Singing the Same Old Tune

Tony Parker recorded his second
straight double-double Saturday.

It's never easy with the San Antonio Spurs in town and Saturday afternoon was no different.

It a game the Los Angeles Clippers seemingly had won, somehow they reverted back to their old ways and couldn't quite close out their 20th win of the season, falling in overtime, 103-100.

In a close game throughout, Los Angeles eventually found themselves trailing by 15 (65-50) early in the third quarter, but the Clippers, with their new found persistent and resilient personality, went on a 17-0 run that was capped off by an electrifying Blake Griffin dunk, giving his team the lead for the first time since the second quarter.

And after overcoming yet another deficit in the fourth, Los Angeles held a 95-92 lead with the ball after San Antonio's Gary Neal turned the ball over.

However, Ryan Gomes' inbound pass to Chris Paul, who scored 17 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, took his momentum towards the backcourt, causing Paul to try save it and putting it right in the hands of Neal.

Neal, without any hesitation, stepped beyond the arch, drilling a game-tying three-point basket with 5.7 seconds left in regulation.

Paul missed a 14-foot jump shot as time expired, sending the game into overtime.

But in the extra period, the mistakes would continue. The Clippers suffered a shot-clock violation just after Matt Bonner gave the Spurs a slim one-point lead, 98-97. Following that turnover, Los Angeles got the ball back after a missed field goal attempt by Tim Duncan and with 42 seconds left, Duncan fouled Griffin, sending him to the line with a chance to regain the lead.

An exhausted Griffin would hit one of two, tying the game and giving him the first 20 point, 20 rebound game of his young career. But Neal would hit his fifth and final three-pointer of the night which proved to be the eventual game winner.

And after missed layup by Paul, San Antonio was given the same situation as the Clippers had at the end of regulation  -- three-point lead with the ball -- but this time experience proved to be the difference,

The Spurs inbounded the ball to point guard Tony Parker as he was fouled by Randy Foye. Parker, who outplayed Paul, finishing the game with a double-double (30 points, 10 assists), made both free throws.

Paul had a chance to tie the game with a three-point bucket after Griffin had a driving dunk and Neal missed two free throws, but his shot fell short, ending their modest two-game winning streak and calling his fourth quarter turnover the "biggest mistake of my career".

That might be a little exaggerated, but it was a disappointing loss in a game that had a playoff like atmosphere and postseason implications.

Los Angeles had been undefeated when Paul scores 17-plus points, but not with the hottest team in the NBA in town.

The Spurs now have an NBA season-best 10-game winning streak and have started their nine-game Rodeo Road Trip 6-0. But it comes as no surprise, even with the Clippers rapid change in cultural this season, that San Antonio comes into Staples Center and beats this franchise.

Paul and Co. gave away a win Saturday

against the San Antonio Spurs.

Grep Popovich's team has won 28 of the last 30 meetings against Los Angeles and have enjoyed unbelievable success on the Clippers' home floor. Since the 1997-98 season, San Antonio has the best winning percentage against the Clippers, winning .818 percent of their games in Staples, accumulating to a 22-5 record.

On another note, the Spurs lost both center Tiago Splitter and forward Manu Ginobili to injuries Saturday. Splitter left the first with a sprained right calf while Ginobili, in only his fourth game back from a broken wrist, suffered a strained left oblique.

If this is a potential postseason matchup, then we are in for one heck of a ride in the already wild wild west.

Peace Corps

If the Lakers are to contend for a title this
season, they will need the same type of
 performance from World Peace moving
forward.

The Los Angeles Laker have ended their mini three-game losing streak, beating their intercity rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers, 96-91.

It was the Lakers 12th consecutive game without breaking the 100-point threshold, tying a franchise record in the shot-clock era set during the 2003-04 season .

In their second meeting is less than two weeks, both teams came out with something to prove.

Former Laker Caron Butler got his new team off to a fast start, scoring the Clippers first 11 points, nine of them from beyond the arch. For the Lakers, forward Pau Gasol, who has made it known publicly he wants more scoring opportunities, came out determined and aggressive, scoring nine of the team's 25 first quarter points.

Gasol finished the game with 23 points and 10 rebounds, putting together his 10th double-double of the season in just 19 games. But it was unusually strong contributions from the Laker bench that secured them their 11th win of the season.

The Lakers' bench ranks as the second worst production-wise in the NBA, averaging 16.8 points per game. Compare that to the most productive bench in the league, the Dallas Mavericks, who are averaging an astonishing 44.0 points from their reserves.

Leading that Laker bench Wednesday night was rookie guard Andrew Goundelock. Goudelock added a career-high 14 points in 20 minutes, also a career-high. Despite Metta World Peace recording only three points, his emotional energy fueled this struggling Laker team.

World Peace came away with two steals, five rebounds and a seven assists in a season-high 38 minutes.

