Clipperholics
Fansided

Grading the LA Clippers at the halfway point of the season

By Ryan Snellings

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 19: A view of the court at Staples Center during the game between the LA Clippers and the Houston Rockets on December 19, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 19: A view of the court at Staples Center during the game between the LA Clippers and the Houston Rockets on December 19, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Jerome Robinson LA Clippers (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Young Guys

RS: Okay, one more grouping: The young guys. Don’t be too harsh, but let’s start with Jerome Robinson.

(Two minutes have passed since the last message) The silence is deafening.

CW: Jerome gets an F-.

SK: I think it’s hard to not be harsh.

MC: Okay, so for Jerome I’m going to sort of grade him on a curve, just based on what we saw from him last year and what I was expecting coming into this season. I don’t think he’s been very much better or worse than expected, though I’d hoped for more improvement. The kid feels like he’s lost almost all confidence in his shot. I don’t think he’s beyond the point of no return, though. I feel like a C- is a pretty fair grade for him, all things considered.

RS: What’s with us getting young guys who lose confidence in their shooting? Sam Dekker played himself right out of the NBA after he got scared to shoot with us.

SK: To his credit, he’s still trying. I can appreciate that. When he comes in, he gives effort. Unfortunately, it’s not very effective effort, but nonetheless

CW: Seriously though, Doc was right when he said: “He can’t do …”

RS: We’ve seen positives out of him, right? He positively hit the floor on that Ja Morant crossover. In all seriousness though, his defense is okay at times.

CW: Ouch. And you told us not to be too harsh.

SK: As long as he hasn’t given up, there’s potential – however small – for improvement. I have to respect that it seems like he’s still trying.

RS: What about the other young guys then? Terance Mann must have run over Doc’s dog or something because he fell behind Rome in the rotation and none of us can figure out why.

LS: Rome…he needs a lot of work. I’m his role he’s been a C-D, he looks lost at times.

MC: I don’t know what the deal was with Dekker, but it feels like Jerome is just extremely in his own head the entire time he’s on the floor. Trying so hard to not mess up that it is, in turn, making him mess things up. If that even makes any sense.

SK: That’s been the Doc story most of his career with us, right? It’s almost his principle that rookies don’t see the floor much. Shai was of course the obvious exception.

MC: Even Shai was a little bit out of necessity when Avery Bradley got hurt.

SK: That name…

LS: Mann is interesting because he’s not a pure scorer like we have seen from that position as it’s transitioned from a more traditional Point but he handles the ball like a pure non-shooting guard

MC: You could be saying that about either one for very different reasons, Seth.

SK: I have an involuntary shudder when I hear “Avery Bradley”

AR: As for the role players, I really like what I see from Green and Patterson specifically. Their style of play bodes well for the Clippers. I’d give them both B’s. I’d like to see more minutes for our rookies in all honesty. There is a ton of potential there!

SK: Less Obi-Wan reminiscing on “I haven’t heard that name in years” and more the name Sauron being uttered in Rivendell.

CW: I remember I really wanted him when he was a Celtic, and now that he’s a Laker, I couldn’t be happier knowing he’ll never be on our roster again.

SK: That said, the minutes we’ve seen from Mann have been promising! I guess I’d give him a B-, just cause that seems like a generic grade

AR: Harkless has been wonderful on the defensive end, so I am not ready to give up on him. Even if his offense is questionable. So a solid C+ is the fit. The trade deadline is coming up, however, and I have seen his name floating around here and there.

LS: I never wanted him on the team let that be stated.

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