Playoffs Unlikely, but Trio Is Praised

With 26 games left in the regular season, the Clippers trail Denver by 6 1/2 games for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. They’re close enough to keep the fight, but with four teams between them and the Nuggets, far enough to start thinking about next season.

Despite their record (24-32), the Clippers have several players who have made great strides this season -- Elton Brand, Corey Maggette and Quentin Richardson.

Brand is averaging 20.5 points and shooting 51.6% from the field and 77.8% from the free-throw line, all career highs.

“Before our game [at New Orleans], I spoke with [former Clipper coach] Alvin Gentry, and he said that he couldn’t believe how much better Elton’s gotten ... and he has,” said Clipper Coach Mike Dunleavy, whose team plays host to the New York Knicks tonight at Staples Center. “[Brand] has improved his medium-range game, and he’s much better on pick-and-rolls. He scored 39 points [in a victory over Boston on Feb. 19], mainly with medium-range shots off pick-and-rolls.”

Brand is also getting the little things done. He’s averaging 11.3 rebounds, 2.3 blocked shots and a personal-best 3.4 assists a game.

“We’ve had a couple of good things happen for us,” said Dunleavy, whose Clippers are the NBA’s eighth-ranked scoring team at 96.3 points a game. “The guys have shown the ability to play really hard, and we’ve been able to score points offensively.

“As a coach, you always want to continue to get better ... in areas like recognizing situations in the flow of a game and taking care of the basketball. But, we have shown a lot of improvement ... When you watch a game against a team that we played earlier in the season -- even games that we may have won -- you can’t help but say ‘Wow, were we that bad?’ You can see how we’ve improved.”

For Maggette, playing hard has never been a problem. His biggest drawback was his decision making. That’s an area where Maggette has shown great development. Although he still turns the ball over at times, the energetic swingman has become a constant offensive force off his ability to get to the free-throw line.

With 425 attempts, Maggette has the fourth-most in the league behind Tim Duncan, Paul Pierce and Shaquille O’Neal. Maggette’s 85.7% shooting percentage is the best among the top nine players in attempts.

In Richardson, it was just a matter of getting consistent minutes. He’s averaging a career-best 17.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and two assists while playing 35.2 minutes a game.

“He’s really come into his own,” Dunleavy said. “He’s having a very good year. He has shot the ball well, and he’s been able to post up. He’s also defending better.”

*

Center Olden Polynice, who spent most of the season on the injured list because of a neck strain, was waived. Polynice, 39, was signed as a free agent last summer. He appeared in two games.

TONIGHT

vs. New York, 7:30, Fox Sports Net 2

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- XTRA (690/1150).

Records -- Clippers 24-32, Knicks 26-33.

Record vs. Knicks -- 0-1.

Update -- The Knicks have lost four in a row. But New York has Stephon Marbury, and he loves playing the Clippers. In a 110-104 victory over the Clippers on Feb. 8, Marbury had 42 points and eight assists. He’s averaging 37.3 points in three games against the Clippers this season.