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Raja Bell and Daniel Ewing: Proof that The Clippers Are Cursed?
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by Jon Azpiri | June 24, 2009 at 11:40 am
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ESPN columnist Bill Simmons recently wrote an open letter to soon-to-be Los Angeles Clipper Blake Griffin. The piece was intended to warn Griffin about the team that is about to draft him with the #1 overall pick in the 2009.
In the lengthy 6,000-word essay, The Sports Guy outlines more than three decades of Clipper incompetence. While there is plenty of blame to go around--most of it should fall on ultra-creepy owner Donald Sterling--Simmons put much of the onus on current Clippers head coach and GM Mike Dunleavy.
Within a year, Brand and Cassell are leading the Clippers to 47 wins and a playoff berth; the Clippers whup Denver to win their first playoff series in 31 years; and they end up blowing the Phoenix series in Round 2 thanks to Dunleavy (just Google "Raja Bell" and "Daniel Ewing").
For those of you who found this post by googling "Raja Bell" and "Daniel Ewing," here's what Simmons was talking about.
During the 2005 Western Conference semi-final between the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns, Raja Bell helped the Suns win Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals by hitting a huge 3-pointer in overtime over Ewing. Why Dunleavy decided to have an inexperienced guard like Ewing on the floor during such a crucial game situation is something that most basketball fans--Simmons included--will never understand.
The Game 5 win changed the complexion of the series and the Suns went on to dispose of the Clips in six games.
Things haven't gone well for Ewing since then. After being waived by the Clippers in 2007, Ewing has played professionally in Poland, most recently for Asseco Prokom Sopot.
Daniel Ewing is no relation to NBA legend Patrick Ewing, who--as regular Bill Simmons readers will tell you--is the inspiration for the Ewing Theory.
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Jon Azpiri
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (9)
at 14:56 on June 24th, 2009
I don't get it. pretty good D to me.
at 15:52 on June 24th, 2009
Yeah, gotta agree, That was just raja being clutch
at 20:57 on June 24th, 2009
Daniel Ewing IS Patrick Ewing's son...
at 21:16 on June 24th, 2009
According to Daniel Ewing's Wikipedia entry, his full name is George Daniel Ewing, Jr., which would imply that his father is named George Daniel Ewing. Patrick Ewing's son Patrick Ewing Jr. has played in the NBA.
at 07:45 on June 25th, 2009
Its bad defense because you have to foul in that situation and not give up a three point shot. You send them to the line to shoot two because they are in the penalty and that way they can only get the two points possession unless they gamble and try to miss the second free throw to get another possession.
at 19:07 on June 26th, 2009
He just stood there with his hands in the air. you need to contest that shot, or foul before he can get it off, or SOMETHING.
at 09:08 on June 27th, 2009
that's exactly why they cursed, because Raja Bell actually HIT that shot with what looked to be mediocre defense at best (In my opinion you at least have to jump straight up to give him something to shoot over, that's just as good as an uncontested shot the way D. Ewing stays planted).
All the more reason why Simmons just may be right on this whole curse thing, hopefully Blake changes something that just seems bigger than him, but I hope he started running already.
Don't look back Blake
at 23:21 on June 29th, 2009
That was just raja being clutch.
at 13:11 on August 3rd, 2009
Pretty good defense - actually. Being a rookie, if he had been any more aggressive, he would have been called for a foul and three free throws, and then everyone would have been slamming him for it. He did a decent job of being really close to him - Raja just got little lucky, as he is known to be more of a spot-up shooter.