The Clippers already are classifying this as a successful trip…and this is before they tip off against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
That’s because on successive nights the Clippers defeated the Chicago Bulls and the Indiana Pacers to begin this three-game, midwest road swing. Thus, in Coach Mike Dunleavy’s mind, a victory over the Pistons would turn a great trip into something even more.
“Anytime you go on the road and you play over .500, it’s a great trip,” Dunleavy said. “If we get a (win) tonight, it goes on to be an incredibly good trip.”
But to achieve that the Clippers will have to make due without guard Cuttino “Cat” Mobley, who is out for at least a week with a strained right adductor muscle. Mobley not only is averaging 18.3 points, through four games but his 62 percent in field-goal shooting ranks first in the NBA, among guards.
“Definitely no Cat tonight…that’s a tough blow,” Dunleavy said.
