Gentry Focuses on Playing Time

With one exhibition game remaining, the Clippers are feeling pretty good about what they’ve accomplished since the start of training camp.

Coach Alvin Gentry has been able to get his young players to play hard and, for the most part, work as a team in compiling a 4-3 preseason record.

Rookies Darius Miles, Quentin Richardson and Keyon Dooling have so far made a smooth transition to the NBA. Sean Rooks and Derek Strong have provided veteran support.

But they are expected to be tested this week as the team prepares for the regular-season opener at Utah next Tuesday.

Gentry’s biggest challenge will be dividing playing time. With Lamar Odom, Tyrone Nesby and Corey Maggette playing the same type of game as Miles and Richardson, the Clippers have an overflow of versatile swingmen.

Minor injuries to Odom, Richardson and Nesby have enabled Gentry to avoid the potential problem during the exhibition season. “Somewhere along the line, we will not be able to play two guys at all five spots,” he said. “Once the season starts, we’ll have a certain rotation. We will not try and play four guys 10 minutes. . . . We will try and play two guys 25 minutes. . . . I think the guys have to feel like they are out there and in the flow of the game.”

Gentry plans to have the players compete this week in practice. They will practice twice today and Wednesday because they do not play their final preseason game until Friday against Seattle at Staples Center.

The Clippers do not have to cut to their final 12-man roster, with three players eligible for the injured list, until Monday.

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One thing the Clippers have failed to do throughout the preseason is get a good look at Odom running the team at point guard. Gentry still plans to play Odom at the point in order to get two of the team’s talented swingmen in the game at the same time.

Odom, who has missed the last four exhibition games because of a sore left quadriceps injury, is not too concerned about where he’ll be playing during the regular season.

“If I just play my game, it really will not matter where I am on the court,” he said. “I can be at small forward, shooting guard or the point.”

He said that it has been interesting to see how opponents have tried to defend the versatile Clippers.

“Teams basically try and play straight up basketball,” he said. “But you’re going to have to play us that way because, if they don’t, we are going to be able to take advantage.”