Inside Information Is Getting Through

Michael Olowokandi took 19 shots, made 11 and scored 24 points in the Clippers’ victory Monday against the Golden State Warriors. He took five shots, made two and scored eight points in a loss Sunday against the Seattle SuperSonics.

“We pounded the ball inside,” Coach Alvin Gentry said of the change in game plans from Sunday to Monday. “That’s where our strength is.”

Gentry has been pleading for the Clippers to start their offense with a pass inside to Olowokandi or Elton Brand. If they have a good shot, they’re free to take it. If not, they are encouraged to pass to open teammates on the perimeter.

It’s fundamental basketball, but too often, and for reasons that Gentry cannot explain, the Clippers take hurried shots from the outside.

Only a handful of teams have a center capable of neutralizing Olowokandi and a power forward who can slow Brand. Several have one but not the other. Quite a few have neither.

Most teams have tried to thwart the Clipper inside game by double-teaming Olowokandi and Brand whenever they catch the ball on the low block. It’s up to Olowokandi and Brand to spot open teammates.

“In order for us to have a balanced attack, we have to establish a presence in the low post and once we do that we have very athletic guys who can slash to the basket,” Olowokandi said. “We also have very, very good shooters.”

The Clippers clicked Monday against the Warriors, making them pay for their failure to double-team the post in the second half. Olowokandi scored 20 of his 24 points in the second half. Brand scored 10 of 17 in the final two quarters.

“We got the ball to him,” Gentry said of the Clippers’ plan to feed Olowokandi. “I thought we could have got it to him more. We spread out the floor. He did a great job in the second half. In the first half, he caught it on the block, but couldn’t get it in the basket. He had some good shots.”

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Lamar Odom (ankle and wrist sprains) is not expected to play again until Christmas, but Odom has stepped up his workouts.

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TONIGHT

vs. Sacramento, 7:30

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- KXTA (1150).

Records -- Clippers 4-7, Kings 8-4.

Record vs. Kings (2001-02) -- 1-3.

Update -- The Kings have won 11 of 15 games against the Clippers, including three in a row. The Kings are 6-0 at home, but only 2-4 away from the din at Arco Arena. Sacramento will be without Mike Bibby, who has a stress fracture in his right foot. Forward-center Scot Pollard has a stress fracture in his lower back and won’t play.

Tickets -- (800) 462-2849.