A Sloppy Job on Home Work

The Clippers can’t seem to make a basket when it counts and can’t win consistently on their home court. In fact, the reason the Clippers aren’t better at Staples Center has a great deal to do with their poor outside shooting at crunch time.

Their twin shortcomings were on full display during their latest home loss on Saturday against the Golden State Warriors. The Clippers’ 29-for-75 shooting (38.7%), including three for 13 from behind the three-point arc (23.1%), sent them reeling toward their 10th defeat in 17 home games this season.

One night earlier, they made 38 of 84 shots (45.2%), but only two of 18 three-pointers (11.1%) during a loss against the Suns at Phoenix.

The Warriors and Suns, knowing the Clippers’ top perimeter shooter Eric Piatkowski is on the injured list because of an abdominal strain, played zone defense for a good chunk of each game. Both teams were well aware that the Clippers’ best chance for a victory was to pound the ball inside to power forward Elton Brand and center Michael Olowokandi.

Facing steady double- and triple-teaming from the Warriors, in particular, Brand and Olowokandi were neutralized. When the Clippers failed to click from the perimeter late in the game, the Warriors escaped with a 99-92 victory.

“We’ve got to be able to pass the ball out of the post against the double team,” Coach Alvin Gentry said. “We’ve got to make our perimeter shots. We’ve got to throw into the post, throw it back out and swing it around, then step up and make shots.”

The Clippers have been outshooting opponents by 44% to 43% this season, but lose their touch during pivotal stretches.

“Games are going to be close,” Gentry said. “Teams are going to make runs. You’ve got to make shots. You can’t go four for 15 in the fourth quarter like we did against Portland [Dec. 18] and expect to win. We have to be able to come through [in critical spots]. You learn to win. It’s a process and every team goes through it.

“We’ve had a situation where we had the ball right at the basket and couldn’t get it in. NBA games come down to the last 6 1/2 minutes, when you’ve got to make shots and free throws. It doesn’t matter if you’re an 80% free throw shooter if you don’t make them in those situations.”