We Are The Clippers 1988-1995(JSB Retro Dynasty)
 

I've been playing with JSB for quite a while, I'll try making a dynasty out of it.) I'll be using the default 1988-89 season, with randomized career projection ratings, randomized staff. Beware, I am not a good storyteller... :-P

The Los Angeles Clippers. Formerly the San Diego Clippers, they moved to LA in 1985, dubbed as the "other" Los Angeles Team. The Clippers were the worst team in the entire NBA in the 1987 season, and were pretty much worthless in the 1988 season as well.


Of course, this didn't matter much, as long as the players were being paid cheap and the fans still bought tickets. Profit was the biggest priority in Clipper-land, and despite having fans that are looking forward to this young team blossom, many feel that the desire for profit and not winning a title, is going to bury this Clipper team into mediocrity.

Of course, that was until we came in. Meet San Francisco Wharfing, Inc. We bought out Donald Sterling's cash cow for an unprecedented $35 million. Nearly three times the amount that Sterling paid for the Clippers. I promptly handed over my majority stock options with the SFW, in exchange for being the Clippers General Manager for the next 20 years. The entire NBA was pretty much abuzz with the sale, and my appointment. It came as a shock, a 20-year non-breakable contract? Well, when you run a family business, and the board is practically family as well... I certainly didn't run any risk of losing control of SFW. Afterall, it was my idea to buy us this basketball team anyway.

That's how I became General Manager of the Los Angeles Clippers.

The 1988-89 LA Clippers as rated by team scout, Lucas Bass

Ratings:

Contracts:

Youth Movement

The Clippers will be fielding 7 rookies this season. Notably, Gary Grant and Charles D. Smith will be thrust into the Clipper limelight.

Grant is evaluated as a solid player and starter, while Charles Smith is considered as an excellent player. The career outlooks on both players look solid, as Smith is projected to be one of the league's best, while Grant is said to have a solid career as a starter.

Danny Manning, despite looking a bit bleak, might have a future, as our scout says that he has excellent intangibles, allowing him to develop quicker as a player.

Centerpiece

The centerpiece of this Clipper team is SF Ken Norman. Considered by my scout as having a Hall-Of-Fame type potential, and as a legitimate all star this year. Norman is rated as a versatile offensive player, and a solid defender, he's a solid passer and a good ball-handler. At only 25 years of age, Norman looks like he might be the next big thing in Clipper land.

PG/SG Quintin Dailey is probably going to team up with Gary Grant to form the backbone of this Clipper back-court. Dailey is 6'3", and has poor handling skills, but he is a solid offensive player. We're paying him about 6 mil this season, the highest paid Clipper. His contract, however, is ending this season, and I doubt we're going to offer him the same amount of money next year.

Outlook

The season looks pretty bleak. One of our objectives this year is to avoid being the last-placed team in the league once again. We have a solid youth movement going on, and we're going to work with that. If we have a shot at it, we're going to try and make the playoffs, although that looks like it's going to be a pretty lofty goal.

Nov. 5, 1988 - Miami, FL

This was surreal. I've watched NBA games before, but never in a position like mine. This was to be the very first game of MY Clippers. It was against the Miami Heat. They were 1-2 for the season. Their highest scorer is Rony Seikaly at 13 ppg. They have 5 players scoring in double figures, but noone seems to be able to take over a game. I was hoping for the best for my LA Clippers.

The crowd seems pumped, despite their small numbers (estimated about 7000, in a 20,000 capacity arena)... they know that the Clippers sucked last season, and expect their Heat to win tonight.

The players walk on to the court. Our line-up for tonight: Grant, Dailey, Norman, Manning and Smith. No true center in the court for the Clippers. Smith lines up with Seikaly, the ball is tipped, and Gary Grant controls the ball, he takes the Heat by surprise and quickly drives into the paint to score! 2-0 Clippers.

The game goes on, and after a flurry of plays the Clippers are up 8-4. Grant has taken 5 shots and only made 2, he's looking to take control of the game. I only wish he'd pass the ball more to Norman, who's been itching to score. Grant looks winded, though, and he is immediately sent to the bench to recuperate.

The quarter passes by quickly. The buzzer sounds and I look up at the scoreboard. Clippers: 22 - Heat: 8. Gary Grant has 8 points already, and shot 4/9 from the field. Norman only has two points. I was pleased to see that we were up by such a large margin.

The 2nd quarter was a different story. The Heat matched us point for point, but they weren't able to cut down on the lead we had built. As halftime rolled around, we were ahead, 55-38. Gary Grant has 16 points. The suprising play of back-up SG Tom Garrick was nice, he has 8 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Ken Norman is yet to explode, he only has 4 points in this game, but he does have 4 rebounds and 3 assists.

Our guys left the locker room looking like they're ready for a war. The third quarter was pretty much a massacre. Grant finally went to work and distributed the ball. Tom Garrick continued hitting his shots and hustling, while our big men went to work on the boards and the low post. The Heat were befuddled, we outscored them 30-12 in the 3rd quarter, and the scoreboard read 85-50 in favor of the Clippers headed into the final 12 minutes.

Fans were streaming out, they were disgusted with the play of their Heat. I had a big smile. This was a blast, a great start for me and my Clippers.

The 4th quarter was pretty much routine. We sat down our starters and played our bench. Charles Smith was the only remaining starter in the game and we proceeded to feed him the ball during the homestretch. As the final buzzer sounded, the Clippers were victorious 107-80. I was ecstatic.

The game ball goes to Gary Grant. He had 18 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists in ONLY 23 minutes of play. Charles Smith had 19 points and 9 rebounds. Ken Norman had 10 points and 8 rebounds. We were just brilliant this game, and we did everything right. We rebounded, and swung the ball around. I only hoped we could show up like this every game.

On the plane ride back to LA, I congratulated the players and told them that this was the beginning of a bright future for the Clipper organization.

Nov. 26 - Los Angeles, CA

After our very first win, I was just so pumped. I called relatives, friends... asked them if they watched the Clippers game on TV. Apparently, the game was only carried by the local Miami TV Stations, so they weren't able to watch the game. The newspapers, however, took notice, and the LA Times sport's page had a big "CLIPPERS WIN OPENER" article towards the lower left portion of the page. Nice. I smile.

We lost our next game, against Denver, in Colorado. Superstar SF Alex English torched us for 30 points and we weren't able to put up much of a fight, as we fell 118-97. Against Sacramento, we fared better, slaughtering them 105-62 behind a 20 pt 12 rebound performance from Charles Smith.

What happened next was a complete disaster. We played our very first home game against the Phoenix Suns. We were ready, we were itching to show the LA Fans that these Clippers are for real. Despite 27 pts and 11 rebounds from Danny Manning and 22 pts and 13 rebounds from Charles Smith, we were unable to get the win as we fell short 116-101.

I think that was what triggered the collapse. Over the course of seven games, we dropped every single one of them. We looked like the Clippers of old... we were flat-footed, and completely unable to thwart our opponents' offensive attacks. We were soon standing on a 2-9 clip.

I look at our calendar... we were up against the New York Knicks tommorow at home. the league-leading 11-2 Knicks. My head started to hurt. Tommorow was going to be a bad, bad day.

Nov. 27, 1988 - Los Angeles, CA

I looked up at the clock. 3:51 left. The fans were cheering... this was probably the loudest I've heard the Staples Center since I took over the Clippers. The score, 96-96. Mark Jackson, the Knicks PG was dribbling up-court.

The house was nearly packed. 18,000 strong, from the last count. Although I'd think that most of the people came here to watch Patrick Ewing and the New York Knicks.

I was with the team in the locker room when Coach Dawson DiGiovanni was talking about hunger, desire. He said that the Knicks were the best in the league right now, and that we had to make a statement tonight.

The entire game was a battle. It was like a fire was lit underneath the Clippers. They matched the Knicks move for move. For every basket that the New York based cagers made, we answered back with a basket of ours. We were unrelenting, refusing to give up... refusing to give in. Now, with the clock ticking down, we would need to buckle up and withstand these Knicks.

Jackson faked Gary Grant to the left, and quickly pulled up for the three... the shot rattles in... and OUT! Reggie Williams grabs the rebound... and quickly outlets it to Ken Norman, who only has Jackson between him and the ring. Norman takes it strong to the hoop... he's hacked by Jackson! The shot goes up, and IN! FOUL COUNTED! Norman looks tired. He lines up for the free-throw, and misses. Manning is there for the tip-in, but he botches it! The Knicks now on the run... Jackson with the pull-up, and he misses too. Grant grabs the ball and goes coast to coast. Clippers 100 - Knicks 96.

The Knicks have another possession. Oakley drives towars the basket, misses the shot. Ewing with the rebound, and the shot... and he misses again. The Clippers run once more, and this time, Wolf finds an open Ken Norman streaking towards the basket. Clippers 102 - Knicks 96. 2:14 to go.

The Knicks claw their way back through Ewing and Newman. Grant then hits two free-throws after a foul to make the score. He steals the inbound and makes the lay-up! Clippers 106 - Knicks 100. 1:12 to go.

Gerald Wilkins slams the ball in front of Joe Wolf! Clippers 106 - Knicks 102. 0:55 left.

My heart is beating so fast. I could smell the win, but the Knicks were a great team, and great teams don't falter. The Knicks refuse to foul, and play solid defense. Ken Norman drives and then passes the ball to a wide-open Danny manning who hits a mid-range jumper. The crowd explodes in cheer. Clippers 108 - Knicks 102. 0:33 left on the clock.

The Knicks run a fast-break, and Oakley hits a lay-up to make the score 108-104 with 21 seconds left. We inbound the ball, but it is stolen by Marc Jackson, who shoots... and misses! Grant grabs the rebound and sprints to the front-court. The ball is tapped from his hands, and Jackson hits a sprinting Charles Oakley for the easy dunk. THE BUZZER SOUNDS! The scoreboard is blinking, Clippers: 108 - Knicks: 106. The Staples Center explodes. Clippers running into the court, everyone's jumping! The fans rush into the court as well. It's like we won the NBA Championship! The Knicks hand their heads on their way back to the locker-room. Gary Grant is pumping his fists up in the air. He rushes over to Ken Norman and gives him a tight hug.

The reality of the situation finally settles in. We beat the Knicks! I was celebrating inside the Owner's box along with my staff. We won!

The player of the game was Ken Norman who had 28 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists on 12/16 FG. Danny Manning also had 20 pts, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks.

This was a nice break from all the losing. But I knew deep down inside we had a rough road ahead of us.

Dec. 1, 1988

With the month of November done, we stand at a record of 3-10. Not good. Our opponents have torched us on the hardcourt, and we haven't been able to put up a fight.

Clippers Stats:


Danny Manning and Ken Norman lead the team with both 17.6 ppg. Manning was a pleasant surprise, considering my scout doesn't see him as a guy who would be able to take over right now. Charles Smith is doing a mediocre job at C, he's a bit undersized and is having trouble rebounding the ball... only 12 ppg and 6 rpg. Gary Grant, Quintin Daley and Tom Garrick round up our back-court.... Garrick has put up decent numbers off the bench, while rant hasn't really lived up to the hype that was given to him after our 1st game.

The season is going to be long.

January 1, 1989

The New Year rolls along, and the Clippers fared better in December. We went 7-7, and are now standing on a 10-17 clip. Believe it or not, that's good enough for the 8th seed in the Western Conference right now.

Clippers Stats:

Quintin Dailey, despite a couple of injuries here and there, has upped his production considerably. He's making a case for next season, when he becomes a free-agent. Ken Norman's average is rising, now at 18 ppg. Charles Smtih has also improved his play. He is now averaging 14 ppg and 7 rpg. I think that we really need an outside shooter. We have onyl made 10 three-point shots all season long. That's not good. Our opponents are collapsing on us on defense and we don't have an outside option whatsoever. That will have to be addressed this off-season.

Feb. 1, 1989

We go 6-11 in January, following several injuries on Quintin Dailey, Gary Grant and Charles Smith. We now have a record of 16-28. This season wasn't what I expected, specially with the dormant talent that this team has. Heads will roll come the end of the season.

Clippers Stats:

I'll pick a nit. The Staples Center didn't even exist until a few years ago. The Clips played at the Sports Arena down by the Coliseum before moving to the current digs. The Lake Show with Magic Johnson was down in Inglewood at the Forum.

You're right. I'm just using the default stadium files that came with JSB. :)

Feb. 6, 1989 - All Star Weekend

The weekend was great.

Seattle superstar Dale Ellis and the Houston Rockets' Sleepy Floyd went on a shoot-out in the 3PT-Shooting Finals that saw the 6'1" Floyd win the 1988 3PT-Shooting Crown. Larry Bird was eliminated in the 2nd round.

Chicago's Michael Jordan bested Oakland Warrior Ben McDonald and Dallas Maverick Pete Myers in the finals of the 1988 Slam Dunk Contest to win another Dunking crown.

This year, the innaugural Rookies vs. Sophomores game was held. 5 Clippers were invited to play, as Gary Grant, Danny Manning and Charles D. Smith were selected for the Rookies while Ken Norman and Grant Gondrezick were selected for the Sophomores. The Sophs won the game 97-89, behind the 23 pts and 9 rebounds from Chicago's Horace Grant. Ken Norman had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Smith and Manning played 35 minutes a piece and score over 15 pts each. Gary Grant only saw two minutes of playing time during the game.

The All-Star game was filled with stars, unfortunately, noone from the Clippers was selected to play. The Eastern Conference exerted their dominance over the West, as they beat them 156-115. The All-Star MVP was awarded to Charles Barkley of the 76ers, who scored 24 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and had 5 assists. In a controversial move, Michael Jordan was only limited to three minutes of play, while his sub, Jeff Malone went on to play 36 minutes and score 22 points. Rumors of another freeze-out have been circulating.

During the month of February, we posted a 4-7 clip, standing at 20-35, #9 in the West. We were outside, looking in. March was no different, we went 4-8. We were 24-43, and ranked #10 in the Western Conference, #6 in the Pacific Division. It was NOT pretty. We finish the season in April, going 6-9, with a final record of 30-52, a definite improvement from last season's 17-65 ranking. We are #9 in the West, 3 games short of the Dallas Mavericks' 33-49 record for the #8 seed in the NBA Playoffs.

Los Angeles Clippers Stats 1988-1989:

Quintin Dailey is our leading scorer, with 18.0 ppg. Despite the disappointing season, we still managed to improve on our standings from last season. Our young front court is promising, Ken Norman, Danny Manning and Charles Smith look solid and will anchor this team next season. The playoffs await for 16 teams in the NBA, but the season is now over for the Clippers.

As General Manager, I will have a very busy off-season. Do I spend money to sign stars? Who do I draft? Will I be bringing back Quintin Dailey? These were questions that would need to be answered in the coming 6 months.

Postseason

Eastern Conference:
The NBA Postseason is underway. The Atlanta Hawks, led by Dominique Wilkins surged into the top of the East, notching a 60-22 record. The Cavaliers, Knicks and Philly 76ers round out the Teams with home-court advantage. The Bulls come in at #8, with a less than respectable 36-46 record, led by budding star Michael Jordan who leads the league in scoring at 28.8 ppg. The Detroit Pistons' highly touted bad-boys weren't able to pull it together during the season, marred with injuries and a lack of teamwork.

Eastern Conference Standings:

Western Conference:
All eyes in the NBA are on the record breaking Seattle Supersonics, led by MVP Candidate Dale Ellis and the X-Man, Xavier McDaniel. Ellis averaged 27 ppg this season while McDaniel averaged 23 ppg. The Denver Nuggets and Portland Trailblazers are in the heat of a championship run as well. The Lakeshow come in at #7, despite having a decent enough record of 47-35.

Western Conference Standings:

Play-Off Match-ups:

1st Round:

East:

(1)Hawks vs. (8)Bulls - Hawks win series 3-0, behind the spectacular play of Dominique Wilkins and Moses Malone. Michael Jordan only averaged 21 ppg during the 3 games and was unable to find any help from his teammates.

(4)76ers vs. (5)Hornets - The 76ers managed to edge out the Hornets after being taken to the limit, 3-2. Hersey Hawkins and Charles Barkley averaged 22 ppg each.

(3)Knicks vs. (6)Bullets - The Knicks win the series 3-1, behind the play of Patrick Ewing who averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds.

(2)Cavaliers vs. (7)Bucks - The Milwaukee Bucks surprise the Cleveland Cavaliers, winning the series 3-1. Terry Cummings led the bucks with 23 ppg during the series.

