Jazz Does a Number on the Winless Clippers

SALT LAKE CITY —  Minutes after being named coach of the Clippers, Chris Ford said he’d approach this shortened season with the hand he was dealt.

Instead of complaining about inheriting basically the same group of players that finished last season by losing 15 of their last 17 games, Ford was optimistic about turning things around.

Nearly three weeks into the season, Ford may be looking for a re-deal because the Clippers are still in search of their first victory after losing to the Utah Jazz, 104-89, Monday night in front of 19,911 at the Delta Center.

The victory was Utah’s 19th in a row over the Clippers in Salt Lake City. The Jazz, which improved to a league-best 9-1, shot 50% from the field compared to to the Clippers’ 38% and had more assists, 30-19.

The Clippers, who remain the NBA’s only winless team after falling to 0-8, do not get much time to treat the wounds delivered to them by Utah’s Karl Malone, who had 20 points and 10 rebounds, because they play Golden State tonight at the Sports Arena.

“They’re a team with talent but maybe they are a little too selfish,” said Utah’s Bryon Russell. “Hopefully, they’ll get better. They play good together for stretches. It’s just a matter of time before they get a win.”

In the meantime, Ford is running out of patience and he told his team to expect some changes after watching Utah pick-and-roll the Clippers to the ground.

“There comes a point and time when you have to be responsible for what you’re doing on the court,” Ford said. “You have no chance for success if you don’t go out there and try and execute the game plan. . . . We have to have some structure. I don’t know why it’s tough for these guys to sink in. I’ve got to get more demanding.”

The fastest way Ford could maybe get different results would be through a trade, and unfortunately for the Clippers there are not too many teams willing to give up a player who could help them immediately.

And it’s not like the Clippers have a lot of players that other teams want with one-fifth of the season already over. Point guard Pooh Richardson, who has received limited minutes as a backup, could boost a contending team looking for some veteran leadership but his over $2 million a year salary may make him difficult to move.

Rodney Rogers, Lorenzen Wright and even Eric Piatkowski could also have a positive impact on another team but all three players are in their final contract years and have not done anything yet this season to a create great deal of interest around the league.

In other words, Ford’s short first season with the Clippers may the longest of his seven as an NBA coach.

“We’re doing what we can but we have to find a way to win some games,” Rogers said. “[Ford] knows better than us. . . . We have things together and then all of the sudden, things are falling apart. We kill our own selves.”

Rookie center Michael Olowokandi started against Utah after having an MRI test on his left knee done in Los Angeles Monday morning. He had only six points and six rebounds in 27 minutes.

Point guard Sherman Douglas, who had sat out the Clippers’ previous loss because of a groin injury, played 10 minutes as a reserve but missed all four free throw attempts and all three shots from the field.

Maurice Taylor led the Clippers with 17 points and seven rebounds, and James “Hollywood” Robinson broke out of a shooting slump with 17 on seven-of-10 shooting. Wright played well with 11 rebounds and nine points but injured his left index finger late in the game.

The Clippers played Utah tough for two quarters and trailed only 60-52 at halftime, but got outscored, 22-13, in the third quarter.

Over the final 12 minutes, Utah gave the Clippers a lesson in team basketball even with Malone and John Stockton resting for most of the fourth quarter.

“We have a lot of work to do and Utah played good ball as they usually do and we didn’t play good enough to win the game,” Robinson said. “We’ve been shooting poorly all year and we just have to shoot better. Once we get [our first] win, we will know how it feels. . . . We are still optimistic, but it’s wearing thin on everybody.”