| Rare Clippers Sighting At Staples Authored by Graham Flashner - December 6, 2006 - 11:53 pm
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You remember them. Team with high expectations? Supposed to go deep in the playoffs? Supposed to be better than the Lakers? That team had apparently left the building for the past few weeks, but they’ve returned with a vengeance. After a disappointing loss to the Lakers on Saturday night that dropped them under .500, they’ve since roared back against the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat.
Welcome back, real Clippers. Take off your coats. Stay awhile.
Not so coincidentally, the resurgence was fueled by back-to-back monster games from Elton Brand. In the playoff-like 101-97 win over the Heat, Brand scored 33 points and took 17 rebounds, including the game’s biggest shot, a jumper with 52 seconds left that gave the Clippers a 94-91 lead. Two nights after hitting 12 of 14 shots against the Magic in a 25-point romp, the suddenly aggressive Brand made 13 of 18, out-dueling the one Miami superstar who could match him, Dwayne Wade. Wade got his 33, but needed 27 shots to do so.
The game was thrilling at times, with the Clippers opening up double-digit leads in the second half, and the Heat making run after run. But a fatal dependence on the three pointer cost them numerous missed opportunities: Miami hoisted up 25 shots from beyond the arc… and… made only 3.
Still, the Heat stayed afloat, thanks to Wade’s relentless attacks, and the inside play of Alonzo Mourning, who powered his way to 16 points, 11 boards, and 4 blocked shots. Even the swats called for goaltending were emphatic.
But Mourning couldn’t be everywhere at once. And the Heat’s soft interior was no match for the attacking Brand, who muscled his way past Udonis Haslem, James Posey, and any other Heat players who tried to help out.
''I thought Elton was incredible, just so efficient as a player,'' said Heat coach Pat Riley said. ``He just did us in.''
With Shaquille O’Neal recovering from knee surgery, the Clippers were free to hound Wade all over the court, giving him little penetration room. Wade went 12-27, most of them from the perimeter. He insisted afterwards that he’s not feeling undue pressure to carry the team on his shoulders, but when teammates like Dorell Wright, Antoine Walker and Gary Payton shoot a combined 8-31, he might as well be.
At least the Heat get the excuse of being in a holding pattern until the Big Fella comes back. The Clippers, who are 9-2 at home but 0-6 on the road, have been plain inconsistent all season. But perhaps they’ve turned a corner the last two nights. If so, authentic Clippers sightings should become much more frequent in the coming weeks. |
