By Brian A. Lester

Are the Los Angeles Clippers the best team in the NBA at bringing in a wealth of talent and turning it into a heap of junk? It appears that way. They have Andre Miller, Elton Brand, Quentin Richardson, Corey Maggette, Michael Olowokandi and Lamar Odom. Six guys who are all averaging better than 10 points per game. Six guys who are among the most talented players in the league. And yet, they can't come together and win basketball games. Or, at least enough games to qualify for the playoffs.

You'd think that the law of averages have to catch up to the Clippers eventually. Instead, the Clippers continue to boggle minds and defy all forms of logic. They are 20-44 as of March 14, and the only postseason on their mind is the one their champion neighbors will enjoy beginning in April.

Another lottery is in the cards for the Clippers, and quite frankly, that is pathetic. It's one thing for the Chicago Bulls or Cleveland Cavaliers to wallow in mediocrity, but the Clippers shouldn't be in the same category. They should be winning games and preparing for the playoffs, not wasting their talent on another atrocious season.

I assumed that the arrival of Miller would mean the Clippers now had the floor general they needed to take a big step toward respectability in the league. Was I ever wrong. But I bet you were, too.

Dennis Johnson has been brought in as the new coach. Johnson is a good guy, a good player and he knows what championships are all about from his days with the Boston Celtics. But that was a different era, and it's difficult to imagine Johnson turning things around in Clipperland. This isn't a knock on Johnson, it's just that I don't know if anyone is capable of turning the Clippers into a contender.

Harsh statement? Yes it is. But sometimes, the truth hurts. And truth be told, the Clippers are as bad as it gets when it comes to a team not capitalizing on its talent.

Do the players not gell as a team because they're too busy thinking about their upcoming free agency? Almost every good player the Clippers have can change teams this summer, in search of a big payday, or wins. Can all the losing be blamed on the owner? It doesn't seem entirely fair to blame everything on him. After all, he's not out on the court, missing cutters, and not helping out on defense. The players, and coaches, need to take responsibility as well.

Brian Lester is a sportswriter in Ohio and can be reached via email at BAL4@hotmail.com.