Clippers disappointed in home crowd after loss to shorthanded Bulls
The Los Angeles Clippers didn't exactly give the Staples Center faithful anything to cheer about Monday night.
Hosting the shorthanded Chicago Bulls, who were without both Derrick Rose and Pau Gasol, the Clippers stumbled to a two-point halftime lead before getting blown out in the third quarter. From there, Chicago cruised to a 16-point victory, a major statement considering its injuries and that the game was on the road.
"I think it's overachieving, to tell you the truth," Bulls guard Jimmy Butler, who had 22 points, eight assists and six rebounds in the win, said. "I mean, what do we have to lose? We're not supposed to win anyways when our backs are against the wall like that, so whenever we do win it's like, 'Damn, they can play a little bit without two of their best players.' "
The Clippers have no excuses for their performance. It was their second game in seven days, and only Chris Douglas-Roberts was missing from the rotation. They didn't defend well, they didn't rebound effectively and they didn't make hay at the line (10-of-22) or from long range (7-of-23).
It was an off night for the Clippers, symptomatic of a disappointing 5-4 start that had the home crowd ranging from tepid to downright traitorous.
"Tonight somewhat felt like a road game," Chris Paul said. "It ain't no secret. It's not the first time."
As one of the league's most popular franchises - not to mention playing in a major media market Monday, in a city with plenty of transplants - the Bulls travel well as a road team. Still, the Clippers have been solid to great for a few years now and should've built up some cache.
The team seems to realize that its poor performance didn't do anything to help matters.
"It was loud in there," Blake Griffin said. "And loud in the wrong way. But we have to do a better job. It's our home court."
The Clippers are just 4-3 at home a year after going 34-7 there. They've squandered what's been a relatively friendly early-season schedule in terms of travel, and are now tasked with getting things together on a seven-game road trip that begins Wednesday.