Former Coach Praises Gentry

The Clippers have played in Los Angeles since the start of the 1984-85 season and only one coach has led the team to consecutive playoff appearances, Philadelphia 76er Coach Larry Brown.

Taking over the team midway through the 1991-92 season, Brown pushed the Clippers into postseason play, where they lost to Utah in a tough five-game first-round series. The next season, the Clippers lost in five games to Houston.

Brown left before the start of the 1993-94 season and the Clippers have not been the same since. Brown, however, has kept an eye on his former team and is high on Coach Alvin Gentry, who worked for Brown as an assistant at the University of Kansas.

“I think Alvin has done a wonderful job in that he always seems to have his team ready to play,” Brown said of Gentry. “Remember, he’s working with a bunch of young players who will get better if they are kept together.”

*

Since Dec. 8, 1999, whenever the Clippers have begun a trip of two or more games with a loss, their record on those trips is 2-39.

So it should be no surprise that after a tough overtime loss at Miami to start their current seven-game trip Tuesday, they’ve had problems. They lost by 13 at Orlando on Wednesday in a game that wasn’t that close.

Gentry is aware of his team’s woes once they start a trip with a defeat.

“We have to just play better, that’s the bottom line,” Gentry said. “If we don’t, then we have to look to make some changes.”

*

With a three-game losing streak and five games remaining on this trip, the Clippers’ job will not get any easier tonight when they play the 76ers, who have the best record in the NBA and a leading candidate for most valuable player in shooting guard Allen Iverson.

“He’s the MVP of the league right now,” Gentry said of Iverson, who has scored 40 or more points in two consecutive games and has reached that total 11 times this season. “He’s matured tremendously since last year.”

Gentry said he does not plan to make any changes in the Clipper lineup, which means Eric Piatkowski will start out on Iverson.

*

Rookie Darius Miles has made 184 baskets this season, 77 of them dunks.

TONIGHT

at Philadelphia

4 PST p.m.

* Site--First Union Center.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Clippers 16-36, 76ers 38-14.

* Record vs. 76ers--(1999-2000) 1-1.

* Update--The Clippers have not won at Philadelphia since March 10, 1996, and are 5-20 on the road this season. The 76ers are 16-8 at home and are coming off a 112-97 victory over the Lakers on Wednesday night.