Robinson Rejects the Clippers

Out of the All-Star break, into the frying pan.

Having harvested their various honors over All-Star weekend, the Clippers returned to the grim reality of the Western Conference playoff race Thursday night at Staples Center, fading as the game went on and David Robinson emerged, falling to the San Antonio Spurs, 89-76, for their third loss in a row.

Robinson, 36, and off to the slowest start of his career, went to the bench 2:36 into the game with two fouls, then returned in the second quarter and went on to block seven shots to go along with 12 points and five rebounds in 24 minutes.

Tim Duncan blocked another three shots, and there went the Clippers’ shooting percentage, all the way down to 35.7%.

Said Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry: “David just decided to block everything tonight.”

Said Spur Coach Gregg Popovich: “I thought David Robinson was a monster tonight.”

For sure, he devoured the Clippers’ post-up offense. With Robinson playing badminton with their shots, Elton Brand made one of 10 shots from the floor and Quentin Richardson missed all 11 of his shots.

“They definitely played great help defense tonight,” said Richardson. “It was evident they weren’t going to let me score down there. They dropped a man back into the lane and their big men came over as soon as I turned into the lane.”

Besides hurling themselves at Robinson and Duncan and getting hurled back, the Clippers spent the night barking at the referees, also without getting anywhere.

Finally, in the game’s waning moments, Darius Miles and Danny Ferry bumped, exchanged shoves and were each assessed a technical foul. Miles, taken out of the game at that point, stomped off to the dressing room, tearing off his uniform top as he went.

“That team right there, they’re a very good defensive team,” Gentry said of the Spurs. “If you’re not making shots and you have to drive it to the basket, you’re in trouble.”

Michael Olowokandi, who had 20 points and 12 rebounds in the Clippers’ recent upset win in San Antonio, played another strong game, scoring 15 points with 12 rebounds and holding Duncan to 15 points and on five-of-13 shooting.

The Clippers led, 25-20, after one quarter but scored 15, 17 and 19 in the next three, shooting 30%, 33% and 40%, respectively. Put it all together and it spells l-o-s-s.

“With expectations comes pressure,” said Gentry before the game. “Obviously, there’s a little extra pressure on us. We’re not a novelty act any more.

“Everybody takes us serious when they come into play or we go on the road. We have to be prepared to play because nobody takes us lightly any more. We can’t use youth as an excuse any more....

“The one thing that I told our guys, usually at this stage when we come back from the All-Star break, we’re talking about playing for pride. We’ve got something tangible to play for this year. I think it’s important we understand that.”

The Spurs are famous for their big front line, with its twin 7-footers, but the Clippers jumped all over them early. Olowokandi drew two quick fouls against Robinson, who quickly found himself back on the bench.

The Clippers wound up out-rebounding the Spurs, 18-7, in the first quarter, including one extended possession in which they took five shots and rebounded four of them.

The Clippers led, 25-20, after one quarter and extended it to 27-20 early in the second, when Keyon Dooling, playing his first game since Nov. 15, hit a 17-footer.

Soon afterward, however, Robinson returned and began putting a serious crimp in the Clipper offense by blocking shots, particularly those of Brand and Richardson.