Dunleavy stresses versatility

Splashed across the Clippers’ website is the slogan: “The journey begins now.”

It’s the destination that needs determining.

“I hope it’s somewhere positive,” said the team’s elder statesman, Sam Cassell, reclining on a bench after Thursday’s practice. “We just got to go play basketball. It starts for us [today] and I think the guys are excited.”

The Clippers’ journey without promising point guard Shaun Livingston actually started last season, but the journey without franchise forward Elton Brand officially begins tonight with the season opener against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center.

Along with it comes the journey and the challenge for a team trying to erase the aftertaste of a disappointing 2006-07 season and carve an identity despite those injuries.

“Obviously without Elton and Shaun we have a big void,” center Chris Kaman said. “Someone has to step up. It’s going to be a combination of a lot of people together.”

Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy said the team will attempt to showcase its flexibility, trotting out a roster laced with veterans.

“The good news of what I like about our team is we have a lot of versatile players, some interchangeable parts and some guys, as we go forward with things, that will get more comfortable,” Dunleavy said.

Going forward with a healthy roster is a start to gaining that comfort.

Dunleavy expressed concern about nagging injuries during the exhibition season that limited practice time for several key players.

But the team practiced with almost a full roster Thursday. Only forward Aaron Williams did not practice. He is nursing a strained right calf and is likely to join Brand and Livingston on tonight’s inactive list.

“We got guys back today and pretty much everyone was able to practice,” Dunleavy said. “That was good to see and we were able to get some things done.”

No one is calling tonight a revenge game. But if added motivation is needed, it is there.

The Warriors sideswiped the Clippers in becoming the Western Conference’s eighth playoff seed last season. They then became the postseason darlings after beating the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks before falling to the Utah Jazz in the second round.

“The only motivation you have going into any of these games is knowing that if you win, you put yourself that much closer to being a playoff team,” Dunleavy said. “And if you are playing against one of the teams that were playoff teams last year, that’s even better.”

Golden State will try to push the ball against the Clippers and to that regard, will probably start 6-foot-6 Mickael Pietrus at power forward.

The Warriors will be without forward Stephen Jackson, a key player in last year’s run. Jackson is suspended for the first seven games after pleading guilty to criminal recklessness for shooting a gun in the air outside an Indianapolis strip club.

Corey Maggette said the Clippers would be ready.

“It’s a new beginning,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for us to accomplish some stuff and try to make a bang.”

And where others see a hole, Cassell sees the chance to surprise people while his fellow teammates rise to the task.

“We the villains. We the villains,” he repeats.

“We the underdogs. But it’s a cool vibe to have.”

He then nods to backup center Paul Davis, eavesdropping on the conversation and eager to become a rotation player in his second season.

“Personally, I’m excited about the whole makeup of this thing. It gives guys an opportunity to play.”

TONIGHT

vs. Golden State, 7:30, FSN Prime

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 710.

Records (2006-07) -- Clippers 40-42, Warriors 42-40.

Record vs. Warriors (2006-07) -- 2-2.

Update -- The Warriors look to bounce back after dropping their season opener against the Utah Jazz. Five of the Warriors’ first seven games come against teams that won at least 50 games last season. The Clippers, whom they play twice in that span, are the only team not in that category.

jonathan.abrams@latimes.com