OGT Jan 24: Clippers (28-15) @ Raptors (28-15) 6 PM EST/ 3 PM PCF

[Legends66NBA7]

http://global.nba.com/preview/#!/0021500666


http://i.cdn.turner.com/drp/nba/raptors/sites/default/files/styles/story_main_photo/public/rapsvsclippers-web.png


http://mlse.digital/raptors/projectedlineups-012416.jpg


The last time the Los Angeles Clippers faced Toronto, they scored a season low and were left searching for answers at the close of a 2-7 tailspin.

Since that night, however, they haven't been losing all that much.

Chasing their 13th victory in 15 games, the Clippers face a stiff test Sunday against a lock-down Raptors team looking to extend its season-best win streak to eight.

The Clippers (28-15) rank fourth in the NBA with 105.0 points per game and have been even better with 110.2 since Dec. 25 -- all the more impressive considering leading scorer Blake Griffin has been sidelined the entire span with a partial tear in his left quadriceps.

Griffin, averaging 23.2 points, isn't expected to return until Tuesday at Indiana at the earliest.

Even with him in the lineup Nov. 22, Los Angeles couldn't get anything going in a 91-80 home loss to the Raptors (28-15). The game marked one of two in which the Clippers were held under 90 points -- they also had 80 in a loss at Chicago on Dec. 10 -- and they missed 25 of 32 3-point attempts while shooting 39.2 percent overall.

"We're pretty frustrated," Griffin said after scoring nine in that one. "But we can't let that frustration affect us negatively moving forward."

Los Angeles has moved on -- it's 22-8 since that loss and showed a fierce level of camaraderie in a 116-88 rout of the New York Knicks on Friday to improve to 1-1 on a five-game trip.

DeAndre Jordan had 20 points on 7-of-7 shooting and earned a technical foul for defending Chris Paul after the point guard took a shot in the face from New York's Robin Lopez in the third quarter that left him with a swollen lip.

Jordan responded by shoving Lopez from behind, and after the two big men tussled again later, Jordan was whistled for the technical.

"I was just upset," said Jordan, who had 13 points and 15 boards in the first meeting with Toronto. "Chris is the smallest dude on the floor, you know what I'm saying? So we've got to protect him."

Paul held his own with 16 points, 13 assists and six rebounds. He was 1 for 8 in the first half but scored 14 in the third -- perhaps fired up by the hit from Lopez.

"Chris is a competitor, so if I'm going to turn a guy on, it would probably not be him," coach Doc Rivers said of Paul, who has averaged 20.2 points and 10.8 assists with a 3.78 assists-to-turnover ratio since Christmas.

The reserves played a huge role with 56 points, and the Clippers shot 56.6 percent while going 13 of 23 from beyond the arc.

That may be tough to sustain against the Raptors, who rank fourth in the league with 96.8 points allowed per game and are coming off Friday's 101-81 home win over Miami on the 10th anniversary of Kobe Bryant torching them for that same amount by himself.

DeMar DeRozan scored 33 while Kyle Lowry added 15 and the moment of the game when he landed on a fan while chasing a loose ball and gave the woman a kiss on the forehead.

"We're just playing, man," said Lowry. "We're just out there playing with confidence. No matter what happens in the game, we're just trying to keep it smooth and not get too up or down."

DeRozan scored 21 against the Clippers in November, but he and Lowry shot a combined 6 of 27 from the field.

Toronto's seven-game streak is its longest since winning a franchise-record nine in a row from March 22-April 9, 2002.

[L8krH8tr]

that tranny lover LoneRoy will disappear from a game thread when the floppers lose.

[Legends66NBA7]

Alright, should be interesting. Both teams probably will go small.

[yeaaaman]

Derozan has really stepped it up, I have to say I'm finally pretty happy with him as a player.

[Legends66NBA7]

These are some terrible calls.

[Dr Hawk]

Cold atmosphere

Nice and1 by Derozan

[Legends66NBA7]

Raps haven't played much defense lately. Missing Carroll.

[Legends66NBA7]

Bring Biz and Cory in.

[Legends66NBA7]

Got to play defense next quarter and move the ball.

[Young X]

Doc Rivers giving up yet another big lead with his trash bench. He sees Redick and Paul getting off to hot starts so what does he do? Takes them out early and puts his son in the game and they go -11.

[Legends66NBA7]

Bench has been great in this quarter. Great help defense and passing the ball.

