Boykins Measures Up Well in Exhibitions

Point guard Earl Boykins may be only 5 feet 5, but he has made a big impression in the exhibition season for the Clippers.

After playing 25 games last season with Cleveland and 22 games combined the season before with New Jersey and the Cavaliers, Boykins has become a fan favorite with his strong push to make the Clippers’ final roster.

“I am one of those guys who doesn’t worry about [making the team], I can’t control the final decision anyway,” said Boykins, who was not selected in the 1998 draft after averaging 25.7 points and 5.5 assists as a senior at Eastern Michigan.

“Fans appreciate hustle. You don’t necessarily have to make plays, but as long as you go out there and give it 100% effort, I think fans appreciate that and I play hard every night.”

With rookie Keyon Dooling sidelined because of an injured right big toe, Boykins has made the most of his time on the floor, impressing the Clipper coaching staff with his all-around game.

Boykins helped his cause Tuesday with 11 points, four rebounds and two assists in the Clippers’ 90-83 victory over Portland.

“I’m starting to formulate some opinions, but every time you do that, some guy seems to step up and plays great,” Coach Alvin Gentry said. “That makes it a little difficult.”

Boykins, who played the 1998-99 season in the Continental Basketball Assn., does not seem too concerned. He knows Jeff McInnis, who has played only 73 NBA games, is currently the team’s starting point guard and Dooling was drafted to hold the job down the line. He also understands Gentry’s desire to get Lamar Odom more work at the position.

“All I can do is worry about how I play,” Boykins said. “If I make the team . . . good. But when I’m out there on the court, I just play as hard as I can.”

Swingman Tyrone Nesby first met Boykins when they played in college. Nesby said Boykins is only showing part of his total package with the Clippers.

“I already know what Earl can do . . . he just has to prove to other people again that he can play,” Nesby said. “The things that he’s doing are not really big to me because I’ve seen him do them too many times. It’s news to people who have never seen him play. He’s a good player and he’ll help out a lot.”

The Clippers have 17 players on the roster, including suspended center Keith Closs. They must trim the team down to 12 with as many as three on the injured list before the start of the regular season.

Gentry is not expected to make any roster decisions until he has to, which will probably be days before the Clippers’ regular-season opener at Utah on Oct. 31.

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The injured list grew a little longer Wednesday, leaving the team without the services of as many as five players for tonight’s exhibition game at Denver.

Center Michael Olowokandi (ankle), shooting guard Eric Piatkowski (knee), Nesby (dental) and Odom (thigh) are out. Rookie guard Quentin Richardson sat out the second half of Tuesday’s game and Wednesday’s practice because of a back sprain and is questionable.

The good news is that the team will get its first look at Dooling, who has yet to play in an exhibition game but practiced Wednesday.

“It’s that time of the year. Everybody is banged up, especially the young kids,” Gentry said. “What has happened is that they have probably played more intense basketball over the last month than they have for a season.”

“What they are going to find out is that you are going to have little bangs, bruises and nagging injuries your entire career. They just never go away.”

On Friday, the Clippers play at Indiana and then complete their three-game trip when they play the Pacers again Sunday at Evansville, Ind. According to Gentry, there’s a chance that both Olowokandi and Odom could return to the lineup before the Clippers finish the preseason against Seattle on Oct. 27.