The Oklahoma City Thunder has been a good measuring stick for the Clippers the past two years.  In the final game of the 2009 campaign, the 23-win Thunder team hammered the Clippers at the Staples Center by 41 points, 126-85.  In a nightmare season, marred by injuries, the 2009 Clippers walked off the floor for the final time to a chorus of boos from their usually forgiving fans.  Though both franchises were destined for the lottery, the Thunder finished the season on a resoundingly strong note, and a clear message was sent to the league that their talented young core of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green would be a team to contend with in the future.  In a way, the Clippers and Thunder were as two trains passing in the night, one franchise bound for future glory, and the other was wracked with familiar questions and doubt.

The summer of 2009 changed the Clippers fortune, when they unexpectedly won the lottery and the rights to Blake Griffin.  Then, Mike Dunleavy, wearing his general manager cap, orchestrated some canny moves to bolster the bench by turning Zach Randolph’s bloated contract into Craig Smith and Sebastian Telfair, as well as the acquisition of Rasual Butler.  Optimism was restored to Clippersland, and there was hope that the now rejuvenated, deep and athletic Clippers squad can make a run for the final playoff spot in the West.  As the 2009-10 campaign began, many observers saw the Clippers and Thunder on equal footing.  Both teams were on the rise, and has a chance to compete in the difficult Western  Conference.

The Clippers and Thunder met earlier in November, playing two games in a span of five days.  Each team won on the other’s floor, and both contests were decided in the fourth quarter.  Though the Thunder has proven themselves as contenders in the West and had a better record, the Clippers clawed back from their tough earlier schedule and proved their mettle by beating their Western Conference rival in a hard fought game in Oklahoma City.  It was a much needed victory, a type of win that playoff teams squeak out during the course of a season.  But four months later, that win in Oklahoma City has remained the Clippers best road victory against a playoff bound team in the 2010 campaign.  And when the two teams met again on this early March night, the fate of both franchises has already been defined.  And from the first few minutes on, the Thunder proved that, without a doubt, they are a team to be reckon with, come playoff time.  While the Clippers are once again, bound for the lottery, the fate of their franchise, their coach, and their free agents, unclear.

The Thunder asserted themselves on the defensive end very early on.  Coming in to the game, it was clear that the Clippers have an edge inside, and it was as if Oklahoma City almost conceded one on one coverage to the Clippers big men.  Their perimeter defense was suffocating however, and the Clippers perimeter players could not get an open look against the Thunder’s taller and more athletic counterparts.  Durant, while not known as a defensive stopper coming into the NBA, has groomed himself into a serviceable defensive player.  Green, Westbrook, Harden, Collison, and Serge Ibaka all played very physical and tough team defense, their defensive rotations were quick and aggressive.  They concede nothing and outmuscle the smaller Clippers wing players.  They would get 13 steals and block 11 Clippers shots during the game and hold the Clippers to 37 percent shooting.  Asides from Smith, no Clippers player was able to hit even half their shots.

Durant is a burgeoning offensive star who’s about to cross that rare threshold into superstardom.  But it is clear that the Thunder’s calling card is their rangy, athletic, perimeter defense.  It is the mark of a good, young team, one that the Western Conference powers will be loathed to face come the final weeks of April.  They suffocated Baron Davis early on.  With the Clippers offense stagnating after a promising early start, they trapped Baron in the corner and blocked his desperation three.  As if to redeem himself, Baron came right back down the floor and clanged off another three at the six minute mark.  Oklahoma City capitalized on every Clippers missed shots and boneheaded miscues early on and ran off 12 points in row.  By the time Craig Smith was brought into the game for Drew Gooden, the score was 18-6, Oklahoma City.  The burly Smith made his presence felt right away, scoring on his first touch and drew a foul.  All night long, the Clippers would crawl their way back to eight points, to six points, only to have Oklahoma City pull away again.  Never once did it feel that the Clippers were going to legitimately mount a charge against this Thunder team.  Near the end of the first quarter, Durant made a beautiful jab step against Rasual and blew by him for a thunderous dunk.  It is hard to blame Rasual, as Durant has been hitting step back fifteen footers against him early on, racking up 15 points in the first quarter alone.  It was a clear case of going up against someone who is taller, more skilled, and more athletic, someone who is on a completely different level as a player.  In a way, the dream that the Clippers have of being on the same level as this young Thunder squad was revealed to be a fantasy tonight.  As the 2010 season slowly winds to a close, the Thunder has proven to be a clearly a superior team, and a legitimate playoff squad.

