Cassell Says Players Undaunted by Skid

Point guard Sam Cassell has a message for anyone considering jumping off the Clipper bandwagon because of a three-game losing streak.

“I like what we have in our locker room, I believe in this team, so it doesn’t matter what anybody else thinks,” the 12-year veteran said. “It’s a terrible feeling to have a three-game losing streak; we tried to avoid that situation, but it happened.

“We know we didn’t put forth that L.A. Clipper effort [in their last game] that we decided we were going to put forth in training camp. But we’re not pointing any fingers; we’re just going to correct our mistakes and keep going.”

The return of second-year point guard Shaun Livingston, who made his season debut in Wednesday’s 102-89 loss to the New Orleans Hornets in Oklahoma City, “should help us in the long run,” Cassell said, and the team is eager for high-scoring forward Corey Maggette to heal.

Maggette, second on the team with a 21.7-point average, has sat out the last five games because of a sprained left foot.

The Clippers need him, Cassell said.

“We’ve got to get Corey back,” he said. “He’s that important to this ballclub. ... I don’t care what anyone says, Corey Maggette is definitely a key ingredient. He takes pressure off everyone.”

-- Jason Reid