LOS ANGELES — These are heady days for the longsuffering Los Angeles Clippers. They’ve tied a franchise record with an 11-game winning streak and at 19-6 are tied for the second-best record in the NBA.
Still, Chris Paul wants to keep the fans’ euphoria in check, saying, “We’re not trying to peak now. We’re trying to build something.”
While the Los Angeles Lakers, their Staples Center co-tenants, continue to stumble with a losing record and an early-season coaching change, the Clippers are flying high led by All-Stars Paul and Blake Griffin. Bolstered by one of the league’s deepest benches, which was remade in the offseason, Paul and Griffin haven’t been seeing much playing time in the fourth quarter.
That’s when they become cheerleaders for free agent additions Jamal Crawford and former Laker Matt Barnes, along with Eric Bledsoe, Lamar Odom and Ronny Turiaf, the latter two being the other former Lakers on the team.
“They have their identity and it starts on defense,” Griffin said.
The Clippers have shown they’re capable of winning without big numbers from Griffin. They are 13-3 in games when he scores less than 20 points. He’s averaging 18 points and 8.6 rebounds.
Veterans Chauncey Billups and Grant Hill, another free-agent pickup, have been vocal with their leadership and support while rehabbing injuries.
“We’re all playing for one goal and not individual accolades,” Paul said.
The Pacific Division-leading Clippers have taken advantage of a soft stretch in their schedule to win those 11 consecutive games, with victories over some of the league’s worst teams, including New Orleans, Charlotte, Toronto, Detroit, Phoenix, and Sacramento, their opponent tonight.
“Eleven in a row. Not bad, is it?” owner Donald Sterling said before leading a lockerroom cheer after a 93-77 victory against the Hornets on Wednesday night.
Before the streak began they knocked off some of the league’s best. They have victories over Memphis, San Antonio (twice), Atlanta and defending NBA champion Miami.
“They have a chance to win it all,” Toronto Coach Dwane Casey said.
Even the team’s veteran announcer, Ralph Lawler, is on his own winning streak. His “Lawler’s Law,” which dictates that the team reaching 100 points first will win, is 19-0 this season.
Paul and Griffin have clearly clicked on and off the court in their second season together. They frequently kid each other during their dual postgame interview sessions held in a separate room next to the locker room.
Sports, Pages 24 on 12/21/2012