Rowan Kavner
LOS ANGELES – Better pace, strong defense, efficient scoring and elite play from the starting unit against one of the top teams in the West isn’t a bad recipe to start changing perceptions.
The Clippers have beaten the teams they’re supposed to and had some trouble against elite squads this year, entering Saturday afternoon’s game with a 7-9 record against teams .500 or better, but that looked far from the case in a 120-100 win against the Mavericks.
“I just think this is the team everyone thought we’d be,” said Matt Barnes, who finished with 18 points and led all scorers with nine after the first quarter. “It just took a little time to get going. It’s only two games, but I think we’ve learned a lot from both these games, and we really see what’s working right now.”
Getting leads has never been a problem for the Clippers this season. Sustaining those leads and stopping runs hasn’t been as consistent.
But the last two games, the Clippers, as Barnes said, are looking like the team they know they can be. The Clippers led the Mavs by six points after the first quarter, eight at the half and 16 after the third quarter in a 20-point win.
There are a variety of reasons that’s happening.
“It’s energy,” Barnes said. “It starts on the defensive end, but it’s also just the ball movement and holding everyone accountable.”
It’s also a group of starters all in a groove.
Six different Clippers, including all five starters, finished with at least 13 points apiece. It marked the third straight game all five Clippers starters scored in double digits.
Chris Paul had 17 points and 13 assists. DeAndre Jordan had 13 points and 15 rebounds. Blake Griffin led the Clippers with 22 points, also adding seven rebounds and six assists. Barnes and J.J. Redick combined for 17 of the Clippers’ first 20 points.
“I think our momentum is good right now, two back-to-back solid games,” Barnes said. “Our competition is ourselves. We know what we’re capable of.”
Paul added that he talks with Jordan Farmar before and during the game about the Clippers needing to keep a steady pace, and they’ve been able to accomplish that the last couple games. Paul also said the Clippers are playing more instinctively and getting in transition more often, pushing the tempo and the ball.
All of that has led to back-to-back blowout wins, the latter against the West’s fifth best team, according to standings.
“It’s a good win for us,” Paul said. “That’s a really good team over there that we beat today. I think it just shows us what we’re capable of.”
Jamal Crawford was the only player on the bench who had scored after three quarters, yet the Clippers still led by 16. Crawford finished with 19 points, and Spencer Hawes and Jordan Farmar combined for 13 points in the fourth quarter.
The Clippers shot 52.3 percent in the game and led by as many as 26. The Clippers’ eight-point lead at the half continued to soar after a strong start to the third quarter, turning a 56-48 lead into a 70-50 advantage.
That was plenty to put away the Mavericks and edge closer to .500 against winning teams, even if that’s not a focus or a worry for head coach Doc Rivers. ,/p>
“It’s important that we win the game,” Rivers said. “Other than that, I don’t know how much importance.”
NOTES: Mavs coach Rick Carlisle was ejected following two technical in the third quarter…Only two referees were on the court the majority of the game after Joey Crawford left with a knee injury…Rivers was relieved it wasn’t something worse for Crawford, as Rivers initially feared…Rivers said he thought the officials did a terrific job despite being a man short…Spencer Hawes crossed the 5,000 career points mark… The Clippers have now won five of their last six games…
