I received a D Wade Jersey as a birthday present, so I am going to honor my brother who is flying down from Lake Tahoe just for this game, by wearing it. I hope I do not get to much flack from the local fans.

I think the Clippers will be able to handle the Heat who have not quite returned to their championship form. In the past when Shaq was hurt, they played better. But this season they were not playing all that good even before Shaq got hurt. So this is an opportunity for the Clips to win two in a row. It looks bad for them to be in a 3 way tie for last place. But with a win tonight they could be alone in third place in a division where every team is at 500 or better. Moreover, they would be only 3 games out of first, so with even a little win streak they could get back in the mix.

Contrast that to the Atlantic division in the East where even the first place team is 2 games below 500. Miami is only sporting a 7 -9 record, but that is good enough for 3rd place in the Southeast. There are only 3 teams over 500 in the entire Eastern conference. The West dominates.

It looks like it is going to be tough in the West this year so the Clippers need to get it going. The Lakers look like they are on a roll and we do not want our guys getting to far behind so early in the season.

Sunday nights win was certainly a step in the right direction. The chemistry was back and our Bigs started to get it going. Most importantly, if you look at box score, the shooting percentages were way up for most players. Elton Brand hit 10 of 12, Tim Thomas drilled 7 of 11, Aaron Willims hit both of his shots, and Chris Kaman was 5 for 10. A good night for our Bigs. Our shooters did alright as well. Corey hit 4 of 8, and Sam was 6 for 8. Overall, the Clippers hit 60% from the field, 56% from the 3 and 82% from the line. That.....will get it done. Let's hope this shooting streak continues.

Tonight's game in on a Fox Sports feed so I hope everyone has fun watching the game. I know I will. We have seats behind the Clippers bench and also across the floor looking into the bench. So I might move back and forth and half time. Just look for the only guy wearing a black D Wade jersey and that will be me. Heck, they might be short a player, get confused and put me in the game.

JamFan

number one Livingston needs to be playing constantly, and we need to start TO STOP counting so much on SAM. Shaun has found a comfort that if he messes up, Sam will save the day. Livingston needs to play, and needs to learn (even if it means loosing a couple). Cat can stay a starter, but needs to find his stroke. Maggette is a starter. period. To have the "6th man" support off the bench (as an offensive spark) Q can start and Cat come off bench as well as Sam. EB obviously starts, but not MVP status yet! And Kaman needs to sit, while Thomas starts. Only problem, Thomas isnt a natural 5. Thats why Kaman is so vital. Thomas does not feel for center, he and maggette need to share a position. So until Kaman realizes he was paid 52 freakin dollars and wakes up, We are in trouble. but final:
1) S. Livingston (sub SAM)
2) CAT (sub Q)
3) C Maggette (sub Q, also)
4) EB (as beyonce says, irreplaceable ;) )
5) Tim Thomas (Kaman)

I wrote in an article a couple of weeks ago, that the Clippers could not keep relying on outside shooting alone to keep winning games. If they do and our shooters go cold, they would be only a couple games away from dropping down to 3rd place. I said then that the inside game, with its 50% shooting percentage, is what keeps you steady and in games night in and night out. Well, our shooters have cooled off, we have lost 4 of our last 5, and now we are only 1/2 game out of last place.

Elton Brand started the season a lot slower than usual. He is well below last season's numbers even though lately he is starting to get back into form . If Brand is not getting enough touches in the right spots, it is the coaches fault for not making sure it gets done. There have been other players who have gone through a long successful season, an extended playoffs, and played all summer like Elton did, and then not have all the "mojo" they needed the following season. These players have played so much without resting that they hit the wall early. A lot of NBA Euro players have had this problem because they go home to play for their national teams during the summer. Let's hope Elton does not hit the wall this season.

I thing Kaman has a different problem. He took the summer off and didn't play in summer league or go to a Big Man's camp. He had an injury in camp but he wasn't out for all that long. And he has been back for quite awhile now. So tell me I'm wrong, but he looks heavier this year. Between his belly and his thighs I think the uniform is hiding a heftier than normal midsection. He is a half a step slow around the bucket this year. His quickness is gone. His leaping ability is gone. And a couple of balls rolled along the floor next to him and he didn't even bother to bend over to see if he could pick them up. This recent spranged ankle in practice the other day is a sideline issue. I'm thinking Kaman came into camp heavy. Then he couldn't get into shape and he is trying to do it during the season. Meanwhile his team suffers from his lack of contribution. Last year he finished with 12 PPG and 10 RPG. He got his $50 Million contract extension on the promise of moving his numbers up to maybe 16 and 12. Instead he his only scoring 8 points per game and 7 rebounds. His shooting percentage and blocks are down as well.

