Chris Paul says it's not the sore groin or the strained hip flexor, but even if it was, he wouldn't admit it.
But hurt or healthy, Chris Paul is doing some very un-Chris Paul things.
After committing five turnovers in the Clippers' Game 1 loss, Paul finished with a career-high eight turnovers Thursday as the Clippers fell to San Antonio 105-88.
"It's just bad decisions," Paul said. "I just have to make better passes."
The bad decisions and the bad passes are starting to pile up this offseason. Paul has turned the ball over 38 times in nine games -- most in the NBA.
In two games against the Spurs, Paul has 13 turnovers and just 16 points.
NOTES, QUOTES
This team still has no identity
--The Clippers aren't the team that grinded out a win in a seven-game series against Memphis, and they're not the team that has been running up and down the floor with San Antonio.
So, who are they? Do they have a definitive style?
"We're not one of those teams," forward Blake Griffin said. "You play Memphis and you know exactly what you're going to get. You play Oklahoma City, you know what you're going to get. You play Denver, you know it's going to be high-powered."
Coach Vinny Del Negro said his team would ideally be a mix of Memphis and San Antonio, but by being neither they never dictate the pace of the game.
"If you're having to play someone else's game, obviously, they're going to be better at it," Griffin said. "The faster we can adjust and play that style, the better off we are."
--The Clippers spent much of their time in between Games 1 and 2 trying to find a way to keep the Spurs from hitting so many open 3-point shots. After making 13 in Game 1, the Spurs drained 10 Thursday in Game 2.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's just one of those games." -- Coach Vinny Del Negro on forward Blake Griffin grabbing only one rebound in the Clippers' 105-88 loss Thursday.
ROSTER REPORT
PLAYER NOTES:
--F Blake Griffin led the Clippers with 20 points, hitting 6 of 8 from the free-throw line. But Griffin didn't do enough on the glass, grabbing only one rebound.
--G Randy Foye made three 3-point shots in 26 minutes Thursday. Foye was one of only three Clippers to score more than 10 points.
--G Eric Bledsoe followed a career-high-tying 23 points in Game 1 with only four points in Game 2. Bledsoe played just under 23 minutes, the most of any Clipper coming off the bench.
--G Chris Paul continued to struggle taking care of the ball, turning it over a career-high eight times. Paul has turned the ball over 13 times in the series and 38 times in the playoffs.
