No One Seems to Believe Clippers Have Look of a Winner

One thing about being a Clipper: Nobody expects much.

Another season of ground-level anticipation kicks off tonight for owner Donald T. Sterling’s underdogs, whom prognosticators once again have slotted low in the Western Conference pecking order.

None foresee a playoff berth, or even a .500 record.

Additionally, a league-wide survey by SportsBusiness Journal of top-level NBA personnel revealed the opinions that the Clippers have the league’s worst ownership, worst front-office management beyond the owners’ box and, piling on, are the team most needing new uniforms and logo.

“You use it as a motivator, as far as people not having any expectations for you,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said Tuesday on the eve of tonight’s opener against the Seattle SuperSonics in Staples Center. “If they’re not believing in you, you’ve got to believe in yourself and you’ve got to do it.”

Early on, the Clippers will try to do it at less than full strength. Projected starters Chris Kaman and Kerry Kittles, opening the season on the injured list, will be sidelined at least five games, Kittles indefinitely.

Their positions among the first five “more than likely” will be filled by Chris Wilcox and Bobby Simmons, Dunleavy said, leaving little in reserve.

“You’re asking guys to play bigger roles,” said Dunleavy, whose first two substitutes probably will be 7-foot journeyman Mikki Moore, playing for his fifth team in three seasons, and 19-year-old rookie Shaun Livingston, who six months ago was in high school.

“You’re really asking them to step up....

“That’s probably the biggest thing, of course, when you’ve got guys out: The guys behind them have to play against better players and carry a different load.”

Elton Brand, Corey Maggette and Marko Jaric also will start.

The Clippers, whose 28-54 record last season was the worst in the Western Conference, haven’t won an opening game since 1996, the last season they reached the playoffs.

Six of their top seven players from last season are back, with Kittles replacing Quentin Richardson, who signed with the Phoenix Suns.

Kittles, whose sore right knee has kept him from practicing since the July trade that brought him from the New Jersey Nets, is one of eight newcomers, three of them rookies.

“I’m very hopeful he can be back this month,” Dunleavy said.

Until then, they’ll make do.

Dunleavy said this was a better team than the one with which he started his Clipper tenure last season.

If they reach .500, he said, “I’m going to feel pretty good.”

*

TONIGHT

vs. Seattle, 7:30, FSNW2

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- XTRA (690/1150).

Records -- (last season) Clippers 28-54, SuperSonics 37-45.

Record vs. SuperSonics -- (2003-04) 0-4.

Update -- The Clippers ended last season by losing 14 of their last 15 games. They’ve lost six in succession to the SuperSonics and 10 of 11. Ray Allen averaged 33.5 points in two games against the Clippers last season.

Tickets -- (800) 462-2849.