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Los Angeles Clippers L.A.'s 'Kiddie Corps' has shed doormat status
Updated: Tuesday October 09, 2001 2:51 PM
By Marty Burns, CNNSI.com Has there ever been more hype over a team that finished 16 games out of the playoffs? Probably not. But then again, few teams have ever shown more exciting growth in such a short period as L.A.'s "Kiddie Corps." Behind talented youngsters Lamar Odom, Darius Miles, Corey Maggette and Jeff McInnis, the Clippers have thrown off their status as NBA doormats. The addition of power forward Elton Brand, acquired from the Bulls for the draft rights to Tyson Chandler, makes them a bona fide playoff contender. Brand is a proven 20/10 guy, and his bulk on defense should be a major plus.
Head coach Alvin Gentry's biggest concern might be finding minutes to keep everybody happy. Miles is already facing a return to the bench now that Brand is in the mix, while Maggette is splitting time with Quentin Richardson and sweet-shooting Eric Piatkowski at shooting guard. If the Clippers' young guns begin to sulk or complain, it could wreck the team's chemistry. L.A. still lacks experience and a true center to match up with the big boys in the West. But if former No. 1 overall pick Michael Olowokandi can give them just a little consistency, and somebody other than Piatkowski can hit from outside, a playoff berth is not out of the question. Either way, the Clippers' days as a laughingstock are over. Standout stat: 23.1 Average age of the Clippers' 12-man roster. Elder statesmen Derek Strong (33), Sean Rooks (32) and Piatkowski (30) are the only players on the team who've reached the age of 30.
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