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Roundtable: All Aboard The Landry Shamet Bandwagon

By Logan Rapp

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 9: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers celebrates after play against the Boston Celtics on February 9, 2019 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 9: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers celebrates after play against the Boston Celtics on February 9, 2019 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 9: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics is fouled by JaMychal Green #4 of the Los Angeles Clippers at TD Garden on February 9, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 9: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics is fouled by JaMychal Green #4 of the Los Angeles Clippers at TD Garden on February 9, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) /

Change in Culture

SNELLINGS: Now, Coach of the Year is something I feel should be discussed. I hate that the award just goes to whoever has the first or second best record. I assume Coach Bud is getting it for what he’s done in Milwaukee, and while it’s deserved, I think someone like Doc should at least get some votes.

SMITH: Bud makes sense

CULLEN: They still held the identity of not giving up. That’s been the biggest change since the Lob City teardown. This team never hangs its head. They’ve beaten the record for biggest comeback in the regular season twice, in two weeks?

KIMBRELL: This team thinks they can beat anybody when they step on the court

RAPP: 1-2-3 Family. I think Pat Bev’s culture contributions are seriously undervalued.

CHONG: Patrick Beverley and Montrezl Harrell, man. They don’t ever quit and they won’t let their teammates quit, either.

CULLEN: West gets a lot of the credit for what’s been going on, but if you look at Lawrence Frank’s track record, he loves egoless teams. I think this culture has a lot to do with him.

SMITH: An egoless team is something we didn’t have in the Blake-CP-DJ era, which hindered progress.

CHONG: It is the antithesis of what Lob City was.

SMITH: Imagine if those teams put egos aside.

RAPP: And it’s not egoless in the sense that it’s a put-on, because these guys still have plenty of individual personality. I wouldn’t put them in the same category as say, the Borg-like assimilation of the New England Patriots.

SMITH: But hey, having no superstar at all is a great thing to me.

CULLEN: I think the best example is earlier in the season someone asked Trezz if he wanted 6MOY and he said he was only interested in helping Lou win it again.

KIMBRELL: We’ve got a group of guys who just fit really well together. They complement each other so well that the team just runs like a well oiled machine

CHONG: This squad is more unselfish than ego-less, I would say. Their main goal really does seem to be winning each game. Much less emphasis is put on individual numbers.

SMITH: Selflessness is an amazing thing in a sport with 15 guys.

Playoffs or Nah?

RAPP: Haggle/No Haggle: The LA Clippers will make the playoffs, regardless of whether or not they should.

CULLEN: Haggle.

SMITH: No haggle.

CHONG: Light haggle on that one.

SNELLINGS: Haggle. I think Sacramento passes us somehow, even with our easy schedule.

LOFTIN: Haggle.

CULLEN: I like what Sac did at the deadline too (speaking of Coach of the Year). Never count LeBron out. Never.

CHONG: It’s absolutely in the realm of possibility, but you just never know.

SNELLINGS: Oh I forgot about the Harrison Barnes move. That makes my haggle even more solid.

KIMBRELL: I’m haggling. That Celtics game was great, but we should keep in mind that most of our core is incredibly young. They’ll have great games like this one but they’ll have some duds too.

CULLEN: Barring some catastrophic collapse I think 1-7 are locked. That leaves a lot of fighting for 8. I just wouldn’t count anyone out.

RAPP: Should the LA Clippers continue to compete for that 8-seed?

SNELLINGS: I mean, no. But the players will continue to. I don’t think they’ll ever openly tank. I hope we miss though. An extra draft pick never hurts.

KIMBRELL: Especially with the new draft odds. Still highly unlikely that we move up, but still.

CULLEN: Yeah why not. This team can stress out the Warriors a little. It would do a lot to the esteem of the young guys to make it. And bring the rivalry back a little. Clippers knocked the Warriors out of the first round and the Warriors never looked back. It’s our turn.

LOFTIN: Even if the front office wanted the to tank, I just can’t see it happening with the guys on the team. They are fighting to the very end.

CHONG: I think you could make a strong argument either way. Giving up on the playoffs like that is not exactly a good look and definitely can be detrimental to a locker room culture. The pick would be good, but having a team that will compete until the bitter end is also good.

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