I know it's easy the day after a loss to really be hating on the opponent, but the Clippers are a different story. I don't feel grudges losing to the Warriors, Thunder, heck even the Spurs, but the Clippers are hands down the hardest team to like in the NBA. They have replaced the Lakers that way in my book, same basic fan base but even more unlikable than Kobe and Shaq were. The more I evaluate it though the more I realize that it's Doc Rivers that is perhaps the biggest Douches of a coach the NBA has ever had. It's not that he gripes and complains constantly, Pops does that too, but it's that he is total bush league cheese dick, and his players follow his lead. Just look at his own son Austin who has a reputation of being selfish and having a bad attitude, until he lands a spot playing for Doc. It goes back farther though. When he coached in Boston the Celtics players quickly went from being likable to me to being complete dicks. Garnett for example was in Minnesota and always boisterous and cocky, but I never felt he was an outright jerk. Then he started playing for Doc and then started doing things like getting on all fours and barking at Jerryd Bayless, also started taunting and trying to intimidate guys in a way that crossed that line of sportsmanship. He goes back to Brooklyn and the antics stop. Moving back to the Clippers their is an attitude, a culture, that reminds me of Jr high Jock/bullies that never grew up. Just thinking of the Hi-jacking of Deandre the free agent last summer, where they made a mockery and a joke of the process, and laughed like juveniles TPing a house. They act the same on the floor... They complain about calls when they do get the call.... WHAT THE FUCK? How do you complain when you got the call you wanted? Then you have the whole Doc trash talking players on other teams, he did it to CJ in the game they blocked him from playing in, then he did it again. Grow up Doc. I seriously don't mind Deandre, Blakes complaining is a bit abrasive, but I think that is trickle down. The other major factor in this unlikability is Chris Paul, he maybe the player that drives me nuts the most. I will grant that a part of that is A: he could have been ours, B: He owns Dame, C: Hes a nut puncher... But more than that he is just a flat out obnoxious prick. Watch him in an interview sometime, so disingenuous and just a step above "Both teams played hard" I just can't stand watching this guy play at all. Rant somewhat over but might add later.
It is sad, because long time Clipper fans are actually a really great group of people. Whining, flopping Doc/CP3 show taints the good fans who have supported the team for a long time. I guess Olshey is partly to blame, right? I don't think Portland fans would trade character for a better shot at the title.
The Clippers don't have the personnel to compete at the WCF level, and the pre Gamma-Ray-Superhero Curry days of GSW are gone. Nobody has the personnel to compete against GSW yet, but the Clippers are invested in the Greatest Hits Of 2009, and can't retool to beat the Game As It Stands In 2016. We at least can assemble a more modern team.
The old school peeps are good. Most of the fans are pretty respectful and cool actually, but they have the worst chants, shit talking, etc ever. They are just so weak. They try to do tired chants..the newest one is "L-A-C!". Not surprising for being the little brother in town. There is a generation of fans who cheer for the clippers with a huge chip on the shoulder. Every other play: "Everybody. Clap your hand!" (clap clap clap clap clap clap clap). So annoying. Its like a circus atmosphere in there, its REALLY family friendly unlike Laker games where its all thugged out shit.
On a side note, I met with Clipper Darrell yesterday day after the game, just ran into him at the Kobe Bryant Museum thing they have at Staples right now. He is really a great guy, very down to earth. Got a pic with him too.
I had two prepared disses ready to use, but no clipper fan really stepped up and talked mad shit. First one was: "You hear the minimum wage is going up to $15 this summer, maybe you'll finally be able to afford to be a Laker fan". Second one was: "Hey, if you reverse that jersey is there a laker one on the other side?"
Well they do face the juggernaut team they call the Warriors next so atleast we can watch them get demolished and cp3 enjoy another 2nd round exit..
Yeah I do too, but only because San Antonio has made actual deals with the real satan. Also, in three years I do not think they'll be WCF-level competitive anymore.
The long term fans were stuck with a horrible owner for years but kept supporting the team. The owner was so cheap he treated the team like a minor league baseball team. Get a really good draft pick, invest time, money and fan appreciation into him during his rookie contract then let him walk because a new lottery pick comes in every season. It wasn't until very recently that they had a good team and owner. They're the Jail Blazers of the new millennium, the winning is great but you aren't exactly feeling proud of the players wearing the jerseys.
Sterling ran that team for profit, period. Just when they'd start to put together a good team, and it was time to pay the players what they were worth, he'd trade them for picks or let them walk, and start over with cheap contracts. I used to feel such empathy for Clippers fans. Then came Glenn Rivers.
As much as Harden flops, he's basically harmless. Like a big fuzzy flopping caterpillar who shoots a lot of free throws. Flop City though brings the whole disgusting package of flopping and bitching and cheap shots and bitching they got fouled while delivering cheap shots and bitching and flopping and bitching and flopping and bitching. You know, like bitches.
To this point: it's interesting that when Griffin was out this season, the Clippers actually did play more like The Game As It Stands. They put three shooters around the Paul/Jordan pick-and-roll and blitzed teams. I think that's actually an interesting "problem" for the Clippers to confront. They're clearly not good enough as things stand to win a title, but they also have no room to maneuver in terms of roster building. However, they played very well without Griffin and couldn't they get a couple of really good/solid players for Griffin to strengthen their depth and lineup flexibility around Paul and Jordan? Don't they have to consider that? On that other hand, it's pretty hard to give up a top-15 player and get back full value.
Yeah that Griffin flop that was almost a flagrants on Davis when Griffin clearly threw himself backwards and claimed he was knocked down by Davis Cp3 too...flopping like a bitch and getting the call every time... Cheap shit
