Talk of a Fast Start Is a Bitter Memory

Before the regular season began, the Clippers talked about getting off to a strong start with the help of a favorable early schedule.

Of the Clippers’ first 16 games, only four were to be played away from Staples Center and only half of them were against playoff teams from last season.

But after the Clippers’ 90-76 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night, they are only 2-6.

“I think they see if we play the right way, we’re pretty good,” Coach Alvin Gentry said. “But when we start going away from what we [want to do] that’s when we get ourselves in trouble.”