Scott Skiles on loss to Clippers: ‘We gift-wrapped this one for them’

Jamal Crawford

Jamal Crawford scored a game-high 32 points in the Clippers’ win over Orlando on Saturday/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

 

First-year Orlando Magic coach Scott Skiles has done a fine job this season with his team. The Magic entered 11-8 and on a five-game winning streak when they were defeated 103-101 by the Clippers on Saturday at Staples Center.

Orlando led 96-86 with 5:27 left before the Clippers overtook the Magic with a 13-0 run. Skiles preferred to blame his team rather than dole out credit to the Clippers.

“(The ball stopped moving) for sure,” Skiles said. “We were driving into traffic, trying to make shots that we should not have been trying to make. Typically, that is not what we have been doing and we definitely did it tonight. We gift-wrapped this one for them.”

Magic reserve forward Aaron Gordon agreed.

“The ball stopped moving,” Gordon said. “That is what happened. Our flow got messed up, a couple of bad shots here and there and they capitalized. We gave that game away.”

 

Branden Dawson talks about what Clippers fans can expect from him

Branden  Dawson

Branden Dawson/Photo courtesy of Michigan State

 

Branden Dawson, who was picked 56th in the recent NBA Draft, was asked at a recent news conference what Clippers fans can expect to see from him in the upcoming season.

The 6-foot-6, 225-pound forward was not shy in his response.

“I’ll say definitely my energy, my toughness, and I’m just a team player,” Dawson said. “I come from Michigan State. Always been competitive, playing with (coach) Tom Izzo, it’s something that he instilled in me, just being competitive, playing with energy and I’m going to do whatever it takes.

“I love to win and I like being around a good group of guys. And I’m willing to do anything, so I’m excited.”

Dawson averaged 10.3 rebounds in the recently concluded Orlando Summer League, second only to the 11.7 averaged by Aaron Gordon of Orlando Blue.