Inside Play Helps the Outside Game

The improvement of the Clippers’ perimeter shooting has been a key the past three weeks, and assistant coach Rex Kalamian said that the strong inside play of Maurice Taylor and Michael Olowokandi has been the contributing factor.

“Because of the double teams [opponents use to stop Taylor and Olowokandi], we’re getting better looks,” Kalamian said. “The big men are kicking the ball out. It’s something that we practice on every day. Coach [Chris] Ford is always drilling the guys so that as soon as the double teams come, swing the ball and then swing it around again to beat the defense before it has a chance to rotate.”

Guard Eric Piatkowski has really benefited from the newfound room on the perimeter as he averaged 14.4 points over an 11-game span. Piatkowski not only has been making jump shots but has been more willing to take the ball to the basket.

Kalamian credits Piatkowski’s work ethic for his improved play.

“He’s just a relentless worker,” Kalamian said. “He’s now just making the shots that he makes every day in practice.”