<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Orange County Register - Sam Cassell was looking for some understanding. He thinks he got it Wednesday from Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy. With that, Cassell took his physical and looked forward to his new start with the Clippers. "I had to get some things straight before I came out here," said Cassell, whom the Clippers acquired Aug.12 from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a sign-and-trade deal involving guard Marko Jaric. The Clippers tentatively scheduled Cassell to come to Los Angeles four days after the trade. But Cassell did not consider himself on board until he had a discussion with Dunleavy regarding his role. Though indications are that second-year player Shaun Livingston will be the starting point guard this season, Cassell has a different opinion. "I'll be starting at the one (point guard)," said Cassell, who will be 36 two weeks into the coming season. "Shaun's going to be good one day, but he's not ready for this right now. I can't come off the bench for this team. If this team had a certified All-Star in front of me, then I could understand that. But that's not the case. I realize that Shaun is the future point guard for this team, but what am I supposed to do, lay down? If that's the case, then I shouldn't be here." </div> Source
I don't know what to think. I love Cassell's game, but I love Livingston more. I expect something like Livingston starting at the 2, or Cassell getting less minutes. I sure hope the Clips don't re-sign Sam, because Livingston has bigger upside than Sam, IMO. If the Clips aren't careful, Livingston will bolt and sign and play elsewhere when he becomes a free agent. Jermaine O'Neal, anyone?
Cassell is good but Livingston is much better and has more upside + he's much younger, I think that Livingston will earn the starting job over Sam by Christmas if he stay's healthy.
Livingston isn't much better right now, but he is about as good a passer, has better courtvision, and is a much better defender than Cassell is at this point. Cassell was never really much of a defender anyways. Cassell still has a fairly big advantage in shooting and also scoring ability, and in crunch time he's still good. The team has taken care of outside shooting with Mobley being added, and Cassell won't really be needed as a scorer with Brand, Maggette and Mobley there, but his ability down the stretch will help. The thing is that you don't need to be a starter to play in crunch time, and Livingston as a starter will be a setup player, not a scorer, he will just ge the ball to the right people. We'll see what happens...
Somehow I see Livingston at the 1 and Cassell at the 2 in crunch time situations. What do you guys think?
well they can do a suns move and have there lineup as pg livingston sg cassel sf mobley pf maggette c brand the only real problem there is maggette @ the 4 and maybe brand @ the 5 but he can play there he played there when he was on the bulls
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting thedude9990:</div><div class="quote_post">pg livingston sg cassel sf mobley pf maggette c brand </div> Wow, You guys almost top the Knicks with this line-up
this is him in new clippers jersey look- http://www.nba.com/media/clippers/sotw_cassell_fp_050824.jpg
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Char:</div><div class="quote_post">Somehow I see Livingston at the 1 and Cassell at the 2 in crunch time situations. What do you guys think?</div> No, Livingston will likely be on the bench. He did good last year in crunch time, and I know it's not good to sit him when the game is on the line, but Mobley is the team's best outside shooter, and also clutch himself. The crunch time lineup will be: PG - Cassell SG - Mobley SF - Maggette PF - Brand C - Kaman The minutes should go something like this: PG?Livingston (26), Cassell (22) SG?Mobley (36), Cassell (8), Ross (7) Cassell and Livingston both play about 70 games, Ross 82, and Mobley about 74 games, that leaves 576 minutes at PG, and 138 minutes at SG. Ewing should then get about 750 minutes in 70 games [10.7 MPG].
Brand is small at PF at C he'd be a midget, and magette is shorter, and not the same type of athlete as marion. I think they'll just have Livingston come off the bench in a 3 gaurd rotation. Shaun might spend time at the 2 we'll see, i think he'll be great one day, but there's not too much of a rush for him to start, as long as he gets time.
the way cassel said he shouldnt be here if he wasnt a starter makes him seem arrogant but i have a feeling that he'll get injured somewhere through the season and livingston will take the starting role but dunleavy wont want to put cassel back into the lineup to mess up the chemistry they'll have when livingston starts
I am sure if Cassell coached the team he would be starting. The problem is he is not coaching the team and I am sure Mike Dunleavy will give the starting job to the person who earned it wheater it's Livingston or Cassell. Obviously a lot of members here would love to see Livingston start and I too would love to see Shaun start but right now it doesn't look likely. I do believe Livingston will get more minutes though, and he will be the starter by christmas like I always said.
Oh man, I forgot all about Cuttino. Clippers are gonna either make the playoffs or contend for a spot. Cassell and Mobley are gonna tear the league up, espeically if Cassell is healthy all season.
