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Clippers Continue to Impress

This week the LA Clippers were put to the test going up the Miami Heat. It?s one thing to beat a below .500 team, however it?s quite another thing to take down a title contender such as the Heat. All eyes were focusing on the Staples Center on Monday night when the visiting Heat came to town. Even without Shaq in the lineup, the Heat are regarded as a formidable opponent. How did the Clippers respond? By protecting their home turf.

What a difference one year makes. It seems like it was only yesterday when the Clippers would keep a lead until the fourth quarter, then slowly let it slip away on a regular basis? Not this season. Elton Brand?s season high 37 points didn?t hurt (he shot 16 out of 23 for the game), but everybody contributed. After a slow start, the Clippers got going and never let up, with Brand knocking down jump shots like a shooting guard.

The Clippers have improved also on the defensive end as evident through the first 17 games of the season, in which they held their opponents to 41% shooting from the floor. They held Miami to 40%. Elton Brand?s 6 blocks for the game probably helped a little. Kaman?s two blocks, including a terrific block from behind on Dwyane Wade in the opening minutes probably didn?t hurt, either.