Playing Jazz Wouldn’t Bother Fitch

If the Clippers clinch the eighth spot in the Western Conference playoffs, they’ll have to face the Utah Jazz, who have won 14 consecutive home games against the Clippers.

But that doesn’t scare Bill Fitch.

“I like the idea of getting a chance to play the best,” the Clipper coach said. “The one thing you always complain about is eight playing one, but somewhere along the line, you’ve got to beat No. 1 in order to get there.

“We’ve got a chance against anybody we play in this league, but we’ve got to get there.”

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Although Fitch has coached the team to its best season since 1993, he doesn’t consider himself a candidate for coach of the year.

“I don’t usually get my name on the wanted list and it’s fine with me,” said Fitch, who has won the award twice.

Fitch says Chicago Coach Phil Jackson, who has his team poised for its second consecutive 70-victory season, deserves consideration

“Sometimes it’s tougher to coach a team that’s supposed to win than it is to coach a team that’s not supposed to win and does win,” Fitch said. “I think you’ve got to consider [Miami Heat Coach Pat] Riley too.”

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Fitch on Minnesota forward Kevin Garnett: “The only thing he ever had negative said about him [when he came into the NBA last season] was that he looked like a thermometer.”