Los Angeles Clippers: An Overview Of The Vinny Del Negro Era
Vinny Del Negro won’t be retained as coach of the Los Angeles Clippers. (NBA.com photo)
For many years, the Los Angeles Clippers were consistently considered as one of the worst franchises in all of sports.
Led by owner Donald Sterling for the past three decades, the Clippers have been hysterically bad for the most part. Nearly every year, it was a common occurrence to see the Clips picking at the top of the draft.
Since Sterling took ownership during the 1981-82 season, the franchise has made the postseason only six times. The Lakers, the team they share Staples Center with, makes the playoffs nearly every season and more often than not makes deep runs in them.
The past couple of seasons though have been arguably the two best in franchise history. They have made the postseason both years with Vinny Del Negro as the team’s head coach. Despite that though, Del Negro was let go by the organization earlier in the week.
Del Negro’s time with the Clippers got under way just a few months after he was dismissed by the Chicago Bulls. In two seasons with the Bulls, the former NBA guard had a pair of .500 seasons.
During his first season in Los Angeles, the Clippers won only 32 games and failed to make the playoffs, but there were many bright spots to take away.
Blake Griffin averaged a double-double (22.5 PPG and 12.1 RPG) to win Rookie of the Year. Eric Gordon missed 26 games, but was just behind Griffin as the team’s leading scorer. Eric Bledsoe had a solid rookie season and DeAndre Jordan took strides in his third year in the league.
During that offseason, the Clippers made a franchise move by acquiring Chris Paul from then New Orleans Hornets in exchange for Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and a first-round pick which turned out to be Austin Rivers. Paul was set to become a member of the Lakers, but NBA commissioner David Stern nullified the trade.
With a MVP caliber player now on the roster to go along with Griffin and the veteran additions of Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler, the Clippers shot up the standings in Del Negro’s second season in L.A. Despite a shorter season due to the lockout, the Clippers improved their win total by eight games. They earned the fifth seed in the Western Conference and missed winning the division by one game.
In the playoffs, the Clippers would go on to win only their second postseason series since coming to Los Angeles, knocking off the Memphis Grizzlies in an epic seven-game series. The Clippers’ dream season came to an end, though, against the San Antonio Spurs in a second-round sweep.
Despite not having a lot of money to spend, the Clippers would go on to have a good offseason. They signed Jamal Crawford, one of the best shooters on the free-agent market, to a multiyear deal. They also improved their depth by bringing in Matt Barnes, Grant Hill, Willie Green, Lamar Odom and Ryan Hollins.
With a roster filled with talent, top to bottom, the Clippers would go on to have the best season in franchise history.
Their 56 wins topped their previous franchise-best by seven games. They put together a perfect month of December and a 4-0 record against their crosstown rivals, the first time that has happened since the 1974-75 season, when the team was known as the Buffalo Braves. Oh yeah, they also won their first division title.
The Clippers’ regular-season success really wouldn’t have mattered if they didn’t do anything during the playoffs, though. This year’s postseason certainly got under way perfectly for them as they won the first two home games against the Grizzlies, but they would lose four straight to Memphis for a first-round exit.
Considering the type of regular season they had, losing so early in the playoffs was a major disappointment. There were some prognosticators who had L.A. going to the Western Conference Finals and some even had them making their first NBA Finals appearance.
Because of the high expectations, it was hardly a surprise that Del Negro lost his job earlier this week. The Clippers firing a coach after winning 56 regular-season games would have been unheard of just a decade ago, but this is a different time and a different organization.
Del Negro shouldn’t be given full blame for the Clippers’ first-round ousting though.
This is a very talented roster with quality depth and two stars in Paul and Griffin, but the Clippers are in need of a serviceable big man to help out Griffin. He’s at his best when he’s playing power forward instead of the center spot. Someone like Marcin Gortat or even Kendrick Perkins, who could be amnestied by the Oklahoma City Thunder, would be good fits.
They also need to add some toughness to the roster. Your point guard can’t be your toughest player and Paul was that for the majority of the season.
Before they begin tinkering the roster though, which will begin with locking up Paul, the Clippers must hire a new head coach. Phil Jackson has been rumored, but it doesn’t look like the Hall of Famer is interested in the job.
If this organization is indeed serious about winning, they must hire a head coach with experience and a winning pedigree. Bringing in a retread or a rookie head coach would make little sense.
Del Negro helped make them a yearly postseason participant. Now the Clippers need to find someone who can take them to that next level to win a NBA championship.