CLIPPERS DRUBBED BY TRAIL BLAZERS : PORTLAND 88, CLIPPERS 72.

Byline: Randy Hill Staff Writer

It's time to set aside all campfire chatter about Maurice Taylor's hell-freezing-over return to the Clippers next season and tackle the question of when the power forward will return in this one.

``This is really frustrating,'' said Taylor, whose absence from Saturday's 88-71 loss to Portland at Staples Center was his seventh in a row. ``We still have 70-some-odd games left.''

Well, 69, but we can forgive ``Mo'' for being stuck on 70 - his desired (but not realized) contract-extension request was $70.9 million.

His unsolicited left-mid-foot strain occurred two weeks ago in Vancouver and inspired a subsequent road rally by his short-handed teammates, who won three of their next five games.

``They know what they have to do,'' said Taylor, who is averaging 16 points and five rebounds in six games. ``And I know what I have to do.''

And that means the expected free-agent-to-be won't be allowed on the court until the foot is sound. Taylor was examined at halftime Saturday by team physician Dr. Tony Daly.

``Every game is important,'' Taylor said, ``but they pick up more meaning toward the end of the season.''

Right, down the stretch, you're either fighting for a playoff berth or jockeying for draft-lottery position.

Kandi landing:If Michael Olowokandi ever converts to hockey, he'd probably need a change of address to the penalty box.

In basketball, his up-close-and-personal fouling usually requires the Clippers' second-year center to cool it on the bench.

His recent habit of inadvertent mayhem was even more frustrating Friday at Seattle, where he made 8 of 11 field-goal attempts before fouling out. He was able to stay on the court for a relative eternity (24 minutes), after exercising a combined 31 minutes in the team's previous two games.

Olowokandi admits his obvious difficulty in adjusting to the league's new untouchable policy but wouldn't mind a bit more balance in its application.

``That's the frustrating part,'' said Olowokandi, who believes the same sins he allegedly commits are absolved for those he's playing against. Has he developed a serial hacker's rep? ``That's a good possibility.''

If it's true, Saturday's officiating crew was out of the loop; Olowokandi escaped the first quarter without fouling - or being accused of fouling.

CAPTION(S):

photo, chart

PHOTO Portland's Scottie Pippen looks for an escape or passing route as he is harassed by a pair of Clippers.

Michael Caulfield/Associated Press

CHART: Game recap