Much of the Clippers' struggles this season are due to injuries to 14 year veteran, Sam Cassell. As anyone that watched the Clippers last season knows, Cassell is the heart and soul of that team. Sam has had issues with his back, hamstrings, and hip this season. Injuries had kept Sam out of thirteen of the Clippers previous twenty games. Surprisingly, Sam was able to suit up last night against the Lakers. In the first half, it was obvious that Sam was both injured and out of synch, as even the lowly Smush Parker seemed free to have his way with him. Sam played so badly in the first half that it prompted Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley to give a eulogy like speech about Cassell at halftime. Good thing the Clippers had the half time show on in their locker room.
At the start of the second half, an obviously peeved Cassell, instructed TNT sideline reporter Cheryl Miller to let Kenny, Charles and everyone else know that he wasn't quite washed up yet. Sam would later prove that he did indeed have something left in the tank, as he led the Clippers charge to overtake the Lakers double digit fourth quarter lead. Despite having little mobility, he confidently blew by Smush Parker over and over again in the fourth quarter, and ignited his entire team with his swagger. Led by Sam, the Clippers would go on to overcome the Lakers lead and secure an ever important victory in their quest to make the playoffs.
Lakers and Warriors fans can thank the TNT studio crew for waking a sleeping giant and making their teams' quest to make the playoffs that much more difficult.
Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith Know How to Motivate Sam Cassell
- 8Comments
- Say Something »
4/13/2007 2:36 AM ET By Nate Jones
-
- Nate Jones
- Nate Jones is an NBA Blogger for FanHouse
Read More: Clippers Lakers Western NBA Last Night Los Angeles
- 8Comments
- Say Something »
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sam Cassell, now that is a leader. Kobe could only shake his head in disbelief. 50 points and a loss? What a choker he is.
It's "out of synch," not "out of sink."
I've always liked Sam. He was the heart and soul of those Bucks teams a few years ago, too. Keep it up Sam-I-Am!
I'm a Laker fan but if you don't like Sam I Am and his Gollum and Ice Water In His Veins, you don't like basketball. Actually, respect is more the sentiment, not like.
In the interest of accuracy, Cassell's "neener-neener" to Charles Barkley et al occurred at the end of the game, not at the beginning of the second half.
Actually Cheryl Miller came out at halftime and said that Sam wanted her to send a message to Kenny and Charles. And then at the end of the game he said again.
Sorry, I stand corrected.
This is a cute article but the "sleeping giant" didn't quite wake up.