Clippers Postgame Conference; There’s No I in Team

LOS ANGELES, CA-- On Monday night the Phoenix Suns fell to the Los Angeles Clippers 84 to 124, suffering their worst loss in an already disappointing season.

The Suns are ranked #14 in the NBA Western Conference with 14 wins and 43 losses, and their recent defeat is their 12th consecutive loss this season. Despite coach Earl Watson’s pre-game optimism that the Suns could play a great game, the young team was frantic and disorganized from tipoff, allowing key Clippers players pull off what looked like an easy win.

Chris Paul, J.J. Redick and Deandre Jordan were the powerhouse trio that fueled the Clipper’s lineup, sinking consistent baskets while working through coach Doc Rivers’ offensive game strategy. Over the course of the game the Clippers kept a steady lead, widening the gap from 10, 19 and even 40 points as the clock ran down. By the end of the third quarter, the Clippers had such a solid lead that the starters were given the entire 4th quarter to rest, allowing newcomers Jeff Green and Alex Stephenson to get on the court.

However, the Clippers’ postgame press conference revealed that the game was more about team cohesiveness than individual success.

“We’ve simplified a lot of things and have improved our small game,” Redick explained, “[for example] Jeff Green was great tonight and we saw what he was capable of in terms of his versatility because of it.”

Redick scored 11 points in the second quarter, helping the Clippers catapult to a 59 to 42 lead at the end of the first half. The third quarter however, was marked by Jordan’s great performance.

"Chris and J.J. put me in position to score easy baskets," Jordan said when asked about his impressive jump shots, “[they] were just consistent.”

Jordan made several dunks and great connecting passes, but like Redick., he highlighted that he couldn’t have done it on his own.

“I probably won’t hit you with the mid-range jump shots, ” Paul joked as he pointed to Jordan, “that’s why I have big fella right here, for all the dunks and things like that.”

Paul explained away any assumptions people may have had about him carrying the offense on his shoulders. Instead, he attributed his great game to picking the right plays at the right time, and having teammates that were in tuned with his thought process. He just wanted to hustle to be in the right place for every possible play.

“At the end of the night, whatever I got to do to help us win is what i’m gonna do,” Paul said before leaving the podium.

From the tip off the Clippers played an incredibly cohesive game. Though they were moving in and out of a small-game-big-game offensive strategy put into place by Rivers, they were able to play on each other's strengths to pull off a much-needed victory for Los Angeles. Hopefully they can keep this momentum going, especially when Blake Griffin is thrown back into the fray.

The Clippers are preparing to take on the Denver Nuggets tonight at 7:30PM at the Staples Center.

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