Gentry Doesn’t Dwell on Trip

Two games away from the All-Star break seemed as good a point as any for Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry to take stock of his team. He quickly discounted the notion that this seven-game journey was a make-or-break trip.

It would have made for a better trip if the Clippers had not stumbled against Memphis and Atlanta, but a 2-3 record after five games wasn’t bad when considering that the team had only three road victories before leaving Los Angeles on Jan. 27.

“The bottom line is that when we’re playing in the last month of the season, we’re playing the teams we’re chasing for a playoff spot,” Gentry said. “It could be a two-game swing if we win. Or a two-game swing the other way if we lose. For us, it’s going to come down to what we do in the head-to-head games with Seattle, Utah, Portland and Phoenix.”

Gentry has often pointed out that the Lakers, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs have all but locked up playoff spots.

The other teams are fighting for one of the remaining three positions in the hyper-competitive Western Conference.

“How well we finish up will probably depend on how we play at home,” Gentry said. “We have been much better at home than on the road.”

The Clippers have won 19 of 27 games at Staples Center.

*

TONIGHT

at New York, 4:30 PST

Site--Madison Square Garden.

Radio--KXTA (1150).

Records--Clippers 24-25, Knicks 18-27.

Record vs. Knicks--1-0.

Update--New York center Marcus Camby is out for at least one month because of a torn muscle and a bone bruise in his right hip. Knick Coach Don Chaney said after Sunday’s loss to the Miami Heat that the team is hoping to trade for a big man to replace Camby. If that doesn’t happen, the Knicks will seek help elsewhere, possibly by signing Olden Polynice or Otis Thorpe. The Clippers and Knicks have each lost two games in a row.