippers podcast. You can see
the last days of my horrible beard that I have going.
(14:03):
I usually don't have this if you're a new watcher.
Usually it's just a mustache. But oo do I hate
the thing and want it off my face. Small audio
break and then more Clippers vers Jazz talk coming up
in three to two.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Welcome back in his clips and dip. I'm Adam Moslin.
Season four, episode eight. We got Chuck Moppler. No will Updyke,
but he will be returning soon. Don't worry about that.
Clippers first preview in Utah for Game one of eighty
two to start off the twenty twenty five twenty twenty
six season and the Utah Jazz. It's funny because this
(14:41):
Jazz team, they are incentivized to hold on to I
think a top eight pick they have that would go
to I want to say Philly. If it lands outside
the top eight, they want to lose this season I
think at some point marketing might get traded. I think
it like anybody could be on the table. They've already
(15:05):
gotten rid of some guys. Obviously it's not just John Collins,
but Colin Sexton now gone, Jordan Clarkson now gone, well
known Clippers killer. So the deal is this Utah before
last year, the two years prior to last year got
off to really hot starts and then realized they need
(15:26):
to lose, and Daddy Age is all for tanking. But
the two years prior to this past season, the twenty
four to twenty five season, they got off to strong starts.
And this is You're gonna get their best shot opening night.
The excitement level that's going to be there at Delta Center,
(15:46):
and all the guys are gonna be pumped for this,
and they still have professionals that can burn you, and
some good young players, and I think this is gonna
be it. Can can game one be a trap game?
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Yes, a gay one? Can one hundred percent be a
trap game? Like you said, I was looking. We don't
talk about gambling on this show, but sometimes you look
at win totals just to see what the team is at.
Multiple sports books have given this Jazz team and over
under of eighteen and a half wins. So even I,
(16:22):
someone who's never gambled in his life, knows that that
is a low total. But it doesn't matter because you
can show what you can do as a young team
that's supposed to lose early in the season, and you
kind of try and get your your wins in when
you can. Like Adam was saying, do we know if
Ace Bailey is gonna play? He has tendonitis in both needs.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Ooh, which that's interesting because he look good at times
in the preseason. Yeah, I haven't seen the update is
your report on him? But Walker Kestler is gonna play,
and a Walker Kessler is one of the best young
big men in the league. I'd say young Zoo. He
looks that good. That's the guy who if the Lakers
(17:07):
were going to give up two first round picks for,
that's the guy they do it for to make up
for losing a Visa Zoo bots Walker Kessler.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
So that's what's kind of funny about this Jazz team
is their bigs have shown to have some success against
the Clippers before. Right, Like Walker Kessler's good marketing, I
consider a big he can shoot the lights out, uh,
like they have. There's concepts of a plan for this
Jazz team to have kind of a modern, you know,
(17:38):
big shooting offense, but that kind of does because I
don't know how they are in transition, which I think
is the Clippers biggest weakness. But sorry, go ahead, No.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
I was gonna say, Lauri market is coming off remember
last season, will they won't they trade him? And then
there was a deadline. He ended up getting paid the
contract the big He had a really bad year for
his standards. He only played forty seven games. There was
this back injury that he had throughout it. I could
see him really wanting to show that, you know, I'm
(18:13):
the guy that you paid for and I'm gonna give
you a good return on your investment. And I actually
really like their head coach and Will Hardy. He runs
good stuff. But they have done stuff that looks like
they're intentionally taking at times. But I think it was
the game against the Lakers last season, did they now
get it across the court? Did they get an eight
(18:33):
second violation or something ridiculous at the end of the game,
And it looked like a little fishy something, you know,
something a little Fishy happened with do you tell you know?
Speaker 1 (18:44):
To your point about Will Hardy, you know that guys
are buying in if you're able to convince them to
do an eight second. So he has the belief of
the players.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Yeah, I believe in you, coach. I believe in picks
to replace me in future years. That's what we want here.
