Postseason Hopes Tied to Strength in Numbers

Benches often provide the difference in the postseason, which could be good news for the Clippers.

The second unit of Corey Maggette, Vladimir Radmanovic and Shaun Livingston has been a source of strength this month.

“Our bench has been great,” co-captain Elton Brand said. “Corey, Vlad, Shaun ... they’re all coming in and giving us a lot. We’re playing our best basketball late in the season, which is what you want, and those guys are a big part of it.”

In Tuesday’s 120-108 loss to the Hornets, Maggette scored a team-high 25 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter, and Radmanovic contributed 18 while making four three-point baskets.

Maggette acknowledged he would prefer to become a starter again, but he’s content with a sixth-man role for now.

“The guys we have coming in are giving us a huge lift,” said Maggette, sidelined 43 games because of foot and hamstring injuries. “We’re fortunate to have the players that we have on the bench right now, who are really doing it.

“Vlad and Shaun have been doing an excellent job, and I’m just trying to continue to work myself back in. I’m getting better each game, it’s real positive what we have right now as a team, and we just have to keep getting better and keep it going.”

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The Clippers expected consistent long-range shooting from Radmanovic, but he has been better than advertised on defense and rebounding, Coach Mike Dunleavy said.

“A lot of people said that he couldn’t defend and that he’s limited, he’s just a shooter, and we thought there was more to it,” Dunleavy said. “I thought he was ... athletic enough to do some of the things we wanted him to do.

“He’s very smart, so he’s great on team defense. He gets everything we’re trying to do, really understands it, and does it pretty well. And the rebounding part has been better than expected. I expected him to be good, but he’s been better than good.

“He boxes out every time, and he goes after balls. That part of it has been really good. He’s been very positive for us and fits well.”

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TONIGHT

at Memphis, 5 PST, Channel 5

Site -- FedExForum.

Radio -- 1150, 830.

Records -- Clippers 39-27, Grizzlies 38-29.

Record vs. Grizzlies -- 1-1.

Update -- The Grizzlies have won four in a row. Forward Mike Miller, who averages 13.6 points and 5.5 rebounds, is among the leading candidates to be selected sixth man of the year.