Clippers Show Spirit but Little Else

The way the Clippers played against the Dallas Mavericks Saturday night, it was difficult to notice any difference in Jim Todd’s first game as interim coach compared to Chris Ford’s final one.

On a scale of 1-10, the Clippers’ energy was a 10, but when it came to playing smart and playing defense, it was the same Clippers.

Dallas, which played without recently signed Dennis Rodman, scored at will against the Clippers en route to a 119-106 victory before 13,646 at Staples Center.

The Clippers (11-35), who have lost 17 of 19, could not get it going all game. It seemed every hustle play they made turned into a Dallas basket as the Mavericks made 10 three-point baskets and fell nine points shy of reaching an opponent season high against the Clippers, set by Denver in late December.

“We’re a little discouraged about the loss but I think the [players] remain upbeat,” Todd said. “But I want us to never quit. . . . Even when you’re down 30, never quit. I’m not going to quit and I don’t think we did tonight. We tried to come back.

“We tried to up the tempo. We tried to press. We would like to press for 48 minutes.”

The Clippers, who will play tonight against Chicago at Staples Center, came within a point of matching their season high of 107, reached in a Jan. 8 victory against Indiana.

Forward Maurice Taylor led the Clippers with 17 points and six rebounds before fouling out midway through the fourth quarter. Five other Clippers scored in double figures.

Rookie Lamar Odom had 14 points, Keith Closs 12, Charles Jones 11 and Eric Murdock and Michael Olowokandi each had 10.

The Mavericks (19-27) had four players score in double digits with point guard Errick Strickland leading with 24.

Forward Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 points, former Laker Cedric Ceballos had 19 and shooting guard Michael Finley added 19 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

“It was a start for us,” Odom said. “We have a lot of little things we need to get better.”

After criticizing their lack of options under Ford, the Clippers competed well early. Under Todd, who led the Clippers to two victories in December when Ford was sidelined because of back spasms, the Clippers looked inspired.

Olowokandi was active inside, guard Derek Anderson was looking for his shot and point guard Murdock pushed the tempo as much as possible.

But the Clippers didn’t spend energy on the defensive end and Dallas made them pay.

The Mavericks, who have won six of eight games and three in a row, showed the Clippers how to share the ball and create open shots. Ceballos had the touch early, scoring 11 points in the first quarter, and then was joined by Nowitzki, who had 13 points in the first half.

In the second quarter, the Mavericks’ bench took over. Backup point guard Steve Nash penetrated at will off pick-and-roll plays.

Nash had seven points and reserve center Sean Rooks added six as the Mavericks took a 67-51 lead at halftime. It was the most points given up in a half by the Clippers this season, topping the 66 points the Lakers scored on Jan. 5.

The Clippers’ play didn’t pick up any in the second half.

“Everything about the team we have to work on, from sharing the ball to getting everyone involved and knowing who is on the court,” Olowokandi said.

“We lost the basketball game and frustration comes from losing. But today was our first game under J.T. Can we play better? We all know we can.”

Todd wants full effort from his players every second they are in the game and plans to keep players fresh with a deep bench. All 12 players saw action on Saturday.

“It’s going to come together,” said reserve Anthony Avent, who saw first-quarter minutes for the first time in weeks. “It’s not going to happen overnight. It’s like we’re in training camp again.

“We have to pick up things that we should have picked up months ago. We want to run. We want to get after teams and work. . . . It’s going to require bodies and everyone knows they will get opportunities to help the team. We have to stick with it as a unit one through 12.”