C'mon mama,
Make your move or
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Kurt Rambis has Phil Jackson's demeanor, if not his players
MARK HEISLER ON THE NBA
Minnesota's rookie coach has adopted many attributes from his old boss, but his new team is on another plane of existence when compared with the Lakers. The Timberwolves are 1-3 after Monday's loss to Clippers.
FOR THE RECORD - Gilbert Arenas' high school: An NBA column on an alleged incident involving handguns in the Washington Wizards' locker room that appeared in the Jan. 3 Sports section said the Wizards' Gilbert Arenas went to Woodland Hills Taft High. Arenas attended Van Nuys Grant. —
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I can find someone
Treat me better than you,
'Cause' it's hard livin'
Lovin' you.
-- Justin Townes Earle
"Hard Livin' Lovin' You"
You could ask any of the literally dozens of Clippers fans who are left (owner Donald T. Sterling, Penny Marshall, Jimmy Goldstein plus entourages) . . . they don't make can't-miss young teams the way they used to.
With this one having missed four times in the first six days of the season, Clipper Nation, however depopulated, was heartened to see its team win a game. Or maybe Kurt Rambis' young Minnesota Timberwolves lost it. In any case, the Clippers have a 1 under W in the standings, where there used to be a 0.
Remember Rambis Youth, his horn rim glasses-wearing fans in the Forum?
These were Rambis' Youths, whom the Clippers were expected to beat soundly but escaped by a score of 93-90 . . . after blowing a 13-point third-quarter lead . . . scoring one basket in the last 4:41, going ahead to stay when the Timberwolves put Rasual Butler on the line to hit four free throws in the last 19 seconds.
Meanwhile, Clippers fans, who have to have a sense of humor to have lasted this long, sardonically chanted "MVP!" for . . . Chris Kaman?
Yes, that Chris Kaman, who came in averaging 22 points and scored 25 more. So, the chant was a tribute either to how well he has played or how far up the creek everyone else has been.
As a No. 1 option, Kaman makes a great No. 3. Baron Davis, who has been a No. 1, came in shooting 36% and went two for 10. Eric Gordon, who isn't a No. 1 option yet, had 17 points, but only five in the second half.
Blake Griffin, their rookie/franchise player, watched in street clothes, as he will for several more weeks.
Monday's game was actually the season's most important test for the Clippers. Their four losses came against four playoff teams, the Lakers, Suns, Jazz and Mavericks, so what was the big surprise?
Monday was the first time they were betting favorites, so if it was a test, they . . .
I don't know what they did. In any case, they're 1-4, not 0-5.
As Rambis can tell you, you have to start somewhere, again.
Kurt could still be sitting next to Phil Jackson, hoping to get another ring. Instead, he's in Minnesota, where the odds against getting a ring are longer than the winters.
