CLIPPERS NOTEBOOK: Team knows they need a sense of urgency

This will go down as a record-setting season for the Clippers no matter what they do in the playoffs, but expectations have changed.

Expectations here are grand, and that's why coach Vinny Del Negro hasn't been pleased with his team in a couple of months. The Clippers lost four of five games before Wednesday's home game against Phoenix, which doesn't instill a lot of confidence with six regular-season games left.

"I understand where that comes from," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "We got off to such a hot start and were undefeated the month of December. Some people say we're complacent because we'd won the division.

"We just haven't played well enough. We have not played at a high enough level consistently enough. No, I'm not hpapy with the level of play, probably since All-Star break."

Players have been talking about the need to perform and get back on track, but those words are ringing hollow.

Tweeted Matt Barnes on Wednesday: "It's time for us to put up or shut up.. The Type of basketball WE'VE been playing lately is gonna have us on vacation in a couple of weeks."

Not exactly. There are two weeks left in the regular season, and the Clippers already have secured a playoff spot and are fourth in the standings. But if they want to improve from last year - in which the Clippers lost to San Antonio in the second round of the playoffs - they'll have to figure out how to get healthy and back in their December groove that had them on a 17-game win streak.

"I haven't seen the urgency overall," Del Negro said. "The guys know that. No one is going to feel sorry for you. You have to go out and stop talking about urgency. Go and do it. Get results."

Chauncey's time?

Chauncey Billups didn't play again Wednesday, but fans should be used to seeing him on the bench in a suit as he's battled mulitple injuries. Billups has played only 20 games because of foot, Achilles, back and groin injuries and isn't even practicing now.

"Hopefully, all these nagging things he has he can get back over (this) weekend and play the last handful of games," Del Negro said. "His minutes have always been monitored. We know what he brings to the team. His health hasn't cooperated."

Moment of silence

The Clippers paid tribute to NBA referee Greg Willard before Wednesday's game with a moment of silence. Willard died Monday at the age of 54 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.