Piatkowski Ready to Deliver

Clipper Coach Bill Fitch gushed over swingman Eric Piatkowski when he coached him in an NBA predraft camp in 1994, comparing him to Larry Bird.

Fitch, who coached Bird for four seasons with the Boston Celtics, said Piatkowski had a work ethic similar to Bird’s.

However, Piatkowski hasn’t played like Bird in his first three seasons in the NBA, averaging 5.9 points and shooting 43.5%

But this could be a breakthrough season for Piatkowski, who figures to get more playing time because the Clippers didn’t re-sign shooting guard Malik Sealy, who signed with the Detroit Pistons.

“In training camp everybody gets equal time,” Piatkowski said. “The only time you can tell the difference is when the regular season starts. And hopefully when the regular season rolls around, I can move into a more prominent role with the team.

“I haven’t gotten as much playing time the last few years as I would have liked, so this year I’m looking forward to getting more time.”

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Center Keith Closs, discouraged after playing poorly in Wednesday night’s scrimmage, was the last player to leave the court Thursday morning, working with General Manager Elgin Baylor on his low-post moves.

“Last night I didn’t play so well and was out of it,” Closs said. “I was basically in a real big funk. I asked him how he handled it as a player when he was just coming into the league.

“I was looking for different ways of how to go about dealing with the stress or the discouragement.”

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Fitch said he hasn’t decided on a starting lineup for Saturday’s exhibition opener against the Vancouver Grizzlies at the Pond of Anaheim.

“The only lineup that counts is who we end up starting opening night,” Fitch said. “We’ll start different combinations. I’ve started guys in exhibition games and cut them the same night I started them.”