The LA Sports Blog: What's that all a-boot?
| 27
|
by LASportsblog
By: Jeff Girouard
After being up by as many as 11 in the first half, the Clippers squandered yet another victory, falling 80-77 to the Toronto Raptors. With Elton, Sam, and Shaun Livingston all out with injuries, the Clippers have really struggled to find their way offensively this season. They are certainly still a talented group, but the lack of a dominant personality on the court has turned this team into a bunch of freelancers, a professional pick up team.
I thought the Brand injury might finally afford Corey Maggette the opportunity to maybe, possibly be “the guy” on this squad. However, nagging injuries have kept him from entering that Richard Jefferson, Josh Howard territory. Currently, the Clippers are a team in search of an identity. That frame of mind leads players like Tim Thomas to bank home a three one possession and on the very next play pull up from 30 and launch another long 3 off the back iron, at a critical stage in the second half, no less. No continuity, no balance to the attack
Two stats were killers on Tuesday: free-throw shooting and team turnovers. At home, on a night when perimeter jumpers just aren’t falling (a meager 39% from the floor), you’ve got to get to the line. Chris Bosh finished with 24 and 9 for the Raptors, but struggled from the field (a pedestrian 6-22). Bosh made it to the line 16 times and Toronto as a team shot 12 more free throws than the Clippers, which in a 3 point loss is critical. The other stat that jumps out is the turnover category. Los Angeles didn’t have an overwhelmingly high number of giveaways (15), but the Raptors certainly took care of the ball, as the Clippers forced just 6 turnovers on the evening.
On a related note: Jose Calderon is really, really good. Calderon continues to make me look like an NBA fantasy genius, as his 12 points on a super-efficient 4-6 from the floor, 6 boards and 9 assists (and 0 turnovers) lead the way for the Raptors. And to think I was able to pick this kid up Week 3 off the waiver wire, in a 12 team league.
