This just hasn't been the Clippers season. Coming into this season the were all kinds of expectations with the addition of Baron Davis, rookie Eric Gordon and Marcus Camby, but things just don't seem to be working out.
The only positive thing coming out of this season so far is the emergence of rookie Eric Gordon. In college at Indiana University Gordon was a pure shooter and scorer, he could light it up from anywhere and was never afraid to take a shot. Early in the season Gordon struggled in a limited role, but since the trade sending Cuttino Mobley to the New York Knicks Gordon has a new role and he is definitely taking advantage of it by lighting up the scoreboards once again.
With a new career high of 31 points, Gordon showed the Pistons and the NBA that he is a scoring machine to be reckoned with. Injuries have been a huge part of the team's lack of chemisty this season with Chris Kaman, Baron Davis and Marcus Camby all spending time bench because of injury the team just hasn't been able to flow with any kind of consistency, but Gordon has showed some surprising promise for the Clippers future.
The Clippers aren't the only team of the two with a promising young player, he may not be a rookie, but he is showing that he could be a legit starter in this league and for the Detroit Pistons. Rodney Stuckey had his first 40 point game not that long ago and since then has gained a lot of confidence in his new role on the Pistons.
Stuckey didn't torch the Clippers for another 40, but he did manage to score a team high 24 points. With no Richard Hamilton or Rasheed Wallace the bulk of the scoring load has gone to Stuckey, Allen Iverson and Tayshawn Prince. Despite not having Rip or Sheed in the lineup, the Pistons have done nothing but win.
The key play in this game came down to just 4.9 seconds with the ball in Detroit's possession and the ball in Iverson's hands. After Iverson took a the shot Al Thornton came into the paint to block it, but was called for goal tending and basically handed the game to the Pistons as that was the deciding two points to end the game at 89-88 in favor of the Pistons.
Even though the Clippers put up a fight against a Detroit team that hasn't lost in 12 games straight, they have to get things together and get them together quick in order to salvage a season of disappointment.
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