I think there is at least an explanation for Elton's slow start. Nobody is ever going to accuse him of being a slacker. But if Kaman did come to camp heavy and out of shape, then he did a disservice to the fans and his team that is going to be paying him $10 million dollars a year to play.

I haven't heard any "Boos" yet at Staples Center, but I think the next time an opposing center abuses Chris, you might start to hear the fans give him a little noise. Especially if we have already dropped down into last place.

JamFan

So far, Chris has gone in the other direction. On a team that sports a Pacific Division best record at 6 - 1, Kaman has barely scratched the surface of the potential many felt would really shine through this season. In the 8 man rotation that Coach Dunleavy is deploying, Chris has the lowest point total at 8.2 PPG. His rebounding is back to his rookie levels at 6.5, and he is blocking shots at 1/3 the level of last season. But the most shocking stat is that his shooting percentage has dropped to 37%. Not good for a guy who works mostly in and around the bucket.

So what's wrong? Nobody is talking, except for an article written today by a female sportwriter who glowed about his "cro-magnum" height and long blond hair with short bangs, not to mention his..............female sportswriters? Yikes!

Elton Brand got off to a slower than usual start but finally got untracked in the last game and put up his typical double-double numbers of 22 points and 10 rebounds. The players talk about it is OK to have the outside shooters carry the team while the Bigs wait to get it going. Huh? There is a reason why teams who have Bigs who typically score with shooting percentages of 50-53% can consistantly carry a team better than outiside shooters who average 35-40% from the field. Outside shooters are steaky, they get cold, they are inconsistant. The inside guys pound away, consistantly scoring every other time they shoot the ball.

That is the most important reason we all need for Chris to get untracked. He needs to do it before the shooters have a couple of off nights and suddenly we find ourselves back in 3rd place. Will it happen tonight against the Jazz? Lets hope so. The Jazz have risen from the ashes to sport the leagues best record at 6 - 1. We need to have our team firing on all cylinders. We need Chris to come back and become the Kaveman.

JamFan

Because of the slow response by KTLA, I contacted the Clippers organization directly. I received a response back from the Clipper broadcast director Jessica Boroquez. She said she would look into the matter.

If all of this fails we will start calling the advertising departments of all the sponsors who pay good money to advertise during Clipper games and let them know that their advertising is also being blacked out and their advertising dollars wasted.

Hopefully, just a little pressure from the Clippers will get KTLA to get a move on. If not we will go directly to the sponsers to put the pressure on. Trust me, when the sponsors speak, KTLA is definitely listening.

JamFan

I want to hear from anyone who finds that their Clipper games, that should be on the KTLA feed are blacked out in their area. This usually happens in areas that surround the LA metro area, where another more local channel carries the CW network programming. In those cases, you should be getting any programming on your KTLA feed that is not CW programming like KTLA news, local sports, and Clipper Games.

In my county, our cable company is Charter Communications, and they say they do not know why they do not get the Clipper feed. KTLA programming department is non-responsive. And if they continue to be non- responsive we are going to put pressure on them through the Clipper organization. The Clippers gives KTLA the right to televise the games but they are blacking out a lot of the fans who live in on the outskirts of the SoCal area , but are not that close to Staples and have a harder time getting to the games.

I have already contacted the Clipper organization. If KTLA does not want to repspond, then we will put pressure on the Clippers to use another station next year.

Please let me know if you have KTLA on you cable system, but find your games are blacked out. Tonights game against Phoenix is the first one that is carried by KTLA. If you do not have this game, this is your chance to complain so I can help everyone get the games. Just hit Discuss below and tell me where you live and who your cable company is and I will forward the info to the Clippers and KTLA.

JamFan

Are Corey Maggette's days numbered as an LA Clipper. Are there really as many teams interested as the press lets on. Lets look at the issues.

