``If five years ago, I would have gone into a coma and then woke up and saw that the Clippers had this team, I'd say, `Hey, something's wrong,''' he said.

What's ``wrong'' is what's finally right for the long-suffering Los Angeles Clippers _ they made the playoffs last season for the first time in eight years and should be strong again.

They have a solid blend of proven veterans like Elton Brand, Cassell and Cuttino Mobley, and rapidly developing younger players such as Shaun Livingston and Chris Kaman.

``The Clippers have always had some talent, but now we have a lot of talent and we have depth,'' Cassell said.

Brand, with the Clippers since 2001, said they finally are being taken seriously.

``We were one game from the Western Conference finals,'' he said. ``The perception of the Clippers changed. Now, the world is watching us.''

Most significantly, the Clippers' future appears bright _ for a change.

``If this team stays healthy, we have a chance to do something special,'' Cassell said.

Mike Dunleavy, who has turned the Clippers around since becoming their coach in 2003, obviously found a lot to like about last season, when the Clippers finished the regular season 47-35 for only their second winning record since moving from Buffalo to California in 1978.

They not only made the post-season, they defeated Denver in the opening round before extending Phoenix to seven games in the second round.

``Obviously it was very positive time for us, coming off our playoff success and the confidence that our players gained from that showed in their off-season workouts and improvement in their game,'' Dunleavy said Friday as the Clippers prepared to head to Moscow for a brief training camp and two exhibition games against Russian teams.

Asked if the Clippers' playoff experience made him feel greedy, Dunleavy grinned, held up both hands and said, ``Well, I've got room for a few rings.''

Of course, Dunleavy wasn't completely satisfied with last season since the Clippers didn't go all the way.

``It's always tough. Unless you're the last man standing, there's always going to be what could have been,'' Dunleavy said. ``But if you take a step back and look at our season, the accomplishments we had, I think it goes to show that we shouldn't be a team that was a fluke.

``We did it through defence. Our defensive numbers were among the best in the league across the board. If we do those things again, we're a playoff team that has a chance again to beat almost everybody.''

The Clippers open camp in Moscow on Oct. 1 and play BC Khimki there on Oct. 6 and CSKA Moscow on Oct. 7 before returning to the United States.

``The first challenge I have is to go to Moscow and rein us in,'' Dunleavy said. ``It's good to feel good and we did accomplish something last year, but last year's over and done with. They're not giving us plus three or four games in the standings because we had a good year last year.

``We've got to get back down to business. We've got to get gritty, we've got to get dirty, we've got to put it on the line over in Moscow and get the tone back for what it's going to take. What you do early in the year is going to be what you do late in the year.''

Centre Zeljko Rebraca of Serbia-Montenegro will remain behind in Southern California to receive treatment for a back problem.