The LA Clippers have reached the final stretch of the season with each of their last seven games being more pivotal than the next. Enter the Chicago Bulls, who have added former Clipper Patrick Beverley, and have been playing inspired basketball in their quest to clinch a play-in spot in the East.
With Paul George and Norman Powell still out, the Los Angeles Clippers are forced to lean on Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook. However hours before the game, it was announced that Marcus Morris Senior was out with an illness and Nicolas Batum would start in his place.
In this episode, Die hard Clipper fan and Host Darian Vaziri talks about what worked so well for the Clippers in this one, why the 3 man tandem of Bones Hyland, Russell Westbrook, & Terance Mann can make a difference going forward, and closes with addressing the long overdue change in the starting lineup.
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45 Comments
Who are the 9 in your rotation without Paul and then with Paul?
Our guys picked a great time to play one of their most complete games of the season! We're still missing key components for the everyday lineup, so the key issue of Lue figuring out how to best allocate and manage the gametime minutes will be crucial. No matter what standard you judge this game by, this was a huge win. Our remaining games are fairly tough, so we'll get to see what this team is made of as playoff time draws near.
As long as Morris not Include in Rotation, We Good.
I'm sorry but Dude literally Momentum Killer when He's stepping the Floor. Give his Playing time Esp. on our Young Guns.
Great team win that felt good with everyone involved. The load was evenly dispersed so that it’s not putting too much excess pressure on Kawhi headed into the playoffs. Great recap!
The team looked so different more reason to blame Ty Lue for past loses. I loved what i saw last night.
Bones Hyland is like a flea! He is so energetic and he is everywhere … and he is confident in almost every situation!
I hope Morris stays on the bench. Roco needs more minutes with the 2nd team. I want to see Roco and Nico at the same time too. They will be locking people up.
Hyland and Tmann gives us the youth energy out there.
I think once Morris started turning down open shots that was the straw that broke the camels back
Morris is toxic to the team. You can see it's a free team when he is gone.
Morris was va bitch about when They tried to bench him already
It’s disgusting that it took so long for Ty to get rid of Morris out the starting lineup, we lost a solid 10 games due to Ty being hard head, it should not have taken this long, nevertheless I’m glad it happened. Morris needs to be a DNP for the rest of the regular and post season, he’s unplayable.
Without Mook, Mann, Bones and RoCo gets a decent amount of minutes.
Great win. We played like someone else was coaching last nite.We actually ran plays and it looked great, 41 assists since 2015. Finally our better bench players got to play and Russ did his thing. Great podcast Great win. Keep it up. Go Clippers.
What I like with Batum is he rarely make errors and if he does you can see his frustration in his face but he wont let it rattle him and goes back performing.
Why is everyone saying finally TY LUE took Morris out of the lineup, he was out sick, so watch Ty even with us playing probably our best game of the year he is going to put Morrris right back into the starting lineup Wednesday
WestBrook
T Mann
KAWHI
Batum
Zubac
Need to start with or without PG
Bones
Gordon/Powell
PG
Plumlee
Why start T Mann ? 2 reasons.
Better defender.
PG gets lazy on D & minutes restrictions and he or Kawhi is ways in.
Clipper Front Office forced Morris out. TY Lue looked sick ASF trying to
confirm BATUM starting.
Morris ain't sick.
He is toxic and got sent home.
Imo
First and foremost I'm happy to hear the news of my guy Batum being in the starting lineup going forward this is the best news apart from Norman Powell possibly coming back. Although I wanted Covington to start because I love his ability to put the ball on the floor and attack the rim which I don't believe the Clippers do enough at times which is also why I can't wait for Norman Powell to come back but I'm not going to argue with having Batum as the starter because he's a much better upgrade over my dude Morris. I also want to say I knew Westbrook would be great on this team never had a doubt about it. I watched this game from start to finish and it was an exciting one. The Batum news will bring us much more wins going forward. I also want Batum defending Ingram and not T Mann because of the height they played that wrong against the pelicans in the last game and yes T Mann is a great defender but like PG said about Patrick Beverly he can defend but he ain't getting any taller.
