Olowokandi Puzzled by His Start

The last few days have been hectic for Clipper center Michael Olowokandi.

He was ripped publicly by teammate Maurice Taylor for his play during a loss at Houston. He missed a practice and was fined for the first time in his career. And Tuesday night, he had three fouls in the first three minutes playing against the Lakers’ Shaquille O’Neal.

Not the type of week Olowokandi or the Clippers had in mind when he was selected No. 1 overall in the 1998 draft.

“I was extremely confident coming into the league and I don’t think it was false confidence,” Olowokandi said. “I put in my work during the off-season, went to all the camps and did all the things I had to in order to be successful. But for some reason, as soon as I got here, I don’t know what it is. I can’t put my finger on it.”

Olowokandi, a Nigerian native, realized he would be learning on the job when he was drafted out of Pacific because of his lack of playing experience. But he didn’t know it would be this difficult.

“I am not where I personally want to be in my basketball development,” Olowokandi said. “People always say, be patient. But you can only be so patient. . . . I am trying to do all I can do to make sure that I don’t fall into a hole.”

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Shooting guard Derek Anderson played for the first time since suffering a severe ankle injury Dec. 13. He didn’t play in the first meeting between the Lakers and Clippers, when the Clippers scored a franchise-low three points in the second quarter.

“I would have scored more than three points in the second quarter, I’ll tell you that,” Anderson said.

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O’Neal was not one of the three players added to the U.S. Olympic team Tuesday because he asked not to be chosen.

Instead, Alonzo Mourning was picked as the additional big man with Ray Allen and Grant Hill filling the other two spots.

“I told [his agent] Leonard [Armato] to tell them I already got three gold medals. . . . the last time I played, I only played two minutes and [USA Coach Lenny Wilkens] put in David Robinson in the whole game, I’m not going through that [stuff] anymore,” O’Neal said.

“I’m spending more time with my family . . . I’m tired and I need some rest.”

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If guard Ron Harper expected some extended rest soon, he can think again, according to Laker Coach Phil Jackson.

Harper, who had off-season knee surgery, will continue to play unless he suffers major pain.

“Sometimes Ron needs a 10-day period of time to take off to regenerate some strength . . . to do whatever he has to do,” said Jackson, who coached Harper with the Chicago Bulls.

“We’ve done it in the past close to the end of the season to get ready for the playoffs. We will let Ron make that call.”

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Could Dennis Rodman still be headed back to the Lakers? In a recent television interview, Rodman said he would return if Jackson called.

“I’m not saying Dennis couldn’t play,” Jackson said.

“We’re not ready for [Rodman]. The team is winning ballgames and we’re playing well. There’s much more to that than him just making a statement like that off the cuff.”

TONIGHT

Clippers vs. Lakers

7:30, Ch. 9, Fox Sports Net

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KXTA (1150), KLAC (570).

* Records--Clippers 9-21, Lakers 26-5.

* Season series--Lakers, 2-0.

* Update--This will be the third game of a four-game series between the two NBA Staples Center tenants. The Clippers will be the “visiting” team for tonight’s game and have a 3-13 road record.

* Tickets--(213) 480-3232