Clippers hope late slide into home edge is worth it

What the Clippers need to do

	Clippers vs. Nuggets Season Series: L.A. won 3-1 (6) GAME DATE/TIME 1 @L.A. Sat., 4/22, 10:30 ET 2 @L.A. Mon., 4/24, 10:30 ET 3 @DEN Thu., 4/27, 10:30 ET 4 @DEN Sat., 4/29, 10:30 ET 5 @L.A. Mon., 5/1, TBD 6 @DEN Thu., 5/4, TBD 7 @L.A. Sat., 5/6, TBD (3)
	Sam Cassell's drive for a new contract may be just the impetus he needs to push the Clippers past Denver into the second round. Greg Nelson/SI
	MARTY BURNS' SERIES BREAKDOWNS Eastern Conference • Detroit Pistons-Milwaukee Bucks • Miami Heat-Chicago Bulls • New Jersey Nets-Indiana Pacers • Cleveland Cavs-Wash. Wizards Western Conference • S.A. Spurs-Sacramento Kings • Phoenix Suns-L.A. Lakers • L.A. Clippers-Denver Nuggets • Dallas Mavericks-Memphis Grizzlies
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Pound it inside and take care of home court. Led by Elton Brand, the Clippers are one of the best post-up teams in the NBA. Mike Dunleavy loves to run the ball through the paint and create open looks for Sam Cassell, Cuttino Mobley, Corey Maggette and Vladimir Radmanovic. If L.A. can establish the inside game, Cassell can control the tempo and keep the Nuggets from getting out on the break, where they are dangerous. Denver led the NBA in fast-break points with an average of 20.2 a game, but L.A. did a good job most of the year in getting back in transition. In fact, the Clippers boast the league's fourth-best defense in terms of field goal percentage allowed (.436), so they should be able to keep Denver in check. The other big key for L.A. is to find a way to get around Nuggets center and shot-blocker Marcus Camby. The 6-foot-11 veteran is a flyswatter who can jam a foe's offense. Also, playoff neophytes such as Brand, Maggette, Chris Kaman and Quinton Ross must overcome any jitters. Even though they are the lower seed, the Clippers get to open at the Staples Center by virtue of their better overall season record. L.A. can't afford to give up that home court edge right away by coming out tight in Games 1 and 2.

What the Nuggets need to do

Get out on the break and hope Kenyon Martin can go all-out. The Nuggets don't want to get into a slow-down game with the Clippers. Denver needs to push the tempo, especially at home, where it can take advantage of the mile-high altitude. If the Nuggets can get some easy baskets for Andre Miller, Greg Buckner and Ruben Patterson, it would take a lot of pressure off Carmelo Anthony. The Nuggets also need a big series from Martin. The 6-foot-9 bruiser has been in and out of the lineup all season with knee tendonitis but is expected to be ready to play 25-30 minutes per game this series. K-Mart's ability to defend Brand in the post and run the break figure to be huge. Francisco Elson and Reggie Evans can do the job for stretches, but neither provides any offense. The Nuggets will get a boost from the return of Earl Boykins (hand) and Eduardo Najera (foot), but it is unclear how effective they will be after long layoffs. Denver's rugged style is fit for the playoffs, and the Nuggets should be hungry after two straight trips to the postseason, but they might be too banged up.

Key matchup

Sam Cassell vs. Andre Miller

At 36, Cassell is one of the game's most savvy floor generals. He has loads of playoff experience, including two NBA rings from his days with the Rockets. His ability to keep the Clippers in control and knock down big shots gives L.A. a big edge. As a free-agent-to-be this summer, Cassell will no doubt be looking to showcase his skills. Miller, meanwhile, has plenty of motivation of his own. The seventh-year point guard spent one unsatisfying season with his hometown Clippers in 2002-03 before the team let him walk by declining to match the six-year, $51 million contract offered by the Nuggets. How well he defends Cassell will be critical in this series.

Interesting fact

The Clippers are making their first playoff appearance in nine seasons, and only their third since the franchise moved from Buffalo in 1978.

The pick

Both teams are limping into the playoffs. The Clippers have lost six of 11, while the Nuggets have dropped eight of 12. But L.A. was tanking at the end to avoid the No. 5 seed, while Denver was just plain bad. Clippers in seven.