| Rejuvenated Clippers Defeat Cavs Authored by Scott Essman - December 4, 2005 - 9:32 pm
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Last night in Los Angeles, guard-forward Maggette and power forward Brand went for 24 points and 30 points respectively and thrilled a packed Staples Center crowd who hasn’t seen this level of Clippers play in 14 years. At times rising to a fever pitch, the excitement at Staples carried the Clippers to a needed victory over the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers, 102-90.
The 11-5 Clippers, first in the NBA’s Pacific Division, are slowly grabbing the headlines from the more heralded and storied Lakers, their co-tenants at Staples. In fact, with the exception of Laker guard Kobe Bryant, one could make the case for the star power currently residing in the Clippers’ locker room.
They desperately needed to right their ship Saturday night after three losses in their last four games.
“It’s exciting,” said Brand, the recent recipient of the Western Conference Player-of-the-Month, “but we want to start something that’s going to last.” When asked if this means that the Clippers might be bound for the playoffs for the first time since the 1996-1997 season, Brand said, “You can bank on it.”
One can sense the connection between Brand and Maggette who were roommates for a time at Duke University in 1999. Both men are 26 and have leadership qualities not exhibited on the team since Danny Manning led the franchise from 1998 to 1994. In fact, Brand, with 24.1 points-per-game thus far, is possibly on track to have the greatest individual Clipper season since Bob McAdoo, who led the team in the mid-1970s when they were located in Buffalo, New York.
Speaking of star power, Brand was matched with nascent superstar LeBron James, who started slowly but finished with 30 points. James, who turns 21 later this month, is already averaging 28.8 per game and nearly led the Cavaliers to a late fourth quarter rush, though the Clippers prevailed.
No doubt Brand and Maggette had needed help from 23-year-old center Chris Kaman who provided the Clippers with a career high 19 rebounds plus 12 points in the paint. “I worked hard to box out and picked my spots,” Kaman said of his personal best in rebounding.
One can sense the building confidence in the Clipper locker room. 11-year veteran Walter McCarty, who did not play in the game, said, “Playoffs? You can guarantee that!”
Guard Sam Cassell, who played on two championship teams in Houston, said, “I’m excited for my team. It feels good. Kevin Garnett told me, ‘It’s not fair how much talent you have on that team.’”
Another bonus for the Clippers is that 20-year-old 6’7” guard Shaun Livingston, who has been out with an injury, is feeling much better. “I’ll be ready to go in a week,” he said.
Perhaps no one summarized the enthusiasm about the Clippers’ recent surge better than General Manager Elgin Baylor. “It’s a good group,” he noted. “They are for real.” |