[Young X]

I can't explain in words how much of an idiot Doc Rivers is.

[Kungfro]

That was a big swing, Raptors bench destroying the Clippers.

[Legends66NBA7]

Wow, they are playing at complete different level in this quarter. Haven't seen the bench play like this so early.

[Legends66NBA7]

Meh, school yard stuff. Double techs and now the crowd is really alive.

[Legends66NBA7]

The team for most of the season has been Lowry and DeRozan, but this is the effort from the bench I would really like to see more of in the 2nd half of the season and come playoff time.

30 points already, great passing, and great defense.

[Kungfro]

What the hell was that call? :wtf:

[Legends66NBA7]

:oldlol: @ that call.

[Legends66NBA7]

What the hell was that call? :wtf:

"Pushed him" :roll:

So why didn't Jordan shoot free throws?

[Legends66NBA7]

Nice, all 4 Raps bench players have scored 8 points at half time.

[zeerghit]

refs? wtf ???

[Lebronxrings]

stacked vs stacked. Who wins?

[LoneyROY7]

Alright, time to come back Blake.

[Sakkreth]

The most bs call I've seen since Lowry's offensive foul when shooting a 3.

Btw at first ref showed that it's a foul on james johnson (number 3 through a gesture). :oldlol:
Then switched the call to JV pushing DJ but free throws shot by Mbah a Moute anyways ? :D

[Spurs m8]

Has Jeff Ayres been sited in the building?

[Legends66NBA7]

Good thing DeMar was hot early and the rest of the team picked it up. Needs to get to the line.

[Legends66NBA7]

Treading water right now. Move the ball.

[24-Inch_Chrome]

:rockon:

[AirTupac]

Cmon Raps finish these bozos off

[LoneyROY7]

Cmon Raps finish these bozos off

Clippers stay rent free with this dude. :oldlol:

No fun rooting for the Lakers this season, eh?

[Legends66NBA7]

Cmon Raps finish these bozos off

Going to be a blowout if the Clippers keep their bench out there any longer.

[BurningHammer]

Stay mad, Jamal.

[Legends66NBA7]

See ya Jamal. That's a flagrant 2.

[24-Inch_Chrome]

Crawford is so dumb. :lol

[AirTupac]

Dumbass Clips, get ****ed you losers :roll: :roll: :roll:

[LoneyROY7]

See ya Jamal. That's a flagrant 2.

lol. Not even close.

[LoneyROY7]

Dumbass Clips, get ****ed you losers :roll: :roll: :roll:

Rent. Free.

:roll: :roll: :roll:

[BurningHammer]

Damn, only a loose ball foul. Better thank the refs later, Jamal.

[Legends66NBA7]

Are you mother****ing kidding me ?

That's a flagrant, at the very least. How can an elbow to someone's gut in today's game not be a flagrant ? That wasn't a play on the ball.

[Legends66NBA7]

lol. Not even close.

That was intentional, man.

[BurningHammer]

Clips bench got bullied. :rockon:

[LoneyROY7]

We need Blake back to beat the top teams. It's no big deal.

[Dr Hawk]

Come on Clippers, I want to watch a game!

[BurningHammer]

Bennett when? :rockon:

[BurningHammer]

DJ bricked hard :oldlol:

[AirTupac]

Cant believe Clips believe theyre contenders. 1st round exit.

[LoneyROY7]

Can't believe Lakers believe they have a bright future. Lottery bound for the forseeable future.

[AirTupac]

Forever ringless franchise

[Young X]

Redick and Paul are +13.

Yet the Clippers are still down by 18 pts.

They went -31 with those 2 on the bench. That's unbelievable how bad their bench is.

You have to be borderline retarded to not make adjustments but that's exactly what Doc Rivers is.

[Grey Dawn]

At least Casey tore the refs a new one for no call on Crawfords JR Smith attempt

[LoneyROY7]

Living in a far away past.

[BurningHammer]

Ross is Boss tonight :cheers:

[AirTupac]

2 championships and 3 straight finals trips fairly recently compared to 0 finals appearances ever ? :oldlol:

Chump over here

[Lebronxrings]

chalk another W for the east

[BurningHammer]

Never thought of it, but with Blatt out, the next in line for the East All-Star coach should Casey, shouldn't he?

[LoneyROY7]

It's 2016. :oldlol:

Stuck in that hot tub time machine.

