Martin Regains Leading Role, Pinpoints Shortcomings

Since Darrick Martin regained his starting point guard position from Sherman Douglas, who was put on the injured list because of a groin injury last week, he’s played well. But not well enough to keep the Clippers from losing three of four games.

Martin has scored 13.5 points and dished out seven assists a game over that span, but says the Clippers can’t afford to make mental errors.

“Even though it may be the only assignment missed or mistake made [by a player] in game, if everybody makes one at a crucial time, it turns a two-point deficit to a 10-point deficit,” Martin said. “Once you have that, it’s hard to come back.

“If we can cut down on that and get key defensive stops when we need them, then we’ll start to win some games.”

Shooting guard Eric Piatkowski, who has made 13 of 20 shots for 35 points the last two games, said that the Clippers have to be stronger mentally in crunch time.

“We always play a good three-to-3 1/2 quarters but there is always a time period where our offense might go stagnant,” he said. “We lose a guy on the defensive side and that’s all it takes to get down 10 or 12 points and the game’s over.”

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The Clippers not only have the worst record in the NBA at 1-19 but they also have the league’s poorest defense. They are giving up 101.8 points a game, thanks to consecutive weak fourth-quarter efforts in losses to Portland and Seattle. The Trail Blazers and SuperSonics outscored the Clippers in the fourth quarter, 58-19. Vancouver and Sacramento are the only other teams in the league allowing opponents more than 100 points a game.

TONIGHT at New York, 4:30 PST

* Site--Madison Square Garden.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Clippers 1-19; Knicks 13-9.

* Record vs. Knicks--(1997-98) 0-2.

* Update--The Knicks have won four straight over the Clippers and are 10-2 at home this season. New York center Patrick Ewing will not play because of an Achilles’ tendon injury. The Knicks, who won at Milwaukee on Monday night, will rely on the scoring of Allan Houston, Latrell Sprewell and Larry Johnson. Backup point guard Chris Childs ranks among the league leaders in three-point shooting.