Clippers Close It Out Strong

To Elton Brand, the Clippers’ dominant performance in their last game of the season was a sign of an improving young team that will be primed to make a playoff run in 2006. That is, if management can retain a couple of key free agents.

Bobby Simmons and Marko Jaric scored 14 points each to help the Clippers defeat New Orleans, 86-75, Wednesday night, leaving the Hornets with the worst record (18-64) in franchise history. Simmons also grabbed 11 rebounds.

“It’s very critical,” Brand said, calling Simmons by far the best shooter on the team.

“We need to get him back and Marko Jaric. We want to sign these guys up and keep this team strong, keep this nucleus strong.”

Brand led the Clippers with 18 points and 14 rebounds in what was otherwise a meaningless game involving non-playoff teams.

While Simmons and Jaric played leading roles in the victory, it was the opposite story for two of the top Hornets entering the free-agent market this summer. Dan Dickau shot one for 10 from the field and finished with three points, and Bostjan Nachbar was one for eight for six points. J.R. Smith led New Orleans with 15 points.

“It is frustrating to end on a note like that, but it’s not going to stick in my mind too long because there have been too many positives throughout the year,” Dickau said.

New Orleans had a nine-game losing streak to end the season, the last loss leaving the Hornets one game worse than the then-Charlotte Hornets of 1989-90.

But Dickau and Nachbar both said they were thankful for the opportunity they received with the Hornets and sounded genuine when they said they’d like to return.

“I really like the organization and I’m really thankful for what they gave me,” Nachbar said. “They believed in me and that means a lot.”

Simmons said there was a good chance he’d be back with the Clippers.

“It’s going to be one of the biggest decisions of my life. I just have to sit down and weigh my decision,” he said, referring to next year’s Clipper team as if he were already part of it. “I think we’ll be good. If everyone comes in healthy and stays healthy throughout the whole year, that will guarantee us making the playoffs next year.”

New Orleans has more to do.

Despite showing some hustle before a surprisingly enthusiastic crowd, the Hornets only shot 33.7% from the floor.

The Clippers’ lead hovered around 10 points for most of the game. It got as large as 69-51 after Jaric’s driving scoop, and pull-up jumpers by Shawn Livingston and Zeljko Rebraca rounded out a 12-2 run late in the third quarter.

The effort left Clipper Coach Mike Dunleavy pleased with the team’s progress.

“If you’re talking about having the same group back and they’d all be healthy ... I’d like our chances,” Dunleavy said.