West:

(1)Supersonics vs. (8)Mavericks - The Sonics dispose of the Mavericks 3-0, and the Ellis-McDaniel wrecking crew continues on their march to the Championship.

(4)Warriors vs. (5)Suns - The Warriors sweep the Suns in three games, 3-0. Chris Mullin averaged 29 ppg during the series.

(3)Nuggets vs. (6)Lakers - The Lakeshow took on Adrian Dantley and the Nuggets and survived Game 5 104-100 to clinch the series and advance, 3-2. Magic Johnson is averaging a superhuman 21 ppg, 11 apg and 8 rpg for the series.

(2)Blazers vs. (7)Jazz - The Blazers and Clyde Drexler sweep the Utah Jazz's John Stockton and Karl Malone out of the NBA PLayoffs 3-0.

2nd Round:

East:

(1)Hawks vs. (4)76ers - The Hawks defeat the 76ers in 6 games, 4-2 with Dominique Wilkins and Moses Malone edging Charles Barkley and Company.

(3)Knicks vs. (7)Bucks - The upstart Milwaukee Bucks took the New York Knicks to seven games before dropping game 7 118-104 to Patrick Ewing and the New York Knicks.

West:

(1)Supersonics vs. (4)Warriors - The sonics took care of Mullin and the Warriors in 5 games, winning the series 4-1. Xavier McDaniel is promising a title in Seattle this year.

(2)Blazers vs. (6)Lakers - The Lakeshow is ground to a halt as Clyde Drexler and the Trailblazers win the series in 6 close games, 4-2.

Conference Finals:

East:

(1)Hawks vs. (3)Knicks - The Knicks take Game 1, but the Hawks surge with 3 straight wins before dropping one in Atlanta and winning the series in New York, 4-2. Dominique Wilkins is averaging 26.7 ppg for the entire playoffs.

West:

(1)Supersonics vs. (2)Blazers - The Sonics stop the Blazers in 5 games, winning the series 4-1, steamrolling through the entire Western Conference.

NBA Finals:

(1)Supersonics vs. (1)Hawks - Dale Ellis and the Seattle Supersonics cap a 72-10 season by sweeping Dominique Wilkins and the Atlanta Hawks 4-0 in the NBA Finals.

Awards:

Season MVP: Charles Barkley, 76ers
Finals MVP: Dale Ellis, Supersonics
Defensive POTY: Patrick Ewing, Knicks
Rookie OTY: Mitch Richmond, Warriors
6th Man OTY: Michael Holton, Hornets

All League 1st Team:
Magic Johnson, Lakers
Michael Jordan, Bulls
Chris Mulling, Warriors
Charles Barkley, 76ers
Patrick Ewing, Knicks

All League 2nd Team:
John Stockton, Jazz
Fat Lever, Nuggets
Alex English, Nuggets
Michael Adams, Nuggets
Robert Parrish, Celtics

All League 3rd Team:
Kevin Johnson, Suns
Dale Ellis, Sonics
Derrick McKey, Sonics
Karl Malon, Jazz
Moses Malone, Hawks

All Defense 1st Team:
Lester Conner, Nets
Fat Lever, Nuggets
Chris Mullin, Warriors
Larry Nance, Cavaliers
Patrick Ewing, Knicks

All Defense 2nd Team:
Magic Johnson, Lakers
Michael Jordan, Bulls
Dominique Wilkins, Hawks
Greg Anderson, Spurs
Mark Eaton, Jazz

All Rookie 1st Team:
Brian Shaw, Celtics
Mitch Richmond, Warriors
Chris Morris, Nets
Danny Manning, Clippers
Rik Smits, Pacers

1989 OFFSEASON

Coaching Changes

It's now the off-season, and before the draft, Coach Dawson Giovann steps into my office and files his letter of resignation. Apparently, he felt that he could not steer this young team towards the direction that he wants. this makes my job easier, I wasn't planning on keeping Giovann anyway.

After numerous phonecalls and meetingslater in the week, we manage to ink ourselves a brand new coach. 44 year old Chuck Shephard. He's one of the better offensive-minded coaches in the league, and has got a knack at developing young players' scoring touch.

We also hire a new scout, replacing our old one. Josiah Hartley has a keen eye for guards, mostly, with an excellent evaluation sense for ball-handling and scoring. He also has a knack at looking at a player's talent and skill.

62-year old Rob Sailo remains as my Assistant-GM. If anything else, he has an excellent eye for talent.

1989 NBA Draft

The NBA Lottery is won by the Indiana Pacers. Folowed by the Boston Celtics, and then the New Jersey Nets at #3. The ping pong balls did not go our way, and we are situated at #8. The draft is talented, spearheaded by an impressive physical specimen in 7'1" big man David Robinson.

The Indiana Pacers take their time. Everyone's already thinking about a David Robinson-Rik Smits tandem in Indiana. David Stern finally makes his way to the podium. "With the first pick in the 1989 NBA Draft, the Indiana Pacers select Sherman Douglas!" That was unexpected. There is a collective buzz, as couriers scramble and evaluators change their sheets. I take a look at Hartley's evaluation on Douglas. "All star caliber player, Hall of Fame type potential. Terrific creator on the break, solid defender."

The Boston Celtics are next. I don't think the shock of having David Robinson slip to #2 has settled in yet. The Celtics GM hands the selection to the Commissioner. David Stern reads the paper. "With the 2nd pick in the 1989 Draft, the Boston Celtics have selected... guard, Sarunas Marciuli!" If what happened earlier was a buzz, there was almost an instant gasp of exhasperation around the entire arena. I look at David Robinson, and the kid looks distraught... he's talking to his manager, probably asking what the hell was going on. According to Hartley's paper on Marciuli, he's a "solid player and an excellent starter" but definitely not in the league of Robinson.

The Nets waste no time, however. They send in their paper. David Stern smiles and reads the pick. "With the third pick in the NBA Draft, the New Jersey Nets select David Robinson!" A sigh of relief from the big man. The Nets look like they just won the jackpot, handshakes everywhere. Wow. Just wow, I couldn't believe the big man dropped to #3.

The Sacramento Kings select C Vlade Divac at #4. The Miami Heat pick PG Tim Hardaway at #5. The Houston Rockets pick PG Pooh Richardson at #6, blowing away my draft list. I was hoping that Hardaway or Richardson would slip to #8. Gary Grant was a good PG, but he was not a passer at heart. The Detroit Pistons select C J.R. Reid at #7.

The clock is on us. The best player on the board is clearly 22-year old SF Nick Anderson. There are guards available, in Dana Barros and Mookie Blaylock, but definitely not in the range of Hardaway or Richardson. I take a quick look at the field again. We have no choice but to select the best available player. We hand the selection over to the Commish. "With the 8th pick of the 1989 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Clippers select Nick Anderson!" I know this was going to put a logjam at the SF spot, with Ken Norman already there... but that was a problem to be taken care of at a later time.

The rest of the 1st round passes by. With our 2nd round pick, we select SG Jaren Jackson, a hard-nosed defender coming out of college. Not really an offensive threat, but his defense is excellent, so says our scout.

Up next, the Free Agency...

FREE AGENCY:

Free Agency Per Team:

Notable signings are Chris Mullin leaving the Warriors, signing a 2-year contract with the Pacers. Patrick Ewing, on the other hand, was lured from New York by Oakland. The Knicks also lost Charles Oakley to Washington. The Cavaliers spare no expense returning Ron Harper, Larry Nance and Mark Price. The Miami Heat lure Jerome Kersey and Xavier McDaniel from Portland and Seattle to ink multi-year contracts with them.

We offer Quintin Dailey a 2-year contract worth 3-mil per year, but he spurns us and chooses to sign for less money.

With only 3.2 mil in the bank, we send out offers to some of the players we were interested in. Unfortunately it seems like the Clippers have developed a very undesirable reputation in the league. We don't sign anyone to the contracts we offered, and remain inactive during the free agency.

PRICES/STADIUM PROPOSALS

We made $27.0 Mil last season, not bad... we've almost covered our expense in buying the team. We decide not to touch ticket prices, letting the fans know that we're staying put. The poor fan support in LA is hurting us, however, and if things don't get better, we might push to move this franchise to somewhere else.

In other league news, two teams decide to pack up and change cities. The Sacramento Kings have been approved to move to Orange County in 3 seasons, while the Charlotte Hornets will be known as the Honolulu Hornets in 4 seasons.

Yeesh. Considering they were an expansion franchise in Charlotte in 1988-89, that's stretching things a bit. (I'm guessing you have no control over franchise happiness in a city when you set up the league?)

Then again, it saves the city the heartburn of dealing with the fiasco that is George Shinn in the late 1990s and early 2000s. A silver lining in every cloud. :D

Nope, I don't, unless I edit the default files. :) It's quirky, I know.

1989-1990 TRAINING CAMPS

Player Ratings: (As rated by Scout Josiah Hartley)

Player Contracts:

My previous scout seems to have over-rated these guys offensively... or is my current scout under-rating them? I will have to see in the coming weeks. Danny Manning's shooting ratings seem on the mark now, based from last year's performance, which means my new scout just might be on the money with regard to their scoring.

If there's one thing we need, it's outside shooters. Our only reliable shooter from the three is Reggie Williams. I will have to figure out a way to get shooters on this team this season or the next.

Point Guard:
Gary Grant is rated by my new scout as a "solid player and excellent starter". He runs the break well, and is a quality passer and ball-handler, but commits a ton of turnovers. With his 3+ turnovers last season, I think that evaluation is on the dot. He will, however still be the Clippers starting PG, with Norm Nixon and Ennis Whatley on the bench.

Shooting Guard:
Our rookie SF, Nick Anderson, is built like a shooting guard, despite being regarded as a SF. He is rated as a "solid player and starter" by my scout, has very solid ballhandling, decent inside and is a quality defender. Tom Garrick will be coming off the bench again this season.

Small Forward:
Ken Norman will return at SF, and Reggie Williams will back him up. Norman is on a contract year, and we will be looking at how we're going to approach re-signing him to a contract. He is a "legitimate all star" says my scout, and I can't take that lightly.

Power Forward:
Danny Manning is no doubt the centerpiece of this Clipper team. his performance last season was amazing, my previous scout was off in his evaluation of Manning, who proved to be a versatile offensive and defensive weapon for the Clippers.

Center:
Charles D. Smith will continue to be my center. He is playing off-position, and a bit undersized, but he was able to pull out good numbers from there last season.

NEW COACHING:

I am excited about my new coach, Chuck Shepherd. He is a terrific offensive coach, and will probably milk this squad's offensive abilities this year. The season is going to be exciting. We lost Quintin Dailey to the FA, and return almost everyone, but we feel that we're coming back a stronger team than last season.

Nov. 3, 1989 - Los Angeles, CA

Its our very first game of the season, and we are going up against our In-City rivals, the Lakeshow. The LA Lakers have nearly the same line-up as last season, Magic Johnson, Byron Scott and James Worthy representing the three-headed monster for the Lakers.

The Great Western Forum was packed to the rafters, 19,000 strong. The first quarter was an intense battle, coach Shepherd told the boys before the game that the Clippers were going to run with the Showtime Lakers tonight, and that they were going to beat them at their own game.

The first quarter ended with the Clippers ahead, 35-33. It was a back-and forth 12 minutes that saw Nick Anderson score 8 points. Gary Grant had no points, but orchestrated the Clipper attack with 7 assists and 3 steals. Ken Norman had 9 points, and Danny Manning had 8. Charles Smith had 6, but was saddled with two early fouls.

During the 2nd quarter, Magic Johnson sought to take over. But Ken Norman wouldn't back down. At halftime, the score read 63-62, in favor of the Clippers. Norman has 18 points at the half. Magic had 12 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists. Gary Grant was doing his best to orchestrate at PG, with 11 assists and 6 steals. Charles Smith saw his 3rd foul early in the quarter and sat down the rest of the half.

At the locker room, Coach Shepherd told the boys that this wasn't over. The Lakers were just going to run them out of this building tonight, and they had to fight back with the same kind of intensity.

In the third, Grant tries to take over the game, but just kept on shooting brick after brick. Magic Johnson might not have been able to cover Grant's passes, but he has simply blanketed the smaller PG on the court. The rest of the Lakers get their game on and 5 lakers reach double-figures by the end of the third. Danny Manning and Nick Anderson kept us close against the Lakshow and we were now trailing by 5, 85-90.

In the fourth, Gary Grant finally let loose and started hitting shots, he hit 3 straight to take up to 91-90. It was a thing of beauty, the fourth. The Clippers were clicking and the Lakers were running, it was back and forth the rest of the way. The Lakers, however, pull away in the final 40 seconds by hitting crucial free-throws, putting an end to what could have been a scintillating Clipper come-back. The Lakers win 115-111.

Gary Grant finished with 15 points, 8 rebounds, 19 assists and 7 steals. Nick Anderson had 18 pts and 10 rebounds in his first game as a pro, Ken Norman had 28 points and 11 rebounds, Danny Manning had 21 points.

Magic Johnson had 25 points, 8 rebounds and 13 assists. Byron Scott and James Worthy both had 21 points.

We went toe-to-toe with the Lakeshow, almost winning it at the end. Hopefully this is a good sign for my Clips this season.

Dec. 1, 1989

The Clippers start the season with a 5-9 clip. We have lost the last two games due to injuries to Gary Grant, Joe Wolf and Danny Manning. We can't afford to lose players to injuries, since we're not exactly deep. Losing both Wolf and Manning really thinned out our line-up. Ken Norman is having a career year, and making a solid case for negotiation and re-signing with the Clippers. Nick Anderson is playing well as a rookie, 15 ppg and 6 rpg at the SG spot. Reggie Williams has come off the bench effectively, being our only legitimate outside shooter.

The trade deadline is on the 27th of January, and our performance during this stretch will determine if we shake things up a bit by wheeling and dealing.

Clippers Stats:

Jan. 1, 1990

December was a tumultuous month, we were finally getting on a winning clip, when Danny Manning went down again and we proceeded to lose more games. manning has missed a total of 11 games this season. We are at 14-19, #11 in the red-hot Western Conference.

In trades, the Cleveland Cavaliers have traded PG Mark Price and his multi-million dollar contract to the Los Angeles Lakers in return for sophomore C Mark McNamara. My scout rates McNamara as a non-factor type of player... a scrub. This raises a lot of question regarding Cleveland's management's decisions. The Lakers now have a back-court comprised of two great PG's, Mark Price and Magic Johnson.

The Houston Rockets have also traded Hakeem Olajuwon and Otis Thorpe to the Philadelphia 76ers for hotshot Hersey Hawkins and a 2nd round pick. The 76ers are now slated to have one of the toughest front-lines in the entire NBA.

(Trading has been iffy. I will tweak some settings to see if that helps prevent lopsided trades like the Cleveland/LA Deal)

Feb. 1, 1990

The season does not go well for us. We are at a pathetic 19-30, #13 in the Western Conference. With a heavy heart, we decide to throw in the towel this season. Sitting down with Reggie Williams and Ken Norman, we offer both players extensions. Reggie Accepts a 2-year extension worth 5.5 mil each year. Ken, on the other hand, is intent on moving on, after rejecting our offer of a 6-year deal worth 9 mil per season. Afraid that we might not be able to re-sign Ken, we quickly get on the phones before the trade deadline hits on Jan. 27. We get an offer from the League worst Sacramento Kings.

The Kings send Sophomore SG Vinny Del Negro, their 1st round picks for 1990 and 1991, in return for Ken Norman, the Clippers 1990 1st round pick, and our 2nd round picks for 1990 and 1991. This allows us to move Tom Garrick to starting SG and Nick Anderson to the starting SF spot, with Reggie Williams and Vinny Del Negro backing up the wings.

We will go through the motions the rest of the season, but the various small injuries have really built up and bit us on the behind.

:eek:

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Clippers finish the season with a 31-51 season, one win better than last year. We finish #12 in the Western Conference, however, worse than last year... seems like eveyone got better except us.

Rookie sensation David Robinson has powered the Nets to the top of the Eastern Conference. The Hakeem-Charles combo in Philly is nothing to laugh about, as they continue their rise to the top.

Eastern Conference Standings:

Patrick Ewing and the Warriors are on top of the West, while Dale Ellis and the Sonics are also red hot.

