This Plays Right Into His Zone

OAKLAND — One Clipper happy about the NBA rule change allowing zone defenses next season is veteran shooting guard Eric Piatkowski.

“It’s tough to tell how things are going to shape up, but taking a quick glance at it, I think it’s going to make me a little more valuable,” said Piatkowski, who is under contract for one more season.

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Although the Clippers rank No. 4 in the NBA in defending three-point shots, Coach Alvin Gentry isn’t impressed.

“I think that is the most bogus stat in the NBA,” Gentry said. “Guys are either making them or missing them. They just so happen to be missing them against us.”