Lakers and Clippers

A team with no history of greatness and no memorable moments to cherish was awash in strange new emotions Monday night. It may take some time for the Clippers and their fans to process it all.

Given their first chance to gloat in May, a small chorus began singing, "Hey, hey, hey, Good-bye," but no one joined in, and it quickly petered out. A pair of fans in the southwest corner tried to start a "We want Kobe!" chant, but that sputtered, too.

Most of the 18,648 at Staples Center did perform the wave, so Clipper fans are spirited, if not particularly cutting edge. The volume at the final buzzer was many decibels below the roar that engulfed the Lakers a day earlier in the same arena.

Afterward, in a steamy Clippers locker room, the team owner Donald Sterling — long derided for refusing to pay for talent — posed for photographs with Elton Brand, the star forward he actually paid. As Brand exited the scene to head to a news conference, a local television sports anchor stopped Brand to fix his collar.

Strange days, indeed. Until last week, the Clippers had not won a playoff game in 13 seasons. Until Monday, the franchise had not won a series since 1976, when it had a different home (Buffalo) and a different name (Braves).

"I haven't experienced this," said a breathless Corey Maggette, a Clipper for six of his seven pro seasons. "It's great man, just great to see the guys who, especially me, have been here the longest and have seen this happen."

There should be plenty of time for everyone to adjust their sensibilities.

Aside from an odd seeding format that gave the lower-seeded Clippers the home-court advantage, there was nothing fluky about their breakthrough. The new-millennium Clippers are young and talented, bold and deep and — for once — well paid enough to keep them together.

They have a franchise player in Brand, a cocksure pair of starting guards in Cuttino Mobley and Sam Cassell, a gritty rebounder in Chris Kaman and a phenomenal bench, led by the athletic forward Maggette and the point-guard prodigy Shaun Livingston.

No one underestimates the Clippers now and, it is safe to say, no one makes jokes at their expense. In fact, as the Lakers and the Phoenix Suns battled for the right to advance, the Clippers were already being talked about as viable contenders to play in the Western Conference finals.

"I feel like this team was made for the playoffs, that we can match up with anybody, we can play any way," said Coach Mike Dunleavy, whose influence on Sterling was critical to acquiring, and keeping, the current core of players. "We can go big, we can go small, we can play fast, we can play slow."

Bucking sports convention, some Clippers openly hoped for a showdown with their more decorated neighbors.

"I'm pulling for 'KB8' to pull it out," said Cassell, referring to Kobe Bryant, "so we can have the Battle of Hollywood. That'd be real sweet."

The Clippers' postseason history is remarkably brief, contained on Page 94 of the team's playoff guide. The Los Angeles portion takes up less than half the page. They lost, 3-2, to Utah in 1992; 3-2 to Houston in 1993; and were swept, 3-0, by Utah in 1997. The Braves made the playoffs three times and advanced only once, with a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in 1976.

Bob McAdoo owns nearly every playoff record from the Buffalo era. The Clipper era, which began with a move to San Diego in 1978, had its stars, though their stays were usually brief. Ron Harper, Danny Manning, Mark Jackson and Doc Rivers all make appearances in the playoff record book, with such forgettable names as Darrick Martin, Lamond Murray and Rodney Rogers.

Some heavy editing could soon be necessary.

Mobley, who last summer became the first high-priced free agent to sign with the Clippers, said he never doubted this moment would arrive.

"You can quote me when I signed in the summer," he said. "I'm not no cocky dude or nothing like that, but when you believe in yourself and you believe in your team, whatever you're trying to accomplish and you're hungry enough to sacrifice whatever it is to do, it's you against the world, ain't it? I guess it was me against a lot of them."

It was a confusing summation of the new state of the Clippers, but Mobley said it with enough conviction to fill a trophy case, or a new page in the playoff guide.

 

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, and this basketball tale of one city might never be the same.

The championship banners and retired numbers at Staples Center tell a decidedly purple-and-gold story, but the Clippers will wake up this morning as Los Angeles' best NBA team, no questions asked.

