Optimism Persists Through the Pain

The laughter echoed through Los Angeles Southwest College on Monday morning. When Keyon Dooling sank a three-point shot to win a Clipper post-practice shooting contest, an electrifying roar went up.

You take your victories and your three-pointers and your cheers where you can get them. And these days, Southwest College seems to be the only refuge of joy for the injury-wracked Clippers, 6-12 and stuck at the bottom of the Pacific Division alongside the Lakers.

There was no joy on the face of center Michael Olowokandi as he limped out of the gym, on his way to an MRI exam to better determine the cause of a sore left knee that landed him on the injured list Sunday.

“It’s just wear and tear,” Olowokandi said. “It gets inflamed and it’s difficult to bend. When you’re in your defensive stance, you have to bend your knee to get an explosive start.”

Olowokandi believes the problem might have started in the off-season.

“I didn’t take a day off in the summer,” he said. “Even when I was on vacation, I would run. I wanted to make sure I would show up for training camp in shape. Looking back, maybe I should have taken some time to let my body rest.”

Olowokandi had no idea how serious his injury is, saying, “All I know is that there’s pain.”

There was no joy on the face of guard Andre Miller either. He sat out practice because of a sprained left ankle, suffered Friday against the Sacramento Kings. Miller is listed as doubtful for the Clippers’ next game, Wednesday at Staples Center against the Miami Heat.

“I’m not going to make a habit of this,” he said of joining the Clipper parade to the training room. “This is a one-time thing for me.”

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Also missing from practice was guard Quentin Richardson, who had stomach flu.

Add in the previously injured Lamar Odom (ankle) and Corey Maggette (knee) and it’s enough to make a coach cry.

But not Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry.

“I am not about to give up on this team because I know how this league works,” he said. “Nobody except Dallas is playing great basketball in the [Western Conference]. And teams can suddenly get hot and win eight of 10 or 10 of 13.”

But until the Clippers get well, they don’t figure to get hot.

Except maybe at Southwest College.