Fitch Concerned About Defense

After watching his team lose six of eight exhibition games, Coach Bill Fitch said the Clippers, who failed to score 100 points in a game, must improve on defense.

“I think shooting will improve as we go along, I’m more concerned about defense and the offense that we generate out of our defense,” Fitch said.

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The Clippers cut rookie guard Brandon Martin of USC and center Donald Hodge to reduce their roster to 14.

Fitch advised Martin, who wasn’t drafted, to play in the CBA to prepare for the NBA.

“He’s got to go somewhere and play,” Fitch said. “He’s got a body and a heart, he’s got to refine his other skills.”

Hodge, a five-year veteran, has offers to play in Europe, but doesn’t want to leave his family in the U.S.

Fitch hopes to reduce the roster to the NBA limit of 12 by Tuesday. With guard Brent Barry (thumb) expected to open the season on the injured list, the Clippers will have to waive a player or put someone else on the injured list.

However, a new NBA rule designed to keep teams from faking injuries to stash players, prohibits players on the injured list from practicing.

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Guard Terry Dehere, who sat out the Clippers’ final two exhibition games because of a sprained ligament in his left knee, practiced for the first time since Tuesday.

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Center Stanley Roberts practiced despite a cold. “You know [Fitch] wouldn’t let me out of practice,” Roberts said.