Ford Is Troubled by Lack of Transition Defense

Mental breakdowns continue to plague the Clippers, and their latest problem is getting back on defense.

Because the Clippers are a poor shooting team, ranking among the league’s worst this season, they cannot afford to give up easy points, but their lack of transition defense has allowed opposing teams to shoot nearly 45%, 23rd in the league.

“We can’t give up uncontested points,” Clipper Coach Chris Ford said after his team’s three game-winning streak ended with a weak effort in a 128-105 loss at Denver on Tuesday.

“We can’t be lollygagging with officials and watching the other team off to the races . . . nor can we just flat out don’t run every time. The challenge is to run back every time.”

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After shooting a season-high 53.5% from the floor and defeating the Clippers by 23 points, some of the Nuggets and Denver Coach Dan Issel did not have too many good things to say about the Clippers.

Issel even told reporters sitting courtside his feelings during the game.

“You ever seen a team getting their butts kicked and still talking trash?” Issel said near halftime.

“We’re up by 20 and they are still talking trash.”

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Power forward Maurice Taylor has started to pick up his offense. Since the second half of the Clippers’ victory over Sacramento, Taylor has been finding his game in the low post.

He has made 28 of his last 49 shots and is coming off a career-high 30-point effort in the Clippers’ defeat at Denver.

“I’m starting to feel good now, but I just want us to win now,” said Taylor, who has 90 points in his last four games.

Tonight

at Houston, 5:30 PST

Channel 9

* Site--Compaq Center, Houston.

* Radio--KCTD (1540).

* Records--Clippers 9-19, Rockets 9-20.

* Record vs. Rockets--0-1.

* Update--With veterans Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley out because of injuries, Houston starts a young lineup. Rookie Steve Francis leads the Rockets in scoring but is coming off a five-point effort in a one-point loss to Toronto on Tuesday. Clipper rookie Lamar Odom is also coming off a poor game. He had 10 points and 10 rebounds against the Nuggets and struggled with foul trouble most of the game. The first time the Clippers played Houston this season, the Rockets won, 109-96, at Staples Center as guard Shandon Anderson scored 27 points.