Coaches Brainstorm for Some Winning Ideas

Coach Jim Todd isn’t afraid to try almost anything to get more success out of the Clippers. After losing 13 consecutive games, Todd met with his two new assistants, Dennis Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and brainstormed for ideas to help the team.

“I talked to D.J. and Kareem and we came up with a couple of plays,” Todd said about some of the new wrinkles the Clippers had in defeating Atlanta on Saturday for their third win in their last 30 games. “All these years of [basketball] experience that we all have [we tried to put in use]. I have a ton of plays that we always run. But getting a few plays from Kareem can’t hurt. Same thing with D.J . . . It’s us just coming together as a staff and its nice.”

TONIGHT vs. Houston, 7:30 p.m.

* TV--Fox Sports Net 2.

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Clippers 12-45; Rockets 21-35.

* Record vs. Rockets--0-2.

* Update--The Clippers have had an eye-opening 17 different starting lineups this season. In their win over Atlanta, the Clippers started their five leading scorers: forwards Maurice Taylor and Tyrone Nesby, center Michael Olowokandi, and guards Derek Anderson and Lamar Odom.

* Tickets--(213) 480-3232