That the Clippers somehow closed the 10-12 point lead to four points in the third quarter at the four minute mark is a bit of a surprise.  Rasual Butler got hot in the third, abetted by some beautiful drive and dish by Eric Gordon, and hit some three pointers to pull  the Clippers to 68-64.  During one sequence at the 6:27 mark, Drew Gooden set a solid pick and freed Eric for a drive into the lane, as the defenders converge on Eric, he kicked the ball out to a wide open Butler for a 3.  It was a solid play, executed by a fundamentally sound basketball player from Kansas who knows how to set picks.  At the 5:50 mark, the same play was ran but with Kaman instead of Gooden.  This time, Kaman rolled to the basket too early, hoping to get the ball, and the play broke down as Eric was never able to find daylight.  It was another opportunity lost, and the Thunder once again pulled away convincingly as James Harden was brought back in.  They would score the next eight points during the next three minutes and re-establish their lead back to 76-64 as the third quarter drew to a close.

With Craig Smith picking up his fifth foul at the 11:43 mark of the fourth, the Clippers most effective offensive weapon on this night was taken out of the game.  After that, the Thunder re-asserted their dominance and slowly put the game out of reach.  Harden made a smart, aggressive move to the hoop and put his body into Kaman’s chest, drawing a foul and putting the Thunder up by 15 at the 9:57 mark.  Gordon would hit a three and made a tough layup to pull the Clippers to within 11 but that would be as close as they get the rest of the way.  The final score of 104-87 was not quite emblematic of the game, as the Clippers were within striking distance for most of the night.  However, one never got the sense that it was all that close, that the Clippers were capable of overtaking the Thunder on this night, or this season.  As the final stretch run of the 2010 season begins, it is clear that the path of the two franchise has diverged, as clear as that last game of the 2009 campaign.  Thinking back on the exuberance from the Oklahoma City Thunder players on that April night of last year, when it seems that they enjoyed their time on the court, and didn’t want to go home for the off-season, it reminded me of another Clippers squad from the 2000-2001 campaign.  The season was lost a long time ago, but their joy was infectious as they blew away a 51-win Phoenix team on their final home game of the season.  Darius Miles, Quentin Richardson, and Lamar Odom celebrated on top of the scorer’s table and thanked their fans.  They milled around the Staples Center floor afterwards, not wanting to leave, wanting to play on, as if the promise of their vast potential shimmered seductively before their eyes, as fragile as a mirage; and as if by leaving, they might forsake that beautiful synchronicity which they had miraculously achieved on that night, and might never attain again.  Yet the promise of next season burned brightly that evening, and Clippers fans left the Staples Center yearning for the 2001-2002 season to begin.  It is perhaps too much to hope for with this 2009-10 Clippers squad, and one cannot help but admire this young Thunder team with a bit of jealousy and perhaps yearn for what could have been.

There is a swirl of themes surrounding the Clippers right now, many of which come into focus in a big win over a very good team Monday night, albeit the Clips almost blow the game in spectacular fashion over the final couple of minutes.

It’s clear that the Clippers aren’t a horrible team. If this core group remains healthy though the final quarter of the season, they won’t embarrass themselves on a regular basis, and they’ll probably pick up some solid wins at home (As it is, the Clippers have won 12 of their past 16 games on their home floor). They still have a couple of wings who can stretch the floor, a center who — when he makes good decisions — can put a lot of pressure on the opponent’s interior defense, and a point guard who — when he’s not preoccupied with trying to shoot his team to success — does a good job of finding those scorers. They also now have a power forward with a versatile enough game to keep the defense off-balance. None of these five guys is a complete player at his position and the team defense won’t be top-shelf, but there’s a cohesive unit out there that can score — the Clippers have racked up an offensive rating of 107.7 or greater in four of their past five games.  Add to that starting five one of the better backup point guards in the league, a couple of intriguing talents, and an efficient, othersized power forward in Craig Smith (who’s dinged up right now). That’s a solid nine-man rotation — one that can tilt big or small, depending on need.

