BAD-NEWS CLIPPERS ROUTED BY CELTICS\BOSTON 108, CLIPPERS 94.

Byline: Scott Wolf Daily News Staff Writer

There's nothing like a few days off to erase the memories of being in the throes of one of the worst slumps of the season.

Take the Clippers.

Their grace period following the All-Star break lasted an entire 48 minutes before they sank into an even deeper state of depression following a 108-94 loss to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday before 6,641 at the Sports Arena.

"We're the Bad News Bears," Clippers center Brian Williams said. "We lose by 14 points? Fourteen points? I'm a loser. Everyone's a loser.

"When you lose to a team you're supposed to beat it tells you pretty much that you stink," Williams added. "Remember a couple years ago when Charles Barkley said if you lose enough games you become a loser? How do you keep the tag that you're a fighter, that you're a winner every game, when you come back to the locker room with an L?"

Williams, who scored a career-high 35 points and had 14 rebounds, was distressed that the Clippers blew a 15-point lead in the second quarter and then the game to the lowly Celtics (18-30). You could throw in that it was the Clippers' ninth straight loss and 13th in the past 14 games.

Although he made 15 of 21 field goals, Williams was virtually alone in his stellar effort. He was pretty much canceled out by Terry Dehere's 1-for-14 performance and Loy Vaught's 2-for-9 effort.

The normally reliable Vaught, who said he was not bothered by his recent back spasms, played 10 minutes and took no shots in the first half, then struggled to find his rhythm in the second.

"I didn't get any shots in the first half. I'm not a robot. I can't start making shots when I'm not in the offense," Vaught said. "That's not a knock on the coaches. Brian was doing a good job."

As has been its trademark in the losing streak, the Clippers' offense had its critical flat period. After leading 43-28, the Clippers (16-33) were outscored 17-6 the rest of the half.

The Celtics took a 72-71 after three quarters, then relied on their diminutive backcourt - Dana Barros (14 points), Dee Brown (20 points) and David Wesley (22 points) - to put the Clippers away.

The trio accounted for 22 of the Celtics' final 24 points.

Notes: Clippers guard Pooh Richardson said Tuesday he is considering withdrawing his union membership, to express his disappointment with the three final candidates for the executive director's position of the NBA Players Association. Richardson, who is the Clippers' player representative, had lobbied for an ex-player to get the job. But none of the three candidates - Charles Bennett, William Hunter and Bill Strickland -has NBA experience. "That's unbelievable how that can happen," Richardson said. "I honestly don't know if I'm going to renew my dues now. I don't see how an ex-player can't be a good representative for the players." Richardson was hoping Paul Silas would get the job. If he leaves the union, Stanley Roberts would become the new player rep. "I feel I'm looking out for the players' interest. I just wouldn't be part of (the union)," Richardson said. . . . Guard Malik Sealy had his fractured right thumb examined again and is expected to be out no more than two weeks. Sealy might be able to return as early as next week. Former Clipper Logan Vander Velden has been waived by the Connecticut Pride of the CBA. Vander Velden was ill much of his stay with the Pride and played sparingly.

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Photo Brian Williams of the Clippers goes up for a dunk in front of Boston's Pervis Ellison at the Sports Arena. Evan Yee/Daily News