Austin’s Power Helps Piatkowski

What does the well-dressed Clipper fan wear?

Last week, it was an “I Like Ike” button.

Next week, it may be an “I Like Pike” button.

Clipper management and fans alike, thrilled over the impact newly acquired center Isaac Austin has made in the middle, have been going out of their way to make Austin welcome and to make their case for him re-signing with the team when he becomes a free agent at season’s end.

But the trade that brought Austin from the Heat also sent guard Brent Barry to Miami. And that seems to have resulted in the blossoming of another player on the Clipper roster, guard Eric Piatkowski.

Before Barry’s departure, Piatkowski, a four-year veteran from Nebraska, was averaging 9.9 points after averaging 7.0, 4.6 and 6.0 in his first three seasons. His career-high of 24 points was set in December against the San Antonio Spurs.

In the five games since the trade, with increased playing time for Piatkowski, more confidence generated by that additional time and less defensive pressure on the perimeter because of the presence of Austin in the middle, Piatkowski’s scoring average has soared to 20.0, including games of 22 points and a career-high 27 earlier this week against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Piatkowski played a career-high 45 minutes Friday night against the Phoenix Suns and, in the five games since the trade, he hasn’t played fewer than 36 minutes. Before the Barry deal, he was averaging 23.

“I was one of Barry’s biggest fans,” Piatkowski said. “I hated to see him go.

“But this has given me more confidence. There’s no sense of urgency now that I have to go in and get points right away or I’ll be out. It’s nice out there. You can get in the flow of the game and let things come to you.”

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The Clippers voted to give themselves a day off Saturday. They begin a four-game trip Tuesday night in Houston, the start of a stretch in which they will play seven of their next nine on the road.

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Veteran Phoenix guard Kevin Johnson wasn’t used at all Friday night against the Clippers after missing all nine shot attempts from the field in Thursday’s loss to the Utah Jazz.

Johnson, who’ll be 32 next week and might be in his last season, has been struggling to regain his form after missing 30 games following knee surgery.