Clippers: Looking Past the Lockout
By Jonas Brock
After another disappointing year for Clipper Nation, many fans have trouble going into each season with much optimism. The Clippers finished their 2010-2011 season with a 32-50 record, 25 games behind city rival and “big brother”, the Los Angeles Lakers. Although this was another year in which Clipper fans were thoroughly unsatisfied, I believe the future holds great things for this team.
The first thing that brought back some excitement to Clipper fans across LA was finally seeing NBA Rookie of the Year and All-Star Blake Griffin in action. “The Blake Show” managed to play in all 82 games averaging 22.5 points-per-game as well as 12.1 rebounds-per-game. If Blake manages to put up stats like this in his first full season, if there happens to be one in 2011-2012, imagine what kind of numbers this young superstar will manage to produce in the future.
Although Blake played a huge roll on the Clipper team, he could not have done it without counterpart and shooting guard Eric Gordon. In his third season as a Clipper, Gordon averaged 22.3 points-per-game, and shot an impressive 45 percent from the field (36 percent from 3 point range). Although Eric was plagued with injuries throughout the year, managing to play in just 56 games, and averaging 37.7 minutes-per-game; he has been working out all summer with Clipper staff in order to stay fit and healthy be there a season in 2011.
The Clippers are full of young talent with guys like Eric Bledsoe (All-Rookie Second Team), and DeAndre Jordan, who not only built up a strong friendship on and off the court with Griffin, but also showed potential in his game off the boards as well as a big time shot stopper. Al Faroq Aminu, a 20-year-old rookie from Wake Forest whose numbers aren’t all too great, shows a lot of potential from down low as well as from outside the arc, and will serve as a vital key to the Clippers offense n the future. The Clippers are a relatively young team, but there are a few guys who have been in the league long enough to mentor the newer players.
Veterans such as Mo Williams and Chris Kaman may not be able to play everyday, but at the same time will be able to relay some of the knowledge they have of the game to the youth heading into the league. It is key to incorporate youth with age on a team in any sport, because youth may have the health and talent, but age will have the understanding and experience one needs to make it in a very tough and competitive league. That is why there should be a lot of hope for this Clipper team in the future; it is because of youth like Griffin, Gordon, and Jordan as well as the experienced players such as Mo Williams who can take this team to the next level.
Now looking at the draft picks from this year the Clippers chose best friends, Travis Leslie (Guard 6’4) and Trey Thompkins (Forward 6’10), from the University of Georgia. Leslie picked 47th overall averaged 14.4 points-per-game, 7.2 rebounds-per-game, and 2.9 assists-per-game, in his final season as a Bulldog. Scouts saw Leslie as one of the most athletic guys in the draft this year with quick baseline-to-baseline speed. They also saw an improving mid range jump shot with the ability to drive into the paint with a lightning quick first step. Thompkins, 37th overall averaged 16.4 points-per-game, 7.6 rebounds-per-game, and 1.6 blocks-per-game. Scouts saw Thompson as a perfect size Power Forward with a good mid range jump shot as well as good ball handling skills. One huge reason that the Clippers management chose these two is because of their known chemistry at Georgia. You can have all the talent in the world but if you don’t have chemistry on your team, what is that talent really worth.
The Los Angeles Clippers have much to be happy about in the coming seasons, the majority of the team is still very young and I believe that youth is the key to greatness in the future. Although it may still be a couple of years away, the Clippers will soon be a force in the Western Conference to be reckoned with.
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