Western Conference Standings:

PLAYOFFS:

Round 1:

(1)Nets vs. (8)Hornets - Nets win 3-0.
(4)Knicks vs. (5)Pacers - Knicks win 3-1
(2)Bucks vs. (7)Cavaliers - Bucks win 3-2
(3)76ers vs. (6)Hawks - 76ers win 3-1

(1)Warriors vs. (8)Mavericks - Warriors win 3-0
(4)Blazers vs. (5)Lakers - Blazers win 3-2
(2)Jazz vs. (7)Spurs - Jazz win 3-2
(3)Sonics vs. (6)Suns - Sonics win 3-0

Round 2:

(1)Nets vs. (4)Knicks - Knicks win 4-3 (a team without a clear superstar after Ewing's departure manages to defeat a solid Robinson-led Nets)
(2)Bucks vs. (3)76ers - 76ers win 4-3

(1)Warriors vs. (4)Blazers - Warriors win 4-3
(2)Jazz vs. (3)Sonics - Sonics win 4-0

Conference Finals:

(3)76ers vs. (4)Knicks - Knicks win 4-2 (Mark Jackson and John S. Williams are on a tear in the playoffs, dislodging the heavy favorite 76ers!)

(1)Warriors vs. (3)Sonics - Warriors win 4-2 (Ewing et.al. dispose of the defending champs in 6 games)

1990 NBA Finals:

(1)Warriors vs. (4)Knicks - Warriors win 4-2 (In a great series, the Knicks fight tooth and nail against their former star and the Oakland Warriors. Ewing proves to be too much for the Knicks, and the Warriors win Ewing's 1st NBA Title.)

Awards: (I'll only be posting All 1st team, all-defense, individual awards and any Clipper awards)

MVP - Magic Johnson, Lakers
Finals MVP - Patrick Ewing, Warriors
DPOY - Hakeem Olajuwon, 76ers
ROY - David Robinson, Nets
6th Man - Rod Strickland, Knicks

All League 1st Team:
Magic Johnson, Lakers
Michael Jordan, Bulls
Chris Mullin, Pacers
Charles Barkley, 76ers
Patrick Ewing, Warriors

All Defensive Team:
Magic Johnson, Lakers
Fat Lever, Nuggets
Chris Mulling, Pacers
John S. Williams, Knicks
Hakeem Olajuwon, 76ers

All Rookie Team:
Sherman Douglas, Pacers
Sarunas Marciuli, Celtics
Nick Anderson, Clippers
Sam Mitchell, Hornets
David Robinson, Nets

No Timmy on the rookie team? Bullshit!

All Rookie 3rd Team. :)

1990 OFFSEASON

Staff Changes

No staff changes here. We retain our staff for the '90-'91 season.

1990 Draft

With the 1990 Kings pick in our hands, we had the best chance of getting the #1 pick in the 1990 NBA Draft. During the draft lottery, I was ecstatic to hear that the Los Angeles Clippers indeed won the NBA Draft Lottery. We would now have the ability to take the pick of the litter.

The draft is deep, but the best players in the draft are not the players that I'm looking for. The concensus first pick, is 6'10" big man Derrick Coleman. Unfortunately, we are loaded at PF, with Danny Manning and Charles D. Smith in the line-up already. I send Rob Sailo out for a quick call-up with the other teams before we make our pick. He comes back. "The Celtics are interested in Charles Smith, and are willing to give up their pick this season if we include Tom Garrick." Smith and Garrick were key personell for the Clippers last season, but the Celtics were offering the #3 pick. A quick conference with my staff later, and we hand out or selection to the Commissioner.

"With the 1st pick in the 1990 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Clippers select Forward Derrick Coleman!"

At almost that instant, a piece of paper is handed to the commish as well. "And... a trade has been made. The Los Angeles Clippers have traded Tom Garrick and Charles D. Smith along with their 1992 2nd round pick to the Boston Celtics in return for Jim Paxson, Mark Acres, #3 overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft and a future 1st round pick!

The crowd is abuzz. The Detroit Pistons take their 2nd round pick, SF Lionel Simmons. It's time for us to make our pick again. We've got our eyes on two players right now, Kendall Gill and Dennis Scott. We decide to skip prospect PG's Gary Payton and Travis Mays, and C prospects Duane Causewell and Felton Spencer. We finally hand our selection to the Commish.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Los Angeles Clippers have selected, for the 3rd overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft, Guard, Kendall Gill!"

We made our picks. Coleman and Gill, two hard-nosed players not afraid to bang it inside. We could have gone with Scott, solving our problem with regards to outside shooting, but we feel that he can't create shots for himself and that we were going to have a problem with ball rotation.

The Bullets select Travis Mays at #4, the Kings get Scott at #5, the Heat pick Spencer at #6, the Rockets get Causewell at #7 and the Bulls select Payton at #8.

FREE AGENCY:

1990 NBA Free Agency:

Isiah Thomas returns to the Pistons after a one-year stint with the Spurs, signing a 4-year contract. The Pacers and Bulls resign Reggie Miller and Scottie Pippen, the Suns ink Kevin Johnson to a multi-million dollar deal. Ken Norman ditches the Kings and inks with Dallas for a 40 million dollar pay-off. There was a lot of activity in the FA, just browse through it per team. :)

The Clippers, on the other hand, went on signing free agents. We decided to resign Jim Paxson but only to a limited 1 year contract. We signed SG Craig Hodges away from the Mavericks via a 2-year 8.0 mil contract, adding much needed outside shooting from our bench. We also inked John Paxson, Jim's brother, from the Bulls, to a 1-year contract worth 4 mil, to provide Gary Grant a shooter type PG back-up. We signed Sam Bowie and 14-year veteran Adrian Dantley to exceptions. Back-up C Joe Wolf has been inked to a 2-year minimum contract. Dantley will be a 3rd option off the bench, and will be there to provide Veteran savvy and bench leadership.

PRICE/STADIUM PROPOSALS:

Considering we made a cool 29 million last season, we decide not to touch prices. Average attendance was about 16,000 for a 20,000 seat arena. There is a strong sentiment among the board of owners to move the Clippers somewhere where we are going to be appreciated more... in fact, they have been looking for Cities that might be willing to support a budding franchise, but this would not be a good year to try and look for a new home. We decide to keep it under raps for the moment.

Poor Jeeber. The Rockets get hosed no matter what the game. :D

1990-1991 TRAINING CAMP

Clippers Player Ratings:

Clippers Player Salaries:

Point Guard:

Gary Grant has evolved into an offensive weapon, so says my scout. An "excellent player, who looks to shoot, a terrific creator on the fast break". Grant will be back for his 3rd year with the Clippers, a contract year in fact. We are contemplating extending his contract, depending on how much he asks for and how well he plays this season. Backing him up are the Paxon brothers, John and Jim. We hired John, specifically, for his ability to hit the three, something we've lacked in the PG spot the past couple of years.

Shooting Guard:

Rookie Kendall Gill will get the starting nod over 3rd year SG Vinnie Del Negro. Gill is a slasher type, a "solid player and starter, very steady inside, will get you steals, good defensively". I like his defense, pretty solid... maybe a couple of years with the right coach and he'll be a great SG. Del Negro, on a contract year, will also be looking to bump up his stats. It is likely that we won't be resigning him when the season ends, perhaps looking for more outside-shooting guards. Craig Hodges was inked to a 2-year contract, and we're really going to look for him to back-up Gill if Del Negro's play doesn't satisfy us. We like Hodges' outside shot.

Small Forward:

Our SF spot is solid. Two players worthy of being starters, Nick Anderson will get the spot over Reggie Williams. With Anderson, we have a solid scorer and defender who will look to take over games. Anderson gives us ample firepower from behind the 3-point arc. Adrian Dantley will see minutes as a 3rd string SF, but he's just there for veteran leadership on the bench, mostly.

Power Forward:

The 2D of the Clippers. Danny Manning and Derrick Coleman. Coleman's ability to rebound will probably move him over to the center spot, while Manning will continue to play as our starting PF. Coleman will likely struggle, but we're hoping his skill compensates his lack of size in the center spot. Manning is considered by my scout as "one of the best players in the game", while Coleman is a "terrific player with a chance at Superstar status".

Center:

Joe Wolf and Sam Bowie are our two legitimate centers. Both men will be coming off the bench relieving Manning and Coleman. Bowie is a solid defender with shot-blocking capabilities, while Wolf is an explosive offensive option... for a bench warmer.

SEASON OUTLOOK:

Seriously? I think we have a solid team, but we're young and quite prone to mistakes. We need to buck up this season, or else we might find ourselves in the lottery again. This stint as GM certainly has me rattled, I was expecting to blow out the league in a couple of seasons, and it seems like we're back where we started... going with a youth movement. We have the 3rd lowest payroll in the entire NBA, and we have one of the youngest starting 5's... certainly not a good sign when competing in the best pro-league in the United States.

Also, there have been a couple of rule-changes that are expected to bring scoring down a notch this season. Not sure how it's going to effect our team, which relies on pounding the ball and attackig the basket... we'll see how it plays out.

Reading along and enjoying the ride so far.

A couple of observations:
1.) It doesn't look like you got any real value for Norman if Del Negro is battling for his bSG spot. I originally thought you got him to help with outside shooting, but he seems both reluctant and mediocre behind the arc.
2.) If you are looking for Hodges to help with 3-pt shooting is he going to do that as your 3rd SG? Seeing as how you signed him for 4mil a year, I figured he would have a larger role. Of course, that means giving up on Del Negro from point #1 ...
3.) Future looks bright if you continue to develop the young talent along the front lines.
4.) I love that you keep bringing in Illini players.

1. Well, I was trying to avoid Norman's payday, so I traded him for basically the Kings 1st round pick. That turned out to be the #1 overall and got me Coleman. Of course the Kings got my pick, which turned out to be #5. But I still have their 1991 1st rounder.

2. That will probably change towards the all-star game. I want to see how Del Negro goes.

3.) Yes. :)

4.) Hah. Why not have Nick Anderson and Kendall Gill rip the league?

[quote=Neon_Chaos]1. Well, I was trying to avoid Norman's payday, so I traded him for basically the Kings 1st round pick. That turned out to be the #1 overall and got me Coleman. Of course the Kings got my pick, which turned out to be #5. But I still have their 1991 1st rounder.
/QUOTE]

Oops - never mind, better deal than I had recalled from the other night.

So if the lottery had worked out the wrong way, could they have ended up with the #1 pick and had you stuck with later pick than them? That would have been pretty nasty ... funny, but nasty for the Clippers fan base.

Dola - did Norman re-up with the Kings or did they let him get away in the off-season? Another Illini player I'm trying to keep tabs on, since he does have some ties to the Clippers ...

Well, from the long-ass list back at page 1, Norman quit and signed with the Mavericks for 10 mil a season for 4 years.

Dec. 1, 1990

After a month of play, the Clippers finally begin a season over .500. We are at 9-5, winning several close games against tough teams. We could easliy be 4-11, if we lost those close games.

Gary Grant has developed into a solid player. He's become a tough defender, 2nd in the entire league is steals per game with 4.0. Of course, the fact that he turns the ball over 4 times a game is also to be noted. He has upped his scoring and passing this year, though.

Kendall Gill has been mediocre at SG to say the least, while Derrick Coleman has played nicely at the C spot. Danny Manning continues to be the offensive focus of the team, while Nick Anderson is following up a good season last year with another nice outing.

Hopefully, those wins were no flukes and that we really are a competitive bunch.

We offer Gary Grant and Danny Manning contracts to re-sign with the Clippers, but they turn them down, citing the attempts to low-ball them by offering smaller contracts. Looks like we'll need to be wily during the off-season if we want them back.

Clippers Stats:

As a side note, in case you noticed the Miami Heat in the Western Conference... it was there when I started the game, I think as a balance-thing with regards to teams per conference.

Jan. 1, 1991

The Clippers continue to win. We are now at 18-11, and currently #4 in the Western Conference. The Clippers are clicking, and it's a joy to watch. Gary Grant's steals numbers have gone down, but his offensive production has remained steady. Vinnie Del Negro is giving us steady minutes as the back-up SG, which means Craig Hodges will have to wait a while before seeing more minutes that his usual 8 right now. We seem to be winning via our hustle on the defensive end, grabbing 13 spg as a team, 4th in the entire NBA. We have been spared from serious injuries to key players, which is always good.

Danny Manning leads the team with 18 ppg, while Derrick Coleman has upped his production to about 17 ppg. The trade deadline is on Feb. 22, it has been moved up by an entire month, which gives teams more leeway regarding trades.

In trades, the Portland Trailblazers have sent Drazen Petrovic, CJ Jones and Tyrone Corbin to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for veteran Center, Roy Hinson.

Clippers Season Stats through December:

Feb. 1, 1991

As good as we were in the first two months, we were completely horrible in February. We being the month by winning 2 games, but lose 9 straight before we win again against our in-city rivals Lakers.

The Cliipers' playoff hopes now look bleak as we stand at 21-20, #8 in the Western Conference. Vinnie Del Negro will probably be pushed down the 3rd string, while we see if Craig Hodges is able to give us enough offensive firepower to have us win again.

Manning and Grant had their offensive outputs go down during the month of January.

In trades, the Los Angeles Lakers have made a blockbuster trade, sending Mark price (acquired from the Cavs last season) and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf to the Cavaliers in return for Brad Daugherty and Kiki Vandewegh. The Lakers are now looking like a team to be feared once more, with Magic, Big Game James and Daugherty in their line-up.

We have 3 1st round picks in the upcoming 1991 draft, the Kings' pick, which might turn out to be another lotto winner, as they have the worst record in the league at 4-39, following the Ken Norman ditching. Our pick and the Celtics pick, which may or may not hit the lottery, since we're both see-swaing at the 8th seed of our conferences.

The upcoming draft class has been released, and two names strike us. Larry Johnson and Dikembe Mutombo. Both men are skilled and talented, and might fit perfectly with the Clippers. Of course, this may mean that we might be forced to play our hand and not resign Danny Manning to a big contract when the season ends... but that's still a half-year away... and there's an entire half of a season left to play.

Mar. 1, 1991

The Clippers are treading in dark water. We go 7-8 duing the month of February and maintain a grip on the #8 seed in the NBA Playoffs. The Utah Jazz are #9 and are 27-31. We need to win games to give us a safer padding against the Jazz.

The Jazz have beefed up their line-up, however. In a trade-deadline deal the Jazz send Mark Eaton, Dallas Cornegys, Darrel Griffith, Gerald Paddio and the Jazz 1993 1st round pick to the Chicago Bulls in return for Byron Scott, Horace Grant and the Bulls 1991 1st round pick. This gives the Jazz solid back-ups for the Stockton-Malone duo.

No Clipper is invited to join the All Star Game, which was won by the West, and saw Karl Malone win AS MVP. The Rookie-Sophomore game was attanded by Gill, Anderson and Coleman. David Robinson win the Rookie-Sophmore Game MVP.

Clippers Season Stats through February:

Actually, the reason the Heat are in the West is because they were assigned there in 1988-89. NBA officials decided to have fans in Charlotte and Miami both get exposure to Western Conference teams over two years. So, Charlotte was in the East and Miami was in the West in 1988-89 and then switched in 1989-90. Both teams would settle into the East (Charlotte in the Central and Miami in the Atlantic) in 1990-91. Oddly enough, I don't think they went to such trouble for Orlando, Minnesota, Toronto, or Vancouver when they joined.

EDIT: I stand corrected. Orlando actually wandered for three years before settling into the Atlantic. They started out in the Central in 1989-90, then moved to the Midwest, then to the Atlantic. Minnesota, Toronto, and Vancouver, all stayed where they were assigned (Midwest, Central, and Midwest, respectively) when they first joined.

EDIT as follow-up: In case you wonder why I notice and care to point this stuff out, it's because I grew up in North Carolina and the Hornets were the first ever pro team in the state and were actually the first expansion team of any kind that I can ever recall coming into being. (Dallas joined the NBA in 1980, but I was too young to understand that or anything else about the NBA, and I was still in diapers when the Seahawks and Bucs joined the NFL in 1976)

(Ah, thanks for the explanation, Wolfpack!)

Apr. 1, 1991

We are at 37-35, wit 10 games remaining. We are tied for #7 with the Utah Jazz and the Denver Nuggets, which means we will need a late season push if we want to make it to the play-offs for the very first time since I took over as GM of the Clippers. It's going to a bumpy bumpy ride to the Playoffs, hopefully we manage to pull it off.

Derrick Coleman is making a solid case for ROY, leading all rookies in PPG and RPG.

Apr. 24, 1991

With only 2 games left in the season, the LA Clippers' playoff hopes for this year lie in our own hands. The race in the Western Conference has tightened.

