Fitch: Record Doesn’t Matter

Even if the Clippers make the playoffs, they will have a losing record. Coach Bill Fitch says it’s irrelevant.

“Nobody’s going to say anything about Phoenix being in there with a below-.500 record,” Fitch said. “The one thing about basketball is that you play those 82 games because sometimes you don’t have all your people in place.

“The first 18 games we weren’t the team you see now. We counted on having a center.”

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Houston forward Charles Barkley says the Lakers won’t go very far in the playoffs without O’Neal.

“The Lakers are going to be in the tank soon if they don’t get Shaq back,” Barkley said before Tuesday night’s game against the Clippers. “What are they, 15-11 without Shaq? That wouldn’t be considered good to me, but I guess it is in L.A.”

Barkley doesn’t think the Lakers can advance beyond the first round without O’Neal.

“They ain’t going anywhere without Shaq except home,” Barkley said. “I love Shaq as a talent and as a person, but if they play Portland in the first round they’ll be home soon.”