CLIPPERS' PREDICTABLE VICTORY FOLLOWS TREND FIVE PLAYERS SCORE IN DOUBLE FIGURES FOR L.A. CLIPPERS 102, PORTLAND 89.

Byline: JOE STEVENS Staff Writer

If the Clippers were supposed to blow out the Portland Trail Blazers, then their Monday night win can be summed up in one word - predictable.

After a relatively slow start, the Clippers took control of their 102-89 victory at Staples Center early in the fourth quarter and continued a couple of ultra-early season trends.

Though four games may not officially be enough to constitute a trend, the Clippers again got balanced scoring. Similar to their previous win against Phoenix - in which six players scored in double figures - they had five players in double figures and two with eight points.

It took the Clippers until late in the third quarter to take firm control. They went up 71-60 heading into the fourth quarter, where they led by as many as 18 points and never less than nine.

Although the Clippers and Elton Brand will gladly take the comfortable victory, another trend continued with Brand. He again wasn't the big statistical force he has been, as he had eight points, four rebounds and four assists. He took just eight shots, went 2 of 8 and five of his teammates had more shots.

In contrast, Brand's counterpart at power forward, Zach Randolph, had 35 points on 11-of-17 shooting and 13 rebounds.

The Trail Blazers went with a smaller lineup for a lot of the game, leaving Randolph as the lone big man to try to fend off Chris Kaman and Brand. Kaman ended up with his best game of this young season with 15 points and nine rebounds.

If there was another trend, in addition to the balanced scoring and Brand production, it was that Corey Maggette continued to play well as a reserve. He scored a team-high 20 points and had nine rebounds in 28 minutes.

With Randolph being a handful for the Clippers, Portland hurt itself with poor free-throw shooting. The Blazers shot just 65.7 percent (23 of 35) from the line. The Blazers' 3-point shooting also hurt them as they shot just 15.4 percent (2 of 13) from beyond the arc.

The Clippers hardly did anything spectacular in the first half but led 46-42 at the half. It was a tight half with eight lead changes, Portland leading by as many as five points and the Clippers up by as many as six.

Although the Clippers' roster appears to have multiple advantages over Portland's, they didn't exploit those advantages.

Portland, on the other hand, got 16 first-half points from Randolph, who was an efficient 8 of 11 from the field.

Portland had the worst record in the Western Conference last season, but the Blazers started the season 2-1, coming back from deficits of 12 or more in wins over Seattle and Minnesota. They're trying to go young, and have revamped their roster with the addition of rookies Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge.

Roy, in particular, played major minutes in the first three games and averaged 18.3 points. His play last year at Washington made his early NBA performance no surprise to Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy.

"Brandon Roy has been terrific," Dunleavy said. "I think everyone pretty much predicted that he'd be Rookie of Year, coming into this season."

With his own squad, Dunleavy is still concerned about its overall conditioning.

Kaman, Sam Cassell and Tim Thomas all had shortened exhibition seasons, so the three have been trying to get into better shape. Even though Cassell and Thomas each have put in astounding shooting nights, that doesn't mean they're in midseason form.

"They've been making shots, but I still don't think they're where they need to be," Dunleavy said.

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) The Clippers' Sam Cassell, center, shoots over Portland's Juan Dixon, right, as Jarrett Jack looks on.

(2) The Clippers' Elton Brand, left, blocks a shot by Portland's Jamaal Magloire in the first quarter.

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press