Miles Enjoys Role, Even Behind Fowlkes

Darius Miles said at the start of the season that he was content to play behind Clipper small forward Lamar Odom. Later, when Odom was injured, he said he was satisfied to play behind Corey Maggette. Now, with Maggette sidelined by injuries, he said he is perfectly comfortable as Tremaine Fowlkes’ backup.

“It’s my role,” Miles said with a shrug.

Miles and Quentin Richardson have excelled as the first substitutes off Coach Alvin Gentry’s bench this season. Gentry has given up trying to figure out why Miles hasn’t been as effective in six starts. He hasn’t bothered to start Richardson once.

For instance, Miles had 18 points and five rebounds in 30 minutes and Richardson added 17 points in 28 minutes during the Clippers’ victory Saturday over the Golden State Warriors.

“I know Tremaine Fowlkes is a newcomer,” Miles said of the former California and Fresno State player expected to be signed to a second 10-day contract this week to bolster the roster because of injuries to Odom and Maggette. “But, you know, he needed a chance. Me and ‘Q’, we have our roles coming off the bench.”

Miles paused for a moment.

“Next year will be a whole different story,” he said.

Indeed, it would seem to be only a matter of time before Miles, 20, and Richardson, 21, become starters.

“For this team,” point guard Jeff McInnis said, “Darius and ‘Q’ are more effective off the bench. They create energy when they get into the game. They know their roles. It’s better for them.”

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With 22 games left and his team on the outside looking in at the top eight teams that will advance to the playoffs, Gentry discussed the stretch drive.

“I think everybody anticipated at the start of the season that 42 or 43 wins would get you into the playoffs,” Gentry said. “I would think now that 45 would be the minimum. When you see how it’s going now, it’s not too different from last year when 48 was the eighth seed.”

The Clippers are 30-30 and ninth in the Western Conference standings.

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The Clippers did not practice Sunday, but will today. They leave Tuesday on a four-game trip to play Milwaukee, Chicago, Cleveland and Minnesota. When it ends, the Clippers will have completed a stretch in which they played 25 of 35 on the road.