They turned aside two decades of history, as well as the Lakers, in a convincing 97-91 victory on Friday night. The Clippers improved to 7-2, the best start in franchise history, and one that only increased the volume of their playoff talk.

"The wins keep piling up," forward Elton Brand said. "It's not about a rivalry. To us, if you ask us, we think we are the better team. We have a better record, we're in the same division, and it feels good to get out of here with this one."

The Clippers made a statement Friday to a city that rarely has taken them seriously. That it was a Lakers' home game made things all the more special.

The Lakers, meanwhile, could only lick their wounds at the end of a difficult week. They barely cracked 70 points in Monday's loss at Memphis, then trailed for much of the night against a crosstown rival they rarely acknowledged in the past.

"I found some positive things about this game," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "I found some positive things about the Memphis game. My mother always accused me of smelling roses while I was sitting on a manure pile, but that's what you do as a coach."

These are changed times indeed for the Clippers, who share the Western Conference's best record with the San Antonio Spurs. These also are changed times for the Lakers, only two seasons removed from playing in the NBA Finals.

The Lakers (4-5) had won 17 of 20 games against the Clippers during Jackson's previous tenure as coach. They had to settle for merely winning the fourth quarter on Friday.

Brand totaled 23 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots as all five Clippers starters finished in double figures. The Lakers got a game-high 36 points from Kobe Bryant, but the superstar guard missed 23 of the 35 shots he took.

"We are just not executing and I think we are relying on me way too much and I am taking way too many shots to try to keep us competitive," Bryant said. "We just have to focus on our execution and get back to basics."

Even with an injured finger on his shooting hand, Bryant has taken 71 shots the past two games. The Lakers also lost forward Kwame Brown to a hamstring injury in the second half. Brown is not expected to play Sunday.

The Lakers trailed for all of the second half, by as many as 13 points, but made a game of it late.

In short succession, forward Brian Cook knocked down a jumper, Lamar Odom stole the subsequent inbounds pass and went in for a basket, and Odom pushed in another shot as the Lakers cut the Clippers' lead to 87-82 with 2:57 left.

But Corey Maggette (21 points) beat Odom for a basket at the other end to put the Clippers back up by seven points and Bryant couldn't connect as he kept firing, trying to keep the Lakers in the game.

Bryant went 1-for-9 in the fourth quarter. Odom finished with 18 points but uncharacteristically missed five of seven free throws. The Lakers also shot just 2 of 14 from 3-point range.

"We didn't lose to a bad team," said Odom, who played four seasons with the Clippers.

The Lakers closed out the first half in terrible fashion, giving up an 8-0 run in the last 2 1/2 minutes to go into halftime trailing 53-45. Brown had one of the lowlights, needlessly fouling Sam Cassell in the backcourt with 6.9 seconds left. Cassell sank both free throws.

As hard as it was to believe, the Clippers afterward were the ones in the position to downplay their game against the Lakers.

"It doesn't matter to me, rivalry, shmivalry," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "Basically, we're looking to win and make the playoffs. We've got one focus here, to make the playoffs, and we want to beat every team that comes in here."

Clippers Head Coach Mike Dunleavy
On the win:
“I’m happy with the way we played tonight. We started the game well then we got a case of fool’s gold and we started jacking up bad shots. Second half we came out and took care of business like we needed to. Defensively and offensively we were efficient…then we went small and we got hurt that way. So we went big and zoned it up and our guys did a good job of playing match up zone and controlled the paint.”

On Warriors Guard Baron Davis: “We made mistakes and he made some good plays, he’s a tough player. In the 4th quarter they started going to him in the low post and he did a good job scoring down there. He could have had 20 assists the way he delivered the ball to guys.”

On the Clippers' first ten games of the season: “I’m looking at the schedule in July and thinking ‘this is a hard schedule coming out’ because we had so many games on the road but you’re hoping we can be at least 500 or above. I didn’t know how quickly our guys would gel. Obviously we feel like we can beat anybody as long as we play smart. We get caught up in taking quick shots that let people back into the game. That’s where we have to get better…when you get up double digits we gotta think about body punches not the knockout punches.”

On taking the court after Friday's win over the Lakers: “I told the fellas, ‘What good is a road win if you come back and give it away at home?’”

