yamaneko

COuldnt disagree more. Clippers for years have had teams with chemistry, players "wanting to work hard", , etc. etc. Where has it gotten them? no where. WHich is why 3 years ago sterling and baylor committed themselves to getting an all star/ SG/SF who could be a go to player. Clippers have tried every other combination of players, of talent, of coaching, etc., this is the only thing they have been lacking. Q rich has nothing to do with Bobby simmons. Qrich was let for for a number of reasons, 1. In order to lure Kobe, 2. the fact that if they signed him, they could not get the wanted go to player in this years FA crop, 3. injury concerns from the doctors. 4. his style of play did not make him a good fit to be paired with maggette.

We could put a whole team of people who give 110% together, but if they are all mark madsens, where would that get us? No where. Attitude, effort, etc. while important, only get you so far. Attitude does not make you a clucth player. Being a good citizen does not make teams double team you opening up options for your teammates.

This is why sterling and baylor have been pursuing a top calliber player for some time now. WIth the new makeup of the west, a SG/SF combo of simmons and maggette is not even close to a guarnatee at the playoffs. Of course its better than nothing, but there is no way the clippers make simmons the priority over allen, etc. this off season, otherwise simmons would be locked up already with a verbal deal.

Clippers lost more than 20 games last year 5 or fewer points. If you watched the clippers games you would notice that they alawys choked at the end of the games. No one wanted the ball, the ones who did didnt know what to do with it, turnovers, mental mistakes, no open shots because no one needed to be double teamed, etc. etc. When you have a pierce or allen, first of all, they are clutch players. They take over games at the end. Worst case scenario, the other team knows this, they double team that player, thus opening up wide open looks for the likes of brand, livingston, kaman, etc. THIS is what the clippers need. If they cant get a player like that, THEN, by all means, try to lock up simmoons for now, for at least trade bait for him or maggette to try and trade for a player like that down the road.

__________________
08-09 Clippers - A Thomas/Mobley trade for a star on the cheap away from a championship