Month: May 2006 (Page 9 of 20)

L.A. Clippers 118, Phoenix 106 (series tied, 3-3)
The Clippers played well in the face of elimination, shooting a phenomenal 61.5% from the field en route to a decisive victory over the #2-seeded Suns. Elton Brand once again dominated the front line of Phoenix, posting 30 points, 12 boards and five blocks. In the series, he’s averaging 30.0 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 4.8 apg and 3.5 bpg, while shooting .585 from the field. Four other Clippers scored in double figures, led by Corey Maggette, who went for 25/8. Quinton Ross chipped in 18 points, hitting jumper after jumper, making the Suns pay for doubling off of him. Shawn Marion had another great game for the Suns, scoring 34 points and grabbing nine boards in the loss. Game 7 is on Monday, and if it is as exciting as the series has been, it should be a doozy. Hopefully, we don’t get a letdown like Game 7 of the Suns/Lakers series.

You read that right. The general manager of the Clippers – yes, the Clippers – is set to win the NBA’s Executive of the Year award.

At 47-35, the Clippers had their highest victory total since moving to California, second-best record in franchise history and set a road mark with 20 wins.

They qualified for the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons, and won a postseason series for the first time in 30 years, defeating the Denver Nuggets, 4-1, in the first round.

Baylor acquired point guard Sam Cassell and a lottery-protected first-round pick in August from the Minnesota Timberwolves for guards Marko Jaric and Lionel Chalmers. Before the trade deadline, Baylor sent inconsistent forward-center Chris Wilcox to the Seattle SuperSonics for three-point specialist Vladimir Radmanovic.

This sort of reminds me of the Oscars, where the Academy awards an actor for their body of work, not just for a specific performance. The franchise’s turnaround started when Baylor and owner Donald Sterling orchestrated a trade that brought Elton Brand to the team in exchange for Brian Skinner and the draft rights to 2001 #2 pick, high schooler Tyson Chandler. Apparently, Bulls GM Jerry Krause believed that Chandler was destined for stardom. Considering that Brand had already proved his worth, averaging 20+ points and 10+ rebounds in his first two seasons with the Bulls, the trade is going down as one of the biggest boondoggles in modern-NBA history. Since 1999, the Clippers have drafted quite well:

1999 (#4) – Lamar Odom
2000 (#3, #30) – Darius Miles, Marko Jaric
2001 (#2) – Tyson Chandler (traded to Chicago for Elton Brand)
2002 (#8, #12) – Chris Wilcox, Melvin Ely
2003 (#6) – Chris Kaman
2004 (#4) – Shaun Livingston
2005 (#12) – Yaroslov Korolev

The only potential superstar on that list is Livingston, but Kaman has developed into a top 10 center, and has provided strength and consistency inside. The franchise wisely let Odom get away in free agency and the team has since traded Miles, Chandler, Ely, Jaric and Wilcox, but all of those players are all still in the league, and the pieces they got in return (namely Elton Brand, Sam Cassell and Vladimir Radmanovic) have been integral in the Clippers’ recent resurgence.

Baylor let Brand test free agency in the summer of 2003, and eventually matched the 6-year/$84 M contract that the forward signed wth the Miami Heat, getting the future All-Pro at a fairly reasonable price. That same summer, the Clippers matched Utah’s 6-year/$42 M offer to Corey Maggette (for whom Baylor traded away a protected first-round draft pick in 2000). The Jaric and Lionel Chalmers trade to Minnesota for Sam Cassell (and a future first round draft pick) was another steal, while the Wilcox for Radmanovic trade gave the Clippers a much-needed long range shooter. I’m still not sure about the signing of Cuttino Mobley (after letting Bobby Simmons go for the same price), but he does give the team a second low post scorer and is a career .432 3-point shooter. Throw in the signing of undrafted free agent Quinton Ross, who has become the team’s best perimeter defender and a capable shooter, and you have the meat of the Clippers’ rotation. Baylor has put together a team that has a nice mix of veterans and youngsters, creating an elusive chemistry which is so coveted in the NBA.

Cleveland 86, Detroit 84 (Cavs lead series, 3-2)
OK, winning two games at home to tie the series is one thing. But to beat Detroit at their place to take a 3-2 lead in the series is something else entirely. LeBron James – as usual – led the way for the Cavs, scoring 32 points while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out five assists. Zydrunas Ilgauskas finally made an appearance in the series, going for 14/10 while blocking six shots. Donyell Marshall added 14/13 in the victory. The Pistons have to be feeling the pressure being so close to elimination. The pressure should even out a bit as the Cavs and their fans will expect a win at home in Game 6. It will be interesting to see how the young Cavs – who have won three straight without Larry Hughes – respond to the added pressure.

San Antonio 98, Dallas 97 (Mavs lead series, 3-2)
An energized defense made the difference in Game 5, allowing the Spurs to survive for another trip to Dallas. Tim Duncan was once again a force, posting 36 points and 12 rebounds, while Bruce Bowen and Manu Ginobili made key defensive plays down the stretch. Dirk Nowitzki was more aggressive, going for 31/10, but the Mavs lost despite shooting 51% from the field. The Mavs are in the same position as the Cavs – two young teams going home with an opportunity to close out series that they weren’t supposed to win. Much like the parity of the NFL, conference championships without the Spurs and Pistons would be good for the league.