I don't know why many players would care much about taking, but.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Yeah, it's going to be. People commented to he plays
shooters against the Clippers a lot like kind of five
shooters sometimes, and the lob of the jam of the
pod brought this up last time we played them near
the All Star break, Philipowski had twenty and ten, Zoo
only played twenty five minutes, and that was when we
saw kind of like Ben Simmons having a good game. Yes,
(19:33):
the Jazz lost the game, but that's not really the point.
The point is that we maybe might see some small
ball five tomorrow if they play the all shooting lineup
or something. But that's kind of how this is a
trap game, right. We don't know what the Jazz are
going to do because they're like a losing a team
that wants to lose. But it's the first game, and
they have good pieces that can make shit happen.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
Yeah, it feels like a trap game because you don't
know what they're gonna what they're gonna throw at the wall.
They've remade their team in some ways. You know, Yes,
they want to keep their first round pick, and they
need to finish as one of the bottom eight teams
to do that. But it's game one. They want to
give their fans a little bit momentum heading into the season.
(20:16):
I don't know what they're gonna throw out there. And
the Clippers also have all these different variables and very
lineup variations that they can use too at the same time,
so a fueling out type of process early on. If
the Clippers do get down early, have some patience. Let's
just let's see how these matchups are gonna go. But
(20:37):
I also wouldn't be surprised, obviously if this Clippers team
just dominated, because.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
I was waiting for the other shoot to drop.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
I'm very hopeful that they're gonna start off eight and two,
seven and three at worst.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Sure, Well, this, like you said, they're just sitting losing games.
They were thirtieth in defensive rating last sear and they
didn't exactly refortify, like they didn't bring in anyone to
help out for the starters. I had three things kind
of on the breakdown where it was the harden Zoo
(21:11):
pick and roll, what does Kawhi shot diet look like?
And then from Russo's article, when the Clippers got Bradley
Beal handoffs for Bradley Beal going downhill, making a decision
against a team that's going to be bad defensively, Which
of those three? I guess are you most interested to
(21:32):
see kind of unfold?
Speaker 2 (21:37):
I definitely want to see, you said, getting downhill.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
Sorry, yeah, Beille, getting downhill. You're fine.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
There's like way more lag than usual. I don't know
why here getting downhill games to the basket something we
haven't seen the long time from this Clippers team consistently,
which is why I always felt like a beachs a
zoobots was grossly under utilized because they have a guy
that can actually get you some easy buckets. But now,
if Bradley Beal is really slicing and dice in the
defense along with Derek Jones Junior, who was doing some
(22:09):
of that in the preseason, get it and go use
your athleticism to get downhill. I think that would be
a really really good sign on just intentionality and maybe
one of the mandates coming into this season because some
of the stuff you see are what are the principles
that carry over from training camp immediately? And sometimes you
(22:29):
get a real glimpse into what this team's identity is
going to be. We know they're still trying to be
great on the defensive end and have that point of
attack defense, but what are the new wrinkles to this
team building on what they did last season with not
just their defense, but having you know, the offensive potential
(22:49):
that they do now considering who's healthy to start off
this season, how are they going to play on that
end right away? Because that's obviously something we didn't see
till really February when why I started to get it going.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Yeah, that was another thing on here was the show
up factor, which we used to kind of talk about defensively,
but now offensively, it's like we got the ideal starting five.
Kawi's been healthy in the off season, Like Beal's talked
about it. I like that Beal talked about after practice
how comfortable he feels with Sue because Zo sets such
good screens, so there's a lot of Like he said,
(23:24):
he kind of feels a familiarity there when with that
asset kind of being a part of it. It's a
big help too. But yeah, I want to see the
fast start. I want to see them, you know, looking
efficient and looking smooth and intentional on everything they're doing.
And I think the Jazz might try and make the
Clippers run is the other part. So maybe not get
(23:47):
sucked into the pace that the Jazz try and pick
it up to, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Yeah, I think that's a good point going into every game.
