Report: Coach Vinny Del Negro Losing Control Of L.A. Clippers

We've already seen one playoff-bound NBA team get rid of its coach midseason in the New York Knicks, and a second one might not be far off. The Los Angeles Clippers may be running out of patience with head coach Vinny Del Negro, according to Chris Broussard of ESPN.

"Vinny has lost the team," one source told Broussard. "They don't want to play hard for him."

The Clippers have gone into a freefall since losing Chauncey Billups to a season-ending Achilles injury -- they've lost 11 of their last 18 games. They were once riding high at No. 3 in the Western Conference, but they've since slipped into a tie for fifth in a very tight playoff race. Another couple of losses could leave them out of the postseason entirely.

Del Negro is in the final guaranteed season of his contract, with the Clippers holding a team option for next season. But they may try to ax the head coach even sooner -- a majority of the players in the Clips' locker room reportedly believe the time for change is now. They cite the uncertainty of the team's rotation as a major concern.