#7 Utah Jazz 42-39
#8 Denver Nuggets 41-41
#9 Los Angeles Clippers 40-40

The Nuggets' season is over, and we control our own destiny. We need to win at least one game to make it to the NBA Playoffs. We hold a 3-1 season record against the Denver Nuggets. We have 2 games left, today against the Utah Jazz, and tommorow against the Miami Heat. If we win one of these two games, we guarantee ourselves our very first Playoff Birth this season.

Before the game, Coach Shepherd tells the team that we need to wrap the season up TONIGHT. We are 0-3 against the Jazz for the season, and we need to win against them tonight not only to advance but to prove that we are not push-overs.

The crowd in the LA Sports Arena is packed... about 19,000.... they want to see us win this one. but with Malone, Stockton, Person, Scott and Grant in the Jazz starting lineup, we're going to have a battle on our hands tonight. We're just happy that the Jazz don't have a true Center, similar to our team.

The first quarter is intense. The Jazz jump out to an early lead, but we ride Gary Grant's solid playmaking and scoring and after the first 12 minutes of play, we find ourselves on top 31-30. Gary has 12 points and 6 assists. Danny Manning has 8 points and is 4/4 from the field, yet to miss. For the Jazz, Chuck Person has 6 points, and Karl Malone has 9.

The 2nd quarter is equally intense. The Jazz decide to go to Malone for two consecutive baskets. We finally decide to double him up, despite the fact that he's surrounded by 3-point shooters. Our bench shows up as Paxson and Vinnie Del Negro both hit crucial 3-point shots. Gill, Anderson and Coleman each have 8 points. Danny Manning now has 10 pts and 8 rebounds. Gary Grant has 14 pts and 7 assists. For the Jazz, Malone has 13 points, while Person is stuck with 6. We finish the 1st half, ahead 58-50.

With a pumped up crowd, the Clippers head back to the hardcourt. This was long from over.

During the 3rd, we found Malone and Horace Grant deep in foul trouble, both having 3 fouls. We decide to pound the ball down low to our rookie Derrick Coleman. He takes advantage of the weakend Jazz frontline. After a flurry of low-post shots and fastbreaks, we have distanced ourselves from the Utah Jazz, and finish the quarter ahead 87-74.

One quarter left, and I think the players are a bit loose now that we have this 13-point lead. I sit in my chair and worry... complacency might be our biggest opponent right now.

The Jazz storm out of the gate in the 4th. We score the first two points, but then we see our lead dwindle... 10....8....5...3...1. With 7 minutes left, the Jazz have cut our lead down to one single point. 89-88. I was angry, frustrated. It all comes down to the wire... with one minute left, we were ahead, 101-99. The Jazz then hit a 3-point shot. 102-101 Jazz. Gary Grant drove down the lane to hit a layup... and was blocked. The Jazz run and John Stockton finds a wide open Chuck Person who buries a dagger of a three point shot. 105-101 Jazz. Grant grabs the ball and shoots a three, it clanks off the rim and the buzzer sounds. The crowd is stunned silent. We let this one slip away. One more game to go. We needed to win against the Heat tommorow, or we could kiss the playoffs goodbye.

Coleman finished with 25 points and 9 rebounds, Grant had 23 points and 12 assists. Karl Malone had 29 points and 16 rebounds.

One more game. And we had better win it if we wanted to make the Playoffs.

April 26, 1991

The Newspaper headlines say it all.

"CLIPPERS PLAYOFF-BOUND!"

We hung tight in 4 quarters against the Miami Heat and defeat them 112-103. Danny Manning had 23 points and 11 rebounds in the winning effort against the Tim Hardaway-led franchise.

Eastern Conference Standings:

Western Conference Standings:

D'oh!

Edit: Nevermind, woohoo! Congrats on the playoffs! :)

Does JSB have a demo? I may want to try it out.

www.shotsports.com

The creator of JSB put the full game available for free download back in Oct. 2, if you browse through the FOFC Forums, he posted a message about it. Of course, he has since pulled the download since he made it available for a limited time only.

1991 NBA Playoffs

It was going to be an uphill battle. The defending champions were no pushovers, and they aren't the defending champs for nothing. The Warriors slaughtered us 129-107 in Game 1 of our very first Playoff game. The next night, we fared better, but Nick Anderson missed the game-tying lay-up in the dying seconds of Game 2, and we fell 118-120. We were able to shut out Patrick Ewing in both games, but Mitch Richmond and Terry Porter just killed us off the fast-break. Game 3 rolled around, and the Clippers were on a mission. We attacked the basket and kept Terry Porter from being a factor. Mitch Richmond scored 32 points and Ewing scored 20, but Danny manning powered us with a 33-point game and the Clippers won their 1st playoff game in my tenure as GM, 112-107. Our brief run in the playoffs is cut short however, as we fall in Game 4, 103-113. The Warriors advance to the 2nd round, and summer hits us early.

Playoff Matchups

1st Round:

(1)Knicks vs. (8)Bullets - The Bullets give the Knicks (who have blossomed without Ewing) a run for their money, but fall short. Knicks advance 3-2.
(4)Pacers vs. (5)76ers - Pacers win in 5 and elminate Hakeem/Charles, 3-2.
(2)Bulls vs. (7)Cavaliers - Mark Price and the Cavs take Michael Jordan and the Bulls to the limit and advance 3-2 in a huge upset.
(3)Nets vs. (6)Celtics - The Nets take care of the Celtics 3-1.

(1)Warriors vs. (8)Clippers - Warriors take the cake, 3-1.
(4)Blazers vs. (5)Lakers - Clyde Drexler and the Blazers defeat a strong LA Team, 3-1.
(2)Heat vs. (7)Jazz - Malone et. al. defeat the Heat in 5 games to stage a big upset, 3-2.
(3)Sonics vs. (6)Rockets - Dale Ellis and company advance to the 2nd round, 3-1.

2nd Round:
(1)Knicks vs. (4)Pacers - The Knicks, led by Mark Jackson and John S. Williams win against the Pacers 4-2.
(3)Nets vs. (7)Cavaliers - The Nets and 'Zo take care of the Cavs 4-1.

(1)Warriors vs. (4)Blazers - Ewing and the Warriors end the Blazers' run and finish them off 4-1.
(3)Sonics vs. (7)Jazz - Malone, Person, Grant, Stockton and Scott continue their romp on the Playoffs as they upset the Sonics 4-1. That mid-season trade really helped them a lot.

Conference Finals:
(1)Knicks vs. (3)Nets - The Knicks and Nets face each other toe-to-toe and went down to the the seventh game that saw the Knicks take the series 4-3.

(1)Warriors vs. (7)Jazz - Patrick Ewing and the defending champion Warriors end the Jazz's cinderella run, sweeping Malone and the Jazz 4-0.

1991 NBA Finals:
(1)Knicks vs. (1)Warriors - In a rematch of last season's Finals series, the Warriors take control off the bat against the Knicks, who lost the homecourt advantage by losing the first two games. they try to dig themselves out of that hole, but eventually fall to the Warriors, 4-1. Ewing wins his 2nd consecutive NBA Title.

AWARDS:

MVP: David Robinson, Nets
Finals MVP: Patrick Ewing, Warriors
DPOY: Hakeem Olajuwon, 76ers
ROY: Derrick Coleman, Clippers
6th Man: Rod Strickland, Knicks

All League 1st Team:
John Stockton, Jazz
Michael Jordan, Bulls
Chris Mullin, Pacers
Charles Barkley, 76ers
David Robinson, Spurs

All League 2nd Team:
Magic Johnson, Lakers
Clyde Drexler, Blazers
Scottie Pippen, Bulls
John S. Williams, Knicks
Patrick Ewing, Warriors

All Defense Team:
Kevin Edwards, Heat
Michael Jordan, Bulls
Chris Mullin, Pacers
Larry Nance, Cavaliers
Hakeem Olajuwon, 76ers

All Rookie Team:
Gary Payton, Bulls
Kendall Gill, Clippers
Lionel Simmons, Pistons
Derrick Coleman, Clippers
Duance Causewell, Rockets

1991 OFFSEASON

Staff Changes

Again, we choose to retain our staff for the 1991-92 season.

1991 Draft

We have 3 1st round picks this season. The Kings, The Celtics and our own. Of the three, only the Kings' pick is lottery bound. But the pick has the best chance of landing the #1, by virtue of the Kings having the worst record in the NBA.

Lotto day comes, and I sit tight. I can't wait to see what happens. The commish pulls out the card, and it's not the Clipper logo. "The Milwaukee Bucks have won the NBA Draft Lottery!" The bucks had an 89/1000 chance of winning that pick... and they got it. For the #2 pick, Stern pulls out the card and announces. "The Los Angeles Clippers have the second pick in the 1991 NBA Draft!"

Great. We pick #2. We decide long before the draft that we're going to take either Larry Johnson or Dikembe Mutombo, whoever isn't chosen by the Milwaukee Bucks. We also have the #12 and #13 picks, although we're not sure what we're going to do with them as of now.

Draft day. The Bucks waste no time. "With the 1st pick in the 1991 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks select.... Larry Johnson!" This allows us to instantly give our draft selection to the Commish. "With the 2nd pick in the 1991 NBA draft, the Los Angeles Clippers have selected... Dikembe Mutombo!"

We wait for a while before we are put back on the clock. We have picks #12 and #13. We look at the board. The concensus pick right now is SF Paul Graham. We have Nick Anderson and Reggie Williams in that spot already, but we can't pass up on Graham who has a nice outside shot. We also consider taking one of the available point guards. There are two candidates, Terrell Brandon or Kenny Anderson. We decide to go with Terrell, who has a more pass-oriented game than Kenny. "With the 12th and 13th pick in the 1991 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Clippers select SF, Paul Graham and PG Terrell Brandon!"

We look forward to the Free Agency, where the fate of Gary Grant and Danny Manning will be decided.

1991 NBA FREE AGENCY

DOH. I forget to save the Free Agency list, so I don't have one for you.

Danny Manning asks for a max-contract, and that's something we could not afford to give him. The Pistons, do, however, and he signs with them for a 6-year max contract. We then had a choice between Gary Grant or signing one of the available PGs in the market. We scout around, since we have 10 mil of unused cap... and find Mugsy Bogues, the 3-year 5'3" guard who has lightning quick dribbling skills and an impressive crossover. Mugsy is more of a playmaker than the scorer that Grant was, although he is a lesser defender. We basically come down to a 3-year 8-mil per year contract, which Mugsy accepts. Unfortunately, we refuse to grant Gary's request of a 2-year 10-mil per year contract. Noone else signs him, and we offer a 2-year 6-mil per year contract. He refuses and chooses to sign for the mid-level exception with Portland, who resigned Clyde Drexler to a 5-year contract. Vinnie Del Negro signs for the minimum with the Nets. I sign a couple of vets and role-players to fill out my roster, PF Billy Thompson and 22-year pro Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are signed to exceptions to help round-out this Clipper team. We also sign another small PG, Spud Webb.

We take a look at our roster and figure out we're very deep in the SF spot. We needed to let go of one of these guys. Nick Anderson, Reggie Williams or Paul Graham. We decide to continue the youth movement and let of Williams and his expiring 6-year contract. We really didn't expect any offers to come, but as soon as we put him on the trading block, we got a plethora of offers from teams. Williams is waiting for a chance ot break-out, he's been a budding star the past couple of seasons.

After further evaluation, we finally accept an offer, from the Sacramento Kings. It seems like they're looking to shore up their weak SF spot. We trade Reggie Williams to the Sacramento Kings in return for SG Dennis Scott, PF Buck Williams and C Alec Kessler. We soon cut Kessler since we're one man above the roster limit. Scott gives us added depth at the SG spot, despite the fact that it renders our signing of Craig Hodges last season pretty much useless.

Congrats on making the playoffs - looks like you ran into a buzzsaw, as no one was able to take two games from the champs.

Is there any kind of cohesion in this game? If so, losing Grant and Manning could be a blow as they have been starters for a few years now.

It appears you have addressed your earlier concerns now - outside shooting and lack of a true big man.

Sorry, but...


*snicker*

Same old Nick Anderson... :D

Hey, at least it wasn't free throws :(

Nick the "brick" Anderson

I don't think there's cohesion in the game. I'm not sure, looked over the help file and there's no mention of it.

And yes, hopefully I've done a nice job of taking care of things via the FA and the rookie drafts.

1991-92 Training Camp

Player Ratings as evaluated by my scout

Clippers Contracts:

Point Guard:
The Clippers welcome new PG Mugsy Bogues to the fold. He is rated by my scout as a "high quality player, an amazing passer and has absolutely no problem handling the ball". He's got rookie Terrell Brandon baking him up, and Spud Webb off the bench as the 3rd reserve.

Shooting Guard:
The Clippers have two viable options at SG. Kendall Gill, the slasher, and Dennis Scott, the shooter. Gill will be our defacto starter, since he was with the team last season. Scott's three-point shooting will be a big help coming off the bench. Me might also try to experiment over the course of the season by giving Scott several games as the staring SG.

Small Forward:
Nick Anderson will be our starting SF, and we're hoping that he's developed into a better player than last season. Our scout says that he is a "borderline all star" and that he is a "very good defender". Great. Paul Graham will be backing him up. Graham, like Dennis Scott, is "deadly behind the arc" and will light up the scoreboards off the bench.

Power Forward:
Last year's ROY, Derrick Coleman, will be the starting PF for the Clippers. With the departure of Danny Manning, Coleman will finally be given the chance to shine in his natural position. Our scout rates Coleman as an "All Star Caliber player, and excellent defender". Backing him up is 32-year old Buck Williams, who is rated as an "extremely solid player and a quality defender".

Center:
We finally shore up the Center spot this season with the drafting of 7'2" Dikembe Mutombo. He is rated as a "borderline all star, and should develop as one of the league's best." He will need to be given enough room to grow, however, if he is to meet his potential. backing Mutombo up will be 28-year old C Joe Wolf, the only Clipper remaining from the 1988-89 team when I took over.

SEASON OUTLOOK

We want to make the playoffs again, but with the departure of two of our key players in Gary Grant and Danny Manning, that will be a very tough task to accomplish. A playoff berth would be the objective this season, and if that is accomplished, we'll look to advance into the 2nd round of the playoffs.

Dec 1, 1991

The Los Angeles Clippers start the season strongly, we are now at 9-5, #4 in the Western Conference. Mugsy Bogues is doing the one thing we hired him to do, pass the ball. He's averaging about 9.5 apg with only 1.36 topg. Great ballhandling. Our wings are deep, and the minutes are being fought between the starters and the bench guys. Dikembe Mutombo has given us a solid post presence in tandem with Derrick Coleman.

Jan. 1, 1992

The Clippers stand at 16-13 at the end of December, good for #5 in the Western Conference. An injury to Mugsy Bogues towards the end of the month caused us to lose two crucial games, one against the #4 Lakers and another against the Portland Trailblazers.

Dennis Scott has been given the green light to start, and he has blended well with the team. his outside shooting is the perfect complement to the inside games of Nick Anderson and Derrick Coleman. Kendall Gill has been relegated as the 2nd SG, giving us inside firepower off the bench.

In trades, the Houston Rockets trade seldom used C Greg Foster to the Dallas Mavericks for seldom used SF Todd Mitchell.

Feb. 1, 1992

January is NOT our month. We go 2-10, and drop to 18-23, we are #9 in the Western Conference, trailing the 19-24 San Antonio Spurs. We couldn't buy a win this month, inside the hardcourt AND outside. Nick Anderson rejected a 6-year $55 mil offer, citing that he wants to test the free-agency market next season. Not good.

Mar. 1, 1992

February is a kinder month, we are 27-28, #7 in the Western Conference. No one is invited to the All Star game, although four players are invited to the Rookie-Sophomore game. Larry Johnson wa sthe Rookie Game MVP, while Charles Barkley was the AS MVP for the 2nd year in a row.

Apr. 1, 1992

Ten games left in the season and we are currently at 34-38, #9 in the Western Conference.

#7 San Antonio Spurs 35-36
#8 Phoenix Suns 32-33
#9 Los Angeles Clippers 34-38

We needed to win, damnit. I was frustrated as how inefficient we have been against the top teams in the league. Ten games to see if we would be able to make the playoffs again this season.

