Glut of Swingmen Is a Problem Now

It became an issue four months ago, the day after the Clippers had picked up five new players on draft night, and it remains an issue eight games into the season. The Clippers simply have too many players who can play the same positions.

“We’ve still got to see because everyone wants to be on the court all the time,” Lamar Odom said about the Clippers’ glut of small forwards and shooting guards.

There’s no denying that Darius Miles, Quentin Richardson and Corey Maggette--players picked up in June--have plenty of talent. But for them to develop, they have to play. And playing time is not easy to find for them, considering that Lamar Odom, Tyrone Nesby and Eric Piatkowski play similar roles.

Coach Alvin Gentry knew this was going to be a challenge when he accepted the job in August. He has done a good job of rotating his players, but that may be one of the reasons the Clippers have regressed in losing their last two games.

“We have way way too many position players at the 2 and 3 [spots],” Gentry said. “Somewhere along the line, we are going to have to sit guys and they are not going to play. They are not going to be happy about it, but that’s the bottom line. . . . We can’t play five or six guys at two positions.”

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After missing 20 of 33 free throws and losing by 14 points to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, the Clippers held a closed-door meeting for 45 minutes.

“[Gentry] went through the whole locker room and talked to us about our roles and other things,” point guard Jeff McInnis said. “But the issue is us . . . it is just little things. We have to mature as a team.”

Gentry hopes the Clippers respond positively.

“We talked and I didn’t raise my voice one time,” he said. “We got a lot of things out . . . no one was angry, no one was mad. It was a meeting we needed to have.”

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After tonight’s game against the New York Knicks at Staples Center, the Clippers will play at Vancouver on Thursday night.

Gentry said this is no time to panic.

“I don’t think we’re in turmoil--that’s a pretty strong word eight games into the season,” he said. “We are a team that is growing and trying to figure out what its trying to get done. There are going to be nights when we struggle and there are going to be nights where we play well. We have to understand that we have 5 1/2 months left in the season.”

TONIGHT

vs. New York, 7:30

Fox Sports Net

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Clippers 2-6, Knicks 5-3.

* Record vs. Knicks (1999-2000)--1-1.

* Update--One of the Clippers’ most memorable victories last season was over the Knicks at Staples Center, 100-95. New York, however, has won six of the last seven games between the teams. In the Clippers’ loss at Denver on Sunday, they made only one of 20 three-point shots. In losing to the Mavericks, they made only one of eight three-pointers.

* Tickets--(213) 742-7300.