Welcome back to the life of an LA Clippers fan, which – contrary to popular belief – hasn’t been quite that awful this season. Look at it this way; at least we’re not the 1-19 New Jersey Nets. I know I know, that’s a bit harsh but we’ve earned the right to clown other teams floundering at bottom of the barrel, especially when that team replaced us in the history books for season-opening futility.
That’s right; Michael Olowakandi, Keith Closs and the rest of the 1998-1999 Clippers can sleep easier knowing their 0-17 start was finally eclipsed. We’re climbing up the NBA ladder, so hats off gentlemen, wherever you may be.
As I type this, we’re sitting on a 9-11 record (a stark contrast to last year’s 4-16 start ), we’ve won 5 of our last 7 games and all of this has been done without the services of the #1 draft pick Blake Griffin.
Heck, we’ve even upgraded our celebrity fan star power (no disrespect to Frankie Muniz, Billy Crystal and Kadeem Hardison) but Jessica Alba is definitely the sexiest and most famous Clipper fan. (That other LA team can keep Dyan Cannon).
Jessica Alba and her husband, Director Cash Warren cheer courtside during the Clippers win against the Indiana Pacers.
(Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
Sure the most recent win against the Pacers was horrific far from pretty (both teams shot below 38%) but a win is a win and we’ll take all we can get. Aside from the obvious impact of the Pacers missing Danny Granger for the second half and some clearly horrid shooting, the Clippers defense has substantially been able to improve for prolonged stretches. Clipperblog.com notes that they are currently the 11th most efficient defense in the league (per John Hollinger) and we can only hope that’s a trend that the team can transfer to a full 48 minutes of action. The spirited 4th quarter I mentioned in my last blog is a testament to what this team is capable of when motivated.
A quick glance at the team’s upcoming schedule shows that four of the next six games are very winnable. While Orlando and San Antonio seem like a stretch, wins against the Wizards, T-Wolves, Knicks and Elton Brand and the Sixers are there for the taking.
Al Thornton and Baron Davis congratulate each other after beating the Indiana Pacers.
(Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
If Eric Gordon can stay healthy (he played 32 minutes after missing the Houston game with a hamstring strain) and Baron Davis and Al Thornton can fight their love for hoisting up jumpers and drive to the rim instead, we could just start the third week of December with a very respectable 13-13 record.
Or we could lose six in a row and slowly kiss this season goodbye because of injuries, the coach or that pesky curse that feels like its enveloped this franchise for decades. Like I said in the first sentence, welcome to the life of a Clippers fan.
-Will.
“Diary of a Clippers Fan” will be published Mondays and Thursdays during the regular season.