Don't tell the Clippers they're among the NBA's biggest surprises, because there's nothing unexpected about this to them.

The Clippers figured others would catch on soon enough, and they impressed again Sunday afternoon in a 113-101 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Staples Center.
Forward Elton Brand had another efficient double-double performance, scoring a game-high 32 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, forward Corey Maggette charged to the basket, guard Cuttino Mobley provided long-range production, center Chris Kaman played a support role and point guard Sam Cassell directed the show.

The combination helped the Clippers (8-2) win their third in a row, build on the best start in franchise history and match the San Antonio Spurs for the best record in the Western Conference.

The Clippers are good and getting better — just ask the Warriors.

"They're very confident right now," Warrior Coach Mike Montgomery said. "What happened was a combination of them being very efficient and being very confident.

"They're a good team, and they really feel like everything is going to work for them. That's a huge deal."

It certainly seemed that way Sunday.

Following a familiar pattern, the Clippers put it together in the third quarter, twice taking 17-point leads, and led, 94-79, beginning the final quarter.

The Warriors cut the lead to 98-92 on Mickael Pietrus' two free throws with 7 minutes 41 seconds to play, and Coach Mike Dunleavy put the Clippers in a 2-3 matchup zone defense.

The Warriors (6-5) went cold — they missed 28 of 35 three-point shots in the game — the Clippers reemphasized their power game, turning to Brand down the stretch, and that combination helped them finish well again.

"They're starting to believe and play like a team that expects to win," said Warrior guard Derek Fisher, a member of three NBA championship teams with the Lakers.

"They've always had talented teams and guys who have been able to be good NBA players. Now, they have good balance to their team. Everyone is playing good basketball and playing together as a team."

Through the changes, Brand has remained the Clippers' focal point on offense. On Sunday, he shot 11 for 20 from the field and missed only one free throw in 11 attempts. He has had at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in the last four games.

When Brand grabbed a rebound with 1:45 left to play and was fouled, fans chanted "M-V-P" before he made two free throws to extend the Clippers' lead to 111-94.

Brand received a standing ovation when he was removed at the 1:17 mark.

"Elton is our horse," said Cassell, who had 14 points and 10 assists and left to a standing ovation.

"I do my thing, but Elton is the guy it starts with. It all starts with E.B."

Brand expressed optimism about the Clippers before the season because of the addition of Cassell and Mobley, who had 22 points and made three three-pointers.

Things have started even better than he had hoped.

"We've got guys all together for one goal, and that's just to win ballgames," Brand said. "You bring in a guy like Sam, you bring in a guy like Cuttino Mobley, and good things are going to happen.

"And our rookies have really stepped up when they've gotten a chance. We're just a cohesive unit right now."

Mobley thought they would be from the outset.

"I told the guys in training camp we're a good team," he said. "We've got a nice bench, and we've got a nice combination when we're on the court. Sam, myself, Corey, Elton and Chris — that's a nice squad right there."

It's all about chemistry.

"The chemistry has been really good," said Maggette, who had 24 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

"I know it's hard for a team to have chemistry so early, but we do. We know what we have to do, we know who the scorers are on this team, and everybody knows their role. It's great."

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 requires employers to provide a workplace that is free of serious recognized hazards and is in compliance with government standards.

The National Labor Relations Board, established in 1935, is in charge of, among other things, remedying unfair labor practices.

In addition, there are various human rights and workers’ rights organizations throughout the United States dedicated to protecting the American worker.

So how, in this day and age, can the Los Angeles Lakers get away with blatantly and callously exploiting Kobe Bryant?

Here is a man who shows up every day for his regular shift, only to discover that he not only has to do his work but also the work of 11 other men. And he gets no pay raise for it, no extra coffee break, no additional vacation time or comp days. Granted, he is in the midst of a seven-year, $136 million contract, but fair is fair.

This isn’t exactly Cesar Chavez territory, but clearly the Lakers are overworking Bryant. They send him out there each and every game and tell him to score, rebound, pass, defend and chase down loose balls while his teammates sit in the shade and watch.

