Gentry Takes Substance Over Style

Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry loves to watch Jason Williams.

Coaching him, however, is another matter.

“I think what [the Sacramento Kings] have done is stabilized their backcourt with Mike Bibby,” Gentry said of the deal that brought Bibby and Brent Price from the then-Vancouver Grizzlies for Williams and Nick Anderson. “With Jason Williams, you don’t know what you are going to get. Nobody can deliver the ball like Jason. Not Jason Kidd. Not nobody. But the next time down the court, the ball might be in the fifth row. Don’t get me wrong, I love watching him play, but I don’t have to coach him. He makes plays that nobody makes, good and bad.

“With Bibby, you know what you get every night. He has given them a consistent shooter.”

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This was the first of four home games for the Clippers in a five-game stretch, with the Philadelphia 76ers coming in next on Wednesday night.

But after that, a long and difficult road looms ahead for the Clippers, who have won only one of seven as the visiting team. Beginning Jan. 2, eight of their next nine games will be on the road.

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Stat you won’t see in the box score: Darius Miles led the Clippers in dunks last season with 129. And heading into Saturday night’s game, he was again out in front with 30. The team runners-up are Corey Maggette and Elton Brand with 23 apiece.