Clippers Think They May Get It Right This Time

After winning only 24 of 132 games over the last two seasons, the Clippers decided it was time to clean house. Again.

You know the routine. Out with the old, in with the new.

Goodbye to Jim Todd, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Maurice Taylor, Derek Anderson, Anthony Avent, Charles Jones, Pete Chilcutt and Eric Murdock.

Hello to Alvin Gentry, John Hammond, Darius Miles, Keyon Dooling, Quentin Richardson, Corey Maggette, Sean Rooks and Derek Strong.

But what really makes this latest rebuilding effort for the Clippers a little different compared to the previous 20 under owner Donald Sterling, will be the team’s modified uniforms.

The main colors remain red, white and blue but with a twist. The stale flannel look has been updated to glossy and high-tech. A good idea considering that last season’s uniforms were probably older than some of the new players on the team.

In the end, however, this rebuilding job for the Clippers will be judged on what the team does on the floor. The franchise made a bold statement when Elgin Baylor, vice president of basketball operations, was able to pull off draft day moves to bring in Miles, Dooling, Richardson and Maggette, but will they result in more victories?

Here are five more questions for the Clippers, who will begin training camp today with two-a-day practices starting Tuesday at College of the Desert:

1. WILL SECOND-YEAR SWINGMAN LAMAR ODOM BE ABLE TO TAKE OVER AS THE TEAM’S NEW LEADER?

One of the first things Gentry did after he was named coach was designate Odom as the Clippers’ main man. A risky move because of Odom’s shaky past and young age.

“We have to keep in perspective that he is still just 20years old,” Gentry said about Odom, who averaged 16.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists as a rookie. “I don’t think anyone has had a situation where you’re trying to put a team in the hands of someone so young. Not even Kobe [Bryant]. I know it’s a journey and not a sprint for [Odom]. It’s going to be a process. All I want him to do is to keep trying to get better. So far, I like the progress that he’s made.”

In recent years, the Clippers’ off-season workouts have been a joke. Getting more than four players together for informal practices happened as often as playoff appearances for the Clippers. But that wasn’t the case this summer with Odom leading the way.

“The biggest part is going to be for me to be responsible off the court,” Odom said. “My on-the-court responsibilities will handle themselves as far as playing hard and playing well. . . . I’ve always felt that I’m a natural leader. I just have to take care of what I’m supposed to do off the court.

“It hasn’t been easy for me to get to this point. Some guys have had it easier. I’ve had to go through some things to learn about myself and the people around me. I’ve gone through a lot and I’m still here getting ready to take over as a captain on a NBA team. That’s been my goal since I can remember.”

2. WHAT IS THE CLIPPERS’ POINT GUARD SITUATION?

One constant for the franchise has been inconsistent play at this position. Murdock, Pooh Richardson, Darrick Martin, Sherman Douglas and Troy Hudson have all spent time at point guard for the Clippers since 1994 and the team is still looking for stability.

Jeff McInnis, the last point guard standing from last season, will open as the starter based on his experience. McInnis, selected by Denver in the second round of the 1997 draft, has played in 73 NBA games and was MVP of the Continental Basketball Assn. last season.

“I like Jeff’s competitiveness and he’s pretty darn good defensively,” Gentry said. “The question is whether he can make the jump shot when he has to. I think he can.”

No matter how well McInnis plays, he’ll split time with Dooling, who is more athletic and is regarded as the Clippers’ point guard of the future.

“[Dooling] is a young guy playing a position that takes a little while to get down,” Gentry said. “But he has a huge upside.”

3. IS MICHAEL OLOWOKANDI EVER GOING TO BECOME A DOMINANT NBA CENTER?

After being selected as the No. 1 overall draft pick in 1998, Olowokandi had an up-and-down first two seasons. Most of Olowokandi’s problems stemmed from injuries and a tendency to stay in foul trouble. The Clippers are looking for him to have a breakout season.

“If you look at Michael compared to last season, you can see that he’s stronger,” said Dennis Johnson, who returns as an assistant coach along with Rex Kalamian.

“In our workouts, he’s making himself much more active. He still has a ways to go but he’s out there doing it.”

The Clippers need Olowokandi to average better numbers than he did last season when he recorded 9.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. But unlike last season, the team has players to step in if Olowokandi struggles.

Aside from backup center Keith Closs, entering his fourth season, the Clippers have added journeyman Sean Rooks, who is in the best shape of his pro career, to play in the middle. Gentry also said he expects to use power forwards Brian Skinner or Strong at center.

4. WITH TAYLOR NOW A HOUSTON ROCKET, WHO IS GOING TO PICK UP HIS POINTS?

Skinner, who was impressive last season before going down with a severe ankle injury, will take over for Taylor, the team’s leading scorer the last two seasons.

“I will not be the exact same player as Maurice,” Skinner said. “He was more offensive-minded than me. I’m more of a team player in terms with how I approach the game. I will play defense, rebound and change shots. If I am in position to score, I will do that.”

Getting production from everyone is how the Clippers plan to replace Taylor’s scoring. Third-year swingman Tyrone Nesby and Odom are the likely candidates to increase their point totals from last season, but don’t be surprise to see a collective effort.

5. WHAT WILL BE EXPECTED FROM THE TEAM’S YOUNG ADDITIONS?

Including Odom, the Clippers will have five players under 21 when they open the regular season at Utah on Oct. 31. Not your typical makeup of a playoff-bound team.

“We really don’t know what to expect,” Gentry said about the Clippers’ young players. “They may catch on after a couple of practices or it could take a couple of weeks. But long range, I think they are going to be very good players.”

Maggette, who played a limited role as a rookie with Orlando last season, is too good not to get playing time. He’ll see minutes at both shooting guard and small forward and the Clippers love his work ethic.

Gentry compares Richardson to Portland’s Bonzi Wells, a big shooting guard who can shoot from the outside and post smaller players inside. Like Dooling, Richardson is expected to get plenty of action early in camp, especially with veteran Eric Piatkowski sidelined for at least a month following knee surgery.

It may be tougher for Miles to get playing time because he will start off behind Odom. But he will play a lot because Gentry knows Miles is considered a key part of the Clippers’ future.

“We’re going to be a good team eventually. How long is it going to take? I don’t know,” Gentry said. “It is going to be determined on how much and how quickly they grasp what we’re trying to do.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

CLIPPERS EXHIBITION SCHEDULE

10/11 at Phoenix

10/12 at Portland

10/14 vs. Vancouver

10/17 vs. Portland

10/19 at Denver

10/20 at Indiana

10/22 at Indiana

10/27 vs. Seattle

TEAM ROSTER

Etdrick Bohannon

Forward, 6-9, 235

Earl Boykins

Guard, 5-5, 133

Keith Closs

Center, 7-3, 212

Keyon Dooling

Guard, 6-3, 184

Zendon Hamilton

Forward, 6-10, 240

Ryan Lorthridge

Guard, 6-4, 190

Corey Maggette

Forward, 6-6, 218

Jeff McInnis

Guard, 6-4, 190

Darius Miles

Forward, 6-9, 202

Tyrone Nesby

Forward, 6-6, 225

Lamar Odom

Forward, 6-10, 220

Michael Olowokandi

Center, 7-0, 269

Eric Piatkowski

Guard/Forward, 6-7, 215

Quentin Richardson

Guard, 6-6, 223

Sean Rooks

Center, 6-10, 260

Brian Skinner

Forward/Center, 6-9, 255

Derek Strong

Forward, 6-9, 240

Joe Vogel

Center, 6-11, 255

Rocky Walls

Forward, 6-8, 230