Tough schedule awaits club in January
December 22, 2001

Joe Stevens
Long Beach Press-Telegram

The Clippers are wrapped up in the proverbial calm before the storm. They've had the cushiest schedule in the NBA so far, but in January, the scheduling gods will make a reversal and give them perhaps the toughest schedule in the league.

This week, the Clippers took salvation in not having to embark on their upcoming tough schedule by playing their best basketball this season. Playing only two games, they won them both in the fourth quarter. Plus, they finally won their first game on the road with a victory in Phoenix.

Winning in the fourth quarter is an about-face for this young team. Typically, they've imploded in fourth quarters, but they outscored the Pistons 26-11 and the Suns 21-9 in the final period to steal two games.

Various reasons contribute to this recent ability to win late. First, shooting has been much improved. Quentin Richardson keeps showing that his 3-point shot is no fluke. He made the game-winner against Detroit and had 11 fourth-quarter points against Phoenix.

Another reason for the fourth-quarter success has been rebounding. The Clippers outrebounded the Pistons 14-7 and the Suns 21-5.

Because the Clippers have been so ugly in previous fourth quarters, it's practically hard to believe that this is the same team.

The manner and mendacity of the players have changed in the fourth quarter. It used to be obvious that the team didn't want to be in the fourth quarter. Now, it looks as if the players want to be there. But here's the catch: That's only happened in the past two games.

Still, optimism abounds for the Clippers (14-11) as they have won five of their past six games and seven of nine.

A few new lineups have been used down the stretch that have been key. Coach Alvin Gentry has gone small with Earl Boykins and Jeff McInnis as guards. He's also gone big by keeping Michael Olowokandi on the court, late in games.

Both of those lineups have been effective. But really, the big key has been Lamar Odom.

Odom frequently brings the ball up the court. The offense goes through him, and how he plays is how the team plays.

If his decision-making remains solid, the Clippers will stay solid. He should rarely settle for a jump shot. His speedy 6-10 body is a mismatch waiting to happen. He either should post up over smaller defenders or drive around bigger ones. With Odom's strong passing ability, the team is finding that he demands a double team and that he's masterful finding the open man.

POSITIONAL ANALYSIS

Point Guard: McInnis continues to rattle off minutes. In effect, Odom has been playing the point, sort of like a point forward as he often brings the ball up the court, then goes down low. Odom gives this position an extra dimension. Grade: B

Shooting guard: Corey Maggette and Richardson have been the recipients of other Clippers demanding double teams. Time will tell just how much each stars in the NBA. But remember these words: Maggette and Richardson each will survive and thrive in the NBA for at least a decade. Grade: B+

Small forward: It looks official that Odom has his groove back. Still, he's having too many turnovers, and he hasn't learned that a line drive doesn't hack it for a jump shot. But Odom has been showing many signs of greatness with his passes and drives to the basket. Grade: A-

Power forward: Locked in a battle with Tim Duncan for the lead league in double-doubles, Elton Brand is as steady as ever. Brand recently had his three worst offensive games, scoring 10 points or less in all of them. Yet the Clippers won all three games. Grade: A-

Center: Olowokandi hasn't been thinking offense and has been playing strong defense, but he needs to think a little more offense. There have been times when he's passed up shots he should have taken. Grade: B-

Bench: Weaknesses have been exposed. Earl Boykins has missed some key free throws and can be a defensive liability. Sean Rooks needs to stick with his jump shot and not take the ball inside. The Clippers haven't seen a big man shoot as well as Rooks since they had Cherokee Parks. Grade: B-

Coaching: Finally, the coaching staff helped win two games, which easily could have been lost. A coach is only as good as his team is in the fourth quarter. If the team is playing its best in the fourth, then the coach is doing great. Grade: A-

INJURY REPORT

PG Keyon Dooling: High left ankle sprain (11/14).
Analysis: Dooling will be out about four more weeks. The earliest he could return is late January, but there is a chance it will be even later than that. Boykins has gotten some of his minutes as backup point guard.

SG Eric Piatkowski: Strained right hip flexor (11/30).
Analysis: Piatkowski has been considered day-to-day for three weeks. Maggette and Richardson have split his minutes.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME

A few things in the NBA remain a mystery. Why does the Nuggets' Nick Van Exel shoot his free throws a few feet back of the foul line? How come the Heat keeps losing, even though it has such a quality roster and suave coach?

The Clippers have one of those mysteries, as well. Why is Odom's jump shot frequently a line drive?

It appears that Odom thinks it's cool not to have arc in his shot, but that style is not going to hack it. What hurts him most is that sometimes those shots go in, and it fans the flame of the line drive.

Odom does so much well that he needs a jump shot and needs to develop a stop-and-pop jumper to improve. His first step has to be to stop the madness of the line drive.

Another quirk to notice is that Odom is shying away from using his right hand. Granted, he had a nagging right wrist injury. But he needs to balance out his drives with his right hand to keep defenders off-balance.