Clifford on Lance: "We Played Better Without Him"

[Panthro]

Mike Shula is drawing up offensive plays for the Hornets.

[toldozer]

Lance and kemba went 2 for 17 & we only lost by two. What would the score have been last year if kemba andwhoever our third option was (hendo I guess) did that. Especially against a good team. The game Wednesday was a TON of pressure on the guys and they managed to come back and win. We may not hit our stride till after the all star break but this is a top four team in the east.

[Jakob]

I believe what Clifford said was straight forward and is correct. He means we played better without Stephenson tonight, not that we would be better off without him in the future.

[SuperJTheGreat]

His real words....

 

 

But coach Steve Clifford used Gary Neal late in the game. He also seemed to send a message to Stephenson afterwards.

"He just didn't play very well," Clifford said. "I coach to win. I went with the team that played the best. The guys that know what they're doing out there and played the best are the guys that played. The guys that continue to play like that will be the guys that play."

 

[bLACKpANTHER]

Lance and kemba deserve the blame for this loss. Their shooting was just plain bad for this game and opening night. I don't think that will continue through out the season. Shots will start to fall, confidence will grow and team will gel. I'm not worried

[Panthro]

No one attacks the basket or makes cuts. They throw it to Al then there are three guys who stand around and don't do anything....i mean anything.

[Chaos]

Neal hit some shots late but had butterfingers in the first three quarters, he couldn't handle the rock.  Add that in to Zeller's multiple passes after he leaves his feet that get picked off and Roberts throwing a few ill-advised backwards passes too.  Memphis is a great defensive team and the Hornets were careless with the ball last night.

 

We were lucky to keep it close, and for two games in a row we've been garbage in the first half.  This team will need to get off to better starts, and they can't rely on the home crowd for all of their juice.  That first game was a unique situation and the atmosphere likely won't be matched that often.

[L-TownCat]

Sounds like Cliff is establishing his top-dawg status. Lance might be one of those "make me respect you" types. If so no worries. It won't take long for Clifford to dictate the manner of this experiment.

As an aside, it seems I remember Big Al struggling with injuries to start his tenure here.

[Panthers Fanatic]

I hope Coach's words inspire Lance and he goes off tonight in NY! I still think it's early though, and it will take a little while for this team to really start firing on all cylinders, i.e. Big Al last year.

[MCC]

Clifford just tells it like it is. There will only be real drama if Lance continues to suck, which I doubt.

[cbarrier90]

Clifford just tells it like it is. There will only be real drama if Lance continues to suck, which I doubt.

At a time when "we will get things right" is all we hear after losses Clifford's approach is actually refreshing.

[MCC]

At a time when "we will get things right" is all we hear after losses Clifford's approach is actually refreshing.

 

 

Agreed. 

[KendrickPanther]

Cliff has said some hard truths in press conferences and he's not a jerk about it. Just very matter of fact. Lance will be a big part of this team but he's injured and new. He needs time.

[Cary Kollins]

Lance against the Pelicans: 23 minutes, 1-6 FG, 7 Rebounds, 4 Assits, 5 Turnovers, 2 Points

 

 

He was a train wreck last night.  Not to mention his pouting after every turnover, including when he was blocked by Davis and then didn't get back down the court until NO had missed a shot, kicked it out and hit a wide open three, 4 versus 5.

 

Clifford must be livid.