Clippers still can’t solve problems

Well, at least Coach Mike Dunleavy’s contract situation is resolved.

The Clippers averted a potential problem when Dunleavy signed a four-year extension Wednesday night, but it seems they still have much to address after a 105-86 loss to the Utah Jazz in front of 18,220 at Staples Center.

Another group of Clippers fans left the arena frustrated after the team’s latest poor showing on its home court, watching as Utah showed how the NBA’s top teams do their thing on the road.

Operating efficiently in Coach Jerry Sloan’s offense, the Jazz seemed several steps ahead of the Clippers while getting into the lane often for 56 points in the paint compared to 36 for the Clippers.

Standout second-year point guard Deron Williams and power forward Carlos Boozer benefited most from the Clippers’ ineffective performance on defense.

Williams outplayed Shaun Livingston, scoring 28 points with 14 assists. Livingston finished with 14 points and eight assists.

And Boozer also fared better than Elton Brand in their key individual matchup.

Boozer was a force inside with 28 points and 15 rebounds. Brand, limited to 11 minutes in the first half because of foul trouble, had 20 points but only four rebounds.

The Clippers (10-11) lost for the third time in four games, were routed by an average of more than 20 points in the last two games at Staples and dropped below .500 for the third time this season.

Dunleavy’s status could have become a distraction for the Clippers had the parties failed to reach a deal, but now Dunleavy can focus on trying to fix this mess.

“We just got beast-ed in the paint,” Dunleavy said. “To get beat by 20 points in the paint ... they’re good, but they shouldn’t be that much better than us in that regard. We missed a lot of easy shots around the basket.

“Some of our bigs boarded, some didn’t. Sometimes we made clear mistakes in our coverages that should never be made by a team that’s supposed to be a good defensive team.”

In fairness to the Clippers, Sam Cassell and Corey Maggette sat out because of injuries, but Dunleavy expected more from the team.

“What they have going for them is that they’re big and strong at every position,” he said. “Physically, they out-toughed us, and that makes them kind of special.

“They shot the ball well from distance, and that’s an area we struggle in. Right now, we haven’t made our open shots, and that’s compounded some of our problems.”

Utah shot 51.3% from the field in improving to 17-5 overall and 6-4 on the road. The Northwest Division leader also made 53.8% of its three-point shots.

The Clippers made only 40.3% of their shots. They have been horrible from three-point range and were again against the Jazz, missing 10 of 13 shots.

The San Antonio Spurs, who lead the Southwest Division, had a 22-point victory over the Clippers on Monday at Staples. The Jazz won by only 19 points, so perhaps that’s progress for the Clippers.

“It comes down to two teams, them and San Antonio,” Dunleavy said of the Western Conference’s top teams. “It’s not even close, to me, as far as everybody else I’ve either seen in person or on TV.”

The Clippers had hoped to be among the group before the season, but they’re obviously not in the lead pack at the moment.

In fact, if the season ended today, the Clippers wouldn’t be in the playoffs. Of course, the season doesn’t end today, and that’s comforting for Dunleavy.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do to get to where we want to be,” he said. “We just have to keep working at it.”

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