When everything is working well for the Clippers, when all of their parts are in sync, they’re capable of playing as they did Thursday night in Indianapolis.
They jump out to an early lead, force turnovers, move the ball on offense and score inside. They aren’t a finished product by any means, but with 22 games remaining in the regular season, they still have time to get there.
Their 99-91 victory over the Pacers was an example of how formidable the Clippers can be when they’re running smoothly. They beat the best defensive team in the NBA, although Indiana played without center Roy Hibbert, who was suspended one game for an altercation with Golden State’s David Lee on Tuesday.
Despite shooting poorly from long distance – they missed their first 10 three-point attempts and finished just 4 of 23 – the Clippers played with confidence. They also played like a team that knows it controls its own destiny, both in the final seven weeks of the season and in the playoffs.
The Pacers could well be the second-best team in the Eastern Conference, so the Clippers’ convincing victory – at least until Indiana scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter – says a lot about how far they can go when the postseason begins. If they stay healthy and play cohesively, the Clippers have every reason to believe they can make a concerted run at the Western Conference finals.
Indiana had won its five previous games by an average margin of 23.8 points, but the Clippers relied on a strong start and pushed their lead to 17 points in the fourth quarter.
The Clippers are in Cleveland for the second game of a back-to-back trip on Friday, so there is little time to enjoy the win. Even more important, they’re focused on righting their wrongs.
And there are plenty, coach Vinny Del Negro said this week.
“Our turnovers have to come down for sure,” he said. “Our three-point defense has to get better. Our overall rebounding has to get better. Our overall execution on offense has to get better. And all the little things -- controlling the technical fouls, not giving up rebounds on free throws, time and score, finishing end of quarters and end of half. All those things.”
In other words, the Clippers know time is getting short. They have a chance to improve their seeding in the conference, but that’s less important than being prepared when the playoffs begin.
“I’m more concerned with us playing the best basketball as the season winds down, us being prepared and healthy,” Del Negro said. “You want the highest seed possible, but I’d rather make sure we’re playing at a high level at the right time and that we’re healthy.”
And that’s the point. Good teams know they can always get better. Even wins like Thursday’s can be played at a higher level.
“We’re staying the course,” forward Caron Butler said. “It’s going to be bumpy at times. You’re not going to win every game, you’re not going to sit the starters in the fourth quarter every game, but we’re getting better night in and night out. We’re getting better in practices, we’re getting better in games. We’re building.”
Who’s Hot
Forward Blake Griffin currently has a streak of eight consecutive games in which he’s totaled at least 17 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists. Only one other player – Golden State’s David Lee – has a longer streak this season, surpassing those numbers in nine games in a row from Nov. 10-29.
Who’s Not
Guard Chauncey Billups is still getting his legs under him after sitting out all but 11 games recovering from Achilles tendon surgery and tendinitis in his left foot. He’ll no doubt play a role in the postseason, but he’s struggling with his shooting right now, making just 5 of 19 shots in his past four games after scoring 21 against the Lakers on Feb. 14.
Three thoughts
1. As he proved against the Pacers, Paul is one of the game’s most effective closers, but he can also be a potent “opener,” someone who can make shots early and get his team going offensively. Del Negro has said he would like Paul to be more aggressive early in games, and it will certainly be important in the postseason. One thing the Clippers don’t want to do is fall behind in the first quarter, something they’ve done a bit too frequently lately.
2. Center DeAndre Jordan’s minutes down the stretch and in the playoffs will depend on his defensive contributions, but he’s not likely to see much time in the fourth quarter of close games if he can’t make free throws. Del Negro has already indicated as much, and Jordan hasn’t helped his cause in recent games. He’s shooting 43.5 percent from the foul line this season and has converted just 12 of his last 33. That won’t do in the playoffs.
3. Great teams know how to keep their composure, but the Clippers are having difficulty keeping theirs. They average almost one technical foul per game, most in the league, and three players – Griffin, Matt Barnes and Jordan – rank in the top 11 in total technicals, combining for 30. Emotions get tense in the playoffs. The Clippers must figure out how to stay even-tempered in tough situations. If they don’t, it could be costly when the games really count.
Quotes of the Week
“We have the defensive capability. We have the scorers. We have the big-shot makers. We have what it takes. Now we just have to put it together.”
-- Chris Paul
“When we have energy and we’re aggressive and are playing our game, I think we’re OK.”
-- Blake Griffin
“I think every night we’re going into different arenas and the other team knows that they’re in for a dogfight that night. I think we're becoming like a San Antonio or a Miami or any of the other top teams.”
-- Paul, after Thursday’s win over the Pacers
What’s next?
If the Clippers have their sights set on a higher seed in the Western Conference, the remaining schedule favors them. Of their final 22 regular-season games, 12 are at home and 12 are against teams that currently have losing records. The team they’re hoping to catch for the No. 2 spot, Oklahoma City, comes to Staples on Sunday.
Tower of Power?
They’ve had their occasional struggles – a 26-point loss to San Antonio last week still resonates – but the Clippers clearly are a team to be feared in the playoffs. A strong finish to the regular season would make them one of the four teams most likely to reach the NBA Finals. But it won’t be easy.