[BurningHammer]

JV seems to get more minutes at the end of the 4th even when it is a blowout. Great sign right there.

[Legends66NBA7]

Easily the most complete game by the Raptors. Perhaps the most impressive win too, but I would still rank the SA win #1.

[AirTupac]

LOL 2016 and Clippers still cant get to the Western conference finals and their window is almost done. What a run they went on. Truly historical.

[LoneyROY7]

It's amazing. You say the Clippers are trash, and yet you find the need to make post after post, and thread after thread about them.

The irony. :oldlol:

[AirTupac]

Theres nothing ironic. Theyre ass and this is a basketball forum. Youre the one getting butthurt at every thread made about the Clippers. Sorry bruh. Austin Rivers should be the face of the franchise, he exhibits what a truly loser of a franchise the Clips are.

[LoneyROY7]

No one else makes thread about them but you. A Lakers fan. :oldlol:

Salt level detected.

[buddha]

Jamal Crawford with the -34 in 19 minutes while every Clipper starter had a positive.

[Al Thornton]

Redick and Paul are +13.

Yet the Clippers are still down by 18 pts.

They went -31 with those 2 on the bench. That's unbelievable how bad their bench is.

You have to be borderline retarded to not make adjustments but that's exactly what Doc Rivers is.
it's not even a hard fix, just have 2 or 3 starters playing with 2 or 3 bench players at all times. u will still get beat when paul is sitting but it won't be as disastrous if redick or dj is in the game still. there's just no reason to lose a game against a team this average because u can't figure out how rotations work. he's not a rookie coach, it's inexcusable.

[AirTupac]

But theyre ass? My fanship is irrelevant here. Its embarassing to constantly have a franchise touted as if theyre gonna do something season after season only to fail miserably. Im glad at least when my team is contending, they actually contend and make smart decisions to contend even BETTER. Not ala Doc Rivers trading away Smith for peanuts, or trading for his autistic son. Dont you feel the same? I dont see how any reasonable CLips fan can support Doc as a GM. Its time for change.

[Al Thornton]

But theyre ass? My fanship is irrelevant here. Its embarassing to constantly have a franchise touted as if theyre gonna do something season after season only to fail miserably. Im glad at least when my team is contending, they actually contend and make smart decisions to contend even BETTER. Not ala Doc Rivers trading away Smith for peanuts, or trading for his autistic son. Dont you feel the same? I dont see how any reasonable CLips fan can support Doc as a GM. Its time for change.

who is touting them? is it canada?

there are no clipper fans at any level that support what doc has done to the team, u just lack the most basic knowledge of the fanbase

[LoneyROY7]

Your fanship is very relevant. :oldlol:

You couldn't care less about any of those things, you only hope the Clippers lose because they are currently the best team in Los Angeles and in the Staples Center.

You wouldn't make a single post about them if they played somewhere else.

[Young X]

it's not even a hard fix, just have 2 or 3 starters playing with 2 or 3 bench players at all times. u will still get beat when paul is sitting but it won't be as disastrous if redick or dj is in the game still. there's just no reason to lose a game against a team this average because u can't figure out how rotations work. he's not a rookie coach, it's inexcusable.Why can we realize this but not the professional coach?

I cannot believe how bad this team's bench is. I've never seen a bench this bad on an elite/really good team. They have a championship caliber starting lineup and a YMCA level bench. It's unbelievable.

[AirTupac]

Your fanship is very relevant. :oldlol:

You couldn't care less about any of those things, you only hope the Clippers lose because they are currently the best team in Los Angeles and in the Staples Center.

You wouldn't make a single post about them if they played somewhere else.

Way to avoid the actual conversation. Its much easier to say HURR DURR LAKERS FAN *** U.

Sick GM / Coach though buddy. He's rivaling Byron Scott for coach of the year.

[LoneyROY7]

Way to avoid the actual conversation. Its much easier to say HURR DURR LAKERS FAN *** U.

Sick GM / Coach though buddy. He's rivaling Byron Scott for coach of the year.

Just stating facts.

You hate on the Clippers because they're the best team in LA and were involved in a vetoed trade that could have landed the Lakers Chris Paul.

You hate on the Rockets because they have Dwight Howard, who famously spurned LA.

Stop being blinded by homerism and I'll take your posts seriously.

[AirTupac]

Just stating facts.

You hate on the Clippers because they're the best team in LA and were involved in a vetoed trade that could have landed the Lakers Chris Paul.