With Gooden in place, we’re seeing a half court offense that features rotating pick and rolls on both sides of the floor. This requires more of some players than they have been accustomed to contributing, especially Eric Gordon. Because he’s the ball man on more ball screens, Gordon is being asked to do more as a playmaker. He’s struggled with his handle this season, but tonight he looks a lot better, particularly in the second half.

My favorite offensive possession of the game comes at about the 4:25 mark of the fourth quarter. The Clippers demonstrate both patience and execution. It’s the kind of set that good offensive teams run on a regular basis:

Gooden and Chris Kaman offer Baron Davis an early stagger screen along the arc. Baron moves from right to left, but Deron Williams fights through the screens and Wesley Matthews is also waiting for Baron as he tries to turn the corner. Baron backs out as the Clippers reset. This time, Gordon curls around a back screen from Kaman, catches the pass from Baron in motion. As the Utah defense collapses on Eric, he dishes the ball in traffic out to an open Kaman, who drains the jumper from about 18 feet.

Eric Gordon has a massive fourth quarter, scoring 13 points. He goes 4-for-6 from the floor, 2-for-2  from the stripe, and hits all three attempts from beyond the arc. On the first two (4th, 10:54; 4th, 9:52), C.J. Miles drifts too far from the arc. On the final one (4th, 6:28), nobody picks up EJ in transition on a break initiated by a ridiculous swat of a Williams’ attempted layup by DeAndre Jodran, who swoops in from the weak side.

That 3-pointer by Gordon should be the dagger, as the Clippers go up 95-78 with just over six minutes to go in the game. The Clippers still lead by 12 with 2:29 remaining. The Clippers move themselves and the ball fairly well on the next two possessions (4th, 2:15; 4th, 1:50), but come away with only an off-balanced, fadeaway elbow jumper from Davis and a contested 25-foot Rasual Butler jumper from beyond the arc. Neither shot goes in. When the Clippers walk the ball up with a minute and a half remaining, their lead has been trimmed to five.

After that, the offense screeches to a halt:

• (4th, 1:30) Davis milks some clock, then gets a high screen from Kaman with :08 remaining on the shot clock. Everyone in the building knows that’s the call, including Williams and Carlos Boozer. Williams walls off the lane as Baron tries to penetrate, and ultimately strips Baron of the ball.
• (4th, 1:02) This time, the screen from Kaman doesn’t come until the :05 mark on the shot clock, but he pastes Williams (you argue it’s a moving screen as Chris seems to give Williams a little bit of a shove. Williams jaws about it with the official after he converts a layup on the other end + one.). Either way, it gets Baron the space he wants, as he drives to the foul line, pulls up and drains the jumper.
• (4th, 0:38) Yep. Again. Boozer practically leaves before Kaman does. As Davis dribbles left, he loses the ball. The only consolation is that he’s able to catch Williams in transition and foul before the Utah point guard can convert the layup. Williams misses both free throw attempts, a pair that would’ve tied the game.

During the Utah rally, the Clips give up a big bucket in transition to Andrei Kirilenko (4th, 1:05), but the other points are surrendered courtesy of slow reactions. Boozer beats Gooden off the dribble + one (4th, 2:01) to cut the Clippers lead to seven. On the next Jazz possession, Kaman loses track of Millsap, as the Utah power forward drifts out to about 17 feet along the baseline, where he catches a pass and buries an open jumper to cut the lead to five (4th, 1:31). Off the Davis made jumper, Deron Williams knives through the Clippers defense in about three seconds, drawing a foul on Kaman in the process (4th, 0:40). When Williams hits the free throw, the Jazz trail by only two. For about 40+ minutes, the Clippers play solid defense. They’re particularly sticky on the perimeter, and consistently effective against the pick-and-roll. If not for the pair of Williams’ misses, one of the more complete efforts of the season could’ve been squandered.

