LAC Needs
LAC Needs (February 5, 2000)

Hoop-LA's Note: I haven't received a whole lot of e-mails longer than one or two lines. It's usually "you suck" or "I like your site". Nicola wrote a short piece to me about the Clippers. I haven't edited anything. His e-mail is still in it's original format.

This team needs Discipline, fundamentals and heart. They can play some exciting basketball however the jam does nothing except lend credence to a brief moment of EXCITING. The jam or typical playgrounf ball, doesn't win in the NBA. Oh some teams such as Minnesota play some great playground ball, howeve it's accompanied by a see ya next year in the first round. year end, year out, the same teams compete because they are disciplined, have heart and they stress fundamentals. The LAC have NINE of these. The TALENT is in place, NOW out a winner as the coach so they can learn how to win. Who cares, i shouldn't. I simply am disgusted with mediocrity. The LAC accept it. The problem is at the top. The owner is piece of shit!

Nicola Stacconi

Hoop-LA's Note: The following my response to Messr. Stacconi

I can't figure out if your angle here. I know Donald Sterling is the worst owner in pro sports. I have no misconceptions there. I have been to the Sports Arena to watch a Clipper game. It was the worst facility I have ever been to.

The L.A. Clippers do have some nice young talent, Anderson, Odom, Taylor and Olowakandi. But they have no depth, either. They haven't had a good coach since Larry Brown and their GM is a lame duck. Elgin Baylor isn't given power, except who to draft, because they don't spend in free agency or on their own players.

I've watch a few Clippers games this year. I agree with you that "they don't have s team needs Discipline, fundamentals and heart." They are exciting to a point, but they aren't that exciting, lacking a truly explosive player like KG, Vince Carter or Kobe Bryant. They don't play playground ball, they try to play a reasonable wide open game, but play ground ball? Not with Chris Ford and not with the new coach Todd. Both guys like a slower game, a half court game. The Clips like to use Taylor and Odom in the post, more often than not.

As for your final statement, the talent may be in place, but "NOW out a winner as the coach so they can learn how to win", does this mean, get a coach who is a winner, so they can learn how to win? I think it's more than that. They need someone who can take control of the franchise and make the moves necessary. Sterling must sell the franchise.

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