Clipper backup center Zeljko Rebraca, sidelined since being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat nearly a week ago, is scheduled for a noninvasive procedure to correct the problem Wednesday in Ann Arbor, Mich. He had the procedure once before back in 2003. Could be out anywhere from 1 week to 1 month.

Shaun Livingston, sidelined through the first month of the season because of a lower-back stress reaction, is scheduled for an MRI exam Thursday.
If all is well, Livingston could be cleared to begin practicing at that time, Coach Mike Dunleavy said. No timetable for a return to the court during games has been established. Expect a slow as he goes approach. JamFan

This roster developement will mean Chris Wilcox and possibly James Singleton will see increased minutes due to Z's absence. Our prayers go out to Z. He is a good guy. JamFan

“Elton is very much deserving of the award and has been terrific in all areas of the game,” said Clippers Head Coach Mike Dunleavy. “His stellar play is a big reason for our successful start and is a direct reflection of the hard work he put in during the off season.”

Here is a closer look at EB's week:

Nov. 15 vs. Milwaukee: Recorded a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds in a 109-85 victory.
Nov. 18 at L.A. Lakers: Pulled down 14 boards and blocked five shots to go along with 23 points in a 97-91 win against the Lakers.
Nov. 20 vs. Golden State: Exploded for 32 points and added 10 rebounds in a 113-101 victory over the visiting Warriors.

Brand has now been named NBA Player of the Week three times during his career, earning all three awards with the Clippers. Brand first earned the recognition for the week ending December 9, 2001. He was also named player of the week for the week ending January 4, 2004.

Other nominees for Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Cleveland’s Larry Hughes, Denver’s Marcus Camby, New Orleans/Oklahoma City’s David West, Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki, Toronto’s Chris Bosh, Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson, Miami’s Dwyane Wade and Orlando’s Dwight Howard.

The 12-year veteran had left the team Wednesday to attend the funeral of his paternal grandmother, Dorothy Hopson, Thursday in Baltimore.

Cassell, who returned to Los Angeles about three hours before tipoff at Staples Center, helped the Clippers defeat their in-house rival by scoring 17 points with seven rebounds, five assists and no turnovers in 40 minutes.

"It's been rough for me," he said Saturday after practice at the Spectrum health club in El Segundo. "Anyone who loses their grandmother … it's definitely impacted my life, my father and my mother. She was a strong woman."

Read the entire story.

It wasn't as if Chris Kaman had forgotten how to play, though the Clippers might have wondered.

The 7-foot center stumbled through the team's first eight games, having seemingly regressed with each step he took on the court.Kaman's poor decisions, costly turnovers and insufficient rebounding stirred frustration, and Coach Mike Dunleavy's pained expressions told the story.

Until Friday.

Kaman finally delivered, scoring 10 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and blocking four shots in a 97-91 victory over the Lakers at Staples Center.

The third-year player helped provide the difference as the Clippers continued their strong start, improving to a franchise-best 7-2 after nine games.

And Kaman's solid work, combined with another standout performance from forward Elton Brand, enabled the Clippers to outperform the Lakers inside — a key to their third consecutive victory in the series.

The Clippers said Kaman got it together at the right time.

"Kaman was terrific. He showed a big presence in the paint," Dunleavy said. "He had four blocks, but Kaman actually blocked another two or three shots that could have been three-point play opportunities that looked like they were going in. He made great saves on those also."

Before Friday's game, Kaman had scored in double figures only once and had failed to total 10 rebounds in any game. He scored six points combined in his previous two games and had nine rebounds.

Much more was expected of Kaman, and more was provided against the Lakers.

"This is the best game Kaman played all year," forward Corey Maggette said. "Eleven points, 10 rebounds, four blocked shots — he was very active. He did what he had to do.

"I was very proud of him because it just showed his maturity. He did a lot of great things on the floor. Without his blocked shots and without his rebounds, we would have been in trouble."

Kaman, who played a season-high 37 minutes, teamed with Brand to torment the Lakers in the paint. Brand had a team-high 23 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots, and the Lakers couldn't slow the productive Clipper duo.

"It was a big double-double for Chris Kaman," Brand said. "He was big inside with blocked shots and rebounding.

"We knew he would step up. We see him every day in practice. He uses both hands and he finishes well in practice, and we just wanted that to correlate to the games. It did."

Kaman acknowledged he had struggled to adjust to his new role on the new-look Clippers, who now follow the lead of veteran guards Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley. He said he's starting to get it figured out, and rebounding is his key to success.

"I played well in the past, and I know what I can do, but this team is different this year," he said. "I try to work hard and fight in there.

"Tonight, I got some time, which is good. I was able to get more rebounds."

The formula was clear to others from the outset.

"One of the reasons I came here is because of Elton and Chris," Mobley said. "When you've got big men like that, with solid guard play, you're OK in this league."

For perhaps the first time, the Clippers were the Showtime.

They were the magic of Sam Cassell, the big game of Elton Brand, the strange Superman that was Chris Kaman, the slicked-back mastery of Mike Dunleavy.

They weren't just a better team but, perhaps more important around here, they were a more entertaining team.

Staples Center was covered in a Laker floor and filled with a Laker crowd but buzzed all night with a Clipper spirit. The result was a 97-91 victory that was about more than points.

Read the entire article.

The next game against Golden State promises to be a tough, physical battle. Let's see if the Clippers can prevail at home on Sunday.

One would then think that his departure must have something to do with another player bring brought in or Rodney White being brought back. I have searched the web on more than one occasion trying to find out where Rodney ended up and I could find absolutely nothing out there. Rodney, a fan favorite here, produced instant offense off the bench, and provided better insurance for the loss of Maggette or maybe even a shooting guard. Now, Q Ross is reportedly suffering from back spasms.

So, is it Rodney coming back. Possibly the Clippers have found another player that interests them. There were at least a couple of good players cut right before the the season began. With the early success that the team has enjoyed, it gives them more flexibility with what they do with the end of their bench. They can take a chance on a player that might need time to develope, like Rodney. The best free agent available is still Spree. He does have a history with Sam. Those two were credited with leading the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Final just 1 1/2 years ago. Spree's numbers per minute played actually went up last year and his shooting percentage increased as well.

So far the silence is deaffening. A spot is open. The opportunity is there. We have a chance to add someone special to a team that is suddenly very special. JamFan

Because when Los Angeles trailed by 11 after three quarters in the season opener, the oldest man on the court lifted his team on his thin shoulders and carried it to a 101-93 victory against the SuperSonics. He scored 15 of his game-high 35 points in the final quarter of a game the old Clippers would have given away.

"He is willing to take the tough shot. That's what he does," Brand says. "He's a great teammate and a great person. You hear rumors that he's not a good guy. I know he's a great guy."

Don't believe what you might have heard about Cassell and the Clippers. These Clippers are nothing like those bumbling squads who put together just one winning season in the past quarter-century and rode in the back of the bus while their mighty crosstown rivals were seated in first class.

Sonics backup Mikki Moore predicted the reversal in L.A.'s basketball hierarchy, which is why he practically begged Clippers management to re-sign him over the summer. Imagine that, an NBA player actually wanting to remain a Clipper. The penny-pinching franchise had become synonymous with failing to keep its talented young players. Lamar Odom. Darius Miles. Andre Miller. Bobby Simmons.

Moore, who helped Los Angeles to a better than usual 37-45 record last season, doesn't exactly fall into that category, but it's telling when he says: "We started something good there, and it's only going to get better and better."

Read the entire story.

In three games played for the Clippers this season, Goldwire averaged 0.7 points in 7.3 minutes per contest.

The Clippers' roster now stands at 14.