Despite three losing streaks of at least four games, the Los Angeles Clippers are still in contention for a Western Conference playoff berth.
They return to the court today at Staples Center against the Golden State Warriors, hoping to end their current four-game slide and begin something positive. The Los Angeles Clippers are running out of time for a turnaround, and the clock is ticking louder each day.
"It's definitely getting late," Elton Brand said. "We need to start winning some games, and we have to stop talking about it and just do it.
"We can't count on these other teams to take care of our business for us. The only good thing is that no one has really separated from us."
The Los Angeles Clippers (25-29) are 10th in the conference, a game behind eighth-place New Orleans and half a game behind the Warriors.
The Los Angeles Clippers didn't appear to be a playoff-caliber team in Tuesday's loss to the Phoenix Suns, trailing by 17 points at halftime and 26 in the fourth quarter of a 115-90 loss. Phoenix shot 53.6% from the field.
Again, though, the struggling Los Angeles Clippers are still in the mix for postseason play, Coach Mike Dunleavy said.
"Everybody is in a pack right now," Dunleavy said. "The guys that sprint out can give themselves a cushion."
Dunleavy took exception with reports that the Los Angeles Clippers failed to acquire All-Star forward Vince Carter of the New Jersey Nets because they declined to include Shaun Livingston in proposals.
Many in the organization said the Los Angeles Clippers and Nets had no substantive talks about a potential Carter-Shaun Livingston deal, and the situation never reached a make-or-break stage as reports stated before Thursday's trading deadline.
"It's just absurd the stories people make up," Dunleavy said. "Some of the fantasies people come up with … ridiculous."
Chris Kaman was held out of practice again Friday because of flu-like symptoms and was examined again by a physician, Dunleavy said.
Chris Kaman, who became ill during the All-Star break when he returned home to Michigan, was prescribed more medication to treat bronchitis and flu. Chris Kaman sat out against Phoenix, has missed 10 days of practice and is not expected to play today.
Cuttino Mobley (groin) and Sam Cassell (abdomen) are still slowed because of injuries but might play.
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