Apr. 27, 1992

Last game of the season. I was half-a-game ahead of the Heat for #8. I was at 39-42, and the Heat were 38-43. We had a 2-1 game advantage with them, and much like how last season ended... we had our playoff hopes in our own hands. The Final game of the season, against the Miami Heat themselves. If the Heat win, they tie the season series and they will advance as the #8 seed due to their better Division Record. If we win, then we go on to the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

1:06 Left in the game... the score: Clippers - 95, Heat - 94. The home crowd was cheering hard for their Heat. Tim Hardaway swings the ball around and finds a wide open Charles Oakley. Oakley shoots the midrange jumper, but it barely glances off of the rim! Derrick Coleman grabs the defensive board and secures it.

He passes the ball to Nick Anderson, who starts sprinting down the court... Anderson loses the handle of the ball! NO! THE BALL BOUNCES OFF OF ANDERSON'S LEG OUT OF BOUNDS! I was cursing inside the owner's box.

0:48 seconds left in the clock. Miami Ball. The heat try damn hard to score, but we put up good defense. Hardaway passes to Rony Seikaly, his shot is challenged by Dikembe Mutombo, it misses... rebounded by Seikaly!

0:30 seconds left. Hardaway orchestrates again... the ball swings around the 3-pt line, and back to Hardaway, who hits a streaking Jerome Kersey for a lay-up attempt... Kersey botches the lay-up! Oakley and Coleman go for the board! The loose ball is recovered for the Heat by former Clipper Tom Garrick!

0:19 left. The clock is ticking. The crowd is as noisy as ever, I can hardly hear anything else. Hardaway calls his number. He waits... Mugsy Bogues is on him like white on rice. 0:05, Hardaway makes his move to the left... 0:04, CROSSOVER! He gets by Mugsy Bogues! 0:03, Hardaway with a hesitation dribble 0:02, He pump fakes... Mutombo and Coleman go up! 0:01, Timmy goes for a one-handed floater! THE BUZZER SOUNDS! The ball bounces on the rim three times before rolling out! WE WIN! CLIPPERS WIN! CLIPPERS WIN!

But then, I look at the baseline referee... he's called a foul! On DC! Two free-throws for Tim Hardaway with the clock at 0:00. The crowd hushes silent, ready to explode. I can't believe this crock of sh-t. I'm pretty pissed off by now, screaming at my assistants and staff. Hardaway shoots his first free throw, it bounces off the rim, onto the board and back through the rim. The crowd cheers, the game is tied... 95-95. Tim Hardaway with another free-throw attempt. He makes it without any problems, and the crowd in Miami explodes in cheer. Our players look tired and dejected. This was not a game for us to remember. The Heat advance to the '91-'92 NBA Playoffs, and we hit the showers for an early summer vacation.

Back to the damn drawing board.

CLIPPERS SEASON STATS 1991-1992

Timmy, baby! Clutch as always...

Too bad it had to be against you, though. :(

OMFG! Nick Anderson blew it! let that prick go! sounds like you just pulled a "Astro"

Eastern Conference Standings:

Code:

---

team                league        pct        gb        conf        div        home        away       
Nets                65-17        0.793        0.0        45-11        23-7        36-5        29-12       
Knicks                59-23        0.720        6.0        44-12        23-7        34-7        25-16       
76ers                58-24        0.707        7.0        40-16        20-10        33-8        25-16       
Pacers                54-28        0.659        11.0        38-18        24-7        30-11        24-17       
Bucks                38-44        0.463        27.0        27-29        17-15        24-17        14-27       
Bulls                35-47        0.427        30.0        27-29        17-13        22-19        13-28       
Pistons        32-50        0.390        33.0        22-34        14-17        22-19        10-31       
Hawks                31-51        0.378        34.0        19-37        10-18        23-18        8-33       
Celtics        28-54        0.341        37.0        19-37        7-23        22-19        6-35       
Hornets        27-55        0.329        38.0        22-34        10-20        19-22        8-33       
Cavaliers        25-57        0.305        40.0        17-39        8-20        13-28        12-29       
Bullets        20-62        0.244        45.0        16-40        7-23        13-28        7-34

---

Western Confernence Standings:

Code:

---

team                league        pct        gb        conf        div        home        away       
Sonics                61-21        0.744        0.0        45-13        25-9        33-8        28-13       
Blazers        58-24        0.707        3.0        40-18        21-14        34-7        24-17       
Lakers                52-30        0.634        9.0        37-21        20-14        28-13        24-17       
Warriors        51-31        0.622        10.0        38-20        21-12        30-11        21-20       
Rockets        51-31        0.622        10.0        35-23        21-9        30-11        21-20       
Jazz                48-34        0.585        13.0        32-26        18-12        27-14        21-20       
Spurs                40-42        0.488        21.0        26-32        13-17        22-19        18-23       
Heat                39-43        0.476        22.0        24-34        16-14        22-19        17-24       
Clippers        39-43        0.476        22.0        24-34        15-19        27-14        12-29       
Suns                35-47        0.427        26.0        23-35        12-22        23-18        12-29       
Mavericks        33-49        0.402        28.0        21-37        12-18        21-20        12-29       
Nuggets        26-56        0.317        35.0        18-40        10-20        17-24        9-32       
Kings                20-62        0.244        41.0        14-44        5-29        14-27        6-35

---

1992 NBA PLAYOFFS

1st Round:

(1)Nets vs. (8)Hawks - Robinson and the Nets sweep the Hawks 3-0
(4)76ers vs. (5)Bucks - Dominique Wilkins, Hakeem and Charles power the 76ers over Larry Johnson's Bucks in 5 games. 3-2.
(2)Pacers vs. (7)Pistons - Reggie Miller and Sherman Douglas sweep the Pistons 3-0.
(3)Knicks vs. (6)Bulls - Mark Jackson and Rod Strickland lift the Knicks over Jordan's Bulls, 3-1.

(1)Sonics vs. (8)Heat - Dale Ellis is in top form as the Sonics beat the acursed Heat 3-1.
(4)Lakers vs. (5)Warriors - Magic Johnson officially dethrones Patrick Ewing and the Warriors as the defending champs fall 3-1.
(2)Rockets vs. (7)Spurs - Roy Tarpley and his 20 ppg, 15 rpg in the 1st round leads the resurgent Rockets past the Spurs, 3-1.
(3)Blazers vs. (6)Jazz - The Blazers, powered by the two headed monster of Clyde Drexler and Chris Mullin (acquired during the FA I wasn't able to post), glides past the Jazz 3-1.

2nd Round:

(1)Nets vs. (4)76ers - 'Nique, Hakeem and Charles take Robinson's Nets to seven games and win the series to advance to the Conference Finals. 4-3.
(2)Pacers vs. (3)Knicks - The Knicks prove too much for the Pacers and advance, 4-1.

(1)Sonics vs. (4)Lakers - The Sonics blow the Lakers away, and Dale Ellis resumes his quest for another championship. 4-1.
(2)Rockets vs. (3)Blazers - Tarpley and company aren't able to stop Gary Grant, Drexler and Mullin as the Blazers destroy Houston in 5 games. 4-1.

Conference Finals:

(3)Knicks vs. (4)76ers - The human Highlight Reel, Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles continue their tear of the Eastern Conference as they beat the Knicks (making their 4th Consecutive Eastern Conference Finals Appearance) 4-2.

(1)Sonics vs. (3)Blazers - Dale Ellis will not be denied as he lights up the Blazers and their powerhouse crew. The Sonics advance, 4-2.

1992 NBA FINALS:

(1)Sonics vs. (4)76ers - In a classic seven game series, the Philadelphia 76ers defeat Dale Ellis and the Sonics. Dominique extracts some sort of redemption after Ellis and the Sonics stopped 'Nique's Hawks 3 years ago. Olajuwon and Barkley celebrate their first NBA Titles.

AWARDS:

MVP: Charles Barkley, 76ers
Finals MVP: Charles Barkley, 76ers
DPOY: David Robinson, Nets
ROY: Larry Johnson, Bucks
6th Man: Mark West, Suns

All League 1st Team:
Magic Johnson - Lakers
Michael Jordan - Bulls
Scottie Pippen - Bulls
Charles Barkley - 76ers
Alonzo Mourning - Nets

All League 2nd Team:
Terry Porter - Warriors
Clyde Drexler - Blazers
Chris Mullin - Blazers
John S. Williams - Knicks
Hakeem Olajuwon - 76ers

All Defensive Team:
Lester Connfer - Nets
Michael Jordan - Bulls
Scottie Pippen - Bulls
Roy Tarpley - Rockets
David Robinson - Nets

All Rookie Team:
Steve Smith - Nuggets
Billy Owens - Mavericks
Larry Stewart - Hornets
Larry Johnson - Bucks
Dikembe Mutombo - Clippers

OOC: It's funny how Jordan's peers have been winning titles left and right, while he is yet to taste championship gold. Olajuwon, Ewing, Barkley and Dominique Wilkins now have rings. :D

1992 OFFSEASON

Staff Changes:

No significant staff changes for the Clippers, we're confident that our staff is fit for the team right now.

1992 NBA Draft

The Draft is talented, that is without a doubt. Shaquille O'neal, a young big man with the size and talent to start for any team in the league, is rumored to be the concensus #1 pick. There is also an undersized C, Alonzo Mourning, and high-profile college player Christian Laettner.

We enter the 1992 NBA Draft Lottery, having the worst chance of landing the #1 pick. We have an abysmal 18/1000 chance of winning the #1 pick. The Kings, a consistent lotto member, have the best chances, 250/1000.

The commissioner draws the lotto balls. He walks over to the podium. "The winner of the 1992 NBA Lottery, and owner of the first pick of the 1992 NBA Draft are.... the Sacramento Kings!" No big surprise, hopefully, the Kings turn things around soon.

The commissioner then walks over to the next lottery draw. The top 3 picks are available for lottery picking. "The team that picks second in the 1992 NBA Draft, The Los Angeles Clippers!" My jaw drops to the floor. This was great news. There is a collective cheer among our contingent and I gladly shake Commish Stern's hand. The #2 pick!

~

Draft day comes, and the news of our lottery luck has hit the papers. I never expected to win the #2 pick... perhaps our missing the playoffs last season was some sort of a godsend? I don't know. I'm not a particularly religious man.

The Kings contemplate long and hard on their pick. They are very, very weak at PF, and already have a young Vlade Divac developing well at center... but I think they won't pass the opportunity to draft solid players like O'neal or Mourning. The Kings soon make their pick and hand it to the commish. "Ladies and gentlemen... the first pick for the 1992 NBA Draft, is Christian Laettner!" The crowd is FLOORED. I read Laettner's scouting report from my scout. He is a "Legitimate all star, with hall of fame type potential. He has an 'excellent' rated potential for talent (scoring) development".

Which brings us to our pick. I am still shellshocked, with the whole lotto luck and the Kings selecting Laettner. Our scout hands me Shaquille O'neal's report. "Definitely one of the best players ever. Extremely effective inside. Outstanding inside defender. TUP." I read those three letters, T.U.P. Tremendous Upside Potential. I look at his potential development ratings. Talent - Good, Skill - Good, Intangibles - Good. If my scout is dead on, and we give Shaq the opportunity to grow, he just might be the problem-solver that we've been looking for. Of course that would be a very, very big IF. We make our selection.

"Ladies and gentlemen, with the 2nd pick in the 1992 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Clippers select... Shaquille O'neal!"

The Bullets select Alonzo Mourning at #3. The Cavaliers take Gugliotta at #4.

#5 Nuggets - PF Laphonso Ellis
#6 Hornets - PF Richard Dumas
#7 Celtics - SG Latrell Sprewell
#8 Mavericks - SF Clarence Weatherspoon
#9 Suns - SF Walt Williams
#10 Hawks - C Sean Rooks

Call it luck... I don't know what else to call it. I certainly didn't envision us being big winners in the off-season. I was ready. We had money to spend in the free-agency, and we were going to build around our monster front-court of Shaq, Coleman and Mutombo.

1992 FREE AGENCY

We've spent three seasons developing Nick Anderson, and our scout says that he is an "All Star Caliber player, a superstar in the making, and a complete defensive stopper". I make a solid offer to Nick, a 3-year contract worth just about 36 million. He spurned us during negotiations last season, and it would be hard to swallow if he brings his wares to another team. Of course, the memory of "the turnover" as the people here in Clipperland call it, is still fresh from our minds. Nick sits on the contract for 5 days before finally signing. I gathered that the interest in Nick wasn't that high, since defensive star David Robinson chose to test the market this season. Also signed was a gutsy PF Shawn Kemp, to the mid-level exception. We also brought back Buck Williams and Craig Hodges to round out our roster.

Reggie Williams, our former SF, averaged about 16 ppg for the Kings before opting not to resign. He inked a 4-year contract worth 40 mil with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Lakers sign Magic Johnson and Glen Rice to big deals. Johnson inked a 2-year worth 31 mil, deal while Rice signed a 4-year deal worth 26.

The Warriors are reloading and stole Chuck Person from the Utah Jazz by signing him to a cheap 2-year 9 mil contract. Person averaged about 19 ppg last season for the Jazz.

David Robinson chooses to spurn the New Jersey Nets, and sign with the Portland Trailblazers for the mid-level salary cap exception at $4.5 mil and the chance to team up with Clyde Drexler and Chris Mullin in hopes of winning an NBA Title.

The Bullets sign two huge contracts, 6-year 60 million deals to 32-year old PG Darrell Walker and 25-year old SF Sean Elliott, both of whom have played for the Bullets since I started as GM of the Clippers.

PRICE CHANGES AND STADIUM PROPOSALS

We made another hefty profit this season, $32.96 million. Attendance is good at about 19,000 for our 20,000 seat stadium. Fan support is still rated as "below-average". We decide to keep prices where they are, wouldn't want to ruin a good thing now. The staff and I gather for consecutive meetings, drafting several proposals for the league to peruse. We decide not to go through with it after several cities rejected our proposals.

RE-NEGOTIATIONS

As part of the off-season, we decide to extend contract extensions to our three players, Kendall Gill, Dennis Scott and Derrick Coleman. Coleman rejected our max offer, while Gill did not want to take anything less than the league maximum. Scott accepted a 5-year contract extension worth $44 million.

1992-1993 TRAINING CAMPS

Player Ratings as rated by Scout Josiah Hartley

Player Contracts:

The Los Angeles Clippers look solid from 1 to 5 for the first time since I became General Manager. We are basically two men deep at each position, have a good inside-outside game. The Shaq lucky-lotto draw was simply a huge influence to the team's jump from possible playoff contender to possible title contender. The reports on Shaq are great, people are saying that he might be the 2nd coming of Wilt Chamberlin, only with a better upside.

Point Guard:
Mighty-mite PG Mugsy Bogues returns and I'm betting he'll have a field day feeding the scorers in our team. He'll be backed-up by 2nd year PG Terrell Brandon who's been grumbling lately about getting the starting slot at PG. Unless anything drastic occurs, Brandon will be our back-up PG for the season.

Shooting Guard:

Dennis Scott made the transition from back-up SG to full-blown starting SG last season. His outside shooting really complemented the inside scoring of Coleman and Nick Anderson, and now that we have O'neal... it's going to be nasty... Scott will love to drain those wide open threes. Backing him up is Kendall Gill, relegated to the bench last season. Both players are slated to have the potential to be great players, Gill has shown that he is developing into a defensive stopper-type of player, something we'll need off the bench.

Small Forward:

Nick Anderson returns. Despite the 'hate-mail' we received the past few months for resigning him, we're confident that Nicky will redeem himself of his past transgressions. Anderson might not be an offensive juggernaut, but he has developed into a defensive threat. Backing him up is outside-shooting Paul Graham.

Power Forward:

Derrick Coleman returns for his 3rd year as a Clipper. I believe that he will benefit from Shaq being in the paint. We now have two legitimate big men who will be able to dominate opposing post defenses. Buck Graham and Shawn Kemp come off the bench as back-ups.

Center:

Shaquille O'neal, the #2 pick, will be the starting center. He is a juggernaut, no doubt about it. Of course it is no solace to big men all around the league that coming off the bench for Shaq is shot-blocking wiz, 2nd year big man Dikembe Mutombo. I expect Mutombo to express displeasure over being relegated to the back-up C spot... but the mere thought of having these two behemoths play for the Clippers brings tears to my eyes.

SEASON OUTLOOK:

Anything less than a playoff birth is simply unacceptable. We're hoping to be in the upper echelon of Western Conference teams, but with Portland reloading, the Warriors beefing up and the Lakers retaining talent, it's going to be a hard, hard task.