DeAndre Jordan’s line doesn’t look like much, but he plays one of his better games under the Hughes regime. The four blocks electrify the crowd, but it’s the humdrum part of the gig that impresses most. His screen/roll defense is decisive and, as the blocks suggest, he’s a help side menace against Utah’s inside attack.

As D.J. Foster noted last night, everyone on the Clippers’ roster has legitimate deficiencies and the Clippers can’t afford for each of them to surface on the same night if they want to win basketball games. But so long as some of the team’s worst habits are sublimated, the product on the floor might be good enough to steal some games and, as the very least, entertain.

In the summer of 2008, after Baron Davis signed a five year, $65 million dollar contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, the thought of the prodigal son returning to his hometown seems like a happy match for both the star crossed franchise and the temperamental All Star point guard.  But after two years of waiting for Baron’s mercurial brilliance to outshine his dark moods, watching newcomer Steve Blake’s steady hand in running the Clippers offense is both a soothing and painful reminder of the inconsistency of Baron’s Clippers tenure.  Though there have been occasional virtuoso outbursts from Baron, as when he scored 24 points in a single quarter earlier this season, there have been longer stretches when he made careless mistakes and seems genuinely bored with the game, which makes his rare outbursts all the more disheartening.  It is difficult to reconcile the dominant, passionate, and energetic Baron with his bored, and disinterested evil twin.  You watch Baron on his bad days and you can’t help but think, how can someone with so much talent play so horrible a game?  Though Dunleavy made the trade with Portland to mainly free up salary cap for the upcoming free agency derby, the addition of Steve Blake to the Clippers has provided a sharp contrast to Baron.  You look at Steve Blake and think, how can someone who is that slow, that skinny, and that short, be so efficient in running the same team?  But more than their demeanor or physical skills, the flaws and strengths of both men seem to be mirror opposite of one another, and in a curious way, their flaws have come to define their respective careers.

After Kim Hughes got his first win against Sacramento, Fox Sports’ Dain Blanton interviewed Steve Blake about Coach Nate McMillan’s appraisal of him as an extension of the coach on the floor.  Steve answered very candidly that; yes, he studies the game and prepare for every opponent very thoroughly because it is the only way that someone like him can survive in the NBA.  In a league filled with trash talkers and players who wear their confidence on their sleeves, such an admission of one’s own physical limitations seems a bit out of place.  And though, on the surface, Blake’s comment might highlight that Rudy-like adage of heart and dedication overcoming one’s physical shortcomings, it also provided a glimpse into his confidence and ease with himself.  It is difficult to imagine someone like Dan Dickau or Rick Brunson making such an admission, as applicable to them as it may be, for their confidence and place in the league was tenuous, and their insecurity often drove their decisions on the floor toward disastrous results.  That Steve Blake was able to admit his weaknesses so readily shows that he is quite aware of his own limitations, but that he is also assured of his place in the league, carved out by his work ethic and dedication to the game.

When Blake runs the Clippers offense, he seems to exude a calming influence.  It is different than a confidence that great players have; that they can lead a team to victory by hitting big shots at crucial junctures like Sam Cassell, or enforcing their will upon the game and demoralizing their opponents like Jordan or Kobe.  Steve Blake’s confidence, on the other hand, seems to reside in his lack of ego; the knowledge that it’s not up to him to win the game, that he only needs to manage the flow of it so that superior athletes on his side can have a chance to steal a victory.  Because of this, he doesn’t seem to force the issue very often; he rarely turns the ball over, and he gets the ball to the right people at the right spot at the precise time.  He only seems to shoot only when he is wide open, or when a defender cheats off him, or when he senses his team’s confidence is ebbing and needs a bucket to stem the tide.  Watching Steve Blake play, and you get the feeling that he’s a bit too small, too slight, and not quite fast enough to be a legitimate NBA player.  But somehow, someway, the offense flows a bit easier when he’s in the game, and the players around him play with a renewed sense of purpose.  Blake might not be that special player that can win the game for you, night in and night out, but he’s not likely to lose it for you either.  But for a young team with a fragile identity, one that can easily get discouraged when an opponent goes on a run, Blake seems to have the ability to steady the nerves of young and inconsistent guns that currently make up the Clippers squad.

