Clippers revert to (bad) form

MEMPHIS, TENN. — Remember all those days ago when the latest Clippers crisis appeared to be averted?

Turns out it was merely the briefest of commercial breaks, or someone leaning on the pause button for a second or two.

Three days after a seemingly unifying road victory, not only has the malaise resurfaced, but the Clippers have practically gone subterranean, losing consecutive games to NBA minnows. The latest was an embarrassing loss to the lowly Memphis Grizzlies, who won their third game, defeating the Clippers, 106-91, at FedExForum on Wednesday night.

Marc Gasol ran the table in the first half, and Rudy Gay and former Clipper Zach Randolph (21 points) took over in the second half for the Grizzlies. Gay, who had 21 points, was scoreless in the first half, and Gasol, who finished with 16 points, established a team mark for consecutive field goals made, 15 over two games.

The Clippers (4-9) have won one of their last six games and are losing players seemingly on a daily basis. Veteran Marcus Camby joined the growing list of injured players, limited to about 11 minutes of playing time in the first quarter because a lower-back bruise. Already out of commission: power forward and No. 1 overall draft pick Blake Griffin, guard Eric Gordon, and guard Kareem Rush, who suffered a season-ending torn ligament in his right knee Tuesday at New Orleans.

"Once we got to a point of where it was a tough lead to catch up to, I decided not to bring any of our starters back into the game," Coach Mike Dunleavy. "At this point, no chance of getting anybody else hurt."

Griffin, who suffered a stress fracture of his left kneecap, could return in mid-December, but that depends on how the MRI test of his knee looks later this month. Gordon, out because of a strained groin, could come back early next week, if all goes well.

The question is, will Dunleavy still be coaching the Clippers when the kids, Gordon and Griffin, ride to the rescue?

Recent NBA history would suggest that won't be the case. Eight teams fired coaches last season, and this season, New Orleans pulled the plug on Byron Scott rapidly, dismissing Scott last week. That was only days after the Hornets crushed the Clippers.

The wild card, of course, is Clippers owner Donald Sterling. How much does he take into account the litany of injuries, and does Sterling extend his patience and see what Dunleavy can do with the tools at his disposal when Griffin and Gordon return?