Clippers problems come down to bad management

The curse of the Clippers

After many memorable years of being around the Clippers -- which, believe me, is as close as you want to come -- I was surprised to hear there’s now a Clipper Curse.

“That’s not good,” I thought. “A curse and Donald T. Sterling too?”

Actually, the Clippers aren’t cursed, nor were the Red Sox, who proved it, nor are the Cubs. Well, maybe the Cubs are.

The Clippers did have a lot of injuries -- though not quite as many as reported, with “bad mood” a recurring problem -- but everything is explainable in two words:

Bad management.

The arrival of Mike Dunleavy, who won Sterling’s trust as no one ever had, changed that.

Amazingly, it stayed changed as Dunleavy lost Sterling’s trust, remaining in charge because of the money he was owed, giving Dunleavy the time he used to get Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, Marcus Camby, Zach Randolph and Blake Griffin.

If Dunleavy resigned under pressure, they rehearsed this day for weeks.

At 4-9, with team officials waiting for Sterling to give the word to zap him, Dunleavy told Donald and President Andy Roeser he understood the pressure they were under, but even if he was fired, he wanted to stay as GM.

The dialogue continued for six weeks, until they actually did it.

Dysfunctional as the Dunleavy era was, it was a quantum leap from the days when No. 1 overall picks wouldn’t report and players who fell in the pit -- like Ron Harper, who said he was “in jail” -- clawed the Sports Arena walls.

If these Clippers are cursed, that was the Seventh Circle of Hell.

This is a new day, almost.

MJ splitting Charlotte role?

Charlotte Coach Larry Brown, who never needs a lot of reasons to leave, is making no secret of his concern that Michael Jordan will be falling out of the deal as owner Bob Johnson negotiates the team’s sale.

Jordan, who brought Brown in, isn’t expected to exercise his option to buy the team, isn’t likely to stay without complete control and isn’t likely to get it to continue commuting from Chicago.

Bottom line: I’d guess MJ has had his fill of running an NBA team.

Cleaning up debris in Boston

The Lakers didn’t just beat the Celtics, they almost dismembered the franchise.

The game was followed by reports Ray Allen was being shopped for Golden State’s Monta Ellis (he was, but the Warriors said no), Paul Pierce hurting his ankle, Rajon Rondo lamenting they have lost their chemistry and GM Danny Ainge‘snon-denial denial (“I don’t think that’s leadership. Even though it may be true, that’s what all of a sudden brings speculation.”)

Clippers source doubting Thomas

Whoever “reached out” to Isiah Thomas about taking over the Clippers, as Fox Sports reported, wasn’t a Clipper, the Clippers said.

Said a team official: “The Isaiah Thomas who plays for the University of Washington has a better chance of being with us than the other one.”

-- Mark Heisler