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Keys to Clippers Success

I?m still adjusting to the fact that LA?s other team is doing so well this season. Yes, the Clippers might make it into the playoffs this year, crazy ha? Mike Donleavy has been doing a febriculas job getting these guys playing together as a team, something they haven?t done since Larry Brown left the team more than 10 years ago.

So how exactly are the clippers doing it? The Clippers are ranked 3rd in Blocked shots. Elton Brand is averaging almost three blocks a game, and Chris Kaman is averaging two. Anyone who watches this team play, knows that opponents think twice before taking the ball into the paint.

The Clippers are also first in Field Goal Percentage. Considering they swat so many shots, this makes sense, doesn?t it? It also means that the Clippers are solid, all-around defensive team. With defensive stoppers coming off the bench like James Singleton and Quinton Ross, and starters who play solid defense as well, teams are only shooting 41.5% from the floor against this team.

They are also in 7th Place in terms of points scored. The Clippers aren?t having such a hard time sharing the ball, afterall. With Brand, Mobley, Cassell, & Maggette all averaging double digits, they seem to be sharing the ball quite well. More impressive, is that early in the season, the team appears to have worked out a scoring system: Brand and Maggette score the bulk of the points in each quarter, with Mobley and Cassell taking over at the end of quarters.