Gentry Lets Kids Know They Still Have Miles to Go

If there’s one word to describe the Clippers’ first day of training camp at College of the Desert on Tuesday, it would be discipline.

Starting off with a mile run, completed before the team’s morning practice, Coach Alvin Gentry and his staff made sure the Clippers’ group of young players understood that there would not be any shortcuts this season.

“There are little bitty things that we are going to harp on them about that they may think is very elementary,” said Gentry, who ran his team through separate two-hour workouts in the morning and evening. “But if you are to ever become a good team, that’s the difference between winning close games and losing them. Not touching the line or throwing a [weak] pass are things over the long haul will hurt you, but if you do them the right way, they end up helping you.”

The message seemed to be heard, especially when the players had to run drill after drill until they did it right.

“Basically, we weren’t listening to what [Gentry] was saying,” guard/forward Corey Maggette said about why the team had to do extra running. “It’s cool that he’s trying to establish some order and discipline. . . . He told us this is not a conditioning training camp. We’re trying to learn stuff. [Gentry] doesn’t believe in that Clipper myth. He’s trying to get us in shape and to make us better players.”

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Rookie Darius Miles, the league’s youngest player at 18, had an interesting first day. Miles ran his mile even with Lamar Odom and finished in 5:45, under Gentry’s six-minute time limit for guards and forwards. But Miles also made his teammates run more at the end of the morning practice when he failed to touch a line during a drill.

“I think I did OK overall,” Miles said. “[Gentry] said he was going to run us and it’s clear that he wants to win.”

Gentry was pleased with Miles’ effort.

“There’s going to be a ton of things he’s going to have to learn,” the coach said. “But from the confidence standpoint, I thought that he felt that he belongs out there.”

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Point guard Earl Boykins had the fastest time in the mile run, finishing in 5:30. Maggette finished a close second. Among the big men, Michael Olowokandi ran his mile in 6:05 with Brian Skinner a stride behind, well below the 6:30 time limit for centers.

Gentry said he’s not too concerned about Tyrone Nesby’s conditioning, even though the third-year swingman struggled to finish his mile run in 6:37.

“Obviously, he has to get into better shape, but he has had some things going on with his family that I think is a factor,” Gentry said. “But I don’t have any doubt that he’ll [get] in shape. He hasn’t been able to work as hard as he could have because of [personal] reasons.”

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Keith Closs did not work out with the team Tuesday but is expected to take part in today’s practices. Gentry said Closs remained in Los Angeles to complete a physical test. . . . Forward Etdrick Bohannon did not finish his mile run because of heat exhaustion but returned for the night practice. . . . Gentry said guard Eric Piatkowski, who is rehabilitating his left knee after minor surgery to repair damaged cartilage, will not be rushed to return to practice and probably will sit out most of the exhibition season.

The inaugural Los Angeles Clipper Foundation Charity Golf Classic will be held Oct. 23 at the Malibu County Club.