Clippers show they have talent in reserve

Things are coming along slowly for the Clippers, and the learning process could last a few weeks.

It appears the team is not in sync at this point as Coach Mike Dunleavy expected, though the overall result was positive again for the Clippers in a 114-108 victory Saturday night over the Phoenix Suns.

The Clippers displayed the depth that could help them to challenge the Suns for the Pacific Division title, receiving strong contributions from many in front of an announced crowd of 18,643 at Staples Center.

Corey Maggette and Sam Cassell each scored 23 points to lead six players in double figures. Tim Thomas grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds and Maggette had 12, helping the Clippers outrebound the Suns, 54-41.

Backup point guard Shaun Livingston had his best performance after struggling in the first two games, appearing assertive while scoring 14 points and leading the Clippers with nine assists.

And All-Star power forward Elton Brand may have allayed some concerns that he’s tired after playing for the U.S. national team this summer.

Brand, who failed to score in double figures in the team’s last game, had 15 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots to help the Clippers (2-1) defeat the Suns (1-3) after losing to them in their season opener.

Point guard Steve Nash had 28 points and 13 assists and forward Shawn Marion had 25 points and 15 rebounds for Phoenix.

The Clippers had little time to work together in the exhibition season because of injuries, and Dunleavy is eager to see the finished product.

“It’s going to take some time because we had some guys out with injuries, I knew that, but we just have to work through it and keep getting better,� Dunleavy said.

Said Cassell: “With this basketball team, we know what we’re capable of doing this year. A lot of guys haven’t had a chance to get their legs yet, but watch out when we do.�

Dunleavy is especially interested in Brand’s physical state.

The Clippers are pleased Brand was a member of the U.S. national team that earned a bronze medal at the world championships in Japan, but some in the organization said they hoped he would have declined the invitation because of the physical toll.

Brand averaged a team-high 39.2 minutes while playing in 79 of 81 games last season with the Clippers. His minutes increased to 39.6 in the first round of the playoffs and 45.6 in the conference semifinals against Phoenix.

“I don’t know if he’s tired because I’ve never done it, but I know I would be,� Cassell said. “I didn’t try to talk him out of doing it, I just told him about the experiences of the guys I know who did it. I told him about what Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen told me about how they felt after doing that international thing.�

Dunleavy and General Manager Elgin Baylor expressed concerns in the exhibition season about Brand being overextended, but Brand said he felt fine.

He had a 28-point, 13-rebound performance while playing 40 minutes in the opener against Phoenix, but the next night scored only eight points with six rebounds in 41 minutes against the Denver Nuggets.

Was the drop in production a sign of fatigue?

“I don’t think that had anything to do with it, we just didn’t get him the ball enough,� Chris Kaman said. “He’s our All-Star and our go-to player, and we just didn’t give him the ball as much as we should have.�

Selected second-team All-NBA last season, Brand has been the focus of aggressive double- and triple-team schemes in the first three games, players said.

“They’ve been coming at him real hard, a lot tougher than they did last season, and that’s a big part of it,� Cassell said. “We’ve got to do a better job of figuring out where everybody is coming from. We’ve just got to get the ball to Elton.