Clipper Offense Is Off Again in Loss to Mavericks

Clipper Coach Gene Shue sounds like a broken record.

“When you only score 87 points, you have to say you don’t have enough offense,” Shue said after the Clipper offense, the worst in the National Basketball Assn., vanished once again in a 110-87 loss to the Dallas Mavericks Friday night before a sellout crowd of 17,007 at Reunion Arena.

“We need scoring,” Shue said. “I can’t manufacture scoring. I hate to keep repeating myself, but it’s so hard to win when you have no offense. We need offense. But why am I telling you that? I know what we need.

“But at least we’re consistent. We’ve played the Mavericks three times (losing all three), and we’ve scored 87 points in all three games.”

What’s wrong with the Clipper offense?

“I think we played kind of selfish tonight,” said Clipper center Benoit Benjamin, who scored 12 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. “I’m not pointing the finger at anyone. We all played selfish, and we can’t win like that. We weren’t getting the ball to the open man.”

Benjamin’s theory didn’t get much support from his teammates.

Said guard Quintin Dailey, who scored 10 points coming off the bench: “I don’t have no comment as far as Ben’s statement (is concerned). We’re struggling on offense, and I don’t know why. It’s a mystery to me.”

Said forward Michael Cage, who had 18 points and 13 rebounds: “I don’t think we played selfishly. I think we tried to take what the defense gave us.”

And the Dallas defense didn’t give the Clippers much.

The Clippers, who live and die with their inside game, were beaten badly there. The Mavericks scored 72 points on layups and shots from close range, compared with 37 inside points for the Clippers.

“If you can’t loosen up the inside with outside shooting, the defense is going to clog up the middle,” said Maverick center James Donaldson, a former Clipper.

Clipper guard Mike Woodson scored 22 points, hitting 9 of 18 shots, mostly from long range.

Woodson, however, didn’t get much help on offense as the Clippers (10-27) lost for the 15th time in 17 games.

“I wish I knew what was wrong with the offense,” Woodson said after the Clippers lost their 12th straight road game. “We’re getting good shots, but we’re just not knocking them down.”

Shue has tried almost everything to pump some life into the offense. His latest move was starting Darnell Valentine at point guard in place of Larry Drew, who started the first 34 games of the season.

Valentine has made just 2 of 13 shots (15.3%) in three games since he became a starter and has hit 6 of 31 shots (19.3%) in his last eight games. He scored 2 points and handed out 1 assist in 26 minutes against the Mavericks.

Valentine hasn’t won the hearts of his teammates or Clipper fans with his erratic play.

“Maybe Larry is more offensive-minded that Darnell,” Woodson said. “I think Larry is a better scorer than Darnell, but Gene’s calling the shots.”

Shue said he’ll continue to make lineup changes until he finds the right combination.

The Mavericks (24-11), who defeated the Clippers, 99-87, in Los Angeles Monday night, had an easy time as they coasted to their seventh straight win over the Clippers.

Mark Aguirre led Dallas with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Roy Tarpley came off the bench to score 18 points and grab 19 rebounds in 30 minutes.

“I’m getting a lot of extra minutes, and I’m getting a lot of good shots,” Tarpley said. “I’m getting a lot of hustle points.”

The Mavericks had five other players in double figures: Derek Harper (16), Sam Perkins (15), Detlef Schrempf (14), Donaldson (12) and Brad Davis (10). Harper also had 14 assists.

Clipper Notes

Clipper forward Michael Cage, the NBA’s second-leading rebounder, said he won’t be disappointed if the coaches don’t add him to the Western Conference squad for next month’s All-Star game. “I won’t be crushed if I don’t make it,” Cage said. “It would be nice to make it because I’m working my . . . off. But I have very little control over it. There are a lot of guys having good seasons.” . . . Clipper guard Michael Phelps, signed to a 10-day contract Wednesday night, made his debut late in the game and scored two points in three minutes. . . . Quintin Dailey celebrated his 27th birthday Friday night . . . Shue coached his 200th game with the Clippers. He has a record of 88-112 with the club and an overall NBA mark of 767-796. Shue said the Clippers have hired Henry Hines, a former Olympic sprinter, as a running coach. . . . Southern University presented Benoit Benjamin with an award before the game. Benjamin donated $10,000 last year to the school, located in Baton Rouge, La. . . . Rolando Blackman, the Mavericks’ All-Star guard who is out with a knee injury, has begun running again. He’s expected to return to action next week. . . . The Clippers play the San Antonio Spurs tonight at the Hemisfair Arena. The Clippers are 0-2 against San Antonio this season and has dropped six of its last seven against the Spurs.