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By Sam Amico / The Amico Report

TALKIN' CLIPPERS ... YES, CLIPPERS

Today, you might want to hit the delete key and just skip reading this, because today, I’m going to write about the losingest franchise in professional sports.

The Los Angeles Clippers.

You’re probably thinking, “Oh, brother. Is Amico really gonna try to say something positive about the CLIPPERS?”

The answer is yes.

Today, I sort of believe in the Clippers. Granted, that could all change tomorrow … but today, the Clippers have hope. At least a little bit, anyway.

Yes, they are in last place in the Pacific Division -- again. Yes, their bench is horribly inconsistent, and not even that good on its best days -- again. And yes, two players who moved on after flopping in L.A. are having good starts with their new teams -- again.

I’m talking about forward Lamar Odom and guard Andre Miller, each of whom seems to have gotten over a bad case of Clipperitis and is now playing well in Miami and Denver, respectively.

None of this surprises anyone because, well, we are talking about the Clippers here. And that’s the only way to explain it. They’re the Clippers, they’re destined for doom. Period.

That may be about to change. Maybe not this season, maybe not next. But I have a feeling it will be soon.

Why?

I’m not so sure, although I have a feeling it has to do with the Clippers’ core group of players -- namely, forward Elton Brand, and swingmen Corey Maggette and Quentin Richardson.

I don’t care what anybody says, Brand is an All-Star, even in the power forward-heavy Western Conference. He can score 20 points and grab 10 rebounds against anyone, and usually does. He’s a bright guy on and off the court, a hard worker, and pretty much exemplifies everything that’s right with the NBA.

Then there’s Maggette. Did you know he’s scoring more than 20 points per game this season? He can drive to the basket, he’s improved his perimeter shot, and he’s an underrated defender and passer. And like his former Duke teammate Brand, Maggette is a model citizen. I’ve written it before, but I truly believe Magette is among the league’s top two or three most underrated players.

As for Richardson, yes, he can be a little wild when the idea is shot selection and accuracy. But he’s also the biggest reason the Clippers were able to remain competitive when Brand was sidelined for 13 games with a broken foot, as Richardson plays with tons of passion. He’s averaging close to 18 points and is second on the team in rebounding (6.7 rpg).

So there’s plenty to like about all three of those guys, and the best news is, they’re young and under contract. For the Clippers, that‘s a pretty good start.

Other names on the roster that I like: Second-year hustling big man Chris Wilcox, free-agent steal and swingman Bobby Simmons, and rookie center Chris Kaman, who reminds me a lot of former Seattle All-Star Jack Sikma (pull out the history books, kids). Then again, Kaman is much more athletic than Sikma ever was, and is averaging 7.4 points and 6.4 rebounds in limited action.

Finally, you don’t need me to tell you that Mike Dunleavy can coach. Not only that, but he seems like the perfect fit for these players.

I know, Clippers owner Donald Sterling has gained a reputation as a penny-pincher, and a lot of people are just waiting for him to ruin what appears to be a good thing. And based on his history, he just might.

There is one thing I really like about Sterling, and that’s how he has created stability in the front office. I’m mostly referring to Elgin Baylor, who has been the Clips’ vice president of basketball operations since 1986. That’s SEVENTEEN years with the same team, and in pro sports, that’s almost unheard of.

With as bad as many of the Clipper teams have been during the past 17 years, it would have been easy to use Baylor as a scapegoat. Sterling deserves credit for not doing that, as Baylor has made more than a few shrewd moves that, for whatever reason, backfired.

That word is used a lot when referring to the Clippers. A lot of stuff seems to backfire for them. I mean, can you imagine if Andre Miller had been his usual self last season? Maybe he would still be in L.A., giving the Clippers the solid point guard they so desperately need.

Anyway, that’s just one example of how things could be better, and there are probably hundreds more.

But today, the Clippers can be satisfied, knowing they are just a couple solid players away from very good things.

And how often have they had a chance to say that?

MORE CLIPPERS STUFF

-- I took some flack for my comment last week that Marko Jaric is not the long-term answer at point guard, most coming from overseas readers. Still, nothing has convinced me to change my mind. That’s not to say Jaric is a bad player, I just don’t think he penetrates or passes well enough to run a team on a full-time basis. I’m not alone, as the Clippers are said to be shopping for another point guard, and at the very least, will select one in next summer’s draft.

-- Reader Stephon Tally (Carlsbad, Calif.) e-mailed to ask “Which Clippers team do you think is the best of all time?” My answer is the 1991-92 team that featured Danny Manning and Ron Harper, and was coached by Larry Brown. That team finished 47-35 and lost to Utah in the first round of the playoffs. You could also make a case for the 1974-75 club (then known as the Buffalo Braves), who were coached by Jack Ramsey and led by center Bob McAdoo. The Braves went 49-33 and lost in seven games to Washington in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

-- The Lakers aren’t the only team in L.A. with a longtime West Virginia connection (theirs involves W.Va. native Jerry West, the Hall of Fame player who is credited with building some of the Lakers’ greatest teams as general manager). Joe Safety, the Clippers’ vice president of communications for the past decade, is also a native of the Mountain State. Like Jerry West, Safety is graduate of West Virginia University.

-- Something else to think about: The Clippers may be last in their division, but so are the defending champion San Antonio Spurs.

RANDOM STUFF

-- Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist Roger Brown reports that LeBron James and his agent are “furious” over a story that ran in the Akron Beacon-Journal detailing James’ Summit County home and according to Brown, “effectively gave readers directions to the crib.” Brown continued by writing, “The Akron newspaper’s needless invasion of the rookie’s privacy was arrogant, excessive and just plain dumb.” Ooooh. Guess we have something new to get excited about in Cleveland.

