LOS ANGELES — If you think watching the explosive, high-scoring Clippers is fun, try playing with them.

"It's unbelievable," Jamal Crawford said Friday in an interview. "We almost have two starting units. We're so deep. That's a big strength."

Crawford leads six scorers in double figures at 20.5 points per game and is shooting 51.4 percent overall and 42.2 percent from 3-point land. That the former Bull is putting up such numbers in just 28.3 minutes per game speaks to the Clippers' offensive prowess.

"Playing with this group of guys has been so much fun," Crawford said. "They give me confidence. In September, I'd be in the training room hanging out and I'd be like, 'We signed him too?' And then Chris (Paul) walks in. Blake (Griffin) walks in. DeAndre (Jordan) walks in. We were like, 'We're all on the same team?'

"And we haven't even had Hall of Fame type guys like Grant (Hill) and Chauncey (Billups), who have a wealth of knowledge, play yet. We can be unreal."

Following a disappointing lockout season with the Trail Blazers, air max 2012 Crawford credits a more focused offseason in Seattle for his resurgence.

"How bad things were last year was a big motivator," he said. "I didn't take any days off. I went right to my weight room at home and started doing core, treadmill, bike. I added prone shooting. I live in the gym but I used to just play. I did a lot more drills this offseason.

"And playing for Vinny (Del Negro) has been great. I've had more fun playing for Vinny than I've had my whole career. He just believes in me and my talent and always wants me in attack mode."

Layups: Kirk Hinrich practiced with no aftereffects from his Wednesday return after missing the previous six quarters with soreness in his right side. … Coach Tom Thibodeau said Derrick Rose, who is rehabilitating here for now, could attend Saturday's game. "But all I want his focus to be on is his rehab," Thibodeau said. "I don't want him concerned with where we are with the team or anything."




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