Clippers Look Like a 9-41 Team in Loss

By LONNIE WHITE

May 6, 1999 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

The Clippers closed their final season playing at the Sports Arena Wednesday night with a loss, which should not be a surprise considering that the franchise has had only one winning season since moving to Los Angeles in 1994.

With owner Donald Sterling not among a crowd of 15,372 because of business in New York, the Clippers closed a 9-41 season with a 107-105 defeat to the Seattle SuperSonics despite a career-high 30 points from swingman Tyrone Nesby.

The Clippers finished with the second-worst record in the league, thanks to Vancouver’s loss to Sacramento, which gave the Grizzlies an 8-42 record.

Most of the people in attendance seemed pleased to see the strike-shortened 50-game season end for the Clippers, who will move to the Staples Center in the fall.

“Everyone wants to win, especially if you’re a competitor,” said Elgin Baylor, the Clippers vice president of basketball operations. “In that respect, we all felt that we should have won more games than we won.”

For many of the Clipper players who will become free agents at season’s end, it was only fitting that they lost their final game wearing the red, white and blue uniforms.

It has been a short season, but another long one for the Clippers.

With eight players in the final year of their contract and three others under contract who were not considered in the team’s future plans, the Clippers began the regular season with a dud.

They started 0-17 to tie the NBA record for most losses to start a season and then lost eight of their next nine.

Not the start first-year Coach Chris Ford envisioned when he took over the team only days before training camp began.

Many of the key players arrived at camp out of shape, which hurt a young team like the Clippers who needed a fast start to gain confidence.

Instead, the Clippers exhibited a selfish style of play, with many of the players appearing more worried about playing time than winning. Ford wanted a well-conditioned running team but the Clippers started as an out-of-shape walking team.

The Clippers were 3-30 before they began to play the style of game Ford wanted. With Maurice Taylor emerging as one of the game’s top scoring forwards, the Clippers won five of 10 games and gave hints of turning it around.

Taylor, who led the team in scoring, has the tools to be an all-star. But he will have to work on his rebounding and conditioning to take the next step.

Michael Olowokandi, last year’s No. 1 overall draft pick, had a solid rookie season considering his lack of playing experience. At times Olowokandi dominated play, but most of his minutes would have to be chalked up as hands-on experience.

“I came into this season knowing that we’ll have to be patient with him” Ford said about his rookie center. “That it’s OK to make mistakes but [he has to show progress too]. He has to learn that if he wants the ball, he has to do something with it once he gets it.”

It’s clear that the Clippers’ future will rely on the development of Taylor and Olowokandi. But it’s also important that Ford is able to put together a surrounding cast willing to play within his system.

The Clippers may have found players that fit that mold in Nesby and Troy Hudson, who earned his way on the team after two 10-day contracts. Ford loves both players and the Clippers are expected to make a strong offer to Nesby, an unrestricted free agent who earned a roster spot as an undrafted rookie.

Sherman Douglas, who had an injury-plagued season after signing a one-year contract a day before the start of the regular season, is expected to be made an offer to return. So is Eric Piatkowski, who finished the season strong at shooting guard.

Other than that, it’s a toss-up when it comes figuring out which players will be with the team when training camp opens in September.

“We have to become a team with mental toughness,” Ford said. “Too many times, we fell apart when things got tough.”

Which has too often been the case for the past 15 seasons.

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Setting Sail, or Staying in Port?

Clipper players and their status for next season:

PLAYERS SIGNED

Keith Closs, center: signed until 2000-2001

Troy Hudson, guard: signed to be in 1999-2000 training camp

Michael Olowokandi, center: signed until 2001-2002

Pooh Richardson, guard: signed until 1999-2000

Brian Skinner, forward: signed until 2002-2003