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Clippers look like winners

steve kerr

STEVE KERR’S THREE POINTS

1. PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jamaal Tinsley. Leading a depleted Indiana Pacers squad, Tinsley has taken it upon himself to do more, and boy is he. In last week's win over Minnesota, he tallied 20 points, 14 assists, seven rebounds and five steals. Only a handful of players in the league are capable of a line like that.

2. GAME OF THE WEEK
Friday, Dec. 3: Minnesota Timberwolves at Phoenix Suns. Amare Stoudemire has been running roughshod over the league. But he hasn't played against Kevin Garnett yet. The Suns will try to prove they're for real, while the Wolves will attempt to find the groove that has eluded them so far.

3. STAT OF THE WEEK
Quick, without looking, who leads the NBA in field-goal percentage? Shaq? KG? Duncan? Nope. How about Matt Bonner? (If you actually knew this, you need to get out more.) The rookie from Florida is scoring 8.0 points a game on 62 percent shooting. Is he this season's Brian Cardinal?

My 12-year-old son Nick was thumbing through the Clippers media guide the other day when he said to me, "Dad, do you realize that in their history, the Clips have a losing record against every single NBA franchise?"

I wasn't sure which was more shocking: my bad parenting (I've raised a child who spends his time looking at the Clippers' media guide?!), or the ineptitude of one of sports' losingest franchises. A losing record against every team they've ever played against? Think about that. ...

The franchise that has resided in Buffalo, San Diego and now L.A. never has had a problem finding talent. Plenty of All-Stars have worn the Clippers/Braves jersey. Bob McAdoo, Tom Chambers, Marques Johnson, Ron Harper, Bill Walton and many others have tried – and failed – to help the team win.

The problem for the Clippers has been holding on to talent once it was found.

For years, the team accumulated gifted players only to let them walk once it was time to pay them. Because of its unwillingness to issue lucrative, long-term contracts for star players, the franchise never has been able to establish any type of foundation, much less a winning one.

However, after visiting with coach Mike Dunleavy before Thursday's game in L.A. and then watching the Clippers beat New Jersey that night, I left the Staples Center believing that maybe, just maybe, this franchise finally is on the right track.

Los Angeles is 8-6 after dismantling the Nets and then beating the Golden State Warriors in back-to-back games this past weekend – not exactly earthshattering wins, I know, but solid nonetheless.

More impressive has been the manner in which L.A. is winning games. Dunleavy has preached ball movement since the first day of training camp, and it shows. The Clippers are sharing the ball and taking good shots, which is why they're leading the NBA in both field goal percentage and assists.

Third-year man Marko Jaric is playing brilliantly at the point, shooting selectively, running the club and playing surprisingly good defense. Elton Brand is passing out of the double team. Even perennial gunner Corey Maggette is moving the ball.

And unlike so many NBA teams these days, the Clippers are using the three-point shot judiciously, attempting only 7.5 per game (the league average is closer to 15). They're sharing the ball, attacking the rim and getting good shots from close range.

As I mentioned, the Clippers have had talented teams before. What's different about this squad is that its best two players, Brand and Maggette, are locked into long-term contracts.They can provide the foundation that this franchise has always lacked simply by being in L.A. for the next five or so seasons.

Dunleavy, who is an excellent coach, also should be around a while, as will rookie Shaun Livingston, who was impressive before injuring his knee last week (he'll miss at least two months). The Clippers appear to be showing some stability at last. If they continue down this path,just might turn the corner and develop into a good team.

And if that happens, anything's possible. Maybe Nick will even do his homework.