ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Clippers 12/22/2010

I just wanna see some sick dunks! Oh, and a Rox win :grin:

 

CLIPPERS FYI

Clippers lose two big men, will gain one

Forwards Brian Cook and Craig Smith, injured during weekend games in Detroit and Chicago, will be out for several weeks, the team says. Ike Diogu, a 6-foot-9 free agent, is expected to be signed Wednesday.

By Lisa Dillman

December 21, 2010, 8:00 p.m.



Big men, suddenly, are in extremely short supply around here.

Two games on consecutive nights took out two Clippers forwards on their recent trip and the news regarding both players was not encouraging Tuesday.

Craig Smith (herniated disk) and Brian Cook (sprained right ankle) won't be back until next month, and Smith's longer-term availability will depend on how he responds to the epidural he received Tuesday.


"We're going to have to find a way to weather the storm here for the next couple of weeks," Clipper coach Vinny Del Negro said, not aiming for a clever weather-related line. "Be creative with our lineups and adjustments."

Creativity extended to bringing in some emergency help. To add depth to their injury-depleted squad, the Clippers are expected to sign 27-year-old power forward Ike Diogu as a free agent on Wednesday.

Diogu, who is 6 feet 9, was at the team's practice facility Tuesday afternoon for a workout session. Diogu, a lottery pick in 2005 (No. 9 overall), had microfracture surgery last year on his left knee. He has bounced around since starting his NBA career with Golden State and was cut by Detroit just before the regular season started.

The need for such a move became urgent when Smith got hurt Saturday in Chicago. He fell on the court going after a loose ball, which exacerbated his back symptoms.

Smith had an MRI exam Monday, which revealed the herniated disk in his lower back, and he was examined by back specialist Dr. Robert Watkins. Smith is listed as being out a minimum of two weeks.

But that doesn't mean he will be back playing in two weeks. Clippers trainer Jasen Powell said they will see how Smith responds to the epidural; another injection could be necessary.

Cook will be out three weeks, Del Negro said. Powell said he viewed the tape of Friday's game at Detroit several times to see how Cook suffered the injury. Right away, the ankle "blew up heavy," Powell said.

Not only did Cook roll the ankle, but, before it happened, Detroit's DaJuan Summers came down hard on Cook's foot.

There was one small step forward, so to speak. Center Chris Kaman, who has been dealing with a lingering right ankle sprain, got out of his walking boot Tuesday. He has been out since the Dec. 5 game against Portland.


lisa.dillman@latimes.com

 

hopefully i'll be at the game. depends on if the girl i'm seeing is free or not.

 

I have also caught a couple of Clipper games just to see Blake, the guy is a treat to watch. The Clippers are not as bad as their record indicates, they have beaten some really good teams thus far, hopefully a Rockets win!

 

Easy win. Rox by 20.

 

Jordan Hill will own Blake Griffin like how he has destroyed Cousins. Go Rockets!

 

This, except i want to win. lol

 

I hope Sterling is on the sidelines, an extra heckler is helpful. :grin:

I want to see Blake get some nasty dunks...just not posters.

 

Sign #1039 that your team sucks: Brian Cook gets actual rotation minutes for you.

 

Sign #1040- Brian Cook injuring himself and missing games is a storm you have to weather.

 

Don't you remember? We had Cook out with an injury too! That was very important!

Link

 

stay away from the poster.

 

Gordon will get his but can't let Blake get big dunks and get the crowd into it. I think Chuck will be able to control him.

 

Hope Hayes shut down Blake Griffin
Win...

 

I am not worry about Blake Griffin by himself. Hayes is more than enough to hold his ground to slow down Blake. What i worry about the most is how we gonna defend the Griffin/Gordon P&R. Hopefully RA figures something out by tmr or those pair are gonna have a nice dunkathon on us. It will be a harder win if they get their way with us but we will win either way because we are just a better team

 

How are we going to stop Brian Cook???

 

off subject but hey Clutch your new website looks good, thought of making a thread about it but cannot. Cheers

 

Maybe the fact that Rockets are now ranked third in the nba in assists helps us beat Blake Griffin's single man show.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/7349850.html

Rockets notes: Team improves to third in NBA in assistsBy JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle
Dec. 21, 2010, 10:34PM

After matching their season high with 31 assists against Golden State on Monday, the Rockets are third in the NBA in assists, behind only Boston and San Antonio. The Rockets have averaged 25 assists in their eight wins this month, 21 in the three losses.

"If they move the ball and move people — that's the biggest thing - we have to understand where the next option is," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "Sometimes we don't move the ball to the other side of the court, but we're getting better at it."

Point guard Kyle Lowry has helped key the success of the Rockets' offense, averaging 8.4 assists and 14.7 points (on 47.4 percent shooting overall and 52.3 percent accuracy from the 3-point line) in December.

"I think we feel we can always get good shots," Lowry said. "We can run the offense, but we have to execute and make hard cuts and make the right plays. When we do that, we can get good shots at any time."

 

Blake Griffin meet Chuck Hayes.

Should be a really interesting match up.