It's really difficult to overemphasize the importance of the next two games for the Clippers.

Playing the team a game and a half BEHIND them in the standings, followed two days later by a game against the team a game and a half IN FRONT OF them in the standings, these two games over the course of about 77 hours, can have a profound effect on the season.

If we assume for the sake of argument that the Mavericks win at home against the Grizzlies on Wednesday and that the Lakers win their home game against the Nets on Tuesday night, then based solely on what the Clippers do in these two games, they could wake up on Thursday morning tied with the Lakers in the loss column for third place in the Division and 2.5 games ahead of the Mavs while holding the season series tie breaker on both teams , or a half game behind the Mavericks, in fifth place, 3.5 games behind the Lakers, losing the season series tie breaker to both.

Like I said, it's big. A split is not a bad outcome, but a sweep would really send a message. And two losses would send a different message.

So where will they be Thursday morning?