Starting Frontcourt Contains No Surprises

Elton Brand, Michael Olowokandi and Corey Maggette started up front Wednesday in the Clippers’ season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It wasn’t a surprise, but each had been injured during training camp and Coach Alvin Gentry was more than a little cagey when asked Tuesday for his starting lineup.

Brand underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Sept. 26 and missed almost all of camp. Olowokandi had tendinitis in his left knee and a strained left hip muscle and also missed the bulk of camp. Maggette sprained his right thumb in the team’s final exhibition game last week.

Gentry apologized Wednesday for being in a cranky mood the day before but wouldn’t say precisely what had upset him. It’s believed that he was miffed about the Clippers’ final cuts Monday. The team waived forward Mike Batiste and veteran guard Bryant Stith in order to get to the 15-player limit Monday.

Gentry admired Batiste, in particular, for his scoring ability. Batiste, from Long Beach Wilson High and Arizona State, led the Clippers in scoring for a time during their eight-game exhibition schedule. The Clippers instead kept forward Tremaine Fowlkes, who filled in for Maggette late last season.

For what it’s worth, the pregame notes listed the Clippers’ starters as Maggette, Cherokee Parks, Sean Rooks, Andre Miller and Quentin Richardson.

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Gentry stuck by his training camp prediction that a sprained right ankle will sideline forward Lamar Odom until at least Christmas. Odom has been shooting baskets with his teammates, but can’t yet run hard, according to Gentry.

“He’s making progress,” Gentry said. “Regardless of what anybody says, it’s going to be about Christmas. I don’t see anything miraculous happening. He can’t push it any faster with his rehab. He’s got to stay off it and not push it.”

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The Clippers added Mel Proctor to their broadcast team. Proctor, who works for a television station in Palm Springs, will call games on KXTA (1150) when the team is shown on Channel 5 with announcers Ralph Lawler and Mike Smith.