Gentry Goes One on One

Coach Alvin Gentry held one-on-one meetings with the Clippers after Friday’s practice. The idea was to allow the players a chance to vent, if need be, and it went well, according to Gentry.

“It gave them a chance to talk,” he said.

Gentry would not divulge details of the conversations, however.

The Clippers’ season has been teetering on the brink, the team having lost eight of its last 10 games and falling to last place in the Pacific Division. There are 44 games left, starting with tonight’s against the Sacramento Kings, and Gentry hopes the meetings will help to halt the slide.

“We’re a long way from giving up on the season,” he said. “We’ve got to get back to the level I think that we’re capable of playing.... We need to relax and play. I think they all felt comfortable saying what’s on their mind.”

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Eric Piatkowski wouldn’t specify a date but said he’s close to being fit enough to play after spending more than a month on the injured list because of a lower abdominal strain. He was injured Dec. 10.

“It was frustrating for a while because I was thinking I wouldn’t be back until after the All-Star break [next month],” he said. “I’m darn close. I’m getting better. It’s been slow, slow, slow. I’m hoping it will be soon.”

Piatkowski, a 40.2% shooter from beyond the three-point arc, said it has been difficult sitting out while the team has struggled to shoot from the perimeter.

“It’s been frustrating, watching the way teams play us, with all the zones we’ve been facing from the start of the game or maybe very early in the game,” he said. “Teams don’t play zone against us when I’m in the game. They’ve been doing it a lot lately and we’ve been struggling from the outside.”

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TONIGHT

vs. Sacramento, 7:30, Channel 5

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- XTRA (1150).

Records -- Clippers 14-24, Kings 29-10.

Record vs. Kings -- 0-2.

Update --The Pacific Division-leading Kings have won eight of 10 games, and Wednesday routed the league-leading Dallas Mavericks at Sacramento by 29 points. They are 17-2 at Arco Arena, but a mere 12-8 on the road. They defeated the Clippers by four points Nov. 20 at Staples Center and by 13 points Nov. 29 at Sacramento.