Wang, Miller May Pair on Pick and Roll

There is no way to defend a well-executed pick and roll. It’s one of basketball’s oldest and most effective offensive plays, designed perhaps only minutes after Dr. James Naismith nailed his peach baskets to the opposite ends of the Springfield, Mass., gymnasium.

One of the reasons the Clippers coveted and eventually signed center Wang Zhizhi was to run an effective pick and roll with new point guard Andre Miller. Michael Olowokandi is expected to give the Clippers standout play on the low post, with Wang adding a deft touch from as far out as the three-point line.

“We feel he can play with his back to the basket if he’s playing center,” General Manager Elgin Baylor said of Wang, who is 7 feet 1. “We also think he’ll be effective playing the pick and roll. He can hit the open shot and he has great range. He can use his size to his advantage. He’s still learning, still improving.”

Now, if Wang can help the Clippers stop opponents’ pick-and-roll plays, Baylor would really be on to something special in his Chinese import.

The Clippers are expecting quite a bit from Wang, who averaged 5.6 points in 55 games last season for the Dallas Mavericks. Wang spent the off-season working out and playing in pick-up games with other NBA players at Loyola Marymount.

*

The Clippers found a translator for Wang, whose English isn’t nearly as strong as his jump shot. Actually, Wang and Simon Chan have been friends for some time. Chan will travel with the team this season, helping to bridge the language barrier.

Wang knows enough English to ask to wear a Clipper uniform with No. 16 on it. The Clippers just happened to have one with his name and number on the back, delivering home and away versions for his inspection.

*

Backup point guard Keyon Dooling got his wish Friday, finally getting a chance to play in an exhibition game after an off-season surgery on his sprained left ankle. Dooling played 25 minutes during the Clippers’ loss to the Bulls at Chicago. He scored two points on one-of-six shooting and had eight assists.

The Clippers hoped to err on the side of caution with Dooling, who sprained his ankle last Nov. 14 against the Bulls at Staples Center. He had been trying to talk Coach Alvin Gentry into playing him in one of the team’s recent exhibitions. He finally got to play in Friday’s 98-91 loss to Chicago.

Gentry has tried to limit his top players to about 25 minutes during exhibitions and gave Miller the night off Saturday against the Detroit Pistons, the Clippers’ third exhibition in four nights.

Marko Jaric started at point guard at Detroit, missed all nine of his shots from the field and had three assists in an 83-79 defeat. He played 36 minutes.

Dooling played 28 minutes, made five of 13 shots and finished with 14 points and two assists.

It’s not immediately clear how Gentry will break up the minutes for the three point guards once the regular season begins Oct. 30.