CLIPPERS' PLIGHT GETS BLEAKER.

Byline: Gary Washburn Daily News Staff Writer

The answers are few.

The Clippers returned home Thursday from a four-game road trip which just added to the misery of a 1-10 start.

There is shock among players.

And coach Bill Fitch is trying to find the combination that will at least start a game competitively - so that the Clippers aren't forced to try to come back from a 20-point deficit. Twice in the last four games and six times in 11 games, the Clippers have been behind by double digits at halftime.

The defense is the second-worst in the NBA. It's so bad that three opposing players scored season highs on the trip, including Miami's Tim Hardaway, who tallied 33 points, often shooting wide-open jumpers.

``The baskets have been going in early for some teams and then when they get cold, we start coming back,'' Fitch said. ``We haven't had that kind of luck. Ours don't fall.''

But how do you explain the 6-foot-1 Hardaway going to the basket on a give-and-go and scoring in front of 6-11 Lorenzen Wright? Or 280-pound Isaac Austin sprinting down the court ahead of all five Clippers for an easy layup?

``We need to be more disciplined,'' Fitch said. ``We have to help each other like a team does. When things aren't going well, you become more disciplined. If you have $10, then you become more disciplined about spending.''

The analogy fits well. Instead of $10, the Clippers have one win in their pocket. And now the NBA-champion Chicago Bulls come to the Sports Arena tonight before the Clippers go to the Forum on Sunday to play the Lakers.

Where does the metamorphosis begin? Fitch said the coaches do not have enough time to institute drastic changes for tonight or Sunday. They feel the players have been so inconsistent that it's difficult to determine who will play well or falter next.

Eleven games into their season, the Clippers are already 9-1/2 games out of first place. Their goal was the playoffs. With the way the Western Conference is shaping up, the Clippers would have to catch 6-4 Minnesota to have a shot. Right now, that doesn't seem possible.

``We have to get our second win,'' said forward Rodney Rogers, who is averaging 15.2 points per game but shooting just 41 percent from the field. ``We can't even think about the playoffs. That's so far away.''

The problems are concrete. Opponents have shot 103 more free throws in 11 games, an average of 9.4 per game. That means the Clippers are getting into early foul trouble and teams are jumping on them at the free-throw line.

They are losing the battle of the boards, as Loy Vaught appears to be a shell of his former self. Point guards Darrick Martin, Pooh Richardson and James Robinson are shooting 34 percent, and their combined assist-to-turnover ratio is barely 2-1.

``If Pooh hit some of those shots that Hardaway did, then we're in it,'' Fitch said. `If you play a team even except for two 9-0 runs, then you lose by 18 even though you played even for 40 minutes.''

The frustration has spilled onto the players. Brent Barry did not want to talk after Fitch jumped on him about a statement following the Miami game.

Barry continues to lead the team in scoring, while Lamond Murray is playing the best ball of his career. He was the team's lone bright spot with 32 points against the Heat.

It's evident the Clippers badly miss the departed Bo Outlaw. The proof is a 48 percent shooting clip by opponents.

There are many problems: There is no defensive help. Shots aren't falling. There is no continuity.

There are 10 losses in 11 games. There is little margin for error.

``We know we've dug ourselves in a hole,'' Rogers said. ``We can't have anymore losing streaks. When we win, we've got to win for a long time. We've got to get that edge back. We can do it.''

CLIPPERS VS. CHICAGO

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m., Sports Arena

TV/Radio: Fox Sports West 2; KEZY-FM 95.9, KLITE-FM 92.7.

Clippers (1-10) update: After a four-game road trip, the Clippers return home to face the Bulls and Lakers. There's no break. The Clippers have to start strong and an expected sellout crowd could help. Lamond Murray (14.1 ppg), who scored 32 points against Miami on Wednesday, might start because coach Bill Fitch is looking for some energy at the beginning. Six times in 11 games the Clippers have been behind double-digits at half. Twice on the road trip, opponents scored over 40 points in the first quarter.

Bulls (6-5) update: Without Scottie Pippen, the Bulls have struggled. They lost 89-85 Thursday night at Phoenix and are 0-4 at home. Michael Jordan's scoring average (24 ppg) is down and he's getting no scoring help. Brent Barry will defend Jordan and the Luc Longley-Stojko Vrankovic matchup could be the battle of futile centers. Former Clipper Ron Harper and Toni Kukoc are having trouble filling Pippen's role.

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Box: CLIPPERS VS. CHICAGO (See Text)