Miles Doesn’t Appear Nervous About Debut

One day after his 19th birthday, rookie Darius Miles seemed more concerned about getting his hands on the newest “NBA Live” video game than making his professional debut with the Clippers, who open the exhibition season tonight at Phoenix.

“My job now is to be another Lamar Odom,” Miles said about his expected role as backup small forward. “When Lamar comes out of the game, I’ll go in and be Lamar Odom. . . . To me, this is just getting ready to play another game. Maybe once I put the jersey on, it’ll be different.”

Miles doesn’t have a problem when he thinks about his role on the Clippers’ video team.

“You know, I start for them,” he said. “And, I shoot all the shots.”

Coach Alvin Gentry hasn’t decided on a starting lineup yet but is expected to go with point guard Jeff McInnis and shooting guard Corey Maggette, power forward Brian Skinner, center Michael Olowokandi and Odom.

Gentry plans to give his young players plenty of playing time during the exhibition season and said he’s eager to see how Miles, who played last season at East St. Louis (Ill.) High, holds up against the opposition.

“It’s going to be a situation where we just stick him out there,” Gentry said. “He’ll figure out what he’s doing well and what he’s not.”

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After tonight’s game, the Clippers will play at Portland on Thursday and then host Vancouver at Staples Center on Saturday.

Gentry said that because the Clippers are so young, the team’s approach to the exhibition season may be a little different from that of other teams.

“We’re going to try and win every game but there may be situations . . . when we need to look at a guy for extended minutes,” Gentry said. “We may give some of the young guys more of an opportunity to play, at the risk of losing an exhibition game. . . . I think it is much more important for us to give the young guys as much playing time as we can, rather than sit them on the bench for a whole exhibition game.”

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Rookie point guard Keyon Dooling is questionable for tonight’s game because of a strained ligament in his right big toe.