I know we are speculating. I think Mobely has taken on Darius Miles type reefer-what-me-worry attitude.
WOW, other Clips watchers. All of you.
The Clippers' lackluster first-half effort against Sacramento angered Elton Brand, who in an uncharacteristic move revealed his feelings publicly, saying, "We're going to have guys in here next year who are going to fight if we're in this position again."
"I just can't explain what happened today," Brand said. "I guess some guys want to go fishing and do other things."
Brand declined to discuss the performances of individual players because "it's about the whole team," he said. "If one person isn't bringing the energy we need, we've got to get it from somewhere else, and we just didn't get that."
The Clippers seemed to sleepwalk through the game's first 24 minutes, and trailed by 23 points in the second quarter and 24 in the third. They repeatedly missed box-outs and bungled defensive assignments, playing as if they didn't care about what was at stake for them against a Kings team that's 14 games under .500 at 33-47 and in the beginning stages of a youth movement.
"It's stunning," said Elton Brand, not among the missing in a strong 47-minute, 29-point, 14-rebound, seven-assist performance.
"I'm trying to dive for loose balls, dive on the floor, do what I need to do to bring energy. But to have guys go out like that, not showing that fight with the playoff implications around there, I just don't get it. Now, it's not in our hands anymore."
The loss dropped the Clippers (39-41) one game behind the hot Golden State Warriors (40-40) for the eighth and final spot in the Western Conference.
Each team has two games remaining. If the Warriors, who have won three in a row and seven of eight, win out, the Clippers' season is over. If the teams finished tied, the Clippers would advance because they have a better record in the Pacific Division.
After their effort Sunday, the Clippers should be on shaky ground, players said.
"This time of the year, and to be fighting for your life, you can't explain" the Clippers' effort, said Tim Thomas, who scored 13 points off the bench.
"There's really no excuse for that. Whether it's an early game, late game, whatever. We're fighting for our lives, and to come out that way? Turning the ball over, not taking care of the ball … there were a lot of different things. Now, we've got to depend on others.
"You don't want to be in a situation where you have to, but that's where it's at right now. Hopefully, Dallas will play all of their guys and Golden State will get a loss. It's hard to be in a situation where you have to depend on others, who really don't care for you."
The Mavericks (66-14), who face the Warriors on Tuesday at Oakland, have the NBA's best record. After Dallas clinched home-court advantage throughout the playoffs in a victory April 9 against the Clippers, Coach Avery Johnson eased off the accelerator, giving key players time off.
But Golden State is 2-0 against Dallas this season, prompting speculation in the league that Dallas would prefer to face the Clippers in an opening-round matchup.
Moreover, sources say Warriors Coach Don Nelson isn't on the best of terms with his former employer, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, or Johnson, his onetime assistant, who succeeded him in Dallas.
The Clippers hope that the Mavericks use their "A" lineup against the Warriors, who finish the season Wednesday at Portland.
LA Times.
