E FOR EFFORT MAY NOT BRING W'S CLIPPERS COULD HAVE TROUBLE AVOIDING 13TH LOSING SEASON IN ROW.Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer If the Western Conference were run like the TV show ``Survivor,'' the Clippers probably would be voted off the island. If the Clippers were playing Texas Hold 'em Texas hold 'em (also hold'em, holdem) is the most popular poker variant played in casinos in the United States.[1] Hold'em is a community card game where each player may use any combination of the five community cards and their own two hole cards , their starting hand In poker, the starting hand is the initial set of cards dealt to each player before any voluntary betting takes place. For example, in seven-card stud this is two downcards and one upcard; in Texas hold 'em it is two downcards; in five-card draw it is five cards. would be an eight and a three. No matter how it's said, the Clippers appear to be heading into a losing season that starts tonight when the Seattle SuperSonics The Seattle SuperSonics (or simply Sonics) are an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Their mascot's name is Squatch. visit Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. . If the season plays out the way many expect it will, this would be the team's 13th consecutive season without a winning record. Seeing their fate another way seems to be an exercise in irrationality. That doesn't mean the team isn't going to try. Like a diligent student cramming for a test, coach Mike Dunleavy Mike Dunleavy is the name of two notable persons in basketball, father and son:
``You use it as a motivator, as far as having low expectations and people not believing in you,'' Dunleavy said. ``You have to believe in yourself, and you have to do it. For us, it's a matter of playing harder and playing smarter. Our downfall has been mistakes on the offensive end - turnovers - and mistakes on the defensive end.'' Just like last season, when team leader Elton Brand Elton Tyron Brand (born March 11, 1979 in Peekskill, New York) is an American All-Star professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Clippers and the USA National Team. broke his foot in the opener, the Clippers start this season shorthanded. Kerry Kittles Kerry Kittles (born June 12 1974 in Dayton, Ohio) is an American professional basketball player who last played with the Los Angeles Clippers in the National Basketball Association in 2004-05. He was raised in New Orleans and attended St. Augustine High School. (knee therapy) and Chris Kaman Christopher Zane Kaman (born April 28 1982, in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers. Kaman stands seven feet tall (213 cm) and weighs 265 pounds (120 kg). (sprained ankle A sprained ankle, also known as a ankle sprain, ankle injury or ankle ligament injury, is a common medical condition where one or more of the ligaments of the ankle is torn or partially torn. ) are on the injured list. Dunleavy said he would start Bobby Simmons Bobby Simmons (born June 2 1980 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American professional basketball player currently with the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association. College career Simmons played three years of college basketball for DePaul University. and Chris Wilcox in their places tonight. Even with Kittles and Kaman healthy, the Clippers wouldn't be expected to be a winning team. With those two out, they are in a worse position. ``With Kerry and Chris, we have the ability to do a lot more with them,'' Dunleavy said. ``You add those guys to the mix, and that's seven deep.'' Dunleavy will have to go deeper into his reserves, and that's not what he would have hoped for to start the season. Although expectations are low, it is not as if there is nothing worthwhile on the Clippers' roster. Brand and Corey Maggette are expected to average 20 points per game, and they are two players any NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= team would welcome. Brand yearns for the playoffs, but this doesn't look like it will be the season. Brand and Maggette have embraced their roles as team leaders, and Maggette said Tuesday that the Clippers could surprise. ``I feel we have the opportunity to win some games,'' Maggette said. ``We just need to work, do the right things, listen to Coach and listen to me.'' Brand has made the All-Star team, and Dunleavy has suggested that if Maggette improves, he could do the same. ``I think it's definitely in reach,'' Maggette said. ``But to do that, I still need my team to play well. As far as how many points you score or whatever, if I'm a person who's an All-Star-caliber player, he's putting up big numbers and his team is winning. I'm going to score. That's my job, but my main job is to help this team win, and the West is pretty much wide open.'' --Notes: Dunleavy indicated that rookie Shaun Livingston and center Mikki Moore will be in the team's rotation. If the Clippers were fully healthy, it is possible that Livingston, Moore and Kittles would be the only additions to the rotation. ... Wilcox said he was excited to start on opening day, but added: ``I'd rather earn it than start because somebody's injured.'' As for personal goals, Wilcox said he hopes to average 10 points and 10 rebounds this season. Joe Stevens, (562) 499-1338 joe.stevens(at)presstelegram.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos, 2 boxes Photo: (1 -- color) Forward Corey Maggette, one of the Clippers' team leaders, possesses All-Star potential, coach Mike Dunleavy said. (2) All-Star forward Elton Brand, right, is good for 20 points a game, but it might not be enough to get the Clippers to the postseason. David Sprague/Staff Photographer Box: (1) CLIPPERS SEASON OPENER (2) 2004-05 CLIPPERS ROSTER |
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