Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Clippers Held Serve, Looking for 3-0 Lead.

The Los Angeles Clippers did what they were supposed to do at home. Now comes the tough part, winning on the road in the NBA Playoffs.

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 and 4 at the Pepsi Center.

''The series doesn't start until you win an away game,'' Clippers point 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. 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 forward Corey Maggette said. Maggette was out most of the regular season for the Clippers but is now back, ready to lead the Clippers past the first round and a possible confrontation with either the Suns or that other L.A. team at the Staples Center.

The Clippers are concerned about playing at altitude.

''We want to get in there and make sure we settle in and acclimate a little bit,'' Clippers head coach, Mike Dunleavy said.

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.

This best-of-seven series in the Western Conference sure is on as the NBA Playoffs heats up.

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