LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
by ClipperSteve of Clips Nation
Recap Rewind: After losing the first three meetings with the Spurs by 29, 22 and 14 points, the Clippers figured to have no chance in San Antonio on Tuesday. So to be within 5 in the fourth quarter and lose by only 9, 93-84, is a moral victory, right? Oh, I forgot, there are no moral victories. Five Clippers scored in double figures, but no one could stop Tony Parker, who finished with 25. The Clippers then took the stage coach to Houston (that's how you get around in Texas), and fell behind 12-0 in the game's first 150 seconds. They were still behind 13 in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter before they mounted a furious comeback. A 23-7 run, capped by a consecutive and-one's from Kaman and Maggette, gave the Clippers their first lead of the game at 99-96. They still had a one point lead and the ball with 30 seconds left, but a miss and a turnover sandwiched around Luther Head's clutch three gave the win to Houston, 109-105. LA wasted Elton Brand's best game of the season, a 37 point, 10 rebounds monster effort. A solid 102-93 win in Charlotte over the depleted Hornets seemed like reason for guarded optimism. The balanced attack continued, with six Clippers in double figures led by Tim Thomas' 24, and taken with the two Texas losses, the Clippers had played well for three consecutive games, something that sadly has not happened very often this season. Alas, Sunday in New Jersey the Clippers committed 18 turnovers, including several at crucial points in the game, and lost a winnable game to the Nets, 101-95. The fact that the Clippers were carping at the refs after the loss, rather than looking in the mirror, was in no way a good sign.
Notable News: Orthopedic specialists performed surgery to repair Shaun Livingston's folded / spindled / mutilated knee on Tuesday in Alabama. The three hour surgery was deemed a success, and now begins the long recovery and rehabilitation process. Meanwhile, the race for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference at this point has one runner and four no shows. The Warriors have won 5 of 6 (Baron Davis missed the only loss) in the process moving from 12th to 8th. The other teams (Clippers, Hornets, Kings and Wolves) have all been going the other direction.
Fast Forward: With two games left on the last Eastern road trip of the season, the Clippers have to win both of them just to salvage a .500 trip. Winning in Chicago on Tuesday may be too much to ask, although the Clippers did beat the Bulls handily in Staples Center at the end of January. The Bucks under new head coach Larry Krystkowiak certainly looks like a winnable game, though when the Clippers beat them in LA it was without Michael Redd and Charlie Villanueva. The team then returns home for some crucial games against quality teams. Friday night they get their final shot at Utah, who has beaten them three times this season, and Saturday it is Gilbert Arenas and the Wizards. With a 2-7 record in the month of March, the Clippers are NOT playing like a playoff team. If that doesn't change soon, they won't have to worry about the playoffs anymore.