Clippers Chris Paul should take after John Stockton, and shut up and play the game - The Downbeat #1543

I love this story. The Los Angeles Clippers, a team that has taken 1239 free throws this year, or 24.8 FTA per game ON AVERAGE, have a reputation. They are a big market team with big stars like Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, and despite how hard they try with their poses and stares, they aren't actually tough guys. In fact that are the whiniest collections of precious little kitties to ever grace the NBA. They never stop talking to the refs about calls, non-calls, pseudo-calls, phantom calls, prank calls, long-distance calls, friends and family calls, and so forth. It's as if half of their playbook is dedicated to how to be a a spoiled brat whenever they don't get their way -- or even if they do.

Anyway, Chris Paul, the ring leader, got a little upset over a technical foul called on him. Behold (via ESPN):

The tech that I get right there was ridiculous. I don't care what nobody says, I don't care what she says; that's terrible. There's no way that can be a tech. ... That's ridiculous. If that's the case, this might not be for her.

- Chris Paul, Los Angeles Cry Babies, 2015

CP3 was talking about rookie ref, who is also a woman, Lauren Holtkamp. I understand CP3's frustration. After all who could forget all those times John Stockton couldn't stop calling out refs after losses, and complaining about fouls. Or how he would talk to reporters after the game about specific calls that went against him. Oh wait, no. No. None of that ever happened. John Stockton kept his mouth shut and played (and won) the game.

The All-NBA 1st team guard and gold medalist would rather talk about the refs than be quiet and think about how he can help his team actually get out of the second round. For once. Ever. In his over-hyped career. Seriously, Chrissy ("come and knock on our doo-oor . . . "), shut up, man up, and start winning the games that matter. OR don't. But be quiet about it.

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As mentioned yesterday on the blog before the Utah Jazz made it official, Trey Burke will be taking part of the NBA Skills Challenge thingy this year.

Presenting the #TacoBellSkills Field at #NBAAllStarNYC! pic.twitter.com/RxwpryUiOj

— NBA (@NBA) February 6, 2015

Trey Burke will go up against a field comprised of Brevin Knight, er, Brandon Knight, Kyle Lowery, Jimmy Butler, Jeff Teague, Michael Carter-Williams, John Wall, and Isaiah Thomas. This season there is a tournament bracket to, uh, make the night slightly longer.

The #TacoBellSkills Bracket at #NBAAllStarNYC pic.twitter.com/CGUywQtkMF

— 2015 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) February 6, 2015

This year there are no Utah Jazz All-Stars, legends (in the shooting stars comp, like Karl Malone a while back), or competitors in the dunk or three point contest . . . but one in the Skills. There are three in the Rookie / Soph game (Trey, Rudy Gobert, and Dante Exum), but again, the Jazz are not represented that much this year.

Maybe next year? We'll see.

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So much time is spent talking about point guards here. We were blessed to have John Stockton, whom even people within the org worried about (THIS is the guy who is going to replace Rickey Green?). Then the team had Deron Williams, and he was great at his peak. Now the team has Dante Exum and Trey Burke (and maybe Raul Neto too). I get why having a good point guard is necessary. But not enough is done to try and get a big-time scorer. After Pistol Pete Maravich and Adrian Dantley the franchise had Karl Malone. And since Karl, no one has been a big-time scorer.

Check out all the ways Karl scores here against a great team and great defense!

I wonder will one of our guys become a big-time scorer? Or are we going to have to live without one? Having one who can carry your team is a big help. Man, I miss 90s basketball.

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Wesley Share of RealGM had some nice things to say about Rudy Gobert here.

Big men of such a mobile breed are rare. More slender and flexible frontcourt players such as Nerlens Noel and Gorgui Dieng have burst onto the scene the last couple years, but none play with the same combination of lumbering size, alarming quickness and proficient footwork that Gobert does.

Now, Gobert's recent emergence as a top-notch rim protector doesn't negate his status as a project. His work is cut out for him on the offensive side of the ball. But his elite contributions on the defensive end - which include a Defensive Box Plus-Minus of 4.0, second in the league only to some guy named Tim Duncan - would signal an expedited developmental process.

"The amount he's been able to contribute so early in his career has blown pretty much everyone away," DraftExpress scout Derek Bodner said. "The amount of ground he's able to cover, quickly, in one stride is incredible. He's the type of shot blocker that can not only impact guards driving to the hoop, but can shut his man down as well. He impacts every shot around the rim, even those he's not able to get to."

Bodner notes that an area of Gobert's defensive game that still needs work is in the post. "His length and quickness off his feet allows him to recover more often than not, but establishing, and holding, his ground better could make him even more effective."

- Wesley Share, RealGM.com, 2015

Check the full article for all the numbers, words, and if needed, please be sure not to drool over your keyboards too much.

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Quick question: Why is Trey Burke playing better?