Fitch Can’t Come to Their Defense

Clipper Coach Bill Fitch looked up at the Bradley Center scoreboard at the end of the first half of Monday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks and sighed.

After giving up a season-worst 63 points in the first half of their last two games against the Lakers and Detroit Pistons, the Clippers had allowed 62 points to the Bucks in the first half of what would become a 110-95 loss before 13,174.

“If you’re going to win in this league, your defense needs to be solid, especially in the transition game,” Fitch said. “Tonight there were too many fastbreak baskets against our defense.

“Our full court transition was poor and we had a lot of turnovers [16]. Without our turnovers it would have been a closer game.”

Clipper guard Brent Barry said the Clippers, who give up an NBA-worst 102.5 points a game, aren’t pressuring teams. The Clippers have given up an average of 111 points in their last five games, including a season-worst 125 points in last Friday’s loss to the Lakers.

“We just need to get up on guys and pressure them,” Barry said. “I think we need to come out early and force the defensive pressure.”

The Clippers, who had trouble containing Laker center Shaquille O’Neal (32 points) and Piston guard Grant Hill (33) in their last two games, couldn’t contain Milwaukee forward Glenn Robinson.

Robinson, who went into the game averaging 22.5 points, scored 33 points, 19 in the first half as the Bucks took a 12-point lead.

“When you put a hand up on every shot and he still hits the basket, it’s tough,” said Clipper forward Lamond Murray, who guarded Robinson. “It seems like we play defense in spurts.

“We play defense when we’re down and then once we get back in it we relax and get blown out. We’ve got to get used to playing these Eastern Conference teams because they’re more physical.”

The Bucks shot 54% in the first half.

“We have plenty of things to work on,” said Barry, who had 14 points. “We just can’t establish ourselves defensively.”

Robinson had 12 points in the fourth quarter as the Bucks handed the Clippers (9-28) their 13th loss in as many games against Eastern Conference teams.

Center Stojko Vrankovic, removed from the starting lineup for the first time in 12 games in Sunday’s loss at Detroit, started against the Bucks but couldn’t contain center Ervin Johnson.

Johnson, averaging 7.7 points and 6.9 rebounds, had 20 points and 21 rebounds in 39 minutes. Vrankovic had two points and four rebounds in 16 minutes, while reserve center Keith Closs had six points, five rebounds and three blocked shots in 31 minutes.

“We weren’t concerned about Ervin Johnson,” Fitch said. “We were more concerned about Glenn Robinson’s shooting. The only reason everyone is talking about Johnson is because he doesn’t have many nights like that.”

Johnson helped the Bucks outrebound the Clippers 52-37. Murray, who had 10 rebounds and 20 points, was the only Clipper in double figures in rebounding.

“Our forward play wasn’t that bad offensively but we didn’t get it done on the defensive end,” Fitch said.

Clipper rookie forward Maurice Taylor , who averaged 21.6 points in his previous three games, had 19 points but only three rebounds in 27 minutes.