Clippers start off a tough road trip against the Mavericks

Written by Freddy Miranda

Wednesday, 08 November 2006

Staple Center in Los Angeles, California will be the location where this West Conference contest will take place, between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks. The Clippers look to use their home court advantage to place a some what depleted Dallas Mavericks in an 0-4 hamper. The Mavericks will go on a road trip that goes through Los Angeles to Phoenix and ends in Portland without Josh Howard.

Howard the Maverick’s second leading scorer with only 16.3 point per game will be expected to miss at least two weeks of action due to a seriously sprained ankle that will require rest. Dirk Nowitzki leads the Dallas scoring department average with 23.7 per game and will have an interesting match up in the likes of Elton Brand. Brand averages only 14.8 points per game only because of double and triple man coverage, which has opened up a great situation for the rest of the Los Angeles Clippers.

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The Clippers used a disinterested scoring attack Monday to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 102-89. Portland's Zach Randolph gained a season-high 35 points, but the Clippers had five scorers in double-figures, led by sixth man Corey Maggette's 20 points.

They also used a cooperative rebounding effort to win the battle of the boards, 45-38. Randolph and Ime Udoka combined to snare 23 of the Blazers' 38 rebounds.

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The Clippers have six players averaging double digits due to Brand’s unselfish game, led by veteran Sam Cassell with 22.8. Also mentionable is Corey Maggette with 14 and big man Chris Kaman’s 10.3. Seven-footer Kaman will have the opportunity to play two traditional post players in Dallas’ two center combination against Erick Dampier and Desagna Diop. An exciting match up could also unfold in the back court if LA’s Shaun Livingston is pitted against Dallas’ Devin Harris. Harris is a recent change applied to the starting line up made by Coach Avery Johnson over guard Greg Buckner.

On different deals the Dallas Mavericks have acquired former Laker Devean George and Austin Croshere in a trade with Indiana. Both players will add to the long distance attack but must also increase their rhythm with the rest of the Dallas team.

Dallas holds last years series of four games with wins making it with 3-1 against the heated Clippers who have started 3-0 and wish to make it a 4-0 at home. Last years’ only loss for Dallas in the series was a game for no interest in which Dirk Nowitzki sat out the entire game.

The Clippers are the upside team here and we consider their start non-coincidental. They have rhythm; they are having fun and being the home team on Wednesday night, they are almost sure to win this game. The line is Clippers -3 and we think they will cover. This won’t be a fast paced game though; there will be defense to boot. So consider the under an option, as boring as it can bet a game to have low scoring, a winner at the bank makes it all right.