The Los Angeles Clippers have long been the laughingstock of the NBA. But after wins over the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat propelled the Clippers to the second-best record in the NBA, the Clippers are finally on their way to having the last laugh.
On Monday night, the Clippers shut down the Heat in the fourth quarter to win 99-89 and improve to 12-5 on the season. With Shaquille O'Neal still sidelined, it was time for another wide-bodied big man to shine.
Clippers power forward Elton Brand poured in a season-high 37 points, nabbed 12 rebounds, and notched six blocks. With the Clippers up by just three going into the fourth quarter, Brand carried the team, scoring eight of its first 12 points to lift the Clippers to a 13-point lead.
If the Clippers have become a surprise contender for the NBA Finals, Brand has become the surprise MVP candidate. Through 17 games, Brand has averaged 24.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game, shooting 56.6 percent from the floor. Brand has scored at least 30 points in his last three games.
The win over the Heat came on the heels of an equally impressive win over LeBron James and the Cavs. On Saturday night, the Clippers rode a big first quarter to a 102-90 victory. Brand played a big role again, dropping 30 points on the Cavs. The win got the Clippers back on the torrid pace they set early in the season, when they won nine of their first 11 before dropping three of four. With 12 wins already, the Clippers are virtually assured to surpass last year's 37 wins.
While Brand has been the leader for the Clippers, changes in the backcourt have been crucial to the team's improvement. In the offseason, the team added Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley to man the backcourt.
Both Cassell and Mobley had rough years in 2004-2005. After being traded away from the Houston Rockets in the Tracy McGrady-Steve Francis deal, Mobley went to the Orlando Magic. He barely had a chance to get comfortable before being shipped to the Sacramento Kings for Doug Christie. Although Mobley still managed to have a decent year, he never got a foothold anywhere, and it showed on the court. In the offseason, Mobley ignored conventional NBA wisdom and signed with the Clippers.
Sam Cassell, on the other hand, was locked down in a mess last year on the Minnesota Timberwolves. Cassell struggled all season on a team that was riddled with internal problems. He was finally relieved of the mess when the Wolves traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers for Marko Jaric and Lionel Chalmers.
Cassell has stepped in at point guard with 16 points and 7.6 assists per game, filling the void left when Andre Miller bolted for the Denver Nuggets three years ago. Mobley has struggled a little bit with his three-point shooting, but he has still been a positive addition to the team, averaging 15 points and five rebounds per game.
Those two have joined Brand and his former Duke teammate Corey Maggette to form a potent offensive attack. Maggette has averaged 21.7 points per game, as the Clippers have upped their scoring average to 99.5 points per game.
The Clippers sit atop a tough Pacific Division. The Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors, two teams with breakneck offenses, are on win streaks and closing in on the Clippers.
It could be tough for LA to hold off those two teams. Phoenix has been playing very well and wants to get Amare Stoudamire back later in the season. Golden State, on the other hand, has been rejuvenated by the addition of Baron Davis. These two Pacific Division challengers will go head-to-head tonight.
