Martin Gets a D in Defense

Coach Bill Fitch says guard Darrick Martin has been too passive on defense.

“Darrick has got to be more aggressive and have more of a toughness to him,” Fitch said. “That’s why he’s with us. That’s why he hasn’t stuck anywhere in this league. I preach to him every day that you’ve got to be aggressive.”

Martin played only nine minutes in the second half of Thursday night’s 17-point loss at Philadelphia because Fitch wasn’t pleased with his defense against Allen Iverson, who had 24 points and 13 assists.

“He got the points, but he didn’t play the ‘D’ and I didn’t think he was aggressive enough in keeping the break going,” Fitch said. “We’ve got six guards and you run them until they’re hot and then when they’re cold you go to the next one.”

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Fitch is disappointed that the Clippers didn’t make any deals before Thursday’s NBA trading deadline to help the team, which with 32 games left is in contention for its first playoff berth since 1992-93.

“I think it would have been sound business for us to be able to trade a backcourt player for a backup center or a backup forward just to balance out our roster,” Fitch said.