Gentry Threatens Playing Time

Playing time is expected to be an issue with the Clippers all season but after the team’s weak effort in a 95-79 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, Coach Alvin Gentry may be ready to cut down his rotation.

The Clippers shot 33.7% from the floor and made only one of 20 three-point attempts against the Nuggets, which clearly upset Gentry.

“We have too many people thinking about scoring every time they touch the basketball,” Gentry said.

“Even as a young team I think you have to try and execute and do the right things. When we’ve done that, we’ve played well and been in games. But when we decide to play the way [the players] want to, that’s when we struggle.”

Against Denver, Gentry went to his bench early because of Denver’s high altitude.

But the Clipper reserves didn’t have a stellar game as they combined to make only nine of 33 field goals.

After scoring a career-high 12 points in the Clippers’ victory over Atlanta on Friday, rookie point guard Keyon Dooling had only three points and missed three free throws. Fellow rookies Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson didn’t do much better, combining for 15 points on four-for-14 shooting from the field and second-year swingman Corey Maggette played only eight minutes and had three points.

“It doesn’t matter how long you are out there, you still have to play the right way because if you don’t, you won’t be out there at all,” Gentry said. “It’s the decision of whoever is out there to play the right way. This thing about playing time and not knowing their roles is a bunch of crap. Everyone knows what their role is and that is do what is asked of them and to play hard. That’s the bottom line.”