<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width=590 bgColor=#000000><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="100%" bgColor=#eaeaea><TBODY><TR><TD>POSTED: October 4th, 2005</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width=250 bgColor=#000000><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" bgColor=#eaeaea><TBODY><TR><TD width=250><CENTER>The 2005-06 Clippers opened up camp on Monday at Santa Barbara City College. </CENTER></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The Los Angeles Clippers opened training camp this morning at Santa Barbara City College. Head Coach Mike Dunleavy used the morning session to combine conditioning work with introducing a few offensive and defensive sets. With only six players on the floor from the first day of camp last season, Dunleavy and his coaching staff have the task of implementing their system while getting the players in game shape.
“First day you spend walking the new guys through different sets and introduce different drills while getting some conditioning in,” said Dunleavy. “As the week goes on, things will be become smoother, but it was a good first practice.”
While rookies Daniel Ewing, Yaroslav Korolev and James Singleton are participating in their first NBA training camp, only the setting is new to veterans like Sam Cassell, Walter McCarty and Cuttino Mobley.
“You definitely notice the difference (in camp with a new team),” said Mobley. “There’s a difference is terminology, but being in the league for seven years you know the plays.”
With the addition of Mobley and Cassell, the Clippers have the offensive firepower to run with any team in the league, yet Dunleavy continued to stress that the success of this year’s team will be determined by how they play on the other end of the floor.
“We lead with our defense and we will be working on that a lot,” said Dunleavy. “We need to have guys talking and communicating so that we can become more aggressive and so that guys know that they have help. We need to recognize the advantages we have on the floor and not let the offense counter what we’re doing.”
Entering the season with a nine-game improvement from his first season on the bench, Dunleavy is challenging the Clippers to become a playoff team.
“We need at least another eight or nine game improvement to make the playoffs and that’s our goal,” said Dunleavy. “I don’t think you make the playoffs in the West unless you win 45 games so we need to take it up another notch and find a way to win enough games.”
From the day he signed, shooting guard Cuttino Mobley has not wavered in his belief that the team has the ability to make the playoffs this year.
“We’ve come here to make this team better,” said Mobley of his arrival along with point guard Sam Cassell. “They won nine more games last year than the year before so we’re obviously looking to raise that. I believe we can make the playoffs.”
Practice this morning concluded as usual with free throw shooting, a staple of Dunleavy’s practices that has led the Clippers to rank near the top of the league in free throw shooting in each of his first two seasons.
<HR>NOTES <HR>
Forward Corey Maggette remains in Chicago due to a family emergency. There has been no further word on when the Clippers leading scorer will join the team in Santa Barbara although the team expects him to be here at some point during the week.
Guard Shaun Livingston (sore lower back) participated in most drill work during the morning practice but was held out of contact drills as a precautionary measure. Livingston did extensive rehab work with the Clippers training staff and should return to contract drills soon.
Center Zeljko Rebraca (left knee patella tendinitis) also did not participate in contact drills.
Guard Frank Williams (migraines) sat out the final portion of the morning practice.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD>
“First day you spend walking the new guys through different sets and introduce different drills while getting some conditioning in,” said Dunleavy. “As the week goes on, things will be become smoother, but it was a good first practice.”
While rookies Daniel Ewing, Yaroslav Korolev and James Singleton are participating in their first NBA training camp, only the setting is new to veterans like Sam Cassell, Walter McCarty and Cuttino Mobley.
“You definitely notice the difference (in camp with a new team),” said Mobley. “There’s a difference is terminology, but being in the league for seven years you know the plays.”
With the addition of Mobley and Cassell, the Clippers have the offensive firepower to run with any team in the league, yet Dunleavy continued to stress that the success of this year’s team will be determined by how they play on the other end of the floor.
“We lead with our defense and we will be working on that a lot,” said Dunleavy. “We need to have guys talking and communicating so that we can become more aggressive and so that guys know that they have help. We need to recognize the advantages we have on the floor and not let the offense counter what we’re doing.”
Entering the season with a nine-game improvement from his first season on the bench, Dunleavy is challenging the Clippers to become a playoff team.
“We need at least another eight or nine game improvement to make the playoffs and that’s our goal,” said Dunleavy. “I don’t think you make the playoffs in the West unless you win 45 games so we need to take it up another notch and find a way to win enough games.”
From the day he signed, shooting guard Cuttino Mobley has not wavered in his belief that the team has the ability to make the playoffs this year.
“We’ve come here to make this team better,” said Mobley of his arrival along with point guard Sam Cassell. “They won nine more games last year than the year before so we’re obviously looking to raise that. I believe we can make the playoffs.”
Practice this morning concluded as usual with free throw shooting, a staple of Dunleavy’s practices that has led the Clippers to rank near the top of the league in free throw shooting in each of his first two seasons.
<HR>NOTES <HR>
- Elton Brand, who checked in this season 18 pounds lighter than last year after a rigorous off-season workout regiment, led the Clippers big men in sprints and also ran the floor well during 3-on-2 work. Brand had his first injury-free summer in years and took advantage of that by working every day with the Clippers training staff.
- Following sprints, the team was awarded a much deserved water break although veterans Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley declined the offer and remained on the baseline. The veteran guards were also very vocal throughout the opening practice.
- Chris Wilcox threw down several dunks during the Clippers 3-on-2 work and was active on the glass.
- Yuta Tabuse continues to have a large media following as nearly 20 Japanese media members are here in Santa Barbara following the 5’9” Tabuse’s bid to make the Clippers opening night roster.
“It’s good for me to have people interested in watching me and I like that all the Japanese people can follow what I am doing here,” said Tabuse following his first Clippers practice. "I want to play as hard as possible each and every day, make the team and keep sharing this experience with my fans!"
Dunleavy told reporters that Tabuse’s size was not necessarily a disadvantage and that like Denver’s Earl Boykins, he could use it to gain an edge.
“He needs to show he can counteract his size with his quickness,” said Dunleavy. “He needs to make plays and have a good assist to turnover ratio and make open shots. Defensively, he needs to harass people and make them use up clock (bringing the ball up).”
Forward Corey Maggette remains in Chicago due to a family emergency. There has been no further word on when the Clippers leading scorer will join the team in Santa Barbara although the team expects him to be here at some point during the week.
Guard Shaun Livingston (sore lower back) participated in most drill work during the morning practice but was held out of contact drills as a precautionary measure. Livingston did extensive rehab work with the Clippers training staff and should return to contract drills soon.
Center Zeljko Rebraca (left knee patella tendinitis) also did not participate in contact drills.
Guard Frank Williams (migraines) sat out the final portion of the morning practice.
arty: 
,,,,
