Clippers Try Another Lineup, Start Valentine

The Clippers will have a new look for tonight’s game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Sports Arena.

Darnell Valentine will replace Larry Drew at point guard in the Clippers’ starting lineup. Drew, who had started all 34 games this season, leads the team in assists (6.7) and free-throw percentage (81.5%) and is fourth in scoring (11.6).

Valentine started 52 games last season, but lost the job to Drew in training camp last fall. Valentine is averaging 4.5 points and 3.6 assists in 34 games off the bench.

Coach Gene Shue said he is making the move to get his team off to a faster start. The Clippers, who are 0-2 since beating the Lakers, 110-109, in overtime last Wednesday, have been sluggish in the first quarter of their last two games. The Clippers (9-25) have lost 13 of their last 14 games.

“This is no reflection on Larry Drew. I want to make that clear. It’s no demotion for Larry Drew,” Shue said after Sunday’s practice at the Sports Arena. “One of the problems that we’ve been having is getting out quickly.”

Said Drew: “He’s the coach, and I can’t do anything but go along with it. I can’t say I was playing that poorly, but I think Darnell is a better defensive player. This isn’t anything to get upset about. We’re a team that’s lacking in so many areas. I’m not going to do anything different than I have been doing. All I can do is continue to play hard.

“I’ve seen this coming. When a team is struggling, there’s usually a shake-up in the starting lineup.”

This is the second time in five games that Shue has experimented with a new lineup, and he said he will make more changes if this fails. Rookie Norris Coleman replaced Joe Wolf at small forward last Monday in the Clippers’ 111-90 loss at Indiana.