The Clippers have to know that's going to be the
game plan from the opposition. But if they make them
pay with some of those hit, it heads to DJ
early on to show the day we can fight fire
with fire. Here we can do a little bit of
the same plus and we're in the half court. We
(24:14):
execute as one of the best teams in the league
in this area. So yeah, I think they need to
put out some good tape to show that they're able
to run a little bit or maybe a little bit
more than they could in the past. Use the athletes
that you have, Use Jean Collins, use DJ. Let's see
what type of pop, Bradley Beal has getting downhill. You know,
(24:38):
I think this team maybe surprises us in that area
a little bit. And again, they were better in that
area last season. I think they were like around thirteenth
and transitioned fast break points or something like that. It
was it was a distinct improvement and an emphasis coming
into last season that they were able to pull off
overall in the numbers.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
And I pass tested it, or that it passed the
eye test, because sometimes it was like, well the Clippers,
they're only ranked fifteenth, and you'd watch it and you're like,
this is not a good fifteenth though.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
Yeah, and you got a Kawhi Leonard coming in, hitting
the ground running quite you know, there's no restrictions. This
is a Kawhi Leonard that we haven't seen for five
years with the healthy offseason.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
I mean five years is crazy. And now kind of
moving to the bench, which we touched a little bit
in the first segment, if the starters aren't able to
make something happen, I feel confident that the Clippers bench
should probably win their minutes when matched up against mostly
(25:45):
Jazz bench guys. Am I being too confident in that? Yeah?
Or nay?
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Uh no? I think that's realistic. I think most nights
the Clippers are going to have a more lopsided bench
advantage then maybe they do starters advantage. They will have
a starter's advantage a lot of the time, but bench
advantage wise, it may even be a larger margin of
error between and a larger disparity I should say, between
(26:13):
their bench and everybody else's. But again, there's going to
be staggering. It's not going to be just a true
five man benchlinep out there that often.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
I would it would be very funny if Tyler did
the hockey change in game one. Things would have to
be going pretty bad.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
I wouldn't blame him. After the preseason they had.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
That is true. Oh, there was a report shocking news
from I think it was Windhorse this week that James
Harden might not be he and it's good some people
have seen him in the preseason. WHOA stop the presses
if you've heard that. If you haven't heard that James
Harden might play his way into shape, that's kind of
(26:57):
a nice thing for him. With Beal being here or
is that heel?
Speaker 2 (27:01):
You?
Speaker 1 (27:01):
Yeah, work on getting downhill and stuff to I'm going
to distribute and play into shape a little bit.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
I don't remember if this was media day or a
practice session he did with the media, but I thought
he said and he looked pretty good being a media day.
I thought he said, he's gotten an even better shape
than he was in coming into last season when everybody
freaked out at the type of shape that he was in.
We'll see I.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
This whole like, I don't think it matters.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Yeah, but outside of one season to start with the Rockets,
when he was about to get traded, the reports of
James Harden being out of shape, and then he comes
in and drops twenty five easily, Like how many times
are we going to do this? I know he's thirty
six now, I know he's older, but I just it
(27:57):
seemed like low hanging fruit or just hey, this is
a big name and we're talking about Yeah, it is
total just engagement. And I was not happy seeing that.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
And I think people are tired of it. To your point,
even the aggregators that were like I didn't even see.
I'm like, it's this is it's dying. Let it go.
He's also old now, so it's like it's not as
crazy as when he was young, like to being not
as good as shape.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
Well, like we all saw him at media Day and
all these pictures and stuff, and there wasn't some gross,
unflattering picture that made James Harden look bad or in
some bad light where everybody was picking at that. So
it's like we're a pretty good judge like of seeing
what type of shape he's in and even spoke about it.
(28:45):
So I don't know, this just seems like a yearly
thing now and it's just overblown.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
With all the attention the Clippers have gotten this offseason,
you don't think someone could have got one unflattering picture
of James Harden. Come on, I'm looking forward, uh back
to Encourt. I'm so excited to see Lopez and obviously
the CP three bench led unit is going to be
great when he's out there, But man, I just want
(29:12):
to watch those two play against this specific backup because
I'm just I'm excited to see those old guys rec
shit for lack of a better term.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
Yeah, the older I get, the more I want to
see old guys rec shit.
