| Anatomy Of A Playoff Run Authored by Graham Flashner - March 29, 2007 - 2:15 pm
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Only a week ago, however, the Clippers appeared to be in trouble. They had begun the month of March like a lamb, losing seven of nine. They had lost three of their first four games of a make-or-break road trip. They had dropped out of the No. 8 spot in the West, trailing the Golden State Warriors by a full game. And they were facing four games in the next five nights, three of them against playoff teams.
Few would’ve believed the Clips would be capable of winning all four, but that’s just what they did. And they came within a controversial blown call of their first five-game win streak. A look at how it all happened:
Tuesday, 3/20: Taming The Bulls
Elton Brand returns to haunt the team that traded him to the Clippers in 2001, scoring 21 points and grabbing 12 rebounds as the Clippers win in Chicago, 103-89. Cuttino Mobley scores 25, and Maggette scores 22 in 42 minutes, playing aggressively enough to draw 17 foul shots. The Clippers put the game away with a 32-19 fourth quarter, and wind up in a virtual tie with the Warriors by night’s end. Brand’s career record against his former team improves to 4-1.
Wednesday, 3/21: Hart Beats The Bucks
The Clippers waste a 22-point third quarter lead, fall behind by three with less than a minute remaining. and are in danger of a crushing loss Milwaukee. But Jason Hart, the ex-Sacramento King signed to fill in for the injured Shaun Livingston, hits a tough shot from the baseline that bounces twice on the rim before settling through the hoop with three seconds remaining. The Clippers go on to win, 104-103. For the second straight night, they shoot 50%, and hold their opponents under 50. Maggette scores 22, Brand 21, and the Clippers improve their record in games decided by a single point to 5-0. They finish their road trip at 3-3, and are back in the No. 8 playoff spot. The
Friday, 3/23: Blow Out of the Jazz
In perhaps their finest all-around team performances of the season, the Clippers lay waste to division-leading Utah, 104-72 in front of a sellout crowd at Staples Center. Playing with two key ingredients missing for most of the season – hustle and desire - the Clippers sprint out to a 13-5 lead, which balloons to a 28-point margin by the end of the third quarter. Again, the Clips shoot better than 50%, while holding the Jazz under 40% shooting. Four starters score in double figures, and Mobley says the team is starting to jell.
Saturday, 3/24: Maggette Leads Charge Against Wizards
Corey Maggette continues his surge, scoring 29 points – including nine in the decisive last 77 seconds – as the Clippers down Washington, 111-105. The slashing Maggette hits seven of nine field goals and 15 of 17 free throws as the Wizards are unable to stop his penetration. By contrast, Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas, returning to Staples after a 60-point performance against the Lakers, is held in check by defensive specialist Quinton Ross. Arenas gets his 30, but shoots 9-25 in doing so. Five Clippers score in double-figures. The Clippers win their fourth in a row and open a one-game lead over the Warriors. Maggette’s numbers during the streak: 23.3ppg, 5.3 assists, 59% shooting.
Wednesday, 3/28: Clips Fall To Rockets, Refs
Needing a three-point shot to tie the game in the waning seconds, Cuttino Mobley is fouled while attempting a shot from beyond the arc. The referees rule it a two-shot foul, saying Mobley’s feet were over the line. TV replays clearly show otherwise. A frustrated Mobley misses the first free throw – “I was still steaming over the call’, he admits afterwards – and the Clippers lose, 92-87 in what Brand calls one of the toughest losses all year. In one of his best all-around performances, Brand scores 24 and blocks 5 shots, but a disturbing Clippers pattern – offensive breakdowns in the third quarter—re-merges, as the Rockets outscore the Clippers 28-12, to take control of the game.
Maggette comes back to Earth, shooting 3-15 and missing a running one-hander over Yao that would’ve given the Clippers a critical lead late in the fourth. Hart, again sparking the offense, scores 16 and dishes out 6 assists. Despite the loss, the mood is upbeat. With only 11 games left, the Clippers control their destiny.
“We play this well, we’ll make the playoffs,” said Brand.
Next up: Arco Arena in Sacramento, where the Clippers have lost 17 straight. |
