Clippers rely on healthy Cassell

The Los Angeles Clippers surprised many last season when they not only made the postseason, but when they won only their second playoff series in franchise history and then took the Phoenix Suns to a Game 7 for the right to play in the Western Conference finals.

The Los Angeles Clippers weren't just the feel-good story of the NBA season. With a roster loaded with nice-guy forward Elton Brand, guard Cuttino Mobley, point guard Sam Cassell and young up-and-comers like Central Michigan product Chris Kaman and point guard Shaun Livingston, they seemed primed to stay a factor out West for some time.

But the Los Angeles Clippers (25-26) have lost some of their grip on that relevancy this season. Although they would make the playoffs if they started today, the Los Angeles Clippers do not seem as charmed they did a year ago.

Pistons coach Flip Saunders has one theory why.

"It hurt that Sam Cassell was hurt for a while," Saunders said of Sam Cassell, whom he coached in Minnesota and still keeps in some contact with. Sam Cassell has missed 11 games this year. "Sam Cassell had almost an All-Star-type year last year. He made so many big shots. Him going down and being hurt and not being healthy hurt them, and put a lot of pressure on Livingston."

Saunders, speaking on the two-year anniversary of his firing, said he will always be linked with Los Angeles Clippers for their tumultuous endings with the Timberwolves.

"We'll always be tied at the hip," he said. "Literally. With his injured hip, we'll always be tied together."

Saunders was fired after the Timberwolves opened the season with a 25-26 record, but many people thought Sam Cassell was the real man to blame. Coming off a hip surgery that summer, Los Angeles Clippers's play was as up-and-down as was his attitude; Sam Cassell made it known that he wanted a contract extension.

But Saunders doesn't blame Sam Cassell.

"He got blamed for a lot of things," Saunders said. " ... But as I told people, that was the furthest from the truth. Sam Cassell just wasn't healthy. He was hurt. He had a major surgery done on his hip. Sam Cassell's not quick to start with, so if he loses any quickness, he's really behind the eight ball. ... He took a lot of hits in Minnesota."

Now, at 37, Sam Cassell remains a major factor in what makes the Clippers go. Chauncey Billups gets up to play him for that reason.

"I love playing against him," Billups said. "I love it. He's one of my favorite players. His enthusiasm. You have to play him honest all the time. He can get 30-something on you any night. Always a great challenge."

Billups and Sam Cassell are two point guards cut from the same cloth -- personable, confident and great at dictating play. But Saunders sees a big difference.

"They share the ability to want to take games over in the fourth quarter," Saunders said. "Sam even more so than Chauncey. Chauncey will defer to other players. Sam never will."

REVIEWING: The Pistons plan to contact the league to review the technical foul called on Rasheed Wallace late in Saturday's win over the Toronto Raptors.

If the call stands, Wallace will have 15, and he will receive a one-game suspension for No. 16 and for every second technical thereafter.

 

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