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Web Posted: 03/08/2006 02:12 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Clippers have the Western Conference's fourth-best record after Tuesday night's victory over the Spurs, and it isn't hard to see why.
Elton Brand is enjoying an MVP-worthy season. Sam Cassell has provided some veteran leadership. And the Clippers are much improved defensively.
Last week, Los Angeles held New Orleans to an NBA-record low 16 points in the second half. For the season, the Clippers are holding teams to 42.9 percent shooting, the third-lowest mark in the league.
“My main emphasis has always been on the defensive end of the court,” Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. “If you really want to be a team that can contend, you have to be able to defend. It takes time to come in and get guys to understand different formations on the floor and react to them.”
“The first year, we made more mistakes. Last year, we made less mistakes. This year, we're making fewer mistakes. That translates into progress.”
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has noticed.
“This year, they're one of the top three, four defensive teams, statistically,” Popovich said. “That's a huge, huge change.
“They've bought in. Mike's got his system in, and they've been persistent about it.”
Horry in, Van Exel out:
Robert Horry was back in uniform Tuesday, and Nick Van Exel went back on the inactive list.
For the second time in three games, Van Exel's left elbow was too sore to allow him to play.
Although Popovich said Monday he figures Van Exel would be in and out of the lineup for the remainder of the season, he had planned to play him against the Clippers.
Van Exel had five points and two assists in 15 minutes Monday against the Lakers.
Horry, meanwhile, returned from a two-game suspension for grabbing the arm of official Dick Bavetta and making as if he were going to bite Dallas guard Jerry Stackhouse during the Spurs' victory over the Mav8ericks on Thursday.
Screen envy: Dunleavy thinks the
Spurs are among the best at disguising illegal screens they set in pick-and-roll situations.
“They make it look like they're stepping in for an offensive play or something, but really they're trying to hold the rotators from getting to them,” Dunleavy said. “I've seen it get called one out of seven, eight times probably.”
Dunleavy sounded like he was complimenting the
Spurs more than criticizing them.
“It's something you can learn from,” he said. “There are certain teams who do it well and get away with it.”
Dunleavy said it's the responsibility of the opposing team to make the officiating crew aware of illegal screens.
“If you're not in foul trouble, take a guy and just shove him through the play,” Dunleavy said. “That tells the referee, ‘If you're not going to call it, then I have to do this.'
“It brings more attention to it.”
Less than a minute into Tuesday's second quarter, Duncan was complaining about illegal screens.
Bad trend for Lakers: The Lakers are 0-6 against the
Spurs since trading Shaquille O'Neal to Miami, though that doesn't seem to worry Phil Jackson. When asked if facing the
Spurs in the first round of the playoffs would be daunting, the Lakers' coach said, “No. Not at all.”
Briefly: The seven free throws the
Spurs attempted Monday against the Lakers was a season low, one more than they shot against Cleveland on Nov. 4.
..... The Lakers have Jack Nicholson. The Clippers? Actor and comedian Billy Crystal, who sat courtside Tuesday.