Report: Vinny Del Negro Has Lost the Clippers

After a plethora of rumors regarding Vinny Del Negro and his future with the Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Broussard, senior writer for ESPN.com, reports that the coach has completely lost the team.

Coming into the season, many were doubting that Del Negro was the right coach for the superstar Clippers due to his coaching failures with the Chicago Bulls just a few seasons ago.

Well, it seems as if the doubters were right, as Broussard goes on to say that the team "just doesn't want to play hard for him" and "believes it's time for a change."

But, why are the players giving up on Vinny Del Negro, a coach who has led them into the playoff picture?

Broussard explains that it has to do with Del Negro's simple coaching style.

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Beyond that, players have complained that Del Negro's offensive and defensive schemes are too basic and predictable and they say he plays favorites when handing out criticism, according to the sources. They say while he refuses to harshly criticize stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, he does not hold back in jumping on the team's lesser players.

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Marc Stein of ESPN.com adds that losing veteran leader Chauncey Billups to a season-ending Achilles' heel injury has also been a factor in the locker-room situation taking a turn for the worse.

Stein goes on to point out that the Clippers roster doesn't possess confidence in assistant coach Marc Iavaroni either, as he is a candidate to take over the head-coach position if Del Negro receives the axe.

This is unfortunate news for a Clippers organization trying to stay above water to avoid a major collapse. Despite obtaining a respectable 26-21 record throughout the season, their March record doesn't give any Clippers fans confidence heading into the playoffs.

As of right now, it seems as if the veteran Los Angeles Lakers are winning the Battle of L.A.