There’s Plenty in Reserve

Elgin Baylor recently said this is the Clippers’ best team in his 20 years as general manager.

Part of the reason is depth.

Rookie forward James Singleton leads the team in rebounds per minute, but he did not play in the last two games.

Although rookie point guard Daniel Ewing has been a pleasant surprise, his minutes are expected to decrease once Shaun Livingston returns from back problems.

Forward Elton Brand’s outstanding performance on the trip -- he averaged 26.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and shot 71% -- prompted Coach Mike Dunleavy to alter his frontcourt rotation, reducing forward-center Chris Wilcox’s minutes. And what happens when long-range specialist Walter McCarty returns?

“It’s something I’m aware of,” Dunleavy said. “We’re kind of 12 deep and it’s a little bit of a dilemma.

“Elton has taken up more minutes than I expected, but it’s hard not to play a guy playing at such a high level. It’s still a feeling-out process. We’ll see how it plays out.”

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The Clippers, who went 10-31 away from Staples Center last season, already have three road victories and are 2-1 on a trip that ends Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center.

“If we win,” Dunleavy said, “that’ll be 40% of our road victories from all of last year. And that’s in November.”

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Starting guards Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley are averaging 32.2 points combined, but Cassell is shooting only 38.7% and Mobley 39.1% -- 29.6% from behind the three-point arc.

“I’m not shooting the ball well and Cat’s not shooting the ball particularly well, and that’s good because we’re still winning,” Cassell said. “I know it’s going to come for me and I know it’s going to come for Cat.

“When we get it going with everything else ... that’s when it’s going to be something.”