Olowokandi Is Excited by Gentry’s Approach

Michael Olowokandi may still be prone to making mistakes and playing a little soft around the basket, but the third-year center is off to a good start in training camp.

Olowokandi, the No. 1 overall pick of the 1998 NBA draft, is noticeably heavier and stronger than he was last season but has not lost any of his quickness.

“Michael definitely came into camp more focused,” swingman Lamar Odom said. “He is playing with a lot more confidence. You can tell he wants to prove to everybody that he can play and that he deserved to be picked as high as he was chosen.”

Olowokandi, who averaged 9.8 points and 8.2 rebounds last season, admits that his attitude has changed. He’s trying to be more assertive and he’s excited about playing for Coach Alvin Gentry, whose system demands more ball movement and scoring options than the Clippers had in years past.

“We’re looking at all of our options, compared to last year when pretty much everyone did what they wanted to do,” Olowokandi said. “From day one, Coach Gentry has emphasized discipline. . . . I like that. It’s something that is needed, not having any shortcuts because he will not stand for it.”

Over the first week of training camp, the Clippers have worked hard on setting screens and defending pick-and-roll plays. Gentry also has demanded tougher on-the-ball defense and required perimeter players to not rely so much on a big man to help bail them out with a block.

Olowokandi, who struggled with cheap fouls on both ends of the court last season, couldn’t be happier.

“A lot of guards last season always got our big guys in trouble,” Olowokandi said. “There was not any accountability for them to defend their man. They really played with no responsibility whatsoever. Even with the screens, they wouldn’t give enough time for the big man to get into position.

“It’s good that we are establishing this in training camp. [Jim Todd] and I talked about this last season, but it was tough to [change]. Coach Gentry got everyone’s attention by making us run when we didn’t touch the lines early and that showed he’s demanding. But there was a point to it.”

Gentry said the Clippers’ perimeter players are starting to understand that they play an important role in protecting Olowokandi from unnecessary fouls.

“Most of the time when there is an illegal screen called in this league, it is because of the guy using the screen,” Gentry said. “We’ve talked about having [Olowokandi] getting to a point and stop it and then it is the other guy’s responsibility to use the screen shoulder to shoulder.”

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For the first time since the Clippers opened camp, Gentry called off the night practice Friday. One reason for the break was to allow players banged up with nagging injuries to rest.

Odom was limited in Friday’s practice because of tendinitis in his right quadriceps. He is listed as day to day, but Odom said he plans to practice today.

“I told Lamar [his leg injury] comes from playing all those years in New York City on the concrete,” said Gentry, who added that he doesn’t believe Odom’s injury is serious.

Gentry said he is not worried about rookies Keyon Dooling and Quentin Richardson, who both practiced Friday but are still bothered by minor foot injuries.

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The Clippers, who set a franchise attendance record last season, will begin selling single-game tickets today at Ticketmaster and Staples Center box offices.