You need to trade Deke for Timmy. There's no need to have two star centers on the team...

After what he did? Heh. Slim chance of that happening. :D

Dec. 1, 1992

The Clippers start the season off on a good foot. We are 9-7 and are ranked #4 in the Western Conference. Shaq is leading the team in scoring, with 18.3 ppg. So far, the only person who's really been vocal about being unhappy is Terrell Brandon, which is good... I wouldn't want to have half of my roster unhappy about their playing time. Which is why winning will be imperative for the Clippers this season.

As a side-note, Derrick Coleman, pleased with where the team is at during the first month of the season, finally agreed to sign a 5-year contract extension worth just about $60 million. We have now secured the Clippers' future by signing Coleman and Scott to long-term contracts, a move that will hopefully pay dividends down the road.

Jan. 1, 1993

We are 18-11, retaining our #4 spot in the West, behind powerhouses Seattle, Portland and surprisingly, Utah, who is the best team in the league at 20-4.

Dennis Scott has benefitted from all the free looks he's been getting, shooting almost 5 three point shots each game. he is the team's scoring leader right now, at 18 ppg. It seems that all this winning has been a good thing for player morale, everyone is happy and content.

In trades, The Portland Trailbazers trade Gary Grant and their 1993 2nd round pick to the Washington Bullets' PF Mark Alarie, PF Thomas Jordan and C Charles Shackleford.

Feb. 1, 1993

I think we've broken out of the January slump sickness that we've had the past couple of seasons. We are still #4 in the Western Conference, and are at 27-16. O'neal has been a dominant force inside the paint, and he has been able to singlehandedly carry us through several games.

I think it's to be noted that Patrick Ewing and the Warriors are surprisingly 14-30 right now despite having Mitch Richmond, Chuck Person and Patrick Ewing, at #11 in the West, while the Nets are feeling the hole that David Robinson left, and are 18-26, #10 in the East.

Mar. 1, 1993

The All-Star Game featured Shaquille O'neal coming off of the bench, performing well with 12 points and 8 rebounds in the Western Conference 118-102 victory. Michael Jordan won MVP honors however, by putting the Eastern squad on his back with 38 points. The rookie game was won by Sophomores, but Shaq had a dominant 22 points and 15 boards to win the MVP honors. Also playing were Terrell Brandon and Paul Graham.

The Clippers are 34-23, currently #5 in the Western Conference behind the resurgent Los Angeles Lakers. We lost Dennis Scott for 23 days midway through the month, and Kendall Gill has found himself starting for the team again. Of course, Scott returns in less than two weeks, meaning Gill's stint as a starter will probably end soon. Mutombo and Brandon are slowly grumbling now for more playing time. Mugsy Bogues isn't panning out to be the assists-leader we hoped he'd be, he's on the 2nd year of his 3-year contract worth 8 mil per year. Brandon will likely be given the chance to shine at PG, considering he's playing close to 22 mpg.

Apr. 1, 1993

With Dennis Scott out for 10 more days, we shuffle up the roster a bit, giving starting time to Kendall Gill and Terrell Brandon. Brandon is proving to be more of a scorer than a passer, while Gill is definitely headed to being a star SG, the question is... will he re-sign with us at the end of the season? We're above the cap already, but the company will decide how much we will have as spending power to resign Gill.

We finish the month at 42-29, still #5 in the Western Conference.

Code:

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po        name                        Team                g        min        fgm        fga        fgp        ftm        fta        ftp        tgm        tga        tgp        orb        reb        ast        stl        to        blk        pf        ppg        inj       
PG        Muggsy Bogues                Clippers        68        24.3        176        463        38.0        70        89        78.7        0        28        0.0        0.76        2.24        8.62        2.26        1.60        0.04        133        6.2        0       
PG        Terrell Brandon                Clippers        70        21.8        236        615        38.4        84        102        82.4        1        34        2.9        0.44        1.94        3.67        1.40        1.46        0.29        110        8.0        0       
SG        Kendall Gill                Clippers        71        17.9        300        599        50.1        101        115        87.8        1        14        7.1        1.06        2.89        2.93        1.52        1.24        0.41        133        9.9        0       
SG        Dennis Scott                Clippers        59        31.5        372        820        45.4        133        161        82.6        96        248        38.7        0.85        2.93        1.64        1.02        1.93        0.31        160        16.5        0       
SF        Nick Anderson                Clippers        70        29.5        484        877        55.2        197        291        67.7        3        20        15.0        1.54        5.83        2.09        1.64        1.90        0.64        172        16.7        0       
SF        Paul Graham                Clippers        71        18.0        219        468        46.8        90        124        72.6        38        90        42.2        0.87        2.51        1.62        1.35        0.77        0.41        145        8.0        0       
PF        Derrick Coleman                Clippers        71        34.6        468        942        49.7        251        344        73.0        6        25        24.0        3.03        9.68        2.13        1.10        2.31        1.21        209        16.8        0       
PF        Buck Williams                Clippers        71        11.5        104        208        50.0        57        85        67.1        0        2        0.0        0.87        3.11        0.30        0.35        0.69        0.10        78        3.7        0       
C        Shaquille O'Neal        Clippers        71        31.8        538        904        59.5        265        454        58.4        0        4        0.0        3.77        11.70        1.52        0.83        3.18        3.25        236        18.9        0       
C        Dikembe Mutombo                Clippers        71        15.3        189        366        51.6        140        217        64.5        0        3        0.0        1.86        5.24        0.87        0.27        1.45        1.01        125        7.3        0       
PF        Shawn Kemp                Clippers        31        3.4        19        35        54.3        11        13        84.6        0        1        0.0        0.32        1.06        0.03        0.13        0.23        0.32        16        1.6        0       
PG        Negele Knight                Clippers        28        5.3        25        48        52.1        19        26        73.1        1        1        100.0        0.04        0.50        1.82        0.39        0.57        0.11        9        2.5        0       
SG        Craig Hodges                Clippers        14        15.1        28        69        40.6        4        4        100.0        17        39        43.6        0.14        0.86        2.21        0.21        0.79        0        14        5.5        0       
        Clippers                -                71        -        3158        6414        49.2        1422        2025        70.2        163        509        32.0        16.04        51.03        25.83        11.69        16.58        7.79        1540        111.3        0       
        Clippers opponents        -                71        -        2983        6483        46.0        1390        1773        78.4        181        521        34.7        17.21        51.61        23.59        10.14        18.46        5.97        1685        106.2        0

---

Apr. 27, 1993

We make the playoffs again, the second time in my stay as GM of the Los Angeles Clippers. We finish the season with a respectable 50-32 record and are #5 in the West. We will be facing the 51-32 Utah Jazz, powered by Karl Malone and the suprising play of SG Willie Burton. Burton leads the Jazz in scoring with 20 ppg, he was drafted #15 in the 1st round of the 1990 NBA Draft.

Eastern Conference Standings:

Western Conference standings:

Season Stats:

Game 2, Western Conference 1st Round Playoffs
LA Clippers @ LA Lakers
Great Western Forum
Lakers lead series 1-0

Game One was a disaster for us. We led the entire game, and lost the lead and the game in the final 2 minutes. The Lkaers won, 126-119. It was a humiliating loss, but now we had the chance to redeem ourselves.

I look up at the clock. 0:18 seconds left in regulation. Our ball. The Lakers were leading, 123-120. It wasn't a good day for Shaquille O'neal. Brad Daugherty proved to be a wiley defensive assignment, and O'neal fouled out late in the third.

Everyone in the building knew that the ball was going to go into the hands of our deadliest three-point shooter: 3D Dennis Scott. The predominantly Laker crowd was cheering as loudly as ever. They could taste the win. Both teams have no time-outs left.

Nick Anderson inbounds the ball to Mugsy Bogues. Bogues tries to find Scott, but he's covered tightly by James Worthy. Bogues drives and Scott rolls over two picks, one from Mutombo and one from Coleman. The clock is ticking. Bogues somehow finds Dennis Scott, who is behind the three-point arc with his feet set. Worth is trying his hardest to pt up a hand on Scott's shot, but all Scott seets is himself and the hoop. Scott lets loose with a three.... AND IT HITS! 123-123! That shut the crowd up.

The Lakers try to inbound quickly, and find AC Green, who passes the half-court line before being tangled up with Mugsy Bogues who steals the ball. The buzzer sounds and the ref signals that we are going to OVERTIME!

I sit my ass back down, and let out a relieved sigh. The adrenalin was still flowing... this was quite a headrush.

Game 2, Western Conference 1st Round Playoffs
LA Clippers @ LA Lakers
Great Western Forum
Lakers lead series 1-0

cont.

Overtime began. It basically boiled down to a war of attrition. Each possesion was a defensive battle. Nobody wanted to give up this game, not after all the excitement in the first four quarters. They score a basket, and we reciprocate. We exchange a couple more baskets, before the Lakers manage to get a 2-point lead, 134-132, with 26 seconds left.

Mugsy Bogues handles the ball and runs a pick-and-roll with Derrick Coleman, who shoots the wide-open mid-range jumper and ties the game 134-134. The clock read 6 seconds left.

Magic Johnson gets the inbound pass and quickly breaks our press, he lobs the ball to a streaking Brad Daugherty... one tick left on the clock... Daugherty lets go of a running one-hander for the win.... the buzzer sounds... the ball bounces off the rim, and out! There is a collective gasp of exhasperation from the crowd. We're going to a second overtime!

OT2 was no different than the first overtime. Every basket was contested, every rebound, every loose ball was fought for. We soon found ourselves with the chance to win the game.

The score: 142-142.
The time: 10 seconds left.

Mugsy Bogues tries to find DC, Nick Anderson or Dennis Scott, but everyone is heavily blanketed. With only three seconds left, Bogues drives down the lane and then drops the ball off to Mutombo, who goes up for the shot. It is woefully short of the rim, and the buzzer sounds! But wait, the referee has called a foul! On the Lakers back-up SG Walter Davis!

With no time left in the game, Mutombo goes to the line with two freethrow shots. The Laker crowd makes so much noise that my assistant sitting next to me found it hard to even speak.

Mutombo shoots his first freethrow. It bounces harmlessly off of the front of the rim before it falls to the hardwood. Bogues walks up to Mutombo... it was a peculiar sight... the 7'2" Mutombo, beding down to listen to what the minute Bogues had to say.

The crowd was louder than ever.

Mutombo receives the ball. He shoots. And the sweetest sound I could have ever heard. Nothing but the bottom of the net.

CLIPPERS WIN GAME 2! 143-142!

They said that there was nothing like the NBA, and today, I could testify to that. The crowd is stunned silent, the Lakers with their heads down, and the Clippers, MY LA Clippers managed to defeat the favorite Lakers in their home turf in the NBA Playoffs.

I could only help but mutter a silent sentence before breaking out into a smile. "How Sweet It Is."

1993 NBA PLAYOFFS

That game 2 win was the catalyst for two more wins against the Lakers at the LA Sports Arena. Dennis Scott and Nick Anderson averaged about 21 ppg each for the series, while Shaquille O'neal is averaging 18 ppg and 7 rpg. We advance to the next round to face the dreaded Portland Trailblazers.

1st Round:

(1)76ers vs. (8)Hawks - The defending champs sweep Mookie Blaylock and the Hawks in 3 games, 3-0.
(4)Bullets vs. (5)Celtics - Former Clipper, Charles D. Smith, averaged 27.0 ppg for the series as the Celtics upset Alonzo Mourning and the Bullets, 3-1.
(2)Pacers vs. (7)Cavaliers - Mark Price, Tom Gugliotta and the lowly Cavaliers take the Pacers to five games before eliminating Miller and company, 3-2.
(3)Knicks vs. (6)Bulls - Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen fail to make it past the first round again, as the Knicks beat them 3-1.

(1)Blazers vs. (8)Spurs - Despite an untimely injury to Chris Mullin, the Blazers were led by David Robinson and Clyde Drexler to a sweep of the Spurs, 3-0
(4)Lakers vs. (5)Clippers - The Clippers upset the Lakers to advance to the 2nd round for the first time since I became GM, 3-1
(2)Jazz vs. (7)Rockets - Stockton, Malone and Burton lead the Jazz over the Rockets, 3-1.
(3)Sonics vs. (8)Mavericks - Terry Porter and an aging Dale Ellis lead the Sonics over former Clipper, Ken Norman, and the Mavs, 3-1.

2nd Round Match Ups:
(1)76ers vs. (5)Celtics
(3)Knicks vs. (7)Cavaliers

(1)Blazers vs. (5)Clippers
(2)Jazz vs. (3)Sonics

1993 NBA Playoffs

The confidence that we gained by getting past the Lakers would soon be shattered as the three-headed monster of Portland, now reassembled with the return of Chris Mullin from injury, finished us off in a four game sweep. David Robinson, Clyde "The Glide", and Chris Mullin were just too strong.

2nd Round Match Ups:
(1)76ers vs. (5)Celtics - The 76ers sweep the Celtics in four games, 4-0. The defending champs look solid.
(3)Knicks vs. (7)Cavaliers - The Knicks defeat the upstart Cavaliers, 4-1. They make the Eastern Conference finals once again.

(1)Blazers vs. (5)Clippers - The Blazers sweep the Clippers, perhaps they are truly destined for a title, 4-0.
(2)Jazz vs. (3)Sonics - The Sonics stop Malone and company as Terry Porter leads the Sonics over them. 4-1.

Conference Finals:

(1)76ers vs. (2)Knicks - In a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks gave the 76ers a run for their money, taking a 3-2 series lead, before the 76ers managed to win Game 6 by one point 102-101, and Game 7 by a blowout. The defending champs will be defending their NBA Title in the Finals.

(1)Blazers vs. (3)Sonics - Another rematch of last season's Western Conference Finals. The Blazers inexplicably collapse as the Sonics, led by Terry Porter and Derrick McKey step up big time. The Sonics make the finals by stopping Portland once again. David Robinson is rumored to be contemplating signing for a big contract after failing to capture a title with the Blazers.

1993 NBA Finals:

(1)76ers vs. (3)Sonics - Rematches galore. Charles, Hakeem and the defending champs now have home-court advantage, and the Sonics steal Game 1, 115-106. The 76ers win Game 2, but the Sonics prove that Basketball is indeed a team sport, winning the next 3 games in Seattle and the 1993 NBA Trophy. PF Michael Adams, for the Sonics, leads the team in scoring with 19 ppg. This is his 3rd NBA Title, winning twice with the Oakland Warriors back in 1990 and 1991. Terry Porter wins his 2nd title, also a part of the 1991 Warriors team. Ellis wins his 2nd NBA Title after winning the 1989 title.

AWARDS:

MVP: John S. Williams, Knicks
Finals MVP: Michael Adams, Sonics
DPOY: Hakeem Olajuwon, 76ers
ROY: Shaquille O'neal, Clippers
6th Man: Cedric Ceballos, Bucks

All NBA 1st Team:
John Stockton, Jazz
Michael Jordan, Bulls
Chris Mullin, Blazers
John S. Williams, Knicks
Brad Daugherty, Lakers

All NBA 2nd Team:
Terry Porter, Sonics
Clyde Drexler, Blazers
Scotie Pippen, Bulls
Charles Barkley, 76ers
David Robinson, Blazers

All Defensive Team:
Mark Jackson, Knicks
Michael Jordan, Bulls
Scottie Pippen, Bulls
John S. Williams, Knicks
Hakeem Olajuwon, 76ers

All Rookie Team:
Tony Bennett, Jazz
Latrell Sprewell, Celtics
Clarence Weatherspoon, Mavericks
Tom Gugliotta, Cavaliers
Shaquille O'neal, Clippers

1993-1994 OFFSEASON:

League Expansion:

There is talk that the league will expand by 3 teams next season, to even out the number of teams per division. Of course this is still under consideration.

Staff Changes:

Our scout, Josiah Hartley, and coach, Chuck Shepherd decide to give the Clippers one more go, and choose to stay for next season. Our Assistant GM, Rob Sailo, however has decided to resign from his position. We find a replacement, formerly of the Bulls, Brennon Mckenzie. Sailo finds a job as an Assistant GM for the Miami Heat.

1993 NBA DRAFT

The NBA Draft Lottery is won by perennial cellar team, the Orange County Kings. Rumours abound that the Kings will be selecting guard Anferenee Hardaway, as a complement to their #1 pick last season, Christian Laettner. The Clippers will be selecting at #18.