On the side of trading Corey we have some compelling reasons to do so. The most obvious is that Corey has been hurt a lot since coming to the Clippers. Two years ago he led the team in scoring with 22 PPG, but the rest of the time he has either been hurt or playing while rehabbing from being hurt and not 100%. Moreover, many feel Corey's game is not suited for Coach Dunleavy's game. We are big down low and Corey's game often works best while driving to the hoop into an area that is often clogged with Bigs. Corey is not a shooter, but rather a scorer. And if you look at his line, many times half of his points come from the free throw line not from hitting shots from the outside. Tim Thomas was brought in to replace VladRad's outside shooting, but already we are seeing Tim working close to the hoop. Meanwhile, except Sam Cassell, the Clippers seem to be hurting for consistant outside shooting.

A reason not to trade Corey is that he is a tremendous value with his long term contract at 6 MIl or so. But that value has been diminished by so much time spent on the sidelines. The Clippers need another dead eye outside shooter to open up the middle for our Bigs. Last night they were collasping on Elton to the point where he could hardly get any shots off. They are daring us to shoot outside. They no that we usually can not beat a team that way. We can not rely on Sam to hold down the fort alone.

So the clock is ticking. The Clippers could wait for that special deal or pull the trigger on a deal before Corey gets hurt again. I don't think that all these teams are calling the Clippers regarding Corey Maggette unless the Clippers are willing to listen. Is it just a matter of time until some team makes an offer that GM Baylor can not refuse? Tick....tick.....tick!

JamFan

Will Shaun Livingston start tonight?

Will Sam I Am start?

If not, will Sam finish the game?

Will Chris Kaman be back at full strength?

Will Corey Maggette return to his former levels of ability?

Will James Singleton sky through the air for put back slammer?

Will Tim Thomas hit a clutch 3 with 3 seconds to go to beat his former team?

Will the Clipper Bigs go for 82 points like the Lakers Bigs did last night?

Will the Clippers try to run with the Suns?

Will back to back games slow down the Suns at all?

Will Shaun Livingston keep Steve Nash off balance all night?

Will all of this add up to an extended playoff run?

Will the Clippers win the NBA championship?

For the answer to these and other questions, this game is televised at 7:30 PM. Check you local listings, but for most the game will be carried on TNT. If you have a question that you feel will be answered tongight, just hit discuss and let us know what it is?

JamFan

This year you expect Elton Brand to be Elton, Cat Mobley to be Cat, Sam Cassell to be Sam I Am. Coming into the season completely healthy should help Corey Maggette to return to form. 2 Years ago he led the team in scoring with 21PPG. Tim Thomas will be bombing from the outside much like he did last year for the Suns, even in clutch time.

So how do we get to the next level? It is all in the hands of our young kids.

Chris Kaman, 24 - expect him to have a break out year. I can feel it coming. He will play hard whether or not he gets his extension. He will be playing for a contract either way. He is strong and ready. Most centers will not be able to handle him this season.

Shaun Livingston, 19 - is starting to have that potential super-star feel to his game. When he has had minutes this preseason he is running the show and shooting with more confidence. I feel he will start the season at PG, and share minutes with Sam closing out games. His job is to stay healthy this year, play a lot of minutes, and keep Sam fresh for the playoffs.

James Singleton, 25 - only needs more minutes to show his stuff. Defense, blocked shots, and rebounds will be followed by high flying dunks off of offensive rebounds.

Yaroslav Korolev, 19 - finally got some minutes this preseason in one game and only went for 26 points. Last season when he wasn't getting any PT, I went to a Clippers game early and watched him come out on the floor to practice outside shooting before either team began warmups. He only hit about 90% of his 3's and looked a little like a tall Jerry West out there stroking it. Still just a teenager. It is just a matter of time.

Paul Davis, 22 - has already shown in preseason that he is a rookie with a lot of promise. He will play backup center and power forward this season.

Q Ross, 25 - has been shooting jumpers all summer. But if you remember the playoffs last year they were doubling off Q and he burned the opposition time and time again with outside shots. His primary job is our defensive stopper at the 1, 2, and 3 spots. If he shoots like we know he can that will be icing on the cake.

Daniel Ewing, 23 - It is too bad he is buried behind Sam and Shaun because he is a good little player. Coming out of Duke, he is smart and confident. But he can't help if he doesn't play.

We know what to expect out of our veterans. But a trip to the finals depends on Chris Kaman, and Shaun Livingston. It also depends on Corey Maggette returning to form. If all these pieces fall into place. Watch out! All the guns are loaded and we are ready for battle. We are going to have a lot of fun this year.

JamFan