• Home
  • Scores
  • About
  • Contributors
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
RSS
  • Columns
    • Average Frank Views
    • Fierce And Nerdy
    • Politics, Beer and Pizza
    • Sports Bright
    • The Hate List
    • VideoDeep
  • Live!
  • MLB
  • NBA
  • NCAA
    • NCAA Football
    • NCAA Men's Basketball
    • NCAA Women's Basketball
  • NFL
  • NHL
  • Other Sports
    • Auto Racing
    • Boxing
    • Cycling
    • Golf
    • MMA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Triathalon
  • Random Deep
  • Video

You are here: Home » NBA » Clippers Clipped

Print This Post

Clippers Clipped

By Nate Barlow
Monday, January 26, 2009 21:55
Posted in category NBA
673No Commentshttp://www.deepintosports.com/2009/01/26/los-angeles-clippers-injuries/Clippers+Clipped2009-01-27+04%3A55%3A02Nate+Barlow

Ah, the Los Angeles Clippers. Perpetually LA’s second team, 2008-2009 is proving to be one of the worst seasons ever even for a franchise for which mediocrity is a hallmark.

What particularly hurts for the Clips and their fans this year is that coming into the season, hopes and expectations were unusually high.

Los Angeles ClippersThe Clippers have been decimated by injuries this year. And when I say decimated, I mean decimated. Yes, almost every team has to deal with injured players at some point each season, but in a sport where the gain or loss of just one player can have a major effect, the Clips have frequently had three, even four, starters out at the same time (yes, LA did have a horrible beginning to the season even with a healthy starting squad, but the injuries have precluded any chance of recovering from the weak start).

I don’t care how deep a bench may be. No team in any sport can succeed with 60% – 80% of their starting line-up among the wounded.

But, you know what? This may actually be a blessing in suprise.

Not for this season, of course. This year is already a total wash, with just under half the season to go. But the playing time that the Clipper bench is receiving filling in could pay huge dividends next year when the starting line-up is (hopefully) healthy. All this unplanned for experience could very well translate what might otherwise be a mediocre or, at best, unproven bench into viable, reliable subs next season–the type of depth any team needs to succeed.

It would not be the first time that a terrible record one season translated into valuable training for the next.

Take a look at the turnarounds that the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Rays both had in 2008. Neither team may have had the injury problems in 2007 experienced by the Clippers this year, but both teams did have terrible seasons. Essentially out of the post-season running before their seasons were under way, their young players received plenty of opportunity to learn on the playing field instead of in practice or in limited playing-time at the end of games. More playing time = accelerated player development.

If nothing else, that should give woeful Clippers fans some hope.

  • Share/Bookmark
  • December 16, 2008 -- Improving… (0)
  • December 3, 2008 -- I Stand Corrected! (0)
  • February 10, 2009 -- Poor Economy Doing It to Manny and the Mets (1)
  • January 2, 2009 -- Hello, 2009 – Bye Bye Best Of 2008 (0)
  • November 24, 2008 -- Coaches Dropping Like Flies (0)
BallHype: hype it up! Sports Views
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Tags: basketball, clippers, dolphins, injuries, la, los angeles, miami, national basketball association, NBA, rays, tampa bay

This website uses IntenseDebate comments, but they are not currently loaded because either your browser doesn't support JavaScript, or they didn't load fast enough.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

« U Kan Koach in the NFL (.com)!
Chicken Little Wears Purple »


  • facebook twitter
  • Subscribe
  • Google Search

  • ESPN Shop
    NBAStore.com
    NHL Interactive
    boxgroove

  • Popular Posts

    • Top Ten American Sports Franchises
    • Tiger vs. Jack, Part II
    • The UFL: Déjà Vu All Over Again--Once More...
    • Jack vs. Tiger
    • The UFL Part III: What the Hell Is Going on Here?
  • Random Posts

    • Wild Card Playoff Games - NFL Football
    • Calm Before the Conference Season Storm
    • Ranking Rationale
    • Roger And Me
    • Sports Bright: Kaleb Eulls
  • NBA Conference Finals Dogfights
    Wild Card Playoff Games - NFL Football
  • DIS Links

  • Nate Barlow
  • Fierce And Nerdy
  • Collegiate Living
  • Eat, Drink & Sleep Football
  • Linked On Sports
  • Smackcaster
  • Sports Monarch
  • Sports Sound Off
  • Sports Chump
  • Sports Tailgaters

  • If you enjoy playing slots games then visit Online Slots Arcade.

  • Bet on USA's Favorite Pastime – Basketball Betting  at BetUS
  • Pages

    • About
    • Contact
    • Contributors
    • Newsletter
    • Scores


  • blog search directoryglobe of blogs
  • SportsTop Blogs
  • sports Blogs
  • blogarama - the blog directory

  • Home
  • Scores
  • About
  • Contributors
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Copyright ©2009 Nate Barlow. All rights reserved.
Posts RSSComments RSS
Designed by Nate Barlow, Based on Free Wordpress Themes