Dunleavy Guards Against Satisfaction
The Clipper winning streak at three games, Coach Mike Dunleavy basically asked his players Tuesday: What have you done for me lately?
“I challenged them today a little bit,” Dunleavy said after practice at L.A. Southwest College. “The typical reaction from a team is, you get pretty full of yourself, feel pretty good walking around town.
“You’ve got three wins under your belt -- three quality wins -- so will you let down? Or will you be a team that comes out and says, ‘This is my getaway game for the road,’ and really put the hammer down defensively and do the things you need to do offensively -- share the ball -- that give you a chance to win?”
A victory tonight over the Milwaukee Bucks would complete a sweep of a four-game homestand for the Clippers, who open a three-game Texas swing Friday night at Houston.
“It’s a matter of, can you control that consistency?” Dunleavy said. “Can you be a group of guys that can control that focus, not be distracted in the sense that all of a sudden you feel pretty good about what you’ve accomplished?”
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Dunleavy’s injury report on Corey Maggette was succinct: “Didn’t practice today. We’ll see how it feels tomorrow. Don’t really know at this time.”
Maggette, who suffered a sprained right ankle in a Dec. 10 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, left for good after aggravating the injury in the first minute of the fourth quarter Monday night.
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TONIGHT
vs. Milwaukee, 7:30, Fox Sports Net 2
Site -- Staples Center.
Radio -- KXTA (690/1150).
Records -- Clippers 9-11, Bucks 12-13.
Record vs. Bucks (2002-03) -- 1-1.
Update -- The Clippers haven’t lost to the Bucks in Staples Center since March 30, 2000.
Tickets -- (800) 462-2849.
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