[外電] Clippers Are No Clinchers in Loss
Clippers Are No Clinchers in Loss
Sacramento's 96-93 win prevents L.A. from securing its first playoff
spot in nine seasons.
By Jason Reid, Times Staff Writer
April 8, 2006
Another good time ruined for the Clippers, so it must be the Sacramento
Kings.
The Kings have been a source of frustration for the Clippers for a long
time, and they spoiled a potential playoff-clinching party Friday night
with a 96-93 victory at Staples Center.
Sacramento capitalized on the Clippers' questionable judgment in the
fourth quarter, overcoming a three-point deficit in the final 1 minute
20 seconds for a win that prevented the Clippers from clinching their
first playoff berth in nine seasons.
Swingman Ron Artest made a three-pointer to tie the score, 92-92, with
1:10 left, and a turnaround jumper in the lane over Cuttino Mobley with
34.3 seconds left to give Sacramento the lead for good.
Center Brad Miller made two free throws with 16.7 seconds left, and
Vladimir Radmanovic missed a potential tying three-pointer as time
expired.
Artest, whom the Clippers tried to acquire from the Indiana Pacers
before the trade deadline, had 23 points, six assists and three steals,
and point guard Mike Bibby scored 30 points for the Kings, who swept
the four-game season series and extended their winning streak to 13
over the Clippers.
The Clippers' magic number to clinch a playoff berth is still one.
They're off today and could qualify if the New Orleans Hornets lose,
but that's not how they had hoped to achieve their biggest goal of the
season.
"Our finish was disappointing," Coach Mike Dunleavy said. "We got a
little frantic at the end. At times, we had time on the clock and shot
the ball quickly.
"Some of our double teams on Artest weren't quick enough. We made those
mistakes, as well as 20 points off of turnovers. I thought that was the
difference."
It appeared the Clippers (44-31) would end a game with a victory over
Sacramento for the first time since Jan. 18, 2003.
With the Clippers leading, 92-89, Elton Brand, who had 17 points and
13 rebounds, took a quick shot and missed. Sam Cassell followed with
another quick shot, which also missed.
And with that, the Kings were energized.
"I thought it was too quick," Dunleavy said. "At that point, we had
the lead. I'd rather get the ball in the low post, and let us try to
go to work."
Instead, the Kings finished strong.
Sacramento (40-37), which would be seeded seventh if the Western
Conference playoffs began today, turned to Artest, who had 26 points,
five steals and five assists in a 106-96 victory over the Clippers on
Sunday.
Mobley, who scored 19 points off the bench, could have tied the score
at 94-94 at the 17.5-second mark, but made only one of two free throws.
Despite their improvement, the Clippers haven't fared well against
teams that spread their offense and penetrate.
They finished 0-4 against the Kings and 1-2 against the San Antonio
Spurs. The Clippers also are 0-2 against the Dallas Mavericks, against
whom they finish the regular season, April 19 at Dallas.
Although those records might not stir optimism among some fans about
the team's playoff prospects, the Clippers are focused on the bigger
picture.
"Yeah, there are some teams we haven't played well against, because we
just didn't execute and do the things we needed to do, and we just
can't seem to beat" the Kings, said center Chris Kaman, who had nine
points and 15 rebounds.
"Sometimes, for whatever reason, we just don't play the right way at
times, and that can really cost you against the better teams in the
league.
"But we've been in all those games, for the most part, especially when
we've been focused and played the right way. Just maintaining that focus
for the whole game is probably the biggest thing for us. We've been fine
when we've done that, and it shows us how good we can be."
--
你們認為海南高高在上,位於雲端嗎?他們真的就這麼高不可攀嗎?
他們的成績的確是有目共睹的。以他們過去的戰績來看,我們和海南的確有天壤之別。
但是----
我在睡前,都會想像著有一天......
我每晚都在腦裡描繪我們和海南大學附屬高中參加IH的戰況。
從那一年前起,每晚都如此!
--
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