Stayed up to watch the Clippers play Indiana last night. For me, they won't get through the first round of the playoffs, they're just too reliant upon Chris Paul to make plays for the team. If they had Billups, they'd be going against the Thunder for the Western conference, but he's injured and it's all too 'random' when they play. If Paul isn't forcing the issue on offense, too many players stand around, they don't pass it consistently enough and they don't get out and run the floor enough. Young looks a decent acquisition, but again, he's more of a relentless gunner like Foye and Williams, he doesn't seem to make plays for others.

When I watched them last night, Indiana's back court just had so much more versatility, everyone on the floor was scoring and hustling for rebounds, the Clippers just seemed to be taking pull up jump shots or hoping Griffin would gain something in the post. I'm still mixed on Vinny Del Negro, they're clearly better than last season but until they buy into defence completely, they will get blown out in the playoffs. For me, the Clippers' lack of consistency, lack of shutdown defenders and their over-reliance on Chris Paul to create plays, for me, is a recipe for disaster for the playoffs.

5-0 under Woodson. We look like the 93 Knicks right now. Great defensive show in Philly last night.

The clippers need a collective slap around the head. Im very unsure on Del Negro, I personally feel they need to get a new coach in the off-season and let them have a full training camp to work on things, though the reality is Del Negro will get that.



Top performance. Still think Melo will get traded somewhere in the summer though.

I dont think he will. Been a different player the past week.

There are a few things that's really hurting them in games. They can't hit free throws to save their lives, and it's really costing them 'easy points'. Too often Blake, Jordan and Evans will just be dragged down or pushed out of the way, as most teams know they aren't going to hit 2-2. It's resulted in Blake taking more and more jumpers, as every time he's near the hoop it's a double/triple team and then a foul if he works out of it.

They clearly have a talented roster, but I'm already doubting this signing of Nick Young. They needed a savvy player, somebody who could shut down on defence, like Sefolosha of the Thunder, who would be such a perfect fit at the Clippers. Not only is Young a bit 'dumb' in his play, he's one of those players that makes play stop when he gets the ball. When the Clippers had Billups and Paul playing, they moved it so well, then when Williams came in, he was given the keys to score and penetrate at will. Since Billups has gone down, the passing has stopped, the post players aren't getting many looks and the bench is being woefully outplayed.

It's clearly a year too early for the Clippers, who I feel will probably end the year being knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. They desperately need role players, they desperately need shut down defenders and they definitely need Billups back next season. I still think LA should have gone for Ray Allen, but I guess the Celtics wanted too much whereas the Wizards were giving Young away.

Anyone watching Anthony Davis and Kentucky tomorrow? Anybody watched him much? I've seen a few halves here and there on ESPN and he's frighteningly good. I think he could end up like Kevin Garnett, a freakishly long forward/centre that dominates opposing teams in just about every way.

Lets just hope he doesn't get stuck in Charlotte.

Or have Oden-esque knees. The last time I sat down and actually watched some NCAA basketball was the the year of the 2007 draft. I sat there in awe of Oden who was an absolute freak. When the commentators were saying he was playing 'wrong handed' because of surgery to his other wrist, I just couldn't believe that somebody of such athleticism had such solid post moves with his wrong hand. When Portland drafted him I couldn't see anything but a few championships, with Roy in the back court and Aldridge's potential next to Oden, they had pretty much everything. The story of Greg Oden, Brandon Roy and Portland has to be one of the most sorry in sport, people mock them for drafting him over Durant but he was clearly the lights out number one pick in that draft, Durant would have gone number one in any draft over the past twelve years other than the 2003 draft and the 2007 draft.

I hope Davis doesn't end up at Charlotte, but he looks such a talent that I think he could even turn their organisation around.

Stayed up to watch the Clippers three nights on the bounce. Del Negro has to go, the team don't play defence yet they have more than capable players. There's a massive lack of direction with everything, the rotation, the plays, the defensive effort, the go-to guys, just everything.

But is that the coach or is that the shear lack of time and preparation they've had going into this season with the huge raft of changes they've had?

I think it's a bit of both, but I didn't rate VdN ever anyway.

It's a bit of both. I wouldn't mind if the coach had made the right noises, or there had been signs. Del Negro comes out and says things like "I just do the basics and let them go out and play", any coach could do that, really. I've stayed up to watch a lot of Clipper games this year, pretty much any game on stream that's on before 8pm ET, and the problems have been evident all season. They come out the traps like a house on fire, then teams adjust and the Clippers look lost, for the first few months, Chris Paul's brilliance alone was keeping them afloat, but once teams started to shut Paul down, it became more and more clear that the Clippers never had a gameplan in the 4th quarter. I don't think VDN is a bad coach, but he isn't the coach to manage the new found expectations at the Clippers. Look at what happened to the Bulls after he left, something similar could happen with the Clippers if they picked the right guy.

6-1 in the last 7 for the Knicks. Holding teams to 85.9 a game. The team seems to have bought into Woodson and his defensive strategy. Melo still not right though.

I've seen a bit of Anthony Davis. Stupidly good. Will instantly change any franchise he goes to. The draft is very deep next year.

Watched a bit of the NCAA over the weekemd, was very impressed with Cody Zeler? Zeker? He looks like he'll be a good player, needs to bulk up a bit though.

Kentucky are just awesome this year tho, two top 5 picks in a single team, they should walk the title.

Delivered a beatdown on the Number seed in fantasy 6-1-1. Gives me the best record, although Oggy is breathing down my neck.

Only got 5th seed. If only I'd remember to actually do the draft! I wouldn't have ended up with Brandon Roy for a start!

should be an intresting matchup this mark im ahead 5-3 at the mo. Had a stupidly good night last night every player bar 2 over 20 points. Kevin Love is probably the best fantasy player by far in the NBA

Definately. Just totally has a monopoly on points, 3 pts + rebounds. Combine that with good percentages in both shooting and FT's and he's quality.

at times hes kept me in it on hes own. Add Deron William David Lee Jrue Holiday i got a little decent team. Should be a good run in

Mark are we in the playoffs now??

yup.

The Bulls are rolling quite nicely, 8-1 the past nine games without Rose. A huge game sunday afternoon against the Thunder, hopefully Rose and Rip are back for that one. We were average last night and still were able to limit the Pistons, they have some good pieces in Knight and Monroe but have drastically overpaid for average talent in Villuaneva and Gordon. Like most team swe come up against they struggled to cope with our size upfront, we don't lose much when Gibson and Asik come in for Noah and Booz. I still fear the Heat as I don't see how we can get around the Lebron defending Rose conundrum, hopefully Rip get's back to health and provides us with the secondary weapon on the wing.

A good old fashioned drubbing in OKC. I never knew the Thunders D had improved so dramatically, especially Durants.

Chicago are getting their a'rses handed to them at the moment. Obviously, with D-Rose they're a completely different team, but this OKC side are the best in the league for mine. Durant's now starting to create plays for others, he's already a better scorer than LeBron, whilst his defence continues to improve. Give me OKC's team over Miami's all year.

The offence isn't firing today. Too many rushed shots and OKC are forcing us to make hurried outside shots. OKC bench isn;t that great(Harden aside), we have done well with the bench mob in the game.


Scalabrine is in now. It will be good to see more of Jimmy Butler.

Harden's good, Collison is solid and Cook can be lethal from downtown. They don't have the greatest bench, but Harden is probably the best six man in the league at the moment, he will be huge in the playoffs.