The Clippers and roadtrips have been a decent combination this season. A record-setting one.
With a 106-78 road win over the Lakers at Staples Center on Tuesday, the Clippers set a franchise record with 25 road wins. The Clippers have won 52 games, so just about half of those victories have come on the road.
"I don't know what it tells us, but it's good," Doc Rivers said. "There's nothing negative about that. That's very good. That's how this team has been, when you think about this team. Early on, we almost picked and choosed when we were going to play great.
"That tells you that you can do that on the road, too. I'm hoping that means it bodes well for our future."
Jamal Crawford could return for #Clippers' next game, via @JillPainter. http://t.co/VwqlbO8vqX #NBA pic.twitter.com/1mfxUKbGBb
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) April 6, 2015
The Clippers (52-26) have just one road game remaining in the season. They play at Phoenix on April 14, their final game of the season. And then, of course, there are road games in the postseason.
"You have to have mental toughness," J.J. Redick said. "A lot of times in the course of a game, teams can make a big run. You might make a big run and a team might make a run back, so there's a lot of ebb and flow to that.
"When you're playing on the road, if you can kind of weather the runs and weather the crowd, that shows mental toughness. The other night in Portland was a big step for us."
The Clippers were down by as many as 19 points but came back to beat the Trail Blazers 126-122.
And now CP3 goes off the backboard to Blake Griffin for the slam! #NBARapidReplay http://t.co/1MIj1Dosk4
— NBA (@NBA) April 6, 2015
With the win over the Lakers, the Clippers have won 10 of their last 11 games.
The road wins record comes at an interesting time for the Clippers. After the Clippers' loss to Golden State at Staples Center last week, Blake Griffin said: "Homecourt advantage is just not there for us. If that's how it feels in the playoffs, it's not looking good."
There were thousands of Warriors fans in the building for that game, who loudly shouted "MVP!" while Stephen Curry was at the free-throw line, making that moment feel like a road game.
Still, the Clippers have won 27 games at home. Home-court advantage wouldn't be the priority when it comes to health, at least for Doc Rivers.
"I still believe in health first," Rivers said. "I know you're not going to win not healthy. I know that, no matter where you are."
