--They come and they go in the NBA coaching ranks, and Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy is a prime example of that. Entering his sixth year at the helm, Dunleavy is the fourth-most tenured coach in the league. He trails only Washington's Eddie Jordan (hired one month ahead of Dunleavy, on June 19, 2003), San Antonio's Gregg Popovich (hired December 1996) and Utah coach Jerry Sloan (hired December 9, 1988). "I feel good," Dunleavy said. "I love being here and I like our direction."
--Through the first three games of the season, the Clippers were shooting 39 percent from the field and had not shot 50 percent in any game. Last year, the Clippers began the season by shooting under 50 percent in their first 32 games. Center Chris Kaman was shooting 31 percent through the first three games and coach Mike Dunleavy felt Kaman might have been rushing his shot. "We have to execute better and give ourselves a lot easier looks to get that percentage up," Kaman said. "We're holding the ball too long at times and dribbling too much at times, me included."
--Bench production has been a sore spot for the Clippers. In each game, the opposing team's second unit has overwhelmed its Clipper counterparts. Through three games, the Clippers' bench was outscored 131-65.
"We have to come in ready to play," guard Ricky Davis said. "We also need to look at the personnel that we have on the floor and who is in the best position to score. On the defensive side, we should pick up our intensity and energy because that's what we're in the game for."
--The Clippers' projected starting lineup finally played together for the first time, in the waning minutes of the first quarter against Utah. The five of center Chris Kaman, forwards Al Thornton and Marcus Camby, and guards Baron Davis and Cuttino Mobley did not play one second together in any of the eight exhibition games.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "If there is one point guard in the league I know better than anyone, it's Jason Hart. We went at each other three straight years in practice, two in Sacramento and one in Utah." -- Utah guard Ronnie Price, speaking about Clippers point guard Jason Hart. The two were teammates with the Sacramento Kings from 2005-07 and then last season with the Utah Jazz.