Speaker 1 (29:27):
Like I.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
Watched the UFC fight. I'm always rooting for the older guy,
Like I see Kershaw out there, let's go.
Speaker 1 (29:37):
Yeah, that's just how it is.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
So I I honestly think a lot of people are
going to be stunted at how good they look. You know,
some of the casuals or the national media that just
look at the number the age. It's like, well, I
don't know. Brook Lopez missed two games last season and
CB three missed zero and James Harden three, Like, I
(30:02):
don't know, guys, I think there's a decent chance that
these guys. You know, I've said this all summer long,
but getting younger is good. Uh, getting getting better is better,
and they definitely got way better, maybe at the expense
of getting a little bit older, but I think it's
worth it when you bring in guys with this pedigree,
(30:24):
with these these resumes that you can lean on, and
with the depth that they have, not having to rely
on them to play huge minutes anymore. It would be
one thing if you were asking CB three to play
thirty minutes a night or Brook Lopez you just did
last season. They don't need that on the Clippers. So
(30:47):
we're talking about older guys appropriately playing lesser minutes. I
think it can work.
Speaker 1 (30:56):
We think it can work. Now we come to the
most important part of the show for those of you
knew to the show. We pick a player of the
game every single game. We are not allowed to pick Kawhi,
Leonard Aviza, Zubats or James Harten. Is that fair to
start the season. It might evolve into adding Bradley Beal, but.
Speaker 2 (31:19):
It feels like we got plenty of good options still.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Oh yeah, I think we do. Are you sticking at him?
Are you sticking with mister Collins?
Speaker 2 (31:30):
I gotta take John Collins back in Utah and just
I want to see that that type of player, that
archetype they just haven't had in a while, not since
Montrez or Blake Griffin. Just I think he can. You
talk about reckon shit like him playing next to Brook Lopez,
roll into the basket a lot, all that space he
(31:51):
has to work with. I expect two or three dunks
against his former team. Give me give me six sixteen.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
I gotta go CP three. Oh sorry, sixteen what we
do have a crazy delay? Sorry about that.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
I don't know why this delay. Give me give me
sixteen eight and uh a block and a.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
Steel sixteen to eight and a block and a steal.
Hell yeah, sign me up for that all day. I
gotta go, like I said, I gotta go CP three.
I want to see him be like a plus twenty
three and just one of those things where it's like wow,
(32:41):
CP three had eight points, uh eleven assists, no turnovers.
The bench was like plus twenty with him leading it.
I think it's gonna be CP three. I think the
experience just on the bench is and is going to
destroy this chaste.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
How about this? I just thought about this. His last
game as a Clipper was against Utah in Game seven
in twenty seventeen that they lost unfortunately at Staples Center.
His first game with the Clippers is back against Utah.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
Stars are aligning for him to be player of the game.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
Well, wait, who did we pick for Will? Oh?
Speaker 1 (33:24):
Yeah, who would Will pick?
Speaker 2 (33:29):
KPJ?
Speaker 1 (33:31):
KPJ? Would you go Derek Jones Jr.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
That's a Will type of pick.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
That's a Will. That's a classic Will pick. Will's gone,
Derek Jones Jr. If he's right. Adam and I are
taking credit. Coming up, we're doing a very quick audio break.
You can just watch us at YouTube dot com Sacklippers Podcast.
We're gonna talk just a scoch about the game against
the Suns, and then we're gonna do an outro coming
up in three two.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
One Welcome back in Clips and Dip episode eight of
season four. And we got two Clippers games this week,
Real games, guys, We're real boys. Now we can do this.
