Managing the Minute Details

Juggling minutes for players has always been a difficult task for basketball coaches, especially those with standout reserves aching for a chance to show off their skills.

Sometimes it’s a blessing to have such a deep rotation. At other times, it’s a headache.

Just ask Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry, who on Saturday called on Tremaine Fowlkes to play against Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves. It meant someone would be forced to sit while Fowlkes went after Garnett.

That someone turned out to be Quentin Richardson, who had to be content with playing only six minutes against the Timberwolves. Matchups dictated his decision, Gentry would say after the Clippers’ 104-88 victory.

“It’s hard to play him at [small forward],” Gentry said of Richardson, a shooting guard who has had a sore right knee since suffering a sprain that sidelined him for most of training camp in October.

“Tremaine played well. Marko [Jaric] was doing a good job. Pike [Eric Piatkowski] shot the ball well. It’s all part of being a team. Guys have to accept the fact that sometimes they’re not going to play.”

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Elton Brand on Fowlkes, who scored a career-best 15 points: “Awesome. I told him to make sure he got some shots. Those were good shots. I’m out there yelling at him, ‘Shoot.’ He knocked them down. He played great. I was excited for him.”

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The Clippers left for New Orleans, the first stop on a four-game trip, immediately after Saturday’s game. On Monday they face the Hornets, who relocated during the off-season from Charlotte, N.C. They also play the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets.