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.

Clipped Out of the Equation

Shopping at K-Mart

Martin adds depth to an already deep
Clipper bench and team.

The Los Angeles Clippers have outdone the Los Angeles Lakers yet again -- a phrase that had never been muttered prior to this season.

Both vying for his services, it was the Clippers that have agreed to a deal with veteran Kenyon Martin, not the Lakers. It's the second time in as many months the usual second-rate Clippers have acquired a player the Lakers were interested in.

In December, the Lakers came to terms on a deal with the New Orleans Hornets that would have sent point guard Chris Paul to Los Angeles. Instead the league nixed the deal and less than a week later Paul would be playing his home games in Staples Center, just not for the Lakers.

Martin, 34, headed overseers to play in the Chinese Basketball Association during the would end of being a 161-day lockout. The former Denver Nugget had been playing for the Xinjiang Guanghui Flying Tigers, averaging 13.9 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, before reaching a buyout agreement with the team on Dec. 21.

He has also been cleared by the FIBA to return to the NBA two weeks before originally thought, making his now highly anticipated Clipper debut on Wednesday, Feb. 8 against the Cleveland Cavaliers very likely.

His former teammate in Denver, J.R. Smith, also played in China to start the 2011-12 season and will another hot commodity in his return to the NBA -- a commodity the Clippers might also be interested in adding to their already talented roster.

Since being named the Consensus 2000 NCAA Player of the Year and drafted with the No. 1 overall pick that same season by the New Jersey Nets, Martin has played 654 career NBA games.

The 6-foot-9 forward has averaged 13.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 blocks per game during his 11-year career.

Fresh of back-to-back NBA Finals appearances with the Nets, Martin's best season came during the 2003-04 campaign. He averaged a career-high 16.7 PPG and grabbed 9.5 rebounds, earning him his first and only All-Star appearance thus far.

Martin will primarily play this season in Los Angeles as Blake Griffin's backup, earning the mid-level exception of $2.5 million.

But after failing short in two straight NBA Finals in the early part of the century, Martin is still of search of first NBA championship. He has come to accomplish that goal in the City of Angels.

Just not with the franchise that possesses 16 of them.

On His Way Out?

Kaman is apparently being shopped openly
by a team he recently joined.

After being traded for the first time in mid-December, New Orleans Hornets center Chris Kaman might be joining his second NBA team in as many months.

It has been reported that the league-owned Hornets are fielding offers for Kaman, explaining the reason why he was inactive for the team's Wednesday night loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder and not present for Friday night's surprising win over the Orlando Magic.

Spending the first eight years of his career playing for the Los Angeles Clippers after being drafted sixth overall in the 2003 NBA Draft, Kaman was acquired by the Hornets in the blockbuster trade that sent All-Star Chris Paul to Los Angeles.

Along with Kaman, New Orleans acquired Eric Gordon, Al-Farouq Aminu and the Minnesota Timberwolves' unprotected 2012 first-round pick in the deal while the Clippers will receive two future second-round picks.

Kaman, 29, is approximately owed $14 million this season.

And while it looks to be mainly a financial decision by the Hornets, it now gives some of their young players a chance to compete for his minutes.

Against the Thunder, 26-year-old rookie Gustavo Ayon made the most of his opportunity and 17 minutes vacated by Kaman, going 8-for-10 from the field, scoring nearly as many points as minutes played with 16.

However, that game resulted in a loss and in the team's win over Magic, Ayon played just nine minutes, never getting on the scoreboard.

As for Kaman, he was hampered by an ankle injury much of the 2010-11 season, playing in only 32 games for the Clippers. This season, adapting to a new home, Kaman is averaging 9.2 points per game and 6.7 rebounds in just 22.7 minutes, numbers far removed from the ones that made him one of the most dominate centers in the league.

During the 2007-08 campaign, the Clippers lost both Elton Brand and Shaun Livingston for the majority of the year due to injury, relying on Kaman the rest of the way. He delivered after setting career-highs in rebounds (12.7) and blocks (2.8) to go along with his 15.7 PPG.

The 2009-10 season was Kaman's most recent more than effective season, starting in all of the 76 games he played in and averaging a career-high 18.5 PPG.

Fresh off their 11th playoff appearance in franchise history, New Orleans find themselves at the bottom of the Southwest Division with 4-15 and building for the future.

A future that clearly Kaman is no longer apart of.

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.

I'm Lovin' It

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.

Randolph Continues Postseason Surge

Randolph is playing the best basketball
of his career at the right time.

The Memphis Grizzlies continued their magical postseason run Sunday afternoon along with forward Zach Randolph.

The No. 8 seeded Grizzlies came away with a 114-101 victory in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the heavily favored Oklahoma City Thunder.

Randolph lead the way with 34 points, 10 rebounds and even snatched three steals on the road. Memphis became only the second No. 8 seed to upset a No. 1 seed in NBA postseason history after beating the San Antonio Spurs in six games.

They joined Don Nelson's Golden State Warriors as the only other team to accomplish that feat coming at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks back in 2007.

Randolph has been the anchor to Memphis's success early on.

Randolph has been the NBA's best player early in this year's postseason, averaging 21.5 points per game, grabbing 9.1 rebounds and shooting a remarkable 50 percent from the field.

In his second season with the Grizzlies, Randolph is excelling and may have found himself a home. His regular season numbers consisted of 20.1 PPG, 12.1 rebounds and also shot 50 percent from the field. A former first-round pick of the Portland Trail Blazers back in 2001, Randolph has bounced around during his 10-year career.

Randolph spent his first six seasons in Portland, where he developed into an All-Star caliber power forward, but was sent to the New York Knicks draft-night in 2007 for Steve Francis and Channing Frye.

The southpaw would play for the Knicks during the 2007-08 season, where he averaged 17.6 PPG, a career-worst since becoming a full-time starter in 2003. The former Michigan State Spartan started the 2008-09 season with the Big Apple, but only played 11 games for New York before being shipped to the Clippers in November of that season.

He would finish out the season with Los Angeles and that offseason was traded for the final time, this time to his current home in Memphis. Randolph was rewarded after leading the Grizzlies to their first playoff win in franchise history with a four-year extension worth $66 million.

With only three players on their current roster to make it out of the first-round before they beat the Spurs, the Grizzlies have nothing to lose during this current playoff run and everything to gain.

With every minute and possession the Grizzlies encounter during this year's postseason comes a little more experience for the future. With the top three teams record wise in the Western Conference centered around aging veterans, the young Grizzlies are on the rise to becoming the Western Conference elite.

They will now need to sign center Marc Gasol to an extension to continue to see that rise, with the rest of the core guys locked up for the long haul. Mike Conley, Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo are all under contract for the next couple of years, along now with Randolph.

Memphis is not longer a stepping stone in the Western Conference and are better than their 46-36 record indicates.

If may be only one win, but the Grizzlies might well on there way to the Western Conference Finals with a convincing victory on the road against the athletic Thunder. Randolph will look to continue his great postseason Tuesday night in Oklahoma.