Thursday's NBA trade deadline was one of the busiest in recent memory. Several key names were moved -- Goran Dragic, Michael Carter-Williams, Brandon Knight, Reggie Jackson and Arron Afflalo, among them -- and half of the West's contenders made some attempt at boosting their playoff odds and/or positioning.
But not the Los Angeles Clippers.
As two primary competitors, the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets, made trades to bolster their fragile wing depth -- the Blazers acquired Afflalo and Alonzo Gee, while the Rockets traded for standout rookie K.J. McDaniels -- the Clippers, with limited trade assets and slim pickings on the market, stood pat and failed to address their glaring wing weakness.
That isn't to say they didn't try to, as we'll never know what was going on behind the scenes up until the the clock struck 12 p.m. PT. Any move would've required trading Jamal Crawford -- an integral part of the offense and bench -- which wouldn't have necessarily improved the team, anyway.
The non-move paid off, at least temporarily.
After addressing the trade rumors during an emotional pre-game talk with the local media, Crawford (26 points) proved his worth yet again, connecting on a clutch corner 3-pointer with 32 seconds left.
The Clips, still without Blake Griffin for the foreseeable future, eked out a 119-115 victory over the San Antonio Spurs that wasn't as exciting as it sounded.
The game lasted nearly three hours (2 hours and 47 minutes, to be exact) because the Spurs decided to intentionally foul DeAndre Jordan in the first, third and fourth quarters, sending Jordan to the charity stripe 28 times (he made only 10). It was painful to watch, and unnecessarily dragged the game out.
"It is a rule," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "I hate it. I hate doing it. But it's a rule. Free throws are a part of the game. It is a whole lot better than chasing Chris Paul around all day."
RECAP: Clippers hang on to beat Spurs 119-115 in tight 4th quarter
Tim Duncan added: "It's part of basketball. Unless it gets outlawed, it's part of basketball."
Whatever.
Jordan still found a way to alter the complexion of the game, finishing with 26 points and 18 rebounds. Chris Paul was just as effective, claiming 22 points and 16 assists, and nailed a 16-foot jumper with 8 seconds remaining to seal the game for the Clips (36-19).
Here are five takeaways from Thursday's game:
Life without Blake
The Clippers' tenure without Blake Griffin started roughly in Oklahoma City, but they've bounced back with three impressive wins against Western contenders. Just like last year, it seems as if the team is finding itself in the absence of one of its superstars. Jamal Crawford (22.3 points per game), DeAndre Jordan (20.0 PPG), Chris Paul (19.3 PPG), and J.J. Redick (16.7 PPG) have each stepped up incrementally, and the team is getting by by shortening it's already shallow rotation. They probably can't keep up a .750 winning percentage without Griffin, but the early returns are encouraging.
DeAndre The Giant
With Griffin out of the lineup, Jordan has morphed into even more of a monster, posting three consecutive 18-plus rebound games. Jordan has voiced his displeasure with not being named an All-Star, and is clearly taking his anger out on his helpless opponents. See: Belinelli, Marco. It hasn't been all peaches and cream, though. Teams have gone back to Hack-A-DJ over the last couple games, and it got especially ugly against the Spurs. Jordan is 22-of-54 (40.7 percent) from the free throw line in the last two games. It's been frustrating to watch as a spectator, and I have a feeling the effective strategy -- it halts the Clippers' offensive flow, and often shifts the game's momentum -- is only going to continue.
Crawford still with Clippers as trade deadline passes
Help on the horizon?
There is incessant speculation around buyout season, and it seems as if the Clippers signing Kendrick Perkins is a realistic rumor. Chicago and Cleveland have reportedly entered the race, too, and there is much debate over how much he can even provide a team (hint: not much). Still, it's apparent that the Clips can't get by with the current Davis-Hawes pairing. Perkins can theoretically help inside defensively, even though his reputation precedes his production nowadays. There are other buyout options -- JaVale McGee, Thomas Robinson, Nate Robinson -- that are just as effective as Perkins, if not more, but they lack the familiarity Perkins has with Rivers (something Rivers clearly values in free agents).
Big Baby gon' turn it up
Glen "Big Baby" Davis feeds off the energy of the Staples Center crowd -- no pun intended. He plays better at home, posting a better shooting percentage (50.0 vs. 43.1 on the road), more rebounds (2.6 vs. 1.4), and a better plus-minus (+1.8 vs. -2.7). Davis energizes fans with his all-out hustle and demonstrative celebrations, and the impact isn't lost on his team. "Glen played an important role," Rivers said. "Disregarding points, he came in the game with great defense, rebounding, toughness and energy. He was huge for us tonight."
Measuring up
The race for the final eight Western playoff spots is in full force at this point in the season. The Clippers (36-19) are currently projecting to finish in the five-to-seven range, but that can change, for better or worse, depending on how well they can stay afloat without Griffin. Excluding Golden State, Oklahoma City and Memphis, the Clippers have outplayed the rest of their West opponents in head-to-head matchups. It doesn't help that the Clips didn't make a move at the deadline; however, they've showed with their recent play that they can still compete with anybody, and they'll have to use that confidence heading into late April.
