Come' On Man! Thats all I have to say to Clippers Owner Donald Sterling. Let's be serious for a moment. The Clippers are not good nor have they ever been good. I know I don't have much room to talk as I am a Warrior's fan but atleast we took the first step by changing ownership. I believe that's where it all starts. If you have a bad owner and bad front office people then chances are you won't be seeing a team fans will want to come watch. I think it's utterly disgusting that an owner would heckle a player. I never see Mark Cuban, one of the top owners in sports, calling Dirk "Tall & Goofy" or Jason Kidd "Old & Washed Up." So where does Donald Sterling get off downgrading Baron Davis? Ok, I understand Baron Davis isn't playing like the Superstar he was playing like in Golden State, but that's a risk you take when you sign a guy to a contract, especially for 5 years $65 million. Let's be honest the Clippers haven't been the best team since Sterling took over. Heres a quick look at how they have Faired...
Year Record % Div Rank Playoffs
82-83 25-57 .305 6th DNQ
83-84 30-52 .366 6th DNQ
84-85 31-51 .378 4th DNQ
85-86 32-50 .390 3rd DNQ
86-87 12-70 .146 6th DNQ
87-88 17-65 .207 7th DNQ
88-89 21-61 .256 7th DNQ
89-90 30-52 .366 6th DNQ
90-91 31-51 .378 6th DNQ
91-92 45-37 .549 5th Lost 1st Rnd
92-93 41-41 .500 4th Lost 1st Rnd
93-94 27-55 .329 7th DNQ
94-95 17-65 .207 7th DNQ
95-96 29-53 .354 7th DNQ
96-97 36-46 .439 5th Lost 1st Rnd
97-98 17-65 .207 7th DNQ
98-99 9-41 .180 7th DNQ
99-00 15-67 .183 7th DNQ
00-01 31-51 .378 6th DNQ
01-02 39-43 .476 5th DNQ
02-03 37-55 .329 7th DNQ
03-04 28-54 .341 7th DNQ
04-05 37-45 .451 3rd DNQ
05-06 47-35 .573 2nd Lost West Conf Finals
06-07 40-42 .488 4th DNQ
07-08 23-59 .280 5th DNQ
08-09 19-63 .232 4th DNQ
09-10 29-53 .354 3rd DNQ
10-11 5-20 .250
=790-1499
24 DNQ's
4 Playoff Appearences
1 Western Conference Appearence
0 Finals Appearences
0 Championships
By those numbers they have not been the new age Lakers. That's another bad move by moving to the Staples Center in 1999. Not only are they not the best team in LA, but they are not even the best team in that stadium. They are 1 of 3 teams not to win an NBA Championship or even a division title along with the Memphis Grizzlies and Charlotte Bobcats. They were on the right track with players like Al-Farouq Aminu' Baron Davis, Eric Gordan and Blake Griffin. I along with everyone this year is beginning to see why on May 19, 2009 the Clippers struck gold by winning the NBA Draft Lottery. Blake Griffin after missing last season due to an injury why he is an up and coming star in the league. With 20.3 ppg, 11.9 rbg, 3 apg and some spectacular dunks this season, this 21 year old phenom(That's Right Phenom) is showing he could be the start of something amazing. Now these allegations that Donald Sterling has said things like
"Why are you in the game?"
"Why did You take that shot?"
"Your out of Shape!"
to Point Guard Baron Davis. There is a major problem here. I believe Baron Davis handled this matter in the correct Fashion.
"Theres nothing I can say" replied Baron.
Ok I understand that he he making $13 million this season and has missed 14 of the last 25 game while averaging 7.4 ppg, 5.8 apg and 2.5 rbg. I still don't think that gives an owner the right to heckle a player. I know it's HIS team and all, but people might understand that's could possibly be the reason they have never won and NBA Championship. I believe he is just the bad luck charm of the Clippers. I don't think anything will change unless ownership changes hands. They need an owner who doesn't downgrade the players on his team and who shows he's deicated to building a winning franchise.
Unless they do something drastic' because the team they got now(no offense to any player on the Clippers) I don't see them making the playoffs let alone a Championship anytime in the near future. In fact they might end up giving the Chicago Cubs a run for their money as longest drought without a Championship in any sport.
I'm not sure what the fixture is for their problems are, but I know one thing if they don't start building a winning team, Blake Griffin might be flying the coop when his contract is over with. He is the first piece in a long list of must have. If I had a list of players I would take to build a team around he surely would be in the top 10. He is the reason and probably only reason why people tune in to watch Clipper's game.
My one and only opinion to the city of LA, GET A NEW OWNER!!! And all I have to say to Donald Sterling is
Come On Man!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment