Clipper Improvements Do Not Include a Victory in Final Game

The Clippers’ magic number for making the NBA playoffs is 1997.

After winning 17 games last season, the Clippers improved by 12 games this season despite a season-ending, 108-101 loss to the Vancouver Grizzlies Sunday before an announced 13,298 at the Sports Arena.

The Clippers (29-53) were the most-improved team in the Western Conference and the fourth most-improved team in the NBA behind the Chicago Bulls, Washington Bullets and the Detroit Pistons.

“I don’t think any of us are happy to have a losing season,” Clipper General Manager Elgin Baylor said. “But I think if you look at the season, not making any excuses, we had a lot of key players who missed a lot of ballgames and that really hurt us.

“Who knows what would have happened if we’d stayed completely healthy? Our goal was to be a contender for the playoffs and next season our goal is to be in the playoffs.”

Said Clipper Coach Bill Fitch: “I’ve never allowed the guys in that locker room to say, ‘If we’d have done this or if we’d have done that.’ It’s over and they don’t have a playoff in the ‘if’ league and they don’t have a trophy in the ‘if’ league. We’ve just got to get out there and get in the ‘do it’ league.”

If the Clippers hope to reach the playoffs for the first time since 1993, they’ll probably have to re-sign center Brian Williams, who is eligible to become a free agent.

In the second-year of a $12.8 million, five-year contract that gives him the option to declare free agency after his second year, Williams must declare his intention by Friday.

Williams probably increased his market value by increasing his scoring average from 7.9 points per game to 15.8 and his rebounding average from 4.7 to 7.6.

However, he said money won’t be the determining factor.

“That would make me a mercenary,” Williams said. “I’ll look at the team, the town, and the coach. There’s going to be a lot of things.”

Williams said he won’t sign until he sees what moves the Clippers, who’ll participate in next month’s NBA draft lottery, will make.

“I think this team has got a lot of important decisions to make over the summer,” Williams said. “I’m going to let those develop before I think about where I’m going.”

What do the Clippers need?

“They need a lot of things, but I’m not on Santa’s lap right now,” Williams said.

Against the Grizzlies on Sunday, the Clippers were outscored 22-2 at the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth as they squandered a 12-point lead.

Clipper swingman Charles Outlaw recorded the first double-double of his three-year career, getting 14 points and a season-high 12 rebounds. Loy Vaught, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, had 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Because of the loss, the Clippers failed to reach the 30-victory mark for the first time since 1993.

“I would like to have gotten 30 wins,” said rookie guard Brent Barry. “I’m a little frustrated, and I probably speak for a lot of guys on the team.”