Gentry Halts Workout to Issue Reality Check

Coach Alvin Gentry interrupted what had been a spirited practice, but was suddenly turning sloppy, delivering a dose of reality to his players Saturday at College of the Desert.

His message was clear: This team cannot win on talent alone.

Gentry’s stern lecture with 15 minutes remaining in practice was intended to curb any thoughts the young Clippers might have had about slacking off in the final moments of their workout.

“We had a little lull at the end,” Gentry later told reporters. “They were great for 1 hour and 45 minutes of a 2-hour practice, but ... when you don’t have to coach effort, it makes everything so much easier. It’s a growing process. We’re not going to go from a team that struggled to close out games to looking like the Lakers. But I think we’ll be better than we were last year.”

The Clippers played 13 overtime games last season, one shy of the NBA record set by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1990-91, and lost 10. Seeking to avoid late letdowns, Gentry halted the Clippers on Saturday before practice turned into an exercise in mental and physical breakdowns.

“I don’t care how athletic you are, if you don’t execute, it’s not going to work,” Gentry said. “You just can’t do it with athleticism because there are too many good people in the NBA. It’s all got to start with the basics, good fundamentals.”

On the importance of rebounding, particularly defensive rebounding, he added, “We have to become a good rebounding team if we’re going to be a good team, period.”

Part of what upset Gentry was the team’s inability to box out for rebounds during a drill late in the practice. Fatigue probably played a part in the team’s lack of intensity, but Gentry refused to excuse the players.

“It’s about being focused and pursuing the ball,” he said. “Sometimes they get tired and I don’t think we pursue the ball.”