The Phoenix Suns are coming to Into a Dome on
Friday for the home opener, just as they did last
(34:19):
season for the Into a Dome opener. And we had
four miserable games against Phoenix last year, at least if
you stayed till the final score, because some of those
games the Clippers were absolutely kicking their ass and let
their foot off the gas and somehow lost and it
was very frustrating, including the first game at Into a
(34:40):
Dome where they were up by nine with I think
three thirty two left and they should not have lost
that game, and there were some misfree throws and I
think it went into overtime in the Sun. I just
I still can't believe the Suns started a third quarter
fifteen of fifteen from the field. Are you kidding me?
I think the that was the Halloween game and I
(35:01):
feel like they're playing them on Halloween again.
Speaker 1 (35:03):
This year, are they? Well, no, they are, it's a
week back, right, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
Who are they playing on Halloween? It's not Phoenix. I
know they're playing Friday. I'm saying, are they playing them
on Halloween too?
Speaker 1 (35:20):
No, they're playing that. They're playing an even worse team
to play on Halloween.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
That's right, it's the Pels. That's as scary as any
Friday thirteenth movie. Okay, we'll focus on Friday. They need
to destroy the Phoenix suns, shoot them into the sun,
send them off where they came.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
Oh wow, this needs to be I'm not kidding.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
I need a twenty five point win.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
Hell yeah, all right, I like this. So there's also
a chance that they're going to be down a guy
because Jalen Green is missing their opener with a hammy,
and so their possible starting five is gonna be Devin Booker,
Grayson Allen, Dylan Brooks, Ryan Dunn, and Mark Williams. I
think this is just a brief preview. We're gonna probably
talk about it more in our respective streams after Wednesday's
(36:14):
Game one. But there's gonna be an awesome CP three
tribute video. As my guess, the home crowd is going
to be insane. You will be there. I should be
there as well, not as members of the crowd, but
just there to witness it. I think there's a strong
chance of what you want to happen happening.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Back from whence you came back to the Suns. Fire
them back into the sun. Yeah, because said about last
year still and I think they if they didn't have
shirts about Denver, they might have shirts to say some
others swear we're talking about why they lost to the
(36:57):
Phoenix Suns four times.
Speaker 1 (36:59):
Yeah, something like m never mind, I was gonna spell
it a not fun acronym, but I will. I hope
they play that clip of mister Burns creating the machine
that blocks out the sun at some point when the
Clippers are winning. I think the depth is gonna help
us in this one. It's a bit stronger of a
starting five, I think than the Jazz. Maybe we don't
(37:19):
really know yet though, Point Devin Booker is back this year.
That's a thing that they've been talking about. And I'll
tell you what. I think we have a remedy for
that on the bench, which is Chris dun guarding Point
Devin Booker. Good luck with that, buddy. I hate the Suns.
I've been on record as saying that.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
I have dj are done on him for forty eight
minutes or how many forty minutes however many who plays.
Speaker 1 (37:46):
Or Derek Jones Jr.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
That's what I'm saying. Yeah, they got oh yes, sorry,
wait they got two DJs.
Speaker 1 (37:54):
Yep, Deandres back Man. Yeah, I feel I don't know
what the spread is, but I I hope the Clippers
can beat it. And also then they play the Jazz
again on Sunday, and that's looking too far ahead, but
it's a They're in a nice space to start to
(38:16):
season two in them.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
They should start three and O.
Speaker 1 (38:21):
I think it's Portant.
Speaker 2 (38:25):
Is it? Or is it Utah?
Speaker 1 (38:27):
Yeah? Oh it's Portland.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
Man.
Speaker 1 (38:30):
I think I'm probably gonna go to that game too.
So you're I mean, we're picking the clip I'm excited
to watch, and they're they're just not I mean, defensively,
the starting five is annoying for the Suns for sure,
but I don't know how much Dylan Brooks really left
has left now that I now that I've uttered that
sentence out of.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
My mouth, annoying is the right word. I respect Dylan Brooks.
I like the way he plays. I like a guy
like that on my team. There's some Patrick Beverly with
the way he plays. I'm fine with that. But Kawhy
is going to go to World. Yeah he doesn't have
some Pat Bev through his game.
