RealGM

The race begins as soon as the Clippers return from the break Monday. And as much as Rivers says he's not looking at the standings, there's no question the Clippers would like to avoid a first-round matchup with Portland or Houston if they get stuck in that 4-5 pairing, as they have the past two seasons.

Coming into 2013-14, the Clippers were hoping to win the Pacific Division (they currently have a five-game lead atop the division) and be a top-two seed in the West (they are currently two games out of the No. 2 seed). These were goals the Clippers probably thought they had to temper when Chris Paul was sidelined for 19 games, J.J. Redick missed 25 games and Matt Barnes was out for 19 games. Rivers can count on one hand (maybe one finger) the number of times his team has been at full strength, yet the Clippers are still in position to accomplish their goals heading into the stretch run.
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One of the biggest reasons the Clippers want to get a top-two seed in the West is their impressive record at home. They are now 23-4 at Staples Center, and only Oklahoma City (23-3) and Indiana (25-3) have better home records than the Clippers, who have sold out 121 straight games. In fact, since the 2011-12 season, only the Thunder, Heat and Spurs have a better cumulative home record than the Clippers.

okpistolpete wrote:Big game. Redick should be back.

Spurs play the Blazers next, so it would be great to go 2-0 in this little round-robin while one of them goes 0-2 and the other goes 1-1.

This game should really set the tone for the second half, especially for this tough stretch we have to start.

mttwlsn16 wrote:

okpistolpete wrote:Big game. Redick should be back.

Spurs play the Blazers next, so it would be great to go 2-0 in this little round-robin while one of them goes 0-2 and the other goes 1-1.

This game should really set the tone for the second half, especially for this tough stretch we have to start.

JJ is out tonight. sucks, but i would rather he sit until hes completely healthy. dont need any set backs as we get closer to the post season.

okpistolpete wrote:

mttwlsn16 wrote:

okpistolpete wrote:Big game. Redick should be back.

Spurs play the Blazers next, so it would be great to go 2-0 in this little round-robin while one of them goes 0-2 and the other goes 1-1.

This game should really set the tone for the second half, especially for this tough stretch we have to start.

JJ is out tonight. sucks, but i would rather he sit until hes completely healthy. dont need any set backs as we get closer to the post season.

Aw man, assumed it was a foregone conclusion that he'd be back. Of course I agree that he shouldn't be back until he's 100%, but now I'm wondering if we should be concerned about the severity of the injury.

ejftw wrote:Tiny Parker huh.

But no breaks against the Spurs, no matter who is out or who isn't. I'm sure Popovich would make the Cal Lutheran Knights a playoff contender in the East

okpistolpete wrote:

mttwlsn16 wrote:JJ is out tonight. sucks, but i would rather he sit until hes completely healthy. dont need any set backs as we get closer to the post season.

Aw man, assumed it was a foregone conclusion that he'd be back. Of course I agree that he shouldn't be back until he's 100%, but now I'm wondering if we should be concerned about the severity of the injury.