Balanced against one another, the Los Angeles Lakers had a successful regular season and the Los Angeles Clippers were a major disappointment.
Granted, the Los Angeles Lakers are not jumping with joy. But at least they are in the playoffs. At least they have an opportunity, slim though it might be, to salvage a measure of pride with a strong showing in their first-round series against the Phoenix Suns.
The Los Angeles Clippers are on the outside looking in.
As is customary in such situations, there are those who contend the Los Angeles Clippers must be dismantled. They want Elgin Baylor, the general manager, to toss the baby out with the bath water and start over.
That is not necessary.
As great as the gap between the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers appears, only two games separated them in the standings. They played for six months, they played 82 games during those six months, and the difference was a 42-40 record for the Los Angeles Lakers and a 40-42 record for the Los Angeles Clippers.
One more win every two months and the Los Angeles Clippers would still be playing.
One or two fewer injuries to point guard Sam Cassell, a faster start by power forward Elton Brand, center Chris Kaman finding his focus sooner rather than later and Mike Dunleavy, their coach, pushing the right buttons, as he did during the 2005-06 season when they won 47 times, and the Los Angeles Clippers would have coasted into the playoffs in a comfortable position just below Dallas, Phoenix and San Antonio, the elite teams in the NBA's Western Conference.
Asked what he thinks is needed the most to improve, versatile guard-forward Corey Maggette did not hesitate.
"We just really need to stay healthy," he said. "I think we really do have the pieces."
What really is important is the use of "we" rather than "they" in his response.
This is an indication, not a written-in-stone-guarantee, but an indication when any indication is a positive sign, the Los Angeles Clippers (think Dunleavy) and Corey Maggette finally are on the same page after a rocky season.
If true, that in itself makes the Los Angeles Clippers a better team.
There remain problems to be solved.
Start with point guard.
Sam Cassell no longer can be counted on for extended minutes over an extended number of games. He'll be 39 during the first month of next season. He's now a limited-use insurance policy, as Ron Harper was with the Los Angeles Lakers at the end of his career.
So much will depend on Shaun Livingston and the decision Baylor, no doubt in consultation with Dunleavy, makes concerning his surgically repaired knee.
They could sign or trade for a new point guard and consider anything they get from Shaun Livingston a bonus.
Or they could put their faith in Shaun Livingston's ability to come back strong and soon, with Jason Hart and Sam Cassell backing him up. Another version of this plan would be to put their faith in Sam Cassell and Hart if they have reason to believe Shaun Livingston will be whole and competitive a month or so into the season.
The critical nature of this decision bleeds into another problem. The Los Angeles Clippers need a deeper bench, including outside shooting coming off that bench.
Having gone into owner Donald Sterling's vault to put together what appeared to be a fairly solid team with room for growth, they probably do not have enough wiggle room due to the NBA's salary cap to significantly upgrade their point guard and their bench.
Have fun, Elg. And Mike.
Corey Maggette's optimism may be just as critical.
"We felt we could have been in the playoffs regardless of all the crazy stuff that went on this season," he said. "We just kind of fell short."
The focal point was a spectacular belly-flop defeat to Sacramento on the final Sunday of the season. While there were a number of other would have, could have, should have games, that one will be remembered as the signature game of the season.
"That's going to be the story," Corey Maggette said. "We just didn't bring it in the first half the way we should have, like our lives depended on it."
Easy to say. Only time will tell if indeed it was a lesson learned.
On the subject of he and Dunleavy being on the same page, Corey Maggette was at once contemplative and positive.
"I don't know," he said.
He paused for a moment. The impression was he wanted to be honest, with himself as much as with his answer.
"I just want to win," he said. "I think we're on the same page because ultimately it's about winning, and that's what he cares about, (and) that's what I care about -- winning. If we do that, everything's fine."
It does not sound complicated for the Los Angeles Clippers when you put it that way.
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