Draft day arrives, and the picks are made. The Kings do pick Hardaway as the #1 selection. The Denver Nuggets select SF Bo Outlaw at #2. The Charlotte Hornets select PF Chris Webber at #3. Vin Baker is selected by Detroit at #4.

Our pick comes at #18. We have two choices before us. There is PG Lindsey Hunter, and SF Jamaal Mashburn. Hunter is rated as a "Dependable starter" while Mashburn is said to be a "Solid player and starter". We're already stacked at SF with Graham and Anderson, but we feel that with Kendall Gill probably on his way out, we're going to need more help at the wings. We select Jamaal Mashburn at #18.

We also draft PG Terry Dehere in the 2nd round.

The 1993 NBA Free agency

(Sorry, managed to flub the creation of the FA list again. Sucks.)

There are a couple of big names on the Free-Agency market this season, namely Brad Daugherty, Reggie Miller and SF Lionel Simmons. Daugherty just came off his most productive year with the Lakers, averaging 24 ppg, 9 rpg and 4 apg. Simmons was the 2nd pick in the 1990 NBA Draft, and played for the Pistons for three seasons. Nate McMillan, a PG with talent is also available.

We offer Kendall Gill a 3-year contract worth $24 Million overall. Hopefully that will scare away any potential offers. Gill might be on the verge of a break-out season with a team that gives him the chance... I'll be happy if he remains as our back-up SG. :)

McMillan signs a 5-year max contract back with the Sonics, they're going to go for another NBA Title. Lionel Simmons is signed to a small 2-year 4.5 mil per year contract with the Knicks. If he breaks out into a star, I'm sure a lot of teams will regret not trying to get him. The Knicks got a steal at the price. Miller and Daugherty resign with their respective teams, the Paces and the Lakers. Miller signed a 3-year max contract, while Daugherty signed 2-years for the max amount. Gill waits for a couple of days, but in the end, he finally decides to re-sign with us. This was good news. Very good news. We retain our relative depth, with PG being the only position of true concern. We also lure Shawn Kemp back in, signing him to the mid-level exception, at $4.5 mil. We sign several guys to round out the roster. Buck Williams returns for another stint. Mario Elie and Ralph Sampson sign for the minimum.

Prices and Stadium Changes:

We retain our prices. No significant changes are made with regards to team locations.

1993-1994 TRAINING CAMPS

Terrell Brandon will be moved to the starting spot, although we feel that he'll still split minutes with Mugsy Bogues. We want to resign Brandon, but for a relatively cheap contract. Kendall Gill and Dennis Scott will be in a position battle for SG, my head coach thinks Gill is ready for the big time... and this could be a break-out season for him. Regardless, both players are signed long-term, giving us the option of playing either off the bench. The frontline is secure as Nick Anderson, Derrick Coleman and Shaquille O'neal are our starters. Dikembe Mutombo is going to have to come off the bench again, and this being a contract year for Deke, he might not choose to re-sign with the Clippers this season. Paul Graham and Jerry Stackhouse will be battling for the back-up SF spot, while Shawn Kemp might get the defacto back-up PF spot.

Overall, we have a strong team... but noone is a clear star. We have many scoring options, which is both a boon and a bane. There are only so many shots to go around.

Player Ratings as scouted by Josiah Hartley

Player Contracts:

Dec. 1, 1993

The Los Angeles Clippers start the season with a bang. Our multi-headed offense was efficient, and our depth gave us the firepower to climb to the top of the West. We're currently 11-3 after 14 games, tied with the Portland TrailBlazers who have the same record. Shaquille O'neal is putting in better numbers, Kendall Gill is showing that he can dish the ball from the SG spot, while our PG experiment with Terrell starting in front of Mugsy is working. Our rookie, Jamal Mashburn, is putting in quality minutes behind Nick Anderson, while Mutombo is doing well off the bench behind Shaq and DC. This might be the year, guys.

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po        name                        Team                g        min        fgm        fga        fgp        ftm        fta        ftp        tgm        tga        tgp        orb        reb        ast        stl        to        blk        pf        ppg        inj       
PG        Terrell Brandon                Clippers        14        27.8        66        173        38.2        14        15        93.3        1        7        14.3        0.36        2.71        5.50        2.57        1.71        0.36        25        10.5        0       
PG        Muggsy Bogues                Clippers        14        18.6        38        82        46.3        12        13        92.3        0        3        0.0        0.50        1.93        5.79        1.29        1.36        0        24        6.3        0       
SG        Kendall Gill                Clippers        14        29.4        95        205        46.3        29        32        90.6        0        5        0.0        1.64        3.79        5.00        1.64        1.50        0.57        43        15.6        0       
SG        Dennis Scott                Clippers        14        17.1        47        103        45.6        16        21        76.2        21        35        60.0        0.29        1.64        1.43        0.36        1.00        0.07        18        9.4        0       
SF        Nick Anderson                Clippers        13        29.0        92        159        57.9        32        46        69.6        0        5        0.0        1.46        5.92        1.85        1.62        2.23        1.00        28        16.6        0       
SF        Jamal Mashburn                Clippers        14        13.9        39        82        47.6        13        17        76.5        5        20        25.0        0.43        1.57        1.29        0.50        1.07        0.07        20        6.9        0       
PF        Derrick Coleman                Clippers        14        33.3        84        165        50.9        40        62        64.5        2        6        33.3        3.00        9.71        1.50        1.50        2.00        0.93        46        15.0        0       
PF        Shawn Kemp                Clippers        14        7.5        20        32        62.5        25        33        75.8        0        0        0.0        1.21        3.43        0.21        0.14        0.36        0.50        15        4.6        0       
C        Shaquille O'Neal        Clippers        14        34.8        111        171        64.9        51        79        64.6        0        1        0.0        3.57        12.07        1.21        1.07        3.21        3.29        42        19.5        0       
C        Dikembe Mutombo                Clippers        14        13.6        42        65        64.6        10        14        71.4        0        0        0.0        1.79        4.93        0.36        0.14        1.36        1.14        23        6.7        0       
SF        Paul Graham                Clippers        14        7.1        18        36        50.0        8        11        72.7        0        3        0.0        0.21        0.93        0.64        0.71        0.21        0.07        11        3.1        0       
PF        Buck Williams                Clippers        14        5.0        8        18        44.4        3        6        50.0        0        0        0.0        0.43        1.57        0.14        0.14        0.21        0        6        1.4        0       
SG        Mario Elie                Clippers        1        17.0        0        2        0.0        1        2        50.0        0        0        0.0        1.00        4.00        0        0        3.00        0        2        1.0        0       
        Clippers                -                14        -        660        1293        51.0        254        351        72.4        29        85        34.1        15.57        53.07        24.79        11.57        16.29        7.93        303        114.5        0       
        Clippers opponents        -                14        -        595        1311        45.4        267        339        78.8        28        91        30.8        16.71        50.00        22.50        9.79        16.64        5.57        323        106.1        0

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Jan. 1, 1994

We're sitting with the #2 record in the Western Conference, sporting an 18-7 clip, while the Blazers lead the league with a record of 24-8. Kendall Gill has shown that not only can he shoot the ball inside, but he's a damn good passer too. Dennis Scott seems to have adjusted well, coming off the bench for us this season. Shaquille O'neal's inside game is cutting into Derrick Coleman's production, but we feel that O'neal's development into a marquee player can't be far away.

In trades, the Washington Bullets trade 33 year old PG Darrell Walker and their 1994 2nd round pick to the Los Angeles Lakers for bench players Glen Rice, Lindsey Hunter, SG Jimmy Oliver, SG Melvin Newbern and the Lakers 1994 2nd round pick. The Jazz send 34-year old bC Mark West to the Nuggets for 36 year old bC Herb Williams.

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po        name                        Team                g        min        fgm        fga        fgp        ftm        fta        ftp        tgm        tga        tgp        orb        reb        ast        stl        to        blk        pf        ppg        inj       
PG        Terrell Brandon                Clippers        25        29.1        131        332        39.5        46        50        92.0        1        16        6.3        0.56        2.80        6.52        2.32        1.56        0.36        43        12.4        0       
PG        Muggsy Bogues                Clippers        25        16.8        58        129        45.0        20        23        87.0        0        6        0.0        0.64        1.76        5.32        1.52        1.16        0        37        5.4        0       
SG        Kendall Gill                Clippers        25        28.9        178        357        49.9        43        47        91.5        1        9        11.1        1.48        3.36        4.24        1.96        1.80        0.60        75        16.0        0       
SG        Dennis Scott                Clippers        25        17.9        86        182        47.3        20        31        64.5        30        61        49.2        0.32        1.76        1.36        0.56        1.08        0.04        31        8.9        0       
SF        Nick Anderson                Clippers        24        29.9        183        317        57.7        63        89        70.8        1        11        9.1        1.58        5.88        2.17        1.46        2.08        0.79        48        17.9        0       
SF        Jamal Mashburn                Clippers        25        13.0        62        128        48.4        31        45        68.9        6        25        24.0        0.56        1.68        1.20        0.48        0.84        0.04        38        6.4        0       
PF        Derrick Coleman                Clippers        25        32.9        142        294        48.3        66        102        64.7        4        12        33.3        2.80        9.28        1.56        1.60        1.72        1.12        83        14.2        0       
PF        Shawn Kemp                Clippers        25        7.8        31        60        51.7        37        49        75.5        0        0        0.0        1.12        3.04        0.32        0.24        0.48        0.56        27        4.0        0       
C        Shaquille O'Neal        Clippers        25        33.5        202        309        65.4        91        140        65.0        0        1        0.0        3.68        11.44        1.40        0.96        2.88        3.12        77        19.8        0       
C        Dikembe Mutombo                Clippers        25        13.5        65        108        60.2        19        28        67.9        0        1        0.0        1.36        4.84        0.56        0.24        1.28        1.04        46        6.0        0       
SF        Paul Graham                Clippers        25        6.8        33        65        50.8        11        17        64.7        4        8        50.0        0.24        0.96        0.68        0.64        0.24        0.12        15        3.2        0       
PF        Buck Williams                Clippers        25        6.5        25        46        54.3        7        13        53.8        0        0        0.0        0.56        1.96        0.20        0.16        0.40        0.04        20        2.3        0       
SG        Mario Elie                Clippers        1        17.0        0        2        0.0        1        2        50.0        0        0        0.0        1.00        4.00        0        0        3.00        0        2        1.0        0       
        Clippers                -                25        -        1196        2329        51.4        455        636        71.5        47        150        31.3        15.80        51.84        25.44        12.08        15.56        7.80        542        115.8        0       
        Clippers opponents        -                25        -        1064        2298        46.3        473        588        80.4        50        162        30.9        16.12        49.52        23.20        9.24        18.08        6.00        581        106.0        0

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Feb. 1, 1994

The Clippers continue their mean streak, and are now 34-12, just one game away from the 34-10 Portland Traiblazers for the lead of the Western Conference.

We are at $63 million salary. Just about the league average. The League Salary Cap is 35.5 Million. Which means almost every team in the league is abusing the soft cap. The highest paid team in the NBA are the Los Angeles Lakers, who have managed to rack up about $93 Million in salary, of course their freeing up about $60 Million when Magic Johnson, Derek Harper and James Worthy finish their contracts this season. The Milwaukee Bucks and Honolulu Hornets are the only teams below the Cap, with $29 and $20 mil each.

The upcoming free-agency is going to be a doozy, with a ton of big names going to be up for grabs. We're going to be ten million over the cap next season, so unfortunately, we won't be able to ride that feeding frenzy.

We expect to make the Conference Finals this season, and perhaps go on to the Finals and win the title. That would be a difficult task to accomplish, however. The Clippers are the most inexperienced team in the NBA, with a collective experience of 4.9 years. In contrast, the Lakers are the most experienced team with an average of 7.6. We are also the youngest team in the league, at 26.9, the Celtics and Blazers are the olders with 30.0. I think that this youth movement that we've been building the past five seasons is going to pay off eventually... but we need to secure our future.

There are rumours flying that the ownership will only allow me a limited amount of slush funds to resign players for next season. I'll be fighting hard to try and get as much leeway as possible.

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po        name                        Team                g        min        fgm        fga        fgp        ftm        fta        ftp        tgm        tga        tgp        orb        reb        ast        stl        to        blk        pf        ppg        inj       
PG        Terrell Brandon                Clippers        46        28.7        227        592        38.3        79        89        88.8        2        32        6.3        0.70        3.04        6.11        2.46        1.72        0.37        90        11.6        0       
PG        Muggsy Bogues                Clippers        46        17.2        90        216        41.7        38        47        80.9        1        11        9.1        0.54        1.59        6.07        1.57        1.20        0        75        4.8        0       
SG        Kendall Gill                Clippers        46        28.8        331        659        50.2        98        115        85.2        2        13        15.4        1.41        3.83        4.09        2.07        1.93        0.59        140        16.6        0       
SG        Dennis Scott                Clippers        46        18.0        160        344        46.5        33        46        71.7        64        122        52.5        0.22        1.50        1.00        0.52        1.00        0.15        60        9.1        0       
SF        Nick Anderson                Clippers        45        30.2        334        604        55.3        125        181        69.1        1        18        5.6        1.73        6.02        1.89        1.53        2.02        0.91        75        17.6        0       
SF        Jamal Mashburn                Clippers        46        12.5        112        232        48.3        55        83        66.3        8        37        21.6        0.50        1.63        1.22        0.50        0.98        0.04        63        6.2        0       
PF        Derrick Coleman                Clippers        46        32.8        266        543        49.0        155        216        71.8        9        22        40.9        3.15        9.93        1.63        1.30        1.87        1.24        143        15.1        0       
PF        Shawn Kemp                Clippers        46        7.4        59        110        53.6        53        65        81.5        0        0        0.0        0.91        2.48        0.28        0.22        0.59        0.50        54        3.7        0       
C        Shaquille O'Neal        Clippers        46        32.4        344        543        63.4        170        273        62.3        1        3        33.3        3.30        10.76        1.48        0.91        2.46        2.59        143        18.7        0       
C        Dikembe Mutombo                Clippers        46        13.8        119        210        56.7        58        81        71.6        0        2        0.0        1.80        5.33        0.72        0.22        1.26        1.15        72        6.4        0       
SF        Paul Graham                Clippers        46        6.3        44        104        42.3        17        25        68.0        5        13        38.5        0.24        0.85        0.72        0.63        0.22        0.07        30        2.4        0       
PF        Buck Williams                Clippers        46        7.5        56        97        57.7        25        37        67.6        0        0        0.0        0.63        2.35        0.13        0.22        0.39        0.02        36        3.0        0       
SG        Mario Elie                Clippers        1        17.0        0        2        0.0        1        2        50.0        0        0        0.0        1.00        4.00        0        0        3.00        0        2        1.0        0       
        Clippers                -                46        -        2142        4256        50.3        907        1260        72.0        93        273        34.1        15.93        52.59        25.28        12.11        15.65        7.61        983        114.9        0       
        Clippers opponents        -                46        -        1957        4271        45.8        863        1077        80.1        88        289        30.4        16.46        50.67        24.09        9.54        17.72        6.20        1067        105.8        0

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Mar. 1, 1994

In the All Star Break, the West beat the East, 118-107, and Shaq makes his 2nd All-Star game appearance. He is also part of the Rookie-Sophomore game. The Sophomores beat the Rookies 120-108.

We slip a bit in the month of February, and are now 43-19, 2.5 games away from the 43-14 Blazers. The Blazers are simply unstoppable right now... Mullin, Drexler and David Robinson (resigned to a max contract when his $4.5 contract ended last season) are proving to be too much for most teams to handle in the NBA.

We're basically assured of a playoff run, but at this rate, we're going to be the #3 seed, since we're in the same division as the Blazers.

Apr. 1, 1994

We are 51-22, still with the 2nd best record in the Western Conference, still behind the Portland Trailblazers, who are at 54-17. We are just about the only two legitimate contenders from the West, while everyone else is a middle-of-the-road team. An inevitable Clipper-Blazer conference final series is already being talked about, with the playoffs looming.

Apr. 26, 1994

April is not kind to us, as we go 3-6 during our last 9 games. That's not the kind of momentum we want headed into the Playoffs, and we had better shape up or we might find ourselves taking an early summer vacation.

