Closs Is Feeling a Bit of Neglect

With the exposure Keith Closs has received this season, one would think he was among the team leaders in minutes played.

That couldn’t be further from the truth. Closs, who made his sixth start of the season in the Clippers’ game against Denver Saturday night, isn’t even in the top 11.

Although his 13.5 minutes per game represents a career high, Closs feels he has spent too much time on the bench since he joined the Clippers three seasons ago.

“Things haven’t gone exactly as planned for me. . . . I’ve spent the last three years struggling to find my position within the organization,” said Closs, who signed with the Clippers after playing 12 games with the Norwich (Conn.) Neptunes of the Atlantic Basketball Assn. in 1996-97.

“It’s never been made clear to me what they’ve wanted from me. I’m not one of the superstar guys, I’m just one of the better-known guys on the team.”

Closs, who has had more than his share of problems off the court, finds it amazing that he ranks among the most popular players on the Clippers despite his limited playing time.

“I haven’t even played 1,000 minutes in my three-year career,” Closs said. “It’s been rough. I’m not going to lie.

“I just hope the few moments that I had to shine out there has done something for me. But being on the second-to-last seat on the bench, I don’t get to showcase too much.”

Closs, 23, signed through the 2001-02 season, plans to work hard in the off-season with his main objective being to add weight. At 7 feet 3 and 215 pounds, Closs realizes his lack of bulk has hurt his development.

“I am going to try and put on another 15 pounds. I would say 20, but to be realistic I’m shooting for 15 because it is hard for me to keep on weight,” Closs said. “I don’t even have to be doing anything and I lose weight.”