As a result, the Lakers are steeped in mediocrity with a 4-5 record, and have conceded the city’s bragging rights to the Clippers. Can bullhorns and picket signs and speeches by Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson outside Staples Center be far behind?

Bryant is averaging 31.9 points per contest this season, second in the NBA to Allen Iverson. But he’s leading the league in field-goal attempts at 28.1 per game, almost four more than the notoriously trigger-happy Iverson.

Bryant is shooting just 44 percent from the field, and has made just one of 12 three-point tries. That’s what happens when you’ve been carrying a heavy load by yourself, and your arms and legs get weary, and the rest of your teammates have apparently gone on a wildcat strike.

Not to rehash a now widespread criticism, but the Lakers really didn’t think this through when they got rid of Shaquille O’Neal and handed the keys to Kobe. As brilliant an individual talent as he is, Bryant is useless without help. And right now he’s alarmingly useless, because he has almost no help whatsoever.

There have been many players throughout NBA annals who have performed one-man shows — Pete Maravich, Dominique Wilkins and Bernard King come to mind — but who didn’t have enough help to contend for a title. Bryant is now in danger of being trapped in this pigeonhole for the rest of his career, because it’s incredibly difficult to build a championship contender and right now the Lakers don’t even have a strong foundation in place.

Lakers forward Kwame Brown is expected to be sidelined for up to two weeks because of a strained right hamstring.

Brown had two points and eight rebounds in 25 minutes before the injury in the third quarter of the Lakers' 97-91 loss to the Clippers on Friday night - their fourth setback in five games.

The 6-foot-11 Brown is starting and averaging 5.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 27.9 minutes. The Lakers acquired Brown and Laron Profit from the Washington Wizards for Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins last summer.

Forwards Slava Medvedenko and Luke Walton are sidelined with injuries as well, leaving the Lakers thin up front.

The Lakers took a 4-5 record into Sunday night's game against the Chicago Bulls.

BULLS at LAKERS: Chris Duhon scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Los Angeles Lakers 96-93 despite 43 points by Kobe Bryant, matching an NBA single-game high this season.

Michael Sweetney, who had 20 points and 12 rebounds, made a free throw with 24.8 seconds remaining to give the Bulls a 94-93 lead, and Bryant missed badly from close range about 10 seconds later.

BLAZERS at KNICKS: New York Knicks coach Larry Brown had a feeling that Stephon Marbury was ready for a breakout game.

Marbury scored a season-high 27 points to help New York beat the Portland Trail Blazers 103-92, giving Brown his first Knicks victory at Madison Square Garden.

"I thought Steph was phenomenal," Brown said. "I loved the way he was being aggressive. I told people before the game he would play great."

Marbury's cousin Sebastian Telfair had a career-high 27 points for the Blazers in his return home

Channing Frye added 20 points and Jamal Crawford had 19 for New York. Zach Randolph had 17 points and Darius Miles added 16 for the Blazers, who opened a seven-game road trip.

WARRIORS at CLIPPERS: Elton Brand had 32 points and 10 rebounds, Corey Maggette scored 24 and the Los Angeles Clippers beat Golden State 113-101.

Cuttino Mobley had 22 points for Los Angeles and Sam Cassell added 14 points and 10 assists. The Clippers improved to 8-2, the best start in the franchise's 36-year history.

ROCKETS at PACERS: Ron Artest scored 24 points to help Indiana beat Houston 85-74.

Yao Ming led Houston with 24 points and 13 rebounds, but was 8for21 from the field.

The Pacers (6-3) won their second in a row heading into their showdown with Cleveland.

The short-handed Rockets (3-7) lost their third in a row. Their top scorer, Tracy McGrady, missed the game because of a strained back.

KINGS at SONICS: Ray Allen scored 21 of his 28 points in the second half to rally the Seattle SuperSonics to their third straight win, 106-104 over Sacramento.

Peja Stojakovic led Sacramento with 25 points — all in the first half.

GRIZZLIES at NUGGETS: Marcus Camby had 21 points and 21 rebounds in 34 minutes to help Denver beat Memphis 99-83, the Nuggets' 17th straight victory at Pepsi Center.