Fuck Yea[h] NBA

The Clippers lost to the lowly Cavaliers last night 99-92, and head coach Vinny Del Negro was a bit upset about their performance. Via Broderick Turner in the Los Angeles Times, 

“‘We need all of our players to play hard on the defensive end, have a defensive mind-set instead of worrying about how many touches they get and all that stuff that losing teams talk about,’ Del Negro said. ‘We have to focus in on what we control and that’s our effort, our energy, our focus and how to win games. We didn’t do that tonight and that’s what I’m disappointed about.’”

Del Negro (himself, no harbinger of success as the head coach of the Paul-led Clippers) might also be disappointed with the play of Mo Williams, who went 2-10 off the bench last night. He got those 10 shots up in 34 minutes of action, so he wasn’t spraying the ball at the basket all night like a sprinkler. 

With the loss of Chauncey Billups for the year (and possibly for the rest of his career; readKevin Pelton’s write-up for Basketball Prospectus about the inability of older players to come back from an Achilles tear), the Clippers turn to Mo Williams for scoring from the 2-spot. 

Mo might be too much of a gunner though. T.J. Simers has an article, again in the Los Angeles Times, about Mo’s selfish me-first attitude with the ball and in regards to his contract extension. It’s hurt the feel-good Clippers this year. 

“The Clippers seemingly had something special going, but maybe there’s some doubt now with Chauncey Billups going down for the season.

At the very least, it’s the wrong time for Mo Williams to remind everyone how wrapped up he is in himself.

It’s time for the Clippers to take a stand as a team to overcome such a hit, but instead Williams is saying, ‘I just want to know where I stand with the Clippers.’

Translation: He’s looking for a contract extension.

Me, me, and me, he’s saying, as we sit down to talk about life without Billups, and why am I not surprised?

With Chauncey gone, Randy Foye has stepped into the starting lineup as LA’s 2-guard, with Mo still coming off the bench. If this pisses him off, which Simers seems to believe through all the ambivalent language from Mo, then he should take a look around. 

When you’re the best player with the second team, you have the green light to put it up as much as possible while the starters rest. And it’s not like Chris Paul has a hard time feeding you the ball when he does come back in. 

Basically, own your 6-man role Mo, and look at James Harden for inspiration. Your life as a gunner can prosper for this Clippers team, it just doesn’t include starting. The onus to play hard is on you.

[Los Angeles Times; Further reading: Orange County Register; PHOTOS VIA & David Maxwell/EPA VIA]