Miller Turning Over a New Leaf?

The Clippers sent forward Darius Miles to the Cleveland Cavaliers last summer to get point guard Andre Miller, the league’s leader in assists and the man they believed would make them, at long last, a complete and competitive team.

Miller averaged 16 points and 7.8 assists before the Clippers played Friday against the Seattle SuperSonics. He averaged 16.5 points and 10.9 assists in his third and final season with the Cavaliers.

He has had his moments with the Clippers, including a 37-point game against the New Jersey Nets, but the team hasn’t performed as expected. The Clippers (13-22 before Friday) are last in the Pacific Division and 19th out of 29 teams in assists.

Miller played through a difficult stretch during December, after he sprained his left ankle Nov. 29 against the Sacramento Kings. He is shooting 42%, which would be a career low if it continues.

However, if his game Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies was any indication, better days are ahead for Miller and the Clippers.

“Forget the 19 points. He had 14 assists and no turnovers,” Memphis Coach Hubie Brown said of Miller. “I emphasize the no turnovers because he was being pressured from end line to end line and played the full 48 minutes. You put all that together and we couldn’t turn him over. We couldn’t get him to make a bad play. He just executed.”

Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry said he would play Miller 48 minutes more often, “if it comes down to it.” Then in a sarcastic tone, he added, “I’m sure they say the same thing to the guys at IBM, ‘You working eight hours today?’ ”

Gentry believes Miller is the gauge by which the Clippers should be measured.

“If he has 19 points, 14 assists and no turnovers, we’ll have played a pretty good game,” he said.