You hate on the Rockets because they have Dwight Howard, who famously spurned LA.

Stop being blinded by homerism and I'll take your posts seriously.

Ding dong. The Clips and Rockets are the two most hated franchises in the league. So everyones opinion is irrelevant right right. The players they have are easily disliked. Rockets more so than Clippers. But yeah take the easy way out bruh.

Facts:

GM is making awful decisions
Bench is awful because of the decisions the coach / GM has made
Coaching is awful
Window isnt gonna last forever
Doc Rivers is bad

[buddha]

once Griffin comes back the Clippers will be able to keep him or Paul on the court at all times and they should be fine. of course Doc Rivers is a jackass so he will probably keep trotting his son and Crawford out there.

[LoneyROY7]

Ding dong. The Clips and Rockets are the two most hated franchises in the league. So everyones opinion is irrelevant right right. The players they have are easily disliked. Rockets more so than Clippers. But yeah take the easy way out bruh.

Facts:

GM is making awful decisions
Bench is awful because of the decisions the coach / GM has made
Coaching is awful
Window isnt gonna last forever
Doc Rivers is bad

I'm aware of many of those things. I just don't give two shits when you bring it up because your agenda is obvious.

[Velocirap31]

Never thought of it, but with Blatt out, the next in line for the East All-Star coach should Casey, shouldn't he?

Definitely and since it's in Toronto, it makes even more sense for Casey to get the All-star coach nod.

[AirTupac]

I'm aware of many of those things. I just don't give two shits when you bring it up because your agenda is obvious.

If you dont give a shit what I say, stop following me and quoting my posts then you bozo :dancin :dancin :dancin

[LoneyROY7]

Done.

[Al Thornton]

Why can we realize this but not the professional coach?

I cannot believe how bad this team's bench is. I've never seen a bench this bad on an elite/really good team. They have a championship caliber starting lineup and a YMCA level bench. It's unbelievable.

they aren't that bad individually though, it just doesn't fit or have success at all as a 5 man unit and doc knows this but even 40+ games in he continues to do this.

[Velocirap31]

The usual team x sucks because they lost to the Raptors. You guys realize the Raptors are 29-15 and might just be the best team in the East??

[Lebron23]

The usual team x sucks because they lost to the Raptors. You guys realize the Raptors are 29-15 and might just be the best team in the East??


This is probably the best raptors team of all time. I hope Derozan makes it into the NBA All Star Game.

[Velocirap31]

This is probably the best raptors team of all time. I hope Derozan makes it into the NBA All Star Game.

He definitely should be. He's more deserving than Wade.

[Lebron23]

He definitely should be. He's more deserving than Wade.


And Kobe Bryant

[Spurs m8]

The usual team x sucks because they lost to the Raptors. You guys realize the Raptors are 29-15 and might just be the best team in the East??

Clippers talk still relevant tbh

[red1]

The usual team x sucks because they lost to the Raptors. You guys realize the Raptors are 29-15 and might just be the best team in the East??
I love it. Let the salt flow through their veins

https://media.giphy.com/media/Ic97mPViHEG5O/giphy.gif

[AirTupac]

Clipper fans are so sensitive. Im glad the Raptors took them to the cleaners.

[WorldWarriors]

Houston won and OKC lost. Didn't see a game thread.

[Legends66NBA7]

Houston won and OKC lost. Didn't see a game thread.

Ain't got my dedication.

[WorldWarriors]

Ain't got my dedication. That's ok. I don't think many people noticed with football going on today.

Toronto is playing balls out. So happy Lowry was voted in as an all star.

[Spurs m8]

Houston won and OKC lost. Didn't see a game thread.

Houston are too boring.

Notice how when they're winning a few games there's nothing to talk about with them.

Boring as **** team.

One of the worst squads to ever exist.

Full of faux good players

[Lebronxrings]

And Kobe Bryant
:lol

[Grey Dawn]

Ding dong. The Clips and Rockets are the two most hated franchises in the league. So everyones opinion is irrelevant right right. The players they have are easily disliked. Rockets more so than Clippers. But yeah take the easy way out bruh.

Facts:

GM is making awful decisions
Bench is awful because of the decisions the coach / GM has made
Coaching is awful
Window isnt gonna last forever
Doc Rivers is bad

Lol, clips and rockets are my most hated teams. Harden and Paul and Griffin don't deserve to breathe air