Clippers Learning More About Depth

This is the Clippers’ favorite time of the year, because everyone has a chance when you’re only getting started.

But as always, some will have a better chance than others.

The Clippers ran into one such team Friday night, losing to the multitalented Phoenix Suns, 110-100, in the season opener before a sellout crowd of 19,023 at America West Arena.

The new-look Suns, who started last season 0-13, relied on their old up-tempo offense to wear down the Clippers, who were short-handed because swingman Eric Piatkowski couldn’t play because of dizziness. The Clippers stayed close for awhile, but the Suns’ depth and the game’s pace had a dizzying effect on Piatkowski’s teammates as well.

“Their depth is really what got us,” said Clipper forward Loy Vaught, who had 14 points and shared the team lead with 10 rebounds.

“We got out and ran with them early, but we couldn’t keep it up. I mean, when you can bring quality players off the bench like they can, it makes it very tough. Man, do they have depth.”

The Suns acquired forward Antonio McDyess from Denver and signed free-agent forward Cliff Robinson in the off-season, providing point guards Kevin Johnson and Jason Kidd with big, agile running mates.

And all the Suns run, which the Clippers had prepared for as well as they could. But as the rest of the NBA will soon discover, you’ll need a good night’s rest to keep pace with this bunch.

“This is all part of learning and growing,” said Brent Barry, who had a team-high 20 points with seven assists and five rebounds. “We started well, but now we see we have to keep it up or we’ll have problems against the elite teams.

“What this showed us tonight is that the talent is there, and we can obviously compete with any team.”

Kidd scored only six points but dominated in other aspects with game highs in assists (16), rebounds (14) and steals (six). Swingman Rex Chapman score a game-high 24 points, reserve forward Danny Manning had 14 points against his former team, and backup point guard Steve Nash had 19 points.

Kidd also helped limit Clipper point guard Darrick Martin to two points. Martin missed all nine of his shots from the field.

“He was just phenomenal,” Sun Coach Danny Ainge said of Kidd. “That type of game and he shut down his man. He was the star of the game.”

Paced by Barry, the Clippers led by as many as 12 points, 30-18, in the first quarter. Barry, the Clipper showman, scored 14 points in the quarter, making all four of his three-point shots.

But the athletic McDyess provided Sun fans with a glimpse of his talent in the second quarter, scoring 14 of his 17 points. Phoenix led, 63-59, at halftime.

The Suns increased their lead to 91-81 after three quarters as the Clippers became careless and sloppy, traits that don’t please Coach Bill Fitch. A layup by Johnson, who had 15 points and five assists, capped an 8-2 run with 3 minutes 31 seconds left in the third, giving Phoenix an 84-74 lead.

Fitch had seen enough, calling a timeout to give the Clippers a break as much as trying to correct mistakes.

“We were right there, then that run really hurt us,” Fitch said. “We’d get right up there, then we’d turn the ball over. They weren’t forced turnovers, and when that happens, it’s pretty hard to catch up.”

The Clippers had 19 turnovers to 16 for Phoenix. The Clippers’ turnovers, however, seemed to occur at more crucial moments.

But the big statistical difference was in free throws. The Suns made 30 of 37 while the Clippers attempted only 12, making 10.

“What, they didn’t foul us?” asked reserve forward Lamond Murray, who had 14 points and five rebounds. “But they’re a good team, and they definitely gave us problems with all the lineups they can play. We’ll just have to take this, move on to the next game and keep learning.”

One lesson down. Eighty-one to go.