Starters Not Setting Tone

The Clippers probably will open the season with a starting lineup of Eric Murdock and Derek Anderson in the backcourt, Lamar Odom and Maurice Taylor in the frontcourt and Michael Olowokandi at center.

This same group started the final four exhibition games but did not do a great job playing together early, which is a concern for Coach Chris Ford.

“[The starting lineup] is not set in stone and I told the guys that,� Ford said Saturday, one day after the Clippers’ poor performance in a 118-108 victory over Golden State.

“After last night’s performance . . . the starters did not set the tone. If you don’t continue to earn those minutes or earn that starting position, then I will look somewhere else. Everybody has to be ready to play and if you’re a starter, you’ve got to be ready to start the game.�

Tyrone Nesby, Troy Hudson and Eric Piatkowski ended last season as starters and now are coming off the bench, along with Brian Skinner. Ford hinted he would not hesitate to make a change to get his team off to faster starts.

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Too often, Clipper opponents have turned their trapping defense into layups.

“The halfcourt trap we run is new to us . . . there is a lot of moving and trapping. We’ve been having some problems with it,� said Taylor, who turned 23 Saturday.

Some of the players prefer to play straight man-to-man defense, which the team used in the fourth quarter against the Warriors.

“We did a better job in keeping them from scoring points, [playing man],� Taylor said. “It’s just going to take some getting used to. For a young team, when you say you’re going to run a halfcourt trap, they think we’ve got to get a steal, and that’s when you gamble.�

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The Clippers did not watch tape of their victory over Golden State and instead began preparation for the Seattle SuperSonics, the team’s opponent for the season opener Tuesday at Staples Center. Most of Saturday’s workout dealt with Seattle’s trapping defense. . . . Skinner did not practice because of a right groin injury and Piatkowski (ribs) and Murdock (right knee) are still bothered by their injuries, but Ford said he expects them to be ready for Seattle. . . . Odom is scheduled to be featured by NBC, and a film crew followed him around after Saturday’s practice.