CLIPPERS ON THEIR OWN.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

EL SEGUNDO - Well, that's it. That's all there is. No new star arrived on the horizon. No would-be savior caught the next jet to L.A.

Corey Maggette practiced Thursday with the Clippers just like every other day. Just like he'll do again today.

The same Clippers who have taken the floor for the past 54 games will do so again Saturday against Golden State.

The same guys who dragged the Clippers into their quagmire will have to be the ones to pull them out.

High noon came and no new gunslinger was at the ready, just the same disappointments who have stumbled to a 25-29 mark.

The trade deadline came and passed, and there was the much-discussed Maggette on Thursday, practicing free throws with Sam Cassell.

So now everybody understands. These are the players who will have to find an answer. These are the guys who must not only recognize their situation, but do something about it, without anyone coming to shake things up, adjust the chemistry or stir their tepid pot.

There are no player mysteries now, just simple understanding.

"Dig in," Elton Brand said. "These are our guys. Let's do it.

"There's no more looking over your shoulder, thinking about trades. Let's just play ball to win."

After months of speculation on the future of Maggette, the deadline passed without movement. Unhappy with the way he has been used -- or more often not used -- by coach Mike Dunleavy, his agent had requested a trade.

There was some effort made, exactly how much remains uncertain, and then came a supposed meeting of the minds when owner Donald Sterling made it clear he did not want to move Maggette unless he was overwhelmed by an offer.

Which was swell, but one more unexpected night of bench time and Maggette will be grumbling again.

But then Thursday's deadline came and went, somewhat unexpectedly to Maggette.

"Honestly, man, I just came here to practice," Maggette said. "I didn't even know when the trade deadline was. I thought it was on the 26th.

"I've said all along, it's not my concern. I'm just going to go out there and play hard."

Yeah, well, sort of. Truth is, despite everything said and done, Maggette seemed mildly surprised Thursday to learn he would remain a Clipper, at least through the season.

"Of course, I thought I probably would have (been traded) if it was best for the team," he said. "But I guess it wasn't, so I'm still a Clipper and I'll still get after it."

Dunleavy tried to just shrug it all off. On a day with precious little NBA movement, the Clippers had held pat.

"There was nothing out there that intrigued us enough to pull the trigger," Dunleavy said.

So for now at least, all that Maggette trade talk is officially a non-starter.

"It's past the trade deadline and he's not getting traded," Dunleavy said. "From anybody's standpoint, if they had any wonders or questions, today at 12 o'clock brought finality to that."

Naturally this non-result goes beyond just Maggette.

The Clippers have looked out of step all season, like a pale imitation of the team that captured L.A.'s imagination last spring and advanced into the second round of the playoffs.

That was supposed to be a wondrous first step, a building block to a brighter future, a corner turned.

"We were hoping that," Maggette said. "Now you look at what all the analysts say, the reporters, it's like we're one-hit wonders."

Yet if any member of the Clippers saw a serious lack of chemistry and effort and commitment, and was hoping a trade might prove the needed spark, now they too understand the situation.

No help is coming. No dramatic change of pace is in the offering.

"In the back of your mind you're saying, 'What do we need to do? Is it a player? Is it something that can help us?'" Brand said. "Without a doubt, because we're struggling.

"We just have to finish with what we have. Everybody's here now and knows they're going to be here. Maybe they'll find a level of comfort and we'll start winning some games."

This has proven a season of too many maybes for the Clippers. If the season ended today, they would be out of the playoffs.

"I'm very disappointed with where we are," Dunleavy said. "It's a situation where you have to strive every day to make it better and improve."

But they haven't been, of course. Every time they hinted at regaining last season's form, they've stumbled. Instead of growing and maturing from last season, they have lost their edge.

"It's been tough, man, because if you look at the way we played last year, we played with effort," Maggette said. "We didn't let up on any play. And this year we haven't had that kind of response."

The Clippers have lost fourconsecutive games. The Clippers and Minnesota are a half-game back of the Warriors and New Orleans, who are tied for the final playoff berth in the Western Conference.

The Clippers have 28 games to turn it around. It's enough time, but not a lot of time.

Not enough to waste.

"The clock is ticking, but we have (28) games left," Dunleavy said. "Let's get the job done."

And now Dunleavy, Maggette and all the Clippers know they'll have to get it done with what they have.

"A few days ago once we heard a trade wasn't likely I said, 'Look, this is our team. Let's go for it and make the best of it and make the playoffs,'" Brand said. "Once you get to the playoffs, anything can happen."

But something needs to happen now, and now they all know who with.

[e-mail]

[phone]