Pinto’s Preview: Clippers vs. Wizards

The Clippers playoff push seems to be in gear now as they've ripped off three consecutive victories and taken four of their last five readying for the explosive 37-30 Washington Wizards tonight at Staples Center (7:30pm opening tip). Last night's 104-72 demolition of Northwest Division leader Utah was a clear indicator on all fronts of just how well 33-36 L.A. is playing at the moment. The Clippers led from start to finish knocking down 50.6% of their shots while limiting the Jazz to 39.7% shooting. Los Angeles dominated the boards (45-34), turned the ball over just 13 times while forcing 18 Utah miscues and dished out a remarkable 32 assists.

The impressive triumph keeps the Clippers the rabbit in the chase for the final playoff spot in the West by one-half game over Golden State (33-37) with Denver now back in sites just two games up for seventh. The stabilizing play on the defensive end of the court of Jason Hart can't be underestimated in this surge. Last night he was able to contain the otherwise elusive Deron Williams, limiting the Jazz point guard to 1-5 shooting and 5 points. Wiliams had averaged 21ppg against L.A. in the previous three encounters between the two teams. Hart came with two more steals, giving him seven in the last two games. His emergence and the steady play of Daniel Ewing has somewhat minimized the loss of Shaun Livingston at the point.

The Clippers again last night played without the veteran leadership of Sam Cassell and may be in the same boat tonight as he continues grappling with back spasms. The encouraging thing offensively is that the team is sharing the ball like at no other time this season. Last night for example, Corey Maggette and Daniel Ewing led the team in assists with six each, but Tim Thomas had five dimes, Elton Brand and Jason Hart four, Qunton Ross and Cuttino Mobley two. It will take a continued collective team effort in unselfishness to get this team where it wants to go.

Tonight's challenge will be to muster enough energy mentally and physically to deal with the Wizards offensive onslaught. It is the fourth game in five nights for Los Angeles. Balancing the scales, the Wiz are confronting the same schedule playing all four of their games on the road. They are 1-2 thus far on their five game Western swing having been beaten by Portland and last night Golden State 135-128 after pulling out a 108-106 triumph in Seattle on a Gilbert Arenas buzzer beater. The Wiz average 105ppg, 27 times this season erupting for 110 or more. Including in that number was Washington's 116-105 conquest of the Clippers in Washington DC way back on November 9.

The Wizards have the league's highest scoring trio in L.A. native Arenas (28.9ppg), power forward Antawn Jamison (19.9ppg) and small forward Caron Butler (19.1ppg). The Clippers appear to be catching a break tonight in that Butler's expected to miss the game with a bruised left knee. But Arenas and Jamison will be a handful. 'Agent Zero' has scored 30 or more points an NBA high 30 times this season, busting out for 40 or more 9 times, for 50 plus on 3 occasions including his only other outing at Staples Center when he poured in a career high 60 against the Lakers December 17.

While the Wizards are an outstanding offensive team perfecting the old Pete Carrill Princeton offense with the ability to strike quickly in the open court, they are very poor defensively. If the Clippers can minimize turnovers they will have ample opportunity to score more than enough points to win this game. They didn't protect the ball at all in the earlier meeting, coughing it up 20 times which fueled the Wizards fast break game and doomed Los Angeles by eleven points.

Both teams will be highly motivated for the finale of their two game season series. The Clippers lead idle Golden State by one-half game for the last post season spot in the West, the Wizards are one-half game up on Miami for the lead in the Southeast Division.

:: Clippers turnovers and Wizards fast break points. Playing the second game of a back to back sequence and the fourth game in five nights which side will assert it's will and grab control from an energy standpoint early in this game? Washington feeds on opponents mistakes forcing nearly 16 turnovers a game. The Clippers were masterful protecting the ball and running their half court sets in last night's rout of Utah. If they can hold turnovers under 15 and negate the Wizards open court prowess it would go a long way towards helping secure a victory.
:: Quinton Ross and Jason Hart to tag team in guarding Gilbert Arenas. Last night Mike Dunleavy had the luxury of resting Ross for tonight's defensive assignment as 'Q' played just 9 minutes in the Clippers blow-out of the Jazz. He should be rested and ready to shadown Arenas every move tonight. When it's not Ross' lanky all arms defensive look on 'Agent Zero', expect to see Jason Hart's low center of gravity and quick hands presented as an obstacle to Arenas high scoring ways. Gilbert's a breathtaking scorer with unbridled swagger. The Clippers must hope that Ross and Hart can put enough pressure on him early in the game that his shooting rhythmn is disrupted.
:: Elton Brand and Chris Kaman to establish a decided edge for Los Angeles on the boards. In the earlier meeting between these two teams the Clippers dominated the glass out-rebounding Washington 51-36. Both Brand and Kaman notched double-doubles in last night's triumph over Utah, both would appear to be primed to flex their muscle against Jamison, Brendan Haywood and reserves Etan Thomas and Calvin Booth inside. The Wizards have been criticized for being soft inside. Brand and Kaman could feast in the paint tonight.
:: Corey Maggette's scoring thrust to be a potential game swinging X factor in this one. Maggette's generating 19ppg over the last 16 outings, getting to the free throw line with frequency and keeping his teammates involved when he touches the ball. In the likely absence of equally formidible small foward Caron Butler (bruised left knee) the Wizards will be hard pressed to match-up with Corey's explosiveness. Second year pro Andray Blatche will likely draw the defensive assignment for the Wizards. He could be in for a long night.

The key for the Clippers in running their win streak to three consecutive games has been their ability to set a defensive tone early with solid offensive execution in the half court to immediate put Chicago, Milwaukee and Utah on their heels. If Los Angeles can bring a similar focus from the start of this game against Washington's scoring circus I like their chances.

L.A. has the inside offensive game with Brand and Kaman to exploit a defensive vulnerability for this foe and it possesses a pair of outstanding perimeter defenders in Ross and Hart to contest Gilbert Arenas explosive offensive game. The Clippers should be able to control the boards in this game. As long as they're reasonably careful with the ball and don't allow the Wiz to generate a high number of fast break points they should prevail.

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