Gentry Keeps Urging Patience

Seven days. Twelve hard practices. Whether the Clippers are ready or not, their training camp at College of the Desert ended Monday.

With five players under 21 on the roster and a new system to install, Coach Alvin Gentry knew it was going to be a challenging camp and it was.

The young Clippers did some good things, and some not-so-good things and start single-practice days today at Southwest L.A. College.

“I really do think [the players] are doing a good job, effort-wise,” Gentry said. “We just have to continue to be patient.”

Gentry has not settled on a starting lineup as the Clippers prepare for their first exhibition game Wednesday at Phoenix.

“We didn’t get in nearly as much stuff as we would have liked to out here. But, what we got in, which basically deals with the concept of what we’re trying to do, they are getting a little bit better at that,” Gentry added.

“It’s still going to be a real slow process. As long as we keep in perspective where we are trying to get to and how long it is going to take us to get there, then we will be OK.”

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Lamar Odom, Michael Olowokandi and Jeff McInnis each had a strong camp, as did swingman Corey Maggette, acquired in a draft-day trade with the Orlando Magic.

Maggette emerged as one of the top defenders and displayed an improved perimeter game. Derek Strong, who played with Maggette last season with the Magic, said it was the result of hard work.

“He came in [as a rookie] last season, and naturally he was a little raw,” Strong said. “He learned a lot last year but, basically, he just got his feet wet. Now, it is just a point of him going out and implementing the things he learned to his game.

“He’s really worked on his outside shot. I think he’s learned he can’t go to the basket all of the time.”

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Throughout training camp, the Clippers did a lot of scrimmaging, featuring numerous dunks and pretty passes. Exposed, however, was the team’s poor shooting.

Worse, Eric Piatkowski, the team’s best long-distance shooter, will be sidelined at least two more weeks because of recent surgery on his right knee.

“[Our perimeter shooting] is going to be a little bit of a problem,” Gentry said. “When Tyrone [Nesby] gets in better shape, that will help. [Nesby] has shown that he can shoot it pretty good.”

Getting production from Olowokandi is how Gentry hopes to help the team’s shooting.

“We are going to have to start our offense inside and then try and work our way back out,” he said. “If we have an inside game, our perimeter shots are a little more open and probably a little closer.”

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Darius Miles celebrated his 19th birthday Monday. The Clippers released rookie free agents Joe Vogel, a 6-foot-11 center, and Rocky Walls, a 6-8 forward.