Thornton says report card should have a ‘C’

After a long pause, Al Thornton finally answers the question lingering in the air.

“I’d have to say a C,” he said. “It’s pretty low. I can’t grade myself any higher. Consistency is the main thing for me. I’ve been up and down.”

He may be his own harshest critic in grading his rookie year. But although he is one of the Clippers’ few positives this season, his performance has been marked by flashes of explosiveness flanked by bouts of ineffectiveness.

It is largely expected from a first-year player, especially a rookie who is one of his team’s few reliable scorers.

Inconsistent play may have cost Thornton a shot at earning honors as rookie of the year, although his 39 points against the Memphis Grizzlies are the most of any rookie this season.

Thornton has scored at least 20 points 19 times this season, second-best on the team to Corey Maggette. But his average dips to 13.1 points the next game.

He managed 25 points against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday to mark the fourth time he has backed a 20-point game with another.

“If you say we are going to look at a timeline from Jan. 1 on, then I’ve got an argument for you,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said when asked whether he could favor Thornton over Kevin Durant, widely considered the front-runner in the race for rookie of the year.

“The argument that I would have for you is that he’s put us on his back and won more games . . . but being that he was out early with that sprained ankle and he didn’t get off to a fast start, I couldn’t come out and say that [he would win].”

Thornton acknowledges that earlier in the season, he tried to prove himself too fast.

“I think being overexcited and getting out there and trying to prove too much was it,” he said. “Sometimes, I still get that way, but for the most part, I’m calm and laid-back and playing with more confidence.”

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Since scoring a career-high 22 points, Josh Powell has managed only a total of four points his last three games. He played nearly four minutes against the Warriors, his lowest amount since Feb. 20 . . . Cuttino Mobley scored 30 points against Golden State, his most since amassing 33 against the Chicago Bulls on Nov. 6 in a win that pushed the Clippers to 3-0.

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jonathan.abrams@latimes.com