CLIPPERS' MAGIC PLAYOFF NO. - 4.Byline: Gary Washburn Daily News Staff Writer The possibility of a Lakers-Clippers playoff matchup is remote. Better are the chances that the Clippers will join the Lakers in the postseason for the first time in four seasons. The Clippers began a crucial seven-game road trip 0-4 but have beaten Orlando and Boston to forge four games ahead of Sacramento for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Kings have lost six straight and 12 of 13, totally collapsing under interim head coach Eddie Jordan For other persons named Eddie Jordan, see Eddie Jordan (disambiguation). Edmund "Eddie" Jordan (born March 30, 1948) is the founder and former owner of Jordan Grand Prix, a Formula One constructor which operated from 1991 to 2005. . The Clippers' magic number to clinch a playoff spot is four and it could decrease to two if the Clippers win today at New Jersey and Sacramento loses to Seattle. With the playoffs becoming a formality, the Clippers' goal is to avoid a first-round matchup with Utah. The Clippers (33-41) were two games behind In sports, the phrase games behind, often abbreviated as GB in tables, is a common way to reflect the gap between a leading team and another team in a sports league, conference, or division. Phoenix going into the Suns' Saturday night matchup with Portland. The Clippers have eight games left, including two against Houston, and games with Seattle and the Lakers. ``I just want to keep our heads above water,'' Clippers coach Bill Fitch William Fitch (born May 19 1934 in Davenport, Iowa) is a former NBA coach who has been successful in making teams playoff contenders throughout his coaching career. Before entering the professional ranks he coached college ball at the University of Minnesota, Bowling Green State said. ``We've got a chance to help ourselves when we get back.'' The Clippers have a stretch of three home games with Houston, Minnesota Houston is a city in Houston County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,020 at the 2000 census. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.4 km² (0.9 mi²), all land. and Denver to rest and clinch a playoff spot. For an organization mired mire n. 1. An area of wet, soggy, muddy ground; a bog. 2. Deep slimy soil or mud. 3. A disadvantageous or difficult condition or situation: the mire of poverty. v. with bad luck, playing Utah in the first round is an unwelcomed assignment. The Lakers (50-24) are vying for the No. 2 spot in the West behind the Jazz. They stumbled Friday against San Antonio San Antonio (săn ăntō`nēō, əntōn`), city (1990 pop. 935,933), seat of Bexar co., S central Tex., at the source of the San Antonio River; inc. 1837. which was made even worse by Houston's win against the Kings and Seattle's victory over Dallas. The Lakers are 1-1/2 games behind the Sonics for the second spot and play Utah twice in the next seven days. Seattle's remaining schedule does not include a team with a winning record. The Lakers are awaiting the return of Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (pronounced "shak-KEEL") (born March 6, 1972 in Newark, New Jersey), frequently referred to simply as Shaq, is an American professional basketball player, generally regarded as one of the most dominant in the National Basketball Association (NBA). , who could play as soon as Friday against Phoenix. Shaq vows to make up for his absence if the team finishes in the top 4, which is guaranteed. However, that would mean a first-round matchup with hot Portland. The Blazers have beaten the Lakers two out of three times - with O'Neal in the lineup. This period without O'Neal has given reserves Corie Blount Corie Kasoun Blount (born January 4, 1969 in Monrovia, California) is an American former professional basketball player. A 6'9" power forward/center, Blount starred at the University of Cincinnati during the early 1990s, where he helped his team reach the Final Four in 1992 and Sean Rooks Sean Lester Rooks (born September 9 1969 in New York City) is a retired American basketball player at the center position in the National Basketball Association. He attended the University of Arizona and was drafted in the second round of the 1992 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks. a chance to produce with quality minutes. ``I have every confidence in our guys,'' Lakers coach Del Harris said. ``Hopefully, everybody will have their moment in the playoffs. Everybody might not get big minutes, but all 12 guys have shown they can play when needed.'' Blount has playoff experience, playing with two Bulls teams that reached the conference finals and semifinals. ``I don't have to tell these guys much (about the playoffs),'' Blount said. ``They seem like they're ready to go. They're real anxious to play and it's good that everybody's had a chance to get their time.'' The Lakers are tied with Houston for the third playoff spot and the Rockets have those two games with the Clippers and two with the Grizzlies The name Grizzlies may refer to:
They don't want a first-round series with Portland. Minnesota sounds better. ``I want to make sure this team's ready for the playoffs,'' Harris said. ``We've been playing well together and when we get some guys back, we should be better.'' DOWN THE STRETCH The Lakers and Clippers face several key games in the final weeks of the season. A look at the toughest: LAKERS Wednesday at Utah Friday vs. Phoenix Sunday vs. Utah April 20 at Portland CLIPPERS Tuesday vs. Houston Thursday vs. Minnesota April 15 at Houston April 18 vs. Lakers April 19 at Seattle CAPTION(S): Box Box: DOWN THE STRETCH (see text) |
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