Ford’s Attitude Is Being Drilled Into Clippers

Near the end of the Clippers’ practice Friday night, forward Maurice Taylor injured his thigh. It hurt so much that Coach Chris Ford didn’t expect Taylor to make the next morning’s workout.

But that would have contradicted the new attitude at training camp. Taylor not only made it to both practices, he took part in every drill, even the closing wind sprints, despite running with a noticeable limp.

“When you get tired, you have a tendency to slow down or lag, but if you have 12 other guys behind you pushing you, it helps out tremendously,” Taylor said Saturday at the Clippers’ College of the Desert practice site. “A lot of guys told me that today I shouldn’t run because of my leg, [but] I didn’t want to let them down. I didn’t want to sit on the side.”

Taylor’s effort did not go unnoticed by Ford, who has not backed off from pushing his new team.

“He went out and practiced the whole day, he didn’t sit down on anything,” Ford said about Taylor, who arrived at camp a few pounds above last season’s 260 playing weight.

“I’m very pleased with the effort. But I told them this is only the beginning. We have to build on this every day.”

Guard James Robinson also has caught Ford’s attention with his work ethic, especially on defense--which is somewhat of a surprise.

“He’s shown me some real tenacious defense out there and that’s a real pleasant surprise getting it from him,” Ford said. “In the scheme of what we want to do, he’s shown me that he can get out there and get after it.”

Ford, however, hesitated before making a statement about the team’s overall shape.

“I think [conditioning is] coming along with us. Some guys are in better shape than others, but we all have to reach the level to play in the NBA,” Ford said.

“Hopefully we can continue to progress without injuries. That’s the important thing right now and that is to keep building as far as conditioning.”

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In response to the trade demand made Friday by Robert Fayne, Lorenzen Wright’s agent, Clipper executive vice president Andy Roeser was optimistic about the sides working something out.

“I’m not sure that Mr. Fayne has a really good idea of what is in our best interest. If he did, I don’t think he would have made the comments he made,” Roeser said. “The first day you could have had discussions with regard to this class of rookies to extend their contract was July 1. With the lockout, we were not able to have those discussions on July 1. The first day anybody was able to have discussions with regard of extending rookie contracts was sometime early this week.”

“In general, these things have a way of working themselves out. They always do. A month ago, Karl Malone was never going to play in Utah again and he looked pretty happy [on Friday].”

Neither Ford nor his players appeared distracted Saturday by Wright’s contract situation.

“Lorenzen and I had a conversation and we talked about it,” Ford said. “He said the statement was made and it’s out there, but he’s not going to continue to discuss it. He’s committed to doing whatever I ask him to do to help the team win.

“There’s a basketball side and a business side, I’m taking care of the basketball side.”

Clipper Notes

The Clippers have donated 5,000 tickets to the Los Angeles City Recreation and Parks Department for their Jan. 30 exhibition game against the Lakers at the Sports Arena. All tickets are free to the public and can be obtained at all Ticketmaster outlets and the Sports Arena and Arrowhead Pond box offices.

The team’s Feb. 2 open scrimmage at the Sports Arena will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. and will feature the Clippers’ Spirit dance team. There will be an interactive Fun Zone for kids along with contests and prizes. Parking will be free and seating will be on first-come, first-serve basis. Season-ticket holders will receive information and invitations in the mail. The first 5,000 fans will receive Clipper pennants.