Clippers Season Stats:

1994 NBA PLAYOFFS PREVIEW

Eastern Conference Standings: (* denotes Division Winner, Playoff teams are in bold)

Western Conference Standings: (* denotes Division Winner, Playoff teams are in bold)

1ST ROUND MATCH-UPS:

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

#1 New York Knicks (64-18) vs. #8 Honolulu Hornets (38-44)
Knicks Key Player: PF John S. Williams - 20 ppg, 8 rpg, 5 apg
Hornets Key Player: PF Chris Webber - 17 ppg, 10 rpg, 3 apg

#4 Washington Bullets (54-28) vs. #5 Indiana Pacers (51-31)
Bullets Key Player: SF Sean Elliot - 20 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 apg
Pacers Key Player: SG Reggie Miller - 17 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 apg

#2 Milwaukee Bucks (52-30) vs. #7 Boston Celtics (38-44)
Bucks Key Player: PF Larry Johnson - 17 ppg, 12 rpg, 4 apg
Celtics Key Player: SG Latrell Sprewell - 14 ppg, 4 rpg, 4 apg

#3 Philadelphia 76ers (58-24) vs. #6 Cleveland Cavaliers (38-44)
76ers Key Player: C Hakeem Olajuwon - 18 ppg, 12 rpg, 2 spg, 3 bpg
Cavaliers Key Player: SG Ron Harper - 19 ppg, 4 rpg, 4 apg

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

#1 Portland Trailblazers (65-17) vs. #8 Seattle SuperSonics (35-47)
Trailblazers Key Player: SF Chris Mullin - 25 ppg, 4 rpg, 4 apg
SuperSonics Key Player: C Sean Rooks - 17 ppg, 10 rpg

#4 Los Angeles Lakers (51-31) vs. #5 Utah Jazz (42-40)
Lakers Key Player: C Brad Daugherty - 24 ppg, 10 rpg, 4 apg
Jazz Key Player: PF Karl Malone - 21 ppg, 9 rpg, 3 apg

#2 Miami Heat (46-36) vs. #7 Dallas Mavericks (37-45)
Heat Key Player: PG Tim Hardaway - 16 ppg, 4 rpg, 9 apg
Mavericks Key Player: SF Ken Norman - 20 ppg, 7 rpg, 3 apg

#3 Los Angeles Clippers (54-28) vs. #6 San Antonio Spurs (40-42)
Clippers Key Player: C Shaquille O'neal - 18 ppg, 11 rpg, 3 bpg
Spurs Key Player: SG Willie Anderson - 25 ppg, 6 rpg, 6 apg

1994 NBA PLAYOFFS

FIRST ROUND RESULTS:

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

#1 New York Knicks (64-18) vs. #8 Honolulu Hornets (38-44)
Result: Knicks sweep 3-0
The New York Knicks finish out the Hornets by sweeping them in three games. John S. Williams continues to prove that he is MVP material.

#4 Washington Bullets (54-28) vs. #5 Indiana Pacers (51-31)
Result: Bullets win 3-2
The Pacers take the resurgent Bullets to five games. The Bullers pull off a convincing win in game 5 111-93 as Sean Elliot scores 32 points to seal the deal and move them to the 2nd round.

#2 Milwaukee Bucks (52-30) vs. #7 Boston Celtics (38-44)
Result: Bucks win 3-2
Larry Johnson leads the Bucks out of the first round by beating the Celtics in five games. The Bucks also have 3-time Champ Michael Adams playing for them.

#3 Philadelphia 76ers (58-24) vs. #6 Cleveland Cavaliers (38-44)
Result: Cavaliers sweep 3-0
Ron Harper led the Cavs to an improbable 108-107 win against the powerhouse 76ers in Game 1. they then win the next two games and upset the heavily favored 76ers to advance into the 2nd round.

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

#1 Portland Trailblazers (65-17) vs. #8 Seattle SuperSonics (35-47)
Result: Blazers sweep 3-0
In a rematch of last season's Conference Finalists, the Trailblazers continue their path of destruction and obliterate the Sonics' and their hopes of a repeat. Robinson, Mullin and Drexler look poised to take the NBA Title this season.

#4 Los Angeles Lakers (51-31) vs. #5 Utah Jazz (42-40)
Result: Lakers sweep 3-0
The Lakers defeat the Jazz, who also have former Clippers Charles D. Smith (averaging 20 ppg for the season) and Tom Garrick in their line-up. Malone and company could not find the rhythm, as Magic and Daugherty sweep them out of the first round.

#2 Miami Heat (46-36) vs. #7 Dallas Mavericks (37-45)
Result: Mavericks win 3-1
The Mavericks, led by former Clipper, Ken Norman, defeat Tim Hardaway's Heat in four games. Norman is averaging 21 ppg for the playoffs.

#3 Los Angeles Clippers (54-28) vs. #6 San Antonio Spurs (40-42)
Result: Clippers win 3-1
The Spurs' Willie Anderson, the NBA's next big thing, tried to carry his team on his back, but fell short as we send them a flurry of offensive weapons. Shaq only averaged 14 ppg, but Derrick Coleman and Kendall Gill pick up the slack averaging almost 20 ppg each.

~

2ND ROUND PREVIEW:
(* player stats are playoff)

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

#1 New York Knicks (64-18) vs. #4 Washington Bullets (54-28)
Knicks Key Player: PF John S. Williams - 20 ppg, 10 rpg, 4 apg, 4 spg
Bullets Key Player: SF Sean Elliot - 24 ppg, 7 rpg, 2 apg

#2 Milwaukee Bucks (52-30) vs. #6 Cleveland Cavaliers (38-44)
Bucks Key Player: PF Larry Johnson - 16 ppg, 14 rpg, 4 apg
Cavaliers Key Player: SG Ron Harper - 22 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 apg

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

#1 Portland Trailblazers (65-17) vs. #4 Los Angeles Lakers (51-31)
Blazers Key Player: SF Chris Mullin - 26 ppg, 3 rpg, 4 apg, 3 spg
Lakers Key Player: PG Magic Johnson - 25 ppg, 4 rpg, 10 apg

#3 Los Angeles Clippers (54-28) vs. #7 Dallas Mavericks (37-45)
Clippers Key Player: PF Derrick Coleman - 21 ppg, 9 rpg, 2.5 bpg
Mavericks Key Player: SF Ken Norman - 21 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 apg

1994 NBA PLAYOFFS

2ND ROUND

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

#1 New York Knicks (64-18) vs. #4 Washington Bullets (54-28)
Result: Knicks win 4-2
'Zo and Sean Elliot are outmatched by John S. Williams and Lionel Simmons, both averaging 20 ppg for the playoffs. The Knicks are riding the tough play of their two-PG back-court of Rod Strickland and Mark Jackson.

#2 Milwaukee Bucks (52-30) vs. #6 Cleveland Cavaliers (38-44)
Result: Bucks sweep 4-0
Larry Johnson, along with help from Rex Chapman and Michael Adams, sweep the hapless Cavaliers in four games.

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

#1 Portland Trailblazers (65-17) vs. #4 Los Angeles Lakers (51-31)
Result: Blazers sweep 4-0
The Trailblazers destroy the Lakers in four games. Chris Mullin is having the playoff run of his life, leading this strong Blazer team to the Conference Finals

#3 Los Angeles Clippers (54-28) vs. #7 Dallas Mavericks (37-45)
Result: Clippers win 4-1
Derrick Coleman continues to lead the team during the postseason. He takes us over Ken Norman and the Mavericks in five games. Shaq is finally showing up to play, upping his scoring averaged to 16 ppg for the playoffs.

CONFERENCE FINALS PREVIEW:
(* player stats are for playoffs)

Eastern Conference Finals:
#1 New York Knicks (64-18) vs. #2 Milwaukee Bucks (52-30)
Knicks Key Player: PF John S. Williams - 21 ppg, 10 rpg, 5 apg
Bucks Key Player: PF Larry Johnson - 16 ppg, 16 rpg, 4 apg

Western Conference Finals:
#1 Portland Trailblazers (65-17) vs. #3 Los Angeles Clippers (54-28)
Blazers Key Player: SF Chris Mullin - 23 ppg, 4 rpg, 4 apg, 3 spg
Clippers Key Player: PF Derrick Coleman - 21 ppg, 11 rpg, 2 bpg

1994 NBA PLAYOFFS

CONFERENCE FINALS:

Eastern Conference Finals:
#1 New York Knicks (64-18) vs. #2 Milwaukee Bucks (52-30)
Result: Knicks win series, 4-1
Game 1: Knicks 114 - Bucks 108
Game 2: Knicks 101 - Bucks 97
Game 3: Bucks 117 - Knicks 110
Game 4: Bucks 105 - Knicks 107
Game 5: Knicks 101 - Bucks 94

Western Conference Finals:
#1 Portland Trailblazers (65-17) vs. #3 Los Angeles Clippers (54-28)
Result: Series tied 2-2
Game 1: Blazers 107 - Clippers 103
Game 2: Blazers 114 - Clippers 95
Game 3: Clippers 120 - Blazers 115
Game 4: Clippers 96 - Blazers 92

Earlier tonight, the Knicks wrapped up their series with the Bucks. They were now waiting for the winner of the Western Conference series. Only a few minutes away from game time, we need to win this one in Portland, if we're to give ourselves a solid chance of making the NBA Finals.

1994 NBA PLAYOFFS

Portland Trailblazers vs. Los Angeles Clippers, Series tied 2-2
Game 5, @ Portland

Last two minutes. I stood unconfortably like the 21,000 strong here in Portland. Not a single soul was sitting down, as this game came down the wire.

The Blazers started strong, jumping out to a ten point lead for almost the entire game, but now, here in the fourth, we have been able to cut that deficit down to 3. I looked up the scoreboard, 105-102, the Blazers in front.

When the announcer belted out the announcement for the last two minutes, everyone here went crazy. These Portland fans was their Blazers to win... and so would I, had I lost two consecutive games like they did. My boys were amazing, and managed to tie the series 2-2 after losing the first two games.

Terrell Brandon has the ball. He measures the situation, and then attacks the basket. Terry Porter could do nothing, he had five fouls and another one would cost him the game. Brandon stopped on a dime, just above the free throw line and hit a mid-range jumper. 105-104.

The Blazers set up, and go to Mullin, their most effective scorer tonight, he's already got 26. Mullin takes it strong to the hole, but Shaquille O'neal bothers him enough for him to miss. Shaq grabs the board and outlets to a streaking Dennis Scott. Scott stops and passes to Brandon. The ball swing around one more time and back into Scott's hands who shoots a mid-range jumper that's just short. Blazers with the board.1:17 left.

Mullin botches a three-point attempt, and Mashburn rebounds the ball. Nick Anderson and Kendall Gill both have fouled out of this one... and we're relying on Scott and Mashburn to pull us through. The Clippers set, and Brandon decides to attack Porter again. Porter tries his best to bother Brandon's jump shot, but he nails it! 0:50 left! Clippers up 106-105!!! The crowd is dead silent.

The Blazers work on the ball. Mullin goes to shoot, and he misses. Rebounded by David Robinson! Robinson outlets to Porter who wants to run the clock down. The ball goes into Mullin's hands. Mullin drives, and three Clippers surround him. I could see the next move unfold before my eyes... I watch in horror as Mullin drops the ball into the hands of a wide-open Kurt Rambis, who calmly lays the ball in. The crowd explodes. 107-106 0:23 left. The Clippers have a chance to win it here.

Brandon brings the ball up-court. He sets things up. The ball goes inside to Shaq, who is immediately double-teamed. Shaq out to DC, who can't get past Mullin and Drexler. DC finally finds Dennis Scott at the three-point line. Scott grabs the ball. He's got Porter running at him. Scott sets... he shoots... and the ball bounces off the rim! Rebound by Rambis! The buzzer sounds! The fans explode... and I slump down on my chair.

I look back at the scoreboard. 107-106, Blazers. We were now down 3-2. We had to win Game 6 to at least keep our asses in the run for the Finals.

1994 NBA PLAYOFFS

The Portland Trailblazers, hot off their win in Game 5, finished us off in Game 6. The boys were exhausted, and we were too inexperienced to go head to head against the veterans of Portland. We played catch-up the entire game, and managed to make the score repectable. We dropped Game 6 in Los Angeles, 121-117. The score might look close, but we closed out the game with a 7-0 rally, only to fall short. Our season ended on a sour note, but hopefully, we'll be back next year all the wiser.

NBA FINALS:

#1 New York Knicks (64-18) vs. #1 Portland Trailblazers (65-17)
Result: Knicks win 4-2
Game 1: Knicks 90 @ Blazers 121
Game 2: Knicks 106 @ Blazers 110
Game 3: Blazers 102 @ Knicks 118
Game 4: Blazers 118 @ Knicks 131
Game 5: Blazers 108 @ Knicks 119
Game 6: Knicks 108 @ Blazers 99

John S. Williams, Lionel Simmons and Mark Jackson lead the Knicks to the NBA Title. After a 31 point blow-out loss in Game 1, and a close loss in Game 2, the Knicks take full advantage of their three consecutive home games and go up 3-2. They do not let the Blazers force a deciding 7th game, as they finish off the title hopes of Mullin, Drexler and Robinson in Game 6. The Knicks finally win the title, year after year of making it to the Eastern Conference Finals.

1994 SEASON END

Awards:

MVP: John S. Williams, Knicks
DPOY: Hakeem Olajuwon, 76ers
ROY: Chris Webber, Hornets
6th Man: Kenny Smith, Kings

All League 1st Team:

*Note: Michael Jordan only played 55 games for the season, putting him almost out of the running for all the All League Team awards.

John Stockton, Jazz
Willie Anderson, Spurs
Sean Elliot, Bullets
John S. Williams, Knicks
Brad Daugherty, Lakers

All League 2nd Team:
Magic Johnson, Lakers
Ron Harper, Cavaliers
Chris Mullin, Blazers
Charles Barkley, 76ers
David Robinson, Blazers

All Defensive Team:
Mookie Blaylock, Hawks
Michael Jordan, Bulls
Scottie Pippen, Bulls
John S. Williams, Knicks
Hakkem Olajuwon, 76ers

All Rookie Team:
Penny Hardaway, Kings
Isiah Rider, Rockets
Harold Ellis, Bucks
Chris Webber, Hornets
Gheorge Muresan, Mavericks

1994 OFFSEASON

Staff Changes:

We retain our staff and feel that they have been an important part in building this Clipper team.

Draft:

There are several head-turners in this year's draft. It is headlined by 4 solid players. SF Grant Hill, SG Eddie Jones, SF Glenn Robinson and PG Jason Kidd.

The draft lottery is won by the Honolulu Hornets, the Pistons jump from #8 to #2, while the Nets grab #3. The ever-lotto team Orange County Kings are #4.

With 1994 ROY Chris Webber on the team, the Hornets decide to pick up SG Eddie Jones as the #1 pick of the draft. The Hornets fill a roster spot that was sorely in need of talent. The Detroit Pistons, with ageing PG/SG combo Isaiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, select a young vibrant SF in Grant Hill at #2. Hill will be paired up with former Clipper Danny Manning and tasked to return the Pistons back to playoff form. The Nets, sorely lacking a PF, decides to take the best player on the board and select SF Glenn Robinson, instead of promising PF Juwan Howard. Robinson will be fighting for playing time with Chris Morris, who averaged 18 ppg for the Nets last season. The Kings select PG Jason Kidd as the #4 pick. Kidd will now be playing alongside Penny Hardaway and Christian Laettner in the Orange County youth movement. Of course, there is speculation wether Kidd and Hardaway will be able to co-exist with each other.

For the #21 selection, we pick C Eric Mobley, a workhorse big man who will be our insurance against Dikembe Mutombo leaving us this season. In the 2nd round, we select C Zan Tabak, who will probably get cut come training camp.

Free Agency Preview:

Clippers Free Agents:
C - Dikembe Mutombo
PG - Terrell Brandon
PG - Mugsy Bogues
PF - Shawn Kemp
SF - Paul Graham
PF - Buck Williams
SG - Mario Elie
C - Ralph Sampson

We are 11 million over the salary cap of $35 mil, at $46.9 Million. However, the board of directors have given me the go signal to be able to spend enough money to resign everyone. A cap limit of about $110 million. We made a profit of $40 million last season, and they have the impression that we can only earn more this year.

Mutombo and Mugsy Bogues are asking for 3-year contracts, contracts that we are more likely to approve of than the 7-year max that Terrell Brandon is asking for. Considering that Brandon only averaged 10 ppg last season, he is most likely not going to be returning to Clipperland if he retains his asking price.

It is also worthy of note that Mutombo is currently 'disgruntled' with regards to his playing time... so I'm not sure how that will play out in the upcoming FA. Hopefully, the lure of big bucks and a title will be able to sway him to see things my way.