Speaker 1 (39:12):
He does. I don't like him as much as Pat Bev,
nearly as much as Patrick.
Speaker 2 (39:16):
Beverly, because Patrick Beverley was a Clipper. If doyn't even.
Speaker 1 (39:22):
Independent of that, I think I think Dylan Brooks is
far more annoying. Well, Patrick Beverley didn't dress like stone
cold Steve Austin and look insane doing it.
Speaker 2 (39:36):
He did jump up on a table on a play
and win against the Clippers and waved his jersey above it,
just won the championship, shoved CP three in the back.
Who's back with?
Speaker 1 (39:47):
Okay, we don't just credit Clippers credit.
Speaker 2 (39:51):
You're saying. I like those type of players that that
go out there with an edge and set a tone
a little bit.
Speaker 1 (39:58):
Yeah, he's gonna play our what you're saying, Kawhi is
going to do his thing.
Speaker 2 (40:03):
I think there's still gonna be a bad defense this year.
They're not going to be twenty seventh the Phoenix Suns,
but I still think they're gonna be a bottom ten
defense and the Clippers can feast that they're over under
is like thirty wins. I'm not kidding Phoenix Suns they
should be bad like I think at some point, I
don't know if I don't want to say, we're having
a Booker is going to regret taking this deal. But
(40:30):
look if he wants to be the greatest Phoenix Sun
of a Phoenix Suns player of all time and be
a lifer but not have a chance to win, I
don't know. I don't know how this is going to
go for them. I just think they really miss their window.
Speaker 1 (40:46):
Give a leord to ability wise, I don't think this
is the same, but career wise, it's very similar to
Mike Trout, where it's like you're the number one.
Speaker 2 (40:56):
Here man, except Devin Booker at fully tasted. Deren Booker
was up two to oh in an NBA finals and
looked like he was about to taste the champagne. Sorry
Mariners fans, Dodgers going to Toronto.
Speaker 1 (41:16):
Looks like we gotta destroy the Blue Jays. Okay, any
other thoughts on Sun's clippies before we get out of here.
Speaker 2 (41:28):
I need utter destruction of the Phoenix Suns.
Speaker 1 (41:32):
Destroy all. I could not agree more. We're gonna be
doing a post Both of us are gonna be doing
a postgame live independently of each other, and maybe we'll
do a crossover and the Balloons are going wow post
game live after Game one on Wednesday, probably talk a
little more about the Sun's game there too, gonna be
(41:53):
live after the Sun's game as well. Reviews can help us.
You can do that at Spotify now with the star ratings.
You can type out a review that we will read
on air, pending language. Of course, what I'm saying is
don't use two bigger words or I will not be
able to make my way through. We thank you for
watching us. You can subscribe to this at YouTube dot
complish at Clippers Podcast click notify, so when we go
(42:16):
live after games, you can watch us if you're listening.
We also appreciate you. Adam. It's the week of Clippers
regular season basketball. Please give us the first installment of
Adam's One Positive.
Speaker 2 (42:28):
Thing First in installment, my ass. I've been doing these also.
Speaker 1 (42:33):
Regular seasons of the regular season. You're fired up about
the Suns. I love it.
Speaker 2 (42:41):
There's a real good chance the Clippers could start three
and oh and they should start three in h and
I'm expecting them to. This could be the first time
in a long time that they get off to a
quick start, because if you go back and look over
the seasons, I think the last time they got off
to a really good start where they were five and
they won five of six for their first five was
(43:02):
the twenty twenty twenty twenty one season, So it has
been a while. This is it. I think it's going
to happen seven and three at worst their first ten games.
That's what it's gotta be.
Speaker 1 (43:14):
There we go, That's what it's gotta be. That's what
it's going to be. We will see you very soon.
Let us know if you're going to the game. Follow
us at Clippers Pod. Thank you all so much. We
made it. Let's focus about what's happening on the court
because that's all we can not control, but control more
than the other stuff. Thank you for listening. Let's go
Clips
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