Baron Davis, on the other hand, has been anointed as one of the great young point guards when he first entered the league from UCLA.  It has been said of Baron that the game of basketball comes too easily for him; that his interests range far and wide, that his ambitions and talents are too vast to be constrained by the limits of a basketball court.  Growing up poor in the heart of Los Angeles, at the height of Magic Johnson’s Showtime era, Baron can glimpse the limitless bounty that the city laid at the feet of its basketball prince; how someone who is as virtuoso on the court and as charismatic off it, can become an icon, a socially responsible businessman, a philanthropist, and perhaps even mayor of the city.  Perhaps he was only following the advice of his grandmother, Lela Nicholson, who drove him to pursue the game seriously and who often reminded him that there is a life outside of basketball, and that the game itself is only a vehicle through which greater ambitions may be fulfilled.

That Baron aspires to Magic Johnson’s success as a socially conscious entrepreneur is a worthwhile ambition.  But Baron seems to have forgotten that Magic refocused his energy as an entrepreneur only when his playing days came to an end.  While Magic led the Showtime Lakers, he was fully committed to each season.  And every loss, particularly to the hated Celtics, stung him deeply.  Beneath the infectious smile and genuine love of the game, Earvin Johnson was not a man who took losing lightly.  And Magic would not tolerate teammates who did not feel the pain of loss as profoundly as he.  After they lost to the Celtics in the 1984 NBA Finals, Magic sunk into a deep depression.  He later admitted that he locked himself in his home and disconnected the telephone for a week, so despondent that he could not imagine talking to anyone.  Years later, Magic said that loss was one of the most disappointing of his career, because it was another championship that should have been theirs, but one that they had let slipped through their fingers.  It was as if they had failed to fulfill a destiny that they had worked so hard to attain, and that they had failed to honor something special within themselves.

The city of Los Angeles adopted the kid from Lansing, Michigan and the city became his town.  Though there would be great sports icons after Magic — Gretzky, Kirk Gibson, De La Hoya, Shaq, and Kobe — who would lay claim to his title as prince of the city, no one can quite dislodge Magic from the hearts of LA sports fans.  It wasn’t only that he won championships, or that he played the game with an infectious joy, or that he was as fierce a competitor as they come, but you also sense that Magic expended every ounce of his god-given ability on the floor, and he left very few regrets once his career came to an end.  That he took the game very seriously when he could have coasted on his vast talent and superiority over lesser players, endeared him to fans.  You felt that here was a man who did not cheat himself, and that he would not cheat us, and thus the covenant between an athlete and the fans they represent becomes a cherished bond that would endure long after his retirement.

In a way, Magic might be thought of as a perfect synthesis of our two imperfect point guards.  Baron has some of Magic’s charisma, his ringleader ebullience, his uncanny court vision, the knack for making impossible passes look easy, and the occasional desire to make big plays at crucial junctures.  And Blake has Magic’s focused dedication to the game, his probing and knowledge of every opponent’s weakness, and a selfless game management style that minimizes risks and  benefits his teammates.  But as invaluable as Steve Blake’s play has been to the Clippers these past few games, one has to wonder if pure competency and professionalism from a point guard is enough to lead a team to greater heights, or if the team will eventually need something more from its primary ball handler?  Do you need someone who has an outsized ego, a supreme confidence to take over a game, and to hit big shots outside all rationale when the game is on the line?  Baron has the contract and the ego to be that superstar point guard.  But he seems to lack something more crucial; the attention span and dedication necessary to fulfill his potential.  With Baron, you sense that the game of basketball remains only a child’s game, one in which he is content to play so long as it is enjoyable.  But when the game stops becoming easy, when he is confronted by true adversity, when it requires that he goes deep within himself to some dark reservoir of grit and determination, he stops playing.  It’s almost as if, he suddenly realizes that the game isn’t all that important, that there are greater ambitions and interests that define him, more than simple wins and losses on a basketball court.