Does anyone here think that defense will be an issue for this team? When I see a starting five consisting of both Mobley and Cassell in the backcourt, I worry. Brand of course is solid, one of the finest post players, nevermind defenders, in the league, and Maggette isn't too terribly lax on the perimeter, but that backcourt is just terrible. Livingston I'm sure will get significant minutes, and as a result, can throw changeups at tired starters, or lackluster bench point guards, but with both Mobley and Cassell as starters, that might be too much damage in the first quarter for the Clips to be able to come back from. Not to mention, by the time Livingston is in for Cassell, who's there to spell Cuttino defensively? I don't like that perimeter matchup one bit. And if they went small, as 9990 said, they'd just get destroyed. Defense is still an important part of any NBA game, and Mike Dunleavy knows that too, so expect plenty (and I mean plenty) of playing time for Livingston.
You guys all have way too much faith in Livingston. Cassel shoul ge the starting nod, I'm still convinced Livingston is a tall skinny kid with pretty good guard abillities but no real star potential. A terrible pick at number 4, but he was hyped up cause of his height. He proved last year e could play, but almost every other first round pg could also play (even if they reverted to sgs like Ben Gordon) Telfair, Nelson, and I guess Harris are better, but I think Harris is also an sg. I'm not a huge Livingston fan, and I don't buy into his upside, I don't think you should resign Sam, cause eventually Livingston will be the starter, but for this year Sam is he best option. (I'm sorry, you can tell I'm biased but I think all of you think Shaun is a God, whe I think the best he'll ever be is an average NBA starter)
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Not to mention, by the time Livingston is in for Cassell, who's there to spell Cuttino defensively? I don't like that perimeter matchup one bit.</div> Livingston, Quinton Ross, and Daniel Ewing can all be very good perimeter defenders for the team. Ross will play about 13 MPG or so, and Ewing about 11 MPG. I agree that Cassell will not be too impressive defensively, but Mobley is not a bad defender, he's long, and above average for the most part on defense. In addition to that, all the backups [depending on whether Shaun starts] at the 1,2,3 are good defenders.
I think that saying Livingston has more upside then Cassell goes without saying....Livingston is only 19-20 years old...Cassell is 36 and toward the end of his career. So saying Livingston has more upside is pointless. The Clippers want to win now(meaning contend for playoffs to get some people to come to the Staples Center for more then just Laker games and music concerts)...that is why Cassell will be the starter this year . <div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">No, Livingston will likely be on the bench. He did good last year in crunch time, and I know it's not good to sit him when the game is on the line, but Mobley is the team's best outside shooter, and also clutch himself. The crunch time lineup will be: PG - Cassell SG - Mobley SF - Maggette PF - Brand C - Kaman The minutes should go something like this: PG?Livingston (26), Cassell (22) SG?Mobley (36), Cassell (8), Ross (7) Cassell and Livingston both play about 70 games, Ross 82, and Mobley about 74 games, that leaves 576 minutes at PG, and 138 minutes at SG. Ewing should then get about 750 minutes in 70 games [10.7 MPG].</div> I think that you will see something like this as well...Cassell will start the game at the point and end the game at the point...but Livingston will play a mojority of the middle section at the 1...while Cassell moves off the ball for a bit and also rests...he might not play 30 minutes exactly how your math equals out to but he will be in the area...maybe 28-29 minutes per...and average about 16 per game..with 6 to 7 assists per...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Buckets:</div><div class="quote_post">Can anyone say Playoffs?</div> Nope, I think you have to first see how well Cassell & Mobley mesh with the team as well as themselves....Cassell and Mobley are friends off the court, so that is a good start...but they have very independent games, I'll put it like that. Sometimes they feel they can win games by themselves...and that style can be hard for guys to get use to...Orlando traded Mobley because they felt that his & Steve Francis play kind of took away from the developement of team goals...same thing inHouston, it detered the progress of Ming, in certain peoples opinions...Sammy has had the same effect on certain guys during his stops Wally S. just last year was clearly uncomfort with his role next to Cassell and Spree. So I definately think it depends alot on how these guys mesh with the rest of the Clippers core. Also we have to see how the Clippers questionable depth looks as the season goes on...I think they will be in the hunt...but with the losing culture of the Clippers, you can never start talking about them and playoffs in Aug-Sept...the right things have to fall in place first, realistically.
Dont get me wrong.........I love SL14............but its only his second year. He has plenty of seasons left to be a starter. Putting Sam Cassel into to start is the best choice for the Clippers. I dont think Livingston is fully prepared to take on a starting position. With last year being an injury season for him he should take things easily and learn from Cassel as much as he can. He will be a great PG in the future and Im looking forward to seeing him develop.
