The Clippers turned it into an art form

The Dunleavy watch is now officially underway. Once the first coach drops (Byron Scott) every other coach in the league with a losing record is on notice. Not that its at all fair. Eric Gordon has lost time, Kareem Rush is out for the year, Marcus Camby suffered a lower back injury and played sparingly today. Factor in that Blake Griffin is still about a month away and the Clips 4-9 record seems understandable. Take three starters and a key contributor off the bench from most any NBA team and they will struggle. Hearn coined it, the Clippers perfected it. The Clippers turned it into an art form. Maybe they should wear red capes and throw arrows at their opponents. Looking forward one can only hope the team shakes itself out of this funk. With that goal in mind and as the self-appointed lighthouse for the basketball team from Los Angeles I am assigning homework. Sebastian, do your part to bring some unity and passion to the second squad. Come up with a nick name for the bench players. When you get in the game bring energy. Convince everyone who starts the game sitting down that their role is important and to act like it on the bench as well as on the court. Marcus, who better than a former NBA Defensive Player of the year award winner to inspire this team defensively Throw outan occasional hint on how to better box out. Follow it up with an at-a-boy when you see someone do what you advised. Be a coach on and off the court. Its time to start thinking about life after you hang up the jersey Marcus, start now. Be the defensive player-coach.

Baron, as the pointguard, team leader and face of the club it falls on you to get the guys on the same page. Do it. Team meeting, team dinner, team miniature golf; I don't know what it will take, but do it. I like the idea of putt-putting though. How can you not get close as a team watching Chris Kaman hunch over a tiny yellow golf ball holding a golf club made for a nine year old as he lines up his putt hoping to avoid the windmill fan Blake, get well soon. Please. Hurry back!! Mike, chill. Just chill. Do your job and don't worry aboutanything else. I have everything covered and taken care off.. The benching of Carlos Rogers lasted 3 quarters He will start on Sunday against the Cowboys Watch out for those pump fakes, Carlos! Read it And read more on this. Still more on Rogers, who doesn’t have an interception again this year.In other heart-warming news, Sunday marks a reunion of Albert Haynesworth and Cowboys OL Andre Gurode. In 2006, Haynesworth stomped on Gurode’s helmet-less head for reasons clear only to someone in the midst of a life crisis or a ‘roid rage. Haynesworth was suspended for the outrage and it has dogged his reputation ever since.

Read it.With Chris Cooley, Clinton Portis, Chris Samuels, and Randy Thomas out with injuries, the offense is running on backups and spare parts And running better, writes, Rick Snider. Redskins-8551964-70390202.html" target"blank">Read it.As I wrote yesterday, Portis is “very doubtful” for the Cowboys game and Haynesworth will be a weekend decision. If he can’t play, it’s a major blow to the defense. Read it.Head Coach Jim Zorn says the success of Ladell Betts is his willingness and ability to keep the play going with defenders hanging on to him.And he gained yards after being hit, which is key for a successful rushing attack, Zorn said. “Some of the 114-yard game he had I don’t know how many yards were after contact but he had some after-contact yards,” Zorn said. “That’s a huge issue for him, and he worked it and so did Rock Cartwright. They worked extra to get that extra yardage, and that kept those chains moving for us.”Redskins DB Byron Westbrook is concerned for the health of his brother Brian Westbrook, a star running back for the Eagles.

Brian has suffered a concussion in the last two games he’s played, though he apparently got good news from a concussion specialist in Pittsburgh yesterday. Nevertheless, I think the Eagles are nuts if they play Westbrook again this season. Read it.Read it all You might be surprised who I like most this week… Ricky Williams RB, Miami DolphinsOut of all of the pickups stemming from the four injuries to starting running backs last week, Ricky Williams should have the biggest immediate impact. With Ronnie Brown on IR, Ricky now should actually be considered a top 10 back in redraft leagues. Having said that, Ricky is aging and you should not expect Ricky to take all of the carries in Miami.I also expect Lex Hilliard and/or Kory Sheets to split the carries much as Ricky did with Ronnie Hilliard and Sheets both deserve an upgrade. If I had to pick one, I like Sheet’s upside more in this offense between the two. Justin Forsett RB, Seattle SeahawksForsett has the most long term upside of the pickups this week, especially in dynasty leagues.