Vaught’s Versatility on Center Stage

Loy Vaught, who played the first five years of his NBA career at forward, appears comfortable playing center for the Clippers.

Vaught, who became the Clippers’ starting center after Lorenzen Wright left the team in Miami last week when his girlfriend went into labor, has averaged 17.8 points and 7.8 rebounds in five games at center.

The Clippers won three of their first four games after Vaught replaced Wright.

“He’s moving around, he’s not playing 48 minutes there because we like to get different looks,” Coach Bill Fitch said. “But he’s done whatever we asked him to; I think he’s done a great job.”

But Vaught was a bit overmatched against Rocket center Hakeem Olajuwon, who had 17 points, five rebounds and three assists as Houston beat the Clippers by 10 points Tuesday night at the Sports Arena.

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After winning the final three games of a seven-game trip, the Clippers don’t get a break, playing the Rockets again next week and ending the season with games against the Lakers and the SuperSonics at Seattle.

“We’ve got to play the tough part of our schedule now,” Fitch said. “There’s no free lunches there.”’

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One of the reasons the Clippers have been successful is that they’ve learned to make adjustments in games.

After Celtic rookie forward Antoine Walker scored 34 points in the first three quarters last Friday night at Boston, the Clippers limited him to two points in the final quarter and won by 15 points.

After Net rookie guard Kerry Kittles scored 17 in the first half of Sunday’s 103-96 win at New Jersey, the Clippers held him to six points in the second half.