Clippers Not in Mood to Remember the Past

Sam Cassell isn’t a student of Clipper history.

The team has had only five winning seasons and six playoff appearances in 34 seasons, and hasn’t finished .500 in more than a decade, but don’t bother the Clippers’ new point guard with the details. The Clippers’ disappointing past has nothing to do with today, Cassell says, and he’s determined to help make things brighter.

“History? Don’t tell me anything about history because that’s not what this is about,” the 12-year veteran said. “I’ve been in this game a long time, and one thing I know is that yesterday doesn’t matter.

“This is about right here and right now. This is about the challenge of making everyone in L.A. forget about the past. I’m looking forward to it.”

His teammates are too.

“We’re not trying to look back into the past, we’re trying to look forward, and now we have the type of team that can do that,” said forward Elton Brand, who has averaged 19.5 points, 10.4 rebounds and two blocked shots in six seasons.

The Clippers have newfound confidence as they begin the season tonight against the Seattle SuperSonics at Key Arena, believing they’re a playoff-caliber team because of the addition of guards Cassell and Cuttino Mobley.

They finished third in the Western Conference’s Pacific Division last season with a record of 37-45, three games ahead of the fourth-place Lakers, and expect significant improvement after a 6-2 exhibition season -- the Clippers’ best exhibition mark since the franchise moved from Buffalo, N.Y., in 1978.

But the Clippers have injury and depth concerns.

Promising second-year point guard Shaun Livingston is sidelined indefinitely because of back problems, and starting forward Corey Maggette, the team’s leading scorer last season, has a strained left hamstring.

Rookie point guard Daniel Ewing and rookie forward James Singleton are expected to play major roles on a second unit that wasn’t considered among the NBA’s best even before Livingston was injured.

And there are team chemistry questions.

How well will Cassell and Mobley fit into Coach Mike Dunleavy’s system? Would Maggette be satisfied with a reduced role in the offense? Is everyone committed to increasing the effort on defense?

The Clippers had hoped to learn more about themselves during exhibition play, but the projected starting lineup never played together because of injuries.

“I’m sure it’s somewhat of an issue,” center Chris Kaman said. “It’s about getting used to people, learning their habits and different tendencies on the court and building chemistry, so it would have been good if we could have had some more time together before the season.

“The biggest thing is everybody finding their roles, knowing what they are and sticking to them. But Sam has been playing for 12 years now. He’s been on different teams and knows how to pick up new people and play with them. I think he’ll be able to help everyone adjust.”

The Clippers sent guards Marko Jaric and Lionel Chalmers to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Aug. 12 for Cassell -- considered among the NBA’s top clutch shooters -- and a lottery-protected first-round pick in next year’s draft.

The team had planned for Cassell and Livingston to split time running the offense, but Livingston’s back hasn’t cooperated.

Cassell, who helped the Houston Rockets win consecutive NBA championships early in his career, has encouraged Dunleavy to lean more on him. But Cassell turns 36 on Nov. 18 and had his least productive season in a decade after having been selected second-team All-NBA in the 2003-04 season.

“I don’t care what happened last year, Sam is one of the premier point guards in the NBA,” said Maggette, who averaged a personal-best 22.2 points last season.

“We’re lucky to have Sam and the experience he brings. I know I’m happy to have him here.”

Said Mobley: “When Sam yells at me, I take it and I swallow it. Why? Because he’s won two championships.”

The Clippers finished last in the NBA in three-point shooting last season, so General Manager Elgin Baylor brought in Mobley, who ranked third in the NBA.

Mobley signed the richest contract -- $42 million -- in team history for a free agent from outside the organization, and the Clippers say he has been as good as advertised from beyond the three-point arc and in the locker room.

“Cat and Sam have both been great, especially with our younger guys,” Dunleavy said. “They’ve been very positive with everyone and they’ve been great for me.

“As a coach, you say to guys, ‘This is the way I want it done,’ and then you wait and hope it gets done that way.

“With Cat and Sam, you look up and it’s being done the way you want the first time.”

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

BREAKDOWN

* 2004-05 record: 37-45, third place in Pacific Division.

* Coach: Mike Dunleavy, third season (463-489 in 12 seasons).

* Who’s gone: Bobby Simmons, Kerry Kittles, Marko Jaric, Rick Brunson, Mikki Moore, Mamadou N’Diaye, Lionel Chalmers.

* Who’s new: Sam Cassell, Cuttino Mobley, Daniel Ewing, James Singleton, Boniface Ndong, Anthony Goldwire.

* Projected starting lineup: Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, Chris Kaman, Mobley, Cassell.

* Projected bench rotation: Shaun Livingston, Zeljko Rebraca, Quinton Ross, Chris Wilcox, Ewing, Goldwire, Singleton.

* Keys to the season: The durability of point guard Cassell, who turns 36 on Nov. 18, could determine whether the Clippers contend for a playoff spot. Livingston is sidelined indefinitely because of a back injury, so Cassell must shoulder more to start the season. Maggette and Mobley are big-time scorers, but Dunleavy needs them to deliver at both ends of the court. Everyone must remember Brand is the focus on offense, and it would help if Wilcox provided a consistent spark off the bench.

* Outlook: Despite Livingston’s injury and depth concerns, the Clippers will make their first playoff appearance since the 1996-97 season.

* Tickets: (800) 462-2849.

*

TONIGHT

at Seattle, 7, FSNW 2

Site -- Key Arena.

Radio -- 1150.

Records (2004-05) -- Clippers 37-45, SuperSonics 52-30.

Record vs. SuperSonics (2004-05) -- 2-1.

Update -- Oh, you again. That’s the Clippers’ reaction about another matchup with the SuperSonics, against whom they open the season after having split two exhibition games. Concerned about revealing too much in exhibition play, Coach Mike Dunleavy utilized only a portion of the offense, but the handcuffs come off in this one. The SuperSonics thrived beyond the three-point arc in a surprising performance last season. Reserve forward Walter McCarty (cut right thumb) might not play.