LOS ANGELES – Coach Doc Rivers has fielded a few versions of the same question lately: Are his Clippers, of whom little was expected, playing like he envisioned they’d be —7-5 through a daunting opening stretch in which 12 of their first 14 games were against teams that made the playoffs last season?
Usually, Rivers has offered some version of “I didn’t have a vision, I really didn’t,” in response.
Before Saturday’s 128-126 overtime victory over the red-hot Milwaukee Bucks, he added, “I don’t really care right now. I just want to get better and all the other stuff will figure itself out. Our first 14 games were brutal, we knew that coming into the season. But right now, this early, we’re good. We can be really good, but we’re just not there yet and I didn’t think we would be there yet.
“The fact that we’re above water,” Rivers concluded, “is a very good sign.”
The 7-5 Clippers will venture into the deep end Monday night, when the Golden State Warriors pay a visit.
The 11-2 Warriors — winners of three of the past four NBA championships — might be without superstars Stephen Curry (groin strain) and Draymond Green (sprained toe), but that didn’t appear to bother them much in a 116-100 victory against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday.
The Clippers, buoyed so far by balanced contributions, suggested they’d dive in against the Warriors like they would anyone else.
“They’re another basketball team, man,” said forward Montrezl Harrell, the Clippers’ energizer off the bench, contributing 13.8 points per game for the league’s top-scoring collection of reserves (who are responsible for 55.3 points per game). “They lace their shoes up, put their uniforms on just like we do. And they’ve gotta come in here and play us.”
“Every night we’re going to play against a tough team,” said forward Tobias Harris, who’s averaging a team-best 20.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. “Especially being on the West Coast; Western Conference teams are all tough. There’s a lot of teams in this league that every night you have to be ready. We’ll continue to work on us and continue to get better at what we do good.”
Last season, Clippers guard Lou Williams — whose layup with 0.3 seconds left in OT on Saturday clinched the victory — dropped a career-high 50 points against Golden State in a 125-106 win in Oakland.
GORTAT GETS THE NOD
On Saturday, center Marcin Gortat got in a game for the first time since Nov. 1. He started in place of Boban Marjanovic — who’d started three consecutive games but didn’t play against the Bucks until he was called on in the final second of overtime to use his 7-foot-3 frame to crowd Giannis Antetokounmpo on the final inbounds play.
In 19 minutes, Gortat finished with six points, four rebounds and a couple of assists. He also picked up three fouls and had two turnovers.
Rivers said Gortat, who joined the Clippers this offseason after being traded for Austin Rivers, still has to break his habit of running immediately to the paint on offense. The Clippers want him to start above the 3-point line, where he’s to trigger the offense with the picks he’s famous for.
“He’ll get it,” Rivers said. “You can see he wants to do it right.”
Moreover, Rivers complimented Gortat’s professional response to being benched. The Polish veteran had played in — and started — 172 consecutive contests before this month.
“What I’m most impressed with him is he was ready,” Rivers said. “He didn’t sulk that he didn’t play. Wasn’t happy about it, but he goes in and plays and that’s what we need from everybody. Even Bobi, (who) got a tip on that last ball … but you know, this is that type of team.”
BLOOD DRIVE
The Clippers and Cedars Sinai will collect blood in support of the Thousand Oaks community at Monday’s game.
Fans can arrive as early as 6 p.m. to participate in the blood drive. Donors will receive a pair of free tickets to a future home game, according to the team.
The Clippers and partner @CedarsSinai will be collecting blood in honor and in support of the Thousand Oaks community.
Fans at Monday’s game can arrive as early as 6 p.m. to participate in the blood drive.
Blood donors will receive a pair of free tickets to a future home game. pic.twitter.com/trlyKNwuKs
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 11, 2018
