Team Could Start With a Flourish by Getting Olowokandi Ball in Lane

One thing the Clippers failed to do against Seattle Tuesday night was get second-year center Michael Olowokandi more involved in the offense early.

Olowokandi played 10 minutes in the first quarter and made one of two shots for two points. He played four minutes in the second quarter and missed his only shot.

For the Clippers to have success, Olowokandi will need to have a bigger impact at the start of games.

“I need to have a presence in the middle . . . play defense, block shots, get rebounds and be an offensive threat,” said Olowokandi, who averaged 8.9 points and 7.9 rebounds as a rookie.

Even with the addition of Lamar Odom and Derek Anderson on the perimeter, Coach Chris Ford’s system calls for the Clippers to still look inside.

“Regardless whether it’s me, Mo [Maurice Taylor] or Lamar in the paint, I think our offensive philosophy is to still have an inside threat,” Olowokandi said.

“We have very good guards but we still want to work the ball into the paint to get easier shots.”

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Eric Piatkowski, whose injured ribs were protected by a pad specially designed by trainer Jasen Powell, spent five seasons with the Clippers playing in the Sports Arena and thought the team would move to the Pond of Anaheim before anywhere else.

“I knew that we would move, eventually,” Piatkowski said. “I really didn’t think we’d be playing in the Sports Arena as long as we were.

“I’m glad we didn’t move to Anaheim because now we get to stay right here in L.A. and play in one of the nicest arenas in the world.”

Piatkowski, the Clippers’ top perimeter threat, likes shooting at Staples Center, although he got off to a slow start Tuesday. He missed his three attempts, including one from three-point range.

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Seattle has several players and coaches with ties to the Los Angeles area. Former Clipper Brent Barry started at shooting guard and former UCLA Bruins Jelani McCoy and Greg Foster came off the bench for the SuperSonics. Seattle Coach Paul Westphal is a former USC standout and assistant Bob Weiss coached the Clippers for one season.

TONIGHT

vs. Portland, 7 p.m.

* TV--None.

* Site--Rose Garden.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Record vs. Portland (1998-99)--1-2.

* Update--The Clippers gave Portland all it could handle last season, winning once at the Rose Garden and losing in overtime at the Sports Arena. Like the Clippers, the Trail Blazers have a different look than in the previous season. Scottie Pippen, Steve Smith and Detlef Schrempf have been added to their lineup, in place of J.R. Rider, Jim Jackson and Walt Williams. Taylor averaged 16.3 points and seven rebounds to lead the Clippers against Portland last season.