Former Lakers Seem Content Back in Town

Being a Clipper in a Laker town isn’t easy.

Being a Clipper when you’ve been a Laker can be even tougher.

But neither Mike Dunleavy, who has coached both teams, nor Glen Rice, who has played for both, was about to say they looked down the sideline at the opposing bench Sunday night and dreamed of being back in purple and gold.

Rice has soaked in the praise that comes from winning an NBA title with the Lakers. He has endured the jokes that come with being a Clipper. But he insists it wouldn’t take that much for his new teammates to get the last laugh.

“Don’t step on the Clippers,” he said. “You’ve got to get into the playoffs before you can demand some respect. But a lot of players on this team are eager to get out there. You don’t see a lot of our guys running around here like they don’t belong.

“I won a ring with the Lakers, so I get a little more respect around town than the other guys. But it will happen for them. They’ve just got to keep working at it.”

Asked before Sunday’s game if the Clippers had a great opportunity before them, facing a Laker club missing both Shaquille O’Neal and Karl Malone, Rice said, “It would be a great opportunity with them.”

Never too soon to start demanding that respect.

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Asked whether he could name a backcourt equal to that of Kobe Bryant and Gary Payton, Dunleavy thought and thought before coming up with “Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe,” a New York Knick backcourt of three decades ago.

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Both guard Marko Jaric (sprained left foot) and swingman Bobby Simmons (sprained right wrist) sat out Sunday night’s game.

Both were hurt in Saturday’s loss to the Sacramento Kings.

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Center/forward Melvin Ely has missed seven games because of flu, an ailment which caused him to lose 15 pounds off his 6-foot-10 frame.

Ely said he has regained five of those pounds, but doesn’t want to gain anymore.

“I like the way I feel,” he said.

Teammate Chris Kaman has continued to play despite a flu bug that has cost him seven pounds.

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The Clippers hit the road for a week, with consecutive games in New Jersey and Philadelphia before the finale in Toronto.