Clippers: With Chris Paul, have fast hands or get hit in the head
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DeAndre Jordan said that since the Clippers have acquired four-time all-star point guard Chris Paul, he hasn’t paid attention to the whispers that his team could be as good -- or better -- than the Lakers. He’s not phased by the “Lob city” T-shirts selling around town. And he doesn’t care about the hype.
In fact, Jordan said that around Clippertown, only one thing has changed.
“I do the same thing but make sure I have my hands up so I don’t get hit in the head with the ball,” Jordan said.
So far, he said he has been lucky. As for his teammates, he laughed while acknowledging that some of them have gotten popped.
The Lakers and Clippers are about to take the court for their first exhibition after an extended lockout and Jordan and his teammates are not the only men in Staples Center preparing to make some serious adjustments now that Paul has arrived in town.
Lakers Coach Mike Brown understands how much of an impact Paul can make on the court.
“He has the ball in his hands quite a bit and they run multiple pick and rolls for him on the same possession and he’s a guy who can make plays,” Brown said. “He makes the game easier for everybody around him, and when he’s not making plays for others, he’s making plays for himself.”
Even though getting Paul has infused the Clippers with buzz and excitement, Jordan said that he and his teammates are well aware of the 16 championship banners that hang about five miles away from their practice facility.
“We’re still the team that has to improve, still has a lot to prove,” Jordan said. “Those guys over there, having the championships they have, they’re proven.
“I’m not going to come out and say were going to win 66 games in a row and sweep those guys because it will be a lot of work.”
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-- Melissa Rohlin
