Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan addresses free-throw woes

When the doors to the Clippers’ practice facility opened Monday, there stood DeAndre Jordan shooting free throws.

When practice was about 15 minutes over, Jordan remained inside practicing free throws while teammates Ryan Gomes and Randy Foye offered encouragement — and chided him.

After one game, Jordan lamented about his free-throw woes.

Even when Jordan talked about his career-high eight blocked shots against Golden State in Sunday night’s game, he reverted to his free-throw problems.

The 6-foot-11 center made four of 12 free throws against the Warriors.

So Jordan stayed after practice a little longer, telling Gomes and Foye that sometimes before he shoots free throws, while he is dribbling and looking at the basketball, he’ll lose his focus by looking elsewhere instead of the rim.

“He was like, ‘You have to look at the rim,’ � Jordan said about Gomes’ directions. “He was giving me little [tips]. And they made fun of me a little bit. But I guess I’ll get better. It’s constructive criticism.�

The Warriors started what Jordan described as “Hack-A-DJ,� something he was familiar with when teams employed the Hack-A- Shaq against Shaquille O’Neal.

The Warriors intentionally fouled Jordan on four consecutive trips down court. He responded by making three of eight free throws, one of the misses an air ball.

“I’m either going to make them or miss them and that goes for everybody else in the league,� Jordan said. “But when you get fouled four times in a row, after a while, it got kind of annoying.�

He maintained that it only gets in his head when the media broaches the subject, even though he’s a 41.4% free-throw shooter over his career.

“Let me tell you this,� Jordan said. “When I go to the line, I’m not missing them on purpose. I’m trying to make them.�

Jordan’s primary role is to be a defensive presence.

He was that against the Warriors.

“That is my role, to be the defensive leader on this team,� Jordan said. “And to rebound the ball, control the paint on both ends, and if I score for this team, it’s a plus. But, I obviously have to be able to knock my free throws down, somewhat, to be able to play late in the stretch of games and the critical points.�

Reggie Evans is happy to be a Clipper

Reggie Evans looked at how the Clippers were put together and felt he wanted to be a part of it.

So on Thursday, he signed a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract worth about $1.3 million.

“I just want to win, too, because I took a two-year vacation from not making the playoffs,� said Evans, who played the last two seasons with the Toronto Raptors. “I felt like coming here, my chances are good.�

Evans may be an undersized backup power forward and center at 6-8, but he is known to be physical and rugged.

He averaged 11.5 rebounds and 4.4 points last season in 30 games, but sat out the first 51 games because of a left foot sprain.

He has a right foot sprain that may keep him out for about two weeks.

“It just has that little sharp pain,� Evans said. “We’re just trying to tighten up the ligaments because that sharp pain won’t go away. We want it to go away.�

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