Monitoring Russell Westbrook’s Clippers tenure…

[JMoneyYourHoney]

Penciling in the Clippers for anything has never worked out, no matter how legit they may appear.

 

[Dr No]

Penciling in the Clippers for anything has never worked out, no matter how legit they may appear.

They are a fascinating story line. You have Kawhi who is an awesome big game guy. You have PG3 who is just the opposite. Now we add Westbrook, who has been both great and bad in the playoffs (though more bad as of late). There is talent all over the roster, but can it come together, can all those 30+ year-olds stay healthy? Its going to be interesting.

 

[guitarguy]

I was thinking a few days ago that some franchises are “entitled franchises.” The fans and the media just believe success is OWED to them.

The Yankees (spit) are the original entitled franchise. Celtics and Lakers are the two entitled BB franchises although I find the Lakers to be the more entitled of the two. NFL is a bit tougher because it’s hard to maintain success over a long period of time although the Patriots did it with Brady.

The problem with the entitled franchises is that they dominate media coverage even when they stink. The Lakers are a trash ass franchise now that had a brief moment of glory only because LeBron went there and AD followed but that one moment can’t hide the utter ineptitude from Jerry’s daughter on down. The trade deadline was perfect because it gave the Lakers fanbase and media sycophants just enough reason to hope for the playoffs but it will end badly of course.

There are entitled College programs too - Duke for one, and in football it used to be Notre Dame but their recent team haven’t been up to their historical success. The entitled FB fans now are in Alabama and - gotta be real - Columbus.

In Cleveland we don’t have that problem.

I do recall seeing an article after the trade deadline that ranked the teams and had a category "true contenders"...and what do you know...not even in the play-in Lakers were in that list...don't worry the Cavs weren't, not even sure the Bucks were.

So yeah..some feel like they're owed it

 

[Lee]

Clippers were my WC dark horse and this WCF series between them and the Nuggets is going to be epic.

No chance for the Suns in your opinion?

 

[RchfldCavRaised]

No chance for the Suns in your opinion?

Of course with KD joining that group. I'm just not sold on CP3 having it left in the tank with him being primary on-ball and there is something wrong with Ayton's brain and I dont trust him at all.

Right now I rank the West contenders this way...

Actual Contenders
1. Nuggets
2. Clippers
3. Grizzlies
4. Suns
5. Warriors

Pretenders
6. Pelicans
7. Mavericks
8. Kings
9. TWolves
10. Lakers/Blazers

And the East this way...

Actual Contenders
1. Celtics
2. Bucks
3. 76ers
4. Heat
5. Cavs

Pretenders
6. Knicks
7. Hawks
8. Raptors
9. Bulls
10. Wiz/Nets

 

[RchfldCavRaised]

@Lee everyone who is a actual contender has a chance if things break their way, by my standard. The pretenders dont stand a chance at all and even if one of the pretenders beat a contender because of matchups or whatever over a 7 game series, I cant see a world where a pretender could beat 2 contenders in their own conference and then the best contender from the other conference.

 

[PIP]

I think a healthy Warriors team seals the deal…

 

[Lee]

Of course with KD joining that group. I'm just not sold on CP3 having it left in the tank with him being primary on-ball and there is something wrong with Ayton's brain and I dont trust him at all.

Right now I rank the West contenders this way...

Actual Contenders
1. Nuggets
2. Clippers
3. Grizzlies
4. Suns
5. Warriors

Pretenders
6. Pelicans
7. Mavericks
8. Kings
9. TWolves
10. Lakers/Blazers

And the East this way...

Actual Contenders
1. Celtics
2. Bucks
3. 76ers
4. Heat
5. Cavs

Pretenders
6. Knicks
7. Hawks
8. Raptors
9. Bulls
10. Wiz/Nets

I really like Memphis and how they are constructed, with their youth and our youth, i like many others think we could be rivals for years starting in 2 years or so.

 

[foucault87]

I'll throw my 2 cents in.

T1 is the favorite. T2 the biggest challenger(s). T3 should make 2nd round in a vacuum. T4 is solid playoff team. T5 is playin team

West

T1 - Den
T2 - Phx, healthy LAC
T3 - GS, Mem, Dal
T4 - Sac, NO
T5 - Min, unhealthy LAC, LAL, Por

East
T1 - Bos
T2 - Mil, Phi
T3 - Cle
T4 - Mia, NY
T5 - Atl, Tor, Was, Chi

Can go into more detail if people want

 

[PIP]

Look how excited he is to ruin their chances at anything the rest of the way..…. You just gotta love the child-like exuberance…

 

[PIP]

 

[PIP]

 

[PIP]

 

[CleveRocks]

Gordon and Westbrook a combined 9 for 28, 2 for 15 from three. 6 assists and 6 turnovers.. And we bitch about spacing!

 

[PIP]

This is so good..