For Starters, Lineup Must Be Filled

Other than the obvious choices of Elton Brand, Corey Maggette and Marko Jaric, Clipper Coach Mike Dunleavy has not committed to a starting lineup.

Ideally, shooting guard Kerry Kittles and center Chris Kaman would round out the five. But they’re injured and expected to remain out at least through the first week of the season.

Based on statistics from the exhibition season, Dunleavy’s choices seem clear: insert Bobby Simmons for Kittles, Chris Wilcox for Kaman.

Simmons, the Clippers’ most versatile and reliable reserve last season, was their second-leading scorer and top rebounder during the October exhibitions, averaging 13.3 points and seven rebounds over 28.6 minutes.

If 6-foot-6 Simmons starts, it probably would be at small forward, with Maggette moving to shooting guard.

Another option would be to start rookie Shaun Livingston at point guard, move Jaric to shooting guard and leave Simmons as sixth man. But it seems doubtful that Dunleavy would want to put that pressure on 19-year-old Livingston, the first true point guard to jump directly from high school to the NBA.

Wilcox, at 6-10, is a power forward and mostly is used to spell Brand, but he has played center. He averaged 11 points and five rebounds in the exhibition season, more substantial numbers than those posted by the 7-footers brought in last summer to back up Kaman: Mikki Moore, Mamadou N’Diaye and Zeljko Rebraca.

Moore, playing for his fifth team in three seasons, was the most impressive backup center, averaging 6.6 points on 55.6% shooting and 3.9 rebounds. N’Diaye averaged 4.0 points and 4.1 rebounds but made only 32% of his shots. Rebraca, slowed by injury and illness, averaged 3.3 points and 2.5 rebounds.

“Wilcox pretty much has the whole package, physically,” Dunleavy said. “He’s athletic, he’s got size. He runs. He jumps....

“But I’ve got to see more consistency before I pronounce that he’s made it, or he’s done it. He’s been more active trying to block shots. Rebounding-wise, he’s been pretty good, and his low-post game has gotten a little better. But like all our young guys, he still has a lot of room for improvement.”

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The Clippers did not practice Sunday. They open the season Wednesday night against the Seattle SuperSonics at Staples Center.... An online sports book released odds on winning this season’s NBA championship, listing the Clippers at 150 to 1. Only the Washington Wizards (200 to 1), Atlanta Hawks (300 to 1) and expansion Charlotte Bobcats (500 to 1) face longer odds. The San Antonio Spurs, at 4 to 1, were listed as the favorites. The Lakers were listed at 25 to 1.