Appreciation for Miles Grows

Sometimes, Eric Piatkowski can’t help but think what it must be like for Darius Miles, who at 19 is the league’s youngest player.

“He is so so young and he has so much to learn,” said Piatkowski, who at 30 is playing in his seventh NBA season. “I mean, he’s just coming out of high school. You learn so much and mature so much when you go to college. . . . When I first got out of high school, I redshirted my first year [at Nebraska] and my biggest concern was where the fraternity party was going to be held and then having a quiz the next day.”

Lamar Odom, 21, said it’s easy to forget how young Miles is because of his demeanor.

“He is beyond his years in a lot of ways,” Odom said. “He has been around. He’s been with guys like Michael Jordan. . . . But when you see him smile, you can see that he’s only 19. Because we are all so young, we usually don’t even notice his age.”

Like the rest of his teammates, Piatkowski has become a big fan of Miles’ athletic ability.

“It’s fun to watch him play,” Piatkowski said. “When we are in games where the other team just wants to run up and down, that is when Darius is at his best. He can catch alley-oops, run the floor and do so many other athletic plays. It is so hard to throw the ball over his head. He just goes up and gets it. I can throw passes to him that I wouldn’t even think about throwing to anyone else.”

Added Odom: “We’ve got a little taste of how he can excite the crowd with one leap. He makes people go crazy with his skills. I am really looking forward to having me and him together three or four years from now.”

TONIGHT

vs. Washington, 6

* Site--Staples Center.

* TV--Fox Sports Net 2.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Clippers 8-17, Wizards 4-19.

* Record vs. Wizards--1-0.

* Update--The Clippers rallied from a 21-point second-half deficit to win at Washington, 89-85, less than two weeks ago. The Clippers have won two of the last three meetings between the teams but have not defeated Washington in Los Angeles since Dec. 22, 1993. The Wizards have lost nine in a row and are 2-9 on the road.

* Tickets--(800) 462-2849.