El Segundo, Calif. – The Los Angeles Clippers did what they were supposed to do at home. Now comes the tough part – winning on the road.
The Clippers lead the Nuggets 2-0 in a best-of-seven, first- round playoff series after winning the first two games in front of their red, white and blue crowd at the Staples Center. But they know the scenario changes dramatically in Denver’s altitude, in a boisterous arena, with Games 3 (Thursday) and 4 (Saturday) at the Pepsi Center.
“The series doesn’t start until you win an away game,” Clippers guard Sam Cassell, a 13-year NBA veteran, said after practice Tuesday at the Spectrum Club. “In all my years playing in the playoffs, once you win an away game, that’s when you say you have the advantage. Right now, we just held serve. We had home-court advantage and took care of our business.”
Of the 186 NBA playoff series in which teams have taken 2-0 leads since the 16-team playoff format started, the leading team won 176, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Denver has started 0-2 in nine playoff series and has won only one.
The Clippers have other reasons to be confident. They are 5-1 against the Nuggets this season, including a 105-87 rout in their last trip to the Pepsi Center on Jan. 27.
“We know we can beat this team,” Clippers swingman Corey Maggette said. “That’s the biggest thing. You have to be mature about every aspect of this game.”
Added Clippers forward Elton Brand: “We can’t get too comfortable or overconfident. We are going to come in and play hard. We expect them to come out and play hard to try to win the game.”
The Clippers are concerned about playing at altitude. They were scheduled to fly into Denver on Tuesday night. Coach Mike Dunleavy wanted to get a practice in today at the University of Denver.
“We want to get in there and make sure we settle in and acclimate a little bit,” Dunleavy said, “just kind of get our feel.”
Cassell is expecting a wild crowd similar to what he faced while playing for Minnesota against the Nuggets in the 2004 playoffs. Trailing 0-2 in the series, the Nuggets came home and won big in Game 3, 107-86. The Timberwolves responded in Game 4 with a dramatic 84-82 victory in Denver, then won Game 5 in Minneapolis.
“It’s outrageous,” Cassell said when recalling the 2004 series. “I’m going to get my guys ready for a hostile environment.”
Dunleavy is looking forward to it.
“It has nothing to do with being in someone else’s building,” he said. “I love playing in front of big crowds. I love playoff time. There is nothing better than silencing an opponent’s home crowd.”
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
