Clippers run and gun, Lakers share and care

The Clippers, seeking a new identity without Elton Brand to define and lead them, took another step Sunday toward transforming themselves into a hard-working, up-tempo team that will scrap and shoot with anyone.

The Lakers, minus the injured Lamar Odom and still dealing with the will-Kobe-be-traded saga, are also establishing a new identity as -- don’t laugh -- a selfless team that moves the ball around and gets a boost of energy and enthusiasm from Andrew Bynum and Jordan Farmar.

Sunday’s Staples Center basketball doubleheader was a sweep for the local teams and a contrast in styles.

The Clippers outran Seattle, 115-101, in the opener to improve to 2-0 and remain the only Pacific Division team without a loss. They got 27 points from Corey Maggette, 15 rebounds from an often-outnumbered Chris Kaman and strong outside shooting from Tim Thomas, who had four three-point baskets among his 20 points.

The Clippers were brisk, efficient and entertaining. They turned the ball over only 12 times, stole it 14 times, and got stronger as the game progressed, outscoring Seattle, 37-25, in the fourth quarter.

“Basically when Elton went down I tried to think, ‘OK, what’s the best course of action here?’ ” Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy said.

“And there was some money left and some guys out there so the decision was to play smaller, faster, better defensively, reduce our turnovers.”

Brevin Knight contributed four assists and two steals, as valuable an asset as Ruben Patterson’s 13 points off the bench.

“Brevin is just a terrific playmaker, a good floor general,” Dunleavy said. “He allows you to change your game and play a lot faster.

“He gets his hands on a lot of balls in the passing lanes and it lets us get out and go.”

The Lakers, who split their first two games, outdistanced the Jazz in the fourth quarter Sunday in a 119-109 victory. They were propelled by Kobe Bryant’s 13-for-19 shooting and 33 points but were carried to the finish by Bynum’s 11-point fourth quarter and Farmar’s 10-point, three-assist second half.

The Lakers talked about sharing the ball and being unselfish, notions that don’t always immediately come to mind when thinking about this team.

But they lived those words at every turn, perhaps most notably on the behind-the-back, no-look pass from Farmar that set up Bynum for the dunk that put the Lakers ahead for good, 83-82, 10 seconds into the fourth quarter.

“We’re just playing good basketball. We’re solid defensively. We’re unselfish. And we’re getting it done,” said Farmar, who scored the Lakers’ next five points -- on two layups and a free throw -- after that terrific pass.

“The second squad comes in and we bring a little energy, we try to get it more up-tempo. The first squad has veterans and they know how to play the game the right way and they do that. They can score inside with Kwame [Brown]. Luke Walton’s making great passes, Derek Fisher’s knocking down shots, Kobe’s being Kobe.

“The second unit comes in, we try and run up and down and make things happen. We all just try to come together and get it done.”

Coming together instead of splintering apart. What a concept.

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson called his team’s play late in the first half “purposeless” but was encouraged by the second unit’s ability to get things moving in the second half.

“We came out and established ourselves,” he said. “Our second guys came off the bench and really gave us a ballgame.”

Bryant, who heard none of the boos that were hurled his way during Tuesday’s season opener, agreed the reserves’ collective performance was the key for the Lakers’ comeback.

“I think that we have turned the corner in terms of understanding that offensively, we will have some nights that we don’t shoot the ball well but our help, the helper defense, has to be there every night,” he said.

“I think that’s the type of mentality we have right now.”

Bynum, who joked that the standing ovation accorded him Sunday might have been the only one he ever got for fouling out, said that the Lakers are not reading too much into their early success.

“That’s the crazy thing about this league,” Bynum said. “You can’t dwell on the victory. We’ve got another game on Tuesday.”

While the Lakers stay home to face New Orleans, the Clippers play at Chicago on Tuesday, Indiana on Wednesday and Detroit on Friday. That might burst their bubble -- but maybe not. Dunleavy said one of the goals for the trip is “to find out who we are,” and the Clippers may have already learned something about themselves in winning their first two games.

“We’re going out and we’re playing hard. It doesn’t matter which lineup is out there, guys are going out and competing,” Thomas said. “Playing hard, for the whole 48, that’s what you want, especially when you lose a guy like EB.

“It has to be a total team effort, and so far it’s been that way. Hopefully we can continue that and give ourselves a chance to win each and every night. That’s all you can ask for.

“We’re in a tough conference, sure, but right now we’re on the right track. Hopefully.”

Hope will carry a team so far. On Sunday, the Lakers and Clippers showed that they can count on more than that.

Helene Elliott can be reached at helene.elliott@latimes.com. To read previous columns by Elliott, go to latimes.com/elliott.