First Take: Clippers Media Day
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Our very own Gina Miller attended Clippers Media Day on Friday, covering DeAndre Jordan's first game vs. the Mavericks, Doc Rivers' emphasis on defense, JJ Redick's career as an ordained minister and even the food at the event.
Written By: CBS2 / KCAL9 Sports Anchor/Reporter Gina Miller
Click Here to View all the photos from the 2015 Clippers Media Day.
DeAndre Jordan On Playing in Dallas
DeAndre Jordan says that the first road game against the Mavericks on Nov. 11 in Dallas will be "like any other road game."
I'm dubious.
I can tell you this, with authority: the Mavericks will be planning something special for Jordan after he first committed to join the Mavericks this offseason before deciding to re-sign with LA. They will make some sort of video to pump up the American Airlines Center crowd. The sports talk shows and Mavericks practice reports in the days leading up to that game will focus on Jordan coming to Dallas and how he will be received.
One can make the case that the Mavs, Clippers and media should just get over it. That won't happen for a while. It's good drama. I get it.
Jordan said what he had to say. If he says anything incendiary or that he's uber-excited about that Mavs game in Dallas, it comes across as bulletin board material. He said the smart thing.
The part of me that understands the human nature of professional athletes thinks Jordan wants nothing more than to decimate the Mavericks in Dallas and drop 20 & 15. Something also tells, he will.
What do you think?
Doc Wants The Clippers To Bring The D
The Clippers gave up 100.1 points per game last year, 16th overall in the NBA. Head Coach Doc Rivers wants to see his team do better this season.
"We have to be a better defensive team. We were a much better defensive team the second half of the year. But at the end of the day, we were still middle of the road," Rivers said.
Rivers believes that if any of the Clippers teams he has coached can improve defensively, it's this one.
"This is clearly the most talent that we have had since I've been here," Rivers admits. "We're deep, multipositional and that was the goal going into this summer."
More coachspeak perhaps? The offseason additions of Paul Pierce, Lance Stephenson, Josh Smith and Wesley Johnson can certainly help. But it's up to the core starters (looking at you, DeAndre) to lead that improvement.
Weddings By Redick
Looking for someone to officiate your wedding? Clippers guard J.J. Redick could be your man. He became an ordained minister this summer to officiate his older sister's wedding.
He joked at Clippers media day Friday that he's open for business and added he's ready to work another one for $150, plus tips.
It's Really All About The Food
I have been to hundreds of media days in my day. I must say, I was quite impressed with the Clippers Media Day refreshments. From pistachio, cereal and bacon-covered chocolate donuts (alas, neither I had the chance to sample) to afternoon Chik-Fil-A, the spread was, pardon the pun, a slam dunk.