The Lakers trailed at the end of every quarter except for the one that matters, giving way to Kobe Bryant in the fourth. The five-time NBA champion scored 12 of his team-high 24 points in the final quarter, including a three-point basket that gave his team a 79-78 advantage and their first lead of the game.

Clipper forward Blake Griffin recorded a game-high 26 points and narrowly missed his own double-double with nine boards.

Chris Paul was limited to just 27 minutes in his first game back after a six-game absence due to a hamstring injury. He and fellow backcourt running mate Chauncey Billups combined for just 13 points, but Paul did add 12 assists. Mo Williams' 16 points continued to provide be a spark off the bench for the Clippers, scoring in double-digits for the fourth consecutive game.

The game was chippy, gritty and hard-fought to say the least, as there were six technical fouls assessed, a flagrant foul and an ejection of the Lakers' Josh McRoberts.

Chris Paul didn't have the
same type of explosiveness
returning from his injury.

Both teams are now tied atop the Pacific Division standings. It was the Lakers 10th win at home this season and the Clippers fourth loss on the road. Although, it really isn't a road game for Clippers other than the fact the floor boards read "Los Angeles Lakers" in their traditional purple and gold. The two teams have shared the Staples Center since it opened in October of 1999.

The Lakers are just 1-6 on the road this season and embark on a lengthy road trip this weekend. The team will play eight of their next nine games away from Staples, starting Saturday in Milwaukee and includes stops in Utah, Boston and New York, all hostile environments.

It was revealed Thursday that Bucks' center Andrew Bogut suffered a broken ankle Wednesday night in Houston, leaving him out indefinitely and on the sidelines for their upcoming matchup with Los Angeles.

Looks like the Lakers caught a break, something this team needs.

Griffin Unanimous R.O.Y.

Griffin put on a dunking clinic
in his rookie season.

The Los Angeles Clippers have made seven playoff appearances in franchise history, their last coming in 2006 with back-to-back postseason appearances.

A postseason berth looks to be waiting in the wings with the future looking bright in the City of Angels and not just for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Clippers forward Blake Griffin was named the NBA's 2011 Rookie of the Year Wednesday afternoon after becoming a human highlight reel.

Griffin was the first unanimous rookie to win the award in 21 years since San Antonio's 'Admiral', David Robinson, earned the award in 1990.

After being drafted with the first overall pick by Los Angeles out of the University of Oklahoma in the 2009 draft, Griffin has lived up to the billing.

However, it hasn't been easy

After having a productive preseason, Griffin would suffer a non-displaced stress fracture on his left patella in their final preseason game, putting his regular season debut on hold.

Griffin would have successful knee surgery in January of 2010 and begin a grueling four to six month rehabilitation process, working relentlessly to be healthy and ready for the 2010-11 season and was he ever.

The 22-year-old came out with vengeance and a lot to prove this season and it showed in his play.

Griffin electrified the Staples Center crowd along with the entire NBA early on with his high-flying ability and freakish athleticism. His sometimes cartoonish dunks were a constant fixture on Sportcenter's Top 10 Plays throughout the week and the entire NBA season.

In his NBA debut, Griffin scored 20 points with 14 rebounds, nine of them coming on the offensive glass. His first NBA basket was a glimpse into the future with an alley-oop slam dunk from fourth-year guard, Randy Foye. Griffin averaged a double-double in his rookie season, scoring 22.5 points per game along with 12.1 rebounds.

His 214 dunks were good enough for second in the league, behind Orlando's center Dwight Howard, who has led the NBA the in that category the last couple of years.

Griffin was also the first rookie to appear in an All-Star Game, since China sensation, Yao Ming represented the Houston Rockets in 2003. Prior to the game in Los Angeles, Griffin would bring the crowd to their feet by winning the '11 Slam Dunk Contest, capping the night with a revolutionary leap over a Kia.

Griffin was everything the Clippers could have hoped for and more in his rookie season and the beginning of what may be a changing of the guard.

The Lakers dropped their second straight home game Wednesday night and face a 2-0 series deficit at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks. With the Lakers a veteran and aging team, the Clippers might be on the rise as the team in Los Angeles.

The Clippers have a long way to go before they can make that claim, but have all the right pieces in place.

Former Hoosiers star Eric Gordon is coming off a career year in his third season in the NBA, averaging 22.3 PPG, trailing only Griffin for the team lead. It also looks as if center DeAndre Jordan is coming into his own after making his presence felt in the paint in.

All the pieces are there for the Clippers to succeed moving forward with a lot riding on their highly-controversial and unpredictable owner, Donald Sterling.

Sterling has been known not to over spend when it comes to keeping his franchise players from hitting the open market. That was apparent when Sterling allowed former superstar Elton Brand to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers after the 2007-08 season.

Although the decision looks rather smart as Brand has been injury riddled during his time in Philadelphia and looks to be on the the back end of his career. They will need Sterling to open his pocket book once again to get this team where it wants to be.

If so, the future seems bright with Griffin and Co. looking for that Hollywood ending.