And so, the Clippers organization and fans are torn between the two flawed alternatives.  Do you choose the steady professional who is devoted to the game, who is a competent conductor of the offense, but who, in the final analysis, is unexceptional as a player and lacks that divine spark which separates mere mortals from legends?  Or do you choose the temperamental star who has greatness within him but who lacks the will and desire to fulfill his once vast potential?  Just as Steve Blake’s unexceptional athletic abilities drove him to become the player that he is, Baron’s natural strength, speed, agility, and charisma could have earned him Magic’s mantle as the city’s basketball prince.  Perhaps Baron lacks Magic’s true love for the game, and is unwilling define his life’s success and failures solely upon his basketball career.  Or perhaps Baron simply lacks Magic’s patience.  With the NBA’s greatest point guard as his touchstone, Baron may have wanted everything that Magic has accomplished throughout his life right away; he wanted to be a showman on the floor, to bring the crowd to its feet with unbelievable passes instead of simple ones, to hit big shots and become the hero that the city deserves, despite lesser teammates who might be open, and to become something greater to the impoverished community from which he came.  To be fair, Baron has achieved tremendous success as a basketball player, as there have been countless playground legends over the years who have never stepped foot onto a college arena and whose exploits have passed into the realm of urban myths.  But in the final analysis, one cannot help but feel that Baron’s failure to fulfill his potential as one of the league’s great point guards will reflect badly upon his legacy, if there is any.  To whom much is given, much is expected, after all.  And if someone fails to honor what is best within themselves, do they deserve our full admiration?  Or should our devotion be given to those who have made the most of their meager gifts?  It is not a happy quandary for Clippers fans to have.

Around Halloween time as a kid, do you remember reading about Witches’ Soup? Basically Witches’ Soup was made by a witch that threw a bunch of nasty stuff into a giant black cauldron — boots, banana peels, spiders, eyeballs…ya know, that whole bit. I specifically remember as a child thinking about the point where I would no longer be able to stomach the imaginary soup, sort of like a make-believe game of Fear Factor. Even though I was a human garbage disposal at that age, eventually there would be too much nasty stuff added to let myself even fathom eating the concoction.

When the Clippers play poorly, it’s sort of like the basketball version of Witches’ Soup. Add one thing to the pot, like 15 turnovers, and you can survive that. Toss in 9 for 30 shooting from your starting backcourt and it gets a little tougher, but it’s still manageable. Sprinkle in 22 allowed fast break points, and 5-20 shooting from deep and all of the sudden things begin to look rather disgusting. In most losses this season, the Clippers have only done a small combination of things poorly. Tonight however, specifically down the stretch, the Clips seem to bust out every ingredient that has contributed to each of their 35 losses on the year.

Outside of the red-hot Rasual Butler, no Clipper plays particularly well tonight. Eric Gordon goes 4 for 13 and struggles to find his jumper all night. At this stage of his career, Gordon is a little like Butler in that if his shot isn’t falling, he’s not incredibly valuable on the offensive end. Of course the difference is Gordon can penetrate, but until he learns to properly kick out on his drives and stop leaving his feet to pass, he’s somewhat of an easy cover for a focused team defensively. Drew Gooden does a nice job drawing fouls and getting to the line (7-7 FT), but his 5 turnovers hurt. Between Gooden and Kaman, defenses can make a living by swarming the post once the Clippers’ big men put the ball on the deck, and a lengthy Sacramento team does a good job of doing just that tonight. It’s good to see Travis Outlaw attempt to assert himself on the offensive end, but he’s cold tonight and goes 3 for 10 from the field. Although Outlaw doesn’t shoot the ball well, his 8 rebounds from the small forward position are a sight for sore eyes. DeAndre Jordan had his typical roller-coaster of a game, getting 3 points, 5 boards, 3 blocks and 3 turnovers in 16 minutes of play.

