LOS ANGELES – The NBA’s Eastern Conference has been the butt of jokes and the subject of ridicule for what seems like forever, but particularly during the past decade, when the league’s inferior half has commonly seen teams reach the playoffs despite sporting losing records. That’s unheard of in the West, where last season, for example, Oklahoma City went 45-37 and still didn’t qualify for the postseason.
It’s roughly a month into the 2015-16 regular season, but things may finally be changing. Most of the surprise teams have been in the East, while many of the teams who’ve not met expectations are in the West. New Orleans began the season at just 1-11, but after a three-game winning streak pushed the Pelicans to their current 4-11, they’re surprisingly not far from the top eight in the West, due to struggles by several conference rivals.
The Clippers (7-8) are one of four West clubs that made the 2015 playoffs but enter Friday with a losing record, joining New Orleans, Houston (5-10) and Portland (6-10). The early-season woes have been particularly surprising for the Clippers and Rockets, who faced on in a seven-game West semifinal series last season. Over the next two nights, New Orleans has a chance to cut into a current three-game deficit behind L.A., as well as a 3.5-game hole on Utah (7-7).
Despite the Clippers’ early woes, Alvin Gentry – a former Los Angeles assistant coach prior to him going to Golden State – believes it’s too early for concern.
“I think they’re fine,” Gentry said. “Every team goes through a bit of a tough time at some stage during the year. It just happens that it’s now. (Chris Paul) is one of the most competitive guys I’ve ever been around, and Blake (Griffin) has elevated his game. He should be an MVP candidate (if) the success of the team (improves). He’s shooting the ball, facilitating, doing a lot of things… they’re struggling a little bit right now, but I wouldn’t worry about that too much.”
Other notes from pregame:
- Jrue Holiday will play tonight and sit Saturday at Utah due to it being a back-to-back game. The Pelicans have another back-to-back Tuesday and Wednesday. Gentry said recently that while it’s not set in stone, Holiday will play in the home half of home/road back-to-backs.
- Tyreke Evans is not playing tonight, but could make his season debut Saturday at Utah. Gentry: “He’s getting close. There is a possibility that he’ll play tomorrow night… we just want to make sure he’s completely healthy, to be able to do what he does (as a player).”