Clifford on Lance: "We Played Better Without Him"

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

@rick_bonnell: Clifford on why Stephenson didn't play in 4th: "We played better without him."

Yikes...

[yasuhara2241]

It was a true statement. He doesn't look 100% and did not play well at all in the first half. I was actually wanting Neal and Hendo in for him many times! I can't believe I said that. 

[Chaos]

I know it's only been two games but I'm wondering how he will mesh with the scheme here. He's looked lost and frustrated in both games. Maybe he was better when Paul George was the primary wing scorer, and now it's him and he looks awkward out there. Thoughts?

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

It was a true statement. He doesn't look 100% and did not play well at all in the first half. I was actually wanting Neal and Hendo in for him many times! I can't believe I said that.

Yeah, but it could have been better phrased.

I hope this is just Bonnell paraphrasing.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

He doesn't look completely healthy and fit to me.

Time will tell though.

[Hammerin'Cameron34]

Lol he will be fine..game 2

[teeray]

He is hurt and stI'll trying to find his place.

It always takes a while for everyone to mesh. I am not overly worried about it. If nothing else he rebounds well and gets to loose balls. The rest will fall into place

[TylerDurden]

Just listened to the post game presser, and I have never heard Clifford that pissed off before.  He was extremely short and was audibly irritated. 

 

I could be wrong about Lance, but with how the game ended and then what Clifford just said, I'm putting two and two together here...

 

If I'm not mistaken, Lance and Kemba sat out a good while there in the 4th.  Clifford left Neal in and then put Kemba back in with him, rather than bring Lance in as well.  In the post game presser, Clifford just said, "we can't keep having people out there not knowing the play and playing disorganized basketball.  We can't have people out there having no idea what the play is and not knowing what's going on.  If you have one guy out there playing disorganized it can ruin the whole thing, so we can't have that."

 

That's obviously not verbatim because I don't have a transcript, but that was the gist of it.  He did definitely say "disorganized" and mentioned "if one guy is out there playing disorganized," though.  I'm thinking that was about Lance.  Also, I don't know who else saw early in the game when Neal made a horrible play near the baseline and turned it over, Lance ripped into his ass and was extremely demonstrative yelling at him.  Clifford also made it a point to say Neal played great and did a lot for us tonight.  Perhaps mind games?

[TheMaulClaw]

Yeah, but it could have been better phrased.

I hope this is just Bonnell paraphrasing.

 

No....That's exactly what Clifford said.  I just heard it.

 

"I'm not going to say he's struggling, but right now we're playing better without him."

[SuperJTheGreat]

He played better than Kemba

[SuperJTheGreat]

Neal was hot. We needed scoring had to go with the hot hand

[TheMaulClaw]

It was a true statement. He doesn't look 100% and did not play well at all in the first half. I was actually wanting Neal and Hendo in for him many times! I can't believe I said that. 

 

I really wanted Hairston to get some PT.  We needed some confident shooting.  We might be better without Lance.....it's too early to tell.   Maybe we should trade for Kobe.

[teeray]

Just sending a message.

It is going to take a while for him to mesh in the offense

[TylerDurden]

Pretty disappointing so far...  aside from that huge dunk, he is doing a lot of stupid poo.  And to boot, he was showing up teammates for doing the same poo he was doing (turning the ball over repeatedly).