When Willie Warren plays, that’s when you know the Clippers won.  He finished the game with 2 points and 1 assist in two minutes of playing time.  Per 36 Minutes, that would be 18 points and 9 assists!

Blake’s double double streak has ended while Kevin Love’s double double streak still continues despite the fact that Love had no rebounds in the first half.  Both played a marvelous game and had equal stats.

Boxscore can be found here.

I’m going to love seeing Blake and Love battle each other for the next several years.  Completely contrast of styles but both are efficient and leading a ragtag team of players into something better for the future.  Now we just have to wait for DeMarcus Cousins to start improving before we can have a real Big Man Challenge in the Western Conference.

Eric Gordon hurt his finger during this game but came back during the second half and lit up the Wolves for 18 more points, 23 points total.  I just hope tonight he’ll be good and ready for the Portland Trailblazers.  According to reports, nothing is broken, it’s just a matter of enduring the pain which I am sure Eric Gordon is capable of.  He is a competitor, and I doubt a bit of finger pain is going to stop him from raining shots.

Tonight, I hope Blake Griffin goes wild all over Andre Miller.  Clippers need a road win here to continue on that momentum they have going.  I believe LaMarcus Aldridge is the last big man left for the Blazers since Marcus Camby recently got injured.  They have horrible luck but I’m not going to feel any sympathy until the season series is over.

Go Clippers!

Notes from the game

• Eric Gordon and Baron Davis did not play.  Baron Davis still has some conditioning problems and Clippers have been pretty quiet about Gordon.  All they said was that they pulled him out of practice early to rest.  I think Coach VDN wanted to play the other players more and there’s no big secret injury in play right now.
• Willie Warren also didn’t play and neither did Voskuhl.  I’m pretty sure Voskuhl is cut from the team.  Don’t know the issue about Warren though.
• Portland had a 59% 3point percentage.  They made 16-27 treys with Fernandez leading the team with 5 threes.  Eric Gordon’s perimeter defense was sorely missed in this game and it shows.
• 26 turnovers by the Clippers.  17 of them coming from rookies.  Bledsoe led with 6 TOs and Griffin with 5.  It’s the first game and they’re still developing so I’m not going to worry much about it.  They just need to learn how to take care of the ball more.
• Chris Kaman finished the game with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block.  Not really gaudy numbers but still the best numbers of the roster.
• Blake Griffin finished with 9 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 5 turnovers.  I was expecting something better but this is his first real game since preseason last year so I’m not going to worry much.
• Aminu finished with 1 point, no rebounds, and 4 turnovers.  He also fouled out.  I feel like he is going to be a long project but if everything pans out, it’ll be worth it in the end.
• Brian Cook, the huge disappointing free agent signing of the offseason surprisingly did well.  He had 9 points and did with 80% field goal percentage.  I’m not expecting him to be a huge star or anything, but at least now I’m not that disappointed in the signing.  He could be a good lift off the bench at times.
• If matchups went accordingly, it looked like LaMarcus Aldridge had his way with Blake Griffin.  He finished with 17 points and 7 rebounds.
• 5 players in the Blazers had double digits in points while Clippers only had Chris Kaman.  This is one of those games where a good ball distributor was missed.  For everyone calling for Baron Davis’ head, don’t forget that he is probably the only true point guard we have until Eric Bledsoe develops more.

This is the first game of the preseason and a huge learning experience.  No one should get worried yet.  If things don’t improve in a week or so, then that’s when the panic button should be hit.

Next game is tomorrow at Sacramento against the Kings at 7PM.  Not sure if it is going to be televised.  Should be a treat watching Tyreke Evans faceoff against Blake Griffin.