| Clippers Still Not In Suns Orbit Authored by Graham Flashner - January 20, 2006 - 2:08 am
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Unfortunately, elite teams have a habit of rudely crushing the aspirations of teams like the Clippers. Especially when that team is led by the NBA’s reigning MVP, Steve Nash. All Nash did was score 20 points and dish out 18 assists, which meant he had a hand in 76 of Phoenix’s 112 points. Pair that with Shawn Marion’s 30 points and 17 rebounds, and you can see why this Phoenix team is still dangerous, even without Amare Stoudemire.
The Suns outwit, outlasted, and outplayed the Clips in every phase of the game, using an opportunistic defense to set up their high-flying offense. It was no help that the Suns were already fired up from their worst loss of the season, a 29-point pasting in Sacramento just 24 hours earlier. It was no help that the Suns frequently double-teamed the Clippers in the low post, then pounced on errant cross-court lobs. And it was no help that the Clippers left Phoenix shooters open long enough for them to hit 11 shots from three-point land, while the Clips were missing 7 of their 8.
“We’re not ready for prime time right now,” said coach Mike Dunleavy, and he wasn’t kidding. A 21-7 burst to start the second quarter put the Suns in front 51-31 halfway through the second quarter – and this was all without Nash scoring a point. To their credit, the Clippers never let the game become a rout, but each time they surged, the Suns answered back. After the Clippers crept within 57-46, the Suns closed the half on an 11-2 run to go up 19.
Nash took over in the third, pumping in 11 points and handing out 6 assists, while Sam Cassell (27 points) answered with 11 of his own, keeping the Clips within 96-80. Then, led by an energetic turn by James Singleton (8 fourth-quarter points) and two key Daniel Ewing shots, the Clips used a 14-4 run to creep within 100-94 with 7:16 left. Alas, they could get no closer. Len Barbosa hit a driving layup off a great feed by Nash, Shawn Marion got a couple of key offensive rebounds in the closing minute, and the Clippers were done.
Afterwards, Dunleavy was philosophical. “There’s a lesson to be learned here,” he said. “We’re not mentally tough enough to make the comeback all the way… but the guys did stay tough”
“We learned a lot about ourselves tonight,” said Elton Brand (19 points, 7 rebounds). “We have to be tougher on the double-teams, we have to contain better. Once we contest the shots, we’re OK. But they got the wide-open looks tonight, and knocked them down.”
Since their 14-5 start, the Clippers are 6-10, and clearly missing their most dangerous offensive weapon, Corey Maggette. Though Dunleavy was encouraged by a strong performance from Shaun Livingston (14 first-half points), he acknowledged that the 6’7 Livingston’s body may be getting worn down by having to guard the more punishing forwards that Maggette would guard.
The Clippers are clearly in survival mode until Maggette returns, and their playoff seeding is tenuous: they’re in the No. 6 spot, half a game ahead of the Lakers, and only 2 games ahead of Utah. Starting Jan. 30, they’ll play 9 of 12 on the road, including a 6-game swing that includes stops at Miami and Detroit. Historically, this has been the part of the season where the Clippers are most vulnerable, the playoffs still three months away, the early season momentum somewhat dissipating. But Brand believes the Clippers are still focused.
“You have goals that are short term that’ll help you in the long term,” Brand said. “Catch Phoenix, collect as many wins as possible… mentally, you just have to look at the end result, and that’s get to the playoffs.” |
