Clippers change lineup to address turnover problems
The Clippers have been beyond charitable lately, giving opponents 47 extra possessions in recent one-point losses to the Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies.
But Coach Vinny Del Negro is tired of the turnovers, partly a side effect of the Clippers’ youthful core, so for Sunday’s game against the Orlando Magic, he started veterans Baron Davis and Ryan Gomes over rookies Eric Bledsoe and Al-Farouq Aminu.
“It’s nothing against the rookies,” Del Negro said. “It’s just the right time to do it.”
Del Negro praised his young players, given the situation they’re in, but said, “They have to learn and try not to make the same mistake twice, try not to compound mistakes.”
The move seemed to work, since the Clippers had only eight turnovers, a season low, in their 94-85 loss to the Magic.
Bledsoe had 11 points and 10 turnovers in those turnover-riddled losses and said before the game that he understands the move.
But the 21-year-old guard out of Kentucky said he still doesn’t understand what’s causing all the mistakes.
“I have no idea,” he said. “That’s the great thing about the league. There’s always a game another day.”
Some time on the bench to figure it out could help, Del Negro hopes, since turnovers aren’t often discussed in practice.
How long this rotation will last is unknown, Del Negro said. The Clippers have now tried eight starting lineups this season.
Del Negro conceded that this season is a sink-or-swim session for the Clippers’ rookies, one in which they will often have to play through mistakes.
“We want to develop them,” Del Negro said, “but we also want to make sure their work habits are done properly and that they’re learning the right things.”
Etc.
Sunday marked the first showdown between two of the NBA’s fiercest high-flyers in Clippers rookie forward Blake Griffin and Orlando All-Star center Dwight Howard.
Griffin entered the game with 50 dunks, one behind New York Knicks’ forward Amare Stoudemire for the league lead, while Howard entered 13 behind Griffin.
Their head-to-head dunk tally in their inaugural meeting:
Howard two, Griffin three.
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