Clippers Putting In Overtime
It’s playoff time, and the Clippers are still on the clock for a change.
They’re making their first postseason appearance in nine seasons, fourth since moving to the West Coast and the seventh in the franchise’s 36 seasons.
And this time, they might stick around awhile.
The Clippers have home-court advantage against the Denver Nuggets in the first round, and newfound confidence after a season that ranks among their best, saying they’re ready to take another significant step.
Game 1 is tonight at Staples Center, and Clipper vacation plans are on hold.
“There’s just pure excitement right now about having the opportunity to still be playing at this time of the year,” forward Elton Brand said. “Obviously, we’re not an organization that’s perennially in the playoffs, so you really want to perform well for the fans, the staff, the ball boys ... everybody. They deserve it.”
At 47-35, the Clippers completed the franchise’s sixth winning season, had their highest win total in California and set a franchise mark with 20 road victories.
Making strides in the playoffs is next on their agenda.
“It’s like I’ve been telling my guys since training camp: Don’t tell me anything about Clipper history, because we’re going to do things the Clippers haven’t done before,” point guard Sam Cassell said. “This organization hasn’t been in this position, but that’s OK. This basketball team has done a lot this year, a whole lot, and we want to do a whole lot more.”
There’s room for growth now.
The franchise hasn’t won a playoff series since 1976, when the Buffalo Braves defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 2-1.
The Clippers lost to the Utah Jazz, 3-2, in 1992, and to the Houston Rockets, 3-2, in 1993. In the Clippers’ previous postseason appearance in 1997, they were swept by the Jazz, 3-0.
“We were looking at our playoff record recently [in the media guide], and it’s like a half a page,” Brand said. “The Buffalo Braves did their thing, but the Clippers only went three times, and you don’t see a lot of victories on that page. We want to change that culture.”
Defeating the Nuggets (44-38) in the best-of-seven series would be a start.
The Clippers won the season series, 3-1. In the teams’ last meeting April 4 at Staples Center, the Clippers rallied from a 22-point deficit for a 111-109 victory.
The up-tempo Nuggets are led by Carmelo Anthony and Andre Miller. They averaged an NBA-leading 20.2 fastbreak points and had 31 points on the break in winning the first meeting with the Clippers, who gave up the fewest fastbreak points at 9.8.
In the Clippers’ three victories, Denver scored 14, 16 and 19 on the break, and produced only two fastbreak points in the second half of the Clippers’ April 4 comeback.
“Ultimately, we need to make smart choices offensively, so they don’t get out and run on us,” center Chris Kaman said. “They’re a great fastbreak team, so we want to keep ourselves out of trouble by not turning the ball over, taking quick shots and bad shots. We need to give our defense a chance to get set, that’s the biggest thing against that team with the way they run.”
Brand and Kaman also could help.
The Clippers plan to stick with what works for them, getting the ball to their productive low-post tandem, who combined to average 36.3 points and 21.7 rebounds in the victories over the Nuggets.
The inside scoring and rebounding of Brand and Kaman contributed to limiting Denver’s fastbreak opportunities, and Coach Mike Dunleavy likes it that way.
“We’re willing to take our chances with it,” said Dunleavy, who also guided the Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers to the playoffs. “That’s not to say somebody can’t have a great series, or that people can’t step up and do great things in any game.
“But the main thing for us, and I’ve said this all throughout the year, is that if we just execute, the way we’re supposed to execute, on offense and defense, we can compete with anybody. That hasn’t changed.”
But the Clippers’ work schedule has.
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Keys to the series
Jason Reid’s keys for the Clippers against Denver:
* 1. Fastbreak defense: The Nuggets led the league in fastbreak productivity, so the Clippers must limit their fastbreak opportunities. Long jumpers often lead to long rebounds and fastbreak points, so Clipper guards need to play it smart and execute the offense. Quick shots won’t please Coach Mike Dunleavy.
* 2. Passing out of double teams: Power forward Elton Brand and center Chris Kaman are accustomed to working in a crowd, and Denver is expected to try a variety of double-team combinations against them. Brand and Kaman must recognize what’s happening, avoid turnovers and pass to the perimeter.
* 3. Rotating on defense: Denver isn’t a great shooting team, but the Clippers, who don’t play much man-to-man defense, struggled at times with their defensive assignments on the perimeter. Everyone needs to be on the same page so that Quinton Ross has to guard only two players, not three.