New and Improved Clips

Five straight losses have been hard to swallow. As the Clippers fall further and further behind the ever-surging Suns, memories of the bad old days force their way into the minds of fans who've hoped this season would somehow be different.

Amazing how just one truly impressive win can close the door on all the monsters of seasons past. And if there's one victory that's guarenteed to do the job, it's beating the Lakers. Beating them like red-haired stepkids is just icing on the cake.

And that's what the Clips did. Behind Elton Brand's fantastic play, Cuttino Mobley's re-emergence as a scorer, and newbie Vlade Radmanovic's nineteen points, the Clippers whipped their stable-mates badly. Special happy note to seeing Kobe Bryant looking like somebody just shot his dog.

Final score: 102-83, Clippers. Wow, what a way to get back on track!

Sidelines: Next game is Monday at home versus the Charlotte Bobcats, playing on FSN2 and League Pass. Realistically, this should be an easy slaughter of the worst team in the League. However, the 'Cats battled Division first place Phoenix to a standstill last night, showing more guts and power than they have all season. The Suns ended up winning, but it was a close thing through three quarters; if the Bobcats show up at Staples Center with the same intensity they did at the Purple Palace, this could get nasty. 

Chris Kaman sprained his left ankle in the first couple minutes of the game. Word is he'll be out at least two games. Who's going to take his place? Rebraca's not up to full strength yet (and I'm iffy about a center with heart problems playing hard minutes); newbie Vin Baker is said to still be a while away from being game-ready. Sooooo....who? McCarty? Oh, ick.

Double technicals for Cat and Kobe after a bit of a nastiness to do with a hard foul by Brian Cook on ET. Odd--neither Kobe nor Cat are known for getting pitched.

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