Simmons Is Going Wire to Wire

Is there any better example of a guy taking advantage of an opportunity than Bobby Simmons of the Clippers?

Simmons, in the last year of a two-year, $1.5-million contract, was supposed to be the club’s sixth man, filling the same role he did last season: reliable, versatile reserve, counted upon more for his willingness to mix it up under the basket and provide steady defense than his scoring ability.

But because of injuries that have limited Kerry Kittles to 11 games, Simmons opened the season as a starter, scored a career-high 30 points against the Seattle SuperSonics on opening night and hasn’t looked back.

The 24-year-old small forward from DePaul has averaged nearly 17 points a game as the Clippers’ most dependable outside shooter, emerged as a front-runner for the NBA’s most improved player award and positioned himself for a multimillion-dollar payday after he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Though bothered by a bruised left shin that kept him out of the starting lineup, he made seven of 10 shots and scored 16 points in 21 minutes Wednesday night in a 116-108 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks at Staples Center.

Corey Maggette scored 34 points on 10-of-15 shooting to lead the Clippers in front of 17,708. Elton Brand had 24 points and 10 rebounds, making 11 of 16 shots.

Rookie Shaun Livingston, making his first NBA start, had a season-high 11 assists in 25 minutes, setting the tone early in a game in which the Clippers never trailed and led in the second quarter by 26 points. Livingston, who scored two points, assisted on each of the Clippers’ first four baskets and scored the fifth on a driving layup.

“I thought he was terrific starting the game,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “His patience and timing on plays and the delivery was terrific.”

Dunleavy said he wanted to limit Simmons’ minutes because of his leg injury but wound up using him more than he had planned. That’s because Simmons, the only Clipper who has played in all 68 games, has made himself that valuable.

He has increased his scoring average by nine points from last season while making 47% of his shots, compared to 40% in his first three seasons. The Chicago native has made 44% of his shots from beyond the three-point arc, ranking among the league leaders after making less than 17% last season.

A second-round draft pick who was cut loose by the Washington Wizards after two seasons, Simmons regards his breakout season as vindication.

“I think if I’d had an opportunity to play,” he said of his time with the Wizards, “this could have happened sooner. This has been a great opportunity for me and I’m just trying to do my best to accomplish my goals.”

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Dunleavy would like Livingston and Chris Wilcox to play for the Clippers’ summer league team in Las Vegas in July.

Of Wilcox, whose playing time has dwindled dramatically since his strong start to the season, the coach said, “Long term, I’m still very high on him. I’d like to get a commitment from him to work this summer, stay here in town.

“There are parts of his game that obviously need a lot of work,” Dunleavy continued. “He’s got to work on his free-throw shooting, his outside shot ... and then his low-post moves.... You get the ball, you make a move, you get a dunk opportunity, you need to make it. You need to get the end result.”

Mostly, the coach said, Wilcox needs to be more consistent.

“I still feel like he’s got tremendous upside,” Dunleavy said of the eighth pick in the 2002 draft. “As far as I’m concerned, he’s got talent to be a terrific player.”