Situation Gets Very Negative

Fourteen games. Fourteen losses. Each defeat brings more pressure to win, and it’s taking a toll on the Clippers, who say they are not as bad as their record.

“It creates an atmosphere for the whole team that’s not good,” center Lorenzen Wright said.

“Sometimes, we snap on each other because everything is so negative. It’s hard for the whole team. It’s hard to go out and play because we’ve been losing so much.”

Coach Chris Ford’s latest unsuccessful attempt to get the Clippers a victory was to insert Charles Smith and Tyrone Nesby into the starting lineup.

It worked for a half in Thursday’s loss at Houston.

“I think the guys now are to the point that they’ll do anything to get a win,” said Smith, who tied a career high with 16 points and had four steals against the Rockets in his first NBA start.

*

Ford said he will start Sherman Douglas, Maurice Taylor, Wright, Smith and Nesby again tonight against San Antonio. The Clippers have started nine different lineups this year, the most in the NBA.

Tonight

at San Antonio

5:30 PST

Channel 9

* Site--Alamodome.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Clippers 0-14, Spurs 8-8.

* Record vs. Spurs (1997-98)--1-3.

* Update--San Antonio has won two in a row to move to .500 and maybe buy more time for Coach Gregg Popovich, whose position was considered shaky a week ago. David Robinson had one of his best games so far this season with 20 points and eight rebounds in the Spurs’ victory over Dallas on Thursday. Taylor leads the Clippers in scoring at 16.7 points a game and is shooting 51% from the field.

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WORST STARTS

A list of the longest losing streaks to start the season in NBA history (x-current):

17--MIAMI HEAT

Nov. 5 to Dec. 12, 1988

16--CLIPPERS

Nov. 4 to Dec. 5, 1994

15--PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

Oct. 10 to Nov. 10, 1972

15--CLEVELAND CAVALIERS, Oct. 14 to Dec. 10, 1970

15--DENVER NUGGETS

Oct. 29 to Nov. 25, 1949

14--CLIPPERS-x

Feb. 5 to March 4, 1999