Down the stretch it’s a frustrating display of the faults of Chris Kaman and Baron Davis. After dropping an easy pass underneath from Drew Gooden [3:42, 4Q], Kaman fails to get out in time to contest a 20-footer from Carl Landry [3:30, 4Q]. Even with the mistakes, the Clippers cut the lead to one behind a Rasual Butler three-pointer [2:06, 4Q]. On the ensuing possession, Kaman collects a defensive rebound but panics and floats a lazy outlet pass that’s knocked away by Ime Udoka. Udoka makes an incredible save and the Kings retain possession. Tyreke Evans then receives a handoff from Hawes [1:27, 4Q] in the high post that baffles the Clippers’ defense. Rasual Butler gets caught up in the handoff on Hawes, Kaman is late stepping over to impede Evans’ progress, and Baron Davis is in no man’s land in his help defense. The possession results in an easy layup for Evans and a huge swing back in momentum for the Kings. Kim Hughes likes to go back up without a timeout, but the Clippers looked flustered in their attempt to answer. Butler is on fire, but without the proper set being drawn up for him he has no chance of springing free for a decent look. The Kings scramble and lock up defensively, and the Clippers don’t get the ball within 25 feet of the basket even once. Eventually Baron Davis shoots a late shot clock three…from 30 feet away [1:02, 4Q]. Can you blame Baron for the shot late in the clock? Maybe not. But you’d surely like to think he could have helped manufacture a better look earlier with the game on the line.

Tonight’s game serves as a reminder of the imperfections of the Clippers as individuals. Baron Davis can’t really shoot. Chris Kaman’s decision making can’t be fully trusted late in games. Eric Gordon is not exactly a versatile offensive threat. DeAndre Jordan will make the occasional silly mistake. Can these faults all be hidden and compensated for? Absolutely — just most nights you can’t stomach it all at once.

A few notes from the 97-92 loss to the Kings:

• The story of the first half was all about transition. It may be tough to stop some of the Kings ballhandlers like Evans and Casspi when they get their forward momentum hurling towards the rim, but there really isn’t an excuse for allowing a guy like Beno Udrih to go uncontested for a relatively easy two points. The Kings 14 first half fast break points sparked their 56 point half and put the Clippers in a big hole early. The Kings finished with 22 fast break points while the Clippers were only able to manage 6 points from their transition opportunities. If nothing else, tonight just further proved that saying you want to run and actually having the personnel and desire to do so are two completely different things.

• The Clippers usually aren’t going to shoot as poorly (37% from the field) as they did tonight. That being said, are the right players taking the right shots? After nearly two years of seeing Baron in a Clippers uniform, isn’t it safe to say that he should probably never lead the team in shot attempts? Baron’s 5 for 17 performance tonight coupled with 1 for 9 shooting from outside of 15 feet dooms the Clippers offensively. On the year Baron shoots 31% from outside of 15 feet, so it’s safe to say those 9 shots could have been better used elsewhere. To be fair, Baron is often stuck with the ball in his hands with the shot clock winding down. Still though, it’s not hard to assign some of the blame for that to Baron, as many times the shot clock is already down below the 14 second mark before the first pass is even made. Tonight Baron just seems to make the degree of difficulty on the offensive end much harder than what it needs to be against the Kings who are far from a stout defensive unit.

Vincent Bonsignore of the LA Daily News relays a fascinating exchange between Baron Davis and Donald T. Sterling before Wednesday night’s game:

Baron Davis was minding his own business walking around Staples Center on Wednesday when he ran right into Clippers owner Donald Sterling.

It was one of those awkward, boss-employee moments where the boss does most of the talking and the employee just nods his head up and down saying, “Yes, sir. You bet, sir. Absolutely, sir.”

… “It’s coming together,” Davis told Sterling, when asked how the team was doing.

“Baron, I need you to make sure it comes together,” Sterling told him, in no uncertain terms.

“Yes sir. And I believe it will,” Davis reiterated.

“Look, I’m a man who makes things happen, and I need you to make this happen,”

Yes sir,” Davis said, politely. “I’m going to make you smile; I’m going to make the fans smile.”

“You know what would make me smile?” Sterling said. “You scoring 20 points tonight. That would make me smile.”

“Then I’ll make you smile,” Davis promised.

“The thing is, I don’t need you taking 60 shots to do it,” Sterling warned.

“I won’t need that many shots,” Davis said. “So you don’t have to worry about that.”

This went on for a few more minutes, with Sterling telling Davis he has big-shot friends all over town who come to Clippers games just to watch Davis play, and how important it is for him to maximize his talents, realize his skills and pull the Clippers up with him.

Finally the conversation ended, and Davis could breathe easy again.

Bonsignore’s full column is here, and well worth your time.