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Post by mistwell on Apr 18, 2024 10:00:56 GMT -8
I have a complicated opinion of Blake. On the one hand, we never become a good team without him. He started this era we're still in, all these years later. An era where we're the team that's had the most winning seasons in a row in the entire NBA. An era where free agents actually want to play for the Clippers. An era where Steve Ballmer even saw the potential of buying the Clippers. Everything credits back to Blake, and the moment we drafted him. He was an incredible rookie, and for years an incredible player. And Lob City, for all its heartbreaking disappointments, was incredibly exciting and fun overall.
On the other hand, there were a lot of negatives which annoyed me during that era. The complaining to refs was the biggest one. The injuries and secrecy surrounding those injuries which really took off (and remain with us) in that era. Blake punching his trainer and breaking his hand - that one REALLY pissed me off. I still have not forgiven him for that selfish bullshit over a girl which cratered our entire season.
But overall, he was a great player. And his jersey should be retired here. I would have been happy had we signed him on the last day instead of Kai, just for him to be on the roster technically for this playoff run. I doubt we win a championship, but if we do it would have been great for him to be on the roster for that before he retires. I wish Ballmer and Blake found a way to talk and put aside differences over the way we traded him. I wish he'd be in our arena watching these playoffs. I wish he were providing commentary for some of our games. In short, I wish he were still in some way a part of our organization or the larger Clippers community, and I think it's a bad way to end things with him if he's not.
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Post by nuraman00 on Apr 18, 2024 14:13:57 GMT -8
How long has Griffin been retired? Or when did he play his last game?
That's a good point that he's never been back.
Even Deron Williams has been to Jazz games for years. And he's the one that allegedly forced Sloan into an earlier than expected retirement.
But he still goes back to Jazz games, and gets a decent reception. I think he was at one of the same games as Sloan, probably in 2019.
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Post by nuraman00 on Apr 18, 2024 14:21:14 GMT -8
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Post by mistwell on Apr 18, 2024 15:11:04 GMT -8
I think Blake's last game was a playoff game on April 25, 2023.
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Post by basketcase on Apr 19, 2024 9:44:30 GMT -8
"Ralphy Boy" wouldn't dare allow Smith next to him (fairly certain Lawler lobbied to have him fired). IMO, the positive years of them working together, and the impact they had on Clippers fans, outweigh a few contentions moments. They don't have to be friends for the rest of their lives. But there was great chemistry when they worked together. And that's what the rafter should recognize, the working relationship. I don't think it was a coincidence that of all the guests Ralph had on his last season, Smith wasn't one of them. I think Ralph is the true legend of the two. I liked listening to them together, so I was surprised when I heard about the animosity between them.
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Post by basketcase on Apr 19, 2024 9:51:13 GMT -8
I think Blake had a ton of talent, but Ballmer would have bought the team without him. Ballmer has more vision than that and players don't last forever. The market was the big selling point for him.
With all of Blake's talent and how much fun he was to watch, his immaturity and vanity was what kept him back from being as great as he could have been. If he would have been willing to develop better on court chemistry with CP3, we would have been hanging championship banners before a retired jersey.
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Post by clipps on Apr 19, 2024 11:15:48 GMT -8
Rookie Blake was some if the most fun times I had as a Clippers fan. The others were 01-02, 05-06, and 18-19. Too bad CP3 and Doc ruined him.
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Post by nuraman00 on Apr 19, 2024 13:09:51 GMT -8
IMO, the positive years of them working together, and the impact they had on Clippers fans, outweigh a few contentions moments. They don't have to be friends for the rest of their lives. But there was great chemistry when they worked together. And that's what the rafter should recognize, the working relationship. I don't think it was a coincidence that of all the guests Ralph had on his last season, Smith wasn't one of them. I think Ralph is the true legend of the two. I liked listening to them together, so I was surprised when I heard about the animosity between them. Yeah I am fine with putting Ralph in legend status, and Smith below that.
But, they worked together for 15 years, and I think people enjoyed the chemistry they had together. They had some running jokes together.
Give Lawler greater recognition if there's a way. But I think it would be cool seeing them acknowledged at the same ceremony, together, one more time.
Also, Mike Smith was working for the Utah Jazz from 2018 - 2019 onwards, in the studio show. So maybe there was scheduling difficulties? But even if that's not the reason, like I said, I think it's about an acknowledgement that many fans liked them together. That's all. Didn't mean they had to stay in touch after their working relationship ended.
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Post by basketcase on Apr 19, 2024 14:50:24 GMT -8
I don't think it was a coincidence that of all the guests Ralph had on his last season, Smith wasn't one of them. I think Ralph is the true legend of the two. I liked listening to them together, so I was surprised when I heard about the animosity between them. Yeah I am fine with putting Ralph in legend status, and Smith below that.
But, they worked together for 15 years, and I think people enjoyed the chemistry they had together. They had some running jokes together.
Give Lawler greater recognition if there's a way. But I think it would be cool seeing them acknowledged at the same ceremony, together, one more time.
Also, Mike Smith was working for the Utah Jazz from 2018 - 2019 onwards, in the studio show. So maybe there was scheduling difficulties? But even if that's not the reason, like I said, I think it's about an acknowledgement that many fans liked them together. That's all. Didn't mean they had to stay in touch after their working relationship ended.
I enjoyed them together as well. If they retire Ralph to the rafters, I think it would be nice to see Mike Smith at the ceremony. I have Ralph's book and have had a difficult time getting though it. I have thought about skipping ahead to the years where I started to be a fan, so I wonder if he says much about Mike in it.
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Post by nuraman00 on Apr 19, 2024 15:00:03 GMT -8
What parts of the book are difficult? Or what makes it a difficult read?
Is there a period about the Clippers, but before you were a fan, that is difficult? Or is it the period before the Clippers, that makes it difficult to read?
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Post by clipsentuboca on Apr 19, 2024 16:04:06 GMT -8
he’s annoyed me before. But, hey, it’s not all wine/whine and roses. We’re on the same side here. go clips!
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Post by clipsentuboca on Apr 19, 2024 16:19:22 GMT -8
"Ralphy Boy" wouldn't dare allow Smith next to him (fairly certain Lawler lobbied to have him fired). IMO, the positive years of them working together, and the impact they had on Clippers fans, outweigh a few contentions moments. They don't have to be friends for the rest of their lives. But there was great chemistry when they worked together. And that's what the rafter should recognize, the working relationship. won’t happen. The Mustached Squirrel may get some kind of remembrance but not Smith.
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Post by basketcase on Apr 21, 2024 6:02:51 GMT -8
What parts of the book are difficult? Or what makes it a difficult read? Is there a period about the Clippers, but before you were a fan, that is difficult? Or is it the period before the Clippers, that makes it difficult to read? I just don’t hear his voice in it, if that makes sense. It’s very dry and lots of paragraphs where it’s just a list of players he saw at that time. I didn’t even make it to the era where he was the Clipper announcer yet. Most of what I read was growing up and and his early career in radio.
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Post by dane on Apr 21, 2024 6:23:12 GMT -8
Seems like the first time I remember a confrontation between dane and clipsentuboca . he’s annoyed me before. But, hey, it’s not all wine/whine and roses. We’re on the same side here. go clips! I don't remember a confrontation with C or frankly with anyone, other than the usual suspect and a guy who hasn't been on this board in a couple of years. And don't even recall what this is about. Oh yeah, Blake. Well, rational and irrational minds as well can differ on this.
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Post by dane on Apr 21, 2024 6:24:08 GMT -8
I thought the issue with Mike Smith was some shady investment deals MS was involved in.
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