T.J. Simers: Stop making fun of Clippers and have fun I don't know about you, but I'm having a blast. I'm not in the pit that is Memphis, don't have to document Andrew Bynum's juvenile behavior and I can't imagine having more fun at a Clippers game. And until recently I'm not sure anyone could even imagine having fun at a Clippers game, let alone its ending in a playoff victory. This was Clippers playoff win No. 6 in the franchise's history in Staples Center, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin now one for one in winning playoff games at home as Clippers. It's such a gas because I'm not expecting any of this. Memphis is so much deeper, so much better than the Clippers, but then what do I know? A few weeks ago I'm telling jockey Mario Gutierrez, who is going to be riding I'll Have Another in the Kentucky Derby, "You don't have a prayer, kid. Might as well stay home and avoid the long trip to Louisville. The Clippers are no different than Gutierrez, listening to only their own hearts beating strong all the way to the wire. The Clippers come back from 27 down to win the first game with Memphis, lose Game 2 and are down by seven in the fourth quarter of Game 3. They should be on the brink of elimination, but the party's just getting started. Here it is an early Saturday afternoon in Staples Center, and how many times have we heard about sleepy Lakers crowds at this time of day? But these people are dressed in "Clipper Nation All In" red T-shirts, and they're making the kind of noise that suggests they really are all in. Try to get everyone in a Lakers crowd to put on a T-shirt. "This is my first playoff experience here with the Clippers and I see all this red and everyone's already in their seats when we took the floor," says Paul, his two-year-old son Chris in his lap, and yes, wearing a red shirt. "It was really something," he says with a sigh. But now let me tell you, I'm happy for the win, but I don't need this stress in my life. My stomach still is not right. The Clippers win, 87-86, their starting center fails to take a shot and they are starting Caron Butler, who is playing with one arm, a finger on his left hand fractured. So why are they ahead two games to one? Most everyone concludes Butler is done for the season. But anyone who knows anything about Butler's background, which includes time in jail, knows he's been confronted by much more difficult restraints. Before the game the coach [Vinny Del Negro] was telling everyone if Caron can play with a broken hand, what can the rest of us do to make a difference? Paul says. Butler scores only four points in 22 minutes, but with the game on the line he's in Paul's face and telling him, "Bring it home." It's a tough city in which to suggest there is no one better in the game these days at closing out an opponent, but Paul is building a strong case.