Sunday, after the Clippers cruised past the desiccated shell of the New York Knicks – Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler, Amar’e Stoudemire and Rasheed Wallace were all out- Chauncey Billups paid lip service to the idea any team they’d play will be tough, noting said team would be “deserving” because they showed “over the course of the season they are one of the eight best teams in the conference.”
But at the same time, he made it abundantly clear a playoff urgency has to start now. “I was just telling the guys that we have to start playing playoff basketball now,” he said. “You can’t just turn on a light switch and say, ‘All right, it’s playoff basketball.’ You have to start playing now, especially with the positioning that we’re going through and going to face for the final 15 games. You have to start playing that way right now.”
Clearly it didn’t happen Tuesday, and to make things worse Billups left early with a groin pull. With Eric Bledsoe (calf) already out, the team’s vaunted backcourt depth is taking a hit. Bledsoe’s absence also undercuts L.A.’s bench depth. And any more losses like Tuesday’s and the problems get much larger.
– Brian Kamenetzky
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (39-30)
After losing 10-of-13, Golden State has won six of nine, including back-to-back wins Monday in 
Houston and Tuesday in New Orleans by a combined 51 points.
Fair to say things are looking up. One big reason (pun mercifully unintended) is Andrew Bogut.
All season, Golden State has been fueled by David Lee on the inside and the Steph Curry/Klay Thompson Pop-a-Shot combo on the perimeter. But as good a rebounder and scorer as Lee is, he’s a sieve on the other end, and the Warriors have suffered greatly with the non-Lee big men plopped down in the middle of the floor, either next to him or in relief.
Andris Beidrins is a staggering minus-83 in 480 minutes. Festus Ezeli minus-67 in 944, Carl Landry minus-35 in 1,601. Bogut, who has struggled with ankle and back problems throughout the year, has made a much more positive impression at plus-34 in 521 minutes and trending up.
Against the Rockets, Bogut chipped in 12 points, 12 boards and three blocks. In New Orleans, eight points, nine boards, five dimes, four blocks and a steal. Just as important, he has helped tighten up the defense and add variety to Golden State’s attack. With Lee, Bogut gives the Warriors a fully developed inside attack, one Mark Jackson exploited to pull away from the Hornets. Up eight in the fourth quarter with New Orleans rallying, Golden State went to the bigs, 
getting two buckets from Lee, two from Bogut, then a fifth on the perimeter when Bogut kicked to Curry for 3.
It’s easy to forget a healthy Bogut was once considered among the game’s best bigs because he has so infrequently been so. But if he’s getting whole, the Warriors become a vastly different team, one that’s much harder to guard given Bogut’s skill with the ball both as a scorer and a passer. Certainly the Rockets found him to be a problem.
Meanwhile, the Warriors have slipped defensively since a strong early season start. Bogut can stop that bleeding, too, and if he does, the Warriors grow a lot scarier as a six seed.
– BK
LOS ANGELES LAKERS (36-33)
Following Monday’s 99-76 blowout loss at Phoenix, Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni came under considerable fire for his handling of a roster short the services of Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. Just seven Lakers took the floor in Phoenix, just like the previous night against Sacramento, despite Monday being the ninth game in 14 days.
Buy Safe cheap Cowboys jerseys from china free shipping Center Reviews
I am intrigued and considering what you are covering below.