-- The truth is, Brown doesn‘t need to be taking shots at other newspapers, and the least he could have done is back up his claims with some kind of quote. Still, it was a nice change of pace for Brown, whose columns usually excite me as much as film sessions excite Seattle center Jerome James.

-- In case you missed it, James fell asleep while watching game footage before a recent practice. I love the guy as a player, and I couldn’t help but crack up when reading of his untimely nap. “There’s no excuse for falling asleep during the team video session,” James told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. “I apologize to my teammates, and I will try my best not to let it happen again.” That’s all we can ask, Jerome. Just try your best.

-- Isn’t it kind of neat how Keith Van Horn and Dikembe Mutombo were traded for each other just two summers ago, and are now frontcourt teammates for the struggling Knicks? I know, I need a life.

-- Your monthly Red Auerbach On The Celtics Report: “I think Jim O’Brien is getting the most out of the team as he can get,” Auerbach told Peter May of the Boston Globe. “We don’t have enough guys who can shoot. It’s great to have athletes who can run all over the place, jump high, and play defense. But when push comes to shove, we have no one who can put the ball in the hole except Paul (Pierce). And that’s not enough.”

-- One guy on Boston’s roster who may help Pierce by season’s end is Jiri Welsch, a youngster with a promising touch from the perimeter. I wasn’t very impressed with Welsch when he was with Golden State last season, as he showed very little poise, or skills, in limited action. But he’s beginning to change my mind now that he’s receiving regular minutes.

-- With talented rookies like Chris Bosh, T.J. Ford, Dwyane Wade, Chris Kaman, Jarvis Hayes, and Josh Howard, not to mention LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, the past draft is shaping up to be the best in some time. Don’t expect the next one to be any good, though. After all, can you name a time when back-to-back drafts were extremely deep?

-- Well, the idea of allowing veterans to report to training camp later than everyone else appears to have lasted one year. So says ESPN.com columnist Marc Stein, who writes that NBA officials and the players union “agree that it was absolute folly to allow veterans to report three days later to training camp than players with less than four years experience.” The plan is expected to be officially scrapped during All-Star Weekend in February, according to Stein.

-- Five reasons to continue feeling good about the NBA: Golden State forward Brian Cardinal, Boston forward Vin Baker, Denver guard Earl Boykins, Washington swingman Larry Hughes, and yes, Seattle guard Ronald Murray. All five have already surpassed expectations heading into the season.

-- I highly recommend picking up a copy of Street & Smith’s 100 Greatest College Basketball Players collectors’ edition. I did so at the supermarket just last week and thoroughly enjoy it (I won’t tell you who’s on the list, but I will give you the following hint: My own college career did not merit mention).

-- As predicted, the Toronto Raptors have become must-see NBA TV. Jalen Rose and Donyell Marshall have rediscovered their often-stellar games, and are meshing extremely well with Vince Carter. This is a team that could do things in the playoffs.

-- Finally, I’ve also enjoyed watching the Houston Rockets, especially now that Jeff Van Gundy has found a way to convince talented guards Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley to start moving the ball and playing defense. The Rockets are another team that I see making a late-season run.

READER FEEDBACK

From Ender Ilhan (Istanbul, Turkey)

Q: I was wondering what your thoughts are on Turkey’s NBA players -- Mehmet Okur (Detroit) and Hedo Turkoglu (San Antonio)?

A: Dear Ender, I really like Okur, as he’s another one of the league’s most underrated guys. He is a hustle player and an underrated athlete and scorer. And as you mentioned in your e-mail, he’s becoming a rebounding force. I’m not as impressed with Turkoglu, simply because he’s not aggressive enough. He’s a great guy, though, and he seems like he’s willing to put in the work to improve. I think he just needs time to adapt to his new surroundings with the Spurs.

From Matt Craig (Tempe, Ariz.)

Q: What do you know about Mike D’Antoni, who will take over as Phoenix coach now that Frank Johnson has been fired?

A: Dear Matt, well, D’Antoni is yet ANOTHER guy from West Virginia. He spent his most of his professional playing and coaching career in Italy, and is considered by many to be that country’s Michael Jordan. No lie. He also was a heck of a coach in Italy, and spent the lockout-shortened season as the Nuggets’ coach (1999). For more on D’Antoni, pick up a copy of my book, “A Basketball Summer.” I devoted an entire chapter to him. (By the way, thanks for the opportunity for the shameless plug, Matt).

CBA STUFF

The Great Lakes Storm has to be the CBA’s oldest team, with Anthony Bonner, Shelton Jones, and Jimmy King on the roster.

Here are other CBA names you may know: Oliver Miller, Eddie Gill, John Linehan (Dakota); Smush Parker, Randy Livingston, Josh Davis (Idaho); Tom Coverdale, Paul McPherson (Rockford); Roy Tarpley, Damian Owens, Ricky Moore (Sioux Falls); Anthony Goldwire, Zendon Hamilton, Donnie Boyce, Teddy Dupay (Yakima).

NBDL STUFF

Roanoke’s Mikki Moore leads the NBDL in scoring at 23.3 points per game.

Other NBDL names you may know: Jason Collier, Omar Cook, Britton Johnson (Fayetteville); Erick Barkley, Mateen Cleaves, Rod Grizzard (Huntsville); Kris Lang, Lavor Postell (Asheville); Carl English, Tierre Brown (Charleston); Kevin Lyde, Terence Morris, Derrick Zimmerman (Columbus).

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