Great TEAM EFFORT👍🏼👍🏼
For anyone who has actually played basketball you would know that 1 lazy trash defender could lose you dozens of games throughout a season
Clippers only ever had 2 problems
First it was lemon pepper lou & trez
They got rid of them and added two more bums
Reggie and morris
Russ is playing so well with the Clippers, doing things he didn’t (or wouldn’t) do with the Lakers, at least not often: moving off ball, setting screens, passing on threes he has no business taking, and playing great defense, especially off ball defense, which was perhaps the worst part of his game with the Lakers.
Where was this during the Pelicans game?
I bet that felt good to see huh? Batum was shooting lights out!
My nine man rotation:
1. Kawhi
2. PG
3. T. Mann/Russ
4. Batum
5. Zubac
6. N. Powell
7. E. Gordon
8. M. Plumee
9. Bones/Covington (Depending on situation)
Unfortunately, Morris just doesn’t seem playable anymore.
Sadly i see bones being tht 10th guy out
Think that it will be difficult to manage all these guys minutes once Norman Powell and PG comes back but if Ty Lue gets this right, the clippers will be dangerous and formidable opponents for anyone. I’m hoping that he does and they have chemistry with each group on the floor. Sucks that a few productive pieces may not play though come playoff time but we will see
Russ, Bones and Tmann is a fast trio!
Great job bro keep the videos coming!!
Westbrook is a beast with the clipps!
Without PG
Russ
EG
Kawhi
Batum
Zu
TMann
Norm
Roco
Plumlee
With PG:
Russ
PG
kawhi
Batum
Zu
Tmann
EG
Norm
Plumlee
Let's have some perspective on The Bulls being on a back to back….but still what a great team win.
The losses against The Magic, The Pelicans, and Thunder hurt really bad now because the margin of error is so thin right now. Having those 3 wins would have allowed The Clippers to be ok off a tough road trip but it is what it is and road games are a great barometer for where a team might be trending(T Wolves winning at GS and Sac for instance)
The key is game one against The Grizzlies…
Win that one to get 5 games over .500 and the team has some leeway to stub it's toe in one of the next two….
CLIP CITY!!!! 3 2 DA DOME!!!!!👌🏿
Batum is so versatile. He needs to start and finish every game. It doesn't matter how we matchup defensively he can guard the team's best player either point guard or center. Hitting 8 3s is something we need out there and he has a quick release so it's automatic if the defense cheats. Plus defensively kawhi won't have to get as tired guarding the other teams best guy. I also like how the coach used Mann, Bones, and Westbrook together those guys are so fast and good playmakers it gave us a nice change of pace.
Morris has been great for the Clips in seasons past but he's not providing the same value he once did. Time for him to cheer the team on from the side. Not sure why it took so long for Lue to make this decision but it was time for Batum and RoCo to take the lion's share of minutes at the PF position.
Who is e j? Eric gordan?
In OKC, Russ needed a big that played the interior. Durant is outside. Zubac and Plumlee are on fire with Russ assisting them in the post.
9 Man Rotation
eg
mann (pg)
kawhi
batum
plumlee
russ
powell
roco
zu
(plug in the others when needed)
coffey
bones
tough part is who to take out if pg returns.. which makes me question if it’s possible to go 10 deep , russ or roco will be cut if its 9
Tbh, I think we GOOD without PG…He's my guy, but he is too sloppy with the ball….
Damn, 2 @ Memphis next and then @ the Pelicans.
My nerves can't take it yall…
I appreciate you giving Russ his flowers. Getting better at giving him his deserved credit. But don’t over exaggerate not shooting open 3s because sometimes not shooting it increases the opponent not playing up
🎉 Goooo Batum!!!!❤ Starting …. Yeehhh!
Great Game/Great Podcast!!
Nicolas Batum starting !!!🙏🏽
“The age old proverb continues … Gooh Clippers!!”
Good job Darian, I like your insight and recap.
Do you think T Lue will play T Mann more at the 3 backing up Kawhi, and will Lue insert Norm into the starting lineup?
My nine are:
Kawhi
Norm
Nico
Zu
Russ
Mann
EG
Plumlee
Bones (PG)
I think once Paul comes back Bones will probably lose minutes.
When Norm comes back:
G Russell Westbrook
G. Terance Mann
F. Kawhi Leonard
F. Nicolas Batum
C. Ivica Zubac
G. Eric Gordon
G. Norman Powell
F Robert Covington
C. Mason Plumlee