Offense starts fast, but then falls apart

OKLAHOMA CITY — In two of the first three games on the road, the Clippers had double-digit leads in the second quarter and then stalled on offense.

They suddenly stopped moving the ball and exhibited poor judgment while committing many turnovers.

The Orlando Magic rallied to defeat the Clippers in the trip opener after trailing by 11 points. The Washington Wizards overcame a 13-point deficit Friday night at the Verizon Center.

In Saturday’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks, the Clippers shot 40% from the field and scored a season-low 74 points. What’s the deal with the team’s stagnant offense?

“I don’t know, but it’s a good question,” point guard Shaun Livingston said. “We have it going, we’re getting teams to play at our tempo, and we’re executing.

“Then, for some reason, we just stop playing smart. We stop doing the things that got us to that point ... it’s frustrating.”

Elton Brand’s production could be part of the problem.

Despite a slow start, the second-team All-NBA power forward has been productive again this season, averaging 20.3 points while shooting 55.2% from the field. Obviously, the Clippers rely on their No. 1 option on offense, but they might be too dependent on Brand.

The Clippers often appear to lose focus when Brand goes to the bench, or when he’s in foul trouble. Center Chris Kaman, who scores well in the low post, becomes the focus inside when Brand leaves the game, but Kaman is not as consistent as Brand.

At this stage, Livingston is not considered a force on offense, and long-range shooters Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas haven’t been as efficient as the Clippers had hoped.

Corey Maggette averaged more than 20 points a game in the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons, but Maggette’s agent has requested that the team trade the seven-year veteran. And point guard Sam Cassell, among the league’s top scorers at his position, sat out seven straight games because of a heel injury. He returned Saturday but did not play.

“We’ve got other guys who can score, we’ve got other weapons, so that’s not the problem,” Brand said. “We just have to play smarter, run our sets better and make better decisions. As long as we do that, we’ll be OK.”

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The Clippers are expected to sign Luke Jackson to a 10-day contract today. Jackson, a former No. 1 draft pick from Oregon, was playing with the Idaho Stampede of the Developmental League.

TONIGHT

at New Orleans, 4 p.m. PST, FSN Prime Ticket

Site -- Ford Center.

Radio -- 830.

Records -- Clippers 15-19, Hornets 12-21.

Record vs. Hornets -- 1-0.

Update -- The Clippers are 1-3 on a six-game, 10-day trip that continues here tonight. Hornets star point guard Chris Paul is sidelined because of an ankle injury.

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