Nuggets coach George Karl calls them the “randoms,” basically meaning any Los Angeles Clipper except Elton Brand and Sam Cassell.
Karl was happy with the way the Nuggets defended that supporting cast of characters Thursday night in Game 3. There was no way he could have been satisfied Saturday.
But the Clippers were.
After being largely absent in Game 3, everyone who needed to show up did. Brand and Cassell scored 11 points apiece, but it was Chris Kaman, Vladimir Radmanovic, Corey Maggette, Shaun Livingston, Quinton Ross and Cuttino Mobley who gave the Clippers winning power.
“I thought we did a good job of moving the basketball,” Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. “We shared the ball.”
The Clippers got open looks throughout the first half, when they shot 62.2 percent.
Asked about the Nuggets’ continued struggles, Dunleavy said, “I’m not worried about how they look. I’m worried about how we look. We looked pretty good tonight.”
Maggette’s 23 points kept the Clippers in it Thursday, but the other five “random” players combined to score 27 points. None had more than eight.
Saturday, those five had a combined 29 points by halftime.
Livingston and Maggette had an effective second quarter, going for eight and 10 points, respectively. Livingston made his living on the perimeter while Maggette attacked and got to the free-throw line.
Mobley got back on track a bit after struggling in Game 3.
Saturday night, Mobley started off aggressively, looking for his shot on two of the Clippers’ first three possessions. But he drew a foul on a drive to the basket and missed a jumper on the next possession. He swooped in on a layup with 8:10 left in the first for his first points. He returned to the attack mode that made him successful in the series’ first two games.
“I’m just taking what they’re giving me and not settling,” he said. “In the regular season there was a difference. But now it’s playoffs. You just want to attack, attack, attack. If you make mistakes, you make them. But you only have a certain amount of days to prove it.”
Kaman’s play
From a physical standpoint, the last 10 days have been forgettable for Clippers center Kaman.
He injured his ankle in Game 2 of the series, hampering his play in Game 3. In Thursday’s game, Kaman also played through a slight illness, which worsened Friday and put his status for Saturday night’s game in doubt. Hooked to an IV machine, Kaman was a game-time decision. He did not start but entered the game with 7:15 left in the first and played with fire, scoring points, grabbing rebounds and blocking shots. He looked much more active than in Game 3.
“So many times when guys are feeling horrible, they come back and play pretty solid,” Dunleavy said. “We don’t expect you to play great.”
Brand not Brand
Brand has found scoring more difficult as the series has continued. His point totals have gone from 21 in Game 1 to 19 to 17 in Game 3. He had 11 at the end of the third quarter Saturday and finished with 14.
His limited production has been the result of Denver giving extra help to the primary defender, through double-teams or more.
Footnotes
Turnovers were not the problem for Los Angeles that they were in Game 3, when the Clippers committed 24. L.A. had nine at halftime, finishing with 18. … Radmanovic started for the Clippers in place of Kaman.
Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-820-5455 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
