Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negrouses words such as lack of "effort," poor "defense," and being "outworked" by opponents to describe his team, and that the Clippers "didn't match the intensity" of yet another opponent.The Clippers had a team meeting after Thursday night's defeat to the Phoenix Suns that lasted over an hour. The media didn't enter the locker room for postgame interviews until 11:05 p.m.
Earlier, the Clippers had blown a 17-point lead to a Suns team that was playing without Steve Nash and Grant Hill.
But Del Negro's comments after the loss could have been said about any of the Clippers' recent losses.
"We're playing too much as individuals instead of as a team," Del Negro said. "And you can't win like that. We let one play affect another. Our approach at times with the referees was letting one play affect another play. We compound our mistakes consistently, and that makes it hard."
Del Negro didn't point out any individual.
But his All-Star power forward, Blake Griffin, got a technical foul against Suns after whining to the officials. Griffin also shot an airball from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter, his third airball in the last two games.
This season Griffin is shooting a woeful 53% from the free-throw line and that's why Suns Coach Alvin Gentry had his team intentionally foul Griffin in the fourth quarter. Gentry also told his players to intentionally foul Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, who was three for four from the free-throw line.
The Clippers also had problems with Phoenix's zone defense in the fourth quarter, another reason why the Clippers scored only 12 points.
Asked if their fourth-quarter offense has become predictable, Del Negro paused six seconds before giving a one-word answer.
"No," he responded.
The Clippers are in the midst of a six-game homestand, but they are only 1-3 at Staples Center this week.
There were plenty of things Del Negro was unhappy about. "We're not playing together as a team," he said. "We have our moments. But we let too many things zap our energy that affects us too much during the game."
Foye to the bench
The acquisition of shooting guard Nick Young from the Washington Wizards on Thursday probably will affect Randy Foye the most.
Foye has been a starter since Chauncey Billups went down Feb. 6 with a season-ending left Achilles' tendon injury.
But Young, who will have a news conference Saturday before the Clippers play Houston at Staples Center, will become the starting point guard.
"Nick is a friend of mine. We played together in Washington," said Foye, referring to the 2009-10 season. "My main thing is … I'm going to go out there every night, with the time I'm given and play my butt off. It's as simple as that."
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