Clippers rotation not set heading into final exhibition

Though the Clippers will play their eighth and final exhibition Friday night against the Sacramento Kings, Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said he has yet to establish his rotation for the regular season.

Rivers said too much can happen during an 82-game schedule to say for sure he’ll stick to the same rotation all season.

Besides, his team hasn’t been healthy enough during training camp to know how the rotation will work out.

Shooting guard J.J. Redick (partially torn quad muscle) and rookie forward Reggie Bullock (injured right knee) will be playing in only their second exhibition game against the Kings at Staples Center.

Small forward Matt Barnes (sore left calf) is expected to play in his first exhibition game.

“I think that rotation word is overplayed, in my opinion, because it will always change,” Rivers said. “It’ll change with injuries, it’ll change with how people are playing. And I think it takes awhile to establish the ones that you go to the most, let’s say that. We don’t know what that is yet.”

Rivers said he’ll play his starters and key reserves “in the first half, and that’s it” against the Kings.

Rivers also doesn’t want any of his players to get hurt before the Clippers open the regular season against the Lakers in their designated home game at the Staples Center the teams share.

“It’s human nature when you’ve worked all year to get to the first game, and say, ‘This game is not going to be a game that I’m going to do anything. ‘ I get that,” Rivers said. “I’ve always said the last preseason games should be played out of state, in a small town, where nobody sees the game. That way it’s safe for everybody.”

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