Valentine Gives Clippers New Focus on Offense

Guard Darnell Valentine of the Clippers, who languished on the bench for the first four months of the season, has blossomed since he cracked the starting lineup last month.

Valentine was the only Clipper who played well in the team’s 19-point loss to the Lakers Friday night, scoring a career-high 27 points, including 17 in the third quarter.

Valentine picked up where he left off against the Lakers, scoring a career-high 30 points as the undermanned Clippers broke a three-game losing streak with a 122-105 win over the Houston Rockets Sunday night at the Sports Arena before 10,660.

Valentine exploded for 18 points in the third quarter as the Clippers increased their lead to 26 points. He hit 8 of 11 shots in the third quarter.

“Valentine was unconscious,” said Rocket forward Cedric Maxwell, a former Clipper. “I’ve never seen him shoot like that, not even in practice. He was awesome.

“I’ve never seen many people take control of a game like he did. That was like a Magic Johnson performance.”

Valentine, who shot just 41% from the field last season, has improved his shooting since he was fitted with contact lenses earlier this season.

After connecting on 10 of 17 shots against the Lakers, Valentine made 14 of 19 shots against the Rockets, including a three-pointer. He also had 11 assists and 5 steals.

“The contacts have certainly made a lot of difference. Before I got them I felt like I was playing with a handicap,” Valentine said. “I’m able to see the basket better, and my passing has improved.

“Confidence has everything to do with the game. When I wasn’t starting it made me work harder and now I’m reaping the benefits of that.”

Still, Valentine may not be a part of the Clippers’ future. The club has a surplus of point guards, and it will add two first-round draft choices next season.

“I’ve heard that I won’t be in their plans next season,” Valentine said. “But I can’t worry about that. I’m paid to be on the team, and I work hard.”

Clipper Coach Gene Shue said Valentine has thrived in the up-tempo offense that was installed last month.

“He (Valentine) started playing well with this new offense and then he leveled off and now he is back,” Shue said. “Darnell has been really flourishing in the new offense. He really pushes the ball up the floor and looks for opportunities.”

The Clippers, who were without starting center Benoit Benjamin (flu) and guard Larry Drew (pneumonia) had just 10 healthy players.

Benjamin showed up for the team picture before the game and then went home sick. It was the ninth game this season that Benjamin has missed.

Greg Kite started at center in place of Benjamin and did a good job of containing Akeem Olajuwon, the Rockets’ all-star center. Olajuwon scored 19 points, but was limited to 7 points in the second half.

“I don’t know what happened,” Olajuwon said. “We didn’t play very well.”

The Clippers seemed to play better without Benjamin.

Said Houston Coach Bill Fitch: “I don’t know if it (the absence of Benjamin) helped their team. I don’t have any explanations. It happens once in a while, but there really are no explanations.”

The Rockets, who had won three straight from the Clippers before this game, may have underestimated the Clippers.

“We may have felt that we could come in and just throw our shoes on the floor and win,” Maxwell said. “Even with Benoit, we looked at the game as a win. We’re professionals and we played very unprofessional as a team. When you do that, you’re going to get embarrassed.”

The Clippers’ maligned bench played a big part in the win.

Guard Quintin Dailey came off the bench to score 24 points for the Clippers, including 18 in the fourth quarter.

“We came out and played good defense and hit our shots,” Dailey said. “Usually we play good defense, but we miss our shots. Tonight was different.”